Jordan Jacobo: Look, it'sa couple days in Coronado.

Jodi Cilley and her consortiumists need some extras for the San Diego Film Awards Parody.

What do you mean, "Who is this?"

Jordan Jacobo, I got a gig for you.

What?

Meshuga.

They got real jobs at SeaWorld.

Jodi Cilley: You know what kind of people I need.

Jordan: Hey, trust Jordan.

I'll get ya somebody good, not schmucks like last time.

Jodi: Speakin' of schmucks-- Derrick Acosta: Hey, Jordan, can we talk to you?

Sidney Franklin: We heard that you needed extras for the San Diego Film Awards.

Jordan: Perhaps.

both: Yes.

Derrick: We'd like to audition, please.

Jordan: What are you, a bunch of comedians?

We pay in meal and credit.

Derrick: Like, IMDb credit?

Jordan: Yeah.

both: Yes.

Jordan: Are you bein' for real?

Derrick, you're a famous YouTube star, and, Sidney, you're the best actor in San Diego, and you-- Sidney: Wanna be on the San Diego Film Awards.

Derrick: Uh, yeah.

Jordan: You're the wrong shape, good-bye.

Sidney: Well, what do you want, a hunchback or somethin'?

Jordan: It's not the backs I'm worried about.

You gotta be under 25.

Sidney: We can play under 25.

Jordan: You gotta be blond.

Sidney: We could dye our hair.

Jordan: Ya gotta be women.

Good-bye.

[female voice] Sidney: Hello?

Jordan: Hello.

[female voice] Sidney: Jordan?

This is Sue Vicory.

[female voice] Derrick: And Sue Davis.

[female voice] Sidney: And our colleagues from the SeaWorld said that you needed extras for the San Diego Film Awards Parody.

Jordan: Yes, thank god.

Can you be at The Del tomorrow at 8?

[female voice] Sidne: Definitely.

both: Yes.

♪♪♪ ♪♪♪ ♪♪♪ ♪♪♪ ♪♪♪ Derrick: Welcome to the 2022 San Diego Film Awards brought to you from the world-famous Hotel del Coronado.

I'm your host, Derrick Acosta, and today we're here to recognize and award the best filmmakers, cast, and crew from our local film industry.

We'll also be sharing fascinating facts and trivia about San Diego's movie history and highlighting the films from indie darlings to blockbuster hits that were made right here in America's finest city.

Nobody's perfect, but tonight's talented artists come close.

Jodi: In 1898, San Diego's moviemaking history began with a short downtown scene of a double-decker trolley coming down 5th Avenue in the Gaslamp Quarter.

Filmed by the Edison Company, this was one of the first moving images recorded on the West Coast.

Then, in 1911, the American Film Manufacturing Company, popularly known as Flying "A" Studios, set up in San Diego and made over 150 movies in Lakeside and La Mesa.

These pioneers set the stage for movie production in San Diego and on the West Coast, and the Spirit of San Diego Award is inspired by their contributions.

The nominees for the Spirit of San Diego Award are-- female announcer: "Ang Motel," by Hollow Creek Pictures.

[speaking foreign language] announcer: "Panic at Parq," by Heartland Films.

Sue: It appears that they all got snowed in at the airport in Burlington.

David: I knew we shouldn't have booked acts exclusively from Vermont.

announcer: "Twenty-Two," by Dark Gravity Studios, SandCastle Productions, and Stage 18 Productions.

male: Thank you for your service.

announcer: "Sunken Holiday," by Fallen Light Media.

female: See you, Quint.

male: Huh?

Where are you goin'?

female: Holiday.

male: What?

Jodi: And the winner is "Twenty-Two," by Dark Gravity Studios, SandCastle Productions, and Stage 18 Productions.

♪♪♪ male: Thank you so much, San Diego Film Consortium.

We're so happy as San Diego filmmakers and a San Diego actress to accept the Spirit of San Diego Award.

Ava Cantrell: We love San Diego, and our film, "Twenty-Two," the film highlights all the struggles that vets go through, and with San Diego's huge military population, we thought that it was very fitting.

male: Go, San Diego.

Ava: Woo.

Merridee Book: Lubin Studios was established in 1915, when hotel owner John D. Spreckels offered the filmmaking pioneer, Sigmund Lubin, a large piece of property in Coronado along the San Diego Bay for a dollar a year rental fee.

Sorry to say, that deal is no longer available.

Although short-lived, Lubin Studios produced more than 20 movies.

From the 1930s to the 1980s, Naval Air Station North Island has been the backdrop for military-themed movies like "Hell Divers," "Devil Dogs of the Air," and, of course, "Top Gun."

These films featured daring aerial stunts performed by air squadrons, stationed in San Diego, using real military aircraft rarely seen by the average American, and, tonight, we recognize the creatives who continue San Diego's long history of actions and stunts on the big screen.

The nominees for Best Stunt Choreography are-- announcer: Fernando Jay Huerto for "Hit Me: Game Over."

[grunts] ♪♪♪ announcer: Fernando Jay Huerto and Rodney Pablo for "VR no Jutsu."

[grunts] announcer: Fernando Jay Huerto and Eric Nguyen for "Earth's Last Shot."

[grunts] Merridee: And the winner is Fernando Jay Huerto and Rodney Pablo for "VR no Jutsu."

♪♪♪ Fernando Jay Huerto: Thank you, Film Consortium, for this prestigious award.

I'm happy to be nominated alongside my friends, and also, I'd like to thank my co-choreographer Rodney Pablo for his help.

I'm proud to be a stuntman and an action filmmaker, so thank you so much for your support all these years, and please continue to support other artists in San Diego to help the community grow.

Thank you again, and cheers.

Harold Rapoza, Jr.: The Hotel del Coronado has enjoyed a long and loving relationship with Hollywood.

You can't talk about San Diego's moving history without mentioning the classic productions that have used this hotel's iconic architecture and miles of shoreline as the perfect backdrop for their moving pictures.

Established as a seaside landmark resort in 1888, the first movies were filmed in Coronado in 1897.

Since those first films, dozens of movies have used the Hotel Del's iconic resort grounds to base their production such as the 1980s, "The Stunt Man," starring Peter O'Toole-- --and 1990's "My Blue Heaven."

♪♪♪ Movie stars have also enjoyed the Hotel del Coronado as a getaway from Los Angeles.

