Walking With Angels

Being raised in Los Angeles, California, I often heard about the gangs whether through dramatic news stories or through dramatized tv shows and films. But I never was told the real stories. On screen, we were only shown what the director or news wanted us to see. I began thinking about how I could shoot a journalistic story on them. After researching for several months I was finally given an introduction. I was told to go to an address. Wait til they arrived and, “if they want to be involved”, they’ll tell me. As of this point, It was just an idea, without the access, I had nothing. So I was hoping they agreed. I explained to the two members I met that night, I wanted to listen, to learn, to hear their stories, to tell their stories. What I didn’t know, is just what I would learn. They're powerful stories of childhood, growing up in Los Angeles gangs, often joining only after fearing for their lives as their neighborhoods around them changed. As I documented each of them, I felt so heartbroken. Stories of fear, death, and survival surrounded them. After beginning the project, I knew what I would call it ‘Walking With Angels’, because each day, these people truly had an angel looking after them through the tragedy they experienced. After sharing the project with my friends Mourad Mazouz (Sketch London) and his creative director Mehrnoosh Khadivi (Craftwork Studios), I was personally invited to showcase the documentary at London’s exclusive Sketch Gallery. I will be forever grateful for their support.