From Hollywood to home: Placerville roots inspire David Aguilar’s debut short film ‘Hangtown’
“Hangtown” was filmed locally, with much of its setting influenced by David Aguilar’s upbringing in Placerville.
HOME TO SACRAMENTO WITH A POWERFUL NEW FILM THIS WEEKEND, DAVID AGUILAR PREMIERES HIS DEBUT SHORT, HANGTOWN, AT THE SACRAMENTO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL, TELLING A DEEPLY PERSONAL STORY OF IDENTITY, COURAGE AND CONNECTION. IT WAS FILMED RIGHT HERE IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA. AND JOINING US THIS MORNING TO TELL US MORE ABOUT THIS SPECIAL PROJECT IS DAVID AGUILAR HIMSELF. AND DAVID, SO GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN. GREAT TO SEE YOU, LETICIA. THANKS SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME. TELL US A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT WHAT IT MEANS FOR YOU TO PREMIERE THIS FILM RIGHT HERE IN THE CAPITAL CITY. WELL, IT MEANS THE WORLD BECAUSE THIS IS THE ORIGIN OF THE FILM. AND I REALLY BELIEVE THAT THIS AUDIENCE WILL UNDERSTAND THE THEMES AND THE LINGO AND EVERYTHING THAT’S HAPPENING IN IT. PLUS THESE THIS FILM FESTIVAL AND THESE ORGANIZERS HAVE JUST BEEN FANTASTIC. AND THEY ORGANIZE A MEAN FESTIVAL, AND THEY’VE SHOWN ME NOTHING BUT LOVE. AND HOW DID GROWING UP IN PLACERVILLE REALLY INFLUENCE THE STORY AND SETTING OF HANGTOWN? WELL, THE FILM TAKES PLACE IN 1988, AND DURING THAT TIME I WAS THE ONLY OR ONE OF A HANDFUL OF LATINO KIDS IN THE TOWN AT THAT TIME. AND THIS FILM WAS ABOUT THE PSYCHOLOGICAL TRUTH OF THAT EXPERIENCE. SO THAT’S WHAT I REALLY WANT TO RESONATE WITH AUDIENCES AND TO COME ACROSS IN THE VISUALS AND THE NUANCES IN THE FILM. AND AS YOUTH WATCH THIS FILM THIS WEEKEND, WHAT DO YOU THINK IS GOING TO BE THE REAL TAKEAWAY FOR THEM? WELL, WHAT I REALLY LIKE IS FOR ALL AUDIENCES, BUT PARTICULARLY THE LATINO AUDIENCES, THE CHICANO KIDS, TO UNDERSTAND THAT WE NEED OUR COUNTERPARTS, OUR MEXICANOS, ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE BORDER, THAT THE TWO OF US, THE TWO COMMUNITIES, REALLY NEED EACH OTHER, ESPECIALLY IN THIS TIME. SO THE FACT THAT THE FILM IS SET IN 1988, WE CAN LOOK BACK AND SEE SOME OF THAT HISTORICAL, SOME OF THOSE HISTORICAL NARRATIVES PLAY OUT AND HOW WE’RE GETTING TO WHERE WE ARE TODAY. AND SO REALLY, IT’S ABOUT UNITY WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY. DEFINITELY. AND YOU LIVE IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA NOW, WHY WAS IT IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO ACTUALLY FILM THIS RIGHT HERE AT HOME? WELL, BECAUSE THIS IS WHERE ALL THAT HISTORY AND ALL OF THAT, ALL OF THE LANDSCAPE INFLUENCES THE STORY. THIS IS REALLY AN HOMAGE TO SOME OF THOSE EARLY 80S FILMS LIKE E.T. AND GOONIES AND STAND BY ME, WHERE 12 YEAR OLD KIDS WENT ON THESE WILD ADVENTURES WITHOUT THEIR PARENTS KNOWING ANY OF IT. AND THESE ADVENTURES WERE USUALLY REALLY HIGH STAKES. SO THAT’S WHAT THIS FILM IS ABOUT, TOO, AND TRIES TO CAPTURE. AND IT’S ALSO FOR KIDS TO DREAM BIG, RIGHT? THEY’RE SEEING YOU, YOUR FACE OUT THERE. YOU’RE DOING THIS. YOU’RE BEING SUCCESSFUL. WHAT IS THE TAKEAWAY THERE AS FAR AS LATINO YOUTH WHO ARE INTERESTED IN GETTING INTO FILM? WELL, I WOULD SAY THAT GO WITH YOUR PERSONAL VOICE, WHATEVER, WHATEVER MIGHT FEEL MAKE YOU NERVOUS OR EMBARRASSED TO SHARE. THAT’S USUALLY A GOOD PLACE TO START WITH YOUR OWN NARRATIVE, YOUR OWN ART. WHETHER IT’S FILM AND TELEVISION OR ANY KIND OF ANY KIND OF NARRATIVE OR ARTWORK. START WITH WHAT’S PERSONAL AND HOW CAN PEOPLE SUPPORT THE PROJECT THIS WEEKEND AND SEE THE FILM? WELL, THE FILM IS GOING TO PREMIERE IN THE LATINO SHOWCASE PART TWO, WHICH IS AT 1230 TOMORROW AFTERNOON AT THE SOFIA ARTS COMPLEX, WHERE THE SACRAMENTO FILM FESTIVAL IS BEING HELD. AFTER THAT, WE’RE GOING TO DO OUR FESTIVAL RUN. WE’RE STILL WAITING TO HEAR BACK WHICH FESTIVALS WE’RE GOING TO BE ACCEPTED TO, AND THEN AFTER THAT, WE HOPE TO MAKE IT INTO A FEATURE FILM. SO THAT IS THE ULTIMATE GOAL TO COME BACK TO PLACERVILLE AND SHOOT THE FILM ON A MUCH LARGER SCALE AND GET MORE IN DEPTH INTO THE CHARACTERS AND THE STORY. DAVID AGUILAR, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US THIS MORNING. I CANNOT WAIT TO SEE THIS FILM TOMORROW AT THE SOFIA. I WILL BE THERE CHEERING YOU ON. CONGRATULATION
