Addison Sandoval, a J.D./M.B.A. candidate at the University of Oregon School of Law and Lundquist College of Business, has been selected as a recipient of the 2026 UO 25 Ducks Award, one of the University of Oregon’s most prestigious honors.

The 25 Ducks Award, presented annually by the Emerald Media Group, the UO Student Alumni Association, and The Duck Store, recognizes only 25 University of Oregon students each year who have demonstrated exceptional commitment to the university’s mission, outstanding campus involvement, and meaningful impact both on and off campus. Award recipients are selected based on academic achievement, campus involvement, community impact, leadership, and service. Winners will be celebrated at a reception on Wednesday, May 27, 2026 at the Ford Alumni Center in Eugene.

Sandoval is part of the inaugural cohort at UO Portland, where he has distinguished himself through a wide range of academic and community-focused work. An MFA graduate of the USC School of Cinematic Arts and an award-winning filmmaker, Sandoval later added law to his repertoire, focusing on criminal justice, civil rights, and consumer protection. He has conducted research on consumer protection vulnerabilities in Oregon’s digital economy partnering with Oregon Consumer Justice in support of his advocacy work.

Sandoval has been recognized as a community builder and interdisciplinary thinker, fostering dialogue, student engagement, and a sense of belonging within the inaugural class. He is set to graduate with his J.D. and M.B.A. degrees with the Class of 2026 at the University of Oregon.

“Being named a 25 Duck is a tremendous honor,” Sandoval said. “I’m grateful to the faculty, staff, and fellow students at UO who have supported this journey.”

Sandoval will be honored alongside 24 other outstanding Ducks at the 14th Annual 25 Ducks Award Reception on May 27, 2026.

About the UO 25 Ducks Award

The 25 Ducks Award has been presented annually for 14 years by the Emerald Media Group, UO Student Alumni Association, and The Duck Store. It honors 25 outstanding University of Oregon students who have exemplified commitment and involvement on campus, inspired peers through leadership and teamwork, and made meaningful impacts in their communities.

Addison Sandoval, a J.D./M.B.A. student at the University of Oregon in Eugene and Portland, will graduate with the Class of 2026 at the University of Oregon School of Law’s Commencement Ceremony. The event will be held on Saturday, May 16, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. at Matthew Knight Arena in Eugene, Oregon, where J.D. and L.L.M. graduates will be recognized in a formal academic ceremony attended by family, friends, faculty, and community members.

Matthew Knight Arena is named after Nike founder and philanthropist, Phil Knight’s late son. The University of Oregon chose the name to honor Matthew, who died at age 34 in a scuba diving accident while doing charitable work in El Salvador.

Graduating with the Class of 2026

Sandoval will participate in the 2026 Commencement Ceremony alongside fellow J.D. and L.L.M. graduates as they are formally hooded and recognized for completing their legal studies. The program will highlight the accomplishments of the graduating class and mark their transition into the legal profession and related fields.

In addition to the main ceremony, the law school will host a pre-commencement reception on Thursday, May 14, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. in the University of Oregon School of Law Commons. The reception will offer graduates, their guests, and faculty an opportunity to connect and celebrate prior to the arena ceremony.

Event Information and Livestream

Full details about the 2026 commencement, including instructions for guests, accessibility information, and lodging recommendations, are available on the law school’s commencement website. Guests are encouraged to review the site early and make hotel reservations well in advance, as there are often major track and field events in Eugene the same weekend.

Portland, OR, The University of Oregon School of Law (Oregon Law) will host Explore the Law with PSU, an engaging admissions event designed for Portland State University students (PSU) considering a career in law. The event will take place on Friday, February 13, 2026, at the University of Oregon’s Portland campus.

The program will feature an admissions presentation followed by a panel moderated by Professor Manesh, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs at Oregon Law. The panel will offer firsthand perspectives on what it’s like to pursue a legal education, providing attendees with a candid look at student life, academic opportunities, and the broader Oregon Law community.

