Under the Sun: Sonoma filmmaker Mike Abela

Your short documentaries for the Sun have been wonderful. How did it all begin?

When I was just 13 years old I fell in love with filmmaking, though I hadn’t even realized it yet. I was just a young, scrappy skateboarder who was obsessed with skate videos and extreme sports. The combination of visuals and sound in these films gave me that tingle you get when you hear a great song… it captivated me and I became obsessed. When my mother bought me my first video camera there was no turning back. I have never put my camera down since then.

Related story about Mike’s films for The Sun

You studied video production at Sonoma High, right?

I attended the very first year of Peter Hansen’s program in 2003. We used outdated equipment and Peter was reinventing himself to become the wonderful teacher he is today. Thanks to his dedication and commitment, he successfully transformed the class into a video production program that rivals most college film institutions.

And now you are a professional.

Peter taught me that filmmaking could be more than just a passion; it could be a career, a lifestyle and a means of creating my own destiny. The video production class gave me a creative outlet which is not just something that I became passionate about, but something which has become my way of life, supporting me financially and emotionally. After SVHS, I attended SRJC before transferring to SFSU to major in cinema production in 2011.

Your latest work is filmed in Asia. Seems exciting!

Filmmaking is something that has given me a lifestyle of freedom and adventure; everyday is different and every assignment is a liberating challenge. One day a corporate film in San Francisco’s financial district, and the next a music video shoot or a documentary for a non-profit organization… or even in Vietnam shooting a film on the Mekong River like I am today. I’m traveling through Vietnam producing a series of short documentary films centered around the theme of mobility and commerce. I also plan to travel to Myanmar, Thailand, Laos and eventually Nepal. In Nepal, I will work with a non-profit organization to create documentary material regarding the effects of the earthquakes on orphaned children.

And when you come home?

I’ll continue on with my directing and producing work for various clients as a freelance filmmaker. I’m happy with my progress over the years, however I have a very, very long way to go. I will be learning until the end of my career, still very far away since I am only 26-years-old. Since I have chosen the path of an independent filmmaker it takes more time and effort to reach the top.

Why not just get a salaried job?

Instead of climbing the ladder in the insanely competitive film industry in a traditional manner, I have been creating my own ladder, working for myself, setting my own wages and building my name as a producer/director from the bottom up. This has given me a tremendous amount of freedom in my lifestyle, income and creativity. I’m not constrained by a system offering a set wage with a set position and little change over time. I truly do feel free.

Mike’s latest production can be viewed at SonomaSun.com

— Interview by Larry Barnett