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We've talked about this before, but do bring us up to speed: Your
new movie
Live and Die in East LA - in a few words, what's it about?
At its core, Live and
Die in East LA is a raw, street-level exploration of the
butterfly effect of choice in environments shaped by violence, poverty,
and survival. One fan described it pretty interestingly -- "Butterfly
Effect Chicano version." What were your sources of inspiration when writing
Live and Die in East LA, and is any of the film based on personal experiences?
The inspiration came
from the streets themselves, from real people I met in Watts, South
Central, and East LA. I spent time listening to former gang members
and families caught in the crossfire. Their truths became the
foundation of the film. While I didn’t grow up in LA, I come from
war-torn Yugoslavia, where violence and survival were part of daily
life. So I could relate to their pain and dignity.
To put the last question somewhat on its head, to what extent
could you actually identify with your lead characters and the dilemma
they're in? The lead is played
by me, and the story is deeply personal. As someone who grew up in a
war zone, I formed a powerful bond with a real family living in a
gang-heavy area of Los Angeles. We spent over three years together,
and the connection we built went far beyond what I ever imagined. It
proved to me that human connection is not necessarily biological but
much more spiritual and life experience based.
You're currently running an initiative
for Live and
Die in East LA to be used nationally in gang prevention programs - so
what inspired that move, and to what extent are you/have you been personally afflicted
by gang violence? After recent screenings, families and GRYD (Gang
Reduction and Youth Development) coordinators reached out saying the
film opened conversations they’d never had before. When young people
see themselves on screen, not as caricatures but as real people with
choices, something clicks. They highlighted the film's unique
narrative structure, exploring the butterfly effect of choice by
showing one path, then rewinding to show another, as a key reason it
resonates so deeply.
To what extent did your stance on
gang activity actually inform your writing of Live and
Die in East LA?
I didn’t set out to write a film “about gangs”. I wanted to tell a
human story about environment, consequence, and the desperation that
leads people into certain lives. My stance is clear: People aren’t
born criminals. They’re cornered. Live and
Die in East LA isn’t about condemnation, it’s
about understanding the conditions and finding the spark that leads to change.
Any future projects you'd like
to share? Yes. I'm wrapping up Sua/Nara,
a supernatural action drama set in South Korea about a ballerina who
becomes a demon hunter to avenge her husband. We’re finalizing post
and adding a couple of new scenes. I was told Sua/Nara
is the first film that features a badass fight sequence on a
descending car elevator, shot without VFX.
The rough cut of the film already test-screened in NY
and LA, and got a pretty strong response. With the additions we are
currently doing, I think it will be a very strong genre film. Think of
Upgrade + John Wick +
Black Swan.
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Your/your movie's website, social media, whatever else?
Live and
Die in East LA: LDELA2023 on Instagram (please rate it
on IMDb). Sua/Nara: SUANARA_OFFICIAL on Instagram.
Anything else you're dying to mention and I've merely forgotten
to ask?
It’s always great to connect, and in this case,
reconnect, with fellow filmmakers and film enthusiasts. So it's good
to hear from you, Michael. And I hope you make another zombie flick!
Thanks for the interview!
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