Pajaro Valley Magazine February 23 2023

Watsonville Film Festival returns for 11th year

By TARMO HANNULA

The 11th Annual Watsonville Film Festival rolls out the red carpet March 3-12.

Co-Founder and Director Consuelo Alba said the festival will have screenings at the Mello Center and the Watsonville Public Library as well as online viewing opportunities.

“This year’s Festival presents an exciting line-up of films about ordinary people overcoming great obstacles to do the extraordinary,” Alba said. “The main themes are art and music, as well as honoring heroes and ‘sheroes.’”

the Shine light

Organizers are rejoicing in the ability to have in-person meetings and showings once again following the pandemic.

“We are excited to be back in-person, to walk the red carpet and watch films on the big screen together and to have live conversations with filmmakers while also being able to reach a wider audience with some of the festival’s films online,” Alba said. “We are proud of the ripple effect the WFF has in and on the community, like our collaboration with Pajaro Valley Arts to present a retrospective of renowned Chicano artist

Juan Fuentes as well as celebrating Santa Cruz-based Senderos through film. We are also incredibly proud to present the work of local emerging filmmakers and award-winning directors such as Rodrigo Reyes, and Carlos Perez Osorio who won an Ariel (Mexican Oscar) last year.”

Alba added that there are no other similar festivals between San Francisco and Los Angeles that continues to focus on “shining a light” on the contributions of often overlooked Latino stories.

WFF and the Pajaro Valley Unified School District will co-present

the classic film “Under the Moon” about a family separated by immigration, and have a discussion with the film’s screenwriter, Ligiah Villalobos, about making it in Hollywood.

“We will also showcase films by local emerging directors such as Eugenia Rentería, Gabriel J. Medina and Megan Martinez Goltz, as well as up-and-coming youth filmmakers from Digital NEST and local schools,” Alba said. “We partner with arts organizations, community groups, schools and individuals to make the Festival a rich experience for everyone who attends.”

Other highlights include the following world premieres of local shorts:

• “Strawberry Picker,” a short film documenting the life of Juan Fuentes, renowned Chicano artist who grew up in Watsonville. Fuentes is a chief creator of images of Watsonville Brillante, the massive mosaic murals sprawled across the parking structure on Rodriguez Street. The Festival will co-host the opening of his retrospective “RESILIENCE: Works of Strength and Dignity” at the Porter Building on March 5.

• “Stories of Culture: Oaxaca in Santa Cruz County” was filmed during the Covid-19 pandemic. Elder members of the indigenous group Senderos share how their food, medicine and music are tools for healing their communities.

• “Living in Exile: Carlos Mejía Godoy” by filmmaker Jon Silver. Forced into exile and now living in California, Carlos Mejía Godoy is a legendary musician and poet.

• “Sansón & Me” is an award-winning documentary about an unusual friendship that grows out of a young immigrant who gets caught up in the criminal justice system.

• “Los Tigres del Norte” tells the story of the Norteño band that came to San Jose with nothing in the 1960s and rose to sell more than 60 million records, winning six Grammys and 12 Latin

Grammys along the way. Co-presented by the Mexican Consulate of San José.

“Pepe Serna will receive a hero’s welcome at the Watsonville Film Festival where the celebrated actor will present his latest films, ‘Abuelo and Life is Art,’” Alba said.

Serna’s acting career spans more than 50 years, 100 films and 300 TV shows. He played Al Pacino’s partner in “Scarface,” a lowrider in Steve Martin’s hit comedy, “The Jerk,” and was cast with Edward James Olmos in “American Me.” Serna received the prestigious Screen Actors Guild Heritage Achievement Award for his many character roles.

Serna will be joined by the film’s director, Luis Reyes, author of “Viva Hollywood” on March 3 at 7pm at the Mello Center.

Alba said the Festival continues to have a call for volunteers.

“We need photographers and videographers, ushers and general support; the volunteers are the heart of the Festival,” she said.

To sign up, visit bit.ly/ VolunteerSignUpWFF.

For information on the Watsonville Film Festival, visit watsonvillefilmfest.org.

LEGENDS Pepe Serna is shown with Edward James Olmos. Serna will be honored in-person at the Mello Center on March 3.

PORTRAIT IN FILM A scene from “Skin to Skin” by John Santos, screening on March 11 at the Mello Center.

