Llauger-Meiselman

Viva Latino Film Fest International Opens With ‘Strike One’ Starring Danny Trejo

By GTVW

Photos Agency

 The 1st Annual Viva Latino Film Festival NYC International (VLFFI) has chosen David Llauger-Meiselman’s award-winning indie Strike One, starring Danny Trejo, for its Opening Night to screen on Thursday, February 19, 2015. VLFFI runs February 19 to 22nd and will be held at the Film Anthology Archives located on 32 2nd Avenue, New York, NY 10003.

 Strike One is a story set in Boyle Heights and utilizes this Los Angeles community as an integral character. It also stars break-out artist Johnny Ortiz, Maria Isa Perez, cast along with veterans Billy Gallo, Alma Martinez, French Stewart, James Russo, Lawrence Smilgys, Reginald VelJohnson, and Zahn McClarnon.

 “We’re thrilled Strike One is premiering at VIVA’s Inaugural event. It is a great story. We’re truly humbled,” stated Steven De Castro, Viva’s founder and co-executive director.

 While Strike One is an anatomy of the dangers of living in low-income and at-risk communities, it is also about the injustice of California’s controversial Three Strike Law – where justice is determined by which side of the street you live on. Actor-Screenwriter Lawrence Smilgys has created a family in one of those “where life chose me” situations. “This law seems to insinuate that some people are born criminals and can never change,” said Smilgys.

 “Our film brings a more realistic voice to a group of people that are generally ignored,” stated director Llauger-Meiselman, “and for the most part are truly an important piece of American culture.”

 “We are really excited about this movie as it appeals to a wide range of audiences and families due to its rich subject matter, great direction and terrific performances by Danny Trejo and the entire cast,” said the film’s distributor, Steven Istock, president of California Pictures, Inc.

 Manny Garcia (Trejo) is determined to steer his nephew Juan (Ortiz) away from falling victim to the trappings of a prejudiced juvenile criminal system. “Manny is an endearing character,” said Smilgys, “no matter how many times you knock him down, he is going to get up and forge ahead despite the shadow of the bureaucrat laws that exists beyond his understanding.”

 Film producer Felipe Alejandro, a Boyle Heights native, said the making of Strike One was a labor of love. “The film reverberates with Latino audiences because it is a story that is made for us by us,” said Alejandro. “And, it’s about righting a very wrong law, and bringing justice to all the Latino and Black ‘Juan Garcia’s’ unfairly convicted and sentenced.”