MIGUEL LEPE JR
The Guitar Thief
Two Mariachi players cope with rent increases, a changing neighborhood, and a stolen guitar.
WRITTEN & DIRECTED BY: Miguel Lepe, Jr.
PRODUCED BY: Scott Goldstein
CO-PRODUCERS: David Audino, Lorena Diaz, and Wendy Mateo
DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY: Dave Yakir
EDITOR & COLORIST: Dave Yakir
GENRE: Comedy
YEAR: 2022
FORMAT: Short Film (RED)
STATUS: Film Festival Circuit
SYNOPSIS
Two Mariachi players cope with rent increases, a changing neighborhood, and a stolen guitar.
DIRECTOR'S STATEMENT
My name is Miguel Lepe, Jr. the writer/director of The Guitar Thief.
For the script, I drew inspiration from many parts of my own life and my own relationships but the two main inspirations are the Italian film, Bicycle Thieves, and the true story of the Mariachi rent strike of Boyle Heights in Los Angeles.
I’m first generation Mexican-American and telling a story that included the food, music, and culture was important. Pilsen is a neighborhood with a large Latinx population, even though it’s been changing due to gentrification, it still deserves to be seen and celebrated. This movie is a love letter to my people and my city.

the Cast

Miguel Lepe, Jr.
Vicente

Nathalie Galde
Snoopy / Sara

Ed Sanchez-Gomez
Jose

Vernon Mina
Spider

Claudia Martinez
Camila

Orlando Lara
Bernie

Mike Geraghty
White Ally

Rob Grabowski
Big Rob
Producing Team

Scott Goldstein
Executive Producer

Dave Yakir
Executive Producer/DP/Editor

Miguel Lepe, Jr.
Executive Producer/Writer/Director

Lorena Diaz
Co-Producer

Wendy Mateo
Co-Producer

David Audino
Co-Producer

Julia Mondschean
Co-Producer/Production Manager