Early movie stars like Charlie Chaplain, Greta Garbo, and Jimmy Stewart, could all be seen relaxing at The Del.

The nominees for Best Supporting Actress are-- announcer: Taylor Linekin for "Estranged."

female: How's your painting coming along?

female: Okay.

How about you?

female: Working on not feeling the class.

female: Good morning.

announcer: Melissa Fernandes for "Touch."

female: I take the color of soup cans with all the Clorox I used.

Look at my hands.

Raw.

And you're not safe in here?

announcer: Valerie Gould for "Moving Out."

female: Only weeks to paint.

You're lucky.

announcer: Lisa Shalet for "Victims."

female: I'm responsible for everything.

Michael's addicted to drugs, and everyone's lives are miserable because of me.

Harold: And the winner is Lisa Shalet for "Victims."

♪♪♪ Lisa Shalet: Oh, my gosh, thank you so very, very much, San Diego Film Awards, for this lovely honor.

I'm very excited.

I also would like to thank the cast and crew who came together on this very long one-day shoot that was very intense, but everybody put their heart and soul into it, and I think, in the end, we came out with a film that really shines a light on the hard issues of addiction, so, for that, I'm very grateful to have been a part of it.

Thank you.

Harold: The nominees for Best Lead Actress are-- announcer: Beth Gallagher for "Sunken Holiday."

female: This all starts with my friend Bobby.

So, every year, for the last ten years, we have gone on holiday together, traveling the world.

announcer: Ava Cantrell for "Twenty-Two."

female: Maybe I can talk to your father, and we can try and find her someplace to live.

Natalie: I don't wanna find her a home.

She's not a stray dog.

I--I want her to-- announcer: Emma Nossal for "Touch."

Claire: You're always scared to touch me.

It's like you don't even wanna be near me.

At least he might.

female: Claire, you can't let him-- Claire: I know.

announcer: Suzana Norberg for "A Memory."

female: Living, at least try.

Farewell, my friend.

announcer: Suzana Norberg for "Libertyville."

female: [speaking foreign language] announcer: Lana McKissack for "My Human Experience," episode one.

robot: Up yours, human.

Lex: My name is Lex.

It is a pleasure to--I may have confused my hand-- Harold: And the winner is Ava Cantrell for "Twenty-Two."

♪♪♪ Ava: Thank you so much, San Diego Film Consortium for the award of Best Leading Actress.

I feel so honored to playing Natalie, a young, wounded war vet.

I'd like to take my time to bring to the attention of the 22 war vets that commit suicide daily.

Our film, "Twenty-Two," the film, highlights all these struggles, and we need to treat our vets with more empathy and understanding.

Thank you.

Doug St. Denis: In 1959, one movie put the Hotel del Coronado into the international limelight, "Some Like It Hot," directed by the legendary Billy Wilder and starring Tony Curtis, Jack Lemmon, and Marilyn Monroe-- ♪ Ba-dum, ba-dum, ba-doodley-dum, boo.

♪♪ Doug: --this bold, groundbreaking film about musicians on the run from the mob, hiding undercover and in drag in a traveling all-girl band, would eventually cause a controversial feud between two cities.

Though the movie is technically set in Florida, the Hotel Del was chosen because of the preserved, original construction and architecture.

When Miami's mayor criticized the use of San Diego to play the role of the Sunshine State, Coronado's mayor shot back: "Some like it hot, but not as hot as Miami in September."

Out of six Academy Award nominations, "Some Like It Hot" brought home the Oscar for Best Costume Design for the great Orry-Kelly.

Tonight, we recognize those artists that continued to break the mold and help us to see the world from other people's shoes and pants and skirts.

The nominees for Best Costume Design are-- announcer: Shelly Williams for "We All Die Alone."

male: This is two truths and a lie.

Number one, I love Mondays.

announcer: Elsa Mickelsen For "Things We Dig."

female: She never quite lost that child temper, but she has the patience and stamina to torture for hours.

[man screaming] announcer: Nora Eppler for "The Dress."

♪♪♪ announcer: Floyd Strayer and Susan Farese for "Life After Oblivion."

male: Can see way better in this light.

Doug: And the winner is Shelly Williams for "We All Die Alone."

♪♪♪ Shelly Williams: Hi, I've already filmed a few of these because 30 seconds is quicker than you think.

I wanna thank Jazmine Choi for helping me on set.

She was fantastic.

I couldn't have done it without her.

And Jonathan Hammond, the director, the entire cast and crew, and especially the hair and makeup team because, really, we go hand in hand, costumes and hair and makeup.

And it was a beautiful show.

Thank you.

Sidney: How can you walk in these things?

How can you even balance?

Derrick: Must be the way the whole weight's distributed.

I feel naked like everyone's watching us.

Sidney: With those legs?

Are you crazy?

Derrick: Who are we kidding?

We aren't gonna get away with this.

Sidney: I think we should do it.

Derrick: What?

Sidney: Check out that bite- sized muffin over at crafty.

♪♪♪ [feminine voice] Derrick: Let's do this.

female: May I help you?

[feminine voice] Derrick/Sue: Hi, we're Sue and Sue.

female: Sweet.

And the Jacobo Agency sent you?

Derrick/Sue: Yes, ma'am.

female: Well, I hope you girls know how to behave on a set.

Sidney/Sue: We have acting training at the-- Acting Conservatory Doo-Wop Film Consortium.

female: A conservatory?

Real women.

Welcome.

Take your vouchers.

Derrick/Sue: Thank you.

Derrick: For those of us strange individuals who enjoy sitting and reading the credits after every movie, we know it can take hundreds, if not thousands, of people to bring a production to the screen.

All the films up for awards tonight were made right here in San Diego, and it's thanks to our solid base of hundreds of local industry professionals that we can even handle the workload required to make a motion picture here in our city, and with our proximity to Los Angeles, not only can talent, crew, and resources be easily brought from our neighbors to the north, but we can have access to exciting opportunities in Hollywood with just a quick two- to ten-hour drive up to 5, depending on traffic.

Lisa Rothmuller: In the 1960s, a newspaper article noted that San Diego was shown but never identified in the movies.

Utilizing San Diego's diverse and varied looks, it was often disguised as other places.

D.W. Griffith shot in Fallbrook because of its close resemblance to the French countryside.

Julian stood in as onscreen Texas.

The East County desert has been cast as battlefields for both modern-day and ancient wars.

