Octavio Blanco (00:02)
Welcome to Uptown Voices. From Harlem to the Heights to the northern tip of Inwood, we're here to celebrate our people and together seek solutions for the difficult issues we're all confronting as neighbors. Regardless of what hood you represent, we share the same goal, creating the best community we can.

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Led Black (00:42)
What up, what up everyone? Welcome to another episode of Uptown Voices. We're gonna do another Black and Blanco, right? Because this is a special New York Latino Film Festival edition of this podcast. I know we already had Calixto Chinchilla, the executive director of the festival prior to this. So go back to that episode and check it out. That's my brother, he's doing his thing. But I had to put my own little stamp on it because this is the official opening night for the festival.

The New York Latino Film Festival happens every year, Hispanic Heritage Month, and we kill that. We own New York City every year, year in, year out with the festival. So one of the things I wanna do, I wanna go through my, I'm sorry, Octavio, I'm kinda dominating this one just because the New York Latino Film Festival is so near and dear to my heart, right? Because with the Uptown Collec, yeah, because with the Uptown Collective, right, I do everything. I make every single decision, I do everything, right? With NYLFF

Octavio Blanco (01:26)
Nah man, I wanna hear this.

Led Black (01:36)
I get to be one of the cogs in the wheel, part of this amazing big team, The Calixto Helms and there's all these people and we get to be like together as a team. And it is one of the most grueling things that I do every year in year out, but it is the most, one of the most rewarding that I do. So the New York Latino Film Festival takes place from the 13th of September to the 21st. The 13th is a Futuro Digital Conference. So by the time this airs, that would already be a smashing success.

opening night, we have an amazing film. let me before I do that, let me do my top 10 films. And I wrote it down. So you got to bear with me. These are the top 10 films that I want to

not just to watch, right? Because the thing about New York Latino Film Festival is not just to watch, it's also certain days or certain places. Everyone gets dressed up. It's almost like a fashion show, right? So these are the top 10 films for Let Black at the New York Latino Film Festival, top 25, all right? So let's go for it. I wrote it down, bear with me, all right. So my number one, number 10, I'm starting number 10, is On the Outs.

Octavio Blanco (02:32)
Let's hear it.

Led Black (02:42)
On the outs is the 20th anniversary. That film stars Judy Marte and my good friend, Dominic Colon. It was about kids in Jersey City going through their own things. It was amazing. Again, this movie came out 20 years ago. We're gonna do, there's gonna be some other cast that's be there. So that's number 10. So that's an important film. And we're gonna have a good time tonight. Number nine, this is even bigger though. This is Girl Fight. This is the movie that made Michelle Rodriguez a household name.

This is the movie that New York Latino Film Festival first opened up with. Right now we're doing a 25 year anniversary with the cast reunion and that's gonna be a big deal. Like I said, this was, this is the movie that put Michelle Rodriguez on the map and in certain ways it put Nalep on the map too, right? This was the first big movie that we premiered. I was not part of the festival at the time, but that's why this movie is so important. Number eight is called El Tigre.

It's a short starring my brother Elvis Nolasco, who's just the fucking man. He's just a humble dude, but he's an amazing actor. He's been on so many things. Worked with Spike Lee. He was in Godfather Harlem. He also did the horror film that premiered on Hulu, The Mr. Crockett, I think it was. He was amazing in that. And it's directed by Andrew Rodriguez, who I don't know, but my oldest daughter and him are good friends. So if she vouches for him, I know he's a good dude. And it's about... ⁓

like about the food insecurity in the Bronx and things of that nature. So that looks really good. Number seven is Papi Chulo is directed by my good friend, Anthony Rojas. My daughter, Imani Fuentes was the lead female actress in the film. She also helped to produce the film. So I'm excited to see, you know, what kind of response the film gets. My daughter Imani is a superstar in her own right. Number six is an important film. It's called

Salsa Vive.

is directed by Juan Calvojar. And NYLFF has a hand in making that movie become a thing. think NYLFF helped to produce

of work to make that movie a reality. And what make that movie really amazing, it tells you the story of how salsa went from New York City to really where it really lives in Cali, Colombia. Colombians love their salsa. They've taken it to next levels.

Octavio Blanco (04:57)
Yeah.

Yeah.

Led Black (05:01)
dancing and all that. So this movie tells that story, right? So it shows you how Hector Lavoe, you know, comes from New York, but you know, when he wasn't getting no love here, he was still like a God in Colombia you know? So were all these great Salsanos. They would go to, they love to perform there because they would get love like they got no other place. So that movie's super important. You definitely should watch it. I got to see it.

Octavio Blanco (05:21)
⁓ I can't

wait to see that. That's going to be great.

Led Black (05:25)
Yeah, for sure. Number five is a movie called

Tigere. So there was El Tigere and this is Tigere, right? And it's directed by Jose Maria Cabral. That's important, right? Because Jose Maria Cabral is like this groundbreaking

young director. He actually is the first person to have two films in the festival. So my number four film is also by him, right? And Tigere also has my other brother, Manny Perez, who's also a Heights legend. That's my good friend. He's in this film as well.

And it's about toxic Dominican masculinity that I know a lot about that topic, but I didn't see that movie. So I'm looking forward to seeing that one. Number four, again, is also directed by Jose Maria Cabral. It's called La Cuarenta y dos And I actually got to see that. And just so you understand what that movie is about, Capotillo is the realest hood in Santo Domingo, right? La Cuarenta y dos is the realest part of the realest hood in Santo Domingo. So La Cuarenta y dos is this place like

where you know 10 a.m. in the morning that people are partying, drinking, consuming alcohol like it's wild like but it's also a hub of culture right it's where these poor people say hey you know what society doesn't care about me so I don't care about them and I'm gonna do culture for me so like this is where a lot of like a lot of the dembo artists come out of that the sound comes out of you know it's what they call bajo mundo mundo right it's real you know kind of real ghetto real hood but it's real it's a real

real facet of life for a lot of people in Dominican Republic. So that movie I saw it is mind blowing. It's almost set like a documentary, but it's really not. And there's a part where the director, like you see the director in the film, like he's breaking the fourth wall. Like it's a great film. Loved it. It premiered in South by Southwest. You definitely got to see that.

