Tell us about your organization. How big is your team? Where are you based? What is your organization’s specialty in the film and video space?

Maynard Bagang is the Producer, Director, Writer, and Actor. My team who created The Sanctuary consists of 15 people who made it all possible. Our team is mainly concentrated in filmmaking.

Why do you do what you do? Was there a transformative moment that solidified your career choice, your org’s success, or your commitment to storytelling?

Well, let me tell you a little bit about my background. I was born and raised in Angeles City, Philippines. I came to the United States in 1991 and joined the US Navy. I was recruited in Subic Bay Naval Base. My background in the Navy was Nuclear & Mechanical Engineering. After retiring from the Navy, I became a police officer with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. I worked in Patrol, then became a Gang Unit Detective. After retiring from LVMPD in 2017, I met a casting director who convinced me to do acting work. Initially I said no to her because I do not have any formal training as an actor, but then she asked me, “Well, can you follow orders?” and I said, “Well, that I can do.” She booked me as a background actor from the TV drama “This Is Us,” Vegas Episode. And I liked it.

After 3 months, she booked me as a police officer as a background actor on this Chinese TV series. On my 3rd day working, the stunt director came up to me and said, “You got some skills.” I said, “I was a cop for many years.” He said, “I can see that.” Then I was given 8 lines to speak that day. I was nervous but I went for it when they said, “Action!” Then I realized I love that feeling of being vulnerable in front of the camera. Acting is very challenging to me and gave me the spark to work again.

Last year, I decided to do my first feature. I wrote the script for The Sanctuary, but I did not have a director. I approached this one actress/director and I asked if she could direct it for me. She turned it down and told me she did not want to associate herself with a mediocre project. I felt challenged and insulted, so I decided to be the director, producer, and the lead actor of The Sanctuary.

With the help of my team and very talented actors, we were able to finish the project and won a Silver Telly Award for Best Drama. The Sanctuary is also available on Amazon Prime.

Tell us about your Telly Award winning piece. What’s the story behind it?

The Sanctuary is a dramatic piece that highlights grief, homelessness, immigration issues, love, and hope. The Sanctuary is not a place but a dynamic between people. It’s built through trust, boundaries, and mutual care, especially under the constant pressure of survival. Being a police officer in the past, I had plenty of interactions with the homeless, people grieving from a loss of a loved one, and even the undocumented status. I could see their struggle and it is a very tough situation for anyone. It is a story to be told to a wider audience because it is very relatable. The Telly Awards gave me the opportunity to tell the world about this dramatic film, and I am very honored to have won the Silver Telly Award for it.

Can you share a behind the scenes story or fun fact about the making of your piece?

Creating a film is a very tall task for me. It was my first time. But we made a lot of good memories together. I learned how to do makeup because I was also the makeup artist. We shared laughs together during downtime. We took turns buying food for everyone. And we all got to know each other very well.

What was your biggest challenge during production and how did you solve it?

The biggest challenge was the schedule. I had to match the scenes with the actors’ schedules to make it easier for everyone. All the actors are very dedicated and made some sacrifices in their personal schedules to make things work.

What are you most proud of about this piece? What is the most memorable response you got from this work?

I am most proud of the fact that I worked with a very talented group of actors and crew and gained some really good friends. And also winning some recognition from festivals is always a proud moment.

Some of the amazing reviews of The Sanctuary say, “The Sanctuary reveals a few small cracks of light through the dark,” “The Sanctuary reminds you that kindness is an essential part of who we are and that our natural instincts to help others are among humanity’s best qualities,” “The Sanctuary: A Place for Hope,” “The Sanctuary aim to remind us of the humanity that often gets lost behind headlines and political debates,” and “The Sanctuary: Compassionate and Relevant.”

You won a Telly Award for this piece. Why is recognition important for you, your team or your work?

Winning the Telly Award made me realize that all my effort in making The Sanctuary was well worth it.

Tell us what you’re up to! If there’s a new project, launch, or milestone you’d like us to celebrate with you, let us know, and we might share it with our community.

I am starting to write my next film, “Criminal Intel” and also will have a Co-Star role in the upcoming series, “The Roman.”