WATSONVILLE FILM FESTIVAL SCHEDULE

March 3, Mello Center

Opening Night

Honoring actor Pepe Serna in-person

Life is Art + Abuelo

Film starts 7pm | Doors open 6:30pm

March 4, Mello Center

Para Familias

Under the Same Moon | La misma luna

Screenwriter Ligiah Villalobos in person, plus PVUSD Superintendent

Michelle Rodriguez

Film starts 1pm | Doors open 12:30pm

March 4, Mello Center

Shorts: Shifting the Paradigm

Premiere of Eternidad & Influenced

Plus Bad Hombrewood, Here to Stay, Farm to School

Filmmakers in attendance

Introducing 2023 Cine Se Puede

Fellows

Film starts 4pm | Doors open 3:30pm

March 4, Mello Center

Shorts: Arte y Cultura

Premiere: Historias de Cultura (Oaxaca en Santa Cruz) and Strawberry Picker

Filmmakers and artist Juan Fuentes in-person Film starts 7pm | Doors open 6:30pm

March 5, PV Arts Porter Building

Art opening: Resilience: Works of Strength and Dignity

Juan Fuentes Retrospective

Reception and mural walk with artists Juan Fuentes and Kathleen Crocetti, 1-3pm

March 8, Watsonville

Public Library

Women’s International Day

Matronas: The Struggle to Protect Birth in El Salvador; filmmakers in attendance

Co-presented by Campesina Womb

Justice Program starts at 6pm.

March 9, Watsonville

Public Library

Golden Era of Mexican Cinema

El Rey del Barrio with German Valdes

“Tintan”

Co-presented by Mexican Consulate, San Jose Program starts at 6pm

March 10, Watsonville

Public Library

Shorts: Perseverance

Elefan, Colors in Harmony, U.S. vs Beltran, Fertile Land, Chicago Story: Resettlement

Filmmakers in attendance

Co-presented by Reel Works Labor Film Festival Program starts at 6pm

March 11, Mello Center

Regional premiere: Sanson & Me

Director Rodrigo Reyes in person

Co-presented by Reel Work Labor Film Festival

Film starts 1pm | Doors open 12:30pm

March 11, Mello Center

Jazz on Film: Santos: Skin to Skin

With filmmakers Kathryn Golden and Ashley James

Co-presented by Kuumbwa Jazz Film starts 4pm | Doors open 3:30pm

March 11, Mello Center

Los Tigres Del Norte: Historias que contar

Director Carlos Perez Osorio in person

Co-presented by UCSC and Mexican Consulate

Film starts 7pm | Doors open at 6:30pm

March 12, Palenke

Arts (Seaside)

Shorts: El Poder del Arte

Strawberry Picker and To Mend the Heart (Remover el Corazon)

Filmmaker in attendance

Films and reception 6-8pm More films online March 5-12 at watsonvillefilmfest.org

ON SET A still from “Los Tigres del Norte,” screening March 11 at the Mello Center.

its natural surroundings.

Mountain tranquility

Corralitos home in private setting features trails through the forest

This home near the headwaters of Corralitos Creek is surrounded by the tranquil Santa Cruz Mountains.

Located at 680 Dove Lane in Corralitos, the 3,086-square-foot home includes four bedrooms and three bathrooms. The home, located behind two private gates, was designed to fit into the natural environment, complete with its own trails.

It features open beam ceilings, walls of windows, multiple decks, covered patios and hardwood floors. The kitchen is outfitted with custom cabinetry and stone countertops. The bathrooms are equipped with natural materials and custom tile work.

The home, built in 1997, is listed at $1,299,000 by Room Real Estate. For information, visit bit. ly/3IOuQbm.

Tom Brezsny’s

Real Estate of Mind

Provoking thought since 1990

Ore resciis nobitium qui utam estrum que inimint invent ati ut fugiasp ienihil igentotatem auda quamus molupta quiat.

Tom Brezsny’s

Real Estate of Mind

Continuing the conversation…talking about people and their stuff and what to do with it all. And wondering out loud whether it’s any coincidence that at this moment in history, when such a huge swathe of aging baby boomers is turning 65, we’re up to our ears in Reality TV shows that explore every nook and cranny of the  jam-packed garages, basements, attics, junk drawers and closets we all have.

Provoking thought since 1990

Ore resciis nobitium qui utam estrum que inimint invent ati ut fugiasp ienihil igentotatem auda quamus molupta quiat.

First there’s the mega-hoarder niche of “stuff shows” ranging from The Hoarder Next Door to Obsessive Compulsive Hoarder to Level 4 Hoarder to Hoarder Basement to Extreme Worst Hoarding. There’s also the Spanish-language version Accumladores. (Accumulating sounds better than hoarding!  Maybe if I call myself an accumulator I’ll feel better about my stuff!)

