For filmmaker Mauricio Ventura, life + art converge
By hola | Published | 2 Comments
Washington native and burgeoning documentarian Mauricio Ventura often finds inspiration in his own experiences growing up in Columbia Heights.
“A lot of my films make reference to my personal life,” says the 21 year old college senior who premiered his first film, “Roll with the Punches,” at the Hair in the Gate‘s New Latino Shorts screening last week.
It’s the story of a young man, Jose Abarca, who is struggling to find himself through Christ. Raised by his single mother, Abarca did not have a male figure to guide him, so he sought the streets and gangs. He later realized that the “street life” would not give him many options to excel in life, which led him to a boxing gym.
“He [Abarca] is a struggling advocate for Christ…” Ventura says. “He knows he isn’t perfect… He continues to struggle, but no matter what, he continues.”
Ventura, a senior at Columbia College in Chicago, is interning this summer at Day One Productions and working on his new documentary, “To Dream.” It focuses on another single mother, Vilma Granados, who has been doing janitorial work for more than two decades. Four years ago, Vilma began studying for her GED. After she finally accomplished her goal, she plans on enrolling into college.
The film seeks to highlight how a person of any age can change her life. Many say, “I’m too old” or “leave it to the next generation” when Ventura thinks they should be saying, “I can still make a change!”
And he has something of an intimate line on this argument: The hardworking woman in the film happens to be Ventura’s own mom. The director displayed a similar work ethic and determination.
The “Hair in the Gate” is a film series that takes place at Marvin DC on 14th St every third Thursday of the month. It gives both upcoming and professional directors a venue to test out their films and works-in-progress in front of an audience more interested in the message than the production values.
“We are doing Indy films. It doesn’t have to be perfect; it just has to be real,” says Montrè Missouri, Parallel Film Collective founder, who launched the monthly screening six months ago as a Howard film group that has since become a spotlight for directors to connect with an audience, receive recognition, and collaborate with other filmmakers.
Last week’s screening also featured “Pablo on Wheels” by Bret Sorem and a trailer for the film, “Rebellion,” by Damien Coor. Both have a sense of Latin authenticity. Sorem’s film took the audience inside the life of two teenage boys growing up in New York City. The trailer for Rebellion unfolds in the city of Cartagena, Colombia, and plays witness to its culture as well as its conflicts.
Hair in the Gate will continue its film advocacy on Thursday, July 18th at the Marvin DC Bar and Bistro.
– Edwin Martinez
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