BREAKING THE BOUNDARIES OF NORMALITY
'On The Downlow' is now available!
(Click the image to see the IMDB listing)
Over 2 Hours of Special Features!
The Low Down On The Downlow: The Making Of "On The Downlow" Documentary!
"Reaper" Music Video Performed by Deadlee!
Original 2001 Short Film "Broken Warning"!
Commentaries by Director Tadeo Garcia & Screenwriter Roger B. Domian for both the feature & the short film!
Poster Concept Gallery!
Available now wherever DVDs are rented or sold!
If you don't see Downlow' at you favorite sale or rental store, please ask them to order it!!
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View highlights of the Downlow DVD Release Party! Click HERE (It's near the bottom)
Click HERE to view the
Diary!
See the complete story of how 'Downlow' was put together!
The Reviews Are In!!
Just my two cents… I saw On the Downlow back in
2004 and thought it was pretty groundbreaking for the time. I can't wait to view
it again now that I hear it's going to be released on DVD. I thought the film
was really ahead of its time breaking stereotypes while tackling a controversial
subject matter. Especially at this time when gay themed or character driven
Hollywood movies seem to be coming out of the woodwork (I guess you can thank
Brokeback Mountain for that). I mean did we really need to see a 'love scene'
between its characters in BM to know what the film was about. Whereas Downlow
contained no 'love scene', a smart move in my opinion, instead it lets the
viewer witness one secret kiss within the rawness of a neighborhood alley. It's
the acting between actors Tony Sancho & Michael Cortez, which carries & conveys
the emotion these two gang members are feeling for each other throughout the
film. Both actors are top-notch, at ease, comfortable within the constraints of
this super low budget production.
'On The Downlow' tells a tragic tale of two Chicago Latino gang members, Isaac
(Tony Sancho) and Angel (Michael Cortez). Angel being from an opposing gang
joins up with Isaac in his gang to 'be with him'. The two try to keep this
information 'on the downlow' from gang leader Reaper (Donato Cruz), but as in
all tragic love stories things go bad pretty fast.
By now everyone knows the term 'On the Down Low' as a gay meaning phrase,
married men secretly having affairs with other men. But Downlow was filmed in
2002 before Oprah helped make the phrase main stream after interviewing an
author with a book by the same name. I hope the title doesn't frighten off movie
viewers thinking this is about the same thing. True the characters in 'Downlow'
may be gay, or possibly just sharing an emotional bond that is absent from
they're gang lifestyle. But in reality the film is about keeping secrets and the
tragedy that can happen when you play within the world of gangs.
This is director Tadeo Garcia's first feature film. According to the film's
diary on the filmmaker's website www.iconoclastfilms.com, this production
actually started out as a student project, and with the help of screenwriter
Roger B. Domian developed into a full length feature during Garcia's second year
at film school. 'Downlow' was made for the low cost of $8,000 and is based on a
previous short film Garcia made called 'Broken Warning' (which I haven't seen).
Both the short film and Downlow has won awards, not bad for a film student's
first efforts.
Even though the production may indeed falter from the low budget constraints
here and there (there were some audio issues at the screening I attended),
technicalities aside, one only needs to look past the low production values to
find a diamond in the rough. I thought it was well acted, enlightening, and
balanced between a growing tension and a bittersweet emotional sadness.
This film has something to say & I thought it said it quiet well. I would be
interested to see another film by these guys to see what they can do with a
better budget. - David
****
Raw, Gritty, Shocker and a great kiss
- LuverOfCinema wrote on 01/02/2007:When I saw the first scenes of ON THE DOWNLOW at a Gay Film Festival in California, I thought, "Ok here is another very low buget film festival filler". I figured since it won the Best U.S.A. Narrative film in New York's Gay and Lesbian Film Festival, it must be good"..... I watched and thought. "Is this the right movie. Is this a Gay Movie, or a gangbanger movie." Well to my surprise I stuck it out and was totally mesmerized by the film. The low budget grainy look of the film actually enhanced the realistic feeling of being in the streets in the Southwest side of Chicago, where these complicated gangbanger lovers lived. After the unforgettable kissing scene between the two guys, I was hooked and sat back, and I totally surrendered myself to the movie. The kissing scene was so intense that you could hear a pin drop...not a sound in the entire theater which must have had more then 500 people present. The acting of the guys that played the two leads were totally believable. Although there were some sound problems at the screening, it did not matter. After the movie, I saw some people crying. I was also teary eyed myself. It reminded me of how I felt after watching Romeo and Juliet or West Side Story. Shocking is the right word to express the ending. It caught me off guard. I highly recommend this film. Watch it undisturbed and to the end.