Among the featured panelists is Addison Sandoval (J.D./M.B.A. Candidate, Class of 2026), an artist and advocate whose work bridges creative expression and social justice. Sandoval’s interdisciplinary background in film, business, and law informs his approach to exploring power, morality, and justice through both creative and legal frameworks.

This interactive session will conclude with a hosted lunch, giving attendees the opportunity to connect directly with Oregon Law students, faculty, and admissions representatives in an informal setting.

Event Details:

• Date: Friday, February 13, 2026

• Time: 10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

• Location: University of Oregon – Portland Campus

• Audience: PSU students interested in law

• Cost: Free; lunch provided

For more information or to RSVP, please contact the University of Oregon School of Law Admissions Office .

The latest edition of the University of Oregon Portland Quick Quack newsletter highlights Addison Sandoval, a third-year Law student bringing a unique blend of interests and experiences to the University of Oregon Portland campus. Addison’s focus areas include criminal justice, civil rights, and consumer protection. His current research examines the legal, ethical, and social implications of police drone surveillance, an increasingly relevant topic as technology evolves within law enforcement.

Addison is known for his interdisciplinary approach, drawing on both his J.D./M.B.A. studies and his MFA from the USC School of Cinematic Arts. This perspective helps him connect ideas and people from different backgrounds, whether diving into legal theory or exploring creative projects.

Addison says, emphasizing the importance of building relationships across campus. Outside of academics, Addison values simple moments of connection, like catching up with fellow Ducks over coffee. He sees these informal conversations as key to strengthening the UO Portland community and fostering a collaborative campus environment.

His path at UO Portland speaks to the value of blending diverse interests and engaging in active, ongoing dialogue. Whether he’s sharing insights from his research, exploring developments in the law, or listening to other students’ experiences, Addison contributes to a culture of curiosity, support, and open-mindedness.

Quick Quack’s feature puts a spotlight on this spirit, a reminder that campus life is built on everyday connections, shared interests, and mutual respect. Addison’s story shows how students can shape their own academic journeys and help make the Portland campus a welcoming place for all.

If you want to read more about Addison, or catch up on the latest campus news and student spotlights, check out the full Quick Quack newsletter.

The University of Oregon Portland kicked off the fall semester with its 2025 All-Campus Orientation, offering students a chance to build community and embrace the energy of a new academic year. Among the faces in the crowd was Addison Sandoval, a dual J.D./M.B.A. candidate known for bridging creativity and advocacy, who joined fellow Ducks in marking this milestone for the growing Portland campus.

For Sandoval, whose interdisciplinary work combines law, business, and the arts, the session was more than a welcome, it was an opportunity to help shape campus culture.

“It was inspiring to see students from so many backgrounds come together,” Sandoval said. “Events like this foster connections that last beyond the classroom, and I left the session feeling more at home, and energized for the opportunities ahead, than ever.”

Highlights from the Campus Life Session

The afternoon featured interactive panels, group discussions, and a spirited group photo with the campus icon, Thinker Duck, symbolizing the shared journey to come. Sandoval highlighted the importance of these experiences for both newcomers and returning students: “As someone balancing legal research, creative work, and community engagement, I know firsthand the value of a strong, supportive network. UO Portland is cultivating exactly that, and it’s a privilege to help welcome more voices into our community.”

A Welcoming Community for All

Organizers emphasized that the event was just the beginning. The Campus Life Session is part of a larger commitment by UO Portland’s Division of Student Life & Belonging to provide mentorship, inclusive spaces, and resources for personal and professional growth. For those unable to attend, a group photo with Thinker Duck will serve as a cheerful memento, and a reminder that every Duck belongs.

Learn more about student life and get involved at University of Oregon Portland Student Life and Belonging.

Why Visibility Matters

Walking across the University of Oregon campuses in Eugene and Portland, Addison Sandoval often thinks about the path that led him here, a path shaped by the vibrant energy of Los Angeles where he was born, by the traditions of his Mexican-American family, and, more recently, by a deeper understanding of his Spanish heritage revealed through DNA testing.

