hello, and welcome to "comunidad del valle," i'm damian trujillo. today the legendary gabriel monzo is on, the lead guitarist. and also saving pal. this is your "comunidad del valle." ♪ nbc bay area presents "comunidad del valle" with damian trujillo. >> we begin with a san francisco latino film festival which is right around the corner. with me on "comunidad del valle" are ileana carter plays lucy in "cry now" and anthony lucero, director of a film called "east side sushi." welcome to the show. >> thank you. >> thank you. >> i want to ask you first, ileana, how big of a deal is this for you to be showcased at the san francisco latino film

festival? >> i'm really excited about it for several reasons. one, like i said, i live in l.a. currently, but i grew up in the bay area. so to be able to be part of a film festival based in the bay area that's celebrating latino culture, i -- i'm really honored and happy. >> great. we'll show a quick clip of "cry now," and then you can talk about the film after that. here's the clip. [ speaking spanish ] >> excuse me? mystery. it's easier to say mystery. >> so tell us about the clip. tell us about "cry now." >> "cry now" is a love story

based in los angeles. it's about a street poster artist, vincent, falls in love with a chicano tattoo artist, lucy. i play lucy, the tattoo artist. material really it's a love story between two people, but it's a love story about l.a. you get to go through a lot of underground music areas, music scenes and stuff that you don't normally see on screen but that reflects what life in l.a. is like. >> right. testimony tell us about your -- tell us about your film that you're directing. as i mentioned, the camera and lights came on, it made me laugh. >> good. "east side sushi" is a dramatic film with comedy sprinkled in. east side refers to the east side of oakland. a story about a latina single mother who strives to become a sushi chef. and the beginning of the film you see her chopping fruit. she sells fraught in one of those fruit sending cart near fruitvale. >> happens to a lot -- journalists in oakland get

assaulted and she get mugged basically. >> she does. >> so it's taboo, right, to have a woman become a chef in -- >> it is. >> a sushi restaurant? >> t. it's taboo -- it is. it's taboo for any culture to be a sushi chef. for la teen ayeah. -- la teen ayeatina, yeah. >> let's show the clip. >> i followed the directions exactly. what are you doing? that's good tuna. >> this tastes better. >> i mean, that's the funny part. the dad wants his tuna fried.

>> he's not going to eat it raw. he's never had sushi before. the daughter, all she want is the rice. soy sauce on it and yeah. >> what's it like filming in east oakland? >> east oakland, that's my hometown, where i'm from. if anybody knows about making a feature film, you need your friends, family, colleagues, everybody to rally around you to help you make this film. oakland is cinematic alas-- cinematic city, it's beautiful. with a lot of culture you have great food. oakland is very -- it's a food town. a food mecca for the world, i think. what better place to make a food about a japanese immigrant and mexican immigrant with food in the middle for them to join in than oakland. that's the perfect backdrop. >> the blending two of cultures. that's fabulous. i asked you also this. you were humble with your answer. what's it like to be discovered? >> again, like i serksd i don't know that's happened -- like i said, i don't know that that's happened yet. it's fortunate being involved in a film that's happily --

>> being a movie star is what i'm say. >> it's wonderful. this project especially is so great for me because the director and producers are good friends. we spent a long time working on this. there's been a lot of hard work they was a part of. i feel like i have the easy part, showing up and acting, whereas there's so many hours of sweat behind this, as you know, that directors and producers put into this. i'm great. >> tell us about the latino pool out there. not necessarily exclusive to the short film but talk about the pool in general. >> i have to say it's very difficult. to have a film both japanese and latino, trying to find that pool of actors. is very difficult. we did try casting in the bay area. the majority of the cast was in the bay area. for leads, it was too difficult. you try find that person that is in the script. i couldn't find it in the bay

area. there's a multitude of reasons why. we went to l.a. in l.a., there's a good pool of latino talent. a lot of fantastic people that came out. oh, my god. how do you decide on the talent. a huge pool in southern california for sure. i would love it to grow here. this is where i make films. we need more latino actors in the bay area. >> two great films showcased at the san francisco latino film festival, september 19th through 2 th at various locations -- 27th at various locations. thank you. we'll see you on the telemundo side to tell us about your great film. >> thank you. >> thank you very much. up next here on "comunidad del valle," saving the police activity speak. stay with us.

