Today we’d like to introduce you to Ethan Van Thillo.
Hi Ethan, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I am the Founder and Executive Director of the Media Arts Center San Diego (MACSD). Since 1989, I’ve worked in media arts, programming Latino film festivals for the University of California, Santa Cruz; Cine Acción in San Francisco; Cine Estudiantil at the Centreo Cultural de la Raza/University of California San Diego/San Diego State University/UABC Tijuana; and the National Latino Communications Center in Los Angeles. I have curated hundreds of programs at festivals and/or special events in 45 libraries across California, Mexico City, Morelia, Las Cruces, Nuevo Laredo, San Antonio, Tijuana, Sacramento, and San Diego.
In 1995, I transformed our Cine Estudiantil into the San Diego Latino Film Festival. In 1999, to broaden the scope of the festival following four successful years, Ethan established the nonprofit Media Arts Center San Diego in 1999. Under the umbrella of MACSD, Ethan has developed and continues to create innovative community media programs such as the California Digital Story Station initiative, Teen Producers Project, Youth Media & Tech Camps; Mobile Stories, Speak City Heights, The People’s Post, Video Production Services Department, Cine en el Parque, and the Digital Gym community technology center and CINEMA.
I have served on various funding panels including San Diego’s Commission for Arts & Culture, Latino Public Broadcasting, Rockefeller Foundation’s Film and Video Fellowships; California Arts Council, and the National Endowment for the Arts’ funding panel for Media Arts. He’s spoken at the National Association of Latino Independent Producers, National Association of Latino Arts & Culture, and National Alliance of Media Arts & Culture.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Running a non profit for 33+ years has been full of challenges. The constant factor is funding. Especially given the current political climate and cuts in federal arts and education funding, it will only get more challenging this upcoming fiscal year. Additionally, for arts organizations, it’s always hard to find affordable venues and facilities to exhibit art, present live music, host independent films/film festivals, etc. Every year costs increases to host art events. Thankfully, Media Arts Center San Diego got very lucky in finding a partner with U.C. San Diego Extension. Close to three years ago now, they build this beautiful movie theater, lobby and concession area for us on the 2nd floor of their new UC San Diego Park & Market facility in downtown San Diego, East Village. It’s now the LAST movie theater in downtown San Diego and the last arthouse cinema in the County of San Diego that daily shows independent and foreign movies.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Daily I am able to create innovative new film and community outreach programs that hopefully change the lives of 1000s of San Diegans per year. Whether it’s learning how to tell a story about your community and/or seeing a movie in our movie theater or annual San Diego Latino Film Festival, I hope the programs I help create will inspire others to bring change to this world and/or tell stories that are not being told via mainstream Hollywood or media outlets.
One of the creative projects I am really excited is coming up this month. Every Saturday, we’ll be screening a movie in Chicano Park. The Chicano Film Series will be Aug 9, 16, 23 and 30th. Details and films here – https://sdlatinofilm.com/site_2025/ceep/
How do you think about happiness?
Happiness is seeing attendees come out of our movie theater after they’ve seen a movie. Talking about the themes in the movie, laughing and/or even still teary-eyed. Happiness is seeing our young filmmakers present their movies on the BIG screen to their families and friends. Seeing them introduce the movies, talk about how they made it and/or maybe certain thems in the movie. Also, happiness is playing music. Seven years ago, I re-entered the world of music and started to play the mandolin. After 25+ years hiatus from music while I started a family and grew my non profit, it was amazing to come back to music and learn a new instrument like the mandolin. I’ve been in five plus bands these past years playing 80+ live shows per year, gigging around San Diego, Souther California and Arizona. All types of music and I’ve been involved in the recording of 4 albums. The bands are Whiskey & Burlap, Planetarius, The Storytellers, Johnny High Hat Combo and Ass Pocket Whiskey Fellas.
Pricing:
- General Admission: $13.00
- Students/Seniors (55+): $11.00
- Members: $9.00
Contact Info:
- Website: https://digitalgym.org/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/digitalgymsd/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/digitalgymsandiego
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ethanv/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/sdlatinofilm
- Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/whiskeyburlap
Image Credits
Photo credit: Media Arts Center San Diego