In fact, Sandoval learned that his ancestry is predominantly Spanish, an insight he values as another key dimension of his identity alongside his Mexican heritage and American upbringing. For Sandoval, being a first-generation graduate student isn’t just about individual achievement; it’s about honoring his parents’ journeys and embracing every part of his identity, American, Spanish, and Mexican, as he charts his own course in higher education.

Supporting the Visibility Campaign

Sandoval is all in on the Division of Graduate Studies’ Visibility Campaign. This is more than banners or stickers, it’s a celebration of the authentic stories and lived experiences of students from all backgrounds.

Seeing campaign materials around campus resonates with Sandoval, who knows the power of visibility in creating a community where every background is valued, whether rooted in local neighborhoods, family traditions, or connections discovered through ancestry.

His journey, beginning in Los Angeles, grounded in Mexican-American heritage, and further enriched by his understanding of his Spanish ancestry, reinforces his belief that visibility means making space for every chapter of a student’s story. To him, these reminders reflect a shared commitment to embracing the complexities and strengths that each student brings to campus.

The Power of Being Seen

Visibility on campus does more than decorate the halls. It signals a commitment to honoring the full range of backgrounds and experiences within the university community. When Sandoval passes a campaign sticker or digital background, he’s reminded, not of the need for affirmation, but of the collective strength found in diversity.

His background as an American, with Spanish and Mexican heritage, is a point of pride, and he recognizes how these experiences contribute to the rich tapestry of the academic environment.

Paying It Forward

Sandoval is committed to championing this campaign and encouraging others to get involved. By sharing his story, he hopes to inspire fellow first-generation students to take pride in all facets of their identities and lead with confidence.

He knows that diverse perspectives are essential for innovation and positive change, and he’s proud to be part of a campus community that recognizes and uplifts the full spectrum of student experiences. For Sandoval, it’s all about building a University of Oregon that is welcoming, inclusive, and supportive for everyone.

Imagine needing to stand up for your rights, only to discover the law wants you to take a cross-country road trip just to get a fair shake. That’s the reality for too many Oregonians, as Addison Sandoval’s recent research, released alongside the University of Oregon School of Law and Oregon Consumer Justice, makes clear.

Sandoval’s paper, In the Interests of Justice, zooms in on a pair of legal doctrines, forum non conveniens and forum selection clauses, that often lurk unnoticed in those digital agreements we barely read. These technicalities can let major companies insist that a consumer must bring any legal complaint to a faraway court, rather than somewhere accessible, like right here in Oregon.

Through a relatable hypothetical scenario, Sandoval shows how easily consumers can be shut out of their home courts. The report walks readers through the Oregon Unlawful Trade Practices Act (OR UTPA), a key law that’s supposed to help regular people challenge unfair business practices. But as Sandoval points out, that help sometimes vanishes thanks to cleverly worded contract clauses and doctrines originally built for very different cases.

Why does all this matter? Because with most commerce moving online, and so many contracts reduced to a “click here to agree,” it’s easier than ever for companies to stack the deck. It means that an Oregon resident facing a genuine issue might be told justice is only available hundreds or thousands of miles away.

This research came together thanks to a grant from the University of Oregon School of Law, with support from Oregon Consumer Justice, a nonprofit born from cy pres funds after the landmark class action, Scharfstein et al. v. BP West Coast Products, Multnomah County Case No. 1112-17046. The goal: to spotlight the real impacts of these legal mechanisms, and start a discussion about changes needed to keep everyday justice within reach for Oregonians.

Sandoval doesn’t just lay out the problem; the paper also recommends how courts and lawmakers can better protect consumers, making sure doctrines like forum non conveniens actually serve the public and not just corporate convenience.

Curious about how your online contracts affect your rights? Wondering whether you could really bring a lawsuit in your own state if you ever needed to? Check out the full paper at Social Science Research Network or at University of Oregon Libraries.

There are people whose legacies are measured not just by what they built, but by the lives they touched and the values they carried forward. My father, Abraham Sandoval, was one of those rare spirits—a man whose story began in Guadalajara, blossomed in Los Angeles, and left a lasting impact on a community, a family, and all who were fortunate to know him.

