En La Escena (On The Scene): NYIFF Interviewed by Lily Agosto for En La Escena

I had the awesome opportunity to meet and get inside of the minds of some very talented and creative directors, writers, producers and actors.

Starting with documentary film maker Director Koen Suidgeest of KARLA'S ARRIVAL. He must of had a tremendous amount of courage and strength to make this film that follows a 19 years old mother, Suleylin Aguilar and baby Karla. Who live as a part of a group of kids in a small park in Manague, Nicaragua as they struggle through the first year of the child's life. It killed me to watch mother, Suleylin putting her new born baby Karla to sleep in a card board box! I would have never been able to work on this project without wanting to save every child in that park. Director Koen shares with us his experience and how Suleylin is living now.

Alice Gomes director, writer producer of her short film LAPIS DE COR created a very visual cinematic progression of this very touching story of Claudio, a poor 9 years old boy who lives alone with his mother, loves to draw. His father left years ago and Claudio nurtures the idea that drawing a colored portrait of his father will make him come home only to find he doesn't have any colored pencils...until he obtains 3 magical pencils. The story is actually brilliant and I look forward to seeing more of Ms. Gomes work.

The documentary PRECIOUS KNOWLEDGE Film maker Ari Palos tells us an inspiring story and shows that if we care enough about the future and eduction of our children this nation can be more powerful than we can imagine. Fewer than six in ten Latino adults in the United States have a high school diploma. Precious Knowledge is the unbelievable and inspiring story of high school seniors in the Mexican American Studies Program at Tucson High School. 82% of the students in the program will graduate and go on to college. Their journey will astound you. In our interview Precilla Rodriquez shares with us her experience of being in the film and traveling to New York for the first time.

We also caught up with Director Evan Buxbaum of his Short Film LA LINEA a dark comedy that takes place in the trunk of a car, lead actor Alejandro discovers he's not the only one crossing the boarder to the US and is forced to come face to face with what he hoped to leave behind in mexico. Evan shares his great experience making this hysterical short film and what to look forward to next. I want the FEATURE! what a tease!!!

Director Adam Schlachter shows in his documentary HOLLYWOOD WHORES, the raw honest truth about the trials and tribulation of being an aspiring actor. Anyone who is in the performing arts world can relate to this documentary making all artist ask themselves...how much are YOU willing to compromise for stardom???? These guys were great to talk to. Actor, Anup's gives advice to all inspiring actors. "Let go of the Diva attitude"!!! I personally know aspiring actors who won't take certain jobs because it's not the ideal role they dreams of, but as an artist you gotta stay open cause you never know where life will take you!

Director/Writer Matt Dunnerstick's world premiere of film THE CUSTOM MARY touches upon all relevant topics in today's world, with surprise twist in the story I did not expect. A spec of Christ's blood falls into the hands of a pair of preachers, they hatch a scheme to clone Jesus. All they need is a willing host. Alicia Sixtos plays Mary a modest young Latina churchgoer. It doesn't take much convincing for her to carry the Lord's child. As the pregnancy progresses, she finds comfort and support in Joe ( James Jolly) , an African American Low-Rider mechanic and aficionado. 9 months later, the outcome is not quite as expected and the Mary finds herself desperate and scared. GOD reveals Himself unexplored places, But there's mistaking justice when it's low-rider style.

G.W.B.
Director/Writer - Jonathan Ullman uses a touch of his own personal experience and a whole lot of intense imagination! This film takes place in the George Washington Bridge area and within the course of a day two dominican brother Javy and Diego fight to survival a ruthless drug kingpin. Go on the ride on the streets of Washington Heights with danger and what might be the very last day of their lives! Thrilling!

Postales Colombianas
Director - Ricardo Coral is getting some controversial response from this film, which means to me... "it's good" if you can walk away from watching a movie that makes you think and feel a certain way then the director has done he's job! In this film Piedad, Caridad and Fanny are intellectual feminists, independent and well-heeled. One night they meet up to bond over their shared experiences, memories and points of view. When they find themselves approached by a trio of seemingly normal-looking gentleman, little do they know that these men will end up being their executioners.

I hope you enjoyed our interviews and learned a little something about making your own dreams come true. Go and support these great films and stay plugged in because I'm getting all the answers you want to know!

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