There are some powerful moments in this piece, particularly as one ex-gang member after another talks about the pull of being a criminal--the draw of gang camaraderie, getting attention from other gang members, girls and even the cops. One guy talks about his teenaged dream of becoming the big guy in prison. Robin Urevich tells the story of ex-gang member Manny Jimenez and how he was inspired by a TV talk show interview with Quentin Tarantino to go into Hollywood: how he started to audition for and get parts as an extra and then how he started a talent agency providing "authentic" gang members to commercials and as extras in TV and movies (he is the go-to guy for "all things gangster"). Now he's writing a screenplay to feature his actors in starring roles. I found a bit of a lack of soul in the straight-forward reporting style of the piece. There were moments when I wished for more depth from the interviews--letting them breathe more, and exploring more of Manny's and his actors' personalities. I felt like this was more a piece about the talent agency than about Manny Jimenez. That said, the piece implicitly brings up the interesting idea of "authenticity" in Hollywood, as real gang members become actors to act out fictional representations of themselves. And it seems like the start-up talent agency begins to mirror the camaraderie Manny and his friends had in gangs. The piece is an interesting look behind the scenes of a world that many of us have only really seen in the movies.
Review of Homeboys to Hollywood
Sarah Elzas
Posted on December 09, 2005 at 09:38 AM
There are some powerful moments in this piece, particularly as one ex-gang member after another talks about the pull of being a criminal--the draw of gang camaraderie, getting attention from other gang members, girls and even the cops. One guy talks about his teenaged dream of becoming the big guy in prison. Robin Urevich tells the story of ex-gang member Manny Jimenez and how he was inspired by a TV talk show interview with Quentin Tarantino to go into Hollywood: how he started to audition for and get parts as an extra and then how he started a talent agency providing "authentic" gang members to commercials and as extras in TV and movies (he is the go-to guy for "all things gangster"). Now he's writing a screenplay to feature his actors in starring roles. I found a bit of a lack of soul in the straight-forward reporting style of the piece. There were moments when I wished for more depth from the interviews--letting them breathe more, and exploring more of Manny's and his actors' personalities. I felt like this was more a piece about the talent agency than about Manny Jimenez. That said, the piece implicitly brings up the interesting idea of "authenticity" in Hollywood, as real gang members become actors to act out fictional representations of themselves. And it seems like the start-up talent agency begins to mirror the camaraderie Manny and his friends had in gangs. The piece is an interesting look behind the scenes of a world that many of us have only really seen in the movies.