Living in the Bay Area is expensive. We’re all trying to figure it out — and figure out how everyone else is making it work. In a new series, we want to explore how real people live and spend their money here, and offer you the chance to get personalized, judgment-free advice from our personal finance columnist (that’s me!) 

Welcome to “What I Spend in the Bay.”

We’re not asking you to start tracking today. Sign up if you’re interested and Jessica will fill you in on more details. 

We want to know where your money goes, and give you the chance to get budgeting advice from a pro. Here’s how to sign up to participate.

Sign up by filling out the form below. If selected, we’ll send you a template for your spending diary and reminders along the way. You can be completely anonymous if you want — we won’t publish any personally identifying information without your permission.

What we’ll want from you: 

1. Track every purchase you make for a week, including where, when and how much, plus any context you want to share about what you bought. 

2. Tell us where your money went that week, plus list your big-picture monthly line items (rent or mortgage, car payment, insurance, loans, etc.)

3. Get practical, actionable feedback from our advice columnist to change your budget for the better.

You’ll get custom financial advice from a pro and help other people make better money decisions — and maybe feel a little less alone about it all. 

We can’t wait to hear from you.

In the realm of independent cinema, few narratives resonate as deeply as the journey of self-discovery. Peter Zerzan’s film, The Tourist, is one such piece of fiction that encapsulates the reality, discomfort and liberation that exist in soul-searching. Now, the film embarks on its festival journey, presenting at the 20th San Francisco Short Film Festival, marking a significant milestone in its cinematic voyage.

The debut screening is intended to introduce the audience to the film’s rich cultural and creative tapestry while setting the stage for its anticipated presence in future festivals worldwide. “I’m excited for the screening,” Zerzan shares. “I think the film looks best on the big screen. We shot it specifically for that, on location. It’s meant to feel big.”

Set against the lush coastlines of Goa, India, The Tourist follows the journey of Akiko, a Japanese businesswoman who travels to Goa to attend a crypto convention and finds herself at the crossroads between following her heart and following the path she thought was right. Her journey unfolds as she encounters a local man, leading to a transformative experience that challenges her perceptions of success and fulfillment.

Zerzan’s meticulous attention to detail is evident in every frame. The film was intentionally created for the big screen, employing anamorphic lenses and a carefully curated color wheel inspired by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe’s Theory of Colors. “Colors can hold many emotions and narratives within themselves; they’re pivotal to storytelling,” Zerzan shares. “As Akiko’s journey progresses, her wardrobe transitions with the color wheel too, symbolizing her emotional and personal evolution.” That kind of meticulous attention is emblematic of Zerzan’s approach, striking a balance of cinematic craft and human resonance.

With co-writer Melissa Pennel, Zerzan has brought to life a narrative that delves into themes of authenticity and inner peace. With the upcoming film festival screening debut, Pennel takes pride in her words materializing on the screen. “As a longtime writer, I’ve always trusted that my words would find a way to someone; that necessary belief is what keeps me pounding away alone at the keyboard,” she reflects. “But as a writer that’s new to film, this isn’t something I get to witness often. It’s a thrill to hear the words I typed alone at my desk come to life through talented actors.”

Collaborating with Zerzan, Pennel adds, was a lesson in both creativity and generosity. “Peter was a dream collaborator. He welcomed feedback and new ideas with such openness that it made the process feel fluid and creative. His experience helped us make decisions about when a scene’s cost might outweigh its impact, laying a solid foundation for the story.”

The San Francisco Short Film Festival has been a platform for independent filmmakers and films like The Tourist to be celebrated. “It’s nice that we’re still having festivals and events where independent films have a place,” he says, noting the post-COVID challenges that have reshaped the theatrical landscape. “Film festivals give new work a moment to be seen and valued, which is essential when the industry is so focused on the same things over and over again.”

Zerzan’s reflections touch on broader industry concerns as well. Amid a climate increasingly dominated by franchise filmmaking and AI-assisted content, he sees film festivals as a crucial equalizer, a space for originality, creativity and human perspective to persist. “AI is inherently backward-looking,” he says. “It works with what’s already been done. Festivals let fresh voices exist, and they remind audiences what the medium can do when creativity comes first.”

As The Tourist embarks on its festival journey, the team looks forward to sharing Akiko’s story with a broader audience, hoping to inspire reflections on personal fulfillment and the pursuit of authenticity. “I hope people leave with the reminder that we don’t have to chase anyone else’s idea of success,” Zerzan shares. “True satisfaction comes from being real, from living in a way that feels true, and from noticing the beauty and awe around us.”

The film’s debut marks the first stop on what Zerzan hopes will be a longer festival journey. “This is the start of sharing it with as many eyes as possible,” he says.

Those viewing the screening will encounter a narrative that is visually deliberate and emotionally expansive. In the cinematic landscape often dominated by franchise-driven narratives, The Tourist stands as a testament to the power of original storytelling and the enduring impact of film festivals in nurturing creative voices, all while paying it forward for the industry.

San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie says that President Donald Trump called him and told him he was “calling off any plans for a federal deployment” in the city.

Lurie posted on social media Thursday morning, despite federal agents having already arrived in the Bay Area.

Trump also posted on Truth Social that the federal agents were preparing to “surge” the city on Saturday, but are now backing off.

He said he is respecting Lurie’s request to call off the deployment but said, “I told him I think he is making a mistake, because we can do it much faster, and remove the criminals that the Law does not permit him to remove.”

Trump also referenced Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang and Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff and how they’ve “called saying that the future of San Francisco is great.”

Federal agents did arrive at Coast Guard Island in Alameda Thursday morning and were met by protesters.

Lurie says he also spoke with Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem Thursday morning and she reaffirmed what President Trump said.

This comes one week after President Trump first threatened to send the National Guard to the city, and a few days after U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem discussed plans to deploy federal troops to the city.

It is unclear what the federal agents will be doing in the Bay Area.

Here is Lurie’s full statement:

“Yesterday, I spoke to San Franciscans about a potential federal deployment in our city. I said then what I have said since taking office, that keeping San Franciscans safe is my top priority.

“Late last night, I received a phone call from the President of the United States. I told him the same thing I told our residents: San Francisco is on the rise. Visitors are coming back, buildings are getting leased and purchased, and workers are coming back to the office. We have work to do, and we would welcome continued partnerships with the FBI, DEA, ATF, and U.S. Attorney to get drugs and drug dealers off our streets, but having the military and militarized immigration enforcement in our city will hinder our recovery. We appreciate that the president understands that we are the global hub for technology, and when San Francisco is strong, our country is strong.

“In that conversation, the president told me clearly that he was calling off any plans for a federal deployment in San Francisco. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem reaffirmed that direction in our conversation this morning.

“My team will continue to monitor the situation closely, and our city remains prepared for any scenario.

“I am profoundly grateful to all the San Franciscans who came together over the last several days. Our city leaders have been united behind the goal of public safety. And our values have been on full display-this is the best of our city.”

READ MORE HERE.