Summary How a DACA recipient and ex-street vendor landed his first lead movie role - Los Angeles Times www.latimes.com
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One Line
Former street vendor and DACA recipient Ezekiel Pacheco achieves his first major breakthrough in the film industry with a lead role in "At the Gates."
Slides
Slide Presentation (7 slides)
Key Points
- Ezekiel Pacheco, a DACA recipient and former street vendor, landed his first lead movie role in the thriller "At the Gates"
- Pacheco stars as a young unauthorized immigrant hiding from Immigration and Customs Enforcement with his housekeeper mother
- His personal background and experience as a DACA recipient parallel that of his character in the film
- Pacheco's journey into acting started at the age of 19 when he enrolled in an acting academy
- Actor Ed Harris has become a mentor and source of encouragement for Pacheco
- Pacheco faced challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic, but ultimately secured the lead role in "At the Gates"
- The director of the film praised Pacheco's performance and the authenticity he brought to the project
- Pacheco aims to achieve long-lasting success and leave behind a legacy, inspired by his parents and to inspire others like him
Summaries
18 word summary
DACA recipient Ezekiel Pacheco, a former street vendor, lands his first lead movie role in "At the Gates."
69 word summary
DACA recipient Ezekiel Pacheco, a former street vendor, secures his first lead movie role in “At the Gates,” a bilingual thriller that reflects his own experiences. Pacheco's acting journey started unexpectedly, leading to a supporting role on “On My Block” and eventually landing him the opportunity to add authenticity to “At the Gates.” His breakthrough role inspires others and sheds light on the lack of Latino representation in Hollywood.
174 word summary
Ezekiel Pacheco, a DACA recipient and former street vendor, has landed his first lead movie role in the bilingual thriller "At the Gates." The film tells the story of a young unauthorized immigrant and his mother hiding from Immigration and Customs Enforcement, resonating with Pacheco's own life. His journey as an actor began unexpectedly when he was enrolled in an acting academy with his younger brother. He later met his mentor, Ed Harris, at the Sundance Directors Lab. Pacheco's acting career gained momentum with a supporting role on the Netflix series "On My Block," but the pandemic forced him to work for Amazon. Director Augustus Bernstein cast Pacheco in "At the Gates," adding authenticity to the film. Pacheco appreciates the opportunity to act in both English and Spanish, without falling into stereotypes. His breakthrough role serves as an inspiration for others and highlights the lack of Latino representation in Hollywood. Pacheco's resilience and determination have brought him to this significant milestone, and he is poised to make a lasting impact on the film industry.
461 word summary
Ezekiel Pacheco, a DACA recipient and former street vendor, has landed his first lead movie role in the bilingual thriller "At the Gates." The film tells the story of a young unauthorized immigrant and his mother hiding from Immigration and Customs Enforcement, a narrative that resonates with Pacheco's own life as a DACA recipient brought to the U.S. at a young age. Despite facing challenges, Pacheco's passion for acting has led him to this breakthrough role.
Pacheco's journey as an actor began unexpectedly when his parents enrolled his younger brother in an acting academy, and he was admitted as well. He later attended the Sundance Directors Lab, where he met his mentor, Oscar-nominated actor Ed Harris. Harris sponsored Pacheco to continue his education at the Imagined Life acting school. Pacheco's acting career gained momentum with a supporting role on the Netflix series "On My Block," but the COVID-19 pandemic forced him to take a job delivering packages for Amazon.
While working for Amazon, Pacheco received an email informing him that he had landed the lead role in "At the Gates." Director Augustus Bernstein didn't specifically seek out an actor who closely related to the protagonist's plight, but finding Pacheco enriched the film with authenticity and sincerity. Pacheco's lived experience as a DACA recipient added depth to his character and sparked discussions about American policies and the challenges faced by many children in the country.
In addition to the emotional complexity of his role, Pacheco appreciated the opportunity to act in both English and Spanish, without falling into stereotypes. Speaking Spanish in the film felt authentic and allowed him to truly express himself in both languages. Pacheco's parents and relatives attended a recent screening of "At the Gates," where he was visibly emotional. His desire to support his parents financially and provide them with a home drives him to succeed and leave behind a lasting legacy.
Despite personal challenges, Pacheco remains confident in his ability to achieve long-lasting success. He believes in breaking mental boundaries and thinking positively, knowing that his journey as an actor is just beginning. Pacheco's story sheds light on the lack of Latino representation in Hollywood, as highlighted by a recent report from the Annenberg Inclusion Initiative at USC. However, his breakthrough role in "At the Gates" serves as an inspiration for others like him and a step towards greater representation in the industry.
Pacheco's journey from a street vendor to a lead actor showcases his resilience and determination. His passion for acting and personal experiences as a DACA recipient have shaped his career and brought him to this significant milestone. With the support of mentors like Ed Harris and a commitment to telling authentic stories, Pacheco is poised to make a lasting impact on the film industry.
533 word summary
Ezekiel Pacheco, a DACA recipient and former street vendor, recently landed his first lead movie role in the thriller "At the Gates." Pacheco, who works at JK Snack Shop in Watts on weekends, comes from a humble background. His parents started the small business after working as street vendors in Los Angeles. "At the Gates" is a bilingual film that follows the story of a young unauthorized immigrant and his mother hiding from Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Pacheco's character, Nico, shares similarities with his own life as a DACA recipient who was brought to the U.S. at a young age. Despite facing challenges, Pacheco's passion for acting has led him to this breakthrough role.
Pacheco's journey to becoming an actor began unexpectedly when his parents enrolled his younger brother in an acting academy. The head of the school made an exception and admitted Pacheco as well, leading him to discover his talent for acting. He later attended the Sundance Directors Lab and met Oscar-nominated actor Ed Harris, who became his mentor and sponsored him to continue his education at the Imagined Life acting school. Pacheco's acting career gained momentum when he booked a supporting role on the Netflix series "On My Block," but the COVID-19 pandemic forced him to take a job delivering packages for Amazon.
During one of his shifts for Amazon, Pacheco received an email informing him that he had landed the lead role in "At the Gates." While director Augustus Bernstein didn't specifically set out to cast an actor who closely related to the protagonist's plight, finding Pacheco enriched the film with authenticity and sincerity. Pacheco's lived experience as a DACA recipient provided depth to his character and allowed for discussions about American policies and the challenges faced by many children in the country.
In addition to the emotional complexity of his role, Pacheco also enjoyed the opportunity to act in both English and Spanish, without falling into stereotypes. Speaking Spanish in the film felt authentic and allowed him to truly express himself in both languages. Pacheco's parents and relatives attended a recent screening of "At the Gates," where he was visibly emotional. His desire to help his parents financially and provide them with a home drives him to succeed and leave behind a lasting legacy.
Despite facing personal challenges, Pacheco remains confident in his ability to achieve long-lasting success. He believes in breaking mental boundaries and thinking positively, knowing that his journey as an actor is just beginning. Pacheco's story highlights the lack of Latino representation in Hollywood, as showcased by a recent report from the Annenberg Inclusion Initiative at USC. While progress has been slow, Pacheco's breakthrough role in "At the Gates" serves as an inspiration for others like him and a step towards greater representation in the industry.
Pacheco's journey from a street vendor to a lead actor is a testament to his resilience and determination. His passion for acting, combined with his personal experiences as a DACA recipient, has shaped his career and brought him to this significant milestone. With the support of mentors like Ed Harris and a commitment to telling authentic stories, Pacheco is poised to make a lasting impact on the film industry.