ALEX'S RAMBLINGS ALERT! READ IN THE NEWS SECTION
The 11th annual Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival will be bringing the best in Latino filmmaking this year to the Arclight Cinemas, October 7-14th. A premier Latino International Film Festival in the USA, LALIFF creates a bridge between Hollywood and independent filmmakers, as well as nurture existing and emerging creative talent. The festival serves as a springboard and catalyst for the promotion & distribution of Latino films & awareness for our artistry. Don't miss out on this amazing opportunity to view and support films by these NALIP Members, Mentors and Fellows.
FEATURES:
 La Misma Luna
(Under The Same Moon)
Mexico / 2007 / 109 min
Directed by Patricia Riggen. Written and Produced by LPA and LWL mentor Ligiah Villalobos.
October 6, 2007, 6:30 pm Opening night Film
In the hopes of providing a better life for her son, Rosario, a young undocumented woman, works in the U.S. while Carlitos remains in Mexico. Unexpected circumstances drive both Rosario and Carlitos to embark on their own journeys in a desperate attempt to reunite.
 Adrift in Manhattan
USA / 2007 / 89 min
Directed by LPA Mentor Alfredo de Villa
October 9, 2007, 7:00 pm
Rose, an optometrist paralyzed by crushing grief after the death of her infant, has built a wall around herself, unable to relate to her estranged husband or anyone else. When an elderly patient, a painter losing his eyesight, begins to visit her office unannounced, Rose registers how alone he is, urging him to reach out and ask for help--something neither does easily. Meanwhile, Simon, a teenager living under the thumb of his overbearing mother, has taken to interacting with the world at a safe distance through the long lens of his camera. One day, Rose, comes into focus in his camera sight. The pictures he shoots become a medium for each of them to touch something deep within and expand their confined existence. Though living in the heart of the big city, all three characters are isolated; separated not by physical distance, but by their own grief, anger or fears. Adrift in Manhattan shows us that human transformation is not only a constant, surprising possibility, but also an absolute necessity.
 The 7
(The Oakley 7)
USA / 2007 / 85 min
Directed by LWL and LPA Fellow Adam Schlachter
October 13, 2007, 11:35 pm
Seven High school seniors on a geology field trip to a cave encounter problems not listed in the course outline.
 One Long Night
USA / Mexico / 2007 / 90 min
Directed by NALIP member David Siqueiros
Saturday October 13, 2007, 7:30 pm
One Long Night is the story of a simple conservative half-Mexican half-Scottish businessman trying to survive an insane night lost in Mexico City among the drag queens, crooked cops, gangsters and femme fatales.
DOCUMENTARIES:
 Made in L.A.
USA / 2007 / 90 min
Directed by LPA Fellow and Mentor Almudena Carracedo. Produced by Almudena Carracedo and Robert Bahar.
October 11, 2007, 5:15 pm
Made in L.A. follows the remarkable journey of three Latina immigrants working in L.A. 's garment factories and their struggle for self-empowerment as they wage a three-year battle to bring a major clothing retailer to the negotiating table. This intimate film offers a rare and poignant glimpse into this "other" California , where immigrants in many industries toil long hours for sub-minimum wages, fighting for an opportunity in a new country.
 Bragging Rights
USA / 2007 / 60 min
Directed by LPA and LWL fellow Sonia Gonzalez . Produced by Sonia Gonzalez, Ben Matias and LPA Mentor Faith Radle
October 11, 2007, 5:30 pm
Bragging Rights: Stickball Stories is an hour-long video documentary that chronicles the vibrant history of the urban game of stickball through its colorful players.
Special Circumstances
USA /2006 / 73 min
Directed by NALIP member Marianne Teleki and Jennifer Maytorena Taylor
Produced by Marianne Teleki, Jennifer Maytorena Taylor, Shirley Thompson, Deann Borshay Liem; Latino Public Broadcasting
October 9, 2007, 5:30
Special Circumstances follows Chilean exile Héctor Salgado as he returns to Chile from the US to seek and confront the men who imprisoned and tortured him, and killed his friends after the coup of 1973.
SHORTS:
 Primera Comunión
USA / 2007 / 14 min
Written and directed by NALIP Membership coordinator Daniel Eduvijes Carrera
A young outsider is confronted with the harsh rituals of a rustic Mexican pueblo where cruelty underlies street-life and Catholicism alike.
 The Stain on the Sidewalk
USA / 2007 / 4 min
Written Produced and Directed by LPA and LWL Fellow Adam Schlachter
Andy, a high school freshman, secretly longs for Vanessa, the beautiful girlfriend of the neighborhood bully. In a fumbling, yet poetic exercise, he searches for the right words to declare his love for her, hoping she notices him. But ultimately, Andy discovers that actions speak much louder than words.