they're trying to save pal again. the police activities league. with me are the band leader for the band, tortilla soup, robert payne, and jim retta, in charge of p.a.l. welcome to the show. >> thanks for having us.

>> sergeant, i think i don't need it to -- need to emphasize the importance of p.a.l. in our community. >> p.a.l.'s been in san jose, an important part of san jose since the '70s. and what we try to do is give kids in the area an opportunity to play sports, different activity, and stay away from negative influences that are confronting kids every day. >> and successful. i mean, it's been -- these are kids who you mentioned confronting difficulty, but these are kids who -- this makes a difference between going the right way and wrong way. >> it really does. i have people come in just about every they say that they are a part of our p.a.l. program when they were kids, going back 25 years. they say how -- what a difference it made in their lives. we've got the boxing problem, baseball program. they were heading down the wrong path. but because of p.a.l., they knew

they had to do the right things. because of that, you know, they're leading very successful lives. >> funding is a problem every year. >> funding is always a problem there. we want to make sure that every kid that comes to p.a.l. has the opportunity to play in a sport. some of these families are in need so we try to offset the costs either through waiving fees, scholarship, things like that. and so that's a big part of where the funding goes. >> and being the police officer that you are, mr. payne, you heard that the need is there and said, let's organize something, let's raise money. that's where you're getting your band together and several other musicians. you're going to rock and roll for us. >> yes, sir. actually, about two months ago, i was walking the halls at the police department, and the captain said that p.a.l. was in need. and kind of went in one ear and out the other. and i kept thinking about it and about a week later, i bumped into him again, and i -- i sat

him down, said okay, what's going on, he says, "yeah, p.a.l. needs help." i said, it just so happens that tortilla soup was looking to do a show to donate to a great cause. we didn't know what the cause was. what perfect timing for the captain to stop me. this is going to be our first event of the year where tortilla soup is going to give back to the great cause that t. >> a big bash this coming weekend. tell us what folks can expect at the p.a.l. stadium. >> september 13th is the date. we're looking at p.a.l. stadium on the baseball field. from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., what we're going to have is we're going to have three live bands out. this we're going to have some dancers. we have island vibes, hula girls coming out. we got 40 vendors selling t-shirts and hat. we've got food trucks, jumpers for the kids, clowns, face painters. we want this to be a great

family event for everyone coming. kids under 12 are free. it's about giving back to the community. >> robert, again, is a san jose police officer. the bottom line is if you're not helping these kids that saturday at p.a.l. stadium, you're probably going to be facing them out on the streets and the consequences might not be good. >> absolutely. we're in a time now, it's critical. this generation growing up is for us to mentor them. i a lot of single parent out there and this is an opportunity it bring the kids, to have them play a sport that's organized, to more than likely have a police officer be the couch and mentor them. it's just a great opportunity to open the doors. to allow these children to come in here and have a great place, a safe place to be rather than be on the streets. >> sergeant, how bad is it? how close are we to closing the doors there at the p.a.l. senility. >> you know, we've had some really generous donors come in

and help out. i've gone to some different individuals, organizations, and go up to them, let them know what the situation is we're in, and they stepped up and really helped us out. but it has got tonight critical points where if we didn't have donations we might have had to -- well, we probably would have had to modify a lot of different programs, maybe drop a lot of programs. and all of these programs are very essential for the kids that live in the area. >> what are the consequences of that, robert, you being on the screen. the consequences of closing down the boxing problem, maybe some of the running programs? >> sure. the consequences are plain to see for us, at least as police officer, is the bad influences. getting to children that are on the streets. again, i don't blame the parents that are single. you know, they got to work and survive. but when they are doing that, the kids are out on the streets, and there's nothing but -- for the most part but bad element out there.

