DIRECTOR/PRODUCER
DIRECTOR/CINEMATOGRAPHY
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER
EDITOR
COMPOSER
SCORE SUPERVISION
POST PRODUCTION SOUND
STILL PHOTOGRAPHER
PRODUCTION ASSISTANT
PRODUCTION ASSISTANT
ACTION SHOTS ASSISTANT

SPONSORS & SUPPORT
MORE INFO ON STUDENTS RUN OAKLAND

JUSTINE JACOB

Justine is an independent filmmaker in the San Francisco Bay Area. She is currently producing and co-directing her next documentary, "Paper or Plastic." She was production manager on the PBS documentary Digital Lives and has collaborated with award-winning Eyefull Tower Films, Inc. on various projects. She participated in the 2006 Sundance Producers Conference and recently served two years as President of Bay Area Women in Film and Television. A former attorney, she changed careers to fulfill her creative passion and desire to make a difference through films. Although she does enjoy running, she usually challenges herself physically through walking and yoga.

Director's Statement

When I first learned about the Students Run Oakland program through a fundraising letter my husband picked up from one of his running buddies, I was intrigued by what I read and researched the organization. Having recently started running and understanding the mental and physical demands it takes to run, I was inspired by the Students Run Oakland program and what these young teens were attempting to accomplish — training for a marathon. Excited by the prospect of making a film about the journey the students and volunteers take to reach that goal, I immediately brought Alex onboard. I knew Alex would bring the right approach cinematographically, the personality needed to gain the trust of these teens, and the story sensibility to make it compelling. After first gaining the confidence of the teens and those who organize Students Run Oakland, we tried to honor this relationship and film the documentary without judgment. By the end of the training season, we had more material than we could imagine. With our goal being to tell the unexpected story about who these teens are, we faced the challenge of telling an honest story with diverse perspectives without exploiting our subjects. We wanted to show a side of Oakland, California that’s often overlooked——Runners High tells a story of hope and leadership in a community of people who love living there and are committed to making their home a better place to live.