Even undocumented immigrants have hope for the American Dream.
Latino-Review has an exclusive scene clip from “Dreamer,” a film about a young Americanized undocumented immigrant in this country.
Here’s the synopsis:
Dreamer opens a window into the reality of many who, because of one insurmountable obstacle, find it impossible to achieve their dreams. Even though Joe was raised in the United States for all but the first few years of his life-and considers himself American-he must live with the constant fear of deportation from the country he loves to a place he has never known. The film transcends racial lines and illuminates the immigration debate for what it is: a tragedy that effects all Americans.
The film stars Jeremy Ray Valdez (“La Mission,” “Constantine”).
“Dreamer made its debut on Nuvo TV earlier this month and will be available on other platforms later this year.
Check out the exclusive scene below.
Latino-Review has an exclusive scene clip from “Dreamer,” a film about a young Americanized undocumented immigrant in this country.
Here’s the synopsis:
Dreamer opens a window into the reality of many who, because of one insurmountable obstacle, find it impossible to achieve their dreams. Even though Joe was raised in the United States for all but the first few years of his life-and considers himself American-he must live with the constant fear of deportation from the country he loves to a place he has never known. The film transcends racial lines and illuminates the immigration debate for what it is: a tragedy that effects all Americans.
The film stars Jeremy Ray Valdez (“La Mission,” “Constantine”).
“Dreamer made its debut on Nuvo TV earlier this month and will be available on other platforms later this year.
Check out the exclusive scene below.
- 7/11/2014
- by Gig Patta
- LRMonline.com
Who are these Dreamers?
In the past couple of years, Dreamers have been a topic of hot political debate at Washington, D.C. It’s centered on the issue of undocumented young adults and children who grew up with American culture and values.
“Dreamer” is a narrative fictional feature film that revolves around a Joe Rodriguez, a Dreamer who is trying to live a secret life in America. He’s amiable, well-educated and attractive. He’s graduated from college and is working and excelling in his field. He’s on the way to achieving the American Dream. That is until his employer discovers his undocumented status and the life he’s worked so hard for begins to crumble around him. He must face the possibility of losing his livelihood, his family and, even, himself.
Latino-Review conducted a telephone interview with director Jesse Salmeron and actor Jeremy Ray Valdez for this touching film.
In the past couple of years, Dreamers have been a topic of hot political debate at Washington, D.C. It’s centered on the issue of undocumented young adults and children who grew up with American culture and values.
“Dreamer” is a narrative fictional feature film that revolves around a Joe Rodriguez, a Dreamer who is trying to live a secret life in America. He’s amiable, well-educated and attractive. He’s graduated from college and is working and excelling in his field. He’s on the way to achieving the American Dream. That is until his employer discovers his undocumented status and the life he’s worked so hard for begins to crumble around him. He must face the possibility of losing his livelihood, his family and, even, himself.
Latino-Review conducted a telephone interview with director Jesse Salmeron and actor Jeremy Ray Valdez for this touching film.
- 10/30/2013
- by Gig Patta
- LRMonline.com
After being cancelled last year, sadly, for lack of funding, the Latino International Film Festival (Laliff) returns stronger than ever to treat audiences to some of the best cinematic works, of all lengths and genres, created by Latino American filmmakers in their native countries or by Latino creators here in the U.S. This 16th edition of the festival will run from Thursday October 10th to Monday October 14th, and showcases a varied compilation of films from 14 Latin filmmaking countries.
"We are very excited and honored to have this record breaking number of Premieres presented at Laliff," said Marlene Dermer, Co-founder/Executive Director/Programmer of Laliff. "16 years and it keeps getting better because of the films." added co-founder Edward James Olmos.
This year's diverse selection of 62 works includes 28 features, 11 documentaries, and 23 shorts, which represent an eclectic mosaic of styles, subject matters, and experiences. The festival will close with the special presentation of the Mexican box-office smash hit Nosotros los Nobles, directed by Gary Alazraki, followed by an after party sponsored by Cine Latino. The list of films include the Guatemalan feature Polvo by Julio Hernandez or the Argentinian La Paz by Santiago Loza Directorial debuts like Water & Power by Richard Montoya, based off his acclaimed play by the same name, compelling documentaries like Narco Cultura and Gimme the Power, among many others.
For more information, single tickets, and festival passes click Here
This year's Laliff films are as follows (in alphabetical order):
Amor Cronico , Jorge Perugorria, 83 min
Country: Cuba
Premiere: West Coast
A Puerta FRÍA , Xavi Puebla, 80 min
Country: Spain
Premiere: USA
A Truth In Silence , Jonathan Salemi, 4:23 min
Country: USA
Premiere: World
Bordando La Frontera (Embroidering The Border) , Rene Rhi, 27 min
Country: Mexico/ USA
Captive Radio , Lauren Rosenfeld, 23 min
Country: USA/ Colombia
Premiere: Los Angeles
Carne De Perro (Dog's Flesh) , Fernando Guzzoni, 81min
Country: Chile
Premiere: Los Angeles
Catch , David Henrie, 10 min
Country: USA
Premiere: World
Cement Suitcase , Rick Castañeda, 94 min
Country: USA
Close Your Eyes , Sonia Malfa, 14:32 min
Country: USA
Con La Pata Quebrada (Barefoot In The Kitchen) , Diego Galán, 83 min
Country: Spain
Premiere: U.S.