Octavio Blanco (07:05)
Yeah.

I saw the preview, it looked powerful and it reminded me of Tepito in Mexico City, which is this market in Mexico City, which is like that. It's like every, you know, you gotta be careful when you go there. You got great deals, they sell everything, but it's also just like realness, real, you know? yeah, La Cuarenta y Dos, that sounds awesome.

Led Black (07:13)
Very powerful.

Yeah, yeah.

Yeah, yeah, and then La 42 is the

realest, yeah. Number three is

Atiro Limpio. It's directed by Gene Guerra, who's Juan Luis Guerra's you know what mean? And this is the biggest, baddest

flick coming out of Dominican Republic, right? So it's called Atiro Limpio, means you're like in a hail of bullets. And I swear to God, I don't know how much bullets they're using this film.

But I don't think there's never like two minutes without bullets. But it's super, it's shot beautifully. Manny Perez, my boy is in that as well. And Frank Pedroso who's been in mad Dominican films is all in that. But they got a lot of young actors that I've never seen before. They got great acting. The filming of it is amazing. The quality, the production is top notch. But what makes it better, this is gonna be the US premiere and it's uptown at the United Palace, right? And, and.

Octavio Blanco (07:57)
You

Led Black (08:24)
If you go hit Uptown Collective, go to the bar, you'll get free tickets like right now, you know what mean? And that's gonna be on the 18th if I'm not mistaken. Look up on the site, but it's gonna be a big night because it's the US premiere and it's gonna be like the stars are gonna come out and we're at United Palace, we're home, right? United Palace, that's like, I'm like, seriously, I'm part of that team there. I'm family there when I go there. Mike Fittelson is my brother.

You know what mean? Keith, all those guys, I got a lot of love for them. So it's special that NYLFF, which is one of my great loves, is going to be in another one of my great loves, the United Palace. So that's going to be a special night. So that's number three. Number two is Tigueronas, right? And that's directed by a very special director, my oldest daughter, Imani Celeste Fuentes. She wrote it. She directed it. She did so much on it. It's an outstanding short film. My...

Octavio Blanco (09:00)
Wow.

Wait, you're not giving

her number one? You're not giving her one number one? You're giving her number two?

Led Black (09:18)
I didn't want to be accused of bias. You know what I'm saying? I wanted to give her number one, but then don't want to hear people's mouth. So she's getting number two. You know what saying? But it's really a family affair. So my wife helped to cast it. My middle child, Layla Fuentes, the first opening song, she produced that. And then my youngest child, Saraya Fuentes, was the stylist for the whole film. You know what saying? And then my mom makes a cameo at the end.

Octavio Blanco (09:21)
Ha ha ha!

Ha ha!

Led Black (09:46)
So you know, like it's a big deal. And it's funny, you know, you see that little, the Left Black little poster back there, right? That's done by Mattalisi, Mattalisi who's a great artist from Harlem. That makes a cameo as well. So I think Left Black makes a cameo in the film, even though it's just my visage, just my picture. I think I deserve some royalties, but that's my number two. Left Black is everywhere, ubiquity. You know what saying? But the film is really good. It's about, you know,

Octavio Blanco (09:47)
man.

Lead black is everywhere.

Led Black (10:12)
a girl gets, it's an abusive relationship that ends and her friends come together to rob the guy. Right? So it's a great film. I think we already sold out that night for the, cause it's in a great shorts block. So that's going to be a great night for the family. All right. Number one, drum roll please. It's going to be ⁓

Octavio Blanco (10:19)
⁓

Yeah.

Ha ha ha ha ha!

Led Black (10:32)
Mad Bills to Pay, which is our opening night film. It's directed by Joel Alfonso Vargas. I'm really cool with his brother, Kel.

I knew Kel for a long time and then

told me, you're late, you gotta see this film. He kept telling me about it and then when I saw it, it was one of those films that stays with you long after you saw it. To me, is this generation's Raising Victor Vargas? It is that important. It captures life for poor working class Dominican family in the Bronx, right? So the Bronx is well represented in this film, know, Fordham Road.

You know, Orchard Beach, right? The Bronx is a character in this film. They have great, they have like actors that like Destiny Checo and Juan Collado who they found, who were studying actors but were not established actors, right? And they killed it. You have Natalie Navarro who is an established actress and she killed it as a sister. And then Johanna Florentina who's like the mom. She's a Dominican mom. Like I know this woman, I know that Dominican mom. They actually won.

the ensembles at Sundance this year. So, you know, they won the ensemble cast award at Sundance. You know what mean? That's huge. And again, to have it from the Bronx, to have the Dominicans in it, to have the Dominicans doing the thing, this movie is so important. So that's why my daughter didn't get number one, because I'm to be fair. know, Matt Bilster pay is that important of a film. What's interesting about Joelle, Joelle was studying film in London and he had a

Octavio Blanco (11:39)
⁓

huh. Yeah.

Led Black (12:02)
This was part of his school project to make a short. So he took the money that he had and put his own money together and he made a feature. He handed in the short, but he had a feature. So you had this crew from London walking around the streets of the Bronx, know, filming this film. And again, there's like a way of looking at the world that Joel has that's different. He has these beautiful shots. There's one shot where...

Octavio Blanco (12:11)
⁓

Led Black (12:27)
Juan is like in an orchard beach and he's just there kind of pondering life. And you see right above him like seagulls flying like directly hovering above him. And you know they don't got a big budget. So it's like, how do they do that? It's a great film filled with really interesting cinematic choices. That's why this film is winning because they don't expect this kind of greatness to come from such humble, you know.