Locations are important and the building blocks of a great film, but ultimately, the production designer molds and shapes each place to fit the story exactly.

And the nominees for Best Production Design are-- announcer: Elsa Mickelsen for "Things We Dig."

female: Don't focus on her teeth.

She's a little self-conscious, being that one fang is a little shorter than the other.

announcer: Jonathan Hammond for "We All Die Alone."

Riley: Hello, all.

female: Betsy-- announcer: Jane Hare and Rachel Daigh for "Victims."

male: BP, 50-- male: I can help breathing.

announcer: Thomas Fabrizio for "Purple Case."

male: San Fran?

Gelato?

male: It's ice cream cake.

male: Ice cream cake?

announcer: Nick Mansfield for "The Music of Erich Zann."

Lisa: And the winner is Elsa Mickelsen for "Things We Dig."

♪♪♪ Elsa Mickelsen: Wow, this is amazing.

Thank you so much to Pia and the entire cast and crew of "Things We Dig."

We had such a blast.

I got to make the entire vampire den in my living room.

I had the most fun of anybody.

Also, I just wanna mention what an honor it is to be nominated with Nick Mansfield.

He was always such an inspiration to me, and I really miss him.

Thanks, everyone.

♪ Attack of the killer tomatoes.

♪♪ Fred Ashman: The 1978 film "Attack of the Killer Tomatoes" was a low-budget, sci-fi parody where oozing tomatoes go on a rampage in San Diego, splattering any innocent victims in their path.

It was directed by a San Diego local John DeBello, and this film wasn't exactly a winner coming out of the gate.

When it was released, "Variety" wrote that the film, quote, "Isn't even worthy of sarcasm," end quote, but this didn't stop the film from becoming a cult phenomenon.

The film went on to spawn three movie sequels, a cartoon series, a video game, comic book, and to this day, it's still screened by its tomato-obsessed audiences.

[screaming] Fred:The nominees for Best Hair and Makeup are-- ♪♪♪ announcer: Francia Cohen for "Forsaken."

Nicole Teefer and Madison Hayward for "One by One."

[screaming] [gunshots] announcer: Ty Marie Frost for "Things We Dig."

female: InstaGraveDiggers.com.

We process and get rid of the corpses of our clients' victims.

announcer: BreeAnn Marie, Raquel Trivino, Rachel Gallenberger, and Meghan Courtney for "We All Die Alone."

male: Cold, hard cash.

Fred: And the winner is BreeAnn Marie, Raquel Trivino, Rachel Gallenberger, and Meghan Courtney for "We All Die Alone."

♪♪♪ BreeAnn Marie: Hi, my name is BreeAnn Marie.

I am the key makeup artist for "We All Die Alone."

I would love to thank Ryan Binse for introducing me to the director, Jonathan, also as well as my team.

I couldn't have done it without them.

It's a huge cast.

I appreciate all their hard work.

I wanna give a shout-out and thank Rachel, Raquel, and Meghan.

Like I said, they're the hair and makeup team.

I couldn't have done it without them.

I'm super grateful and appreciative to accept this award.

Thank you.

Sue Vicory: The My Power of One Award was created to honor an individual who has made a positive difference in their community.

Previous awards have gone to Jodi Cilley, Robyn Sarvis, and Duane Trammell, Francine Filsinger, and Joe Castano.

This year, I am so proud to name the recipient of the My Power of One Award to an individual whom I have a great deal of respect and admiration for.

Seven-time Emmy Award-winning film and commercial director, writer, cinematographer, and editor, he pretty much does it all.

His team, Amalgamated Grommets, for the past 14 years, have won many film festivals, including winning six Best Film Awards from the 48 Hour Film Project, including twice in Los Angeles contest.

He has been directing commercial and corporate films since 1990, and he has actively mentored young filmmakers for the past 15 years, which is what I love the most.

female: The My Power of One Award goes to Michael Bruggemeyer.

♪♪♪ Michael Bruggemeyer: Thank you very much for this award.

This award means a lot to me because it's the Power of One Award, which is given by Sue Vicory.

Sue Vicory does a wonderful job of lifting people up around her, and that's what this award is about.

It's about recognizing people who have made it their effort to lift people up around them, make the world a better place, make their community a better place and, in our case, make our filmmaking community a better place, and I'm honored to receive that, and I push that back on you.

Make the world a better place.

Thank you for this award.

Peter Preston: It wouldn't be an award show about San Diego film history without mentioning our beloved Balboa Park.

Since the early 1900s, Balboa Park's Spanish Revival architecture, wide and diverse landscape, and unique, individual buildings and institutions have appeared on screen.

Dozens of movies were made in Balboa Park during the silent-film era and even showed up briefly on screen as "Xanadu," and Orson Welles's "Citizen Kane."

Charles Foster Kane: Rosebud.

Peter: The nominees for Best Cinematography are-- ♪♪♪ announcer: Christopher Medina for "Sugarcoat."

female: Thank you.

Peter: Really?

You're drinking tonight?

We've talked about this.

Your parents are here.

female: I'm not drinking.

announcer: Ellie Ann Fenton for "We All Die Alone."

Riley: Now let's everyone hold on to our horses here for a second.

announcer: John Freeman for "Immortal Game."

♪♪♪ announcer: Nate Riedel for "Eucalyptus."

female: Six hundred square feet.

Get up, make coffee, shower, read, try to find something productive to do.

announcer: Oscar Perez for "Estranged."

Abigail: Someone there?

I'm coming home right now.

I'll see ya soon.

female: Abigail, don't hang up the phone.

Peter: And the winner is Ellie Ann Fenton for "We All Die Alone."

♪♪♪ Ellie Ann Fenton: Hello, thank you.

I wanna say thank you to the San Diego Film Awards for honoring me and my work.

It's humbling.

I wanna say thank you to Jonathan Hammond for making this whole thing happen and having such a wonderful, wild, and funny vision.

I wanna say thank you to Jay Ellison at Shadowcast Pictures.

Without their support, we never would've been able to make such a beautiful-looking film.

And, finally, I wanna say a big ole thank you to Nick Berry and the entire cast and crew of the film, who all came together, and we had a really fun time, which clearly comes across on the screen, and, yay, thanks, everybody.

Derrick: Not only does San Diego get to look nice on the silver screen, but movie productions can be a huge contributor to the local and regional economy.