As the founder of Sandoval Diesel Repair, Dad was the embodiment of entrepreneurship and grit, starting his company in Compton at just twenty years old. He was never one for shortcuts—his hands knew the weight of honest labor, and his reputation was built on craftsmanship and trust. Whether mentoring a colleague or teaching his children about dignity and honor, he led by example, always reminding us that integrity was non-negotiable.

But beyond his professional accomplishments, my father was fiercely devoted to his family. He was a loving husband, a proud father to Abraham Jr. and myself, and a friend who celebrated your victories and stood steadfast through storms. His wisdom, humility, and capacity for empathy were limitless.

Dad taught by doing, believed in the potential of others, and gave freely without expecting anything in return. To him, success was never about money or applause—it was about character, perseverance, and doing what was right even when no one was watching.

Recently, I had the honor of eulogizing my father. What follows is the speech I delivered that day—a tribute written with love, gratitude, and the hope that his torch will continue to burn brightly in all whose lives he touched.

Abraham Sandoval Eulogy

When great men pass away, they pass on the torch. Dad was a great man. It’s up to each of us whose lives Dad touched, not just to carry the torch forward but to keep it burning bright along the way.

More Than We Knew

Most of you think you know who Dad is. All of you are here today because you shared something special with Dad. For that, I will be forever grateful, and I thank you all sincerely. But, I am here to tell you that whatever you thought you knew about Dad, there was more to him.

In recent days, I’ve seen Dad described as humble, a family man, loving. All this is true. But he was much more than that—much, much more.

I know some of you might be saying, “How well could you know him if you have been in Oregon for the last year.” It’s true, I recently moved to Oregon, but I spoke to Dad every day. I knew him as well as any man can know any other man. I’m here today to fill in the missing pieces about him. To ensure that Dad’s story is written the way he would have wanted.

Simplicity, Integrity, and What He Valued

Picasso once said simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.

Dad was the most sophisticated man. He was no puff, no frills. He was a doer. He led by example. He wasn’t distracted by the haters and didn’t waste time trying to keep appearances. He didn’t care about luxury cars, or fine clothes, or fine dining. What he did care about was the stuff that truly mattered.

He cared about people. He cared about authenticity. He cared about academics. He cared about storytelling. He cared about history. He cared about courage. He cared about honor. He cared about philosophy. He cared about winning. He cared about doing what was right even when nobody was watching. I want to hone in on these last two points. Winning and doing what’s right even if nobody is watching.

Or integrity.

In the end, Dad succeeded in this journey we call life, not because he gained at others’ expense, not because he was the loudest, not because he was the most aggressive, not because he earned money, but because he was able to preserve his integrity in the face of mighty challenges and formidable foes. In this day and age, that makes him nothing short of a hero.

Eyes That Saw the Flame

When it came to people, Dad was a visionary. He saw what few others will ever see. When you met him, you knew. You could feel it. There is something special about this man. This man is not like the rest. He’s different. He’s cut from a different cloth. Why? How? Questions abound. Well, I have the answer. The reason is because Dad looked into your eyes when others would look away. And when he did, he could see the burning flame reflecting back.

From that point forward, you had an ally in Dad. He was your greatest champion in times of triumph. Your consigliere in times of turmoil. He did all this; he invested so much of himself for you, not for self-gain, not because he wanted something in return, but because he saw a potential in you that you didn’t even know you had. And he wanted to do everything he could to see that that potential was not wasted.

Dad was a genius. Having spent my entire life in academics and attended some of the finest universities, I don’t use the word lightly. The evidence? It’s this. Dad understood what few others in academia or elsewhere will ever realize. That who you are as a human being is defined not by your status at birth, not by who your parents are, not by titles, or how much money you make. Who you are is a direct and proximate result of your actions.

Every day, in his work life and home life, Dad applied this philosophy in its purest form. He didn’t just talk about it. He lived it. It was his North Star. And he never lost sight of it. Dad strived to ensure that the fruits of his labor were spread as far and wide as possible. He gave so much of himself for others because he wanted as many people to benefit from his presence on this planet before it was time to go.

