Reach Out

Directed by John Haas

In an intergenerational collaboration between Los Angeles-based electronica/soul trio Bootleg Orchestra and singer Roger Rigor from iconic Filipino band VST & Co, this short documentary explores the creative process of producing a song that calls for international solidarity for climate justice and highlights the role of music in giving life to a movement. Drawing from personal experiences of environmental injustices and its intimate pairing with the fight for human rights, the artists elaborate on stories behind this song as well as share their creative process of collective songwriting and recording in the studio to create a song to uplift the people. The documentary will conclude with a music video of the full song. The song itself will be released in conjunction with the documentary.

John Haas is a documentary filmmaker, cinematographer and editor, based in Los Angeles. His mother fled the Philippines during the early days of martial law in the 1970s and he was raised in Missouri on his family’s farm. From his childhood, he always felt a disconnect with his surroundings and a desire to understand his Filipino roots. After a decade as a commercial videographer and video journalist, in 2020 John began contributing his talents toward organizing efforts within the Filipino community in Los Angeles. In 2022, he co-founded SIKLAB (Sining at Kultura-Arts and Culture), a collective of Filipino filmmakers and artists committed to producing community centered art that uplifts the stories of everyday working people. John is currently working on projects that share the experiences of Filipino migrant workers as well as address systemic racism, policing, and the judicial system.

Plays in

Shorts Program II: In Real Time

Ordinary lives captured, extraordinary stories revealed. Illuminating stories that confront today’s world, told from every walk of life.

Dates & Times

Theater 13, AMC Theater Plaza Bonita, Westfield

October 10, 2025
2:30 pm