SCREENING DATE: FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 16TH 2016
TIME: 11:30 AM | SHORT FILMS BLOCK 1
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Synopsis
A talented boxer struggles with his anger as he prepares for an upcoming prizefight. Joaquin’s tempered passion attracts trouble; his close friend Fante reminds him to keep that passion in check for better things to come. But for a man who just can’t walk away, the 10th round will be the last thing to hit him hard. A talented boxer struggles with his anger as he prepares for an upcoming prizefight. Joaquin’s tempered passion attracts trouble; his close friend Fante reminds him to keep that passion in check for better things to come. But for a man who just can’t walk away, the 10th round will be the last thing to hit him hard.
Director Biography
A cinephile from a small desert town north of Los Angeles, Kevin Reyes grew to love all that is film. After a short detour in wanting to write prose Kevin’s passion for cinema proved stronger as he applied and was excepted to California State Northridge for his undergraduate in film. There, he shed his preconceived notions of what a film should be and adapted to the highly collaborative process that is filmmaking. Kevin was one of only four chosen to write and direct a thesis for the graduating semester of 2015. “Champion” a short film which took a year to complete proved to be the learning experience that the young and eager film lover needed.
Director Statement
Let’s face it. Life can be boring at pointless at times. This is where I found myself for years until I realized that it didn’t have to be this way. Growing up in a small desert town where meth is your cash crop you come to do one of two things: you get stuck there for the rest of your life or you get out and never look back. The redeeming quality of living in a place with not many recreational activities at your disposal is that you end up going to the local movie theater repeatedly. The local cinema joint was my mecca. It was a place where I could get away form it all and be sucked into these worlds that were so different from where I lived. I, like many others who grew up in the 90’s, was brought up on Tarantino, action flicks, and television. By the time I got into high-school I knew that I wanted to do something in movies but the goal seemed so out of reach so I began focusing on biology. I dabbled with drawing, writing, and music during this time but again only viewed it as a hobby and not something that I would do in the future. I struggled in school and just didn’t really care much about grades. The kids that worked hard and focused in high-school went onto prestigious colleges while I drifted with the others into community college. At this point I was still studying biology but instead of reading the textbooks I was fixed on the writings of Orwell, Bukowski, Fante, and Fitzgerald. I really thought that writing prose would be my ticket. However, during my last year in community college, I took an introductory class in film thinking it would be a nice elective requirement. That class changed my life. I was introduced to films from around the world that really captured my interest. Each film progressively made me think to myself, “why can’t I do this?” It wasn’t until Aronofsky’s “Black Swan” that it hit me. That film made me feel alive. That’s when I knew that I had to do this. I had to make movies. I wanted to give people that feeling. The day after I changed my major and focused getting out of my hometown. I didn’t get into USC as I originally hoped for (probably because my G.P.A was embarrassingly low) but thankfully was accepted into California State Northridge. Spending so much time writing short stories and working alone you get kind of used to that environment. College forced me out of my comfort zone and I learned through trial and error the importance of collaboration. I was one of four lucky ducklings to write and direct a thesis film which took about a year to complete. Nothing in life up to that point proved to be as difficult and as rewarding as that year. The friendships I’ve made with others who share my passion is incredibly rewarding on its own. I finally found a place where I didn’t feel like an outsider and could finally just be. I owe a lot to the school which allowed me to direct my first film and the the devoted cast and crew who stuck by me through trial and error until “Champions” completion.
Check Out The Trailer!!
Champion_Trailer from Kevin Reyes on Vimeo.
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