THE RISE AND FALL OF THE BROWN BUFFALO
"The flyest history lesson since Hamilton."
- Remezcla
"Astonishing" and "A Must See Film"
- Salon
"Brilliant, original and genre-bending"
"It isn't typical PBS fare (welcome young people)."
- Latino Rebels
"Remarkable, informs, entertains, filling your mind with challenging, provocative ideas."
- Sacramento Bee
"Fascinating"
- NBC News
"Genre-defying"
L.A. Taco
"Larger than life"
- People Magazine
From Executive Producer Benicio Del Toro
THE RISE AND FALL OF THE BROWN BUFFALO is a fresh and genre-defying film about the life of radical Chicano lawyer, author and countercultural icon, Oscar Zeta Acosta — the basis for the character Dr. Gonzo in Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, written by his friend, legendary journalist-provocateur Hunter S. Thompson.
The film is executive produced by Academy-Award winning actor Benicio Del Toro. Del Toro portrayed Acosta in the 1998 cult film "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas" opposite Johnny Depp who portrayed Thompson.
The author of two groundbreaking autobiographical novels, AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A BROWN BUFFALO and THE REVOLT OF THE COCKROACH PEOPLE Acosta’s powerful literary voice, brash courtroom style and notorious revolutionary antics made him a revered figure within the Chicano movement of the 1960s and 70s and offered one of the most brazen assaults on the status quo and white supremacy seen at the time. Yet Acosta is more known for his turn as Thompson’s bumbling sidekick in Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas than for his own work exposing racial bias, hypocrisy and repression within the California justice system.
Channeling the spirit of the psychedelic 60s and the joyful irreverence of “Gonzo” journalism, THE RISE AND FALL OF THE BROWN BUFFALO shows Acosta’s personal and creative evolution playing out against the backdrop of a society in turmoil. From his origins in segregated rural California, to his stint as a Baptist missionary in the jungles of Panama, to his radicalization in the Chicano movement of the late 60s, and finally to his mysterious disappearance off the coast of Mexico in 1974, director Rodriguez offers a vision of a complex figure at once wholly unique, and emblematic of a generation.
Relevant now more than ever, THE RISE AND FALL OF THE BROWN BUFFALO explores issues of racial identity, criminal justice, politics and media representation, while revealing the personal story of a troubled but brilliant man coming to terms with his identity and finding meaning in the struggles of his people.
The film also includes cameo scenes with former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa who plays a judge, questioning Acosta’s business card featuring the Aztec God Huitzilopochtli, and California Attorney General Xavier Becerra, playing a judge whose lawn is set on fire by Acosta.
The Corporation for Public Broadcasting is the major funder of the film. Additional funding is provided by Latino Public Broadcasting, California Humanities and The Office of Los Angeles City Councilman Gilbert Cedillo. The film is produced by Rodriguez’s Los Angeles-based production company, City Projects, LLC.
