Life, Values & Legacy: Our Chat with Michael Contreras of Inland Empire, Ca 92336

We’re looking forward to introducing you to Michael Contreras. Check out our conversation below.

Michael, so good to connect and we’re excited to share your story and insights with our audience. There’s a ton to learn from your story, but let’s start with a warm up before we get into the heart of the interview. What makes you lose track of time—and find yourself again?
I find myself losing track of time when I am in the mix of creating. Whether that be writing a screenplay, producing a short film, editing, or just being on set. It’s easy to get lost when you are in “GO” mode, that’s how 12 hours can easily feel like a 5-hour day, for me at least. I used to find that funny because before I worked as a freelancer in production and live events, I had numerous nine to five jobs and three or four hours into an eight-hour shift, and it would feel like twelve hours went by. That always amused me.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Michael Contreras, and I am a local filmmaker, photographer, and media technician from the Inland Empire, California. In the past year I helped co-found ROOT 66 FILMS, LLC alongside my business partner, Jimmy Hurt. Our company was created for the purpose of telling cinematic stories through a compelling, visual medium. Our company strives off hard work and mutual commitment towards each of our projects, holding ourselves accountable to a professional degree of filmmaking. If you check out our YouTube (link below) we currently have six short films released with one in post-production and another just finishing it’s time in the festival circuit. Along with those two projects, we have three current short films ready for production starting in 2026. I highly suggest checking out our most recent short film, VIGILANTES, which was created for a short film competition where we had 48 hours to write, produce, edit, and submit a 2–7-minute short film. If you have never thought about filmmaking and want a crash course to show you what it takes, I highly suggest joining a 48-hr. film project in your local city.

Aside from 48-hour competitions, we currently wrapped principal photography for our short western, TWO GRAVES, which was written and directed by Jimmy Hurt, with me attached as one of the leading producers and UPM.

We are currently updating our cast and crew roster for our projects in 2026. If any readers are interested, please submit a resume and reel to our email with your name and contact information.

YouTube: Root 66 Films
Email: Root66Films@gmail.com
Instagram: @Root66_Films | @ie_photographer

Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. Who taught you the most about work?
It wasn’t just one person who taught me about work, I was lucky enough to grow up with significant role models who taught me a lot about the importance of hard work. My dad, Carlos Contreras, was a strong father who always pushed me to do work the right way. I remember getting bad grades one summer and he sent me to work for his friend, who owned a hose shop at the time. For three months I worked in a hot attic moving giant hoses back and forth. I didn’t get paid, but this was a lesson to teach me that if I didn’t get better grades, I would end up stuck as a worker doing grunt work for my entire life. I’m glad I learned that lesson quickly because it only helped build my endurance on long days. An old friend, Ben Gonzalez, and my grandfathers, Jesse Ordaz, Rudy Contreras, & Sunday Alanis (Great Grandfather), all taught me the importance of completing a job the right way, the first time. I was taught the value of completing all work that you start, and the importance of having a “If you don’t do it, who will?” kind of attitude. All lessons which clearly helped me stand out amongst my peers throughout all the previous job roles I’ve worked. My Stepfather, Armando (Mando) Dorame, who also reinforced the values of hard work already set by my dad and grandfathers, taught me a different lesson in hard work. I remember one of the first Christmas’ I shared with Mando he had bought me a guitar. For the next 2 years he taught me about the importance of hard work for your own creativity. I remember rushing home from school and the first thing I would do was grab my guitar and start practicing guitar tabs. Coincidentally, Mando and I we’re both learning how to play the guitar. Months flew by and my fingers were calloused beyond belief, but man could I just sit for hours strumming songs and creating new ones. Mando also introduced me to film and being an actor/ background actor. He used to tell me stories about how he would wake up before sunrise to make it to a set just to stand there for hours, never knowing if you’d make an appearance after all the edits. Mando took me to my first casting call, and I had to get headshots and go to Los Angeles for meetings. It was crazy because I must have been 8 or 10 years old. I never did pursue that acting route, but now I’ll make my casual appearance on the screen.