here we are giving them an opportunity to stay away from that and helping the parents while they're at work. they could be at p.a.l. stadium learning how to play football or an organized sport. it definitely is a great place and something that is needed in this community. >> all right. if you can help out in any way you can, it's happening this coming saturday over at p.a.l. stadium. there's the web address for information. fun in the sun, three live bands all to save the police activity league. thank you very much for the work that you're doing. >> thank you. >> thank you. up next on "comunidad del valle," a legendary singer. stay with us.

♪ good morning, usher! hey! did you know bees communicate through dance? me too... we're practically twins!

♪ go! go! wow! go power...oats! go! made from oats cheerios! cheerios! go, go, go! go power oats! go! cheerios! go power! go...power! yayyyy! he's a legendary musician and has a song that's ripe for this immigration movement. with me on "comunidad del valle" is gabe manzo, original lead guitarist, and also tony mengiver, who plays drums and plays it everything else for a lot of latin rock bands. welcome to the show. >> thank you. >> what's it like to be among

the pioneers of chicano rock, if you? will. >> it's awesome just to be playing music and giving to the people of the latin rock music, some great feeling. >> you get to stand up there and kind of be cool with your guitar tugging at the strings. you got to go crazy and -- and hit the sticks there, if you will. >> always. you know, like we do some of these concerts when we're doing this other particular group that's well-known. and you know, when we get up and the congas and the guitar and people go nuts. now going with manzo rally, we've transformed it, and really bringing it for this time and for the people of this day, you know. mono was '70s. but manzo rally, what you're saying, the song "set my people free," is for this time and season. >> gabe manzo and tony, you formed this great band called mantle oher manzo rally. we'll show the website.

tell us about "set my people free." a great video of the music and song. >> we were traveling to mexico, and we were at the border, and it was a little boy, a little boy came up with a little guitar, and he started singing and playing a broken down instrument. and i'm just looking at him, and i'm amazed at what he's doing. a talented guy. and then i turn around, and there's a grandmother with a little styrofoam cup. she's begging. then i look around, and i'm seeing fences and thinking, wait a minute, what's going on here. why do we have to have people who suffer lake this. you know, that kept going through my mind, what the little boy, grandmother and -- tear the events down. >> let's show the clip, it's a fabulous clip.

♪ ♪ a little mexican boy told me can i help me please get my people free ♪ ♪ i met a little mexican boy and and he told me can you help me please tear these fences down ♪ ♪ going to beg for a dime or two don't benefit a lot with a styrofoam cup in their hand ♪ ♪ a big brown-eyed little boy looked up at me hear he said follow me i'll show you where i got to live ♪ ♪ i couldn't believe there was so much poverty everywhere i looked at there was

death ♪ ♪ won't you help me please someone to give hope back in their life ♪ ♪ whoa whoa lord whoa lord let my people free ♪ ♪ whoa whoa lord whoa lord help me ♪ ♪ all we want is all we want is a chance ♪

♪ all we want is all we want is a chance ♪ ♪ all we want is all we want is a chance ♪ ♪ i met a little mexican boy and he told me ♪ ♪ can you help me please set my people free ♪ ♪ i met a little mexican boy and highway toe told me ♪ ♪ can you help me please tear these fences down ♪ ♪ i saw him sitting in the corner begging for a dime or two ♪ ♪ no benefit to life except a styrofoam cup in his hand ♪ ♪ whoa whoa lord

whoa lord set my people free ♪ ♪ whoa whoa lord hear whoa lord set me down ♪ ♪ >> that's powerful. that's powerful. congratulations. >> thank you very much. >> that is very good. >> thank you. >> tony and michael. we'll be back to talk more about this beautiful music video.