Octavio Blanco (12:46)
Yeah.

Led Black (12:54)
people that come from the bottom, but this film is outstanding. was telling Calixto when I saw it, was hoping this would be opening night, and I'm glad that he decided it should be, because I really pushed for it, because I felt that that important of a film. And I'm glad we opened tonight. June, I mean June, September 16th is opening night, this is the day this episode is, so that might be.

Maybe it might be sold out by then. think it is sold out. But keep that movie on your radar. Mad Bills to Pay.

Octavio Blanco (13:27)
Yeah, I mean, that sounds amazing. And that story about how that film was made is just inspiring. You don't know this, Led, but I, in 1998...

Led Black (13:35)
Extraordinary, extraordinary.

Octavio Blanco (13:42)
I, me and my friends from college, I went to Syracuse and when I was in Syracuse, I acted in a few student films and some of my friends came to New York City and they were getting into the film business and stuff like that. And I decided I wanted to get into it too. So we started a production company, but.

Led Black (13:49)
Nice.

Octavio Blanco (14:01)
Unfortunately, we didn't have any money. That was like the problem. We didn't have any money. So we never productioned any films. And we ended up folding it. So I always love to hear these stories about people who really make it work. They're able to get... Yeah.

Led Black (14:04)
Yeah.

Yeah, and

Yeah, no, that's

what it's about. Yeah, that's what it's about. What I love about the festival is a lot of times, this is a lot of people's first festival. This is the first festival they get accepted in. And you see these people blossom and grow. And that's really rewarding. My daughter's first film, her first short film, it premiered at NILFF And now her second is premiering in NILFF. And NILFF has just been really this kind of incubator for black and brown cinematic talent.

And I'm glad to be a part of it.

Octavio Blanco (14:52)
Yeah, and when I lift.

⁓ launched was probably around the same time as when I was trying to launch my production company. And I didn't know about NYLFF. NYLFF was a brand new thing. But nowadays it's great that NYLFF has established itself so that young filmmakers can go there to learn about the craft, learn about the business. And also NYLFF does make money available to filmmakers so they can produce films.

Led Black (15:16)
Yeah.

Octavio Blanco (15:22)
So they're really killing it. And then finally, for the filmmakers who have their films in the can, they are a place where you can actually get your films sold. So it's not just about representation, which is really important, but it's also about commerce, which is a... ⁓

Led Black (15:33)
Good.

And you're so right,

and it's education too, right? So during the day, so the films are at night, but during the day there's panels. So you're gonna go to HBO, you're gonna go to WarnerMedia, and you're gonna talk to the execs, and you get to be in front of them. You get to, you know, express yourself. And I think that's really important to get in the rooms where the deals are made.

Octavio Blanco (16:00)
And you tell me if I'm wrong, but to me it feels like we're in a time where Latino filmmaking is kind of...

establishing itself more in the United States. I feel like it's a time when our stories beyond I think that there was a time where our actors needed to be included and that's happening. It's not enough, but it's happening. But now it sounds like we're at the very like front end of a wave where perhaps our stories are being produced and our stories are starting to break through.

Led Black (16:39)
Mm-hmm.

Octavio Blanco (16:40)
beyond just like the community of Latino filmmakers who are interested in each other's films, but like more into like just, you know, the street people, the community, the culture, let's call it.

Led Black (16:45)
Mm-hmm.

Yeah, yeah, you know, and

I give you a good example of that, right? So Ramon Pezante is a director who had a short at the festival, right? Well, he now produced a feature film called Playing Sam that's a great.

film, right? And I've known Ramon for a while and it's like this is young man making films, right? Making shorts and then now he has a feature. I think it was on, I forgot where it's at right now. You can watch it streaming, but it's a great film. Jenny Risa plays the lead actress in it and it's about like acting for Latinos and how hard it is to find roles, how they want you to be a certain way. Either you have to speak Spanish or not speak Spanish or you have to have this exaggerated Spanish accent, right? That film goes into all of that and it's

And it was alumni that did that, Like Mike Diaz, my brother Juan Baggo, that's NYLFF alumni, right? There's so many people that come out of the NYLFF world. And I think that's what it does. What I like about Calixto is Calixto don't complain about lack of representation. He goes out and does something about lack of representation. You know what mean? That's what I love about it. And what's cool too is that we end the week on Dyckman. So we're having a Dyckman Block Party on the 21st. It's gonna be outstanding. We're gonna be a great activation, a good way of ending.

the summer and of ending NILFF so so you know again this

Octavio Blanco (18:06)
Do you, you,

you always have like a great musical act that comes on for the, for the Dyckman Block Party. Are you able to talk about that or is that still under wraps?

Led Black (18:17)
So,

it's still in under wraps So we do have a great musical artist to headline, right? That person is a very important person in music. You know what I mean? They're a big up and coming act, right? They've already, they're established.

But they're on the young side, super big deal, but we can't say who it is. But for the first time, we're actually opening it up to anybody, right? So meaning we've been getting submissions to open up that stage, to have just people that we think got the chops to perform. So usually we curate the talent beforehand. This time we'll say, hey, look, if you think you got what it takes, send us a DM and see what happens. So we haven't announced who those winners are yet, but that'll be soon.

The 21st is around the corner.

Octavio Blanco (19:06)
So let me understand this. You're gonna have a headliner, somebody who's established on the up and up, it's also, but it's established ⁓ on the young side. And then he's gonna open it up. And then after that, it's gonna, ⁓ sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry. That person, that act, that performer, that artist is gonna open it up. And then the rest of the acts are gonna be basically people who you may have never heard of.

Led Black (19:19)
Well, I didn't say he, I didn't say he, I didn't say he. That person.

