NOW FEATURING ‘EAST LOS’ BY ANGELA BOATWRIGHT – Punk Rock Thrives in the Backyards of East Los Angeles

They come from all over the greater Los Angeles area Boyle Heights, El Sereno, Lynwood, Santa Clarita, etc. from diverse family backgrounds, seeking out the underground pop-up punk shows that make up the “East Los” backyard scene. Straight-up punk, metal, horror ska, oi and psychobilly are all in the mix and, while the music is diverse, its aggressive approach is a constant. There’s always a mosh pit. TV, radio, gossip columns and Internet memes don’t support this scene: It must be sought out, specifically, and for a variety of reasons. This is a simple D.I.Y., research- required, no bullshit, anti-establishment, fuck the system, off the wall approach and exactly what kids attending these shows need to feel like they belong. Each character is his or her own person, an individual with their own personal experiences, history, likes and dislikes.

The one thing that brings them all together, that creates a sense of family, is the East L.A. backyard scene. #LIVINGOFFTHEWALL seeks to define and share true stories of extraordinary people living ‘Off the Wall’ through the eyes of four documentarians. Each was given total freedom to explore and interpret the meaning of living “Off the Wall” through words, images and moving pictures. Defying cultural acceptance and busting down doors around the world, #LIVINGOFFTHEWALL displays a global and cultural phenomenon. The episodic journey takes you to a thriving punk scene in the backyards of East Los Angeles, visits young entrepreneurs working purely for passion before profit, travels to Russia where kids have to scale numerous walls to express themselves and reveals a Mandarin and Cantonese introduction to youth culture.

http://livingoffthewall.vans.com