“I came back because I am who I am because of the community I grew up in.”
– will.i.am, The Black Eyed Peas
The award-winning documentary film East LA Interchange will be screening in Boyle Heights at the Hollenbeck Park Bandshell on Saturday, June 10th from 8:00-10:00pm free of charge for the community.
‘East LA Interchange’ directed by Betsy Kalin Photo by Chris Chew
Councilmember José Huizar, who is featured in the film, is sponsoring the community screening. Following the film, Councilmember Huizar, other Boyle Heights interviewees, and the filmmakers will participate in a Q&A. An amazing story nine years in the making, East LA Interchange has been awarded eleven jury and audience awards from across the country including the Los Angeles City Historical Society’s J. Thomas Owen Award for honoring L.A. history. The film features narration by Danny Trejo (Machete) and interviews with will.i.am (The Black Eyed Peas), Father Greg Boyle (Homeboy Industries), and Josefina López (Real WomenHave Curves) as well as an original song by Raul Pacheco (Ozomatli). The film will be screened with Spanish subtitles.
East LA Interchange chronicles the story of one of America’s great places of social change, diversity and activism. The film follows the evolution of working-class, immigrant Boyle Heights, from multiethnic to predominately Latino and a center of Mexican-American culture in the U.S. Boyle Heights was once far more diverse than most American cities; Latinos, Asians, African-Americans, and the largest settlement of Jews west of Chicago lived and worked together side by side. The film shows how this Los Angeles neighborhood survived the construction of the largest freeway system in North America, and now faces gentrification and displacement.
East LA Interchange documents the struggles and triumphs of Boyle Heights,” said Councilmember Huizar. “This well-crafted film looks beyond headlines and captures what has always been at the heart and soul of Boyle Heights – the resilient, proud and hardworking people who have called this east side community home for decades.”
Though the documentary explores this one community, it also asks if Boyle Heights and countless communities across the United States will survive the next round of challenges from development, gentrification, environmental pollution, and discriminatory immigration policies. With our current political climate, Boyle Heights’ history provides a compelling illustration of how our government’s policies affect communities, and what residents can do to have their voices heard.
East LA Interchange will screen on Saturday, June 10th at 8:00pm at the Hollenbeck Park Bandshell, 415 S. St. Louis St., Los Angeles, CA 90033. Councilmember Huizar will join director Betsy Kalin and former and current Boyle Heights’ residents in the cast and crew for a Q&A after the screening.
About the Filmmaker: East LA Interchange’s Executive Producer/Director Kalin is an award-winning producer/director at Itchy Bee Productions and Bluewater Media. She is a featured speaker at conferences, universities, film festivals and community events. Her films Roof, Hearts Cracked Open, Chained! and Click have been honored with multiple awards at festivals around the world.
Comments