there's the web address for more information. manzoband.co manzoband.com/manzorally. we'll be right back.

we're back on "comunidad del valle" with manzo rally. the members of the band. you guys are touring and see the images and said, wow, we've got to do something. >> yeah, just those kind of things are -- it's hurtful to see things like that are happening today when they need to fix the system and get that right. you know, people need to come over here, you know, legally, you know. immigrants instead of, you know, aliens. that's what they were before, years ago. >> i was down in the area 4th of july actually when they were escorting the buses away from the detention center when all the immigration kids would come. what's going through your mind

when you see the buses being turned back and the patriots, if you will, yelling epithets at the kids? >> sadness. i think it's sadness. sad for them to do that. you know, those kids are coming -- they're coming from fear. they've been around fear. they want to get over here, you know, for protection. we need to help people. we need to help people is what it is. >> what's it like, tony, to work with the guy who has a heart and soul like that? >> it's amazing because he's really soft-hearted toward people. i was just saying, you know, at the break, how gabe would give all his money away every time we're going through mexico and the children following him. he's buying things. you know, and it's inspiring, brother. it's a good thing. >> any change you hope to make with this? i mean, it's a powerful tune. >> yeah. you know, i think -- the music brings awareness. and so, you know, if we can bring awareness, that's the first step. to anything. to everything really.

so if we can bring some awareness and then maybe pinch a little nerve and cause a change, well then, we've achieved something, i believe. >> sometimes when a news story, gabe, tugs at my heart, when you're writing the story, you know, it's hard not to get a lump in your throat. when you're writing those lyrics and singing those lyrics especially on the music video, what's -- what are you going through emotionally as you're singing it? >> affection. you believe what you're saying and singing about. it affects you inside. hurts. hurts to see that kind of stuff going on in our life. and when you -- whether you'n y performing it, you get into the song. >> that's one song on the c.d. it's santana-ish, if i can say. an awesome c.d. >> monz aer -- manzo rally has variety of songs. >> johnny's there -- >> johnny gunn, a great singer.

>> i think it was richard dean who told us on the show that the latin rock here in northern california is different than the latin rock in southern california. here we're more rock and rollish. there, they're maybe more oldies? >> yeah. yeah, a little bit more -- this band is more bluesy rock, jazzy with a latin flavor. you know, we want to keep that, you know, where that -- that's when the music came out of the mission. had that sound. you know, graphics and drumming and had -- you know, jazz guitar or blues guitar, and put that, you know, as a melting pot. and you know, made a sound. that's the sound -- that's the sound richard's talking about. >> different because in l.a. you have the r&b feel more. i think they went more for r&b, here you had janis joplin, san t t tana. real rock-rock.

latin music is being used, the fusion of latin in everything is pretty much -- they want to do it in order to make their hit, you know? >> you guys should be college professors and teach a class on chicano rock. >> would love to do that. >> you know, dr. loco said we've -- we've been in the music business 30-years plus. >> you got your ph.d. already. >> come on. >> again, it's manzo rally, a beautiful song called "set my people free." beautiful video, as well. log on to manzorally.com. thank you guys. >> thank you. >> all right. appreciate it. if you have any suggestions for next week's show, drop us a lane here. my twitter handle i is @newsdamian. pick up a copy of our newspaper and support your bilingual weeklies across the bay area. you can place some of that music video to end our video -- we'll play some of that music video to end our show. thank you for spending part of your sunday with us.

we'll see you weekdays at 5:30 p.m. this is "comunidad del valle." buenos diaz. ♪ i met a little mexican boy and he told me can you help me please set my people free ♪ ♪ i met a little mexican boy and he told me can you help me please set me down ♪ ♪ he was in a corner begging for a dime or two no benefit to life but a styrofoam cup in the hand ♪ ♪ a big brown-eyed little boy looked up at me he said follow me let me show you where i got to live ♪ it's never been easier to find a dentist.

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