As I got older, I took the values of work that were instilled in my childhood and learned to focus that hard work on something unique. This is how I found the three people, who inevitably turned into my mentors. They helped guide me in the world of film, television, live events, and festivals. The first of my mentors starts with my late friend and manager, Mr. Mansie Booker. Once a videographer for the air force, Mr. Booker was a strong leader and respected gentleman in the broadcasting world. He hired me to be his camera operator for multiple large-scale projects such as the Long Beach Jazz Festival, Dohemy Beach R&B Festival, JazzFest West in San Dimas, and the Riverside Blues and Jazz Festival. Mansie also worked as the production manager for the city of San Bernardino’s T.V. 3 IEMG (formerly KCSB) and that is where I met him, thus starting my pursuit towards a career in media. I learned everything from running audio, mic’ing up guests, operating stage/house lighting, running teleprompters, camera operating, technical directing, multi-camera directing, and ingesting finished projects to be aired on live TV. At the time, KCSB was an affiliate of PBS, and I was able to work on PBS affiliated programs such as Education Roundtable. Mansie Booker taught me everything there is to know and understand about live broadcast and the work ethic/mentality needed to successfully work in that industry. This is the stage of my life where I learned the importance of “hurry up and wait” for up to 8 hours, and then “Go Time” when you need to be 100% on your game because there is very small room for error during live productions.

The second mentor who taught me about hard work is a very special individual who is also a local to my hometown of the Inland Empire and who runs his own successful production business known as KamEdits, Mr. Kam Kalanui. Kam taught me the importance of hard work with keeping up with the times and the value of investing in the right equipment and most importantly, the right people. In production there is a lot of hard work, but it can’t all be done by one or two people. In production it helps if the work is shared accordingly, where everyone must do their part the best they can, or it could cost the hard work of many involved. I currently work as a director on a number of multi-cam live events throughout the year for Kam.

My third and final mentor, who taught me the importance of challenging work in the industry is none other than the man, the myth, the legend, Mr. Wesley Baynes. I met Wesley while working as a production assistant/driver for Nick Cannon Present’s Wild’n’Out, which at the time was labeled as MTV Presents under the paramount worldwide umbrella. After two seasons working with Wesley on Wild’n’Out he gave me an opportunity of a lifetime. Wesley hired me to be his transportation coordinator for the next 4 seasons of Wild’n’out and that’s when I was welcomed into the WNO family from the management team. It was here where I learned what demanding work looked like on a major studio production. Special thanks to Wesley, Michelle, Rita, Rashan, Ed, Natalie, & Amy for believing in me.

I ended up working with Wesley on other notable shows as a transportation manager/coordinator, including the MTV Video Music Awards (VMA’s), Country Music Television Awards (CMTA’s), and Mr. Beast’s BeastGames Season 1.

If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
If I could say one thing to my younger self, it would be.

Do not give in to the discouragement of others around you and take advantage of those gut instincts to just go for it. Whether it is a spontaneous trip to the mountains or beach, taking on a new role or job for the first time, making the effort to work on that script, finding the courage to talk to someone you like instead of letting the moment pass. In my line of work sometimes all you have is one moment that could potentially change your life forever. You can work any role in production or festivals and at any given time a talent, manager, producer, or executive could just have the right interaction with you and if you don’t jump on that moment, then you will never know what you just let pass by.

I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. What’s a belief or project you’re committed to, no matter how long it takes?
A belief/project that I am fully committed to is my company Root 66 Films, LLC and the opportunity to tell impactful stories to an audience. As we end 2025 and break into 2026, this is my main focus.

Creating has always been a passion of mine and with that, filmmaking has become an avenue to express both my technical and creative skills. We have many projects underway at Root 66 Films and my commitment is to see these films progress from idea to pre-production, to production, to post-production, and to distribution. Along with our short films, we also have a podcast in the works which will start recording in the spring of 2026, so make sure to follow our Instagram @root66_films for more information on all of our project updates, crew calls, and premiers.

One thing about starting a film company is that you really have to come to terms with the fact that you need to commit to this lifestyle and it will pay for itself back, no matter how long it takes.

Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: Are you doing what you were born to do—or what you were told to do?
I would like to say, yes, I am doing what I am born to do but I honestly do not know. I know what I’m doing feels good, and I enjoy working with industries that bring joy and experiences to people. With our world moving into a time and age where it’s easy to overlook and even forget the natural world and light of humanity that surrounds us, I want to inspire others to open their mind, eyes, and perspective. To bring even an ounce of joy through some form of entertainment medium, even for a short period of time, is where I feel I was born to be. I love connecting people through experiences.

As a filmmaker that is what I inspire to bring to life in the stories I share. My colleague, co-founder, & friend Jimmy Hurt is a writer who tells stories about the underdogs who challenge corruption and abuse of authority. We know where we belong and I am thankful that I now have Root 66 Films to help me express what I was born to do.

If I was doing what I was told to do, I’d be slumming away in a 9-5 medical career wondering what if. Now don’t get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with a medical career, my amazingly supportive girlfriend works in the medical field. She loves it and she is a great medical professional, but that’s just not for me.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @Root66_Films / @ie_photographer
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-contreras-b93542178
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Root66Films_IE
• Other: Email: root66films@gmail.com

Image Credits
Daniel Rodriguez, Oscar Bermudez, Root 66 Films LLC,