Ellington

lan, Jeff, Cesar and David are making history here in the film program at Cerritos College.

Also known as the "fab four" of the film industry, Alan and Jeff [the Valency brothers] and Cesar and David [the Garcia brothers] are a significant example of what a camera, a computer and a lot of love for movies can do.

They are enrolled in film class, but according to them they are nothing without the help of each other.

--Cesar--They have been at Cerritos College for about two years and have done three films so far. They are currently working on a fourth film, which is a big production.

The Valency and Garcia brothers have always loved film and they were so anxious to do it even before they were in school.

"For years we've been struggling for a camera," Alan said, "that is the main tool and the foundation for all movies."

Their work so far has been well accepted by the film class and also by Professor Robert Campolo, who is the film program instructor. Campolo has been very supportive to the team. "Campolo rocks," said Cesar, "He is very creative and a good guy."

"A Spoonful of Honor," is the first film made by the Valency/Garcia team in the category of action/comedy.

It is an eight-minute film with a total budget of $20.

Related to the film is a sequel called, "A Bowlful of Pride," which also shares the same budget cost and is 30 minutes long.

Their main project now is the end of the trilogy for these movies and is called, "A Dumpsterful of Vengeance."

This is a major production; it has a budget of $1,000 and is an hour-long movie.

"There've been a lot of pre-production, talking and pizzas for this movie," Cesar said, "but we're getting clear of it."

They have been working on their last project for several months and they expect it to come out soon.

--David--But comedy is not the only interest for the "fab four" because, besides of those films they've made another short drama. It is "Away with the Demon," which is a reenactment of the assassination of Rasputin.

This is a 15-minute short film with a $25 budget. It was done half in the Garcia house and the other half in the Valency bedroom.

"In all of our movies we are the actors, the producers, the directors and the editors," Alan said.

Jeff recalled the difference between a director and a cinematographer. "A common mistake is confusion," he said. "Sometimes somebody else had to take care of the camera while I was acting."

"But cinematographer, referring to the cameraman, is the guy who plans the shots, while the director is the overviewer of the whole thing and also who decides what stays and what goes out."

From a sharp point of view their main ideas came from several films and Cracker Jack boxes. Films like the "Fightclub," "Braveheart," "The Shawshank Redemptions," anime films and several video games serve as the inspiration for the film making team in most of their work.

For them DVD is the best thing that happened to the film industry. Alan said that he has been learning from every DVD he buys, because of all the special features and everything, and that didn't happen 10 years ago.

"Film in all of his definitions should be done with love," said David.

"As long everyone believes in it, its all good," also recalled Alan.

The team uses Vegas Video software used for the video editing and Acid Pro is used for sound. Iron Hammer Entertainment and Power Up Productions is the name of the production "companies" that developed all the films and they belong to the team.

Cesar is the star in the movies, David does the music [inspired in several video games.] Jeff takes and edits the pictures. And Alan directs the movies all for the sake and fun of film.