Filmmaking, punching above our weight.
Located in the San Jose Bay Area, Five Watt Lights was founded on the belief that exceptional creative work doesn’t require an exceptional budget. From concept to release, every frame, every moment, and every sound is crafted with intention to bring each vision to life.
If you watch one of our films and assume it came from a large studio, we’ve accomplished our goal. We set our sights high, because even if we fall short, we've traveled a long way toward something extraordinary.
why “five watt lights”?
After being repeatedly told that the lighting setup for our latest short film would require thousands of dollars' worth of high-end lights we simply couldn't afford, we decided to experiment with a few humble 5W MC lights instead. If you've ever noticed the glint in an actor's eyes on screen, chances are it came from a small light like one of these.
They were inexpensive, portable, and unassuming, yet the results were exactly what we were looking for. Even our lighting consultant, an industry veteran with years of experience, was surprised by how good those five-watt lights looked.
That moment was a perfect reflection of who we are, and the name Five Watt Lights stuck. We’re a small, humble, (broke), and unassuming team that believes great work doesn’t simply come from a big budget.
Our Team
EVAN FINE
Founder, Lead Creative, Music Team
Evan is a self-taught indie filmmaker, classically trained violinist, and law student at Stanford Law School, where he intends to gain the skills needed to litigate cases related to outer space law. Star Trek: The Original Series, his first TV show, gave him his love for storytelling. He is an alum of Santa Clara University.
BEN SHIVERDAKER
Ben is a Bay Area-based classically trained violinist and violist. He serves on the board of the Cambrian Symphony and can be found as a regular orchestral, pit, and chamber musician. An alumnus of Santa Clara University, earning both his BS and MS degrees from the School of Engineering, he works by day in the semiconductor industry.
Business, Music Team
JASON TING
Creative
Jason is an aspiring filmmaker from the Bay Area, California, currently working as an Assistant Language Teacher in Kochi, Japan. He is a Psychology and Communication graduate from Santa Clara University and has worked on projects ranging from graphic design on archival exhibits to event photography.
SAYAN JAIN
Sayan is a Bay Area-based operations generalist with a knack for making teams and systems run smoothly. He currently serves as COO of a Y Combinator–backed robotics startup and is an M.S. Data Science candidate at UC Berkeley. A Santa Clara University alum, he's collaborated on short films this past year and brings that same storytelling love to his work.
Operations, Logistics
MICHELE SIEGLITZ
Michele is a Bay Area-born-and-raised independent filmmaker. She has over 30 years of experience as a producer, director of photography, and editor, and currently is an Assistant Professor of Film in the Communication Department at Santa Clara University. An avid photographer and nature enthusiast, she can often be found in her garden.
Chief Advisor
SYDNEY GORIN
Sydney is an up-and-coming scenic designer and artist. She is working towards a degree in Psychology, with Theatre Technology and Design and Creative Writing minors at Santa Clara University. Sydney has worked with numerous theatre companies, including San Francisco Playhouse, the 222 Healdsburg, and San Jose Stage.
Creative
FERNANDO SALVADOR FRANCISCO
Fernando is an aspiring filmmaker with a focus on writing and directing. A 2025 graduate from Santa Clara University, he studied Communication and Technical Theatre. His skills range from working in both the world of theatre as a Stage Manager, and in film, having directed/written/edited a few short films.
Creative
MARKUS WONG
Markus is a Bay Area native and Santa Clara University alumnus working with the team as a general creative contributor. He is a jack-of-all-trades contributor to the team, providing his expertise in acting, technical theater, electrical engineering, and project management.
Creative, Logistics