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Phillip RodriguezDirectorRuben Salazar: Man in the Middle, RACE 2012, Latinos '08, Brown is the New Green: George Lopez and the American Dream, Los Angeles Now, Mixed Feelings: San Diego/Tijuana, Manuel Ocampo: God is My Copilot, and Pancho Villa & Other Stories
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Phillip RodriguezWriterRuben Salazar: Man in the Middle, RACE 2012, Latinos '08, Brown is the New Green: George Lopez and the American Dream, Los Angeles Now, Mixed Feelings: San Diego/Tijuana, Manuel Ocampo: God is My Copilot, and Pancho Villa & Other Stories
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David VenturaWriter
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Benicio Del Toro, Executive ProducerProducerStar Wars: The Last Jedi, Traffic, Avengers: Infinity War, 21 Grams, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, Guardians of the Galaxy, Sicario
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Alison SotomayorProducerBridging the Divide: Tom Bradley and the Politics of Race, The New Los Angeles, Sal Castro & the 1968 East Los Angeles Walkouts, Heroes in the Hood: Father Gregory Boyle, Vikki Carr: A Biography, Life & Times (TV series)
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Ricardo LopezProducerLatino
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Jesse Celedon (Oscar Zeta Acosta)Key CastSoledad, Stage 5
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Jeff Harms (Hunter S. Thompson)Key CastOceans Rising, Rockstar Games
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Claudio Rocha, CinematographerCAMERAThe Whole Wide World, Ruben Salazar: Man in the Middle, RACE 2012, Brown in the New Green, Latinos '08, Los Angeles Now, No Más Bebés, Kingdom of Shadows, Principio y Fin, The Mexican Suitcase, Mrs. Palfrey at the Claremont, Roberto Clemente, Two Tickets to Paradise
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Rafael Cardenas, Still PhotographerCAMERAMAS ACA: Further Here
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Kyle McLane, Sound MixerSOUNDKandiyohi, Man Eating Plants, Truth or Dare, The Scientist, Death Camp, Xin
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Andrew Vasquez, Boom OperatorSOUNDDestiny Project, Unsung Heroes, Terminado El Ciclo, Duendes Gone Bad, Spoken Movement
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Diego Castellanos, GripELECTRICALFuel Junkie, Always Remember, Paradox, Room 731, Stranger's Relative
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Joe Oosthuizen, Art DirectorART DEPARTMENTBeauty, Outcast, Winter's Dream
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Delarey Wagener, Assistant PropsART DEPARTMENTAli, Flight of the Phoenix, Catch a Fire, Donkey Punch, You Can't Have It, Hitting the Breaks
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Ron Wolek, Key Makeup & Hair & FXMAKEUP & HAIRKeeping up with the Joneses, The Walking Dead, Vampire Diaries, Satisfaction, Finding Carter, American Genius, Walt Disney Christmas Parade Special (various)
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Thomas Lick, Makeup & Hair AssistantMAKEUP & HAIR
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Vanessa Gonzalez, Costume DesignerCOSTUMECarlos, Rey Emperador; The Avengers, Isabel, Deadly Pursuit, Our Robocop Remake
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Tashi Fay, Wardrobe AssistantCOSTUME
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Amanda Siegel, Production AssistantPRODUCTION ASSISTANCEReally Friendly Men, Major Lazer, Axe Cop, Stone Quakers
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Claudio Rocha, Editor, AnimatorPOST PRODUCTIONThe Whole Wide World, Ruben Salazar: Man in the Middle, RACE 2012, Brown in the New Green, Latinos '08, Los Angeles Now, No Más Bebés, Kingdom of Shadows, Principio y Fin, The Mexican Suitcase, Mrs. Palfrey at the Claremont, Roberto Clemente, Two Tickets to Paradise
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Marc Cardenas, Assistant EditorPOST PRODUCTIONThe Id, What We Can't Have, The Ringing
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Jed LackritzPOST PRODUCTIONWe Live In Public, I am Divine, Join Us, Breaking the Maya Code
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Michael Sanford, Casting DirectorCASTINGGene Simmons: Family Jewels, Soaked in Bleach, Mosquita y Mari, The Artist
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Jesse Celedon: Oscar Zeta AcostaCAST
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Jeff Harms: Hunter S. ThompsonCAST
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Alejandro CohenCOMPOSERS
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Aaron DrakeCOMPOSERS
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Rose PortilloNarratorRuben Salazar: Man in the Middle
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Project Type:Documentary, Experimental, Feature, Television
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Genres:Activism, Biographical, Historical
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Runtime:60 minutes
