Live and Die in East LA (2023) Movie Script
1
Once upon a time, there
was a small caterpillar.
But she was born
with a big scar.
Her wish was to turn into
the most amazing butterfly.
And unless she went
deep into the forest
and found the flower
of dreams, she
would never become
what she envisioned.
The path ahead was treacherous,
full of cunning and poisonous
animals.
She inched along unnoticed,
despite a snake lurking
in the woods.
But her dreams were
stronger than her fears,
so she continued on
deeper into the forest.
Little does she know, that
even the smallest decisions
can lead to the
largest consequences,
such as this story.
All right.
Looking good.
Looking good.
Leaning back.
Arch your back.
Looking good.
Beautiful.
Walking this way,
looking beautiful.
Walking towards me.
Very sexy.
Beautiful.
Arch your back, please.
OK great.
Turn around.
I'm going to have
you start walking
towards that door over there.
In the home of the
gangs with cop killings, always
knew life was a bitch.
So I never got feelings.
It's game four at the staples,
man, you ain't got no wins.
You in the City of Angels,
but you ain't got no wings.
I'm going--
Well, the house is in Watts,
but they operate out of East LA.
Well, he's picking
up his kid at 3:00.
But he's never bad
before 4:00 or 4:30.
It's going to be smooth.
I promise.
Trust me on this.
No, I don't.
Carlos is a thing of the past.
Tony, I want to be a part
of your organization.
I'll do whatever it takes.
I don't care.
Tony's not like a fucking
lowlife, you know what I mean?
He's a businessman.
Is he fucking with us, or what?
We're good, right?
Yeah?
Relax, homie.
We're doing the quinta.
If it's all there, you leave.
Economics, make good
impact and good money,
and I can help my neighbor.
My grandfather told me it was
hard for me to be an astronaut
because my family is poor.
But I know living in the
United States of America,
a dream like this can come true.
Where'd you go count?
The liquor store
down the street?
You want me to fuck
this hole up right now?
- There's two grand short.
- Two grand?
Wait, wait, wait.
Hold on.
What do you mean
two grand short?
That's bullshit.
Fucker.
What the fuck!
Hey, you probably
fucking took some.
That's bullshit.
It was all there.
Angel, I'm going to
go show this to dad.
Shut the fuck up.
Shut the fuck up.
Let me shoot this piece of shit.
What would you guys do if
you were in my position?
Don't do this, please.
You're wasting my
motherfucking time.
What's up hijo.
Dad, I want you
to read my paper.
Please, dad.
My kids are in the room.
So today's your lucky
motherfucking day.
Get your fucking
ass out of my house.
Get the fuck out of my house.
I'll get your ass next
time, motherfucker.
I'll get your ass next.
Now get the fuck out of here.
Good luck on your presentation.
Daniel!
Look at this.
Your expression here.
And my sister saw it.
She thought it's real.
What do you think about
the image quality though?
Doesn't that look a
little cheap to you?
Well, it does.
But if that little thing
throws the audiences off,
then we're never going to
be professional filmmakers,
you know.
Your patient needs to see you.
I'll be there in a minute.
OK?
All right, Mr. Morris.
Then we'll see you on Monday.
All right.
Have a nice day.
Hey, Jenny.
Hi.
Can you give me
Casey's files, please?
Sure.
Busy day today?
No, not really.
There you go.
Perfect.
Do you have a pen?
Yes.
Here you go.
Beautiful.
Thank you.
Doing anything for vacation?
My sister's coming--
Code blue!
Status?
14 year-old kid, car
accident, unresponsive.
Take him to trauma
room three All right.
Let's go, guys.
Go right to here.
Come.
Excuse me, sir.
Are you his father?
Yes.
Do you know if he has
any kind of allergies?
Dust mites and pollen.
How about penicillin?
No.
Is there any medical conditions
I should be aware of?
No.
Blood pressure 150 over 110.
Let's give him ml's
of nitroglycerin.
And guys, let's prepare
him for CT scan, OK?
Quickly.
What's your name, sir?
Carlos.
Carlos, we're going to get
your son upstairs right now.
And we're going to do Cscan and ultrasound, which
means we're going to be
looking for internal bleedings
and for damaged organs.
Slight increase in BP.
But for us to operate
to maximum capacity,
I would ask you to
wait in the lobby.
Take care of my son.
We'll do our best, sir.
Dr. Rivero, Dr. Rivero, please.
Oh, Atilla, you
forgot your phone.
Thanks, Jenny.
Thank you.
Mm-hmm.
Excuse me, sir.
Can you come with me
for a second please?
He's in that room over there.
He's going to be OK.
So luckily, there is
no internal bleedings.
All of his organs are fine.
And he has some minor fractures.
But luckily, all
of his fractures
are stable, which means
your son will fully recover.
Dang.
Thanks, dog.
So that's a great
news, absolutely.
What's your name?
- Atilla.
- Atilla.
- Nice to meet you, Carlos.
- Thank you.
You're welcome.
I owe you one.
- Thank you.
- Thank you.
Anything you need.
I'm sorry.
Oh, just a second, guys.
My sister's been
calling me all day.
Hello,?
Talk on English.
- I don't want him
to understand.
- OK.
Atilla, dad won't let me go.
He said-- he said, there is no
way he's going to let me go.
- He--
- Slow down for a second.
You have to tell me
exactly what happened.
She went farther
along into the forest
and found herself
at a crossroads.
There was a branch in her path.
Should she move the
branch or should she not?
She decided she would
move the branch.
For reasons beyond understanding
and out of anyone's control,
her seemingly insignificant
decision to move that branch
started a series of
intersecting events.
In her dying moments,
she couldn't help
but wonder what her life would
have been like had she not
moved that branch.
What would life have been
like if they had never met?
What would life have been
like if he never got hit?
Good luck on your presentation.
All right, Andrew.
I'll see you later on today.
Hey, Jay.
Hi.
Can you give me
Casey's files please?
Sure.
Busy day today?
No, not really.
There you go.
Perfect.
Do you have a pen?
Yes.
Here you go.
Beautiful.
Thank you.
Doing anything for vacation?
My sister's coming.
Oh, that's nice.
Yeah.
I'm pretty excited about that.
It should be fun.
Hey, give
me just a second, Jimmy.
My sister's calling me.
Talk on English.
I don't want him to understand.
What happened?
He said-- he said, there's no
way he's going to let me go.
Aida, calm down.
He doesn't want me to go.
He said, he already
canceled my flight.
You have to tell me
exactly what happened.
Chuck Taylor's hanging
on the telephone line.
Ah, the city hear the noise
, graffiti on the walls.
The Virgin Mary pleading,
Jesus bleeding on the cross.
Sticks and stones
will break your bones.
But these clips are strong,
and then you split your tone.
That motherfucker's
got my money.
Fuck!
I got to use the restroom.
Hey!
Hey!
Aah!
Astronauts make good--
astronauts make good impact
and make good money.
And I can help my neighbor--
my neighbors-- my neighborhood.
My grandfather told me it was
hard for me to be an astronaut
because my family is poor.
But I know living in the
United States of America,
dreams like this can come true.
Great job, Daniel.
Good job.
Good job.
All right, precious,
you're up next.
You a junior?
Very good presentation today.
Thank you, Mr. Ishaan.
So you want to be an astronaut?
Yeah.
I heard that you're
good at math,
which makes you a step closer.
Look at that
caterpillar over there.
Wow.
Isn't it special?
You want to touch it?
No, it's nasty.
You might be right.
But you know what?
This same exact
caterpillar will eventually
turn into an amazing butterfly.
You know, Daniel, you
could achieve great things
in this country.
It all starts with this.
And why didn't you
accept the offer?
Mom and dad were so hopeful.
They thought finally you were
going to have a real job.
Why do you want me to
commit to something
that I don't want to do?
And what exactly
do you want to do?
I told you.
I'm working on a film
project with Atilla.
I just don't want you
to do anything stupid
and end up like the last time.
I was expecting more
support from my brother.
I need to talk to Tony, man.
I'm his homie.
I just need to--
OK, look at me.
Tony.
Tony.
Tony.
Stop the car.
Stop the car.
Hey.
You promised.
You promised.
I did everything you wanted.
I did everything I was asked.
No, no!
Where's my backpack at?
Hey, guys.
Hey, Anita.
What time is it?
Where have you been?
Anita?
It's almost midnight.
Where have you been?
Atilla, come here for a second.
I'll be right back
Where have you been?
I told you I'm going to
get some food quickly.
It's 30 for $100 in cash.
How did you give this?
You see this?
This is the most
popular game in America.
How did you get this?
It's a jailbreak copy from home.
It sells for like 70 bucks here.
I sell it for 20.
I already have another
250 orders for next week.
I can't believe
what you're doing.
By the time I go
home, I have enough
to buy a brand new
car, just like yours.
What the fuck are
you doing, Anita?
This is not acceptable.
What are you talking about?
What the fuck are you
doing with-- this is trash.
You know how many people
do illegal things here?
Yeah, but you're
making money out of it.
It's a different ballgame.
No, it's not.
Finally I have
something good going on.
Why do you want to
ruin this for me.
Because people take things
like this seriously here.
Well, you know what I think?
I think you're just
trying to scare me
because you're jealous.
This is my chance
to prove myself now.
I mean, you say, successful
people break the rules.
They break the rules,
but not the law.
And you are breaking the law.
You want to buy a new car?
Good.
But go and work for it.
My God, this is bullshit.
Bullshit.
Hey, Anita, come back here.
Anita, wait.
See, like you, I'm the
second child in my family.
And I have a strong
desire to prove myself.
My parents want me to
be like my brother.
They want me to follow
in his footsteps.
But me, see, I've
always kind of known
that there's something more
out there, something different.
My parents, they
think it's impossible.
My brother thinks
it's impossible.
But Atilla believes.
He believes in himself.
And he also believes in me.
And that's powerful.
You know, that makes
me feel closer to him
than to my own brother.
So trust me when I
say this, he just
wants you to be successful.
But he wants you to earn
it the right way, not
mess around with
this stupid shit.
Here.
Put this jacket on.
Aah!
Get out!
Now!
Oh!
It feels good, huh?
The funny one.
Hello,.
Who?
Who is this?
Excuse me.
What happened, man?
Anita is in jail.
You think stealing
is not serious?
I'm sorry.
So sorry means nothing now.
You already done it.
Since this was
committed in the US,
she will be subject to all
the US laws and regulations
that apply to a US citizen.
So that means five
years in federal prison
or paying the $250,000 fine.
It's not like she did
something terrible.
She didn't kill anybody.
Are they really going
to take it this far?
Usually they wouldn't.
But it seems they want to make
an example out of Anita's case.
You sure about this?
I'm positive.
If you connect me
with Tony, I can
get money for Attila's sister.
You are living in a
dream world, my friend.
You are thinking like a
10-year-old kid, like a child.
And it's not going to
happen for you like that.
Chuck Taylor's hanging
on the telephone line.
Ah.
Yo, hold up.
Call me as soon as
you get this message.
That'll be like the
third message I left you.
I've been calling
you all day, dawg.
The fuck you at.
Get out here as soon as
you get this message, dawg.
Straight up.
I ain't gonna call
you again, dawg.
Get out at me asap.
I ask myself, will
I survive or will I die?
Yo, kid.
You looking for that ball?
Yeah.
I just threw it up to your boy.
All right.
Thanks.
All right, bro.
Hey yo, Dan.
Yeah.
Call your pops.
All right.
You have a spirit, kid.
And I like that.
But you know,
there's no such thing
in life as something
for nothing.
You know, well,
your actions have
to reflect something tangible.
You know, otherwise
it's just a fairy tale.
You know, I mean, I'm
going to work with--
could you hold on a second?
Hey, what's going on?
What's up, mijo?
Yeah?
I'll be right back.
No way.
You're doing a good job.
The bigger banks, break
this up and then put
this in the shoe box.
You have the other banks?
What the fuck?
Ortega?
Hey, fool.
Where the fuck you at?
Hey, Carlos!
Carlos!
Hey, fool!
Listen to this shit?
It's Ortega, fool.
Sorry about the inconvenience.
Ask him where he's at, dude.
What the fuck happening?
What the fuck?
Ortega?
So, you were saying.
Whatever it takes.
Tony, I don't care.
Whatever it takes.
Then I shall meet you my friend.
How far are you willing to
go to bail your sister out?
Once again, the caterpillar
faces the decision
to move or not to
move the branch.
This time, she chooses
to go the long way.
Seeing the branch unmoved, the
kitten falls back into sleep.
Along slithers the hungry snake.
But the mother's fangs and sharp
claws keep the kitten safe.
Noticing the caterpillar,
from a learning of her dream,
the snake promises a shortcut
if she willingly cooperates.
At first, the
caterpillar worries.
Then her ambition gives
way to justify the deed
and lure the kitten away.
The blood on her hands bothers
her not, a worthy sacrifice,
she thinks.
Off she goes to spin herself
into her glorious dream.
At long last, she found what
she had been looking for,
the flower of dreams.
But the path she embarked
on to get there was not pure
and it led to her
worst nightmare.
She became an ugly moth.
This song is dedicated
to my homey and that gangsta
lean.
Why'd you have to go so soon?
Seems like yesterday we
were hanging round the hood.
Now I'm gonna to keep
your memory alive
like a homey should.
Rest in peace, G. Can't
believe he's gone, G.
Some bullshit.
Why is it always
blood in our house?
I don't know.
But I can tell you this.
We're going to fix it.
Because my teacher said,
anything I want to do,
I can do it.
But maybe he's lying.
He's not.
You see that up there, Angel?
I want to go up there.
I want to go too.
You will.
Hey.
The boss back yet?
Yeah, but he's in a meeting.
Don't bother him.
It's feeding time.
You're very ambitious.
And I like that.
But too much ambition
clouds the mind.
When life is thrown
into chaos, the brain--
it tends to focus
so much on finding
a solution that it
fails to consider
the potential consequences.
And Lord knows there
are always consequences.
Once the rat is free
and his heart is gone,
would he still
remember the deal?
Look, we understand the risk.
And we will execute.
Show me.
Sado!
What?
Come on.
On three, ready?
Three, two--
Cut the bullshit, man.
One.
Don't fucking
underestimate us, Tony.
We are here to do business,
do you understand?
You guys are too tight, man.
You need to relax.
Daniel, Angel,
you're up for tacos?
Hell, yeah.
Come on, Angel.
Let's go.
No, I want to stay.
You shouldn't have--
OK.
If we go through this, we'll
be there in five minutes.
Uh-huh.
Otherwise, it's going to
take us an extra 15 minutes.
Your call.
Let's just get this over with.
Ain't got no wings.
You in the City of Angels
and you ain't got no wings.
I'm going in slow.
I close my eyes and
pray for my sins.
But I ain't scared of the
devil, because I'm a--
Do you want to eat here,
or do you want to go home?
I ask myself, will
I survive or will I die?
For here.
Location, I think we are here.
I'm going to go in.
I'll leave the gun.
I don't think we need this.
Take this.
Hey, 10 minutes
and I'm coming in.
OK.
Sounds good.
I'll see you soon.
Good luck.
Thanks, man.
Hello?
Hello?
Come on!
Atilla!
Atilla!
Open the door!
Now, motherfucker.
Mijo!
He's shot.
He's shot.
Meet me at the car.
Go! Go!
At the car. At the car!
Mijo!
Daddy.
Just lay down.
Just lay down.
Daddy.
You're going to be OK.
Lay there.
You're all right.
Daddy.
Buckle up and
don't dirty my car.
We brought this for Tony.
Come on.
Wake up.
Jefe, I'm tracking them down.
Get everyone home.
Come get them.
My baby.
Oh my God.
Wake up.
Dad, I'm going with
you, all right?
Smell that.
Smell our blood.
Hey.
You feel like a man now.
Gentlemen, you survived.
Come on, guys,
show some appreciation.
Holy shit.
You did it.
Whoa.
Woo!
This is for you, Tony.
Aw, you shouldn't have.
Holy shit.
Shit.
You did a
phenomenal job, man.
How the fuck did
you pull this off?
Now it's your turn, Tony.
My turn?
Whoa, gentlemen,
what's the rush?
I thought maybe we'd
celebrate first.
Celebrate what, Tony?
New members of our family.
What do you mean?
Don't fuck with us.
Do you know what we
had to go through?
Are you in any position
to negotiate, boy?
You got an emotional one here.
Hey, I'm sorry, Tony.
Yeah.
But we honored our part.
And we delivered what
you asked us for.
You did.
I know.
I understand.
I mean, I've been
where you've been.
I know what it's like to be
a victim of your own success.
It sucks, right?
Doesn't it?
Ah!
And it hurts, a lot!
You're going to bleed
out in about 20 minutes.
There's a hospital
just around the corner.
So I ask you one more time.
Can I count on
you in the future?
OK.
Got it.
Hey.
Take this.
All in one shot.
Here's the address
to that doctor.
He's the only one you can see.
You got it?
Oh.
I gotcha, man.
Dad.
What's up motherfucker.
Huh?
You fucking remember me?
Yeah.
This the motherfucker
that killed your brother.
But I know living in the United
States of America, dreams
like this kind of come true.
Great job, Daniel.
Great job.
Ah!
Your call.
Oh!
Your call.
Let's just turn around.
Let's go.
I'm still beating you.
I'm going to get you, bro.
I'm going to get you.
No!
No.
You killed me.
Hey.
Yeah.
10 minutes and I'm coming in.
Excuse me?
Excuse me, sir.
Fuck you want, man?
It's a delivery for Carlos.
It's good, my name is Attila.
Fuck you, man.
I will kill you.
No, you're not.
I am. Right there.
Kids, get under the bed.
Make sure he doesn't come out.
Get under the bed.
Turn around.
Excuse me?
I said, turn around.
I'm really only here
to do a delivery for--
Give a fuck why
you're here, man.
Get upstairs.
Let's go, man.
Think you're a fucking
classy white boy?
Get upstairs, man.
Get the fuck, upstairs.
Fuck off.
Yo, G. Got a delivery.
Let's go.
Hello, man.
Slow the fuck down.
Slow the fuck down.
All right.
Hey, we got a delivery, G.
Fuck down.
Delivery G.
Chill out, home.
Yo, G, we got a
delivery, G. Stop
fucking looking at me, home.
I'll tell you, man, I'm gonna
blow your motherfucking head
off you keep looking at me.
Stand still, motherfucker.
Before I blow your head off.
What do you got for me?
Fucking suitcase, G. I got--
What's in there?
It's worth 10 kilos of cocaine.
What the fuck you looking at me?
Stop looking at me.
This some type of game?
You're trying to be funny.
Take care of him.
Fuck off, I'll blow your
motherfucking head off.
Shut the fuck up home.
Atilla!
Atilla!
Atilla! Atilla!
- Atilla!
- Ishaan, they wanna
kill us man.
Get this homie.
OK.
Whatever.
I gotcha bitch.
Fuck.
God damn motherfucking bitch.
Hold on.
Oh.
Put the fucking knife down.
Breathe, don't fucking move.
Mr. Sean?
I'm his teacher.
What do I do G?
What do I do, G?
Nobody's going to--
Shut the fuck up.
Put the fucking knife down.
You don't want to do this.
Put the gun down.
Shut the fuck up.
- No.
- Put it down.
Hey, hey.
Nobody's going to get hurt.
Blow your fucking head off.
Shut the fuck up.
Nobody's going to get hurt.
Sir.
You don't want to do this.
Your son has a
very bright future.
I'm his teacher.
Dad, please.
Here's 10 kilos of cocaine.
That's what Tony wanted, right?
Yeah.
I'm going to give this
to you, and you're
going to deliver it to him.
Won't that look suspicious?
Not really.
You're doing what
he asked you to do.
And what if he asks how we
managed to pull this off?
You guys are wise guys.
Figure it out.
I'm giving you the tools
to get your sister back.
You want your
sister back, right?
And I want Tony.
Hey.
We brought this for Tony.
Here.
Take the case.
Aah!
Yo.
It's done.
Go back to Carlos's
house and wake them.
What about the money?
We got your money.
All right.
Beautiful.
Keep walking this way.
Great.
Looking sexy.
Right over here.
Let me have you go
over here by the door.
Turn around, look at me.
All right.
In the back.
d watch where you're going.
All right.
Looking good.
Beautiful, sexy.
Look at me.
Eyes right here.
Great.
One leg forward.
Looking great.
That's beautiful.
Beautiful.
The moon, the first
step to the stars.
But how to get there
when born with a scar?
A coincidence, or luck,
or perhaps destiny.
If kept pondering,
there goes opportunity
to bloom into the mighty
eye, a fierce rocket
ship aiming for the stars.
If allowed, the
fuel can burn low.
The journey is lengthy and far.
Call it a fairy tale or reality.
You decide.
Well, you get your case
and do some federal time.
Because the Chuck Taylor's
hanging on the telephone line.
The city at a loss,
graffiti on the walls.
The Virgin Mary pleading,
Jesus bleeding on the cross.
Sticks and stones
will break your bones,
but these clips are so long
and they an split your bones.
The home of the gangs
and cop killings.
Always knew life was a bitch,
so I never got feelings.
It's game four at the staples,
man, you ain't got no wings.
You in the City of Angels,
and you ain't got no wings.
I'm going in so I close my
eyes and pray for my sins.
But I ain't scared of the
devil, cause I'm a LA King.
I close my eyes and pull
my head up to the sky.
I ask myself will I
survive or will I die.
I close my eyes and pull
my head up to the sky.
I ask myself, will I
survive or will I die?
This pain though, still
fucked up in the game.
They stay broke, stay stable,
staying in the same hole.
This ain't no game.
But the snap what they'll
have, you think dough is big.
No.
Breaking your back to
make your bank bro.
Flame throw, two points
and one had the game go.
Laid low or tried to give up.
But the stage
won't hatin' on me.
When I only like to dank
smoke, say throw reps.
Give the people
what they came for.
Can't go now.
I just got started
on this game show.
Suckers trying to test me.
I'm ready for the wait though.
Wait low, lacing the cut.
I got the game sold.
Cocaine life, with the
money of a fake row.
Everything I touch
make the peso spill.
Shoot this motherfucker
up, Pecos Bill.
They say I'm ill, a foot away,
I can't go replacing skills.
Sip and drink, drip and
drain, nigga, take the wheel.
I close my eyes and pull
my head up to the sky.
I ask myself will I
survive or will I die?
I close my eyes and put
my head up to the sky.
I ask myself will I
survival or will I die?
Fresh out of the joints,
mine don't point like back
on the block, chasing the corn.
I grind all day, I
got a paper to make.
If the streets don't pay,
I'm supplying the weight.
JJ Jake's on the move.
If you snooze, you lose.
Some Top Gun, risky business.
Young Tom Cruise,
the color of money
is like the tang in my sweet.
Crushed ice, white cup,
Sprite cease the pain.
Too deep in the whip.
It's just me and my 40.
I'm married to the game.
So I just fuck down Shorty.
Game pimp tight.
This is all real life.
I guess.
I grew up in a war-torn country.
We are always playing
with little tanks,
like we were pretending
we are armies.
And then before you know it,
like you hear boom, boom, boom,
boom.
And you turn left and a whole
bunch of real tanks, 50 or 60
of them are actually on
the street next to you
and going into the war.
And then you hear
the sirens going on.
And you see your
parents are panicking.
Hey, come toward the house.
Come inside. Hurry. Hurry.
Hurry.
10 seconds later there's
like a big explosion
happens like two miles
from you, like boom.
You don't know what it is.
I remember, I found
salvation in watching movies.
I went to my parents
and I said, you know,
Dad, I want to be a filmmaker.
You know, Mom, I'm going to
do this and that action movie,
and thriller, and crime, and
comedies, and everything.
And they were just
like looking at me
and what's wrong with this kid?
You know, don't think
about filmmaking
because it's impossible.
People just don't have
ambition-- no ambition
during war.
Everybody just
wanted to survive.
For me to make
movies, I understood
that I have to find a
way to come to the United
States of America.
But how can I get to the States?
My family has no money.
We don't have any relatives
living in the States.
And during the war, the
people of my country
burned down the US embassy.
How to go to America?
It's impossible, you know?
One day I learned
that US universities
are offering full scholarship
for prospective student
athletes.
So I understood for me
to become a filmmaker,
I first had to
become an athlete.
The biggest race of my life.
And this is the chance for
me to run a fast time to get
the attention from America.
But two weeks before my race,
I completely tore my ligaments.
I remember the doctor
looking at my ankle.
And I was like, in two
weeks I have to run.
And he looks at me.
And he said, this guy is crazy.
You're not going to run.
He says, if you can
walk within two months,
you should consider
yourself lucky.
That night I go home.
I place my ankle in 90 degrees.
And I press my ankle
against the wall.
And I start talking to my ankle.
You know, I'm
talking to my ankle.
I want to become a
friend with my ankle.
You know, my life
depends on this.
I want to convince my
ankle that we can do it.
Two or three days later, I
go and I run for one hour.
After that I couldn't
walk the whole day.
I go back home and I
ice it, massage it.
14 days after my
injury, I ran a race.
I came first place.
I ran a personal record.
And thanks to that race,
I got the scholarship.
I came to America without
speaking any English
and without knowing anybody.
If I say that I need $10
million to make a movie,
that it's just an excuse.
I should be able to create
something just relying
on my creativity and willpower.
David.
How's it going, man.
- Looking good.
- Yeah.
Thanks. Thanks.
Well, you know, I was
looking for opportunities,
how to utilize the resources
that I have available.
And I was very lucky
when I met David.
Because not only does
he has everything,
but he's also a police officer.
LAPD.
Put your hands up
where we can see them.
Where's your permit.
That's what I like to ask.
Right.
you got a permit
to be out here--
Look at this face, man.
I can't do this.
This is amazing, man.
Thanks, David.
The actors in the
movie, they grew up
in very harsh circumstances.
I was like a soldier,
you know, in a war.
I dreamed about it, you know?
Getting shot, people
shoot out with people.
I became a gang member
like at 13 years old.
I got incarcerated
at 13 years old.
And it's not
because I wanted to.
I think it's because
I was kind of limited
of what I could really be.
All the effort, the
details, the raw emotions
we put into this film.
Like we shot in East LA.
I remembered it!
Remember this?
I remember this!
Yeah!
We spent lots of
times in a family
that lives in a neighborhood
where your only option
to be safe is to join the gang.
They shot in their house.
This is the Angel.
He's the big star
of the film, right?
Remember?
He like did amazing work.
Sara.
Hi.
She's the boss of the house.
She helped tremendously.
Jacob, he's a little bit shy.
But once he warms
up, he's amazing.
And Precious, beautiful.
She's in a classroom
scene, and she did so well.
They invited me to
film in their house.
They went above and beyond
to help me to make a movie.
There's like 20 people
living in one house.
They're like gunshots outside,
car chase, the helicopter,
the police chase.
But inside, it's so warm,
such a family atmosphere.
It really reminded
me of a bond that I
had with my neighbors
during the war.
I noticed how people
reacted to you, you know,
and they seem genuinely
pleased with your presence
and accepted you.
And I think it's
because of who you are.
Awesome.
Oh my God.
Thank you guys for
this opportunity.
See you guys.
- Bye.
- See ya.
Bye.
It was a pleasure.
Thank you.
See you soon, OK?
It was, bro.
Like you did it.
You get what I'm saying?
Like that's a huge
accomplishment, bro.
I'm an actor.
But striving to be a
filmmaker, I could do nothing
but think of you as an
inspiration, you know?
Because you did it, bro.
When I decided to
make this movie,
I wanted to create such a
visual experience that
can compete with studio
level movies.
And I wanna win!
Once upon a time, there
was a small caterpillar.
But she was born
with a big scar.
Her wish was to turn into
the most amazing butterfly.
And unless she went
deep into the forest
and found the flower
of dreams, she
would never become
what she envisioned.
The path ahead was treacherous,
full of cunning and poisonous
animals.
She inched along unnoticed,
despite a snake lurking
in the woods.
But her dreams were
stronger than her fears,
so she continued on
deeper into the forest.
Little does she know, that
even the smallest decisions
can lead to the
largest consequences,
such as this story.
All right.
Looking good.
Looking good.
Leaning back.
Arch your back.
Looking good.
Beautiful.
Walking this way,
looking beautiful.
Walking towards me.
Very sexy.
Beautiful.
Arch your back, please.
OK great.
Turn around.
I'm going to have
you start walking
towards that door over there.
In the home of the
gangs with cop killings, always
knew life was a bitch.
So I never got feelings.
It's game four at the staples,
man, you ain't got no wins.
You in the City of Angels,
but you ain't got no wings.
I'm going--
Well, the house is in Watts,
but they operate out of East LA.
Well, he's picking
up his kid at 3:00.
But he's never bad
before 4:00 or 4:30.
It's going to be smooth.
I promise.
Trust me on this.
No, I don't.
Carlos is a thing of the past.
Tony, I want to be a part
of your organization.
I'll do whatever it takes.
I don't care.
Tony's not like a fucking
lowlife, you know what I mean?
He's a businessman.
Is he fucking with us, or what?
We're good, right?
Yeah?
Relax, homie.
We're doing the quinta.
If it's all there, you leave.
Economics, make good
impact and good money,
and I can help my neighbor.
My grandfather told me it was
hard for me to be an astronaut
because my family is poor.
But I know living in the
United States of America,
a dream like this can come true.
Where'd you go count?
The liquor store
down the street?
You want me to fuck
this hole up right now?
- There's two grand short.
- Two grand?
Wait, wait, wait.
Hold on.
What do you mean
two grand short?
That's bullshit.
Fucker.
What the fuck!
Hey, you probably
fucking took some.
That's bullshit.
It was all there.
Angel, I'm going to
go show this to dad.
Shut the fuck up.
Shut the fuck up.
Let me shoot this piece of shit.
What would you guys do if
you were in my position?
Don't do this, please.
You're wasting my
motherfucking time.
What's up hijo.
Dad, I want you
to read my paper.
Please, dad.
My kids are in the room.
So today's your lucky
motherfucking day.
Get your fucking
ass out of my house.
Get the fuck out of my house.
I'll get your ass next
time, motherfucker.
I'll get your ass next.
Now get the fuck out of here.
Good luck on your presentation.
Daniel!
Look at this.
Your expression here.
And my sister saw it.
She thought it's real.
What do you think about
the image quality though?
Doesn't that look a
little cheap to you?
Well, it does.
But if that little thing
throws the audiences off,
then we're never going to
be professional filmmakers,
you know.
Your patient needs to see you.
I'll be there in a minute.
OK?
All right, Mr. Morris.
Then we'll see you on Monday.
All right.
Have a nice day.
Hey, Jenny.
Hi.
Can you give me
Casey's files, please?
Sure.
Busy day today?
No, not really.
There you go.
Perfect.
Do you have a pen?
Yes.
Here you go.
Beautiful.
Thank you.
Doing anything for vacation?
My sister's coming--
Code blue!
Status?
14 year-old kid, car
accident, unresponsive.
Take him to trauma
room three All right.
Let's go, guys.
Go right to here.
Come.
Excuse me, sir.
Are you his father?
Yes.
Do you know if he has
any kind of allergies?
Dust mites and pollen.
How about penicillin?
No.
Is there any medical conditions
I should be aware of?
No.
Blood pressure 150 over 110.
Let's give him ml's
of nitroglycerin.
And guys, let's prepare
him for CT scan, OK?
Quickly.
What's your name, sir?
Carlos.
Carlos, we're going to get
your son upstairs right now.
And we're going to do Cscan and ultrasound, which
means we're going to be
looking for internal bleedings
and for damaged organs.
Slight increase in BP.
But for us to operate
to maximum capacity,
I would ask you to
wait in the lobby.
Take care of my son.
We'll do our best, sir.
Dr. Rivero, Dr. Rivero, please.
Oh, Atilla, you
forgot your phone.
Thanks, Jenny.
Thank you.
Mm-hmm.
Excuse me, sir.
Can you come with me
for a second please?
He's in that room over there.
He's going to be OK.
So luckily, there is
no internal bleedings.
All of his organs are fine.
And he has some minor fractures.
But luckily, all
of his fractures
are stable, which means
your son will fully recover.
Dang.
Thanks, dog.
So that's a great
news, absolutely.
What's your name?
- Atilla.
- Atilla.
- Nice to meet you, Carlos.
- Thank you.
You're welcome.
I owe you one.
- Thank you.
- Thank you.
Anything you need.
I'm sorry.
Oh, just a second, guys.
My sister's been
calling me all day.
Hello,?
Talk on English.
- I don't want him
to understand.
- OK.
Atilla, dad won't let me go.
He said-- he said, there is no
way he's going to let me go.
- He--
- Slow down for a second.
You have to tell me
exactly what happened.
She went farther
along into the forest
and found herself
at a crossroads.
There was a branch in her path.
Should she move the
branch or should she not?
She decided she would
move the branch.
For reasons beyond understanding
and out of anyone's control,
her seemingly insignificant
decision to move that branch
started a series of
intersecting events.
In her dying moments,
she couldn't help
but wonder what her life would
have been like had she not
moved that branch.
What would life have been
like if they had never met?
What would life have been
like if he never got hit?
Good luck on your presentation.
All right, Andrew.
I'll see you later on today.
Hey, Jay.
Hi.
Can you give me
Casey's files please?
Sure.
Busy day today?
No, not really.
There you go.
Perfect.
Do you have a pen?
Yes.
Here you go.
Beautiful.
Thank you.
Doing anything for vacation?
My sister's coming.
Oh, that's nice.
Yeah.
I'm pretty excited about that.
It should be fun.
Hey, give
me just a second, Jimmy.
My sister's calling me.
Talk on English.
I don't want him to understand.
What happened?
He said-- he said, there's no
way he's going to let me go.
Aida, calm down.
He doesn't want me to go.
He said, he already
canceled my flight.
You have to tell me
exactly what happened.
Chuck Taylor's hanging
on the telephone line.
Ah, the city hear the noise
, graffiti on the walls.
The Virgin Mary pleading,
Jesus bleeding on the cross.
Sticks and stones
will break your bones.
But these clips are strong,
and then you split your tone.
That motherfucker's
got my money.
Fuck!
I got to use the restroom.
Hey!
Hey!
Aah!
Astronauts make good--
astronauts make good impact
and make good money.
And I can help my neighbor--
my neighbors-- my neighborhood.
My grandfather told me it was
hard for me to be an astronaut
because my family is poor.
But I know living in the
United States of America,
dreams like this can come true.
Great job, Daniel.
Good job.
Good job.
All right, precious,
you're up next.
You a junior?
Very good presentation today.
Thank you, Mr. Ishaan.
So you want to be an astronaut?
Yeah.
I heard that you're
good at math,
which makes you a step closer.
Look at that
caterpillar over there.
Wow.
Isn't it special?
You want to touch it?
No, it's nasty.
You might be right.
But you know what?
This same exact
caterpillar will eventually
turn into an amazing butterfly.
You know, Daniel, you
could achieve great things
in this country.
It all starts with this.
And why didn't you
accept the offer?
Mom and dad were so hopeful.
They thought finally you were
going to have a real job.
Why do you want me to
commit to something
that I don't want to do?
And what exactly
do you want to do?
I told you.
I'm working on a film
project with Atilla.
I just don't want you
to do anything stupid
and end up like the last time.
I was expecting more
support from my brother.
I need to talk to Tony, man.
I'm his homie.
I just need to--
OK, look at me.
Tony.
Tony.
Tony.
Stop the car.
Stop the car.
Hey.
You promised.
You promised.
I did everything you wanted.
I did everything I was asked.
No, no!
Where's my backpack at?
Hey, guys.
Hey, Anita.
What time is it?
Where have you been?
Anita?
It's almost midnight.
Where have you been?
Atilla, come here for a second.
I'll be right back
Where have you been?
I told you I'm going to
get some food quickly.
It's 30 for $100 in cash.
How did you give this?
You see this?
This is the most
popular game in America.
How did you get this?
It's a jailbreak copy from home.
It sells for like 70 bucks here.
I sell it for 20.
I already have another
250 orders for next week.
I can't believe
what you're doing.
By the time I go
home, I have enough
to buy a brand new
car, just like yours.
What the fuck are
you doing, Anita?
This is not acceptable.
What are you talking about?
What the fuck are you
doing with-- this is trash.
You know how many people
do illegal things here?
Yeah, but you're
making money out of it.
It's a different ballgame.
No, it's not.
Finally I have
something good going on.
Why do you want to
ruin this for me.
Because people take things
like this seriously here.
Well, you know what I think?
I think you're just
trying to scare me
because you're jealous.
This is my chance
to prove myself now.
I mean, you say, successful
people break the rules.
They break the rules,
but not the law.
And you are breaking the law.
You want to buy a new car?
Good.
But go and work for it.
My God, this is bullshit.
Bullshit.
Hey, Anita, come back here.
Anita, wait.
See, like you, I'm the
second child in my family.
And I have a strong
desire to prove myself.
My parents want me to
be like my brother.
They want me to follow
in his footsteps.
But me, see, I've
always kind of known
that there's something more
out there, something different.
My parents, they
think it's impossible.
My brother thinks
it's impossible.
But Atilla believes.
He believes in himself.
And he also believes in me.
And that's powerful.
You know, that makes
me feel closer to him
than to my own brother.
So trust me when I
say this, he just
wants you to be successful.
But he wants you to earn
it the right way, not
mess around with
this stupid shit.
Here.
Put this jacket on.
Aah!
Get out!
Now!
Oh!
It feels good, huh?
The funny one.
Hello,.
Who?
Who is this?
Excuse me.
What happened, man?
Anita is in jail.
You think stealing
is not serious?
I'm sorry.
So sorry means nothing now.
You already done it.
Since this was
committed in the US,
she will be subject to all
the US laws and regulations
that apply to a US citizen.
So that means five
years in federal prison
or paying the $250,000 fine.
It's not like she did
something terrible.
She didn't kill anybody.
Are they really going
to take it this far?
Usually they wouldn't.
But it seems they want to make
an example out of Anita's case.
You sure about this?
I'm positive.
If you connect me
with Tony, I can
get money for Attila's sister.
You are living in a
dream world, my friend.
You are thinking like a
10-year-old kid, like a child.
And it's not going to
happen for you like that.
Chuck Taylor's hanging
on the telephone line.
Ah.
Yo, hold up.
Call me as soon as
you get this message.
That'll be like the
third message I left you.
I've been calling
you all day, dawg.
The fuck you at.
Get out here as soon as
you get this message, dawg.
Straight up.
I ain't gonna call
you again, dawg.
Get out at me asap.
I ask myself, will
I survive or will I die?
Yo, kid.
You looking for that ball?
Yeah.
I just threw it up to your boy.
All right.
Thanks.
All right, bro.
Hey yo, Dan.
Yeah.
Call your pops.
All right.
You have a spirit, kid.
And I like that.
But you know,
there's no such thing
in life as something
for nothing.
You know, well,
your actions have
to reflect something tangible.
You know, otherwise
it's just a fairy tale.
You know, I mean, I'm
going to work with--
could you hold on a second?
Hey, what's going on?
What's up, mijo?
Yeah?
I'll be right back.
No way.
You're doing a good job.
The bigger banks, break
this up and then put
this in the shoe box.
You have the other banks?
What the fuck?
Ortega?
Hey, fool.
Where the fuck you at?
Hey, Carlos!
Carlos!
Hey, fool!
Listen to this shit?
It's Ortega, fool.
Sorry about the inconvenience.
Ask him where he's at, dude.
What the fuck happening?
What the fuck?
Ortega?
So, you were saying.
Whatever it takes.
Tony, I don't care.
Whatever it takes.
Then I shall meet you my friend.
How far are you willing to
go to bail your sister out?
Once again, the caterpillar
faces the decision
to move or not to
move the branch.
This time, she chooses
to go the long way.
Seeing the branch unmoved, the
kitten falls back into sleep.
Along slithers the hungry snake.
But the mother's fangs and sharp
claws keep the kitten safe.
Noticing the caterpillar,
from a learning of her dream,
the snake promises a shortcut
if she willingly cooperates.
At first, the
caterpillar worries.
Then her ambition gives
way to justify the deed
and lure the kitten away.
The blood on her hands bothers
her not, a worthy sacrifice,
she thinks.
Off she goes to spin herself
into her glorious dream.
At long last, she found what
she had been looking for,
the flower of dreams.
But the path she embarked
on to get there was not pure
and it led to her
worst nightmare.
She became an ugly moth.
This song is dedicated
to my homey and that gangsta
lean.
Why'd you have to go so soon?
Seems like yesterday we
were hanging round the hood.
Now I'm gonna to keep
your memory alive
like a homey should.
Rest in peace, G. Can't
believe he's gone, G.
Some bullshit.
Why is it always
blood in our house?
I don't know.
But I can tell you this.
We're going to fix it.
Because my teacher said,
anything I want to do,
I can do it.
But maybe he's lying.
He's not.
You see that up there, Angel?
I want to go up there.
I want to go too.
You will.
Hey.
The boss back yet?
Yeah, but he's in a meeting.
Don't bother him.
It's feeding time.
You're very ambitious.
And I like that.
But too much ambition
clouds the mind.
When life is thrown
into chaos, the brain--
it tends to focus
so much on finding
a solution that it
fails to consider
the potential consequences.
And Lord knows there
are always consequences.
Once the rat is free
and his heart is gone,
would he still
remember the deal?
Look, we understand the risk.
And we will execute.
Show me.
Sado!
What?
Come on.
On three, ready?
Three, two--
Cut the bullshit, man.
One.
Don't fucking
underestimate us, Tony.
We are here to do business,
do you understand?
You guys are too tight, man.
You need to relax.
Daniel, Angel,
you're up for tacos?
Hell, yeah.
Come on, Angel.
Let's go.
No, I want to stay.
You shouldn't have--
OK.
If we go through this, we'll
be there in five minutes.
Uh-huh.
Otherwise, it's going to
take us an extra 15 minutes.
Your call.
Let's just get this over with.
Ain't got no wings.
You in the City of Angels
and you ain't got no wings.
I'm going in slow.
I close my eyes and
pray for my sins.
But I ain't scared of the
devil, because I'm a--
Do you want to eat here,
or do you want to go home?
I ask myself, will
I survive or will I die?
For here.
Location, I think we are here.
I'm going to go in.
I'll leave the gun.
I don't think we need this.
Take this.
Hey, 10 minutes
and I'm coming in.
OK.
Sounds good.
I'll see you soon.
Good luck.
Thanks, man.
Hello?
Hello?
Come on!
Atilla!
Atilla!
Open the door!
Now, motherfucker.
Mijo!
He's shot.
He's shot.
Meet me at the car.
Go! Go!
At the car. At the car!
Mijo!
Daddy.
Just lay down.
Just lay down.
Daddy.
You're going to be OK.
Lay there.
You're all right.
Daddy.
Buckle up and
don't dirty my car.
We brought this for Tony.
Come on.
Wake up.
Jefe, I'm tracking them down.
Get everyone home.
Come get them.
My baby.
Oh my God.
Wake up.
Dad, I'm going with
you, all right?
Smell that.
Smell our blood.
Hey.
You feel like a man now.
Gentlemen, you survived.
Come on, guys,
show some appreciation.
Holy shit.
You did it.
Whoa.
Woo!
This is for you, Tony.
Aw, you shouldn't have.
Holy shit.
Shit.
You did a
phenomenal job, man.
How the fuck did
you pull this off?
Now it's your turn, Tony.
My turn?
Whoa, gentlemen,
what's the rush?
I thought maybe we'd
celebrate first.
Celebrate what, Tony?
New members of our family.
What do you mean?
Don't fuck with us.
Do you know what we
had to go through?
Are you in any position
to negotiate, boy?
You got an emotional one here.
Hey, I'm sorry, Tony.
Yeah.
But we honored our part.
And we delivered what
you asked us for.
You did.
I know.
I understand.
I mean, I've been
where you've been.
I know what it's like to be
a victim of your own success.
It sucks, right?
Doesn't it?
Ah!
And it hurts, a lot!
You're going to bleed
out in about 20 minutes.
There's a hospital
just around the corner.
So I ask you one more time.
Can I count on
you in the future?
OK.
Got it.
Hey.
Take this.
All in one shot.
Here's the address
to that doctor.
He's the only one you can see.
You got it?
Oh.
I gotcha, man.
Dad.
What's up motherfucker.
Huh?
You fucking remember me?
Yeah.
This the motherfucker
that killed your brother.
But I know living in the United
States of America, dreams
like this kind of come true.
Great job, Daniel.
Great job.
Ah!
Your call.
Oh!
Your call.
Let's just turn around.
Let's go.
I'm still beating you.
I'm going to get you, bro.
I'm going to get you.
No!
No.
You killed me.
Hey.
Yeah.
10 minutes and I'm coming in.
Excuse me?
Excuse me, sir.
Fuck you want, man?
It's a delivery for Carlos.
It's good, my name is Attila.
Fuck you, man.
I will kill you.
No, you're not.
I am. Right there.
Kids, get under the bed.
Make sure he doesn't come out.
Get under the bed.
Turn around.
Excuse me?
I said, turn around.
I'm really only here
to do a delivery for--
Give a fuck why
you're here, man.
Get upstairs.
Let's go, man.
Think you're a fucking
classy white boy?
Get upstairs, man.
Get the fuck, upstairs.
Fuck off.
Yo, G. Got a delivery.
Let's go.
Hello, man.
Slow the fuck down.
Slow the fuck down.
All right.
Hey, we got a delivery, G.
Fuck down.
Delivery G.
Chill out, home.
Yo, G, we got a
delivery, G. Stop
fucking looking at me, home.
I'll tell you, man, I'm gonna
blow your motherfucking head
off you keep looking at me.
Stand still, motherfucker.
Before I blow your head off.
What do you got for me?
Fucking suitcase, G. I got--
What's in there?
It's worth 10 kilos of cocaine.
What the fuck you looking at me?
Stop looking at me.
This some type of game?
You're trying to be funny.
Take care of him.
Fuck off, I'll blow your
motherfucking head off.
Shut the fuck up home.
Atilla!
Atilla!
Atilla! Atilla!
- Atilla!
- Ishaan, they wanna
kill us man.
Get this homie.
OK.
Whatever.
I gotcha bitch.
Fuck.
God damn motherfucking bitch.
Hold on.
Oh.
Put the fucking knife down.
Breathe, don't fucking move.
Mr. Sean?
I'm his teacher.
What do I do G?
What do I do, G?
Nobody's going to--
Shut the fuck up.
Put the fucking knife down.
You don't want to do this.
Put the gun down.
Shut the fuck up.
- No.
- Put it down.
Hey, hey.
Nobody's going to get hurt.
Blow your fucking head off.
Shut the fuck up.
Nobody's going to get hurt.
Sir.
You don't want to do this.
Your son has a
very bright future.
I'm his teacher.
Dad, please.
Here's 10 kilos of cocaine.
That's what Tony wanted, right?
Yeah.
I'm going to give this
to you, and you're
going to deliver it to him.
Won't that look suspicious?
Not really.
You're doing what
he asked you to do.
And what if he asks how we
managed to pull this off?
You guys are wise guys.
Figure it out.
I'm giving you the tools
to get your sister back.
You want your
sister back, right?
And I want Tony.
Hey.
We brought this for Tony.
Here.
Take the case.
Aah!
Yo.
It's done.
Go back to Carlos's
house and wake them.
What about the money?
We got your money.
All right.
Beautiful.
Keep walking this way.
Great.
Looking sexy.
Right over here.
Let me have you go
over here by the door.
Turn around, look at me.
All right.
In the back.
d watch where you're going.
All right.
Looking good.
Beautiful, sexy.
Look at me.
Eyes right here.
Great.
One leg forward.
Looking great.
That's beautiful.
Beautiful.
The moon, the first
step to the stars.
But how to get there
when born with a scar?
A coincidence, or luck,
or perhaps destiny.
If kept pondering,
there goes opportunity
to bloom into the mighty
eye, a fierce rocket
ship aiming for the stars.
If allowed, the
fuel can burn low.
The journey is lengthy and far.
Call it a fairy tale or reality.
You decide.
Well, you get your case
and do some federal time.
Because the Chuck Taylor's
hanging on the telephone line.
The city at a loss,
graffiti on the walls.
The Virgin Mary pleading,
Jesus bleeding on the cross.
Sticks and stones
will break your bones,
but these clips are so long
and they an split your bones.
The home of the gangs
and cop killings.
Always knew life was a bitch,
so I never got feelings.
It's game four at the staples,
man, you ain't got no wings.
You in the City of Angels,
and you ain't got no wings.
I'm going in so I close my
eyes and pray for my sins.
But I ain't scared of the
devil, cause I'm a LA King.
I close my eyes and pull
my head up to the sky.
I ask myself will I
survive or will I die.
I close my eyes and pull
my head up to the sky.
I ask myself, will I
survive or will I die?
This pain though, still
fucked up in the game.
They stay broke, stay stable,
staying in the same hole.
This ain't no game.
But the snap what they'll
have, you think dough is big.
No.
Breaking your back to
make your bank bro.
Flame throw, two points
and one had the game go.
Laid low or tried to give up.
But the stage
won't hatin' on me.
When I only like to dank
smoke, say throw reps.
Give the people
what they came for.
Can't go now.
I just got started
on this game show.
Suckers trying to test me.
I'm ready for the wait though.
Wait low, lacing the cut.
I got the game sold.
Cocaine life, with the
money of a fake row.
Everything I touch
make the peso spill.
Shoot this motherfucker
up, Pecos Bill.
They say I'm ill, a foot away,
I can't go replacing skills.
Sip and drink, drip and
drain, nigga, take the wheel.
I close my eyes and pull
my head up to the sky.
I ask myself will I
survive or will I die?
I close my eyes and put
my head up to the sky.
I ask myself will I
survival or will I die?
Fresh out of the joints,
mine don't point like back
on the block, chasing the corn.
I grind all day, I
got a paper to make.
If the streets don't pay,
I'm supplying the weight.
JJ Jake's on the move.
If you snooze, you lose.
Some Top Gun, risky business.
Young Tom Cruise,
the color of money
is like the tang in my sweet.
Crushed ice, white cup,
Sprite cease the pain.
Too deep in the whip.
It's just me and my 40.
I'm married to the game.
So I just fuck down Shorty.
Game pimp tight.
This is all real life.
I guess.
I grew up in a war-torn country.
We are always playing
with little tanks,
like we were pretending
we are armies.
And then before you know it,
like you hear boom, boom, boom,
boom.
And you turn left and a whole
bunch of real tanks, 50 or 60
of them are actually on
the street next to you
and going into the war.
And then you hear
the sirens going on.
And you see your
parents are panicking.
Hey, come toward the house.
Come inside. Hurry. Hurry.
Hurry.
10 seconds later there's
like a big explosion
happens like two miles
from you, like boom.
You don't know what it is.
I remember, I found
salvation in watching movies.
I went to my parents
and I said, you know,
Dad, I want to be a filmmaker.
You know, Mom, I'm going to
do this and that action movie,
and thriller, and crime, and
comedies, and everything.
And they were just
like looking at me
and what's wrong with this kid?
You know, don't think
about filmmaking
because it's impossible.
People just don't have
ambition-- no ambition
during war.
Everybody just
wanted to survive.
For me to make
movies, I understood
that I have to find a
way to come to the United
States of America.
But how can I get to the States?
My family has no money.
We don't have any relatives
living in the States.
And during the war, the
people of my country
burned down the US embassy.
How to go to America?
It's impossible, you know?
One day I learned
that US universities
are offering full scholarship
for prospective student
athletes.
So I understood for me
to become a filmmaker,
I first had to
become an athlete.
The biggest race of my life.
And this is the chance for
me to run a fast time to get
the attention from America.
But two weeks before my race,
I completely tore my ligaments.
I remember the doctor
looking at my ankle.
And I was like, in two
weeks I have to run.
And he looks at me.
And he said, this guy is crazy.
You're not going to run.
He says, if you can
walk within two months,
you should consider
yourself lucky.
That night I go home.
I place my ankle in 90 degrees.
And I press my ankle
against the wall.
And I start talking to my ankle.
You know, I'm
talking to my ankle.
I want to become a
friend with my ankle.
You know, my life
depends on this.
I want to convince my
ankle that we can do it.
Two or three days later, I
go and I run for one hour.
After that I couldn't
walk the whole day.
I go back home and I
ice it, massage it.
14 days after my
injury, I ran a race.
I came first place.
I ran a personal record.
And thanks to that race,
I got the scholarship.
I came to America without
speaking any English
and without knowing anybody.
If I say that I need $10
million to make a movie,
that it's just an excuse.
I should be able to create
something just relying
on my creativity and willpower.
David.
How's it going, man.
- Looking good.
- Yeah.
Thanks. Thanks.
Well, you know, I was
looking for opportunities,
how to utilize the resources
that I have available.
And I was very lucky
when I met David.
Because not only does
he has everything,
but he's also a police officer.
LAPD.
Put your hands up
where we can see them.
Where's your permit.
That's what I like to ask.
Right.
you got a permit
to be out here--
Look at this face, man.
I can't do this.
This is amazing, man.
Thanks, David.
The actors in the
movie, they grew up
in very harsh circumstances.
I was like a soldier,
you know, in a war.
I dreamed about it, you know?
Getting shot, people
shoot out with people.
I became a gang member
like at 13 years old.
I got incarcerated
at 13 years old.
And it's not
because I wanted to.
I think it's because
I was kind of limited
of what I could really be.
All the effort, the
details, the raw emotions
we put into this film.
Like we shot in East LA.
I remembered it!
Remember this?
I remember this!
Yeah!
We spent lots of
times in a family
that lives in a neighborhood
where your only option
to be safe is to join the gang.
They shot in their house.
This is the Angel.
He's the big star
of the film, right?
Remember?
He like did amazing work.
Sara.
Hi.
She's the boss of the house.
She helped tremendously.
Jacob, he's a little bit shy.
But once he warms
up, he's amazing.
And Precious, beautiful.
She's in a classroom
scene, and she did so well.
They invited me to
film in their house.
They went above and beyond
to help me to make a movie.
There's like 20 people
living in one house.
They're like gunshots outside,
car chase, the helicopter,
the police chase.
But inside, it's so warm,
such a family atmosphere.
It really reminded
me of a bond that I
had with my neighbors
during the war.
I noticed how people
reacted to you, you know,
and they seem genuinely
pleased with your presence
and accepted you.
And I think it's
because of who you are.
Awesome.
Oh my God.
Thank you guys for
this opportunity.
See you guys.
- Bye.
- See ya.
Bye.
It was a pleasure.
Thank you.
See you soon, OK?
It was, bro.
Like you did it.
You get what I'm saying?
Like that's a huge
accomplishment, bro.
I'm an actor.
But striving to be a
filmmaker, I could do nothing
but think of you as an
inspiration, you know?
Because you did it, bro.
When I decided to
make this movie,
I wanted to create such a
visual experience that
can compete with studio
level movies.
And I wanna win!