Luptas di berisqui andi simi, quo essinulpa nimillaciam que molorem. Vel est, quibercima si dus. Am rerore, si volorio. Nemod quistrum resequu ntiberum quid quas volorenet fuga. Et res sitatus andentem. Cabo. Nobitatia volorero illor rem volest que vendus restis senistota sam hitatur aditiur? Qui dolorro ipsundit occupti busdae necaectium et plam dunt am sim verit quis minum, consenis re sinienim qui aut iur modis as etur? Torisquosae repuditas unt ut facia doloribus, utatetur?

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Cerrume nienimi ligenducient verum fugitatem im inimus, voluptur? Quiberu ptatur?

Torisquosae repuditas unt ut facia doloribus, utatetur?

Then there’s the sub-genre of “stuff shows” that employ the tantalizing premise that accumulators often use to fool themselvesthere might be some real treasures hidden within those piles of junk. Think: My Strange Addiction, Pawn Stars, Auction Hunters, Storage Wars Texas, Storage Wars New York, Storage Wars Canada! (That’s a lot of wars! Can’t we all just agree that there’s more than enough “stuff” to go around in those millions of storage units across the country?)

Cepudandam quam si bea endusant. Pudis sim quis maiorrovitem corrum alit, cusam ium quo comniatiur aut im facepra verspel laciae suntem ipsamus, quam sed es es maximus asse volorerfero tem quod quo voluptaquos ex et is eic te lit volupti dolum iumquiatio exces erion nihit aut lat quam quis rem fugita consedi niet, eos eost alit late verum que coressin Voloreca turionsedit quo etur? Qui odit quisciis mo optatur? Quaspit aut volore doluptiis inus si qui voluptas nos modi ilibus.

Cerrume nienimi ligenducient verum fugitatem im inimus, voluptur? Quiberu ptatur?

Cepudandam quam si bea endusant. Pudis sim quis maiorrovitem corrum alit, cusam ium quo comniatiur aut im facepra verspel laciae suntem ipsamus, quam sed es es maximus asse volorerfero tem quod quo voluptaquos ex et is eic te lit volupti dolum iumquiatio exces erion nihit aut lat quam quis rem fugita consedi niet, eos eost alit late verum que coressin Voloreca turionsedit quo etur? Qui odit quisciis mo optatur? Quaspit aut volore doluptiis inus si qui voluptas nos modi ilibus.

Ique nulparum faccus, is a conestr uptat.

Then there are the “stuff shows” that try to organize all the stuff: Space Invaders, The Minimalists, Conquer the Clutter, Hack My Life, Get Organized with the Home Edit, The OCD project. And of course, the “stuff shows” that make Herculean efforts to clean up after it all: Clean House, Clean Sweep. Extreme Cleaners. Dirty Rotten Cleaners, Big House Clean Out, Hot Mess House, A Life of Grime.

And then there are the occasional talk shows that analyze our relationships to “stuff”.  Dr Phil, Oprah and Dr. Drew (among others) have all tried to help people come to terms with their stuff, but we might need more of these shows because frankly, I’m not sure that Marie Kondo and the Magic of Tidying Up can really survive a steel cage match with any of those sad folks depicted on Hoarders: Buried Alive.

Ique nulparum faccus, is a conestr uptat.

Alique ma enisi quatet am, audipsa piciaec usandite latur aut dicia quia pa ipsant magnihicid quiate re ad que delibusam ut et ut odicidebit, siment dem quae pori dolorro vitatia quia illatur? Voluptat aspernatum, serupta ecesci res eum restium nonsedipsum eum que dolorem nos dolum lam, etur, cust a duntusdae lam dolorpo rempeliquid modis aut ataerror re volorest optatio dempor aut aut explabo. Nem que recuste posapel

Tom Brezsny

Realtor® DRE #01063297

831-818-1431

getreal@sereno.com

So here we are stuffed to the gills with shows about stuff. Swimming in circles with no end in sight. How many tragic stories can we possibly consume? What is it that we see when we stare at the screen? Why can’t we look away? Nietsche said: “If you gaze into the abyss, the abyss also gazes back into you.”  What is looking back at us when we stare into the bottomless pit of all those homes overflowing with stuff?