 A Day at the Theatre
(Un día en el teatro)
USA / Mexico / 2007 / 13 min
Directed by NALIP Member Kenneth Castillo and produced by Karla Ojeda
A Day at the Theatre is episode V in a series of short films entitled The Misadventures of Cholo Chaplin. In this particular episode we follow our hero-Cholo Chaplin and his offspring junior as they head out to see a motion picture but instead witness a real life tragedy, as a Latino sailor is literally torn between the patriotism of serving his country and the pride of representing his culture. Violence begets violence in this fable of what it means to be a Latino and an American embodying the same soul.
Community Alert
USA / 2007 / 10 min
Directed by Alvaro Visiers and NALIP Member Ricardo Islas
It all started as a regular day for Sandra until, just in a matter of minutes, an unexpected visitor changed her life forever.
 Proof of Birth
USA / 2007 / 21 min
Directed by LWL Fellow José Luis Obregozo
Proof of Birth tells the story of Luis Gonzáalez, a young illegal Mexican immigrant, on his quest to obtain a legal Driver's License in New York City. All what Luis Gonzalez wants is to send money to his family back home. But life is not simple in the United States. The tests that Luis faces on his road trip are extreme and varied, forcing the
Robinson
USA / 2007 /2 min
Directed by NALIP member Jose Sanchez-H. Written and Produced by LWL fellow Tina Datsko de Sánchez
Robinson, an experimental film, blends spoken word, music, dance, and images to tell the story of 19th Century revolutionary Simón Bolívar's unconventional education. Inspired by Jean Jacques Rousseau's ideal of the natural man, Robinson's teaching emphasized physical training and thinking for oneself.
 Tomoko's Kitchen
USA / 2007 / 15 min
Directed by NALIP member Shawna Baca
The daily hustle and bustle of life screeches to a halt when an apartment security system fails, bringing together the lives of eight neighbors and a batch of home-made cinnamon buns.
For tickets, the schedule of short films and a complete schedule of screening times, please visit www.latinofilm.org
Defend the Honor Campaign, National Association of Hispanic Journalists (NAHJ), National Hispanic Media Coalition (NHMC), National Institute for Latino Policy (NiLP), National Latino Council on Alcohol and Tobacco Prevention (LCAT), Invite you to a Defend the Honor, National Latino Town Hall Meeting
FEATURING Maggie Rivas-Rodríguez, Gus Chavez, Alex Nogales and other speakers
on
Beyond "The War": The Latino Battle for Historical Accuracy and Respect
Monday, October 8, 2007
6:00-7:30pm
Gala Hispanic Theater
3333 14th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20010
Admission: Free
We want to hear from the Latino community your questions and reactions to the controversy over PBS and Ken Burns' documentary "The War." In this Latino Town Hall meeting, Defend the Honor founders Maggie Rivas-Rodríguez and Gus Chavez will review how "The War" handled the Latino experience in WWII. Alex Nogales will report on current negotiations between the National Latino Media Council and PBS to insure their responsiveness to our community, and the next steps in assuring that what Ken Burns did --- excluding Latinos from history and the media --- never happens again.
Ken Burns' 7-part documentary, "The War," on PBS generated an unprecedented coming together of Americans of Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban and other Latin American heritages that fought for the inclusion in that documentary of the part our elders played in securing freedom for this Nation. The Latino community succeeded in getting the Latino experience included, but was this inclusion significant enough and done with proper respect by the producers of the series, Ken Burns and Lynn Novick? Was it tokenism? And what are we to make of Ken Burns' and PBS' "blind spot" when it comes to Latinos? What are the next steps in assuring that PBS and Ken Burns are responsive to the Latino community in the future? What is the significance of this movement for the future of the Latino community in the U.S. and this country as a whole?
For further information:
www.DefendTheHonor.org or (512) 471-0405
DIRECTIONS: GALA is located at 3333 14th Street, NW in the Columbia Heights neighborhood of Washington, DC. The entrance is on 14th Street in the middle of the block between Park Road and Monroe Street. The box office and theater entrance is located on the second floor by stairs or mezzanine level (M) through the elevator. For further information, call the GALA box office at (202) 234-7174.
PARKING: There is a pay lot available for GALA patrons in the Tivoli Square Complex. Heading north from downtown DC on 14th Street, take a right on Park Road (heading south on 14th, take a left onto Park Road). Just past the Giant Food Store on the left, there will be an entrance to the parking deck. You will be issued a parking ticket that can be validated in the GALA box office for a $6 flat fee instead of the regular hourly rate. Limited street parking is available on 14th Street, Park Road, and Monroe Street.
Is your latest film cutting-edge, risk-taking, unconventional, inspiring, or "alternative"?
The AAFF is the longest-running showcase of its kind in N. America and seeks submissions of all lengths in the categories of narrative, documentary, animation, and experimental.
Accepted films can qualify for Oscar-consideration and inclusion in the AAFF traveling U.S. tour.
