If you've been following the One Day in San Francisco Facebook page, if you've had a conversation with me or any of our lovely, local partners over the last month, if you saw something in your inbox this morning about a local meetup happening next Thursday night - you know it's a very busy time here.
My name is Winnie, and I'm your local SF Bay Area producer working with One Day on Earth to bring you a glimpse of San Francisco.
The blurb for each Ambassador on the Team tab just doesn't do justice, so to give you a sense of his personalilty, interests, and opinions, I'd love for you to take the next few minutes to meet and warmly welcome Emmanuel Vaughan-Lee.
Who are you and what is your profession?
I'm a filmmaker, musician and composer. I also founded and run The Global Oneness Project, a Webby award-winning online educational and media platform using stories to deepen learning and empower change.
I was born in London and moved to West Marin County in 1991. My first love was the acoustic bass and jazz, which consumed me from the age of 11 on. I studied improvisation and composition at Berklee College of Music, and before getting involved in film, spent many years as a performing, touring and recording musician.
What inspired you to become a filmmaker?
I was fascinated by the creative process of blending story, imagery and music to create an immersive experience. That and seeing how film had the power to engage and empower audiences in such a deep and profound way continues to inspire me.
Who or what do you most admire?
Don't think I can pin that down to a two-sentence answer.
What do you love about SF?
I've never lived in SF, only coming in to work, so I guess I always feel like a country boy visiting the city. I have fond memories of performing in SF jazz clubs as a teenager. North Beach in particular had a great jazz scene back then. I miss that. I spend less time in SF these days, but enjoy coming in every once and awhile for a concert or to surf at Ocean Beach.
What do you fear most for SF?
It feels like the city is becoming richer and richer and more unreal by the minute. That doesn't feel good. I'm concerned about the future of cities in this country as a whole and think they will have to undergo major changes if they are to thrive in the coming decades. Sustainable access to food, water, energy and education are also major issues here.
What do you hope for SF in the next 20 years?
I hope SF can meet its challenges and become an example of what a city can be like. We have the resources, know how and energy (human energy) to make that happen.
