“True Son” follows the remarkable story of Michael Tubbs, who ran for city council of Stockton, CA at the age of 22.
At the time, the city was going through a huge bankruptcy and had just been named the worst city to live in the US. Tubbs, an unlikely Stanford student raised by a single mother, rallied his community to become one of the youngest elected officials in the country.
We spoke with Director Kevin Gordon & subject Michael Tubbs about the film. Read our exclusive interview below:
Q: What about Michael and his campaign made you want to make a documentary about him?
Kevin: I think when I look at a lot of my work I’m sort of drawn to few words and I know that’s very vague but I just want to be able to get out there and see a need and act without a concern for like whatever the odds are or how much work it’s going to take and that’s something that I generally find inspiring and in Michael’s case the fact that he was willing to go up against an established and competent councilman in a city that was a total mess really inspired me which is why I wanted to tell the tale.
Q: Michael, did you have any doubts about filming a documentary while you were campaigning?
Michael: Yes, it was a little bit nerve-wracking just because you figure it’s a documentary, we don’t know what we’re doing, how we’re going to be portrayed, how the film is going to be portrayed, kind of worried about the long term impact of that. It ended up being a really true representation of who we are and who we were. This was something that we were really nervous about like what if it comes out this way or that way.
Q: Kevin, so what eventually became your inspiration for your stylistic approach for “True Son”? How did you visualize it?
Kevin: Well most manner of these films have been very highly stylized and controlled. For this film that wasn’t really the appropriate way to do it. For one I really wanted the film to feel scrappy and underdog just like the campaign and I tried out sexier cameras to have a shallow depth of focus, like all the cameras that are very hot right now but I didn’t want something that would make Michael look too heroic or make the campaign look too slick. Needed a little more of the shaky hand-held feel so I went with a classic run and gun camera. And also a stylized approach was impossible for a campaign like this. I mean the pace of the campaign was relentless. We barely had any time, even to wait for us to get in the car sometimes. The idea of a controlled shoot wasn’t an option. We just kind of followed the classic campaign documentary style which was pure verve and it worked out.
Q: How is Stockton doing now compared to when you were first elected into your position?
Michael: Great question, Stockton is doing really well. Our bankruptcy judge just approved our plan of adjustment so we’re in the recovery process in escaping bankruptcy. We established an Ops, an Office of Prevention, we have more banks open in my district, and homicides are down 60% last year. They’re up this year from last year probably a really low number but it should lower down 15% from last year which does show that we are making progress. Also we are seeing signs of recovery as we move forward.
Q: So I’m sure you guys have heard recently in the news but 18 year old Saira Blair just became the youngest elected lawmaker and I know you were only 22 when you were elected into your position. What advantages and disadvantages do you feel your age plays in your role?
Michael: So I think the advantage of being young, number 1 is that they actually bring government to kids in a way that’s relatable and casual. I was a counselor, I know what my counseling does. I just think the hope of living in a finance culture and just big ideas, using tech and tools, it brings insight to talks and issues. I think this kind of energy, and not having a wife or kids so I can focus 100% on just governing and the congregation. I think something negative would kind of be just not having the experience. Experience isn’t everything but it is something that should be shared with people who have either the life experience or experience in office.
Q: So for both of you, what were some challenges you faced during the making of the documentary and what were the high points and the low points?
Kevin: I’d say one of the challenges was at first Nick Hattan who was the campaign manager for Michael was very resistant of us having total access to the campaign because he was afraid of us catching moments, catching Michael do something that will hurt the campaign or his long term political prospects. But over time we were able to win him over and show him that he could trust us and demonstrate the value of the project for long term and then he gave us not only full access to the campaign but also to his entire life which let us achieve a very important subplot in the final film. I think one of the highs was Election Day, definitely the victory party. I mean we tried to stay objective through the process but we also became a part of the team. At the viewing party we definitely felt like we won as well, it was definitely an amazing moment.
Michael: I think for me one of the challenges was the fundraising. That for me was the biggest challenge, that and volunteers. I think a high point is just the casual comradery as a team. Nick and Lang are now two of my best friends and I talk to them every day almost—most of the time actually and we hang out all the time. I think that’s something worth building on, the incredible kind of relationships we built together.
Q: So the documentary took us through your entire campaign but how was your experience when you were first elected? Was it everything you thought it would be?
Michael: Yeah it’s easier in some ways but in others more difficult as well. I know that’s really saying nothing but the thing is that the challenges you start to face are really real challenges like tangible problems but it’s obviously a great opportunity to make great impact and a great opportunity for improvement and just working with people, working with my staff and my colleagues is really rewarding and just trying to build future coalitions. It’s just challenging because the stakes are high, you’re in charge of other people and your votes affect their livelihood, their lives.
Q: Kevin, are you currently working on any projects that you can share with us?
Kevin: I can’t share too many details but I am currently working on a documentary film series for television that we have shot a pilot for and they’re out there pitching, but that is the next project.
Q: Awesome! So Michael, what are you thinking of doing after City Councilman?
Michael: That would be in 2016. I have about 3 years to see what we got done and what we haven’t got done and then from there figure out where I can make those impacts for Stockton. So it could be as a City Councilman, it could be a different office or it could be just like a community organizer or a nonprofit developer or something. To answer your question, I have no idea.
-Jasmine Yang