Final Deadline is November 15, 2007Full submission details here: http://www.aafilmfest.org/festival/submissions/
The 46th Ann Arbor Film Festival runs March 25 - 30th, 2007
From Oct. 19-21, FILM INDEPENDENT hosts one of the most important events of the year for aspiring filmmakers. It's the annual FILMMAKER FORUM, featuring more than a dozen panels with industry insiders offering the kind of Hollywood insider info you can't learn anywhere else! It's like film school in a bottle and more than you'll learn in any other three days that Hollywood has to offer.
NALIP members will receive a DISCOUNT commensurate with FILM INDEPENDENT members! Non-member pass price for this fabulous event is $399, but if you REFERENCE THIS EMAIL, you'll receive the FILM INDEPENDENT MEMBER PRICE OF ONLY $350. Also, student price for this event is $275. Valid student ID is necessary to qualify for the student discount.
To sign up for the Forum at a discount, please state that you are "FILM INDEPENDENT SUPPORTERS" and that you belong to NALIP. When registering online, make sure to fill out the appropriate field asking for your affiliation.
From the writer, creator and star of Latinologues on Broadway, Rick Najeras new comedy Sweet 15 (Quinceañera) will make its world premier at San Diego REPertory Theatre, with performances beginning November 17 through December 16. Sweet 15 became an instant hit when it made its debut as a workshop performance at the REP last year. Its highly anticipated world premiere will be directed by the REPs Artistic Director, Sam Woodhouse.
Sweet 15 is a comedy based on a Latino family whose patriarch has just returned from a 10 year absence that began the day his daughter turned 15. He vows to put his family back on its feet under one condition that they allow him throw a Quincea (15th birthday) for his daughter who is now 25 years old. This comedy is filled with music, laughter and hilarious, unscripted audience participation.
Rick Najera, an established playwright and award-winning writer/actor/director/producer, is one of the most produced Latino playwrights in the country. His nationally recognized Broadway play Latinologues, ran for 137 performances on Broadway, a historical achievement for a Latino-oriented show. Najera has been honored twice by Hispanic Magazine as 100 Most Influential Latinos in America and is currently Vice President of Development for LATV, a national, bilingual network. His writing credits include comedies such as MAD TV and In Living Color. Sweet 15 is Najeras first play written since Broadway.
Sweet 15 runs November 17 through December 16 at San Diego REP (79 Horton Plaza, San Diego). Tickets available at REPs box office, 619-544-1000, or at http://www.sandiegorep.com. Sponsored by Enlace and San Diego Latino Film Festival, with producers, Rick and Elisa Jaime.
Join us October 19 to celebrate the launch of the International Latino Film Society
at ¡VIVA EL CINE!
For 11 years we have showcased the best in Latino films, all over the Bay Area, through our programs: International Latino Film Festival, Cine 365, International Latino Filmmakers Conference, and Youth in Video. Now we have a new identity that unites all these initiatives - The International Latino Film Society.
Hosts:
Sandra Acevedo - ILFS Boardmember
Jonathan Perel - ILFS Boardmember
Heidi Hernandez Gatty - Tides Foundation
Alejandra Garcia Williams - Consul of Mexico
Jonathan Chait - Cultural Attaché of the Mexican Consulate
Special Guest: Mayor Gavin Newsom
Tres Agaves Restaurant, 130 Townsend Street, San Francisco.
7pm - 11pm on Friday, October 19
¡VIVA EL CINE! will feature excellent Tres Agaves cuisine, and Don Julio Tequila will host the first round of cocktails as celebrants dance to the irresistible sounds of José Roberto y sus Amigos.
Tickets are $50 and you can book on line at CityBoxOffice or get more information at: www.latinofilmfestival.org
The Los Angeles Academy of Arts & Enterprise (LAAAE) charter school is now enrolling students in grades 6, 7, and 8 for the 2007-2008 school year. LAAAE is a public charter school authorized by the Los Angeles Unified School District. LAAAE will add a grade each year until we serve approximately 800 students in grades 6 through 12.
Located in downtown Los Angeles, near Lafayette Park, our charter school provides a rigorous college preparatory curriculum that emphasizes arts and business. In addition to the core subjects, all students receive instruction in visual arts, choral and instrumental music, theater arts, digital media, economics and enterprise.
With the recent arrival of Principal Leslie Stoltz, LAAAE is implementing the Design-Based Learning methodology to engage students in learning. Coupled with an extended day that ends at 4:20 p.m, students receive 50% more instructional time over traditional public schools.
The dream and vision for the Academy comes from the founder, Moctesuma Esparza, an award-winning filmmaker. He has produced many movies including: "Selena", Walkout", The "Milagro Beanfield War", "Gettysburg", "Dorothy Dandridge", "Price of Glory", and "The Ballad of Gregorio Cortez". He has received over 100 honors, including an Academy Award nomination. Mr. Esparza says of the Academy, "My dream is that in 20 years, our graduates will be the leaders in the arts, entertainment and business world."
Space is available now for students in grades 6, 7, and 8. To submit an application and enroll your student today, please contact our school office at 213.487.0600 or send an e-mail to info@laaae.org
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