Carrying the Torch Forward

When great men pass away, they pass on the torch. It’s up to each of us whose lives Dad touched, not just to carry the torch forward but to keep it burning bright along the way.

So, as you carry the torch forward, I urge you not to settle for mediocrity, not even in the little things. I know I won’t. The little things. Dad cared about the little things because he knew that one day, on a day not unlike today, those little things would become the big things.

Finally, I want to end with this. Dad wasn’t a role player. Not by a long shot.

He was a star.

So, Dad, I want to make one final request of you.

Because I know you’re watching.

Take a bow.

You were triumphant.

Sandoval Diesel

Official Page. In Loving Memory of Abraham Sandoval. 1963-2023.

By Addison Sandoval

To read more about Abraham Sandoval—his life, his legacy, and the shop that carries his name—visit the dedicated tribute website.

The University of Oregon has featured Addison Sandoval in the university’s news platform, “Around the O,” for his research and advocacy as a recipient of the Consumer Protection Research Grant.

Sandoval’s research addresses vulnerabilities in consumer protection laws, with a special focus on Oregon’s digital economy. His project investigates the impact of forum selection clauses, contractual terms that can force consumers to resolve disputes in other states, often where protections are weaker or nonexistent.

This work aims to highlight gaps in the law related to personal jurisdiction, contract terms and conditions, and pretrial procedural maneuvers.

“Consumers are forced to navigate through numerous legal terms, conditions, and other fine print every day without any assistance from a legal professional,”

Sandoval said in his interview with “Around the O.”

“This made me understand the importance of consumer protection and the necessity of a fair marketplace.”

Sandoval’s research is supported by the Consumer Protection Research Grant program, established in 2014 with funds from the landmark Scharfstein v. BP West Coast Products class-action lawsuit.

The program, administered in collaboration with Oregon Consumer Justice, funds research that advances consumer rights and protections across a range of disciplines.

To explore the full story and the impact of Sandoval’s consumer advocacy research, continue reading at “Around the O”.

This year, the University of Oregon School of Law awarded a competitive research grant to Addison Sandoval, J.D./M.B.A. Candidate at the University of Oregon School of law and Lundquist College of Business, to critically examine one of Oregon’s most vital consumer protection laws: the Unlawful Trade Practices Act (UTPA).

Unmasking Consumer Threats in the Digital Age

The UTPA stands as a major legal safeguard for Oregonians, targeting false advertising, deceptive business conduct, and unfair trade practices across goods, services, and real estate transactions. Despite this robust legal framework, bad actors in today’s digital economy continue to adopt new ways to skirt regulations and consumer protection laws. Sandoval’s research sets out to answer a crucial question: Is the UTPA still fit for purpose in the era of online commerce, social platforms, and digital fraud, or is it time for an update?

Research Goals and Approach

Sandoval’s project combines in-depth legal research, real-world interviews, and data analysis to deliver a comprehensive picture of how the UTPA works, and where it might fall short, in the digital age. The study will:

• Review the legislative history and recent case law underpinning the UTPA

• Interview victims of fraud to document lived experiences and challenges in seeking justice

• Engage with the Oregon Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division for policy insight

• Analyze statewide internet consumer complaints filed through the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau

• Gather feedback from Oregon consumer protection advocates to shape recommendations for reform

Why This Research Matters

With digital scams and deceptive practices on the rise, Oregon’s consumers deserve legal protections that are not just historic, but effective and enforceable for the 21st century. Sandoval’s research promises actionable insights for lawmakers, regulators, and the public, advancing the shared goal of a fairer, safer marketplace for all.

Stay tuned for updates as Addison Sandoval’s work sheds new light on Oregon’s fight against unfair trade practices, keeping the state at the forefront of consumer protection in the digital age.

For further information on funded projects and emerging consumer protection research at the University of Oregon School of Law, visit their official grants announcement page.

As UCLA marks its centennial, the university is celebrating another vital achievement, one hundred years of campus safety. To honor this legacy, UCLA has launched the “100 Years of Safety” campaign, highlighted by the release of the documentary One Hundred Years Of Safety.