Yeah, yeah.

So yeah,

that person's gonna headline, right? So that person's gonna be the last person you see perform. But before that, that person, not he, that person is gonna headline. They're gonna be the, right, they're gonna be the last, they're gonna be headlining. But the acts before that are gonna be acts that submitted and we chose.

Octavio Blanco (19:39)
he's, that person is gonna be the last, not he, that person is gonna be the last. Not opening, they're gonna be the last, okay.

Led Black (19:55)
Right, instead of just saying, okay, this is who you're gonna be, we decide to do it a different way and then open up to the public. That's where I get credit to Calixto. Calixto's always going back into Instagram to find the talent, to find the video people, the photo people. So, you we do have the best media team and that's not a lie. Like my brother Slingshot is running the media team, but we have some real films. We have my man Jordan. have, Pachote is like this.

Octavio Blanco (19:56)
Okay.

Led Black (20:21)
Badass photographer who shoots NASCAR. So yeah, like he's a, he's he's a shooter, like a shooter shooter. Formula one, yeah. He shoots Formula one. Like, Pachote is that dude. Like we have like the shooters, like Ariana. Like we have a lot of great shooters. My man, Alfredo, 1210 Media. Like we've had great shooters that work with us. And again, we turn it around in a credible way. Like last year, so, so last year we've been doing like three years in a row, we've done like a

Octavio Blanco (20:26)
And Formula One now, right? Also Formula One.

Led Black (20:50)
a pre-NYLFF mixer, right? And it's funny, because last year we did it at the Radio Hotel, right? And it was interesting, people are at the event.

and I'm posting images on the social of them at the event. So if they look at their phone, they see themselves on it. Right. Like that's how on it the social team is. Right. So one of the photographers is a great picture. He sends it to me. Right. He drops it to me and is going on the feed on the story. That moment. Right. Like so that that team that we have. It's so that's great. So like even if you can't make all the films, you know, follow New York Latino Film Festival on Instagram, because I'm going to do like a lot of behind the scenes. I'll be doing lives. You know, Calixto always gives us

Octavio Blanco (21:20)
That's like...

Led Black (21:31)
speech introducing opening night so I'll be introducing those there's also a lot of Q &A's after films before films so that'll be on the lives of New York Latino Film Festival so again follow New York Latino Film Festival to stay up on the festival but try to get out there right communities dance there if you're interested in film be around other filmmakers if you want to be an actor be around other actors find your tribe find your community right like this is more important than ever and it's also important that we support Latino art

Octavio Blanco (21:56)
Yeah.

Led Black (22:01)
Right? don't say, don't know. Why didn't you know, go and support by spend money on us? Cause it will, it will come back to you.

Octavio Blanco (22:02)
Yes.

And they are trying to erase us. there's more of us than there are ever before here. So we gotta keep on feeding that artist pipeline, keep on telling our stories, don't let them...

even get the idea that they can that they can erase us. They can't. We've got too much culture. We've got too much heart. We've got too much power to let that happen. So NYLFF my props to to the team and and my props to all the filmmakers that are that are participating and all the filmmakers that are maybe not participating but want to participate and don't know how to get involved. NYLFF is a great start to do that. Now about the Dyckman, the Dyckman party last year,

was a great activation. HBO had a great activity there with the Penguin. Is there gonna be anything like that that you can talk to us about or is everything still under...

Led Black (23:03)
So, yeah, it's

still under wraps you know what mean? We're not doing that kind of activation this year, but we are gonna do a bunch of like...

things that are gonna be real exciting. There's gonna be automobiles on site, there's gonna be performances, food, drinks, there's gonna be a lot of cool things. Last year was really special though, because we did, like said, the Penguin Activation. We had Renzi Feliz, who's like the co-star, who's Dominican, so he came out, and we had the Batmobile in purple, or the Jokermobile, whatever that thing was, or the Penguinmobile.

Yeah, it was a Pengo-mobile because it was a purple Maserati. It was a purple Maserati. So we had the purple Maserati out and we also had a Nissan because Nissan was one of the sponsors last year. But yeah, man, it's going to be another exciting year on Dyckman. And I think it's the best way to end the party. I'm always a big proponent of doing stuff uptown. We're NYLFF as much as we can. I think we have that energy here. We have that foot traffic. Uptown is the place to be, side of uptown, like west side.

Octavio Blanco (23:38)
Yeah, the penguin mobile Yeah

Led Black (24:07)
there's a lot of things that should happen here, especially on Dyckman. It's centrally located. I think Dyckman is the center of Uptown, and 125th is the other center of Uptown in certain ways. So Dyckman's mad important, so I'm glad we have the block party there. It's always a good boost also for the businesses, right? Because, know, when you... So basically what happens is after the Dyckman block party, a lot of people go eat and party at the restaurants there. So the restaurants really appreciate that we're there because we show a lot of love to the restaurants.

Octavio Blanco (24:37)
Yeah, yeah. So what else about the film festival? Like go back into the vaults. What's some of your best memories of New York Latino Film Festival? And do you know like, are there any like headliners or big names that you know for a fact are gonna be in attendance this year?

Led Black (24:56)
Yeah, I'm not gonna say who's gonna be in attendance, right? Because those things, what you realize when you do these things is nothing is set in stone until the day of. So, know, Michelle Rodriguez is gonna be there, right? Because it's a girl fight, 25 year reunion, right? So that she's gonna be there as far as I know. But things always kind of tend to change, know, things happen, but she's gonna be there. But there's gonna be a lot of great people coming through, you know, ⁓ it's gonna be a special event.

Octavio Blanco (25:08)
Until it happens.

