playing clean short film

Taking place in a jazz bar during the 1950’s, the film revolves around Bunchy, a young Mexican-American Jazz musician who has traveled to New York City to play with his musical idol, Ellis Redding. The story examines the relationship between the two characters, the struggles they face to play their own music, and the sacrifices they’ve made along the way.

​

“Playing Clean” was first written as a One-Act play for Rio Hondo College’s One-Act Festival, and from there it received an invitation to The American College Theater Festival’s New Works Program in January of 2001. After enrolling at The Los Angeles Film School, I soon began reworking “Playing Clean” to film.

cast and crew

BUNCHY
ELLIS
LEW
SONNY
MELVIN
LAYLA
ROC
CLANCY
KAY



 

Written & Directed by
Producer
Executive Producers




Director of Photography
Editor
Costume Design
1st Assistant Director
Camera Operator

1st Assistant Camera
Set Decorator

Production Sound Mixer

Gaffer
Composer
Musicians




 

Justin Huen
Micheal David Ricks
Mel Rodriguez
Douglas Dennard
Fred Thomas Jr.
Nesha Davis
Alex Bendaña
Damon Russell
Queala Clancy
 
 

Chris Banda
Zac Zavala
Justin Huen
Rosalinda Banda
Gilbert Banda
Echo Serna
Chris Banda
Chris Banda
Chris Banda
Manee Leija
Steve Petty
Paul Vansumeren
Ricardo Cruz
Vanessa Duque
Jairo Ortiz
Michael Hanson
Matthew Huerta
Matthew Huerta (Piano)
Michael Cartwright (Trumpet)
Remy Taghavi (Saxophone)
Caitlin Moss (Drummer)
Christian Chico (Drummer)
Alex Bendaña (Bass)