STREET LIVING

Our world is a crazy place. But it's also a beautiful place. This duality is the same one we see in people.
We are flawed beings, perfectly imperfect. Most people want to look past those who have problems,
believing they should get over their issues. But for these people, change is one of the hardest things
they can encounter.
In Street Living, Baron is in the center of this world where he is just trying to feel free from the world
around him. He lets in only those who allow him to be himself and don’t force him to fall in line. He
moves between shelters and beds, constantly on the edge of being homeless but lucky enough to find
enough resources to keep his restlessness going.
However, this is interrupted with the appearance of his former girlfriend who saw him devolve and
finally disappear without a word after traumas. This is the beginning of Baron’s final push into a new
world of the Streets.

  • Magi Avila
    Director
    Altitude Not Attitude
  • Justin Orkin
    Writer
    I Am Joe
  • Magi Avila
    Producer
    Altitude Not Attitude
  • Laurent Malaquais
    Key Cast
    "Dools"
    I Am Joe
  • Romondo Youngblood
    Key Cast
    "Baron"
  • Project Type:
    Short, Web / New Media, Other
  • Runtime:
    10 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    November 30, 2022
  • Production Budget:
    10,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16.9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • BEST SHORT COMPETITION
    La Joya, CA
    United States
    Winner-Best Pilot
  • CANNES WORLD FILM FESTIVAL
    Cannes, France
    France
    Winner-Best Acting Duo
  • NEW YORK INTERNATIONAL FILM AWARDS
    New York
    United States
    Winner-Best Pilot
  • VIRGIN SPRING CINEFEST

    India
    Winner-Best Pilot
  • BEST ACTOR & DIRECTOR AWARDS
    New York
    United States
    Winner
  • CANNES WORLD FILM FESTIVAL
    Cannes
    France
    Finalist-Fest Female Director Short
  • NEW YORK INTERNATIONAL FILM AWARDS
    New York
    United States
    Finalist-Best Female Director
Director Biography - Magi Avila

Magi Avila, director, producer and co-writer of the multi-award-winning for Best Feature Documentary and Best Director of an Inspirational Feature Film Altitude Not Attitude, which is finalist at the IDA and Academy Award Qualifying Flickers Rhode Island, among 20 more Film Festivals. Her most recent work as an actress can be seen in the award-winning TV Series My American Family featuring Danny Trejo, streaming now on Amazon Prime. Also, with Bruce Willis in First Kill, in Dog Eat Dog with Nicolas Cage, in A Better Life with Demian Bichir, in the TV Series Training Day with the late Bill Paxton and The Shield with Michael Chiklis. She came from Mexico, after a successful career in film, theater, TV news hosting, and opera performances. Under her new Kepler 22 Group banner she also teaches her Six Step Formula to Becoming a Working Actor, a six weeks online course, and is currently working on assignments on both sides of the camera. 

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Director Statement

STREET LIVING Directors Statement V1

I see this project as a way to educate the audience about the wide range of causes for homelessness and the possible solutions. It is important to bring awareness to the great necessity of mental health institutions, health providers, organizations, foundations, etc. I hope whoever gets to watch this piece of work gain compassion and join us in supporting the people that need us the most.

Living in downtown LA is so special, not only for its architecture, history, fine arts, live entertainment, and vibrancy, but because often we get to witness filmmaking to its finest. It is sad to see the large mentally ill population getting confused with characters from the American TV Series "The Walking Dead". I could not say no when our writer / neighbor Justin Orkin came to me about Street Living. There is so much work to do in regards to the homeless situation, not only in the USA, but around the world. And we need to get as many people involved as possible to create solutions. Eradicating poverty and hunger is a responsibility for all of us on this planet. I hope to at least humbly start contributing with my work as filmmaker.

Street Living is a proof of concept for a TV series. Voyeurism is one of the elements that keep the film industry alive. Filmmaking has tremendous power to stimulate the audience's minds, educate and elevate consciousness infinitely. People learn faster through fun entertainment. It is a huge responsibility and I am not taking it lightly. I am a person who now believes in structure and tradition, but I am an open minded individual since I was forced to stop being a child since pre-teenage years. I could've been dead several times, but survived and have had to rise from ashes several times, not without the help of amazing people. It is crucial that my work as a filmmaker puts in the spotlight the good people of the world, those dedicating their lives to empower humanity.

I understand that different people need different levels of structure. One of my favorite quotes, attributed to Albert Einstein, is that we "...cannot measure the intelligence of a fish for its ability to climb a tree..." I also understand that we all play different roles and that it is important to help one another achieve our greatest potential. One of the Life's greatest joys is being of service to others, which results in keeping our species going

To those supporting us and those that understand that Street Living's mission is bigger than ourselves, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

Magi Avila
Street Living
Director / Producer