Led Black (25:26)
It's

funny because I've been with the festival since it came back. There was a hiatus and I've been with the festivals that came back and it's been like a really amazing experience. You know, it's helped me grow as a professional on social media, right? Like I remember, you know, when I would get the call at first to do the festival, I would be nervous, right? Like how do I handle all this? And now I don't even not nervous anymore because I know I can because I've handled it already. But we had our opening night, I think it was 2018 or 2019 if I'm not mistaken.

those two years we had Ruben Blades there, you know what mean? And after they did the announcement, he was back in the cut talking to us, dropping like, know, it's Ruben Blades, like just dropping in knowledge on us, talking to us, showing us love, like that was a great moment, you know what I mean? And again, I just like when we see us.

on screens, like we belong on those screens. One moment that my daughter doesn't want me to probably mention, right, is when her first film premiered at the New York Latino Film Festival, I think it was 21. My wife and I have cameos in the film, right? So we're premiering, know, the film is premiering in a shorts block at the New York Latino Film Festival 2021, right? It's a packed house. mean, was because it was not just because of my daughter's film, but all the films. The shorts do really well.

So it's funny, NYLFF is almost like a shorts festival within a regular festival. Because we have blocks of great shorts. And short films are like its own thing. So those blocks of shorts sell really well. So it was a packed capacity house, And it's funny, you know, so everyone's watching, but when I made my cameo, because I know so much people there, the...

theater erupted. So I still tell my daughter, I bring that up every time I can. Like, look, they erupted for me, homegirl. Like, I'm the star of that film. I was in the film for like three seconds, you know what mean? Like, I made a line about talking about platanos and that's it. Like, I was on the screen for no time. But because people there know me, when I appeared on the screen, the whole theater went up and it was hilarious, you know? But the non-event is really near and to my heart. Like, again, I like the action. I like being part of it. I like helping to

Octavio Blanco (27:16)
Ha

That's really funny.

Led Black (27:39)
to to to

to use social media to really boost it as much as I can. I feel really lucky that I get to work behind Calixto. Calixto's a visionary, he's a leader, you know what mean? But he's not full of himself, you know what mean? He's not like, I know everything, so he leans on all of us in a way that shows you he's a real leader. He'll say, yo, Led, what you think? Led Led. So there's certain things that he really relies on me because he knows my instinct. He knows how the pulse that I have my finger.

on the pulse of a lot of in New York, you know what mean? So he trusts me and that feeling is mutual. again, I get to do this huge, the premier Latino film event in the country to be a part of it, to help out, to do it every year, year out. it's one of the great, like I said, it's one of the things I've really enjoyed every year and it's super grueling, right? Because it's every day.

Octavio Blanco (28:14)
Yeah, you do.

Led Black (28:31)
You know, you're there every day from early to late working the festival, dealing with whatever comes your way, surprises, changes, know, problems, right? And you're there handling it and with a beautiful group of people that become, like, you know, you're like soldiers in this mission together. And then it's like as stressful as it is, as soon as it's over, you suffer withdrawal.

Right? Cause like I was, I was in the trenches yesterday with all these people. Now I'm at home, you know, by myself, you know what mean? So it's, it's, it's, it's a great festival and it's super important. I'm glad to be a part of it. And again, I feel like that's part of fighting against the system and the bullshit, right? Doing our part for our people, for our culture to say we matter, right? That you can't cancel us. You can't erase us. We're not going to be erased with that. We're not going back. We not. Right? Like this is either all of ours or it's nobodies.

Octavio Blanco (28:55)
⁓ yeah.

Yeah,

No we're not, no we're not.

You can't erase us, you just can't.

We're here and our youth is here. Our youth is engaged. Our youth cares. Our youth is creative and you cannot get rid of us. You know, I really applaud you. I applaud Calixto and everybody who's taking a part in this. So more power to you, man. I appreciate what you're doing there and I definitely can't wait to see some of these films myself. They look exciting, you know.

Led Black (29:49)
Thanks, brother.

Octavio Blanco (29:54)
They're not like, how can I say this? You know, there was a time, once upon a time, when maybe films that were like Latino films, they kind of looked sort of like, you know, very, very independent and they looked maybe a little rough around the edges.

Not anymore. These films are legit cinematic works of art. they are...

Led Black (30:15)
Bye.

Yeah. Yeah.

Octavio Blanco (30:25)
They look like they were

produced in Hollywood. They still have the grit and the realness, but they have an amazing ⁓ look and the quality is incredible. So that's why I think like we're on the cusp of just this ⁓ new, not resurgent, but this explosion of high quality, good storytelling.

Led Black (30:36)
Yeah.

Octavio Blanco (30:52)
Latino films that are going to be consumed by everybody, not just aimed at solely the Latino audience. These are films that anybody is going to be who's interested in good storytelling, who's interested in movies, whether they be streaming or at the movie theater, people are going to want to see these films. So I'm excited for this and I'm excited to see another 25 years of NYLFF and I'm excited to see, you know, Latino film not have to be branded Latino film.

Led Black (31:15)
That's it.

Octavio Blanco (31:20)
anymore. I just want it to be seen as like, you know, good quality filmmaking, which is what's happening.

Led Black (31:22)
Right.

Yeah, for sure. And I think what you were speaking to earlier, like when you were trying to do film, was a different ballgame. It was a high capital production thing. Now you can leverage a lot of things. The barriers of entry have fallen. So you can make good films without a huge budget. You know what mean? And I think these young folks are really creating great, great talent. We need to support it. We need to nurture it. We need to go support it like by

money you know because because and tell people sometimes you can't spend money tell someone about you I saw this film you got to go see it you got to show love right like like that's really really true like we really got to come out and support one another now more than ever and and film is an art form and and when it's an art form that helps to preserve us and we need it more than

Octavio Blanco (32:15)
Yeah.