Big studio productions bring big budgets, and they spend them all over the city.

They hire a local cast, crew, and caterers.

They build sets and pay location fees.

They fill hotel rooms, restaurants, and bars, and they spend money on entertainment.

Movies that feature our city are a huge driver of tourism.

People from all over the world come here because of the movies they love.

They take selfies on the famous porch of the Hotel Del, or they get some hot wings at the Kansas City Barbecue, and on their way out of town, they can't help but quote Ron Burgundy's famous line-- Ron Burgundy: You stay classy, San Diego.

Derrick: They just can't help themselves.

Fred: In 1991, San Diego got its own modern movie studio with six soundstages across a 70,000-square-foot facility in Kearny Mesa.

The studio, run by producer-director Stu Segall, became the filming base for hundreds of TV shows and movies over the course of the following decade.

To this day, this is the only major full-time production studio ever based in San Diego.

This award goes to the dreamers and future visionaries who shape the world with their art.

The nominees for Best Director are-- ♪♪♪ announcer: Andrew Brame for "Touch."

♪♪♪ announcer: Melissa Vitello for "Twenty-Two."

Natalie: And she ended up losing an arm and a leg.

announcer: Jonathan Hammond for "We All Die Alone."

[tick, tick, tick, tick, tick] female: Oh, my God, is this making anyone else more stressed?

female: I can't breathe.

female: Shut that thing off now.

female: Okay, that's fine.

announcer: Jesse Keller for "The Music of Erich Zann."

announcer: Aiden Keltner for "Estranged."

♪♪♪ Fred: And the winner is Melissa Vitello for "Twenty-Two."

♪♪♪ Melissa Vitello: Wow, thank you so much to the San Diego Film Consortium for this incredible honor.

What a true gift it is, as an artist, to be recognized for your craft, and, for that, I'm so grateful.

I want to give a couple thank you shout-outs first to Bryan Cantrell.

Thank you for believing in me as a director and pushing me to come back into directing and, just, really getting behind me and believing that I could tell this story.

Bryan Ricke, my husband and DP of this project, for making this look amazing and really helping me achieve my vision for this, and then, of course, the star and powerhouse behind the story, the amazing Ava Cantrell, thank you for your dedication to this, your camaraderie in this project and for just making this what it is truly.

So much love and respect.

Thank you all again.

Merridee: All around the world, San Diego is known for our shores, and when it comes to finding a picturesque waterfront, you can't do much better than us.

1976, "Freaky Friday," starring Jodie Foster, filmed a climatic waterskiing stunt shown right here in Mission Bay that included pyrotechnics, boat stunts, and a team of water performers.

And Jim Carrey performed his hilarious "send me a sign" scene from the 2003 existential comedy, "Bruce Almighty," right here on the Harbor Island in San Diego Bay.

Bruce Nolan: Lord, please send me a sign.

Merridee: Whether it's an extravagant spectacle or an intimate character moment, the beaches of San Diego are the perfect setting for the silver screen.

The nominees for Best Supporting Actor are-- ♪♪♪ announcer: Philip Orazio for "My Human Experience," episode one.

Xalax: They have the most wonderful aroma.

Yeah, I had to take a moment.

announcer: Jonathan Grebe for "Victims."

Christian Morrow: You know what's hard?

Chemotherapy.

Cancer is a disease, and guess what?

Cancer patients choose to go through hell.

announcer: Eric Casalini for "Sunken Holiday."

Bobby: His body washes ashore, and the person who finds him in a very specific location gets the opportunity to share a piece of his sunken treasure.

Merridee: And the winner is Jonathan Grebe for "Victims."

♪♪♪ Derrick: Tonight, you may have noticed that we've been sharing a few parodies made by San Diego's own talented and diverse film community.

These segments originated with the early San Diego Film Awards and have become something of a local tradition, a way to pay homage to the visionaries that came before us.

We hope you enjoy.

[laughing] female: That's Osgood Guilding VI, the producer.

Oh, I'd love to give my screenplay to him.

Do I look okay?

both: Yes.

Derrick/Sue: So you're a screenwriter.

female: Well, I want to be, but lately, all I've been doing is giving myself over two YouTubers, emotionally, financially, and otherwise, especially the ones who talk about video games.

Oh, they're so smart.

Derrick/Sue: Brains aren't everything.

female: No, I want someone with his own Learjet, yacht, and superhero franchise and someone who's willing to inexplicably volunteer for the San Diego Film Awards parody.

Sidney/Sue: Don't you know?

Yes, and no one's listening to script policy.

You could get fired.

Don't you got any brains?

female: Of course I've got brains.

I'm just careless, that's all.

Osgood Guilding VI: Who just gave me an unsolicited script?

That's gonna get me sued.

male: It came from over there.

female: Oh, no, I can't afford a lawyer.

I spent all my money driving down here from Los Angeles.

Sidney/Sue: I'm so sorry.

It was me.

I promise I will never do it again.

I didn't know.

Osgood: What's your name?

Sidney/Sue: Susan-- [clears throat] Sue Davis.

[Derrick whispering] Derrick: "Vicory."

Sidney/Sue: Vicory.

Osgood: Well, maybe I wanna be Sue'd after all, ha-ha-ha-ha.

Sue, have dinner on my yacht tonight?

Sidney/Sue: Oh, but, what about hashtag MeToo?

You're a big-time producer, and I'm just an extra.

Osgood: Right, okay, I quit.

I'll pick you up at dock at 8 p.m., right after you wrap, hah-ha.

Say, this script is dynamite, but then, again, San Diego scripts tend to be.

Rudy Quintanilla: After Cameron Crowe's 1996 megahit "Jerry Maguire," the director was greenlit to make a pet project based on his life in San Diego, "Almost Famous."

This idle, biographical film tells a story of a young writer from San Diego, comin' of age on a music tour, and was based on Cameron's own true-life experiences as a 15-year-old writer for "Rolling Stone Magazine."

♪ Hold me closer, tiny dancer.

♪ male: I have to go home.

♪ Count the headlights on the highway.

♪ Rudy: The opening scene was set and filmed in the neighborhood of Ocean Beach with other scenes at the San Diego Sports Arena and University of San Diego High School where he had attended.

He went on to win Best Original Screenplay at the 2000 Academy Awards, and the film is still thriving to this day.

