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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

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Miguel Lepe, Jr.

Vicente

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Nathalie Galde

Snoopy / Sara

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Ed Sanchez-Gomez

Jose

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Vernon Mina

Spider

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Claudia Martinez

Camila

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Orlando Lara

Bernie

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Mike Geraghty

White Ally

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Rob Grabowski

Big Rob

Producing Team

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Scott Goldstein

Executive Producer

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Dave Yakir

Executive Producer/DP/Editor

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Miguel Lepe, Jr.

Executive Producer/Writer/Director

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Lorena Diaz

Co-Producer

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Wendy Mateo

Co-Producer

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David Audino

Co-Producer

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Julia Mondschean

Co-Producer/Production Manager

Production Stills

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