FRESNO – Local filmmakers had their time to shine at Fresno’s Tower Theatre, where audience members witnessed months of work finally hit the big screen.
On Nov. 19, friends, family and filmmakers gathered for the annual Big Tell Showcase at the Tower Theatre in Fresno. The theatre screened 10 short films produced by local filmmakers, highlighting the rich history, culture and continued community service present in the Central Valley.
Founded in 2017 by the Central Valley Community Foundation (CVCF) in partnership with Community Media Access Collaborative (CMAC), the Big Tell Showcase serves as a way to give local filmmakers the resources to do what they love, while highlighting the beauty of the region. This year, each of the 10 filmmakers were awarded $5,000 grants for the production of an original film, made possible by sponsors and partners like the James B. McClatchy Foundation, CVCF and Valley PBS.
“Big Tell has always been about growing and developing local storytellers, from students to amateurs; aspiring filmmakers to those with more experience,” said Bryan Harley, executive director for CMAC during his opening remarks.
Within three months, each creative and their collaborators worked to highlight real stories of the Valley’s people, making full use of the medium of film. From agricultural sustainability efforts to the world’s oldest living drag king, this year’s showcase was full of heart and inspiration.
Serving Tulare County
The first film of the night was Jackie Schuster’s “Growing Forward,” which showed viewers how the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act has allowed farmers, environmentalists and leaders to work together to repurpose land in Tulare and Merced counties for the sake of agricultural and environmental sustainability.
In a Q&A led by Gabe Camarillo of KMPh Fox 26 News after the screenings, Schuster shared why the topic is important to her.
“It’s so important that we can figure out some different ways to be using our land and our water in individual ways, but also in larger, systemic ways so that we can continue to live in the Valley, and have a healthy Valley and have healthy communities,” Schuster said.
“Happy Trails: Where Every Stride Transforms” by Debra Youngquist spotlighted the Happy Trails horse riding academy, which aims to provide a space for healing and recreation for individuals with disabilities and veterans in Tulare County. The film featured interviews with staff and visitors as they shared how the academy has impacted their lives.
It was those interviews that truly drove the film’s narrative of healing and finding community, giving the audience answers straight from the horse’s mouth, so to speak.
Still open for business
Some of the night’s films highlighted some of the Valley’s most historic businesses, like the story of the Madera Drive-in through Marcos Dorado’s “The Reel Story: All About Family at the Madera Drive-In.” The film celebrates generations of family memories, including interviews with both the owner and guests as they share how the drive-in theater has brought them closer to their loved ones.
Kristin Lesko’s “Still in Print” featured the day-to-day operations of Greg and Nicole Little, owners of California’s longest-running weekly newspaper, the Mariposa Gazette. Viewers got to follow the Gazette’s team as they finalized a weekly print edition, seeing firsthand the work that goes into keeping local journalism alive.
“I think first and foremost, (the film) is about commitment to the First Amendment and journalism, and the importance that it plays in our democracy,” Lesko said during the Q&A.
“But most importantly, it’s about people and the spirit and dedication that it takes for these organizations to continue, so it’s really about Greg and Nicole,” Lesko added.
Power in visibility
Other films told inspiring stories of neglected communities striving to be seen, and the leaders behind those efforts.
Naindeep Signh’s “The West Was Ours Too: From Forgotten to Khalra’s Fresno” details the efforts of Punjabi immigrant communities west of Highway 99, who have been working to transform the region to better serve its residents. From renaming parks, promoting business investments and opening the nation’s first school named after a Punjabi, Sikh human rights activist, the film showed that the people of West Fresno building a new future.
“To me, it’s really just kind of uplifting their stories. These are people that change … lives everyday, and whether people know it or not, they’re changing Fresno everyday,” Singh said during the Q&A.
“The Joy of Lao” by Karina Ezitis followed similar themes, highlighting the efforts of Sue Bangon Emanivong to create an Annual Laotian Celebration parade in Merced, and even a national annual boat race. The heart of the story comes from Emanivong’s refusal to take “no” for an answer, now bringing Laotian culture to the greater community of Merced.
Christine Rose’s “Stories In the Soil” chronicled Filipino American scholar Devon Antonio’s quest to uncover Filipino history in the Central Valley, and his desire to preserve the humanity of ancestors forgotten. The films also shed light on the history of the Delano Manongs, a pivotal group of Filipino men who helped define social justice in Central Valley farmworking.
Finding their voice
Other films focused on the power of self expression, such as “Retired and Inspired: A Town Transformed by Senior Creativity” by Silvia Gonzalez S., which featured the Kings County seniors who breathe life into the local arts community and Sigfredo Acosta’s journey to learn standup comedy at the Hanford Multicultural Theater Company.
Jeremy Miller’s “Rhythm in Motion. Culture in Power” shined the spotlight on the Valley’s first majorette team, the Red Wavettes at Fresno State, while highlighting the struggles that women and people of color face while trying to carve out a space for themselves.
“(The Red Wavettes) decided that ‘Here at Fresno State, we are going to make room for ourselves, and we are going to show out,’ and that is what they do time and time again,” Miller said during the Q&A.
The final film shown, and a highlight of the night, was Adam Perez’s “The Last King,” which tells the story of Elsie Saldaña, or “El Daña,” the world’s oldest living drag king at 80 years old. The film follows Saldaña as she learns to perform Juan Gabriel’s “Amor Eterno,” while cleaning homes by day to survive.
Each film closed out with uproarious applause from the audience, and attendees walked away having learned about some of the lesser known gems of the Valley.
Those interested in watching the films will have another chance when they are broadcast by Valley PBS on Dec. 23 at 9 p.m.