Directed by award-winning filmmaker Addison Sandoval, the documentary brings to life UCLA’s evolution in safety practices. Through archival footage and striking storytelling, it traces the university’s journey from its earliest protocols to modern approaches that prioritize both security and well-being.

A Century of Growth and Community Commitment

The film outlines pivotal developments in campus safety and spotlights the collective effort required to protect and support the Bruin community. Rather than presenting these efforts as mere policy shifts, the documentary reveals how safety has become a shared responsibility, rooted in UCLA’s culture and identity.

Sandoval, an MFA graduate of USC’s School of Cinematic Arts with festival accolades to his name, uses his narrative strength to transform UCLA’s historical milestones into a compelling visual narrative. The result is a film that both educates and inspires dialogue.

The “100 Years of Safety” campaign includes on-campus events, initiatives, and opportunities for reflection, encouraging students, alumni, staff, and faculty to contribute to the ongoing conversation about community safety and well-being.

For more updates and reflections on the campaign, visit the UCLA Office of Environment, Health & Safety. As the centennial is celebrated, UCLA invites everyone to help envision and build the future of campus safety, continuing a proud tradition where care and vigilance go hand in hand.

In the heart of Los Angeles, where sunlight casts long shadows and justice isn’t always black and white, filmmaker Addison Sandoval dares to ask: What happens when the lines between power, morality, and survival blur past recognition? Enter Gunwalkers, a drama that stormed the screen at USC’s prestigious First Look 2017 showcase, proving that true noir never fades, it only gets sharper.

The Setup

Gunwalkers is a tightly wound, Sonoran Desert-set neo-noir that both honors LA’s cinematic tradition and subverts it with a fresh, socially attuned perspective. Written, directed, and produced by Sandoval himself (talk about wearing many hats, does the man ever sleep?), this film traces the dark highways of gun running, loyalty, and loss. The cast is led by Bill Kates as Hank, who anchors the story’s emotional core with a performance that balances menace and vulnerability. Alongside him, Cheyenne Watson (Bosco), Issac Dean (Enzo), and Thaddeaus Ek (Dillan) populate a gritty, lived-in world where every shot fired echoes with consequence.

A Filmmaker’s Fingerprints

Sandoval’s fingerprints are everywhere, elevating Gunwalkers from student project to urgent work of art. From writing and directing to even serving as director of photography, a feat usually reserved for entire teams, Sandoval constructs a visual palette layered with tension. It’s a film that not only entertains, but also interrogates how systems of violence persist in first world landscapes. The sound design, courtesy of Nicolas Osorio, and the brooding score by Salomon Ligthelm and Evgeny Emelyanov, further immerse us in this world’s relentless suspense.

Social Justice in Shadows

True to Sandoval’s background as both an artist and advocate, Gunwalkers isn’t just hardboiled fun. It leans into the grim realities faced by marginalized communities, exposing how systemic corruption trickles down to haunt the everyday. Think classic noir, reimagined for an era where the stakes aren’t just personal, they’re political. From the armorer’s attention to gun detail (Mike Tristano) to the military advisor’s guidance (Matt Sigloch), there’s no cheap sensationalism here, only authenticity.

Why It Matters

Gunwalkers stands as more than a calling card for its multi-hyphenate creator. It’s a testament to how emerging artists, especially those whose work bridges disciplines and voices, can use the power of storytelling to challenge audiences and institutions alike. In combining the aesthetics of old-school noir with contemporary commentary, Sandoval asserts that stories of justice and survival are as crucial now as they were in any black-and-white classic.

Final Frame

For those who believe film can transcend entertainment to become advocacy, all while delivering a punchy, unforgettable thriller, Gunwalkers blazes a trail. Here’s hoping Sandoval keeps leading the charge: this is one walk through the Sonoran Desert you won’t want to miss.

Want more behind-the-scenes intrigue? Check out the full screening lineup from USC’s First Look 2017, where new voices like Sandoval’s are rewriting the script on what cinema, socially aware, unflinching, and utterly compelling, can be.

