Cecilia Trujillo & Roberto Sanchez
Film captures compassion between an undocumented child and a lonely Cuban immigrant
Actor Roberto Sanchez has come a long way since being discovered by director John Singleton in 2002 when he cast him as a co-star in 2 Fast 2 Furious. Without acting experience, he suddenly found himself working along side of Paul Walker, Tyrese Gibson and Eva Mendez.
Fast forward to June 2014 as Roberto prepares to walk down the red carpet for his leading role in Mike Ott’s Lake Los Angeles at the LAFF, which world premieres on June 14th, 7:30PM at the Regal Cinema L.A. Live – Theater 10. Lake Los Angeles will compete in the Narrative Competition.
Writer/director Mike Ott returns to the Los Angeles Film Festival with the final installment (Lake Los Angles) of his Antelope Valley trilogy, a poetic tale of two strangers forced to survive in the unlikeliest of places.
After crossing into the U.S., the 10-year old Cecilia (Johanna Trujillo) finds herself in the charge of Francisco (Sanchez). He operates a way station for border crossers on the outskirts of Lake Los Angeles, a surreal, desiccated lakebed in the California desert… while he and Cecilia cope with the alienation of living alone in a foreign land and without the possibility of realizing the American dream.
Roberto Sanchez
For Roberto, playing the part of Francisco brought back some painful memories.
“Unfortunately, working on this film brought back more pain than joy,” said Roberto. “Although I have been truly blessed in my life journey, I see him through my mother’s eyes. The separation of families is a sad, common reality. I witnessed my mother struggle trying to raise two boys in a new country and a new language. And, I watched as my father, who helped us obtain our Visas legally only to be held back by the Cuban government. I didn’t see him for 16 years. There were times during the shoot that were difficult for me. However, as with every painful tragedy in life, one can always find a silver lining.”
Lake Los Angeles is a touching story that gives us a glimpse of the many American Dreams being chased by immigrants. In many cases all they encounter is broken promises and disappointment.
Born in Havana, Cuba, Roberto grew up stateside in Miami’s well-known Cuban community “Little Havana.” He distinguished himself in the Navy as a Desert Storm veteran, was a Virginia Beach military police officer who eventually became a successful print model and eventually an actor.
Desde Cuba a Hollywood! For more information on Robert Sanchez and Lake Los Angles, visit:
www.lakelosangelesmovie.com www.robertosanchez.net Facebook.com/RobertoSanchez Twitter: @mrrsanchez Instagram: esecubanito
Lake Los Angeles Narrative Competition (USA, 2014, 85 mins, DCP) In Spanish with English subtitles
Directed By: Mike Ott Screenwriters: Atsuko Okatsuka, Mike Ott Producers: Drea Clark, Fred Thornton, Atsuko Okatsuka, Trinity Shi, Alex Gioulakis, Athina Rachel Tsangari Cinematographer: Michael Gioulakis Editor: Santos S. Santos Music: María Huld Markan Sigfúsdóttir Cast: Roberto Sanchez, Johanna Trujillo, Eloy Mendez
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