Cast and crew of “The Mineshaft” pose with Rancho Cordova Mayor David Sander, City Councilmember Linda Budge and Sacramento County Supervisor Pat Hume at the award ceremony. Photo by Rick Sloan

RANCHO CORDOVA, CA (MPG) - The Rancho Cordova Film Office, in association with the Rancho Cordova Police Activities League, presented a film screening of “The Mineshaft” at Rancho Cordova City Hall on Aug. 3.

The film’s screening was the finale of a film project that took 16 weeks to complete.

The Rancho Cordova Film Office worked hand-in-hand with a group of 12 students ranging in ages from 14 to 17 and taught them aspects of film-making techniques. This program was made possible thanks in part to a Community and Investment Enhancement Grant from the City of Rancho Cordova.  

The program’s goal was to produce a 60-minute professional suspense film that featured some of the students as the actors and the others as the crew.

The Rancho Cordova Film Office was able to secure the use of Heartstoppers Haunted House as the main location to shoot the film. This provided a great backdrop as well as an authentic location to bring life to the film. 

Set in 1999, a group of youth decide they will make a vampire film. The group’s leader, John, (Isaiah Toralez) finishes the script and recruits his two best friends, Mike (Aarav Jain) and Timmy (Brandon Roy) to be in the film but they need one more actor. Mike suggests that they approach Paul (Martin Peach) as they heard he is a great actor. There is one problem: Paul’s brother (Andre Lopez-Aguayo) is more interested in training his younger brother in boxing, as their father is an abusive drunk and Matt wants to make sure his brother can take care of himself. 

 “The Mineshaft” was produced by the Rancho Cordova Film Office and Rancho Cordova PAL. Image courtesy of Rancho Cordova Film Office

The first day of filming approaches and Paul is late, so the boys think he isn’t going to show up but he does and brings his neighbor, Paula (Miranda Vasquez), to help with makeup. The first day of filming went well and the friends arranged to meet the next day to continue filming. 

However, that night, Timmy did not return home and went missing. His friends decide they are going to look for him at a local cave which they know is dangerous as several years ago other boys went missing. As they approach the caves looking for Timmy, they run into “creepy guy” (Ron Cornog). Creepy Guy really frightens the boys, which causes them to run into the caves and immediately become trapped and lost. 

What follows is 30 minutes of suspense, drama, fear and heroism. 

The film was shot by two of the students, Philip Tren and Erick Vivas, boom was by Kunal Vasisht and  sound was by Jovan Jijo and Sohum Jain. The film was edited by Rafeal Portillo and sound design by Shane Sharpe. 

“The Mineshaft” is available for viewing for free on the Rancho Cordova Film Office YouTube channel. 

From Aug. 12 to Dec. 20, the Rancho Cordova Film Office will teach a film class at Kinney High School that will result in the production of another film featuring Kinney High School students.

For more information on “The Mineshaft” or any of the Rancho Cordova Film Office projects, call Charles Lago at 916-706-2000.

Charles Lago is the Rancho Cordova Film Office executive director.

 Cast and crew members of “The Mineshaft”, Rancho Cordova Police Activities League officers and Rancho Cordova Film Office staff pose for a photo before the premiere. Photo by Rick Sloan