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