Defectuosos (Defective) , Gabriela Martínez Garza & Jon Fernández López, 8 min
Country: Mexico
Dentro De Uno (Inside Oneself) , Salvador Aguirre, 8 min
Country: Mexico
Desert Road Kill , Michael Carreño, 16:57 min
Country: USA
Detained In The Desert , Iliana Sosa, 80 min
Country: USA
Premiere: World
Dragon Day , Jeffrey Travis, 95 min
Country:usa/Mexico
Premiere: World
Dreamer , Jesse Salmeron, 93 min
Country: USA
El Alcalde (The Mayor) , Emiliano Altuna, 80 min
Country: Mexico
Premiere: Los Angeles
El Cocodrillo , Steve Acevedo, 15 min
Country: USA
El Doctor , Heather de Michele, 11:24 min
Country: USA
El Jazz (Jazz) , Andrés Peralta, 10:30 min
Country: Mexico
Esther En Alguna Parte (Esther Somewhere) , Gerardo Chijona, 95 min
Country: Cuba
Premiere: World
Gimme The Power , Olallo Rubio, 101min
Country: Mexico
Greencard Warriors , Miriam Kruishoop, 91min
Country: USA
Premiere: World
Homebound , Fanny Veliz, 105 min
Country: USA
¡Huelga! (Strike) , Skeets McGrew, 57:32 min
Country: USA
Interstate , Camille Stochitch, 19:56 min
Country: USA
Premiere: World
JARDĺN De Amapolas (Field Of Amapolas) , Juan Carlos Melo Guevara, 86min
Country: Colombia
Premiere: World
Justice For My Sister , Kimberly Bautista, 69 min
Country: USA
Premiere: Los Angeles
Kill The Dictator (El Teniente Amado) , Félix Limardo, 90 min
Country: Dominican Republic
Premiere: West Coast
La Calle Estereo (The Stereo Street) , Santiago León Cuellar, 30min
Country: Colombia
La Paz , Santiago Loza, 73 min
Country: Argentina
Premiere: Los Angeles
La Piscina (The Swimming Pool) , Carlos Machado Quintela, 66 min
Country: Cuba
Premiere: Los Angeles
Las Tardes De Tintico (Tintico's Afternoons) , Alejandro García Caballero, 8:30 min
Country: Mexico
Llegar A Ti (To Reach You) , Alejandro Torres Rezzio, 8 min
Country: USA
Lo Azul Del Cielo , Juan Alfredo Uribe, 112min La
Country: Colombia
Premiere: Los Angeles
Maestra , Catherine Murphy, 33 min
Country: USA/ Cuba
Meu Pais (My Country) , André Ristum, 84min
Country: Brazil
Premiere: Los Angeles
Miradas MÚLTIPLES (La MÁQUINA Loca) / (Multiple Perspectives (The Crazy Machine) , Emilio Maillé, 90 min
Country: France/ Mexico
Muerte De Una Ama De Casa (Death Of A Housewife) , Marisé Samitier, 27 min
Country: Spain
Narco Cultura , Shaul Schwarz, 102 min
Country: USA
Premiere: West Coast
Ni Un Hombre MÁS (Iguana Stew) , Martin Salinas, 83 min
Country: Argentina
Premiere: West Coast
Nosotros Los Nobles (The Noble Family) , Gaz Alazraki, 95 min
Country: Mexico
Premiere: Los Angeles
O Afinador (The Tuner) , Fernando Camargo & Matheus Parizi, 15 min
Country: Brazil
Premiere: Los Angeles
Our Boys , Leonardo Ricagni, 88 min
Country: USA
Premiere: World
Pablo , Richard Goldgewicht, 93 min
Country: USA / Brazil
Premiere: Los Angeles
Phoenix , Stefano Capuzzi Lapietra, 13 min
Country: Brazil
Premiere: West Coast
Polvo (Dust) , Julio Hernández Cordón, 80 min
Country: Guatemala/Spain/Chile/Germany
Premiere: Los Angeles
Ponchao , Josh Crook, 85 min
Country: Dominican Republic
Premiere: World
POTOSÍ , Alfredo Castruita, 120min
Country: Mexico
Premiere: USA
Princesas Rojas (Red Princesses) , Laura Astorga Carrera, 100 min
Country: Costa Ria/ Venezuela/ Nicaragua
Premiere: Los Angeles
Rebel , Maria Agui Carter, 75 min
Country: USA
Premiere: Los Angeles
Sleeping With The Fishes , Nicole Gómez Fisher, 101 min
Country: USA
Stand & Deliver , Ramón Menéndez, 102 min Special Screening - 25Th Anniversary
Tanta Agua , Ana Guevara & Leticia Jorge, 102 min
Country: Urugua/ Mexico/ Netherlands/ Germany
Premiere: West Coast
Tierra De Sangre , James Katz, 106 min
Country: Chile
Premiere: North American
The Graduates (Los Graduados) , Bernardo Ruiz, 60 minYOUTH Program
Country: USA
The Price We Pay , Jesse Garcia, 7:24 min
Country: USA
Premiere: World Premiere
The Shooting Star Salesman , Kico Velarde, 20 min
Country: USA
Water & Power , Richard Montoya, 87 minOpera Prima
Country: USA
We Women Warriors (Tejiendo Sabiduria) , Nicole Karsin, 82 min
Country:usa/Colombia
Your Father's Daughter , Carlos Bernard, 15:20 min
Country: USA
Premiere: World
Zero Hour , Dan Carillo Levy, 7:20 min
Country: USA/Mexico...
"We are very excited and honored to have this record breaking number of Premieres presented at Laliff," said Marlene Dermer, Co-founder/Executive Director/Programmer of Laliff. "16 years and it keeps getting better because of the films." added co-founder Edward James Olmos.
