Fundraiser for Hugo Soto-Martinez

I put together a short film screening fundraiser where I invited my friends to come and watch some good films for a good cause.

With the approach of a contentious LA city council election in my neighborhood district, I wanted to do something to help progressive candidate Hugo Soto-Martinez defeat the incumbent M*tch O’F*rr*el.

I put together this screening / fundraiser and recruited my filmmaker friends to show their stuff. All ticket proceeds went towards Hugo’s campaign and in the end we raised over $700!

And to top it all off, he won his primary! Hugo won the most votes, even beating out the incumbent, and is advancing to the final election in November for the final show down.

Hugo n me.

I called this show There’s Got To Be A Better Way because when I look around at the city and all it’s lack of progress, that sentiment rings in my head. The answer to this hypothetical question is: There is. And it looks like this, community coming together and supporting candidates who want to make a change and push for a better imagination for how this city works and who it works for.

Combining art and politics is a passion of mine and stuff like this can absolutely make a difference, especially locally. Nithya Raman was elected based on community power, and she's already pushing to make LA more progressive and better for everyone. With Hugo, he's a part of that movement to change who the city council works for. There is a better way.

Alternative poster designs.

I asked my very talented artist friend Mary Delioussina to create the poster for this event. She has an incredible avant-garde eye catching style and a love of drawing weird little characters, so I knew she could create something that would stand out.

The line up consisted of some of my good friends and favorite filmmakers. Was not a show to miss.

I Love To Wait - Harrison Atkins

New Hire - me

BUG - Budd Anthony Diaz

Party - Monica Loomba

The Ember Knight Show - Bobby McCoy

Houses - Ariel Gardner

Birthday Boy - Jordan Michael Blake

Door On The Left - Kati Skelton

Hoping to do more of these fundraisers / showcases in the future, so stay tuned!