Director
"Homeboy" examines the lives of several gay Latino men living in and around the Los Angeles area who are either former gang members or who are currently active in gangs. These men range in age from their early-20's to their mid-40's, most of whom entered gangs while in their early teenage years. This is a story of their individual journeys. Through a series of interviews, "Homeboy" aims to provide a voice for a unique intersection of cultures until now previously unheard: contemporary Latino culture, gay culture and the world of gangs. These personal accounts weave together, illuminating both parallels and differences amongst the subjects' experiences. We explore the transformation that these men have undergone, from membership within a gang - a world that is hyper-masculine and outwardly heterosexual - to the acceptance of being gay and how their lives have evolved. The film addresses internal and external stereotypes associated with the Latino, gay and gang cultures.
Director
Shot on location in San Antonio, Texas, El Abuelo is an intimate portrait of local educator and poet, Joe Jimenez. Through the meditative process of ironing his clothes (a duty often identified as "women's work"), we experience Joe in that familiar goal of finding the perfect crease. Of all domestic chores, ironing is the only one a "homeboy" is more than happy to master, as masterful ironing is the key to reaching an appearance of perfection; perfect creases work hand in hand with the power of attraction. In voiceover, Joe reads the lines from his poem "El Abuelo," as we learn the potency these perfect creases possess in capturing the attention of his "first vato" -- his first love of another man.