This year's diverse selection of 62 works includes 28 features, 11 documentaries, and 23 shorts, which represent an eclectic mosaic of styles, subject matters, and experiences. The festival will close with the special presentation of the Mexican box-office smash hit Nosotros los Nobles, directed by Gary Alazraki, followed by an after party sponsored by Cine Latino. The list of films include the Guatemalan feature Polvo by Julio Hernandez or the Argentinian La Paz by Santiago Loza Directorial debuts like Water & Power by Richard Montoya, based off his acclaimed play by the same name, compelling documentaries like Narco Cultura and Gimme the Power, among many others.
For more information, single tickets, and festival passes click Here
This year's Laliff films are as follows (in alphabetical order):
Amor Cronico , Jorge Perugorria, 83 min
Country: Cuba
Premiere: West Coast
A Puerta FRÍA , Xavi Puebla, 80 min
Country: Spain
Premiere: USA
A Truth In Silence , Jonathan Salemi, 4:23 min
Country: USA
Premiere: World
Bordando La Frontera (Embroidering The Border) , Rene Rhi, 27 min
Country: Mexico/ USA
Captive Radio , Lauren Rosenfeld, 23 min
Country: USA/ Colombia
Premiere: Los Angeles
Carne De Perro (Dog's Flesh) , Fernando Guzzoni, 81min
Country: Chile
Premiere: Los Angeles
Catch , David Henrie, 10 min
Country: USA
Premiere: World
Cement Suitcase , Rick Castañeda, 94 min
Country: USA
Close Your Eyes , Sonia Malfa, 14:32 min
Country: USA
Con La Pata Quebrada (Barefoot In The Kitchen) , Diego Galán, 83 min
Country: Spain
Premiere: U.S.
Defectuosos (Defective) , Gabriela Martínez Garza & Jon Fernández López, 8 min
Country: Mexico
Dentro De Uno (Inside Oneself) , Salvador Aguirre, 8 min
Country: Mexico
Desert Road Kill , Michael Carreño, 16:57 min
Country: USA
Detained In The Desert , Iliana Sosa, 80 min
Country: USA
Premiere: World
Dragon Day , Jeffrey Travis, 95 min
Country:usa/Mexico
Premiere: World
Dreamer , Jesse Salmeron, 93 min
Country: USA
El Alcalde (The Mayor) , Emiliano Altuna, 80 min
Country: Mexico
Premiere: Los Angeles
El Cocodrillo , Steve Acevedo, 15 min
Country: USA
El Doctor , Heather de Michele, 11:24 min
Country: USA
El Jazz (Jazz) , Andrés Peralta, 10:30 min
Country: Mexico
Esther En Alguna Parte (Esther Somewhere) , Gerardo Chijona, 95 min
Country: Cuba
Premiere: World
Gimme The Power , Olallo Rubio, 101min
Country: Mexico
Greencard Warriors , Miriam Kruishoop, 91min
Country: USA
Premiere: World
Homebound , Fanny Veliz, 105 min
Country: USA
¡Huelga! (Strike) , Skeets McGrew, 57:32 min
Country: USA
Interstate , Camille Stochitch, 19:56 min
Country: USA
Premiere: World
JARDĺN De Amapolas (Field Of Amapolas) , Juan Carlos Melo Guevara, 86min
Country: Colombia
Premiere: World
Justice For My Sister , Kimberly Bautista, 69 min
Country: USA
Premiere: Los Angeles
Kill The Dictator (El Teniente Amado) , Félix Limardo, 90 min
Country: Dominican Republic
Premiere: West Coast
La Calle Estereo (The Stereo Street) , Santiago León Cuellar, 30min
Country: Colombia
La Paz , Santiago Loza, 73 min
Country: Argentina
Premiere: Los Angeles
La Piscina (The Swimming Pool) , Carlos Machado Quintela, 66 min
Country: Cuba
Premiere: Los Angeles
Las Tardes De Tintico (Tintico's Afternoons) , Alejandro García Caballero, 8:30 min
Country: Mexico
Llegar A Ti (To Reach You) , Alejandro Torres Rezzio, 8 min
Country: USA
Lo Azul Del Cielo , Juan Alfredo Uribe, 112min La
Country: Colombia
Premiere: Los Angeles
Maestra , Catherine Murphy, 33 min
Country: USA/ Cuba
Meu Pais (My Country) , André Ristum, 84min
Country: Brazil
Premiere: Los Angeles
Miradas MÚLTIPLES (La MÁQUINA Loca) / (Multiple Perspectives (The Crazy Machine) , Emilio Maillé, 90 min
Country: France/ Mexico
Muerte De Una Ama De Casa (Death Of A Housewife) , Marisé Samitier, 27 min
Country: Spain
Narco Cultura , Shaul Schwarz, 102 min
Country: USA
Premiere: West Coast
Ni Un Hombre MÁS (Iguana Stew) , Martin Salinas, 83 min
Country: Argentina
Premiere: West Coast
Nosotros Los Nobles (The Noble Family) , Gaz Alazraki, 95 min
Country: Mexico
Premiere: Los Angeles
O Afinador (The Tuner) , Fernando Camargo & Matheus Parizi, 15 min
Country: Brazil
Premiere: Los Angeles
Our Boys , Leonardo Ricagni, 88 min
Country: USA
Premiere: World
Pablo , Richard Goldgewicht, 93 min
Country: USA / Brazil
Premiere: Los Angeles
Phoenix , Stefano Capuzzi Lapietra, 13 min
Country: Brazil
Premiere: West Coast
Polvo (Dust) , Julio Hernández Cordón, 80 min
Country: Guatemala/Spain/Chile/Germany
Premiere: Los Angeles
Ponchao , Josh Crook, 85 min
Country: Dominican Republic
Premiere: World
POTOSÍ , Alfredo Castruita, 120min
Country: Mexico
Premiere: USA
Princesas Rojas (Red Princesses) , Laura Astorga Carrera, 100 min
Country: Costa Ria/ Venezuela/ Nicaragua
Premiere: Los Angeles
Rebel , Maria Agui Carter, 75 min
Country: USA
Premiere: Los Angeles
Sleeping With The Fishes , Nicole Gómez Fisher, 101 min
Country: USA
