InterView
By Chris Murphy
The obvious question is, who is the next George Lucas? That makes a really big jump as he is one of a kind. But Modesto native Richard Bare once told a young Lucas, “if one guy from Modesto can make it, why not two?” And the rest is history, or the future for that matter. Film is inspiration. Story telling is inspiration. A good story and a wonderful film can be a blockbuster, or it can be a critical darling that plays in art houses. No matter where it ends up, it will be appreciated. Modesto is primed to be an incubator for film directors and you have to start somewhere. The 48 Hour Film Competition is a poetry slam on the big screen. You get a prompt, 48 hours and go. Next stop, the initial showings at the State Theatre, surrounded by fellow film enthusiasts. Low budgets and short lead times breed creativity. Some of the greatest directors started with the pressure of no time and no money.
Modesto native, Andrew Wong brought the idea of the 48 Hour Film Competition back to Modesto in 2019. This event captivated the community as film crews fanned out across Modesto to create their short feature films. This year’s finale is March 28. You can sign up at www.thestate.org<www.thestate.org> Please pre-register and kick-off is March 16.
MV: What is it about the short format film that you find exciting?
AW: Short films showcase creativity and talent in a powerful, condensed format. With our competition selecting 16 standout films from over 50 submissions, we get a glimpse into diverse perspectives and innovative storytelling. It’s an exciting way to spotlight local filmmakers and the stories they’re passionate about.
MV: You have worked and studied in China and have the SF 48 Hour Film Competition. How does Modesto fit in this mix?
AW: Modesto is my foundation. It’s where I was born, raised, and shaped by incredible mentors. While I’ve showcased a short at Cannes, filmed in China, and now run my production company in SF, I always keep my hometown close to my heart. Seeing Modesto’s growing art scene is inspiring, and I hope to contribute to its creative future while supporting the next generation of filmmakers.
MV: What surprises you the most about each year’s competition?
AW: The sheer passion of the filmmakers. At this point, the films being high quality is expected, but the diversity of stories and the dedication of the teams always stand out. Many competitors return year after year, taking immense pride in being regulars. It has become one of the area’s biggest filmmaking showcases, and seeing that sense of community grow makes me incredibly proud.
MV: How do the young directors who make these films make the jump to larger-scale projects?
AW: It all comes down to the filmmaker’s drive. The competition is a catalyst—it pushes them to create and overcome procrastination. Once they’ve experienced the satisfaction of completing a film, the next step is using that momentum to take on bigger, more ambitious projects with larger teams and higher stakes. We can’t make someone create great art, but we can encourage them and see what they create. The hope is that this experience fuels their passion to go further.
MV: What advice would you give a new young filmmaker?
AW: Just make a film! Start it and finish it, no matter how it turns out. Don’t wait until you have “better gear” or “the perfect story.” Perfectionism can lead to inaction, but even an imperfect film is a step forward. The worst outcome is learning valuable lessons for the next one. Don’t let fear of failure keep you from taking that first step. As Rachael Robertson said, “I’d rather regret what I did than regret what I didn’t do.”
MV: Give us a pro-tip for teams in the 2025 48 Hour Film Festival.
AW: Prioritize good audio. Good audio is more powerful than good visuals. Use a lavalier mic or have a dedicated boom operator, and make sure your music doesn’t overpower dialogue. Bad audio stands out in a theater setting more than you think, so clear sound can make your film feel higher quality and give you a competitive edge.
MV: If you had unlimited funds, what would your dream project be?
AW: I’d create a film institute where mid-career artists mentor the next generation of filmmakers, actors, writers, musicians, and editors. It would be a space for artists at all stages to collaborate, learn, and uplift each other—where there’s always a film to watch, a concert to hear, or a play to experience. And with whatever funds are left, I’d buy X and rename it Twitter.
Jacob True is committed to finding and mentoring the next big film maker. Jacob and a couple of other local filmmakers in 2020 created CVFP to help support our community of fellow filmmakers in creating exciting movies. They collaborated with Sam Pierstorff and the State Theater to create their film school program “CVFP at the State” in 2022.
MV: What excites you the most about bringing ideas to “film”?
JT: I have always loved the collaborative element of filmmaking and getting to see everyone’s perspective on the ideas of a film. As the director, I know what I want to say within my movie, but I surround myself with a team of artists who elaborate on my ideas and are able to elevate them to a degree I could never do by myself. When someone watches a film they may not immediately notice the costumes, the lighting, the sound design, but each element of a film is tailor-made by a group of artists for the story. That’s something I feel you can’t capture in any other medium.
MV: What filmmakers really inspired you?
JT: I know it is the most common answer you’re going to get in this area, but it has to be George Lucas. You could easily argue he has had the largest influence on shaping the current filmmaking landscape, and Star Wars was the first movie where I truly experienced “movie magic.” His philosophy about making movies on your own terms with the resources you have available to you is something I refer to daily, and is something that resonates with all filmmakers within our area.
