Writer/Director ALEX C. MUÑOZ uses the King of Pop’s lyrics to investigate the possibility of peace, stability, and true justice in American urban communities in “Griot’s Lament.” Critics perceive the series as expressing the smoldering rage of the American people.
Check out the teaser trailer below:
Muñoz’s web series GRIOT’S LAMENT has over 6 million views and won the Audience Award for ‘Best Webisode Series’ at Urban Mediamakers Film Festival in Atlanta. Moreover, CreaTV has nominated Muñoz for the ‘Best Director’ award at the CreaTV Awards, which will be held on January 10, 2015 in San Jose and will be presented by Tivo.
The series is informed by Muñoz’s ten years of work with incarcerated youth. During his first film RIOT, which investigated the civil unrest in LA following the Rodney King verdicts, a group of youth black activist shut down the screening which was being held at the First AME Church in South Central. The young activists demanded that Hollywood studios do more to engage and offer job training and employment opportunities for young people from disadvantaged communities. One particular activist, challenged Muñoz to speak to youth at the Heman G. Stark Youth Correctional facility where they incarcerate the most violent youth offenders.
Muñoz was very inspired by his dialogue with the Heman G. Stark youths. The following week, he founded FYI FILMS (Films By Youth Inside) which empowers youth via personal story telling and digital filmmaking. Muñoz comments, “ The interweaving story lines of ‘Griot’s Lament’ are all informed by my discourse and exchanges with my students and combined with my own personal history”. “Griot’s Lament” uses direct citations to Travon Martin, Oscar Grant, and Rodney King. The main character, ‘Griot’, who serves as a one man Greek Chorus, is inspired by a homeless man in the city of Inglewood, California.
Currently, Muñoz is in pre-production for his next 2015 feature film DO YOU KNOW THE WAY TO SAN JOSE which was developed at the Sundance Writer’s Lab.
Muñoz is from San Jose, CA. He received his MFA from the USC School of Cinema and Television. He also holds a BA from UCSB. Muñoz is a Sundance fellow, a Rockefeller nominee and USA Artist nominee.
“Griot’s Lament” is produced by Urban Velour Entertainment, Nicholas Thomas, Sandra Evers-Manly, Brandon Hirsch and Munoz Filmz.
For more information on ALEX C. MUÑOZ visit: http://www.facebook.com/alexanderchistianmunoz
