Wetback: The Undocumented Documentary- 2004
View Wetback Trailer
WETBACK – The Undocumented Documentary is a feature length documentary that follows several immigrants from Central America and Mexico on an extraordinary and extremely dangerous journey to North America. This film was the first to document the actual cross ing of the US/Mexican boarder and since its creation it has been used all over the world as a valuable teaching tool on immigration issues and migrant rights.
More than 3,000 Latin Americans a day embark upon this journey. Less than 300 make it to their destination.
Nayo, Milton, Luis, Oscar and Ana are just some of the thousands of people that will join one of the largest migration movements in history. Their motivation is a life with dignity. Their disadvantage is that neither of them have legal travel- ing documents.
The film begins in Nicaragua and takes the viewer on a journey through five borders and many other dangerous obstacles. Border control tightens as the migrants move North. Gangs in Mexico and vigilante groups in the USA are some of the perils they might have to face on their way to the American Dream.
CREW:
Director: Arturo Perez Torres, Producer: Heather Haynes Cinematographer: Felipe Rodrigez Editor: Julia Blua, Sound: Benito Amaro Original score: Roko Citroen Sound editor: Puppy Machine Productions.
AWARDS: Hot Docs Top 10, Toronto 2005, Cinequest Best Documentary 2005, Audience Award, Chicago Latino Film Festival, Spectrum Award, Full Frame 2005, Cinema of Conscience, Napa Valley, 2005, Audience Award, Oxnard Film Festival, 2005
Media: Variety: http://variety.com/2005/film/reviews/wetback-the-undocumented-documentary-1200519879/
DVDs can be purchased through National Geographic:
http://shop.nationalgeographic.com/ngs/product/dvds/adventure-and-exploration/wetback%3A-the-undocumented-documentary-dvd
More than 3,000 Latin Americans a day embark upon this journey. Less than 300 make it to their destination.
Nayo, Milton, Luis, Oscar and Ana are just some of the thousands of people that will join one of the largest migration movements in history. Their motivation is a life with dignity. Their disadvantage is that neither of them have legal travel- ing documents.
The film begins in Nicaragua and takes the viewer on a journey through five borders and many other dangerous obstacles. Border control tightens as the migrants move North. Gangs in Mexico and vigilante groups in the USA are some of the perils they might have to face on their way to the American Dream.
CREW:
Director: Arturo Perez Torres, Producer: Heather Haynes Cinematographer: Felipe Rodrigez Editor: Julia Blua, Sound: Benito Amaro Original score: Roko Citroen Sound editor: Puppy Machine Productions.
AWARDS: Hot Docs Top 10, Toronto 2005, Cinequest Best Documentary 2005, Audience Award, Chicago Latino Film Festival, Spectrum Award, Full Frame 2005, Cinema of Conscience, Napa Valley, 2005, Audience Award, Oxnard Film Festival, 2005
Media: Variety: http://variety.com/2005/film/reviews/wetback-the-undocumented-documentary-1200519879/
DVDs can be purchased through National Geographic:
http://shop.nationalgeographic.com/ngs/product/dvds/adventure-and-exploration/wetback%3A-the-undocumented-documentary-dvd
Super Amigos- 2006
View Super Amigos Trailer
Mexico City is not Gotham City but if you ran into any of the five masked activists who protect this metropolis, you’d wonder if you were not living inside a comic book.
These modern-day Super Heroes are a group of Lucha Libre wrestlers who have taken their fight out of the ring and into the streets of the Mexican Capital. Super Barrio, Super Gay, Ecologista Universal, Super Animal and Fray Tormenta are real life masked Super Heroes who fight against evil slumlords, corrupt politicians, homophobia, pollution, animal rights abusers, and poverty. Though their true identity remains a mystery, they could easily be Mexico City’s most popular figures and last salvation.
SUPER AMIGOS is a feature length documentary that follows 5 modern-day Super Heroes in Mexico City as they fight for social justice and human rights.