****
A Must See Movie - EC wrote on 01/11/2007:
Great film about a remarkable untold story depicted by great actors. A must have for your DVD collection.
****
The Little Film That Could, and Did., January 13, 2007
Reviewer: Doctor Richard "Richard" (Newton,, MA, United States)
It is cruel to give this film just three stars, because its heart, soul, and
spirit are five stars. It is a must-see for any one who is looking for signs of
intelligent life on the planet. The credits tout its success in many film
festivals. Only uneven pacing and an ending insufficiently violent to be
satisfying mark this as an early work in someone's arc. This is Shakespearean
tragedy, after all. The stage should be littered with corpses.
Some may want to stop reading here. Anyone who recognizes to which tragedy I
refer, or who has seen West Side Story, may guess some of the ending.
The story is about two families, here as two Chicago gangs that are its members'
families. A member of one gang has a member of the other as a lover, secretly.
The second man wants to leave his gang, and join the other. If the gang he wants
to join discovers him as a member of the other, he will be killed.
There are many other elements from Shakespeare's version included in this film,
such as a reference to the famous masquerade ball from Shakespeare, as well as
to the dance at the gym in West Side Story. I'll leave it to others to identify
more, or to disagree with me.
I hope that the makers of the film have not read the play to which I refer; that
would make the parallels downright spooky and even archetypal.
****
Romeo and Romeo in the Hood, January 15, 2007
Reviewer: Amos Lassen "Amos Lassen" (Little Rock, Arkansas) Amos Lassen and Cinema Pride
"On the Downlow" (Image) is not your usual gay movie by any means. We do not
think of thugs as being gay, especially not members of radical gangs. Here is a
romantic and tragic film of love between two rival gang members of Southside
Chicago. Perhaps the title is an unfamiliar term to you but "on the downlow" is a
reference to street guys who are "straight" but have sex with men in secret.
Angel is a member of the Latin Kings but he has a secret lover named Isaac who
belongs to a different gang. They meet in secret and no one knows of their
relationship. Angel double crosses his own gang and Isaac, at that time, tries
to get him to come into his own gang.
Tadeo Garcia has entered territory not yet explored with his direction of this
film. He manages to show us first hand the life on the streets of gang heavy
Chicago and his actors who are all first timers give excellent
performances. The
film, itself, is suspenseful and laden with twists and turns as well as gang
brutality. This is not any easy film to watch but it is enlightening and has the
heart and soul not found often in films of this sort. I did expect a great deal
more violence at the end and if there is a fault to "On the Dowlow", it is that
the ending could have been stronger. I expected to see more deaths at the
conclusion.
Similar to the classic Shakespearean "Romeo and Juliet", it is the tale of two
families (gangs) where a member of one family is in love with a member of the
other family. The rest I will leave to you to discover. What is the most amazing
thing about the film is that it was made as a student project and as such it is
a bit uneven. I predict that the director will have a huge career if this film
is any sign of things to come. This explosive story opens our eyes to things we
knew nothing about and does so with power. Our two main characters live in a
society where the decisions that they make and the paths they choose to take
create a trap and a brutal end for them. Their community will not take to
secrets and rules cannot be broken.
As a film that is ahead of its time and breaks down stereotypes this is a movie
not to be missed. There is no love scene in the film just a kiss that says it
all. That kiss which takes place in the raw of a neighborhood alley speaks
legions of words and carries and conveys the emotions of the two young men. The
fact that these two guys love "on the downlow" sets us up for the tragedy which
follows them. When things go bad, they go bad very quickly. I think what the
film is really about is the danger inherent in keeping secrets and what can
happen in a world which is dominated by gangs. The beauty of the film is the way
it sends its thesis to the audience--quietly and beautifully. What a great way
for Garcia to begin his movie career.
