Sex, Trafficking, and Luchadores

Cinesol 4th Annual 36 Hour Film Race Winner: Best Film, Bravo Award (Audience Favorite), Best Writing, Best Ensemble and Best Credits Sequence.

“Sex, Trafficking and Luchadores” is a fun action-adventure short film about a Mexican A-Team hired to rescue a mans kidnapped daughter from a dangerous cartel.

Made as part of the Cinesol 4th Annual 36 Hour Film Race. With every Cinesol film race comes “elements” which must be included in any production to ensure legal participation. This years requirements were: genre (action-adventure), character (mariachi), location (bakery), prop (cape) and dialogue (this is going on my blog).

Director: Jose Lomas
Producers: Aisa Showery, Gerardo Salinas
Writter: Bertha Gonzalez
Executive Producers: Erick Treviño, Edward Cordero
Director of Photography: Jason R. Johnston
Editor: Gibby Ramirez
Music: Jay Juarez, Rommel Garza, Erick Treviño
1st AC: Rob Liendo
Assistant Editor: George Garcia
Grips: Sergio Tovar, Ivan Buenrostro, Mark Rodriguez and Pepe Revilla

Cast: Pedro Garcia, Ivan Buenrostro, George Magee, Gerardo Salinas, Sergio Tovar, Jorge Damm, Erick Treviño, Alyssa Salas and Hernan Cortez.

Behind The Scenes

Due to a miss-communication, Orange Media was late to the registration period for the Cinesol 4th Annual 36 Hour Film Race this weekend and opted not to participate. Erick Treviño, president of Orange Media, and the voluntary members of the defunct team voted to continue participation by assisting another team. All of the ex-Orange team members were excited to help Captive Films (Jose Lomas, Aisa Showery and Gerardo Salinas) with the production of their motion picture “Sex, Trafficking and Luchadores”, a fun action-adventure short film about a Mexican A-Team hired to rescue a man’s kidnapped daughter from a dangerous cartel.
With every Cinesol film race comes script variables which must be included in any production to ensure legal participation. This year’s requirements were: genre (action-adventure), character (mariachi), location (bakery), prop (cape) and dialogue (“this is going on my blog”).

Principal photography began after 4am Saturday and wrapped after 5pm. Second unit photography happened after 6pm and wrapped before 8pm. Foley was captured around 2am Sunday morning as the final edit sweetening and music production and recording was happening. I came on board the show as cinematographer (credited as director of photography) with 1st AC Rob Liendo who rocked the joint consistently well throughout principal photography. Rob’s professionalism and awesomeness kept the shooting efficient and we got the show done on time and on budget. I’ve had camera assistants and grips and volunteers who were happy to help, but I’ve never had a “1st AC” before and Rob was a pro and kicked ass so a big thanks to him for coming down from Pennsylvania to volunteer his time.

Also a big thanks to Sergio Tovar, Ivan Buenrostro, Mark Rodriguez and Pepe Revilla who are always happy to help camera and electrical but were also able to break out and have roles in the cast this year, while still managing to find time to help Rob roll cables, set up lights and dolly. I’m thankful for all these guys volunteering their time to play these dual roles as efficiently and gracefully as they always do.

“Sex, Trafficking and Luchadores” is directed by Jose Lomas and written by Bertha Gonzalez. Produced by Aisa Showery and Gerardo Salinas. Executive Producers are Erick Treviño and Edward Cordero. Gibby Ramirez is the editor with assistant George Garcia. The killer original music score was written and performed by Jay Juarez, Rommel Garza and Erick Treviño who let me peter around with the MIDI accordion. “Sex, Trafficking and Luchadores” stars Pedro Garcia, Ivan Buenrostro, George Magee, Gerardo Salinas, Sergio Tovar, Jorge Damm, Erick Treviño, Alyssa Salas and Hernan Cortez.

“Sex, Trafficking and Luchadores” is intended to premier at the 4th Annual 36 Hour Film Race results program during the Cinesol Film Festival September 13, 2009 at the TSTC Student Theater in Harlingen, TX. “Sex, Trafficking and Luchadores” would probably be rated R for language and violence.

September 14, 2009 – “Luchadores” Sweeps Cinesol

Captive Films swept the Cinesol 4th Annual 36 Hour Film Race event with Sex, Trafficking and Luchadores which won a total of five awards including Best Writing, Best Ensemble, Best Credits Sequence, Audience Favorite and Best Film.

The members of Orange Media, which was unable to participate this year, are thrilled to have joined forces with Captive Films to take home such a prestigious set of awards. And also congratulations to all the teams who competed and we’ll see you at the starting line next year!

Pictured (left to right): Rommel Garza, Sergio Tovar, Jay Juarez, Jose Lomas, Hernan Cortez, Jason R. Johnston, Ivan Buenrostro, Bertha Gonzalez, Gabriel Ramirez, Erick Treviño, Alyssa Salas, Gerardo Salinas, Mark Rodriguez and Edward Cordero.

By Jason R. Johnston

Jason is an award-winning cinematographer, and director of commercials, branding films, native content, music videos, documentaries, and narrative films. As a full-time freelancer, he can be hired to DP or direct almost any project you have in mind. He is based in Sparta, Tennessee, and ready to travel for any gig.