MV: What do you think is the least understood element of creating a film?
JT: I think a lot of people have this idea that filmmaking is something that is supposed to come naturally to you if you are “good at it.” A lot of filmmakers who are just starting out go to create a film and it rarely turns out how they would like it to. This discourages a lot of people, but it is perfectly normal to make mistakes while you are learning. Even today, I am constantly learning and improving my craft because you will never know all there is to know about filmmaking. The most important part is that you find your voice, and make films that are authentic to you. Audiences are very quick to forgive any technical shortcomings of a movie if they are truly engaged by it.
MV: Describe your craziest directorial or film making moment?
JT: Just in the past year, we were filming a short and we were capturing a shot on some train tracks. During our location scouting, it seemed as though trains never actually came through this area, but of course once we were actually shooting the film a train came out of nowhere. We had to race to pick up our cameras, microphones, and lighting gear to get out of the way as soon as possible. I had never seen a set move so fast! We didn’t end up losing any gear but it was a close call and a really funny moment to look back on.
MV: Do you have a personal hack that makes film directing easier for you?
JT: The job of a director is really the job of finding the right talent. If a director is able to pick out the right performers and crew members, a set will practically run itself. Because of this I always take the time to find people I am able to click with both personally and professionally. Once you have done that, directing is just a matter of calling action and cut!
MV: What advice would you give a beginner filmmaker?
JT: Make movies as much as possible. Don’t worry about making the film perfect or about the little details, it is more important to get practice by actually making movies. I studied filmmaking for years before I was finally able to get access to a camera, and I learned more in a few months with the camera than I did the entire time before then. As long as you keep practicing you can only continue to improve!
MV: Is the CVFP available for private production needs?
JT: Of course! We offer premium video production services at competitive rates, ensuring your vision comes to life in a way that fits your budget. We have filmed commercials, corporate videos, live events, really anything someone may need! On top of that, our workforce is primarily made up of hungry artists who are eager to prove themselves in a professional capacity. This means they will be sure to put in the extra time and effort it takes to make your video one of a kind.
MV: How can people join up with the CVFP?
JT: People who want to work with CVFP can submit a form to us on our website centralvalleyfilmproject.com<centralvalleyfilmproject.com>. You can also follow us on instagram and facebook with our handle @cvfp209 so you are the first to know about our next community events and initiatives!
Learn film at MJC
Film, Television, & Electronic Media Certificate of Achievement is back at MJC. The Film, Television, & Electronic Media Certificate of Achievement Program prepares students to enter broadcasting, cable, online media, and related industries.
MJC Instructor, who at press time was due with her daughter any day, Sky Tallone has been making films in our area for sometime with her own studios. Now she is an instructor and mentor for many learning filmmakers. So impressive that she did our cover shoot on her actual baby due date.
We asked a few questions:
MV: How exciting is it that MJC has restored their film program?
Sky: There is so much excitement around the new FTVE program at MJC, and I couldn’t be more thrilled. It’s brought a new energy to our local film community, and now MJC’s art building halls are busy with students planning and shooting film projects together.
MV: Who are your filmmaking inspirations?
Sky: Early inspirations were the dark Jim Henson fantasies like Labyrinth, Neil Jordan’s Interview with the Vampire, David Fincher’s work like Fight Club, and early Quentin Tarantino and Tim Burton, Michel Gondry. Currently some of my favorite directors include Alex Garland, Robert Eggers, Jordan Peele, and Ari Aster. I love elevated horror and sci-fi that delves into deep themes.
MV: How do you recommend that students prepare for this program?
Sky: MJC’s program is designed to be for everyone of all experience levels. It’s currently a certificate program which is very hands-on and project-based. So just be ready to work and collaborate and create!
MV: What are your film making goals?
The big dream for me right now is to make my first feature film here in the central valley in the next couple years! This filmmaking community that’s come together has made it possible. l’d also like to mention my husband Spider Santana, my partner in everything I do, my writing partner and production partner on every film and every project. He’s very involved in all this as well. Our son Knight Santana is almost 3 years old, and our newborn baby girl will be named Story! (As of now, still not here yet!)
Learn more www.mjc.edu/aph/ftve.html<www.mjc.edu/aph/ftve.html>
Those that have lead the path.
Modesto is lucky to have a couple of current film makers that have made some great works. Greg and Mark Runnels made the breakthrough Youthandasia and Alley Cat among others and have made some great critical impressions, recently producing Pride Wars and are currently working on a documentary of the SF Punk scene. There a cool film company, A&P Productions that has been really successful at making 80s style slasher and horror movies, even distributing on VHS tape to fit the genre. For students interested in animation, Downey High School has an innovative animation program and is a two-time award winner at the New York Film Festival
@markpaulrunnels and @gregrunnels
@aandpproductions – Mature content
downey.mcs4kids.com/o/downey/page/design-visual-and-media-arts
