Student filmmakers bring story of loneliness and self-discovery to life in ‘Run’

With his high school prom approaching, the protagonist of Cal Poly student film “Run” finds himself stuck in a cycle of loneliness, anxiety and isolation. The quiet student longs for something more, but struggles to break free from the monotony of his everyday life. After a conversation shifts his perspective, he begins learning an important lesson: sometimes growth comes from running toward something, not away from it.

“Run” is one of the four student-produced short films premiering June 8 at the Palm Theater as part of Cal Poly’s Short Cuts showcase. Created by student filmmakers Markus Chhom, Cayden Tan, Felix Broach, William Wray and Lanna Jarvis, the coming-of-age film explores friendship, identity and the challenge of finding connection during adolescence. 

The project began in ISLA 340, where students develop original screenplays, before moving into production in ISLA 341. The story draws from  experiences of director and writer Marcus Chhom’s high school years. The group pulled influence from Asian American media like Japanese city pop and the visual style of artist Luke Chiang’s music videos.

“In the end, this is an Asian-American story that I wanted to tell,” said Chhom. “It’s heavily, heavily influenced by my own personal experiences.”

Bringing that vision to the screen required weeks of planning. The crew spent roughly three weeks preparing locations, holding casting calls and coordinating production before filming the entire project over two days. One challenge was finding an Asian American actor to play the lead role, something the team felt was important to the authenticity of the story. Chhom ultimately found the actor, Josh Tan, through an Asian American student organization on campus.

Despite the tight schedule, the filmmakers described the production as  fun and rewarding, creating lasting memories together during the long filming days. Cinematographer Lanna Jarvis recalled one particularly memorable moment while filming the prom scene.

“We realized we had to kill time before the sun went down, so we just had a little party,” Jarvis said. “I blasted music and recorded B-roll footage of people dancing while we waited for the sunset.”

Jarvis said the film uses isolated shots and limited camera movement to place viewers in the protagonist’s perspective and emphasize his feelings of loneliness. Ultimately, she hopes audiences leave with a message about friendship and support.

“Even if you feel really alone, you aren’t,” Jarvis said, “there are people who love you and care for you.”

The team is especially proud of the film’s classroom and prom scenes and is excited to finally share months of work with an audience.

“We put so much love, effort and care in,” Chhom said. “It’s such a blessing to be able to share that with the world.”

Support emerging student filmmakers and experience “Run” at the Palm Theatre on June 8.