Octavio Blanco (32:16)
Aled, think now it's time to take a short pause so that we can pay some of the bills. You want to tell them a little about donations and how they can help the show? Absolutely. We can't do this without contributions from our viewers. You're going to see ⁓ a QR code, which you can scan. You can make a contribution towards Uptown Voices. It's going to be helpful for us to elevate our production. have dreams and aspirations of doing live shows. We have dreams and aspirations of being on location at our various cultural

institutions and we can't do that without without contributions from viewers and listeners like you. And we also can't do that without our sponsors. And this this season we are lucky to have a great sponsor 181 Cabrini. It's our neighborhood bistro. Both Let and I are just steps away from 181 Cabrini and and we love it. 181 Cabrini is located right there on that corner of 181 and Cabrini just steps away from the bridge. yeah, I love it.

You and I were there the other night. Yeah, yeah. We also met there for the first time. and I, the first time we met, we had lunch there. And it's my local bar now. Since I live, you and I both live right around there. It's my local bar. I spend a lot of time there. Ames Lee, the owner, is just an incredible restaurateur. I think he's a great guy. He's super funny, but the food is on point. Please hit up 181 Cabrini. It is really one of my favorite spots. 181 Cabrini pull up.

That's my spot. Show them love and tip well. And order the nachos. Those are on point. Listen, Greer is amazing. Everything in it. and you have to try the

coconut bread pudding. They got coconut, got chocolate, and now they got banana, but the coconut, outstanding. So like I said, really, the attention to detail for me is a great neighborhood joint. Thank you to James and 101 Cabrini for sponsoring this episode. And you know, if you want to sponsor How I Like My Boy, you know what mean? Let's make it happen. You know what mean? But yeah, without further ado though, let's get to it.

Let's go. The administration is trying to erase history and to rese-

Led Black (34:32)
ever

Octavio Blanco (34:33)
And what else, Led, what else do want to tell us you got coming up? Because there's a few things that are coming up that I think we need to probably talk to the audience about. I think we've got the Uptown ⁓ Night Market, one of the last ones is coming up.

When is that?

Led Black (34:46)
So there's one happening

October 9th. It's the second Thursday of a month. But that's the last one of all time. And like Marco said, that's supposed to be a Halloween edition on the 30th. But that hasn't been announced, you know what mean? So that's top secret, you know what mean? But yeah, that's supposed to happen.

Octavio Blanco (34:58)
Yeah. Yeah.

Wow. So there's a lot of good stuff.

Led Black (35:08)
last thing I want to say. So right this week, so it won't be running next week when the time is as but my moth story that I got to do at the United Palace alongside Lin, Lin Manuel told a story as well. That's airing this week on, you know, on NPR and WNYC throughout the country, which is pretty cool. And I think there's going to be some videos as well from it on their social media, the moth social media. So I'm looking forward to that. As you know, I was very lucky to do a moth.

in 2021 at the United Palace during the pandemic. I got to it was funny because it was really about Lin-Manuel and Kiara Lagria-Hudas who co-wrote In the Heights with Lin. It was about they had they were two of the storytellers and they had someone else who was part of who had come through like the Moth Slam pipeline. And they needed two like Washington Heights people to fill it in because it was supposed to be for the ending of the Uptown Ars Joe.

and at the United Palace. So they chose two people, I was one of them. And I've been a fan of the mall forever, so it was great to tell a story. was super nervous. Like, you know, when I said yes, I was like, yeah, let's do it. But then I was like, when I thought about it, I like, I'm gonna go on a stage after Lin like, or with Lin, like, how does that make sense? But again, it was a beautiful night. And now it's there forever. So it's gonna be airing, you can always look it up. The story's called...

Octavio Blanco (36:22)
Yeah

Led Black (36:30)
Before the plague came the Renaissance and it's a Moth story now and it's really, really cool. And it's funny because when I got the call about doing the Moth, I was in Miami at the time and I was working with Calixto on, it was a special project of NYLFF that we were doing an event for Juan Luis Guerra as a film. There's basically a concert film that his son, Gene Guerrero, that we spoke about earlier, he directed this film and it's basically Juan Luis Guerra

in the band playing in a beach called Esmeralda Beach in Meachess, Dominican Republic. And it's this gorgeous film. And basically we teamed up with HBO Latino that became P'alante HBO to do an event for Juan Luis Guerra in the film in Miami. So at the time I got the call to do the moth and I said, yes, of course. And it was one of those days. So what would happen?

when I was doing the thing for Juan Luis Guerra, so in the daytime I was working my job, my day job, and then after that I would go and work for NYLFF to get the event ready, right, and then that night after that I would go to Winwod because I love Winwod. I don't if you've ever been to Winwod, but Winwod is like, because I, you know, it's amazing, and you know, as a kid that grew up in graffiti and in love with graffiti,

Octavio Blanco (37:40)
Yeah, it's amazing.

Led Black (37:47)
That windward is like everything. It's just graffiti everywhere. It's amazing. So I would go there. I'd burn one down, walk around and have a good time every day. That's what my routine was. But this one particular night, I'm driving and I saw a quote. And the quote was, after the plague came the Renaissance. And that quote fucked my head up. I was like, that's it right there. The Renaissance came after the plague. So it spoke to me because at that time we were...

Octavio Blanco (37:50)
Yeah.

Led Black (38:15)
knee deep in a pandemic, right? And it spoke of hope, right? Like that after this calamity, things would be better, right? So I was like, I was just stuck with that in my head. So I'm going to that's going to be my Twitter bio. I'm going do this. I'm going to put this everywhere. Like, I love the quote. And I took a picture of it on my social media feed, Let Black Not Uptown Collective. So I took a quote, but then I went and smoked weed, right? And then I walked around. Next thing I know, I don't know where I'm at. I'm lost because it's a rental car.

Octavio Blanco (38:18)
Yep.