Stand & Deliver , Ramón Menéndez, 102 min Special Screening - 25Th Anniversary
Tanta Agua , Ana Guevara & Leticia Jorge, 102 min
Country: Urugua/ Mexico/ Netherlands/ Germany
Premiere: West Coast
Tierra De Sangre , James Katz, 106 min
Country: Chile
Premiere: North American
The Graduates (Los Graduados) , Bernardo Ruiz, 60 minYOUTH Program
Country: USA
The Price We Pay , Jesse Garcia, 7:24 min
Country: USA
Premiere: World Premiere
The Shooting Star Salesman , Kico Velarde, 20 min
Country: USA
Water & Power , Richard Montoya, 87 minOpera Prima
Country: USA
We Women Warriors (Tejiendo Sabiduria) , Nicole Karsin, 82 min
Country:usa/Colombia
Your Father's Daughter , Carlos Bernard, 15:20 min
Country: USA
Premiere: World
Zero Hour , Dan Carillo Levy, 7:20 min
Country: USA/Mexico...
- 10/10/2013
- by Carlos Aguilar
- Sydney's Buzz
Be sure to grab your tickets and passes here before the festival ends Monday October 14th!
After a year hiatus the Los Angeles community anxiously awaits the opening of the 16th Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival. With over 60 films, panels (including one hosted by our very own Sydney Levine), filmmaker cocktails, and a growing youth program, Laliff patrons will have plenty to experience.
Iberoamerican Film Financing
Moderated by Sydney Levine, IndieWire, SydneysBuzz
Sunday October 13th, 2013 / 1:30 pm Lowes Hollywood Hotel — 4th level meeting rooms
L.A. Latino International Film Festival has returned after its one year hiatus. In addition to the films as listed, 17 are by women.
Sydney Levine will be moderating a panel on Latino Film Financing with participants:
Diego Velasco from Venezuela whose film The Zero Hour (La Hora Cero) played in Laliff
Pedro Uriol from Spain whose production company Morena Films has just moved to L.A. From Spain (Farewell My Queen, Even the Rain)
Jeremy Ray Valdez producer and actor from L.A. whose film Dreamer is showing in Laliff this year
How do Latin American films get financed? Each country has it’s system, and most countries are offering financing as incentives for local filmmakers. Are they offering nationals living in the U.S. these incentives? Find out at this panel moderated by Sydney Levine who is in the process of writing Iberoamerican Film Financing to be published in English and Spanish in 2014. Participants will be filmmakers from various Latin American countries.
Laliff 2013 Festival Program
Download the Laliff 2013 Festival Program Pdf (or click program below for larger view)...
After a year hiatus the Los Angeles community anxiously awaits the opening of the 16th Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival. With over 60 films, panels (including one hosted by our very own Sydney Levine), filmmaker cocktails, and a growing youth program, Laliff patrons will have plenty to experience.
Iberoamerican Film Financing
Moderated by Sydney Levine, IndieWire, SydneysBuzz
Sunday October 13th, 2013 / 1:30 pm Lowes Hollywood Hotel — 4th level meeting rooms
L.A. Latino International Film Festival has returned after its one year hiatus. In addition to the films as listed, 17 are by women.
Sydney Levine will be moderating a panel on Latino Film Financing with participants:
Diego Velasco from Venezuela whose film The Zero Hour (La Hora Cero) played in Laliff
Pedro Uriol from Spain whose production company Morena Films has just moved to L.A. From Spain (Farewell My Queen, Even the Rain)
Jeremy Ray Valdez producer and actor from L.A. whose film Dreamer is showing in Laliff this year
How do Latin American films get financed? Each country has it’s system, and most countries are offering financing as incentives for local filmmakers. Are they offering nationals living in the U.S. these incentives? Find out at this panel moderated by Sydney Levine who is in the process of writing Iberoamerican Film Financing to be published in English and Spanish in 2014. Participants will be filmmakers from various Latin American countries.
Laliff 2013 Festival Program
Download the Laliff 2013 Festival Program Pdf (or click program below for larger view)...
- 10/10/2013
- by Jessica Just
- Sydney's Buzz
About a dozen Dreamers in Arizona sat around a table in Phoenix last week to share their stories of struggle as well as their dreams and aspirations.
A few of them spoke about their fear of being separated from their families. One spoke about her desire to continue her education and another about his dream of serving in the U.S. Marine Corps.
Actor Jeremy Ray Valdez was there to hear their stories. He told them, “I want to tell your story, and I want to get the message out about what Dreamers are going through.”
Valdez is doing just that, through the independent film called “Dreamer” that was completed last month.
Jeremy Ray Valdez highlights the struggles Dreamers face
In the film, he plays the role of Joe Rodriguez, an undocumented young immigrant who is raised by a white family after his mother goes back to Mexico.
