I'm one of the winners of THE BIG TELL

I was told that I am one of ten winners of CMAC’s Big Tell to create a short documentary. CMAC asked each winner to bring their team for an orientation this week to meet the other winners and their teams. We gathered at CMAC’s beautiful studio in Fresno.

My team includes some members from HMTC. The shooting will take place in and around Hanford, as well as at our Lil’ Brick Theater for interviews and filming some scenes.

According to their website, “The Big Tell is a regional filmmaking contest offering grants to filmmakers to produce short documentaries that focus on stories from California’s six-county Central San Joaquin Valley. Now in its ninth year, The Big Tell is organized by the Community Media Access Collaborative (CMAC), an organization dedicated to empowering voices in our community to share their stories through media.”

Ten filmmakers receive grants to make their films. We have only three months to complete our projects, which will then premiere at The Big Tell Showcase on November 19.

What I enjoy most is the one-on-one mentorship from past award-winning filmmakers, along with inspiration, equipment, and financial backing from CMAC.

The film I am making is titled “Retired and Inspired: A Town Transformed by Senior Creativity.” I chose this theme because of all the retirees I’ve met over the past year who are creating art. They are injecting new energy into Hanford and the surrounding towns in Kings County. The documentary will highlight retirees experiencing a second life through art, poetry, storytelling, theater, music, and even stand-up comedy!

Another perk of winning is a premiere at the Tower Theater in Fresno, along with television exposure.

The Big Tell 2025 is sponsored by the James B. McClatchy Foundation and the Central Valley Community Foundation.

Silvia Gonzalez Scherer ( AKA Silvia Gonzalez S.)