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Their review:

Our Take:

Never judge a book by its cover. It sounds clich?©, but it‚Äôs true. Upon viewing the cover of the El Segundo DVD I was a bit skeptical, thinking I was in for a confusing indie film that would leave me trying to buy back 90 minutes of lost time. Thankfully, this was not the case. When you give the film a chance, it‚Äôs actually a very intriguing plot, and the characters become more interesting as time passes. You begin to sympathize with Hank Jacobs‚Äô Sam and his role of unwilling participant in an insane quest. Along with a very attractive female lead, this ends up being quite the thrill ride. The best part is that there is a mystery to the quest and the meaning of the search is still somewhat ambiguous, even if you think you have the answer. So, by going in with slightly lower expectations, I was pleasantly surprised.

The only complaint that I must make is the quality of the filming. Camera shots at times were all over the place and there were even bits of the dialogue that seemed as though they were voiced much later on and didn’t quite seem to fit. At times, I even felt as though I was watching someone’s home videos, as it just didn’t seem to have that “movie feel.” I guess this added to the imagery of the film in a strange way, and perhaps it was an intentional choice by the filmmakers, but at times it was just a bit distracting. The main problem is that the quality isn’t even consistent all the way through, especially the audio. In the beginning, I had my hand glued to the volume knob, as it seemed to change drastically from scene to scene. Ah well, maybe someday if they feel ambitious, they’ll remaster it. Still, technical complaints aside, the film itself is very engaging.

Special Features (Standard):

• The El Segundo Experience: An Interview with Co-Writer/Producer Roy Misael Trejo
• Theatrical Trailer
• Teaser
• Commentary: By Co-Writer/Director Hank Jacobs and Line Producer Matt Wersinger

Conclusion:

Wow, an indie film with special features, this is pretty impressive. They actually do even add some insight into how the film was made and further delve into the story. I guess for all this I can forgive the somewhat shoddy quality of the technical side of the film and respect it for what it is.

Overall Picture:

Movie: B
Extra Features: B

- Chris Laurenzo
Staff Writer

El Segundo’s note: Well, I guess we’re a B-movie after all!

View original article.

Authentic SOUTH TEXAS FILM now on Sale…

EL SEGUNDO (now available on DVD at www.elsegundomovie.com and as a digital download at Amazon.com) was shot here in South Texas (CC,TX and Alice,TX) and it incorporates much of the local lore of this region sometimes referred to as THE MAGIC VALLEY. It is a Texan Independent feature length movie through and through which stars two major talents Alana De la Garza (LAW AND ORDER) and Pedro Armendariz, Jr. (THE MASK OF ZORRO).

Alana De la Garza, originally from El Paso,Tx was cast out of New York City when she was prominently a print model for such national magazines as Maxim before her television appearances on CSI: Miamii and her current role as the assistant DA to Sam Waterston on NBC’s Law and Order. Pedro Armendariz, Jr. who has more than 125 movies credited to his name as well as being a regular performer in the Theatre in Mexico City; also hosted Mexico’’s version of TV’s Bloopers on Galavision. He is the president of the Motion Picture Academy of Mexico and son to one of the foremost figures from Mexico’s Golden Age of Cinema. EL SEGUNDO is Armendariz’s’ first starring role in a production from the American Independent Cine.

Gorilla Hero Releasing, based in Los Angeles, has authored an excellent DVD whose compression technique touts this work as the highest quality standard def motion picture on an HD screen.

The Special Filmmaker Features on the DVD include an interview on South Texas Filmmaking by Heidi Hovda with EL SEGUNDO co-executive producer, co-writer and actor, Roy Misael Trejo (Trejo Pictures). Also available, the theatrical trailer and a musical teaser underscored by two brothers from San Diego, TX: the singing duo called Amable. Commentary by director Hank Jacobs and Line Producer Matt Wersinger provide insight to the uniqueness involved with filming in The South Texas Brush and noting the principal foundation pillar for production and completion of this groundbreaking first film being FAMILY. The music for the movie is prominently Texan featuring Jarmon and Carter, Phil Hurd, and crossover artist Patricia Vonne as fine examples of Texas country music, as well as local Tejano groups like the Hometown Boys “Las Nubes” and the immortal Tejano R.O.O.T.S. Hall of Fame Inductee, Juan Sifuentes Jr.

The feature has been in over six festivals winning Best Feature at The Black Earth Film Festival in Galesburg, Illinois and screened in NYC (The PLAYERS THEATER), Park Slope, Brooklyn (The Brooklyn Hispanic Chamber of Commerce), Austin,TX (Regal Cinema at the Arboretum), East LA (Cine Sin FIN), Santa Fe, NM (Sante Fe Film Festival,) Brownsville, TX (CINE SOL main featured event) McAllen, TX (Cine El Rey) and Corpus Christi, TX (The Texas House of Rock).

www.elsegundomovie.com
posses it before it posseses you

Santa Fe Film Festival

El Segundo blasts onto the screen with a gorgeous animation sequence that descends into a dusty Texan oil town that harks back to the golden hues of .  If you like Texan tall tales, this movie is full of them.  The story revolves around the ancient powers of El Segundo that are being summoned by El Mayor (Pedro Armendariz Jr.) to grant his wishes of eternal life.  But when El Mayor’s daughter Delicia (Alana De La Garza) graces us with her seductive charm, she also lures her father’s El Segundo carrier Sam (Hank Jacobs) into a tangled romance.  This sets off a mad romp of cockfights, cosmic constellations, bullets to the brain, colorful blood rituals and some compromising positions- ingeniously pulled off by writer/director/actor Hank Jacobs.  A movie that paints a strange fusion of Western border town themes and ancient sun-god mysticism is rare, and this is it.- Joseph Stern, Santa Fe Film Festival Guide.

We want to know you are out there, and we want El Segundo to have an effect on you, and we want you to come to us for more of your entertainment.

Thanks!

The El Segundo team.