Joe goes...
A few of them spoke about their fear of being separated from their families. One spoke about her desire to continue her education and another about his dream of serving in the U.S. Marine Corps.
Actor Jeremy Ray Valdez was there to hear their stories. He told them, “I want to tell your story, and I want to get the message out about what Dreamers are going through.”
Valdez is doing just that, through the independent film called “Dreamer” that was completed last month.
Jeremy Ray Valdez highlights the struggles Dreamers face
In the film, he plays the role of Joe Rodriguez, an undocumented young immigrant who is raised by a white family after his mother goes back to Mexico.
Joe goes...
- 4/25/2013
- by VOXXI
- Huffington Post
Next week in Miami, hundreds of bloggers, marketers, corporate brand reps, music and film artists will be checking in at the Eden Roc Hotel to attend Hispanicize, a social media platform for today’s Latino innovators. Now in its 4th year, the marketing, interactive, film and music conference was founded by Manny Ruiz, a PR businessman who adopted the term Hispanicize to signify the transformation and growing impact of Latino culture into traditional American mainstream and who created this convergence to amplify the success of diverse voices in social media.
In part modeled after SXSW and Ted Talks, Hispanicize aims to be a digital multi-media launchpad and idea stimulating conference tailored towards Latinos. The event’s core journalistic DNA is confirmed by guest co-chair, Soledad O Brien, who just signed off on her morning CNN show capping off a decade of reporting for the news outlet. For the second year the South Beach setting will host yacht parties, beachside receptions, breakfast and lunch networking, and 100 plus talks, featuring such entrepreneurs in social media like the Latina Mom Bloggers, panels like How Brands and Agencies are Engaging and Collaborating with Latino Bloggers and Getting on Corporate Boards. The heavily sponsored event, (Procter & Gamble is the presenting sponsor) will include a Diversity Tech Leaders Summit presented by Sprint in which the lesser-known business stories of diverse tech and social media entrepreneurs who are making their marks in digital media will be highlighted.
I have to admit I knew nothing of Hispanicize up until a couple months ago. Curious, I went on the website and I found the lingo a tad superfluous and hyperbolic. Words like iconic and mighty are used to describe the young but clearly flourishing event. Then again, this kind of grandiose speak is typical Public Relations so it makes sense given it is a partnership with Hispanic Public Relations Association (Hpra) and the Public Relations Society of America (Prsa).
I reached out to the founder Manny Ruiz to find out more about the mission of the event and found his enthusiasm and excitement for what he considers a pioneering movement infectious. It’s hard to argue that this mass tech and entertainment crossroads gathering makes for an incredible networking opportunity. Ruiz called it a “Uniting of these industries to create a symphony” and went on to note it is much more powerful for bloggers to converge at the same place with journalists, marketers, digital, music and film innovators then if you had them out there individually and remotely. Before I knew it I was put in touch with with Roman Morales, the Film Showcase Organizer and I came onboard as Programmer for the film component. A big reason I stepped in was because I was particularly attracted to presenting Us independent Latino films to an audience heavy with social media influence and bloggers, to see if it would indeed create a higher level of buzz, publicity and exposure from the community.
Along with a special screening of Filly Brown days before its national theatrical release, this year Hispanicize will screen six features including the high profile sneak preview of The Weinstein Company’s Aftershock, the horror comedy produced and starring Eli Roth, directed by Chilean filmmaker Nicolas Lopez (Que Pena tu Vida, Promedio Rojo). Also, straight from SXSW the music industry and character-driven documentary Los Wild Ones about the Wild Records label and family of Mexican rockabilly acts. With the exception of Aftershock, all the films reflect a taste of the diaspora of unique, bi-cultural Us narratives, and notably are all first features. Three of the films, Blaze You Out, Filly Brown and Mission Park are being distributed by Lionsgate labels Pantelion and Grindstone Entertainment. Meanwhile, seeking distribution is Dreamer written and directed by Salvador born Jesse Salmeron, a poignant and timely story starring and produced by Jeremy Ray Valdez about an upwardly mobile American whose paralyzed by the fear of being deported. Los Wild Ones is also seeking distribution and should find considerable traction within and outside hard core music fan circles.
My personal pride and joy however has to be the shorts film showcase. Portraying visionary quests for identity, love, truth and legacy and created by multicultural emergent voices from San Antonio, Miami, La, NYC, Oaxaca and Puerto Rico. This is the medium in which to find provocative, daring and versatile young generation of fresh voices who you can expect will blow up big soon. To name just a few, the filmmakers include Jillian Mayer and Lucas Leyva of the Borscht corporation, Zoé Salicrup Junco, the filmmaker of Gabi who workshopped her feature script of the short at San Antonio’s CineFestival’s Latino Screenwriters Project, Victor Hugo Duran the Colombia Film grad whose short, Fireworks played at the La Film Festival last year and is currently shooting his first feature in Mexico called La Victoria, and Steve Acevedo, the director of El Cocodrilo which is a powerful and urgent film about a journalist played by Jacob Vargas on the run from narcos, who participated in NBCU Directing Fellowship.
I’ll try not to go all Spring Breaker debauchery when I head to Miami next week. I’m very interested in immersing myself in the Hispanicize program to cover the dialogue and scrutinize the impact so stay tuned for my report.
See below to check out full film list and links. Hispanicize will take place April 9 – 13. For information on how to attend and the schedule click here.
