E-mail a friendMay 12, 2009
In a conversation about the feature documentary, Crips and Bloods, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa comments on accountability for investing more in young people and education. NBA All Star Baron Davis explains why he wanted to tell the film's story, and filmmaker Stacy Peralta describes his attempt to tell the story by featuring gang members who speak for themselves.
Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa
Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa
Los Angeles mayor talks about growing up in a troubled neighborhood with domestic violence and alcoholism. (2:57)
Full interview. (22:08)
Antonio Villaraigosa went from an unstable childhood to becoming the first Latino mayor of his native Los Angeles in over a century. A former labor organizer, he's defied stereotypes and won praise for building bipartisan coalitions. He previously served on the L.A. city council and as speaker of the state assembly and was a distinguished fellow at UCLA and USC, where he helped write a policy blueprint for addressing the issues facing many urban centers. He's a founding member of the Cesar E. Chavez Foundation.
Baron Davis
Baron Davis
NBA star reflects on the South L.A. environment where he was raised. (2:04)
Full interview. (22:08)
Baron Davis is creative both on and off the court. The two-time NBA All-Star, currently with the L.A. Clippers, formed Verso Entertainment and, in collaboration with director Stacy Peralta, produced his first feature documentary, Crips and Bloods. Davis developed a love for film and filmmaking while in high school in Santa Monica (CA). He earned his SAG card by appearing in movies and guest-starring on ABC Family's Lincoln Heights. He's also active in several programs for underprivileged kids, including LA's Best.
Stacy Peralta
Stacy Peralta
Award-winning director explains why the situation in South L.A. has been overlooked. (1:44)
Full interview. (22:08)
Stacy Peralta is a skateboarding icon, as well as an award-winning director, writer and producer of video, TV and feature documentaries. Credited with inventing the action sports video, he's written screenplays and had screenplays written about him. At age 19, Peralta was the highest-ranked pro skateboarder and, soon after, formed the Powell-Peralta skate gear company, before turning to filmmaking. His new documentary, Crips and Bloods: Made in America, focuses on gang violence in his native Los Angeles.