Gunwalkers (2017), written and directed by Addison Sandoval, is a searing action-drama inspired by one of the most explosive controversies in recent U.S. law enforcement: the “Fast and Furious” gunwalking operation. This USC graduate thesis film delivers a potent narrative punch, following a father’s relentless quest for justice after government…

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Live Another Day (2015), directed and written by Addison Sandoval for the USC Shoah Foundation, is a historical documentary that reconstructs the psychological and physical reality of solitary confinement in Nazi Germany through survivor testimony, archival context, and a carefully controlled cinematic grammar. Rather than approaching World War II from an aerial or didactic vantage, the film situates the audience at eye level with a single political prisoner whose day-to-day survival reveals the mechanics of authoritarian control and the quiet labor of resistance.

At its core, the film examines three interlocking forces:

• The machinery of dehumanization: bureaucratic procedures, spatial design, surveillance, and enforced isolation that weaponize time and silence.

• The technologies of memory: ritual, small acts of self-preservation, and sensory anchors, light, sound, breath, as countermeasures to erasure.

• The ethics of witnessing: how stories are preserved and transmitted, and how cinema can safeguard historical truth against distortion.

Sandoval interlaces first-person accounts and historically grounded detail with restrained, observational staging. The film’s visual language draws from noir traditions not for stylization, but for dialectical clarity: hard lines and high contrast illuminate the stark moral architecture of oppression. The cell’s geometry, its angles, shadows, and thresholds, functions as an evidentiary space. Sound design carries particular evidentiary weight: footsteps tracing the rhythms of authority; the metallic report of keys; the staccato of distant doors; the slow drip of water marking time’s hostile expansion. Sparse, pointed narration and text-on-screen provide historical scaffolding without overwhelming the subjective experience at the film’s heart.

The documentary’s temporal structure breaks the prison day into discrete, rigorously observed movements: wakefulness, inspection, deprivation, recollection, punishment, endurance. Within this cadence, the prisoner’s interior world becomes a site of stubborn autonomy. Memory, of family, names, places, language, operates as a counter-archive to the state’s ledgers and files. Each act of remembering is framed as both protest and preservation: an assertion that the individual cannot be reduced to a number, nor history to a statistic.

Live Another Day also interrogates the transmission of trauma and testimony across generations. In carefully calibrated interludes, the film contextualizes solitary confinement within broader Nazi carceral practices and political purges, tracing how targeted repression seeks not only to break bodies but to recalibrate public memory. By foregrounding the microphysics of daily survival, the documentary challenges audiences to recognize the systemic logic that enables atrocities, how ordinary procedures, carried out with cold regularity, facilitate extraordinary harm.

Taken together, the film advances a thesis both historical and contemporary: authoritarianism does not begin with spectacle; it begins with small, normalized violences. And against those, survival, breathing, remembering, refusing, becomes both a moral act and a historical record.

Reception

Live Another Day has been noted in academic, legal, and community forums for its disciplined minimalism, ethical clarity, and pedagogical utility. Educators and researchers have cited the film’s focus on spatial design, ritualized control, and the phenomenology of confinement as valuable for coursework in modern European history, Holocaust and genocide studies, carceral theory, human rights, and documentary ethics. Its tight, immersive scope, eschewing overproduction in favor of experiential density, has been recognized for facilitating discussion on primary versus secondary evidence in historical storytelling, the role of cinema in safeguarding memory, and the dangers of euphemistic bureaucratic language.

Screening Q&As and seminars have highlighted:

• The film’s sound-led evidentiary strategy and how auditory cues function as historical texture, not mere mood.

• The value of centering a single subject-position to illuminate systemic truths without collapsing individual specificity into abstraction.

• The interplay between cinematic reconstruction and archival rigor, and the responsibilities filmmakers bear when visualizing historical trauma.

Beyond formal settings, audience responses have emphasized the work’s lingering moral impact: an insistence that the “ordinary” shapes of oppression, paperwork, patrols, protocol, must be recognized and resisted wherever they appear. For many viewers, the film becomes a compact but resonant touchstone, revisited in discussions about contemporary detention practices, political prisoners, and the preservation of testimony in an era of disinformation.