Led Black (38:44)
It's a rental car, so I don't know where I'm at. I walk out, call my wife, I go, listen, I'm lost in Winwood I don't know where my car is at, you know what mean? And then I'm walking around for a long time, right? And then what happened was I saw the mural again, the artwork, after the plague came The Renaissance. So once I saw that, I knew where my car was parked, and I was able to get home, right? And it turns out that later that month on the 30th, right? So look how crazy this is. That night, right?

Octavio Blanco (39:05)
my God.

Led Black (39:12)
So basically when you do a moth, you practice with your director once a week.

Right? And I got very lucky because ⁓ Sarah Austin, who was like the head of The Moth was my director. So she worked with me very closely to hone the story. So basically every weekly we would have calls. And at first I could read afterwards, it had to be just me saying it without reading, right? Cause you're telling a 10 minute, 11 minute story without notes. Right? That's tough. So we were doing it and then prior the week of you do it every day.

Right? You do it every day to talk to her. So you go over it. She was giving me like 10 things to change. Like the last day I'm like, I'm not changing that Sarah. I'm sorry. Like, but, but I was very nervous. It was in my mind. I was like, what are you doing going on a stage with Lin-Manuel Miranda? Like, why would you, why would you even do that to yourself? Like, why would you do that? Like dumb ass, right? So, so I was super nervous about it. So my, performance was supposed to be June 30th, 2021. Right.

Octavio Blanco (39:44)
my god.

Why would you do this?

Led Black (40:14)
June 29th, right? So we had it, we were supposed to go to Yankee game. We had tickets to go to Yankee game. June 29th, three o'clock. I just had my practice with Sarah. We went over the moth. She gave me some tips. I'm like, okay, I'm not changing anything on the story. This is as good as it's gonna get, right? And then I get a call from the consulting company I work. And they were like, hey, by the way, the place you've been working for the last 18 years, we're letting you know, we have to let you go. So I was like.

the day before my moth, right? So I had this bottle of wine. I was like, I'm gonna drink this whole bottle of wine. But then I said, stop myself. If I do that, I'm only gonna hurt myself.

You know what saying? I'm only gonna hurt myself. So I kept practicing, right? My oldest daughter who, you know, who went to 10, she was an actress, she actually gave me a great tip for practicing my story. And no one in the Moth knew this. Basically what I would do is, as I'm telling the story, her and my wife would throw socks at me. And I had to be able to catch them and throw them back. And if I could catch them and throw them back, and tell the story, then I had the story. But it really helped. I mean, like that device helped lock in that story.

Right? So, so it's funny. So the next day I'm walking to United Palace, right, from my house and I'm just a nervous wreck. I'm like, what the fuck did I do? Why did I do this? Right? Like I'm so nervous. And then we get there, right. And they give us like the, the, the, play bill. Right. So I'm looking at, I see my name first. I'm like, bet I'm first. I can get in and get out. I'm good. And then Lin goes, no, Led

It's reverse, you're headlining. And then he just like, ribbed me like really quick and I was like, So I'm like, God. And then I'm like, so now I'm even way more nervous, right? So this is my first green room experience. So I've been in the other past forever, but I've never been in the green room. So I'm in my green room experience and I'm calling my wife like desperate, like, my God, I don't know why.

Octavio Blanco (41:57)
You

Led Black (42:14)
Why did I do this? Why'd you let me do this? Like she always gets the rap like this is your fault. This is your fault. And everyone came out and I'm.

Octavio Blanco (42:16)
Yeah. Why didn't you stop me?

You should have stopped me.

Led Black (42:22)
You should have stopped me, what's wrong with you? So then everyone comes out, I still haven't come out, because I'm just like, ugh, God, what am I doing, right? So then I come out, and I'm there, and it's a great show. C.J. Hunt was the host, and that guy is just a really cool guy. He's my friend now, he's super funny. He was a producer on The Daily Show, he made films. He was a great host, he also told a story. But it's funny, right, so the way it works is like, it's three storytellers.

and intermission and then the last two storytellers. So Lin was the last of the first three storytellers and then it went to intermission, which makes sense, it's Lin-Manuel Miranda, he's a superhero. But then Lin, when he tells a story, it was a heartbreaking story about he had a friend when he was young that died in a pool, little kid that died. So it's like Lin starts crying.

And I'm like, my God, how do I top Lin crying? what the hell's happening? Like, I'm like, my God, Lin is crying in this. How am I even? And then it's always funny, I had the nerves all the way until I got on that stage. But then when I got on that stage, it just like, all of that kinda just melted away. And you know, that feel like, I knew I liked to perform.

You know what mean? But I didn't realize how much I liked to perform. And it was this beautiful feeling where like, you know, I really, again, that kind of, you know, that moment where you're just, it's me in the audience and we're vibing and telling that and then just you listening. again, it's a story of Dominican manhood. It's a story of being, of marriage. It's a story of cancer, right? So it's a story that's funny, but at the same time it's...

Octavio Blanco (44:02)
It's poignant.

Led Black (44:03)
It's pointing there, And so, you know, I told that story. I feel I did really good on it. Sarah, who was my director, said it was one of her favorites, you know what mean? And there's decades of moth by now, right? So I got to, I'm in the pantheon of people that did moths, you know what I'm saying? So the moth has been really, really a good thing. So, you know, I'm excited this is re-airing, you know, I hope more people hear it. You could just put.

the moth and after the plague came the Renaissance, which is the last line, right? So it's like, I took this thing of me getting, I was supposed to get lost in Miami that day, right? I was supposed to find that quote, because that quote ended up being the name of my story that I told maybe 30 days later, right? And again, I think.

Octavio Blanco (44:49)
And it was,

I saw it, I saw your performance. It was powerful, it was really well done. It was, I encourage everybody and hopefully, know, you know, I can't wait for it to be replayed and maybe.

Led Black (44:56)
Thank you. Thank you, brother.

