POWAY, Calif. — An award-winning feature film, SCUBA, shot in Poway, is now streaming on major platforms.
In this Zevely Zone, I met the film's writer and director. We sat down with 25-year-old Jacob Vaus who directed his first feature film in his hometown of Poway.
SCUBA was released in stores and started streaming on August 13th. "SCUBA is about these two high school misfits, who have never gotten the attention of their parents or their school," said Jacob.
Raised in Poway and the son of the mayor, Jacob is making his family and Poway proud.
His film comes from a very personal place. "I think in high school I felt this extreme pressure that I had to find success and be successful by the time I graduated," said Jacob. His father, Steve Vaus, is a Grammy Award Winning Musician and the longtime Mayor of Poway. His sister, Anna Vaus, is a country music recording artist in Nashville.
Jacob's mother Corrie Vaus is also a very talented and award winning documentary film maker and story teller with as the family tells me has won "20 Emmy Awards or so!"
Feeling that Poway pressure, Jacob shot 80 percent of SCUBA in his hometown.
"We shot at Poway High, we shot at Get Air Trampoline Park," said Jacob.
He graduated from Poway High in 2017 and along with using professional actors, SCUBA showcases local students and teachers.
You are not alone if you're wondering why the movie is titled SCUBA. "That is normally the first thing people ask me but there's no SCUBA scenes in the movie," said Jacob. "The movie is sad in a way and there is this tragic backstory related to water."
What isn't underwater is the success of SCUBA which won 'Best Picture' at the Tampa Bay Film Festival as well as 'Best Debut Feature' at FilmHaus in Berlin.
"I was shocked, not shocked but I was just really excited," said Jacob. SCUBA first found success in the festival circuit, premiering at the Chinese Theater in Los Angeles. "You'll be able to stream SCUBA on Amazon Prime, Tubi, and Google TV," said Jacob. DVDs are also on sale at Target, Walmart and Barnes and Noble.
"The trailer is very haunting," I said. Jacob responded,
"That's good. I am glad that is how it come across." He admittedly has a dark side. "I do, ha, ha, my writing does for sure," said Jacob.
At age 25, his first film may just make him a household name.
"Is there a lot of pressure to be a Vaus?" I asked.
"Yeah, and self-made pressure I felt like I needed to live to up to expectations," said Jacob. H
e may end up being the most famous Vaus of all.
"I don't know, ha, ha. Well see," said Jacob.
Vaus wrote SCUBA while attending Chapman University's Dodge School of Film. A production crew of 25 spent nearly a month in Poway. The coming-of-age film features several Poway High students acting alongside a professional cast, including late comic Russ T Nailz who was prominent on San Diego radio and TV.
For more information about SCUBA, click here.