Role: Director of Photography / Producer
Oakland Originals is a series of short documentaries that spotlight the artists, thinkers, and do-ers that make Oakland a uniquely vibrant and thrilling community. The first four “Originals” include a passionate fruit forager, a sculptor of other-worldly curiosities, a graffiti artist determined to leave a meaningful mark, and an in-line skater dedicated to going the distance.
Oakland Originals premiered over the summer of 2014 when they screened as pre-feature entertainment at the historic Grand Lake Theater. Over 24,000 people were exposed to unique Oakland stories they may not otherwise have been when they came to see films like Chef and Maleficent.
The next set of the series is in progress with an expected 2020 release.
For more information visit oaklandoriginals.com
MEET THE FIRST FOUR ORIGINALS
VANESSA SOLARI ESPINOZA (AKA DJ AGANA)
The Bay Area nurtures amazing graffiti artists, DJs, jewelry makers, educators, clothing designers and 3D animators. But how many individuals are all of these things? Oakland Original Vanessa “Agana” Solari Espinoza is an artist of striking talent, whose prolific work transforms urban landscapes and guides young inner-city youth to channel their powerful emotions into meaningful art.
Websites – djagana.com, fewandfarwomen.com
Soundcloud – soundcloud.com/dj_agana
TIM MONROE
Unassuming software engineer Tim Monroe never planned on conquering mountains. Inline skating in his spare time, he started exploring beyond his own neighborhoods and wondered how far he could go. Could he skate all 837 miles of Oakland city streets—from the hills to the flats—with all the obstacles in between? And what would he discover about himself and his city along the way?
ASIYA WADUD
The founder of Forage Oakland was drawn to the irresistible bounty of fruit growing over fences and sidewalks in Oakland’s Temescal neighborhood – much of it going to waste. Asiya Wadud’s community barter network brings neighbors together to build stronger communities while harvesting and sharing the riches of their own backyards. Forage
Website – Forage Oakland
Spin-off project – Forage City
MICHAEL CHRISTIAN
Did these towering sculptures emerge from the earth or did they touch down from somewhere far, far away? Either way, Michael Christian’s artwork seldom stays put for long. Designed to be transportable, his striking creations invite audiences all over the world to explore in playful and revelatory ways.
Website – www.michaelchristian.com
PAST SCREENINGS
Oakland’s historic Grand Lake Theater (Pre-feature screenings), Summer 2014, seen by over 24,000 patrons
Oakland International Film Festival, 2014
San Francisco Green Film Festival, 2014
Jack’s Night Market Free Community Screening, Oakland, CA. 2014
Oakland Unified School District’s Summer ‘Heads Up’ Program, 2014
Locally Grown Docs, Oakland, CA. 2014
Brown Bag Lunch for Oakland City Employees, Oakland, CA. 2014
‘Budget and Brew 2015’ Oakland Mayor’s budget kickoff party, Oakland, CA. 2015
City College of SF, Broadcast Electronic Media Arts – department, San Francisco, CA. 2015
San Francisco Art Institute, San Francisco, CA. 2015
Temescal Street Fair Free Community Screening, Oakland, CA. 2015
Google San Francisco Office, San Francisco, CA. 2015
Unsighted Frame: Local short doc and experimental film works, Oakland, CA. 2018
Ojai Film Festival – presentation for high school students on Building Strong Film Scenes with Visuals, 2018