Blaze You Out
(USA, 2013, 90 min)
Writers/Directors: Mateo Frazier, Diego Joaquin Lopez
Cast: Veronica Diaz Carranza, Elizabeth Pena, Q’orianka Kilcher, Mark Adair Rios, Elizabeth Pena
Logline: An unyielding young woman ventures into the ruthless underworld of the town’s heroin trade in order to save her younger sister’s life.
Dreamer
(USA, 2013)
Writer/Director: Jesse Salmeron
Cast: Jeremy Ray Valdez, Isabella Hofmann, Cory Knauf
Logline: Joe Rodriguez is an All American young man. He’s amiable, well educated and attractive. He’s graduated from college and is working and excelling in his field. He’s on his way to achieving the American Dream. That is until his employer discovers his undocumented status and the life he’s worked so hard for begins to crumble around him. He must face the possibility of losing his livelihood, his family and even himself.
Los Wild Ones
(USA, 2013, 95 min)
Director: Elise Salomon Writers: Ryan Brown, Elise Salomon
Featuring Luis Arriaga, Gizzelle, the Rhythm Shakers and more
Logline: Wild Records is an La indie music label comprised of young Hispanic musicians, it is run by Irishman, Reb Kennedy. Wild is an unconventional family, reminiscent of the early days of Sun Records, all of its musicians write and perform 50s Rock ‘n Roll. If Wild is going to continue to grow and reach broader audiences, its current business model will cease to work.
Aftershock
(USA, 2012, 90 min)
Director: Nicolás López
Writers: Guillermo Amoedo, Nicolás López and Eli Roth
Cast: Andrea Osvart, Ariel Levy, Eli Roth
Logline: In Chile, a group of travelers who are in an underground nightclub when a massive earthquake hits quickly learn that reaching the surface is just the beginning of their nightmare.
Mission Park
(USA, 2013, 120 min)
Writer/Director: Bryan Ramirez
Cast: Jeremy Ray Valdez, Walter Perez, Fenanda Romero, Joseph Julian Soria, William Rothaar, Jesse Borrego
Logline: Four friends from the rough side of town grow apart when two are consumed by a life of crime, and the other two become FBI agents sent deep undercover – to bring down those childhood friends.
Shorts Film Showcase~
#Postmodem
(USA, 2012, 13 mins)
Writers/Directors: Lucas Leyva, Jillian Mayer
Cast: Jillian Mayer, Kayla Delacerda, Amy Seimetz, Arly Montes, Jesse Miller, Shivers Thedog
Logline: A comedic, satirical, sci-fi pop musical based on the theories of Ray Kurzweil and other futurists, #PostModem is the story of two Miami girls and how they deal with technological singularity, as told through a series of cinematic tweets.
@borschtcorp
Fireworks
(USA, 2012, 11 mins)
Director: Victor Hugo Duran
Writer: Kevin James McMuillin
Cast: Roger Cruz, Alberto Castañeda, Irene Sorto, Azucena Benitez, Edgar Vanegas, Julio Duran, Victor Hugo Duran, Kevin James McMullin
Logline: During the Fourth of July in South Los Angeles, a teenage boy and his brother scour the neighborhood for fireworks in order to win the admiration of a girl.
Twitter: @victorhugoduran
Clara Como El Agua
(USA, 2012 10 min)
Writer/Director: Fernanda Rossi
Cast: Kathiria Bonilla León, Sixta Rivera, Rubén Andrés Medina, Alfonso Peña Ossoria, Stephanie Quiles Reyes, Eyra Aguero
Logline: Clara is the only light-skinned and clear-eyed girl in an all-black neighborhood. Teased incessantly, the children claim her unknown father is actually a “gringo” tourist. However, Clara was told a different story, and to find out the truth, she will venture into the magical waters of the bioluminescent bay all on her own.
Echo Bear
(USA, 2012 6min)
Writer/director: Yolanda Cruz
Cast: Joe Nunez, Hugo Medina, Tzina Carmel, Donato López, Lobo Manet
Logline: Bear, a single gay Latino man in L.A.’s Echo Park neighborhood, looks for love online. Fearing traffic, he searches locally, but soon discovers how geographic convenience can turn to heartache overnight.
Vincent Valdez: Excerpts For John
(2012, USA, 12 min)
Directed by Mark and Angela Walley
Logline: Two years in the making, this beautifully shot and perfectly paced short documentary captures the creative process of painter Vincent Valdez, as the artist works on a series of pieces dedicated to a childhood friend John Holt Jr. an Army combat medic who died in 2009 after serving in Iraq.
El Cocodrilo
(2012, 15 min)
Director: Steve Acevedo
Writer: Alfredo Barrios, Jr.
Cast: Jacob Vargas Hugo Medina Shannon Lucio Manuel Uriza
Logline: A Mexican journalist and a cartel assassin collide in a diner, with tragic consequences for both.
Reinaldo Arenas
(USA, 2012, 3:29min)
Writer/director Lucas Leyva
Shark: Alberto Ibarguen Man: Epifanio Leyva
Logline: Told from the point of view of a dying shark, 'Reinaldo Arenas' metaphorically captures the current state of the aging Cuban-American exile community, many of whom have still not come to terms with the Communist Revolution that changed their lives forever. The film culls from various Cuban films and works of literature to create not a singular voice, but a feeling of a particular moment in time
@borschtcorp
Gabi
(2012, USA 20 min)
Writer/Director: Zoe Junco
Cast: Marisé Alvarez , Dalia Davi , Roy Sanchez Vahamonde , Aris Mejias
Logline: A Puerto Rican saying haunts single women in their 30’s: “If such a woman is not married by this time, she must be a slut, a lesbian, or a prude.” This is the story of that woman...