CREW: Director: Arturo Perez Torres, Producer: Heather Haynes, Cinematographer: Mario Gallegos and Jose Luis Aranda, Editor: Cameron Esler, Original Music: Roko Citroen, Sound: Guinduri Arroyo, Sound editor: Geof Raffan.
AWARDS: Guadalajara Film Festival (Jury Mention), Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival (Jury Mention) , Silverlake Best Foreign Film 2007, DocsDF Jury Mention 2007, Best Film All Roads National Geographic 2007.
Media:
Blog TO: http://www.blogto.com/film/2007/04/hot_docs_review_super_amigos/Se Fija!: http://www.sefijaonline.com/super-amigos-on-hulu-social-commentary-not-racist-ridicule/
Journey Into Awesome: http://journeyintoawesome.com/2011/07/30/super-amigos-a-film-review-and-discussion/
Hot Docs Library Educational Resources, Teaching Guide: http://hotdocslibrary.ca/uploads/filmAssets/SUPERAMIGOS.pdf
These modern-day Super Heroes are a group of Lucha Libre wrestlers who have taken their fight out of the ring and into the streets of the Mexican Capital. Super Barrio, Super Gay, Ecologista Universal, Super Animal and Fray Tormenta are real life masked Super Heroes who fight against evil slumlords, corrupt politicians, homophobia, pollution, animal rights abusers, and poverty. Though their true identity remains a mystery, they could easily be Mexico City’s most popular figures and last salvation.
SUPER AMIGOS is a feature length documentary that follows 5 modern-day Super Heroes in Mexico City as they fight for social justice and human rights.
CREW: Director: Arturo Perez Torres, Producer: Heather Haynes, Cinematographer: Mario Gallegos and Jose Luis Aranda, Editor: Cameron Esler, Original Music: Roko Citroen, Sound: Guinduri Arroyo, Sound editor: Geof Raffan.
AWARDS: Guadalajara Film Festival (Jury Mention), Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival (Jury Mention) , Silverlake Best Foreign Film 2007, DocsDF Jury Mention 2007, Best Film All Roads National Geographic 2007.
Media:
Blog TO: http://www.blogto.com/film/2007/04/hot_docs_review_super_amigos/Se Fija!: http://www.sefijaonline.com/super-amigos-on-hulu-social-commentary-not-racist-ridicule/
Journey Into Awesome: http://journeyintoawesome.com/2011/07/30/super-amigos-a-film-review-and-discussion/
Hot Docs Library Educational Resources, Teaching Guide: http://hotdocslibrary.ca/uploads/filmAssets/SUPERAMIGOS.pdf
City Idol- 2006
http://www.opencityworks.com/cityidol/
Canadian Idol is for people who look at rock stars and say, "I wanna do that!" City Idol is the opposite. It's for people who look at politicians and say, "What the hell are they doing?" With the goal of adding some energy and excitement to last November's municipal elections in Toronto, the City Idol project was created by a group of feisty activists. City Idol was structured just like the well-known Idol contests, except that instead of singing pop songs, candidates were asked "to make short speeches, participate in debates, improvise press conferences, answer audience questions and react to emergency situations." The result: a truly diverse group of participants presented passionate, smart, funny and engaged opinions about what works, and what doesn't work, in this city. City Idol captures the lively spirit of the City Idol events and the subsequent bitter-sweet campaign run by the candidates. An inspiring look at a grassroots civic movement.
CREW: Director: Arturo Perez Torres, Producer: Heather Haynes, Cinematographer: Cameron Esler & Robin McKenna, Editor: Cameron Esler and Arturo Perez Torres, Original Music: Bob Wiseman
CREW: Director: Arturo Perez Torres, Producer: Heather Haynes, Cinematographer: Cameron Esler & Robin McKenna, Editor: Cameron Esler and Arturo Perez Torres, Original Music: Bob Wiseman