Octavio Blanco (45:03)
It'll open even more doors for you because the storytelling was just on point. It was super powerful. It was funny. It was poignant, like you say. It dealt with all these really important topics. And it's a voice that needs to be heard. Your voice needs to be heard. And I'm glad that it is being heard.

Led Black (45:06)
Yeah.

Thank you, brother.

Thanks, brother.

And what's really cool is that, so it came out November of that year and they timed it to, to, Lin-Manuel's directorial debut of Tic-Tic Boom. So that week that film was coming out, they dropped, ⁓ the moth, but I got fan mail. I never got fan mail before. And what's really cool is, so the way it works when you do a moth is, you know, prior to the pandemic, you could travel the world with one story.

Right? So they could keep picking you. You could tell that same story around the world. But contractually, once it goes on the radio, you can't tell that story live again, ever.

Right? So it was cool because the week before it was released, I got to perform the story again, but in Princeton University to a sold out audience with different storytellers and a different host. And I, you know, I did my thing and I wasn't last. I was good. I wasn't last. I was like third or whatever, but I had a good response. And it's funny because afterwards it's Princeton, right? It's not like New York City. Like when we came out, it was kind of late. There was like one restaurant still open.

I go in there with my wife and people were like fighting to get my bill. Like they wanted to pay my tab. Like this guy said, I want to pay his tab. And the other person was like, no, we got this tab. It's already paid for. And that was really cool. Like it was a nice experience, you know, that my story affected these people in that sense. know what mean? And sometimes I get comments, which is really cool. Because one of the stories I tell too is about, you know, the first line is like, the first line of the story is I didn't know I was poor until my freshman year at Bronx High School of Science.

Octavio Blanco (46:29)
you

Wow.

Led Black (46:52)
Right? Because I grew up here. I grew up in the hood. Right. And everyone was like me. And then I go to Bronx Science and I was like, shit, I'm poor. I didn't even know what poverty was, but I guess I'm poor now. You know what mean? But but but again, I saw some kids post on the comment like, my God, I feel seen. I'm a kid of color at Bronx Science. I'm a poor kid of color at Bronx Science. And you speak to me. And I heard that like a teacher there was was playing it for the class. Right. And that's dope. Like, that's amazing. Like, my struggle is not just my struggle. You know what mean? Like someone else goes through it.

Octavio Blanco (46:59)
Ha ha ha!

Wow.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Led Black (47:21)
So I think that story's opened a bunch of doors and I've been working on my second month for a long time. Sarah gave me some love and says, like, Led when you ready, let's do it. So I'm going to try to dedicate these next few months to get it going. And hopefully next year, you know.

I'll do another Moth on different topic, different thing. But but the Moth has been very, very important for my growth as an artist, as a as a entity or whatever. And then I actually started doing my own version of the Moth. But I've only done one. It's called Smoke Signals. So it's kind of like a cannabis version of the Moth. You know, we did one at La Chela's with five great storytellers. And it was it was a great night. But it's just a big undertaking that we haven't done one again. But we will we will put that back on.

on the front burner again at some point.

Octavio Blanco (48:16)
That's amazing, that's amazing. I think that's... Man, you're unstoppable. You're... Lead black is everywhere. Where do you get the energy from? And now we got the...

Led Black (48:24)
Yeah.

And we got this podcast too, this podcast has been really

good man. Yeah, the podcast I think it's been one of these things that like I've learned so much. know what mean? Like it's like, it's people that I know usually, and then I know more, I learn more about them. I have more reason to even look at them with more admiration, right? From the very first podcast with Niria and Martin Collins, right? That these are people doing stuff for the community without glamor, right? Without like, hey, I'm doing this for me. Like it's doing the hard work of community.

Octavio Blanco (48:55)
Yeah.

Led Black (48:55)
Right. Calixto. Right. You know, Mino Laura. Right. Like this is this is hard work, but it's done with love, you know, and it's done for the betterment of us all. So it's like this podcast has been good. So I thank you, man, because you've been you do your thing. Right. I just I just show up and talk. You know, I you do all the back end hard work. You know what mean? Like the grinding is you. You know what mean? So I thank you for that. And also you got Feggo like Felipe is my friend. But you but you made it happen. You you you you you got that bull by the horns.

Octavio Blanco (49:08)
You

you

Led Black (49:25)
And I think that interview was running this week. And that's a very important interview. You know what saying? Like I think it's a local story that has national resonance. Global resonance, yep, global.

Octavio Blanco (49:34)
Global, global resonance. Global, yeah,

global. So yeah, that's what I think that this podcast, hopefully people will recognize that it's.

Yeah, it's a local podcast. It's about, and that's a tough thing to do to make a top podcast about, you know, local issues. But the, the issues that we talk about are not local only the issues that we talk about are global and they're national. And so the podcast should be of interest to people from anywhere. It just happens to be that we're focusing on our, on our community and what we know. And, luckily we're able to do it. Luckily podcasting is a medium that, ⁓ allows us

to do this without having to invest too much into making it happen. you know, it's inclusive. The only challenge is to get it seen across, you know, as far and wide as we can. you know, it's a marathon, it's not a race. So as long as you're with me, Led, we're gonna keep doing it. We're gonna keep rocking on. All right, man.

Led Black (50:33)
Right. We we in there. Keep rocking on. Yes, sir. Yes,

sir. Spread love is the uptown way, brother. See you soon.

Octavio Blanco (50:41)
Yes, sir. See you soon.

Octavio Blanco (50:43)
Thanks for joining us in this episode of Uptown Voices brought to you by 181 Cabrini, your neighborhood bistro just steps away from the North Walk of the George Washington Bridge. Use the code Uptown Voices season one for your discount and to stay up to date on the latest in Uptown, you can follow Uptown Collective on Instagram, Facebook and X. If you're watching Uptown Voices on YouTube, don't forget to smash the subscribe button and to give us a like and don't forget we also

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