A Modesto filmmaker is among the finalists for a national advertising contest with a top prize of $25,000. Logan Miller, 26, was selected as one of 15 finalists in the Bumble Bee Tuna Cans Film Festival, where his commercial entry could lead to national recognition and financial support for further film education.
“This contest is sort of me testing the waters to see if I should commit more to filmmaking as a career,” said Miller. “If we win this, maybe I can put this money into educating myself at a film school.”
Miller has already received recognition in local cinema circles. Earlier this year, his short film “Admittance” won best picture at the Modesto 48 Hour Film Competition. He also took part in the Modesto Film Invitational, winning best picture with his film “Polyphemus.” Both films have darker themes, but Miller says his inspiration often comes from comedic sources such as “SpongeBob SquarePants.” For his festival entry, he created a one-minute commercial that begins with an unenthusiastic party until a giant tuna enters and livens up the event by opening a can of Bumble Bee tuna.
“I’m really influenced by things like ‘SpongeBob SquarePants’; it has some of the funniest timing I’ve ever seen,” Miller said.
Although he sometimes acts in his projects, Miller prefers working behind the camera and focusing on editing. “I’m inspired by really good editing, whether it be a horror movie or a comedy. When the timing is right, that’s like the most important thing. When I make these movies, I’m really seeking to make the editing the best it can be.”
Miller works as a freelance graphic designer for various tech companies and marketing teams but began making films at age 11 in Oregon using an iPod and family members as actors. After pausing his filmmaking ambitions for school and marriage—his wife Sarah Miller frequently stars in his films—they moved to Modesto four years ago for work opportunities and proximity to family.
“One night, we went to the State Theatre to watch a movie, and we saw this little flyer for the Modesto 48 Hour Film Competition. And we thought, oh, we should do that,” he said. “And we did it, and we took it really seriously, and we won. It was very exciting.”
Winning local competitions encouraged him to enter the Bumble Bee Tuna Contest. Miller believes winning could provide life-changing opportunities beyond just prize money.
“I don’t have any grand scale goals like making a feature film just yet, but what I do know is that I want to keep making short films in the local community, because that’s been really rewarding and gratifying, and I’ve been very supported in doing that,” he said.
He credits Modesto’s supportive film scene with inspiring him to continue creating locally regardless of contest results.
“If I ever went somewhere else for bigger and different opportunities, I would want to make sure that I would somehow pay it back to Modesto. Because right now, in this moment, I really feel like I’m being given a second start because of this place,” he said.
The public can view entries and vote at www.tunacansfilmfest.com until Oct. 24; winners will receive $25,000 along with $5,000 donated to a school film program of their choice. Miller’s previous works are available on his YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/@2by2TV.
