Call me Stef.
I’m a director and cinematographer based in the San Francisco Bay Area. I'm a visual storyteller at my core. And I love to dabble in music, sports and carpentry.
In many screenplays, characters have precious items. The samurai's sword. The writer's pen. The sailor's compass. The character and the item carry each other through life. For me, it's two things: a 35mm camera and a bicycle. Wherever in the world I go, I'll find my way to them. They help me access characters and their stories. If I'm lucky, I'll make friends along the way -- whether with people, animals, or the landscapes themselves. I often travel for film work and I'm proud to call the San Francisco Bay Area home -- a place that nurtures creativity, culture, and innovation.
From an early immersion in creative writing, music, and theater, I gravitated towards film production in college: I chased the drama of Chicago at DePaul University, the prestige of academia at UC Berkeley and the guidance of cinema's luminaries at San Francisco State. Under the mentorship of indie cinematographer Larry Clark and Hollywood editor Pat Jackson, celebrated for her work as a sound editor on films like "Apocalypse Now" and other classics from Hollywood's golden era, I honed my craft.
Driven by an insatiable curiosity about humanity and nature, I pioneered a hybrid visual approach evident in features like "E14" and "My People are Rising." Opting to remain in Oakland over the allure of LA, I focus on creating films and TV segments that inspire people to engage with cultural preservation and environmental stewardship. My collaboration extends globally with the international non-profit Seacology, where I document the heroic tales of island communities.
Back in Oakland, I thrive on collaborations with local filmmakers and find fulfillment within my community. In 2016, I co-founded Oakstop, a coworking space and cultural nexus. In 2019, I began teaching film to underserved youth at The Hidden Gem. In my free time, if I'm not attending a weekly writer circle or jam session, I'm coaching my son's soccer team and exploring new creative projects.
“Storytelling was the key to unlocking my life. Whether making a film, performing on stage, teaching a classroom of 10-year-olds, or sharing a meal with family, my story became a bright torch, lighting the caverns of time, interwoven with the land and the people. Yours does the same, I reckon.”