Christian filmmaker/screenwriter/drama teacher.

Try to live a simple life." Been my motto for a while now. Always loved a good story, especially the ones my family would tell at the dining room table during supper time. Growing up in a third generation Filipino-American home, my cultural background is flavored with many good anecdotes of history and laughter. As a born again Christian believer, I have found virtually no books that speak to my cultural identity. I know that the bible states that our identity is in Christ Jesus, and not ethnic backgrounds, but I wrote this little novella Marina's Fella as a outreach tool to speak specifically to my Filipino-American community, as well as my brothers/sisters in Christ.

I have a B.A. degree in Radio/Television with a concentration in Writing for the Electronic Media, from San Francisco State University, and worked in various aspects of video production for more than 15 years. Wrote, produced, and directed my first feature length movie "Roses for Magdalena" (2007), and learned a great deal about how not to make a Christian movie in the process.

Marina's Fella is written from the perspective of her 17 year old daughter Siobhan Perry Elustrado, looking back at the life of her mother Marina Sundang before she married her stepfather Regino Elustrado as her Creative Writing class assignment .
  • Stockton, California
  • JoinedMarch 7, 2012



Stories by Sam Lauranilla
Roses for Magdalena by SamLauranilla
Roses for Magdalena
A private investigator, a lost soul seeking redemption, and poetry to the Lord. Available for sale at: https:...
Feb 29: A collection of short stories by SamLauranilla
Feb 29: A collection of short stor...
An anthology of short stories set in contemporary Stockton, California. Themes and issues concern suicide, he...
ranking #453 in choices See all rankings
Marina's Fella by SamLauranilla
Marina's Fella
A story about racism, love, domestic abuse, Filipino martial arts/escrima and Jesus Christ! Marina Sundang...
ranking #3 in mestiza See all rankings