And the nominees for Best Original Screenplay are-- ♪♪♪ announcer: Andrew Brame for "Touch."

female: Mom-- female: What are you doing?

Don't touch me.

I just came in from outside.

I've been touching the groceries.

announcer: Jonathan Hammond and Ryan Roach for "A Memory."

female: The point is I don't have many memories, you know, that will last me for eternity.

I don't even know if I've ever lived.

announcer: Gunner Garrett for "Twenty-Two."

female: I thought about the time I lost my favorite doll.

Then I thought, how would she not remember to bring her arm and her leg home?

announcer: Rachel Daigh for "Victims."

male: That's exactly what she needs to do.

A cold, hard, reality check might actually save his life.

announcer: Jonathan Hammond and Ryan Roach for "We All Die Alone."

male: He has never seen me dancing shirtless.

Philip: Fine, whatever.

You were in a harness.

You were dancing to Lizzo.

male: I mean, everybody dances to Lizzo.

announcer: Suzana Norberg for "Libertyville."

[speaking foreign language] announcer: Mark Atkinson for "Pulp Fiction."

Jules Winnfield: What's Fonzie like?

Brett: What's a Fonzie?

Jules: Come on, what's Fonzie like?

Brett: Uh, cool?

Jules: Oh, check out the brig brain on Brad.

Rudy: And the winner is Rachel Daigh for "Victims."

♪♪♪ Rachel Daigh: Thank you so very much from the bottom of my heart for this award for Best Original Screenplay.

This was a screenplay that we originally--I wasn't gonna make.

It just seemed like it was dark, and it was hard, and it had sensitive subject material, but everyone who read it was affected by it and had somebody that they knew in their life that it resonated with, so we made it.

I wanna thank the best cast and crew in the world, Jodi Cilley for putting this together.

Thirty seconds isn't a lot of time, but we won, and thank you, everyone, who was part of "Victims."

Thank you so, so much.

Peter: San Diego has an undeniable charm and a reputation as a place where celebrities can escape Hollywood and come to relax, and we're not just talkin' about the Hotel Del.

Plenty of San Diego resorts have served as vacation destinations for Hollywood's elite.

In the 1940s and '50s, guests in the Valencia Hotel of La Jolla might find themselves in the company of Groucho Marx and Ginger Rogers.

Gregory Peck was known to frequent the area of La Jolla and went on to found the La Jolla Playhouse, and in the heart of North Park, guests lounging by the pool in the Lafayette Hotel might find themselves sunbathing with Bob Hope and Ava Gardner.

Tonight we honor our own local actors who have to sometimes make the dreaded trip to L.A. but prefer to lay their head in beautiful San Diego.

The nominees for Best Lead Actor are-- ♪♪♪ announcer: Randy Davison for "Immortal Game."

Peter: I need to see where you were born.

Will you take me there?

Take me to the light.

announcer: Floyd Strayer for "One by One."

male: Well, given what you've seen here today, I reckon you know I am not-- announcer: Jayce Venditti for "Last Chance: Chaos."

♪♪♪ announcer: Doug Lito for "A Celebration of Life."

Thomas Farraday: Come here, sweetie.

Everything's gonna be okay, sweetie.

Everything's gonna be okay.

Peter: And the winner is Jayce Venditti for "Last Chance: Chaos."

♪♪♪ Luis Cruz: From mountains to desert, city to beaches, San Diego has a wide variety of terrain, but one thing that really makes San Diego special is its proximity to Mexico.

The U.S.-Mexico border has been the subject of hundreds of films, major hit films like "Battle" and "Traffic" were filmed in the border region, and plenty of films from the Mexican movie industry were made in Baja too, films like "Norteado," "Las Elegidas," and "Los Hamsters," used the diverse locations to stage their productions.

Documentary filmmaking also thrives in the region, shining a light on the real-life dramas and personal stories in Tijuana and Baja.

It's not all negative.

The exciting food, cultural, and entertainment lifestyle of the border region and the unique experience of those living a binational and bicultural lifestyle is often documented.

The nominees for Best Short Documentary are-- ♪♪♪ announcer: "Living Through It," directed by Daniel E. Kennedy.

male: Such a beautiful bridge to have such a terrible-- you know, people goin' there and takin' their lives.

announcer: "The Shoulders of Giants," directed by Quinn Early.

male: University of Iowa, there were times when I thought things weren't fair.

I wanted to quit.

I was homesick.

announcer: "iNiT-Y C-XRW Project, Extreme Skydiving," directed by Lucas Marasta.

male: They absolutely rip, so they make it super easy.

announcer: "White Male Shooter," directed by Andrew Norbeck and Jared Callahan.

male: My goal is to get it one shot away from breaking in half.

Luis: And the winner is "Living Through It," directed by Daniel E. Kennedy.

♪♪♪ Daniel E. Kennedy: Thank you, San Diego Film Awards, for recognizing "Living Through It" with the Best Short Documentary Award."

I'm grateful to the San Diego Film Consortium and KPBS for supporting local filmmakers and giving us a platform to share our stories.

I thank my wife, Executive Producer Veronica Kennedy, and Doug Blush, Lisa Klein, Bertha Loaiza, Steve Bouchard, Wayne Strickland, Senator Ben Hueso, and my fantastic film crew.

Thank you again for this beautiful award.

Sue: The Women in Film Award is something near and dear to my heart.

Working in the film industry over the past 20 years, I have diligently lifted up and supported women filmmakers by moderating all female panels, creating a website for women documentary filmmakers, and directed all female cast and crew films.

This year's winner has a diverse background in the entertainment industry.

She has won multiple awards for Best Screenplay in various film festivals across the country.

To date, she has been nominated for ten Emmy Awards and has been awarded three for her writing and producing skills.

In addition to writing, she has studied theater and commercial acting.

Her passion is creating stories that inspire thought and bring those stories to life.

female: The winner of Women in Film Awards is Marianne Bates.

♪♪♪ Marianne Bates: Thank you for this honor.

I'm humbled to have been chosen for this award.

From the very beginning, women have been a part of the filmmaking industry but hardly acknowledged.

Only recently, the tides have turned, and now the hard work of women in this business is finally being noticed and celebrated.

Whatever your role in film, you're a part of the team for a reason, and you deserve to be there just as much as anyone.

Own it.

Be the best you can be, and keep up the fantastic work, ladies.

Again, thank you for this recognition.

I am truly honored.

