Busy film production major embraces one opportunity after another

(Editor's Note: This is the fifth in a series of stories about students in the Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications completing summer internships in 2026.)

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — There’s a sense of urgency for Derek Porter about his academic career and experience at Penn State. It’s a determined urgency, though, nothing haphazard or rushed.

He just wants to make the most of his time at the University, and while he said he calls his approach “dangerous,” it feels to him more like a series of dominoes that have fallen in his favor — with one opportunity leading to the next — thanks to curiosity and hard work.

After starting his career at Penn State Scranton, where he played basketball, and moving to Penn State Abington, where he found a necessary course to keep him on schedule as a film production major, Porter arrived at University Park only a year ago.

The Philadelphia native enrolled at Scranton as part of the Penn State 2+2 Plan, which allows students to start at a Commonwealth Campus location and then move to University Park after two years. Because a film class Porter needed was not available at Scranton, he said, he adjusted his plan a bit.

“I’m a 2+2 student but it’s really been more of a one plus one plus two,” Porter said. “Penn State was the school that offered me all the opportunities I wanted. I came to create content and play basketball, and the way things have worked out I don’t think I could’ve done this at any other school.”

Producing a plan

Porter’s ambition and willingness to ask questions and work hard helped him succeed as he initially played basketball, balanced a job and earned good grades. His curiosity and enthusiasm opened doors to additional opportunities, he said, especially once he arrived at University Park.

He became an Adobe Ambassador last fall, and earned a promotion to Adobe Student Creator, helping the company that provides software for Penn State students enhance its visibility on campus with creative activations that amped interactions. Earlier this month, Porter traveled the company’s headquarters in California to meet with other creators and work with K-12 students at a weekend-long event.

He’s worked for Penn State Campus Recreation as a social media specialist throughout the past year as well.

“Not everybody knows Campus Rec is bigger than one gym,” he said. “There are so many activities, events and facilities. We just try to shine a light on it all — everything from gyms to leagues, rock climbing, there’s so much.”

That’s probably enough to keep some students busy, but not Porter.

He also works as a leasing consultant and social media marketing specialist for the Heights, the apartment complex where he lives in State College; has his own photography business; and this fall will begin work with two separate Penn State units — strategic communications (an assistantship) and athletics (a creative video internship).

This summer he’s completing a video production internship with State College-based AccuWeather. He works there four days a week, typically 1-7 p.m., and when he’s not there assisting with live video productions of forecasts that serve dozens of clients all over the world, he said, he’s at the Heights, or making some Adobe-relate plans, or scheduling a photoshoot, or even diving into plans for his growing film company, DPFilms & Entertainment.

“My goal with every opportunity is to focus on just that and do my best,” Porter said. “I’m a gamer, so sometimes it feels a little bit like a game, I guess. I’m trying to conquer something and get to the next level. And when I do that, another connection or opportunity seems to grow from that.”

Making the connections

While Porter has done a lot outside the classroom, he’s been a success academically as well. He listens and thrives.

“It was a class in the spring, with Bill Zimmerman, that really helped me look at what I was doing on social media, having a plan, serving others, posting consistently and taking my LinkedIn seriously,” Porter said. “That led to connections, and I saw other students who had internships at AccuWeather and I looked into that.

“It’s been a great opportunity, and I’ve learned so much in addition to live production. Beyond the app on the phone, you get a sense of the business, the impact and the partnerships. That’s been so helpful.”

Filmmaking remains Porter’s goal, he said, thanks to the influence of directors like Ryan Coogler and Stephen Spielberg, as well as franchises like “Now You See Me.” His successful and varied experiences have added more options as he ponders his future.

At the same time, he added, he’s learned how many different uses exist for his skillset — one he’s been happily building and polishing with each opportunity.

He has also learned to dial back his always busy approach, he said, which led to his "dangerous" self-assessment. He’s practicing better time management while still creating quality content, making deadlines and working toward more opportunities each day.

Whether relaxing or working, he said he credits his faith for keeping him grounded.

“Everything I have, from my work to rest, comes from my relationship with God,” he said. “I would definitely say I’ve been blessed through the chaos.”

His confidence about that makes taking a little time off easier, he said.

“I used to work every day, seven days a week,” Porter said. “I would work 40 hours and then go to class. It was not about paying the bills or feeling financially strained, it was exciting and fun, like ‘I get to shoot this!'

“I’m still excited and I still want to make that film — that movie that evokes emotions. Maybe it’ll be a job creating content for a brand, on a movie set or wherever I can make an impact, but I’m a little more comfortable now knowing I can do it well and still taking a break sometimes.”

Porter's not ready to slow down, but, he said, his pace might become a bit more strategic — a determined urgency.