@gabifilm...
In part modeled after SXSW and Ted Talks, Hispanicize aims to be a digital multi-media launchpad and idea stimulating conference tailored towards Latinos. The event’s core journalistic DNA is confirmed by guest co-chair, Soledad O Brien, who just signed off on her morning CNN show capping off a decade of reporting for the news outlet. For the second year the South Beach setting will host yacht parties, beachside receptions, breakfast and lunch networking, and 100 plus talks, featuring such entrepreneurs in social media like the Latina Mom Bloggers, panels like How Brands and Agencies are Engaging and Collaborating with Latino Bloggers and Getting on Corporate Boards. The heavily sponsored event, (Procter & Gamble is the presenting sponsor) will include a Diversity Tech Leaders Summit presented by Sprint in which the lesser-known business stories of diverse tech and social media entrepreneurs who are making their marks in digital media will be highlighted.
I have to admit I knew nothing of Hispanicize up until a couple months ago. Curious, I went on the website and I found the lingo a tad superfluous and hyperbolic. Words like iconic and mighty are used to describe the young but clearly flourishing event. Then again, this kind of grandiose speak is typical Public Relations so it makes sense given it is a partnership with Hispanic Public Relations Association (Hpra) and the Public Relations Society of America (Prsa).
I reached out to the founder Manny Ruiz to find out more about the mission of the event and found his enthusiasm and excitement for what he considers a pioneering movement infectious. It’s hard to argue that this mass tech and entertainment crossroads gathering makes for an incredible networking opportunity. Ruiz called it a “Uniting of these industries to create a symphony” and went on to note it is much more powerful for bloggers to converge at the same place with journalists, marketers, digital, music and film innovators then if you had them out there individually and remotely. Before I knew it I was put in touch with with Roman Morales, the Film Showcase Organizer and I came onboard as Programmer for the film component. A big reason I stepped in was because I was particularly attracted to presenting Us independent Latino films to an audience heavy with social media influence and bloggers, to see if it would indeed create a higher level of buzz, publicity and exposure from the community.
Along with a special screening of Filly Brown days before its national theatrical release, this year Hispanicize will screen six features including the high profile sneak preview of The Weinstein Company’s Aftershock, the horror comedy produced and starring Eli Roth, directed by Chilean filmmaker Nicolas Lopez (Que Pena tu Vida, Promedio Rojo). Also, straight from SXSW the music industry and character-driven documentary Los Wild Ones about the Wild Records label and family of Mexican rockabilly acts. With the exception of Aftershock, all the films reflect a taste of the diaspora of unique, bi-cultural Us narratives, and notably are all first features. Three of the films, Blaze You Out, Filly Brown and Mission Park are being distributed by Lionsgate labels Pantelion and Grindstone Entertainment. Meanwhile, seeking distribution is Dreamer written and directed by Salvador born Jesse Salmeron, a poignant and timely story starring and produced by Jeremy Ray Valdez about an upwardly mobile American whose paralyzed by the fear of being deported. Los Wild Ones is also seeking distribution and should find considerable traction within and outside hard core music fan circles.
My personal pride and joy however has to be the shorts film showcase. Portraying visionary quests for identity, love, truth and legacy and created by multicultural emergent voices from San Antonio, Miami, La, NYC, Oaxaca and Puerto Rico. This is the medium in which to find provocative, daring and versatile young generation of fresh voices who you can expect will blow up big soon. To name just a few, the filmmakers include Jillian Mayer and Lucas Leyva of the Borscht corporation, Zoé Salicrup Junco, the filmmaker of Gabi who workshopped her feature script of the short at San Antonio’s CineFestival’s Latino Screenwriters Project, Victor Hugo Duran the Colombia Film grad whose short, Fireworks played at the La Film Festival last year and is currently shooting his first feature in Mexico called La Victoria, and Steve Acevedo, the director of El Cocodrilo which is a powerful and urgent film about a journalist played by Jacob Vargas on the run from narcos, who participated in NBCU Directing Fellowship.
I’ll try not to go all Spring Breaker debauchery when I head to Miami next week. I’m very interested in immersing myself in the Hispanicize program to cover the dialogue and scrutinize the impact so stay tuned for my report.
See below to check out full film list and links. Hispanicize will take place April 9 – 13. For information on how to attend and the schedule click here.
Blaze You Out
(USA, 2013, 90 min)
Writers/Directors: Mateo Frazier, Diego Joaquin Lopez
Cast: Veronica Diaz Carranza, Elizabeth Pena, Q’orianka Kilcher, Mark Adair Rios, Elizabeth Pena
Logline: An unyielding young woman ventures into the ruthless underworld of the town’s heroin trade in order to save her younger sister’s life.
Dreamer
(USA, 2013)
Writer/Director: Jesse Salmeron
Cast: Jeremy Ray Valdez, Isabella Hofmann, Cory Knauf
Logline: Joe Rodriguez is an All American young man. He’s amiable, well educated and attractive. He’s graduated from college and is working and excelling in his field. He’s on his way to achieving the American Dream. That is until his employer discovers his undocumented status and the life he’s worked so hard for begins to crumble around him. He must face the possibility of losing his livelihood, his family and even himself.
