On Slauson

This fiction short film follows a young man, Miguel, who leads a double life as an East LA gang member, and beloved son. He becomes a waiter in hopes of finding some form of identity, only to discover that a terribly perfect coincidence will lead to detrimental effects on the relationship with his mother.

  • Anali Cabrera
    Director
  • Anali Cabrera
    Writer
  • Alex Turner
    Producer
  • Valentin Guereque
    Key Cast
    "Miguel"
  • Project Type:
    Short, Student
  • Genres:
    Drama
  • Runtime:
    9 minutes 5 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    March 4, 2023
  • Production Budget:
    15,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English, Spanish
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    Yes - UCLA
Director Biography - Anali Cabrera

ANALI CABRERA is a recent BFA graduate in Film and Television Production from UCLA, specializing in directing. She is passionate about crafting narratives that reflect the rich tapestry of her Mexican culture and exploring issues of race, class, and gender through the lens of the Chicano experience. With experience in both commercial and independent film production, Anali has had the opportunity to interview with esteemed media outlets such as NPR, Fox, and Voyage LA.

Her internships with renowned companies such as A24 and Apple have provided Anali with valuable experience in leadership and communication within the entertainment industry. As an alumna of both Ghetto Film School and Youth Cinema project, she is committed to mentoring minority creatives and sharing her experiences to teach the fundamentals of filmmaking. Anali prioritizes mentorship and regularly speaks to young students and creatives in her hometown of Bell Gardens.

Anali's most recent work, her senior thesis film "On Slauson," has begun its festival circuit after completion. An adaptation of her thesis film is currently in development as an original feature script. Additionally, she is in the early stages of writing her next narrative short, tentatively titled "Cutting Cults." The film explores a young Latina's journey to recover from the death of her boyfriend, and her eventual involvement with a group of women who she discovers to be part of a religious cult.

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Director Statement

“On Slauson” invites you to early 2000s East Los Angeles, California, where we follow Miguel, a young man who balances a double life as a gang member and beloved son. The film is loosely based on my uncle who joined an East LA gang at the age of fourteen. Hearing his experiences in the gang sparked an interest for me to capture the more nuanced difficulties of being in a gang.

Growing up, I watched many gangster films that were too busy glamorizing violence to explore deeper issues of identity. Gang members are not purveyors of violence and tragedy, but are often individuals who are simply trying to find community and a sense of belonging. By default of the neighborhood, East LA being one of them, many young boys take gang entry as an opportunity to come of age.

Through Miguel's journey, I aimed to offer a nuanced perspective on the complex reality of young gang members by focusing on issues of identity and leading a double life. By creating empathy for Miguel’s situation, audiences are able to better understand the stressful responsibilities of maintaining loyalty to many relationships.

Aside from sharing a different perspective on gang life, I am thrilled to have filmed at a restaurant only a few blocks from the high school I graduated from. Working with a location decorated with my Mexican culture and with an almost entirely Latinx cast was an uplifting experience for me. I am grateful for the support I received from UCLA’s undergraduate directing program, and donors of my crowdfunding campaign to make this film a reality.

Despite the challenges of directing during the Covid-19 pandemic, my crew and I were readily prepared for any issues and made it out of filming with everyone safe and healthy. Completing all parts of production, including location-scouting and filming, were difficult due to new Covid-19 protocols at the time, but were a learning experience for myself and my producer Alex as we learned a new age of filmmaking.

Overall, I hope that “On Slauson” offers a deeper understanding of the human experiences behind the stereotypes of gang culture. I hope viewers are impacted by Miguel’s journey and leave with greater empathy for the young men who find themselves in the instability of gangs. This film is a passion project for me, and I am excited to share this impactful, human story with you. Please join us on this journey into a pocket of East LA, and discover the world that lies beneath the surface of the headlines.