Team

Summary

Stills

: A.J. Calomay, a UCLA graduate with a Psychobiology and Cognitive Science degree, found passion in film and media while producing videos for UCLA’s Filipino organization. In 2001, the West L.A. native established Xylophone Films, and along with Kid Heroes Productions, produced a decade’s worth of high profile independent projects, including music videos for the Black Eyed Peas, “the Apl Song”, “Bebot”, Bambu “Old Man Raps”, “the Debut” featurettes and the feature film “Lumpia”. Calomay has also directed full-length documentaries for hip hop artists Dudley Perkins and Wildchild from Stones Throw Records. In addition to running Xylophone Films, Calomay runs a Filipino food pop-up called You Eat Now! and works as an editor/assistant editor in the post-production industry. He has worked with MTV News, Disney.com, XBox, M3 Creative, mun2, Fandango, GuruHub.tv, NBC Universal/USA Network (“Covert Affairs”, “Mr Robot”), and Warner Bros (“Speed Racer”, “DC’s Legends of Tomorrow”).

: At root a comedic storyteller and community engagement specialist, Robert Farid Karimi designs game-performances, interactive-immersive theater experiences and themed entertainment to engage and discuss social issues that concern the various communities he visits. A Pushcart Prize-nominated writer, his work has appeared in the Los Angeles Times, NPR and other literary journals. His performances have been featured throughout the country at venues including the Nuyorican Poets Café, The Contemporary (Museum) in Baltimore, San José Museum, Def Poetry Jam, The Smithsonian, and SXSW. Creative Capital, the NEA, the MAP Fund, The Andy Warhol Foundation, the Knight Foundation and Supervalu Foundation supported his recent projects. In 2018, he built the first ever artist residency at USC’s Department of Physical Education while continuing to produce his culinary cultural engagement project: ThePeoplesCook Project.

: John Manal Castro received his BA in Film and Television Arts at Cal State University, Long Beach where he wrote and directed the acclaimed short film, Diary Of A Gangsta Sucka, a biting experimental documentary poking fun at wannabe gangsters in suburban Los Angeles. Following graduation, he co-produced and co-wrote The Debut, one of the first American feature films about the Filipino-American experience. In addition to his film work, Castro attended the Culinary School Of The Pacific in Honolulu Hawaii. His experience inspired him to co-produce, write and perform onstage in the satirical food show experience: Cooking Show Con Karimi & Castro. He currently lives in Los Angeles where he cooks at a fancy hotel and runs You Eat Now!, a Filipino inspired restaurant pop up.