Los Angeles, CA, USA
$250 - $500 / Day
Gary Alvarez is an independent filmmaker based in Los Angeles. He graduated from Chapman University's Dodge College of Film with an M.F.A. in Film Production (Directing) in 2012. Since then he has been working professionally as a writer/producer/director. Born the youngest of three sons to working-class Mexican immigrants in Monterey Park, Gary was raised in the barrios of Bell. At 19 he enrolled in UC Berkeley’s Chicano Studies Program and studied abroad at UNAM before graduating in 2002, after which he returned to Los Angeles and taught for the subsequent 10 years. In 2004 Gary embarked on a journey that changed his career path and ultimately his life: he traveled across Mexico from Tijuana to Cozumel, penning a manuscript that was later adapted into a screenplay. Numerous screenwriting workshops and indie film sets later, he decided to transition into a career as writer/director. Gary’s passion is writing and directing narrative films as well as producing documentaries. With the series boom on Netflix and Amazon Prime, he added writing for television as a personal goal. Currently he is developing a new series, writing his next full-length screenplay and producing a feature documentary based on the Bell political corruption scandal of 2010. From 2015 to 2018, Gary taught screenwriting and film production to young filmmakers from underrepresented communities in Los Angeles and Orange Counties through the Latino Film Institute’s Youth Cinema Project. Since February 2016, Gary has been hosting an internet radio music show called Persistence of Sound every Wednesday evening from Espacio 1839 in Boyle Heights. His aim is to document the stories of local creatives through interviews via the show’s guest DJ segment Patched In.
L.A. Taco sat down with chef and host Roy Choi to talk about his evolution from an out of work chef to blazing a path with the Kogi taco truck, on living high and falling down again, and on why 'Broken Bread' is a true reflection of Los Angeles.
*L.A. Taco interview with VIDA cast* Chelsea introduces Mishel to her favorite taco spot--Tacos Don Cuco in East L.A.--and they both discuss season 2 of VIDA, now streaming on Starz! Interview shot by Gary Alvarez on Canon C100. Directed and edited by Erick Galindo. Shared with permission by L.A. Taco.
This promo doc shares the story of ELACC's 20-year history of serving the Boyle Heights and East LA communities through its founders, current president and residents who live, work and thrive in this working-class, Spanish-speaking neighborhood facing challenges from gentrification and lack of affordable housing.
L.A. Taco Tastes East L.A. BBQ: Associate Taco Editor Javier Cabral went to Boyle Heights to try some legendary tacos de lengua (cow tongue) that are smoked for several hours and then braised in beer by a local grillmaster known as "East L.A. Raider" Dave Marin.
1-on-1 con Alex Villanueva: The newly elected L.A. County Sheriff sat down for an exclusive in-depth interview with L.A. Taco, where he vowed to implement a long overdue body cam program for patrol deputies, and announced a long list of plans and policies for his tenure, which starts Dec. 3.
A brief history of Long Beach soul club The Good Foot as told by founders DJ's Rodi Delgadillo & Dennis Owens and fans from their modest beginning to becoming one of the most popular git-togethers in soulCal. Featuring a live performance from neo-soul sensations Myron & E.
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