Jodi: In 1997, James Cameron's massive hit "Titanic" took the world by storm.

Jack Dawson: I'm the king of the world.

Woo-hoo.

Jodi: To make the movie, Fox built a giant beachside studio 18 miles south of the U.S.-Mexico border, where 95% of the film was shot.

The studio was incredible to behold.

Three massive water tanks fed by the Pacific Ocean were built large enough to house entire ships.

Winning 11 Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Musical Composition, "Titanic" went on to become one of the highest-grossing pictures of all time.

And the music from "Titanic" went on to become a cultural phenomenon all on its own.

♪♪♪ Jodi: The nominees for best musical composition are-- ♪♪♪ announcer: Jason Haury, Jordan Lieberman, and Unison Colthurst for "The Art of Growing Up."

♪ When I couldn't see, couldn't see.

♪♪ announcer: John Freeman for "Immortal Game."

♪♪♪ announcer: Reber Clark for "Mystery Highway."

male: How's that for a little pick-me-up?

announcer: Jesse Keller for "The Music of Erich Zann."

♪♪♪ announcer: Kevin Cain, Jonathan Foreman, and Kevin Brame for "Forsaken."

♪♪♪ male: Sara?

Jodi: And the winner is Jesse Keller for "The Music of Erich Zann."

♪♪♪ Jesse Keller: I'm not the world's greatest musician, but I was inspired by some great musicians for the music on this film, on which music's really key, people from the great Miles Davis and Wayne Shorter, to other composers, so I wanna encourage people out there to get inspired, rip off the greats and make your own stuff.

females: Brr, it's cold in here.

Rudy: In 2000, a movie about a teenage cheerleading squad, directed by Peyton Reed and starring Kirsten Dunst, hit the theaters and set the tone for a new type of teen comedy.

"Bring It On" brought us the compelling story of competitive high school cheerleading and a top-ranked squad who discovers that its award-winning routine had been stolen from a local inner-city school.

Although "Bring It On" is set in the fictional Rancho Carne High School, most of the film was actually shot at San Diego State University.

The Toros gym scenes were filmed at Our Lady of Peace, a local Catholic girl's academy, and real cheerleaders from Our Lady of Peace appear in the movie.

♪ I want it, I'm hot.

♪ ♪ I'm everything you're not.

♪♪ Rudy: Talented cast of young women had to show off their athleticism as well as their acting chops.

The nominees for Best Emerging Actor are-- ♪♪♪ announcer: Deana Bilby for "Twenty-Two."

female: Do you need help?

announcer: Tara Nader for "The Dress."

♪♪♪ announcer: Morgan Marlow for "Things We Dig."

female: So far, no complaints.

That's my new friend, Freddie.

I found him on the Internet.

announcer: Kate Aizin for "Estranged."

male: Oh, hey, Abigail.

female: How long has it been, a month?

Welcome back.

female: I saved your seat for you.

Rudy: And the winner is Kate Aizin for "Estranged."

♪♪♪ Kate Aizin: Thank you so much, San Diego Film Awards, for this award.

I'm so happy right now.

We started this project about two years ago, and it was just such a wonderful experience to be working.

Thank you to Aiden and the rest of the team, and also, thank you to my mom and my dad for allowing me to go to acting classes.

That's where I met Aiden, and the rest is history.

Thank you so much, San Diego Film Awards.

Luis: Steven Soderbergh's 2000 film "Traffic" explores the illegal drug trade from the perspective of users, enforcers, politicians, and traffickers.

Their character stories are edited together seamlessly to show how their lives are intermingled although some of the characters never even meet each other.

It was shot across San Diego and Tijuana and included scenes from a Downtown San Diego courthouse, Balboa Park, San Diego Marriott, with various establishing shots of the two cities.

Editor Stephen Mirrione also won an Academy Award for his work, cutting the film.

He masterfully demonstrated the power of film editing to take complex issues, multiple perspectives, and various locales and weave them into an award- winning narrative.

The nominees for Best Editing are-- ♪♪♪ announcer: Aiden Keltner for "Estranged."

female: I need you to be home before sunset, all right?

I don't feel comfortable having you walk around at night.

I'm serious, Abigail.

female: Abigail, Abigail, could you hand me-- announcer: Ryan Kelly for "Sunken Holiday."

female: Mother-- You understand the situation now?

announcer: Jon Matthews for "Ang Motel."

Luis: And the winner is Aiden Keltner for "Estranged."

♪♪♪ Aiden Keltner: Thank you so much for this award.

I think one of the toughest things to keep as an editor is an objective view of the work at hand.

So often, we become distracted by the small nuances from shot to shot or from take to take, and we lose sight of the bigger picture.

That's why I'm extremely grateful to my collaborators and my friends and family who watched through every cut of the film and gave their feedback in order to make this edit the best it could be.

So thank you to the San Diego Film Awards, and thank you to everyone who supported me on this project.

male: Hi, how are you?

Derrick: Hey, beat it, pipsqueak, beat it.

Hit the bricks.

female: Haven't I seen you before?

Derrick: Not very likely.

Well, my family does own Shell Oil.

female: No, they don't.

Derrick: Yes, we're looking to invest billions in the San Diego Film team--they don't?

female: It's a publicly traded company, but if you or your family are on the board, you should be ashamed of yourself for price gouging and exploitive environmental and human practices.

Derrick: Oh, hah-ha, I'm kidding.

No, the billions we're looking to invest in the film industry come from diamonds.

I hear they're a girl's best friend.

female: Like blood diamonds?

Derrick: Um, yeah.

[smack] female: And mid-Atlantic accents aren't a thing.

This is clearly an act, and I don't have time for deceitful men.

Derrick: Wait, I can explain.

female: I'm all ears.

Derrick: I was pretending to be somebody else to seduce you.

female: Well, in that case--actually, I do have a weakness for men who pretend to be someone that they're not.

Derrick: Oh, like actors?

female: Like good actors.

[smack] Take it away, fellas.

Lisa: One of the most influential comedy movies of the past 20 years made itself synonymous with San Diego.

We're talking about the 2004 breakout hit movie "Anchorman."

male narrator: In other words, Ron Burgundy was the balls.

Lisa: "Anchorman" brought us Ron Burgundy, San Diego's top-rated newscaster in the male-dominated broadcasting world of the 1970s.

Although it's set in San Diego, most of the film was actually shot in Los Angeles.