Alique ma enisi quatet am, audipsa piciaec usandite latur aut dicia quia pa ipsant magnihicid quiate re ad que delibusam ut et ut odicidebit, siment dem quae pori dolorro vitatia quia illatur? Voluptat aspernatum, serupta ecesci res eum restium nonsedipsum eum que dolorem nos dolum lam, etur, cust a duntusdae lam dolorpo rempeliquid modis aut ataerror re volorest optatio dempor aut aut explabo. Nem que recuste posapel

More stuff next week…

Tom Brezsny

DOVE LANE This home in the Santa Cruz Mountains complements

Back home to California

By TARMO HANNULA

In this final leg of our October road trip, where Sarah and I rolled through northern California, Oregon, Washington and to the top of Vancouver Island, B.C., we departed Eugene, Ore. on Highway 5 and aimed for Yreka, Calif. for the second to the last night of the 17-day trek.

One of the highlights of the trip was in Eugene when we managed to track down two sculptures my dad donated to public institutions while completing his Masters of Fine Art at the University of Oregon in 1958. One was a sandstone piece on a pedestal in the hallway of the downtown Public Library that the helpful—and stunned— reference librarians helped us find. It still had a name and title label beside it: “Sleeping Horse,” Walter A. Hannula.

A short drive took us to Sheldon High School where my father’s master thesis work, a Picasso-like 8-foot abstract standing figure, still graces the campus entrance 65 years later. In the office the staff told me they had no idea who the artist was and where the sculpture came from. They shyly admitted to painting it forest green to match the surrounding campus. If my dad was alive, I’m sure he’d be driving there now with a grinder in hand to restore and repair it to its original off-white finish.

We were lucky to spend an afternoon with our long-time friend Mariann Clancy, one of the folks that got me started in photography when I first met her in 1975 when we lived in Eugene.

The abundance of rain Oregon commonly gets was apparent by the endless carpets of green pastures, farmlands and forests as we aimed south through Cottage Grove, Ashland and Grants Pass. As we crossed the line into California along Highway 5, we steered toward Yreka for

Tarmo Hannula

LOCAL LANDMARK The Joss House is the centerpiece of Joss House State Historic Park in Weaverville in northern California.

the night, an early-day gold mining town that drew prospectors and laborers from all over. Once we dropped anchor at the hotel, we found a map in the lobby of an interesting walking trail that introduced us to a wealth of beautiful Victorian homes. Some of the homes had names, scribed on historical plaques. Fancy filigree, ironwork fences, river stone chimneys and sprawling wood porches marked many of the attractive homes.

For dinner we found Natalie Thai on South Main Street for a satisfying meal and a glimpse of local folks.

Driving through the region showed us traces of Gold Rush days like the remnants of brick saloons and markets with their iron fire doors still clinging to rusty hinges. We drove south on Highway 3 and paralleled Trinity Lake to Weaverville, population 3,667. Here, the main street still has early day overhangs above the sidewalks and The Diggins Tavern holds a central spot downtown,

BEST OF SANTA CRUZ COUNTY 2023!

a reference to more gold mining. We stopped at Joss House State Historic Park in the center of Weaverville. The site features a Taoist temple, which is still in use, and is the oldest Chinese temple in California. We learned that this was once home to approximately 2,000 Chinese gold miners.

The building, called The Temple among the Trees Beneath the Clouds, was built in 1874 to replace earlier structures destroyed by fires.

Our final night was spent in Sacramento seeing relatives. The journey touched on three states, two countries, meeting up with eight friends and seven family members, four ferry rides, a couple islands, and glimpses of the past and modern art. Our meals took us around the world. And now I’m wrapping up this series in a snow-covered hotel in Yucca Valley where I’ll soon take on a new series about Joshua Tree National Forest, country music of Bakersfield and further tales of Southern California.

Publication date: Mid April, 2023

Reservation deadline: March 2, 2023

Electronic ad deadline: March 10, 2023

Tarmo Hannula

Tarmo Hannula

IN NEED OF TLC Rusting early-day vehicles are piled up at a private wrecking yard along the highway in Washington.

STREET SCENE Fall leaves clutter the streets of downtown Eugene, Ore.

SPLASH

against a mural on the outside wall of the restrooms in Watsonville Plaza. The murals were created by Aptos artist Bruce Harman.

BEACH

Western sandpipers each stand on one leg while tucking in their beaks during a rest period at Moss Landing State Beach.

CHOPPY WATERS Giant waves send up a plume of white water at Moss Landing during recent heavy surf.

Tarmo Hannula

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