Los Wild Ones
(USA, 2013, 95 min)
Director: Elise Salomon Writers: Ryan Brown, Elise Salomon
Featuring Luis Arriaga, Gizzelle, the Rhythm Shakers and more
Logline: Wild Records is an La indie music label comprised of young Hispanic musicians, it is run by Irishman, Reb Kennedy. Wild is an unconventional family, reminiscent of the early days of Sun Records, all of its musicians write and perform 50s Rock ‘n Roll. If Wild is going to continue to grow and reach broader audiences, its current business model will cease to work.
Aftershock
(USA, 2012, 90 min)
Director: Nicolás López
Writers: Guillermo Amoedo, Nicolás López and Eli Roth
Cast: Andrea Osvart, Ariel Levy, Eli Roth
Logline: In Chile, a group of travelers who are in an underground nightclub when a massive earthquake hits quickly learn that reaching the surface is just the beginning of their nightmare.
Mission Park
(USA, 2013, 120 min)
Writer/Director: Bryan Ramirez
Cast: Jeremy Ray Valdez, Walter Perez, Fenanda Romero, Joseph Julian Soria, William Rothaar, Jesse Borrego
Logline: Four friends from the rough side of town grow apart when two are consumed by a life of crime, and the other two become FBI agents sent deep undercover – to bring down those childhood friends.
Shorts Film Showcase~
#Postmodem
(USA, 2012, 13 mins)
Writers/Directors: Lucas Leyva, Jillian Mayer
Cast: Jillian Mayer, Kayla Delacerda, Amy Seimetz, Arly Montes, Jesse Miller, Shivers Thedog
Logline: A comedic, satirical, sci-fi pop musical based on the theories of Ray Kurzweil and other futurists, #PostModem is the story of two Miami girls and how they deal with technological singularity, as told through a series of cinematic tweets.
@borschtcorp
Fireworks
(USA, 2012, 11 mins)
Director: Victor Hugo Duran
Writer: Kevin James McMuillin
Cast: Roger Cruz, Alberto Castañeda, Irene Sorto, Azucena Benitez, Edgar Vanegas, Julio Duran, Victor Hugo Duran, Kevin James McMullin
Logline: During the Fourth of July in South Los Angeles, a teenage boy and his brother scour the neighborhood for fireworks in order to win the admiration of a girl.
Twitter: @victorhugoduran
Clara Como El Agua
(USA, 2012 10 min)
Writer/Director: Fernanda Rossi
Cast: Kathiria Bonilla León, Sixta Rivera, Rubén Andrés Medina, Alfonso Peña Ossoria, Stephanie Quiles Reyes, Eyra Aguero
Logline: Clara is the only light-skinned and clear-eyed girl in an all-black neighborhood. Teased incessantly, the children claim her unknown father is actually a “gringo” tourist. However, Clara was told a different story, and to find out the truth, she will venture into the magical waters of the bioluminescent bay all on her own.
Echo Bear
(USA, 2012 6min)
Writer/director: Yolanda Cruz
Cast: Joe Nunez, Hugo Medina, Tzina Carmel, Donato López, Lobo Manet
Logline: Bear, a single gay Latino man in L.A.’s Echo Park neighborhood, looks for love online. Fearing traffic, he searches locally, but soon discovers how geographic convenience can turn to heartache overnight.
Vincent Valdez: Excerpts For John
(2012, USA, 12 min)
Directed by Mark and Angela Walley
Logline: Two years in the making, this beautifully shot and perfectly paced short documentary captures the creative process of painter Vincent Valdez, as the artist works on a series of pieces dedicated to a childhood friend John Holt Jr. an Army combat medic who died in 2009 after serving in Iraq.
El Cocodrilo
(2012, 15 min)
Director: Steve Acevedo
Writer: Alfredo Barrios, Jr.
Cast: Jacob Vargas Hugo Medina Shannon Lucio Manuel Uriza
Logline: A Mexican journalist and a cartel assassin collide in a diner, with tragic consequences for both.
Reinaldo Arenas
(USA, 2012, 3:29min)
Writer/director Lucas Leyva
Shark: Alberto Ibarguen Man: Epifanio Leyva
Logline: Told from the point of view of a dying shark, 'Reinaldo Arenas' metaphorically captures the current state of the aging Cuban-American exile community, many of whom have still not come to terms with the Communist Revolution that changed their lives forever. The film culls from various Cuban films and works of literature to create not a singular voice, but a feeling of a particular moment in time
@borschtcorp
Gabi
(2012, USA 20 min)
Writer/Director: Zoe Junco
Cast: Marisé Alvarez , Dalia Davi , Roy Sanchez Vahamonde , Aris Mejias
Logline: A Puerto Rican saying haunts single women in their 30’s: “If such a woman is not married by this time, she must be a slut, a lesbian, or a prude.” This is the story of that woman...
@gabifilm...
- 4/3/2013
- by Christine Davila
- Sydney's Buzz
Title: Dreamer Director: Jesse Salmeron Starring: Jeremy Ray Valdez, Isabella Hofmann, Cory Knauf, Brit Sheridan An achingly earnest immigration drama whose compelling low-budget artistic vision can’t save it from its overly programmatic dramatic roots and muddled assemblage, “Dreamer” is the sort of expressive indie film one wants to like and recommend more than one honestly does and can. A recent premiere at the Cinequest Film Festival, writer-director Jesse Salmeron’s movie is loosely in the mold of something like Chris Weitz’s well received “A Better Life,” from a couple years back — each film showcases the razor’s edge of life as an undocumented immigrant in the United States, in which one simple [ Read More ]
The post Dreamer Movie Review appeared first on Shockya.com.
The post Dreamer Movie Review appeared first on Shockya.com.
- 3/7/2013
- by bsimon
- ShockYa
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