Live Another Day stands as a meticulous, human-scale contribution to historical documentary practice: a film that refuses spectacle in favor of witness, and that honors survival not as a passive condition but as a deliberate, daily choice to live, another hour, another day, and to remember.

Visit the USC Shoah Foundation to engage deeply with survivor testimony, educational resources, and ongoing efforts to confront antisemitism. Continue the work of remembrance by watching Live Another Day and sharing it with someone who needs to see it.

Live Another Day (2015), directed and written by Addison Sandoval for the USC Shoah Foundation, is a historical documentary that reconstructs the psychological and physical reality of solitary confinement in Nazi Germany through survivor testimony, archival context, and a carefully controlled cinematic grammar. Rather than approaching World War …

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Bearing Witness: Film as Memory and Resistance

For Addison Sandoval, filmmaking is far more than creative expression, it’s a way to bear witness, challenge denial, and keep memory alive. His partnership with the USC Shoah Foundation illustrates the vital role of film in honoring the stories of those who survived humanity’s darkest moments.

Sandoval’s early lessons in humility and respect shaped both his worldview and his art, values which took center stage in his award-winning short film, Live Another Day, created for the USC Shoah Foundation’s Student Voices contest. Drawing on powerful firsthand testimonies from the Foundation’s Visual History Archive, Sandoval’s film weaves survivor stories together with original visuals and poetic narration, bridging past and present.

Stories as Tools for Change

The USC Shoah Foundation, founded by Steven Spielberg and USC to record, preserve, and amplify the voices of genocide survivors, gave Sandoval a new perspective on storytelling as a tool for change. “Making media like this cements what happened in the annals of history. The only way future generations will know what happened is through the pictures,” he says. Working with the Archive left a deep impression, inspiring Sandoval to use his craft to confront both historical and contemporary forms of hate.

“Genocide is not just history, it’s a warning,” Sandoval reflects. Through creative collaboration with the Shoah Foundation, he reminds us all of our shared responsibility to remember, educate, and resist bigotry in every form.

Cinema, Advocacy, and the Pursuit of Justice

Blending his passions for film, law, and advocacy, Sandoval continues to champion stories that matter, proving that cinematic witness has the power to spark empathy, action, and hope for a more just world.

For more on the power of cinematic witness and Addison Sandoval’s partnership with the USC Shoah Foundation, visit the original article: Cinematic Witness: Addison Sandoval Partners with the USC Shoah Foundation.

Los Angeles, CA, For his latest film “Pops,” USC filmmaker Addison Sandoval has tapped one of rock’s most infectious anthems: “My Sharona.” Through a collaboration with Wise Brothers Music, Sandoval secured rights to feature the Doug Fieger and Berton Averre anthem as the soundtrack to the film’s vibrant introduction.

Electric Nostalgia Kicks Off the Journey

Sandoval’s take on the coming-of-age genre gets an electric kickstart as the film opens with the bold, unmistakable riff that catapulted The Knack’s song into music history. Bringing “My Sharona” into the opening sequence, Sandoval wanted audiences to feel a sense of both nostalgia and momentum. The song doesn’t just set the mood, it signals a film that’s as much about energy and connection as it is about family and discovery.

Pop Culture, Heartfelt Moments, and Generational Ties

Sandoval’s style is all about mixing heartfelt moments with pop culture touchstones. With Pops, he uses music to frame generational relationships, creating a world that feels both timeless and lived-in. The opening scene alone bursts with color, movement, and attitude, inviting viewers to buckle up for a ride that’s part memory, part revelation.

The Power of an Iconic Track

For Sandoval, weaving such an iconic track into his film was more than a nod to music history, it was about creating an instant connection.

“Music has the power to transport. I wanted ‘Pops’ to greet audiences with something instantly recognizable, then invite them into a story that’s entirely its own.”

Pops continues Sandoval’s exploration of human psychology, but this time with a distinctly rhythmic pulse, one that’s bound to keep festival audiences tapping their feet long after the credits roll.

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