Even the iconic scene where Jack Black kicks Ron Burgundy's beloved dog, Baxter, off the Coronado Bridge was staged south of Long Beach on Queensway Bridge.

But San Diego locations were not completely left out of the movie.

After losing everything, Ron walks dejectedly through the real Balboa Park--and I was there--and the 2013 sequel was shot at SeaWorld and other San Diego locations.

Ron Burgundy: Welcome to world-famous SeaWorld here in San Diago.

Lisa: "Anchorman" succeeded with audiences not just because of the popularity of its lead character but also because of the misfit news team, made up of an ensemble cast of Paul Rudd, Steve Carell, Christina Applegate, and many others.

The nominees for Best Ensemble Cast are-- ♪♪♪ announcer: "We All Die Alone" by GrooveKo.

male: You do that again, I will definitely [bleep] in my pants.

female: Maybe we need to start thinking about an exit strategy here.

Philip: I'd like that.

I think I have a date tonight.

announcer: "Victims" by True North Motion Pictures.

female: You have abandoned him.

None of you even allowed him to come to your homes.

female: That's because, the moment we do, he steals everything, from medications to-- announcer: "Panic at Parq," by Heartland Films.

Sue: Pretty good.

David: Uh, I agree.

I mean, some of them pretend to be my friends, so I can't really be that impartial.

announcer: "Sugarcoat," by San Diego State University.

grandma: Listen, there is a lot to unpack here.

announcer: "The Count," by Lonesome Tree Productions.

female: You boys got a lot of nerve showin' your faces around here.

Lisa: And the winner is "We All Die Alone," by GrooveKo.

♪♪♪ Suzana: We come to this place for magic.

female: We come to the San Diego Film Awards to laugh-- male: --to cry, to care, because we need that.

Frank DiPalermo: All of us, that indescribable feeling we get-- Patrick Mayuyu: --when the lights begin to dim, and we go somewhere we've never been before.

female: Not just enter, but, somehow, reborn-- all: Together.

female: Dazzling images on huge silver screens.

Brian Patrick Butler: Sound that I can feel.

male: Somehow, heartbreak feels good in a place like this.

male: Our heroes feel like the best part of us.

Frank: And the stories feel perfect-- female: --and powerful because here-- Patrick: --They are.

Brian: GrooveKo, we make movies better.

♪ Hallelujah.

♪♪ male: Thank you, San Diego Film Awards, and thank you, San Diego Film community for voting for the ensemble for "We All Die Alone."

It was an absolute pleasure being a part of this film.

It was a huge joy to be a part of this through the pandemic and to work with such incredible people, so thank you to all of the crew and everyone behind the scenes, as well, who made all this possible.

We couldn't have done any of this without you.

Thank you.

♪♪♪ William Lange: It's not always sunshine and rainbows here in San Diego.

Sometimes a sense of security is exactly what filmmakers wanna ruin when it's time for the action to hit the fan, say, for example, when a T-Rex was unleashed on our streets in Steven Spielberg's "The Lost World."

Or when Michael Bay shot a few action sequences for "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen," in our harbor.

Yes, action blockbusters, the type of films that fuel Comic-Con, San Diego is all about them.

Of course, sometimes, it's not practical to actually destroy our city, and that's when those wonderful VFX artists step in.

And the nominees for Best Visual Effects are-- ♪♪♪ announcer: A.J.

Huebner for "My Human Experience," episode one.

male: Greetings, fellow explorers, Lex and Xalax.

I hope you're acclimating to your-- announcer: John Freeman for "Immortal Game."

♪♪♪ announcer: Neil Aguilera and Fernando Jay Huerto for "Earth's Last Shot."

Jesse Keller for "The Music of Erich Zann."

William: And the winner is Jesse Keller for "The Music of Erich Zann."

♪♪♪ Jesse: I never really considered myself a great master of the visual effects tools, but I think this shows that, if you learn the basics and you come up with a cool concept, you can come up with something kind of cool, and I really just wanna say thanks and encourage everyone to grab the tools and make something cool.

Derrick: Big movie productions don't just roll up into town and start screaming, "action."

It takes a massive, coordinated citywide effort to handle the needs of a major film production.

That's why, in the mid-1970s, the San Diego Film Commission was formed, helmed by the legendary Wally Schlotter.

This organization went on to be one of the most impactful and influential groups in our town's film history, and it's impossible to imagine the San Diego film industry without them.

Not only did they issue permits and help with food and housing and logistics, they also worked hard to keep every production safe, all while keeping San Diego residents minimally inconvenienced, not the easiest job in the world but certainly one that garnered them a lot of credit and respect across San Diego.

William: Shot over seven days and nights, entirely inside the director's home in Escondido, "Paranormal Activity" is a found footage film where a young couple sets up a video camera in their bedroom in an attempt to figure out what exactly is terrorizing their home at night.

female: What're you doing?

What're you doing?

male: There's something out there.

William: The film's budget was a measly $15,000, and it took probably three years to make it and another two years to secure distribution, but when it hit theaters, it exploded.

Early word of mouth described the film as perhaps the scariest movie ever made, and this catapulted it to incredible heights.

female: I feel it breathing on me.

William: "Paranormal Activity" went on to spawn five sequels, and it generated nearly $900 million worldwide.

The film relied heavily on sound design to bring its haunting atmosphere to life, and audiences just couldn't get enough.

Tonight, we honor the sound designers who scare, soothe, and inspire us with their work, and the nominees for Best Sound Design are-- ♪♪♪ announcer: Jon Matthews for "Ang Motel."

[woman humming] female: I don't know which one flowers are.

On this one?

female: Um, yeah.

female: Okay.

announcer: Miko Aguilar for "Estranged."

♪♪♪ announcer: Jerry Sosa and Duggan Bayerque Zuzulich for "A Brother's Hate."

William: And the winner is Jon Matthews for "Ang Motel."

♪♪♪ Jon Matthews: I'm so honored to accept this award for Sound Design.

Thank you, Film Consortium.

Thank you to my cast and crew.

Thank you, Lola, Virginia Soliman, Eurice McNeal.

Thank you to my wife, my executive producer Anna Soliman, her parents, our producers, Teresa Soliman and Narry Soliman, and thank you to county of San Diego.

This is a tremendous honor, and we thank you very much.

Gregory Durbin: San Diego's high schools and colleges have helped launch the careers of many talented writers, directors, producers, and countless professionals who've gone on to make their mark in the industry.