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Completion Date:February 5, 2018
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Production Budget:500,000 USD
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Country of Origin:United States
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Country of Filming:United States
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Language:English
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Shooting Format:Digital
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Aspect Ratio:16:9
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Film Color:Color
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First-time Filmmaker:No
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Student Project:No
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San Francisco Latino Film FestivalSan Francisco, CA
United States
September 16, 2017
West Coast Premiere
Official Selection -
Orange County Film FestivalSanta Ana, CA
United States
October 7, 2017
Orange County, CA Premiere
Official Selection -
Fall for the Book FestivalFairfax, VA
United States
October 11, 2017 -
SWSW Film FestivalAustin, Texas
United States
March 10, 2018 -
Native Women in Film Film FestivalLos Angeles, CA
United States
February 27, 2018
Official Selection -
Red Nation Film FestivalSanta Fe, New Mexico
United States
August 14, 2018 -
Red National Film FestivalLos Angeles, CA
United States
November 5, 2018 -
La Plaza de Cultura y ArtesLos Angeles, CA
United States
March 9, 2018 -
GonzoFestLouisville, Kentucky
United States
April 14, 2018 -
Conference on Chicano Historiography, and the Historical Novel: Out of Many, OneLos Angeles, CA
United States
April 7, 2018 -
San Diego Latino Film FestivalSan Diego, CA
United States
February 13, 2018
Official Selection -
West Hollywood Human Rights Speakers SeriesLos Angeles, CA
United States
March 14, 2018 -
Arizona State University College of Public Service & Community SolutionsTempe, Arizona
United States
October 16, 2017 -
West Los Angeles Community CollegeWest Los Angeles, CA
United States
November 15, 2017 -
Civic Center StudiosLos Angeles, CA
United States
March 26, 2018 -
Calle 24 Paseo ArtísticoSan Francisco, CA
United States
April 14, 2018 -
San Diego State UniversityCalexico, CA
United States
April 26, 2018 -
Murales Rebeldes! Film SeriesSan Francisco, CA
United States
June 5, 2018 -
XicanIndie Film FestivalDenver, CO
United States
March 5, 2018
Official Selection -
March on Washington Film FestivalWashington, DC
United States
July 14, 2018
Official Selection -
Chambal International Film FestivalChambal
India
January 12, 2019
Best Director -
Olympia Film FestivalOlympia, WA
United States
November 15, 2018 -
Phenomena Film FestivalSao Paolo
Brazil
November 7, 2018 -
Royal Starr Film FestivalRoyal Oak, Michigan
United States
October 14, 2018 -
Queen Palm Film Festival - August EditionPalm Springs, California
United States
August 17, 2018
Silver - Best Documentary -
Awareness Film FestivalLos Angeles, California
United States
October 7, 2018
Best Documentary -
Guam International Film FestivalHagatna
Guam
October 25, 2018
Asia -
Borderlands Film FestivaLas Cruces, New Mexico
United States
October 3, 2018 -
Fimucinema - Fimucité, SpainTenerife
Spain
September 30, 2018
Spain -
Cine Odyssey Film FestivalCharlotte, North Carolina
United States
July 14, 2018
North Carolina
Distribution Information
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PBSCountry: United States
Phillip Rodriguez is an award-winning documentary filmmaker and veteran content provider for PBS. His films bring to light the complexities of Latino culture, history, and identity at a time when our nation’s demographics reflect unprecedented growth in the Latino community and the concomitant demand for relevant storytelling.
Rodriguez’s investigative documentary "Ruben Salazar: Man in the Middle" explores the life and mysterious death of the pioneering journalist, and won Best Documentary at the 2014 San Antonio CineFestival and the 2014 Denver XicanIndie Festival. "RACE 2012: A conversation About Race and Politics in America" was awarded a 2013 CINE Golden Eagle Award in the Best Televised News Division – Informational/Current Issue category. "Latinos ’08" received a 2009 CINE Golden Eagle Award for Best News Analysis. "Brown is the New Green: George Lopez and the American Dream" was awarded the 2008 Imagen Award for Best TV Documentary.
Rodriguez’s other critically acclaimed films include "Los Angeles Now", "Mixed Feelings: San Diego/Tijuana", "Manuel Ocampo: God is My Copilot", and "Pancho Villa & Other Stories".
In 2006, Rodriguez received the first annual United States Artists Broad Fellow Award, which honors the country's finest living artists.
A graduate of U.C. Berkeley, he has an M.A. in Latin American Studies (Honors) and an M.F.A. in Film and Television from UCLA. Currently, Rodriguez is a Senior Fellow at the USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism.
“I do not want to live in a world without brown buffalos.”
- Oscar Zeta Acosta
"The Autobiography of a Brown Buffalo"