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Homeboys to Hollywood

From: Robin Urevich
Length: 00:27:54

Ex-gangsters turned actors struggle to build a business in Hollywood Read the full description.

Se16_small This 30-minute radio documentary chronicles the struggle of ex-gang member Manny Jimenez and friends to build a talent management company in Hollywood. The company, Suspect Entertainment, recruits and trains ex-gang members to work as actors and extras. With a foot in both the mainstream and gang subculture, the men of Suspect Entertainment offer hope to kids in trouble, speaking at group homes and probation camps. “You know,” said Suspect’s CEO Manny Jimenez at a recent talk, “selling drugs and all that –it’s hustling. But we’re just doing it in Hollywood now. It’s a bigger reward, it’s bigger money and a better feeling.”

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Piece Description

This 30-minute radio documentary chronicles the struggle of ex-gang member Manny Jimenez and friends to build a talent management company in Hollywood. The company, Suspect Entertainment, recruits and trains ex-gang members to work as actors and extras. With a foot in both the mainstream and gang subculture, the men of Suspect Entertainment offer hope to kids in trouble, speaking at group homes and probation camps. “You know,” said Suspect’s CEO Manny Jimenez at a recent talk, “selling drugs and all that –it’s hustling. But we’re just doing it in Hollywood now. It’s a bigger reward, it’s bigger money and a better feeling.”

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Review of Homeboys to Hollywood

The program dealt with a unique concept and keeps ones attention. The idea that the characters are now in step two is interesting....a Pt II coming up?

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Review of Homeboys to Hollywood

There are some powerful moments in this piece, particularly as one ex-gang member after another talks about the pull of being a criminal--the draw of gang camaraderie, getting attention from other gang members, girls and even the cops. One guy talks about his teenaged dream of becoming the big guy in prison. Robin Urevich tells the story of ex-gang member Manny Jimenez and how he was inspired by a TV talk show interview with Quentin Tarantino to go into Hollywood: how he started to audition for and get parts as an extra and then how he started a talent agency providing "authentic" gang members to commercials and as extras in TV and movies (he is the go-to guy for "all things gangster"). Now he's writing a screenplay to feature his actors in starring roles. I found a bit of a lack of soul in the straight-forward reporting style of the piece. There were moments when I wished for more depth from the interviews--letting them breathe more, and exploring more of Manny's and his actors' personalities. I felt like this was more a piece about the talent agency than about Manny Jimenez. That said, the piece implicitly brings up the interesting idea of "authenticity" in Hollywood, as real gang members become actors to act out fictional representations of themselves. And it seems like the start-up talent agency begins to mirror the camaraderie Manny and his friends had in gangs. The piece is an interesting look behind the scenes of a world that many of us have only really seen in the movies.