Tonight, we recognize the next generation of homegrown industry pros.

The nominees for Best First-Time Filmmaker are-- ♪♪♪ announcer: Zachary L. Harris for "Victims."

male: You didn't hear a word he said, did you?

female: Of course, I heard him.

I'm responsible for everything.

announcer: Julia Borges Bertassoli and Hau'oli Carr for "Sugarcoat."

grandma: You reek of alcohol, Naomi, on Mae's birthday.

announcer: Floyd Strayer for "Life After Oblivion."

male: Gone.

male: The last thing I saw were his eyes.

announcer: Nicole Emiliana Mendez for "The Dress."

♪♪♪ Gregory: And the winner is Zachary L. Harris for "Victims."

♪♪♪ Zachary L. Harris: Thank you so much, San Diego Film Awards, for this special recognition.

Thank you to our wonderful lead producer, Jane Hare, for steering the ship and making this all possible.

Thank you to our talented cast and crew for your hard work and professionalism, and, finally, thank you to the creator and heart of "Victims," Rachel Daigh, our writer, coproducer, and one of our lead actresses, for trusting me with your brilliant and powerful script.

It's a message that narcotic addiction is a disease that not only affects those using the drugs but has the power to rip apart entire families is more important and more timely than ever before.

Thanks again.

Gregory: It's not just the big movie studios that shoot in San Diego.

Smaller independent films have been made here with astonishing results.

In 2008, SDSU graduate student Destin Daniel Cretton, wrote and directed "Short Term 12," a 20-minute short based on his personal experience working in a group foster home for troubled teens.

I was honored to be Destin's faculty adviser at that time and was thrilled when "Short Term 12" took the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance, as well as six other major festival prizes that year.

After the success of "Short Term 12," he wrote and directed "I Am Not a Hipster," a super-low-budget feature film self-financed by Destin and producer Ron Najor.

The film explored the role of the artist in the context of global tragedy and featured San Diego's indie music and art scenes as its backdrop.

♪ I am never comin' back.

♪♪ Gregory: "I'm Not a Hipster" cleared the path for a feature adaptation of "Short Term 12."

That film premiered at South by Southwest in 2013, where it won both the Grand Jury Prize and the Audience Award for Narrative Feature.

After its success, Destin quickly advanced to the Hollywood big leagues, directing the 2017 Lionsgate movie, "The Glass Castle," the 2019 Warner Brothers movie "Just Mercy," and the 2022 Marvel blockbuster "Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings."

Significantly, Destin's phenomenal success began with the short films.

The nominees for Best Short Film are-- ♪♪♪ announcer: "Twenty-two," by Dark Gravity Studios, SandCastle Productions, and Stage 18 Productions.

[crying] announcer: "Touch," by Twenty Ten Creative.

♪♪♪ announcer: "Sunken Holiday," by Fallen Light Media.

female: Spend the rest of eternity with the man of my dreams.

And for the rest of her life-- announcer: "We All Die Alone" by "GrooveKo.

♪♪♪ male: Woo-hoo, looks like everyone made it to the party.

female: Drop it, hayseed.

announcer: "Immortal Game" by Freeman Arts.

female: So you can fix me.

Gregory: And the winner is "Twenty-Two" by Dark Gravity Studios, SandCastle Productions, and Stage 18 Productions.

♪♪♪ male: Thank you so much, San Diego Film Consortium, for this award.

I'm very honored to accept this for the whole cast and crew of the "Twenty-Two" film.

We're so excited to be a part of your film festival, and congratulations to all the nominees as well.

They were awesome, and I love being a part of this.

♪♪♪ Doug: If we're talking about movies made in San Diego, there's only one top dog, and that's "Top Gun."

No other film has perfectly capitalized on every single aspect of filmmaking in San Diego and brought it together so seamlessly into a major blockbuster, twice.

From the military naval bases located in and around the city, to the neighborhoods, homes, hotels, and restaurants made famous, no movie has featured more of our city as its own character.

Could you imagine that volleyball scene taking place in any other town in America?

And just this year, the sequel, "Top Gun: Maverick," took the summer box office by storm, once again, showing the world that there is no production too big to call San Diego home.

The nominees for Best Feature Film are-- ♪♪♪ announcer: "Mystery Highway," directed by Clarke M. Smith for Time Axis Entertainment.

♪♪♪ announcer: "5 South," directed by Christopher Boyd for General Malaise Production.

[speaking foreign language] announcer: "Where Were You," directed by Caden H. Hollander and Magnus Fulton.

male: Hi.

Stop.

Doug: And the winner is "5 South," directed by Christopher Boyd for General Malaise Production.

♪♪♪ male: Thank you, San Diego Film Consortium, for this award, and thank you to the cast of "5 South" for all of your tremendous performances.

And the director of photography, Alan McLaughlin, you made San Diego look better than it's ever looked on film.

As a local filmmaker, it's just really incredible to make a feature film here in the city that I grew up in, the city that I live in, and I'm looking forward to making my next feature here, and that's a project that I've got going right now.

Thank you so much.

♪♪♪ Derrick: As we close our show, the iconic Hotel Del Coronado has, once again, been the backdrop for celebrating the art of cinematic storytelling.

I hope our show taught you about our region's moviemaking history and inspired you to dream big about San Diego's moviemaking future.

In "Some Like It Hot," Marilyn Monroe so eloquently said, "These diamonds must be worth their weight in gold."

So congratulations to tonight's nominees and winners.

You are all worth your weight in gold.

Derrick/Sue: You have to know one thing: I'm not actually a producer.

I just really wanted to be in the San Diego Film Awards.

female: Of course, makes sense since there aren't enough roles for straight cis actors.

Derrick: And I'm a YouTube star.

female: Doesn't matter.

Derrick: You mean, you're not angry?

female: Not since I saw the number of your subscribers.

Sidney/Sue: Osgood, I can't get married in your mother's wedding dress, she and I were not built the same way.

Osgood: We can have it altered.

Sidney/Sue: You don't understand.

I'm not a natural blond.

Osgood: It doesn't matter.

Sidney/Sue: I can't have children.

Osgood: We'll adopt some.

Sidney: I'm gonna level with you.

I'm a man.

Osgood: Well, I hope so.

Sidney: A straight man.

Osgood: Well, nobody's perfect.