passing grounds

The legacy of the United States is as much rooted in violence as it is in peace. The recognition and acceptance of this violence is exemplified in memorials, parks, sites sanctioned by gatekeepers of a national consciousness, of a national narrative. passing grounds is an exploration into understanding this country's legacy through an understated and deeply somber look at sites not memorialized by a traditional body of historians, but rather, an individual seeking to share how deeply beautiful, and deeply disturbing, revisiting our contemporary historical location can be....

passing grounds is the culmination of a 10-week road trip by filmmaker R.J. Lozada. Lozada traveled to close to 30 locations across the country, mostly alone. Lozada visited the sites of death of people of color who lost their lives at the hands of law enforcement, and the state, in 2014. Bypassing the traditional interview format of most documentaries, Lozada has created an atmospheric piece, a kind of mirror that reflects only what you see.

Laps

The San Quentin 1000 Mile Running Club is comprised of a mixed age, race, and ethnicity set of inmates at California's historical San Quentin State Prison. The men, who are serving time for anything from drug possession to first degree murder, find temporary solace in long distance running. They are coached by runner Franklin Ruona, who comes in from the outside and with a small set of other supportive running coaches, volunteer time to help these men train for their annual marathon. Laps is a film that captures a regular training day in the recreation yard.

a space on sixth and mission

a space on sixth and mission is a short observational documentary on the Bayanihan Community Center--a longtime institution vital to the Filipino and Filipin@ American community in San Francisco, and specifically the South of Market (SoMa). Screened at CAAMFest 2017

Mother’s Day

When Mother's Day means a trip to prison.

Distance Between

Personal short film about fatherhood in the Filipino diaspora.