500 Days of Summer Trailer Recut

Oh the power of editing and musical score...

Recut by ilikescott.com

This reminded me of how much I liked 500 Days of Summer. I could justify it by highlighting the dapper wardrobe, overall great art design, and my city as the backdrop...but that would just be to cover-up the fact that I just fell for the emo-cheese and like most films with Joseph Gordon-Levitt.

Kenny Endo, Kaoru Watanabe & Abe Lagrimas Jr. at JACCC

Here's some footage that I shot of Kenny Endo, Kaoru Watanabe & Abe Lagrimas Jr. drumming at the JACCC 30th Anniversary concert. Growing up JA in LA it's easy to get taiko'd-out, but these dudes bring a level of craft and energy that really separates them from the rest.

Ill Doctrine: T-Pain and the Know Nothing Know-It-Alls

(Via Jay Smooth) Just when I thought I couldn't lose any more respect for T-Painful:

Yo Mina Mina!

Last weekend my niece Mina Loy turned 3-years-grown! Since my nephew Gus had turned 1 a month ago, my family decided to have one big party for the both of them. Mina was born with paralyzed vocal cords and spent the first months of her life with a hole in her throat and was constantly in and out of the hospital. Now at 3, her vocal cords work 100% and she is constantly singing and won't shut-up!

I also just dove into the geeky world of DSLR video and got a Canon T2i. The party was a perfect time to give it a test run.



Hours after I got home from the birthday party I found out that a friend had lost her life earlier that day. The combination of both events reinforced the need to cherish the loved ones in your life and each day you have with them.

bikos - You Want It

First music video by the hometown homies bikos!

Bambu - "The Queen Is Dead" Music Video

Produced by Chicharon Adventures and Oishi Media.

Remittances in Stores Now!

"Remittances balances between subtle social commentary, to outright blood knuckle rage."



Listen for yourself and you'll understand why I've been so amped about this album. Favorite tracks so far: "Mr. Sagittarius", "Blood of my Heart" and "Artofficialfreedom".


A limited edition CD/t-shirt package is available at Beatrock Music. The album release party is going down on June 4 in San Francisco.

In Memory of Tam Tran and Cinthya Felix

Before she was taken away from us, Tam Tran left an imprint on this earth, leaving cracks in this broken-ass US immigration system. Tonight at the packed memorial for Tam and Cinthya Felix, we collectively realized that those cracks will continue to grow and widen as the organized fire that Tam and Cinthya sparked will burn in all of us until the DREAM act is passed and undocumented workers and students receive the full rights and protection of citizenship. Loteria Chicana provides a detailed account of the memorial.



I met Tam when she was a students in the EthnoCommunications program at UCLA. Through the process of making her film Seattle Underground Railroad, I got schooled on the experience of the undocumented student, as well as, Tam's own dedication as leader and filmmaker within the AB540 student community.

Here's a video that features both Tam and Cinthya:


Tam and Cinthya, thank you for all the work and leadership you provided us in such a short amount of time. Rest In Power!

Let's Go Los Suns! Yeah, I said it!

For me, the most interesting events are when the world of sports and issues of social justice collide. For this reason, Dave Zirin is by far my favorite sports journalist. So when Arizona signed SB1070 into law during the NBA playoffs, I knew Dave would not disappoint me.

I've hated the Phoenix Suns for so long that when I heard they were going to wear their "Los Suns" jerseys in protest of SB1070 I thought it was just a PR gimmick since they had already planned to wear the same jerseys because of Cinco de Mayo. But after reading Dave's article A New Era: Here Come The Suns, I gained much more respect for the whole organization, from management to the players.

"I think the law is very misguided. I think it is unfortunately to the detriment to our society and our civil liberties and I think it is very important for us to stand up for things we believe in. I think the law obviously can target opportunities for racial profiling. Things we don't want to see and don't need to see in 2010." - Los Suns' Steve Nash

In his follow-up article Los Suns Also Rise, Dave explains the significance of Phoenix's win over San Antonio and the larger meaning it had for the sports world. Now as a Laker fan, I compare Nash's quote above to what Phil had to say on the racist bill...

"If I heard it right the American people are really for stronger immigration laws.... I don't think teams should get involved in the political stuff." - Laker Coach Phil Jackson

The Lakers are still my team, but that doesn't mean I can't criticize them. Phil's conservative statements on SB1070 was the deal breaker for me. I'm not turning my back on my team forever, but in support of Phoenix's actions and in disappointment for Phil's blatant criticism of that action, for the 2010 Western Conference Finals only, I will be rooting for Los Sun!

Mass Movement TV - Nomi Talking About New Power Struggle Album

Here's a section from an interview that Eric and I did with Nomi (MC of Power Struggle) describing the evolution of Remittances. Shot and cut by Eric Tandoc:


Power Struggle is rapper Nomi accompanied by producers Mister Rey and Fatgums. Remittances will be released by Beatrock Music on May 18th.

Power Struggle Leak - "What Goes Up"

Here's the second leak off the upcoming Power Struggle album Remittances:

POWER STRUGGLE - What Goes Up DOWNLOAD

bikos - "Videogame Sandwich Diamonds" Acoustic Performance

A couple of years ago a group of friends that I grew up with formed a band called bikos. In a short amount of time they've already performed at some of LA's hottest (did I just say hottest?) music venues including the Hotel Cafe, Spaceland and the legendary Cinema Bar. They were recently featured in this Gorilla Acoustic video performing "Videogame Sandwich Diamonds".

Gabe rockin the ill Culver City High Centaurs warm-up jacket:


bikos' first music video is slated to drop soon. It's amazing to watch the kids you used to listen to over YMCA campfires evolve into rockstars!

TONIGHT! EthnoCommunications Retrospecitve at Hammer Museum

UCLA's Center for EthnoCommunications is where it all started for me. I speak on behalf of so many others when I say that the EthnoComm. program inspired, trained and grounded me in both theory and practice of utilizing video to serve and document our communities. Tonight (5/10) the Hammer Museum will be screening a retrospective of films produced by the students of EthnoCommunications over the last 14 years:

Watch a preview of the films that will be shown:

Sade - Babyfather

Hiii Ms. Paaarkeeer!

Youtube Video of the Week: My Playa Adventure - Burning Man 2009

During their post-Coachella LA trip, I got to catch up with my ole college buddy Bryant and his talented partner Nick. Their stories of the festival made me wish I could still party like it was 2001 but watching Nick's video from last years Burning Man really made me want to dust off the vick's inhaler and come out or retirement!



Nick recently has become a full-time filmmaker in the bay area, check out more of his work here.

A Song For Ourselves Wins at RiverRun!

A Song For Ourselves was awarded both Best Documentary Short and Best Student Documentary Short at last week's RiverRun Film Festival!