Ravine

After a Mexican family is evicted from their home in 1959, a father holds resentment towards the baseball team that changed his life.

Background:
In 1958 the Dodgers moved from Brooklyn to Los Angeles looking to build their new stadium. Walter O'Malley and the Dodgers organization settled in a neighborhood between Silverlake and Downtown LA known as “Chavez Ravine”, home to the communities of La Loma, Palo Verde, and Bishop.

On May 9th, 1959 the city forcefully evicted the remaining families living in the Ravine neighborhoods (Palo Verde, La Loma and Bishop), leaving families with no home and empty promises of the city's new housing projects. This important part of Angeleno and Chicano history remains unknown to many.

  • Selene Esperanza Alvarez
    Director
  • Selene Esperanza Alvarez
    Writer
  • Celeste Bird
    Producer
  • Selene Esperanza Alvarez
    Producer
  • Miguel Alvarez
    Executive Producer
  • Mario E. Carranza
    Director of Photography
  • Jonathan Estrada Salazar
    Editor
  • Alexander Winters
    Unit Production Manager
  • Emily Vail
    First Assistant Director
  • Audrey Saca
    Production Designer
  • Jocelyn Ortiz
    Costume Designer
  • Daniel Teodoro
    Music Composer
  • Celeste Bird
    Casting Director
  • Eric Silva
    Key Cast
    "Adrian (1981)"
  • Luis Pablo
    Key Cast
    "Adrian (1959)"
  • Carlos Solórzano
    Key Cast
    "Fernando"
  • Pia Higaldo
    Key Cast
    "Emilia"
  • Antonio T. Luna
    Key Cast
    "Julian"
  • Roman Cabaong
    Key Cast
    "Julio"
  • Cruz Anthony Herrera
    Key Cast
    "Jose"
  • Anabel Benevides
    Key Cast
    "Esperanza"
  • Alejandra Guzman
    Key Cast
    "Julieta"
  • Daniel Collins
    Key Cast
    "Walter"
  • J.T. Michael
    Key Cast
    "Davis"
  • Dan Walters
    Key Cast
    "Jones"
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Genres:
    Drama, History, Sports
  • Runtime:
    19 hours 1 minute
  • Completion Date:
    October 22, 2022
  • Production Budget:
    20,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English, Spanish
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital, Arri Alexa Mini LF
  • Aspect Ratio:
    4:3
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • LA Shorts International Film Festival® 2023
    Los Angeles, CA
    United States
    July 4, 2023
    World Premiere
    Official Selection
  • Silicon Beach Film Festival® 2023
    Los Angeles, CA
    United States
    September 9, 2023
    Official Selection
  • Marina del Rey Film Festival® 2023
    Los Angeles, CA
    United States
    June 8, 2023
    Official Selection
  • Iconic Images Film Festival® 2023

    United States
    March 30, 2023
    Finalist, Best Historical Film
  • Anatolia International Film Festival® 2023

    Turkey
    April 12, 2023
    Finalist
  • Philadelphia Latino Film Festival® 2023

    United States
    May 28, 2023
    Official Selection
Director Biography - Selene Esperanza Alvarez

Selene Esperanza Alvarez is a Mexican-American filmmaker born and raised in Los Angeles, California. Alvarez recently graduated Magna Cum Laude from California State University Northridge with a B.A. in Film Production and emphasis in Cinematography.

During her time at CSUN, Alvarez worked on various senior thesis films, working in different departments. She Produced her senior thesis film “Cliff Effect” and a film about two Latina hairdressers and best friends, who are after the same job and equally need it to support their families. Selene also worked as a 1st assistant director, script supervisor, and associate producer on other thesis films.

Alvarez has directed and written various short films and projects. Most recently she directed "Ravine” a film inspired by her love of baseball and the history of the 1959 Chavez Ravine evictions. Selene is a part of organizations such as Women in Film, Chicana Director’s Initiative, and Women of Color Unite to connect with more Women, especially BIPOC Women in the industry. Her passion for filmmaking derives from the need to create diverse and authentic representation for under and misrepresented communities, such as the Latinx and LGBTQIA+ community which Alvarez identifies as.

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