From Hollywood to home: Placerville roots inspire David Aguilar’s debut short film ‘Hangtown’
“Hangtown” was filmed locally, with much of its setting influenced by David Aguilar’s upbringing in Placerville.
Updated: 11:19 AM PST Dec 15, 2025
A Hollywood television writer came home to Sacramento over the weekend with a powerful new film.David Aguilar premiered his debut short film “Hangtown” during the Sacramento International Film Festival on Dec. 14.It was a packed house for the screening at the Sofia, Home of B Street Theatre.Aguilar said the film is reminiscent of classic ’80s coming-of-age stories like “E.T.” or “The Goonies.””Hangtown” tells the story of a 12-year-old boy looking for a father figure who forms an unexpected friendship with a Mexican immigrant who is on the run from some armed men. It explores themes of immigration, identity, and courage, drawing inspiration from Aguilar’s own roots in Northern California. “Hangtown” was filmed locally, with much of its setting influenced by Aguilar’s upbringing in Placerville.Aguilar said bringing the film home for its premiere made the moment especially meaningful, allowing him to share the project with the community that helped shape his voice as a storyteller.He credited growing up in Placerville as a major influence on the film’s tone and setting, noting that the region’s history and landscape played a key role in shaping the story.Aguilar said he hoped audiences walked away feeling seen, encouraged, and more connected to one another after watching the film.Following the festival premiere, Aguilar said he planned to continue developing new projects while expanding the reach of “Hangtown” through additional screenings and festivals.He also encouraged community members to support independent filmmakers by attending local festivals, sharing the film, and continuing to uplift Latino storytellers.See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel
SACRAMENTO, Calif. —
A Hollywood television writer came home to Sacramento over the weekend with a powerful new film.
David Aguilar premiered his debut short film “Hangtown” during the Sacramento International Film Festival on Dec. 14.
It was a packed house for the screening at the Sofia, Home of B Street Theatre.
Aguilar said the film is reminiscent of classic ’80s coming-of-age stories like “E.T.” or “The Goonies.”
“Hangtown” tells the story of a 12-year-old boy looking for a father figure who forms an unexpected friendship with a Mexican immigrant who is on the run from some armed men. It explores themes of immigration, identity, and courage, drawing inspiration from Aguilar’s own roots in Northern California. “Hangtown” was filmed locally, with much of its setting influenced by Aguilar’s upbringing in Placerville.
Aguilar said bringing the film home for its premiere made the moment especially meaningful, allowing him to share the project with the community that helped shape his voice as a storyteller.
He credited growing up in Placerville as a major influence on the film’s tone and setting, noting that the region’s history and landscape played a key role in shaping the story.
Aguilar said he hoped audiences walked away feeling seen, encouraged, and more connected to one another after watching the film.
Following the festival premiere, Aguilar said he planned to continue developing new projects while expanding the reach of “Hangtown” through additional screenings and festivals.
He also encouraged community members to support independent filmmakers by attending local festivals, sharing the film, and continuing to uplift Latino storytellers.
See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel