Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/1512164
A tremendous amount of research went into the period product bags themselves. Most of the material was not even available, so the production worked meticulously with Design Town in Los Angeles to compare and come up with the closest material they had. Since most bags in the 1980s showed the contents inside, we had to print Frito-Lay product bags, fill them with air, add the product, and seal them before bringing them to set. Pepsi-Co offices, accompanied by the forever innovative Roger Enrico, allowed the crew to have fun recreating old Pepsi ads. You'll find them like Easter eggs, from magazines to posters, hidden throughout the film. While hunting for exterior locations, I made it a point to find murals that would bring cultural significance to the neighborhoods depicted in the film. Collaborating with artists, Yolanda Gonzalez and David Damien, were responsible for creating a design for some mural work in the film which would later brought to life by our key scenic Randy Ortega Sr. We would speak about the importance of murals in Latin communities. David Damien said something powerful that stuck with us, "Chicano murals speak to the struggles of our ancestors and of those we face today. They document our history and current trials and tribulations experienced by a society historically plagued by economic injustice and inequity. Murals also communicate those who have fallen from the harsh elements of life, including war, violence, racism and oppression. They document our goals for the future and our aspirations." Eva set out to make a movie about a man and his hard-fought journey to the top while balancing the complexity between the universal themes in the story and the nuances of the Latino community. She wanted to make clear that Latino stories are American stories, and American stories are Latino stories. She invited me along for the ride and it was a memorable experience that I will not soon forget. ADG Brandon Mendez, Cabot McMullen, Production Designers Billy W. Ray, Art Director Marisa Frantz, Dylan Kelling, Donavin Merritt, Set Designers Melissa Shepard, Callan J. Ramirez, Graphic Artists David Hack, Set Decorator D E