****
"Watch it until the end...It is amazing!!
This movie caught me by surprise. A friend dragged me to go see ON THE
DOWNLOW at the Miami Beach Cinemateque in Miami Beach about two years ago when I
was visiting Miami. The Cinemateque was a really nice cute place where they
showed art house movies. When the movie started I asked my friend why he dragged
me to see this gang banger movie. He quickly told me to just watch. He had
already seen it and thought I would like it. Well it was not long after that,
that I was completly absorbed in the story. The film is clearly low budget but
what happens is, you start to feel like it is really authentic. The grittiness
helps. The actors were great and I will never forget the kissing scene between
the two gang-bangers. It was honest, passionate, and really hot. Well after that
I just sat and let it take me in. The movie had a profound effect on me. I have
been waiting for this movie to come out on DVD and now it finally has. I
recommend this film highly. Watch it to the end. It has a shocking ending.
Submitted by
ChiTwnToday in Chicago
****
I just finished watching "On The Downlow" and I have to admit that I am extremely impressed by the beautiful yet heart-breaking tale Tadeo Garcia and Roger B. Domian have created. I relate to the material on many different levels (I am gay, Puerto Rican, and was raised in Brooklyn, NY) and it was very refreshing to see "Thugs" shown as humans with genuine emotions rather than heartless animals that should be locked in cages. The love that Isaac and Angel share is very authentic. Naturally, I have dated many guys on the "down low" in Brooklyn and it was kind of awkward watching the movie because the first hour mirrored many of my relationships. I am waking up first thing tomorrow morning and going to purchase this movie. It quickly became one of my favorite movies. I can't wait to see more movies from this company as well as the director and writer. Thanks for listening (well... Reading lol) - Sincerely, Joshua
****
Gradually movie audiences are turning more serious attention to
the little Independent films for quality and meaning in story and in style and
in brave confrontation with issues outside the perimeter of the Hollywood
style films. A fine example is this remarkable film by student Tadeo Garcia
whose first year in film school produced the outline of this little gem of a
movie and whose courageous 'first film' gained the respect of screenwriter
Roger B. Domain who helped him transfer the skeletal story into a full length
film ON THE DOWNLOW, all on a budget of $8,000.! From the opening scenes we
can sense that we are watching a love story, but it is a story of forbidden
love: Angel (Michael Cortez) is escaping his Chicago street gang with the help
of Isaac (Tony Sancho) and the two warmly human, supportive, sensitive young
youths flee to the territory of Isaac's low neighborhood where Isaac convinces
Angel to give up his allegiance to his former gang and pledge to Isaac's gang,
a nasty group led by Reaper (Donato Cruz). Very
gradually and with incredible decorum Garcia reveals to us that Angel and
Isaac are lovers, the only time the union is shown physically is a prolonged
kiss in an open night alley, an event which will trigger the force of destiny:
it is enough as the scene is passionate yet gracefully not graphic.
The boys' mothers plead with them to not carry guns and to avoid gang
alliance, but at the same time they lovingly accept their sons' sexuality. But
life is as it is on the streets of south side Chicago and Angel is accepted
into Isaac's gang, having to undergo the cruel initiation beating that
accompanies his joining. Reaper is later informed that Angel is an ex-gang
member of the rival gang and Isaac is the one Reaper determines should kill
the offending Angel. The two lovers try to escape Chicago but the inevitable
happens and the ending is tragic but with undertones that are subtly captured
by Garcia's eye, mind, camera, and heart: the final confrontation scene ends
with our enabled view of evidence that other members of the gang share the
same 'on the downlow' as Angel and Isaac.
Not only are Tony Sancho and Michael Cortez wholly believable in their
dichotomous roles, but the entire cast is filled with raw yet gifted talent:
Felipe Camacho as the Priest, Beatriz Jamaica as Angel's mother and Carmen
Cenko as Isaac's mother, Donato Cruz as Reaper, Adelina Quinones (a terrific
screen presence) as Laura, and all the youngsters who convincingly bring the
gang members to life. Yes, there are evidences of low budget constraints, but
the overwhelming success of the story of two young men in love against the
backdrop of hopelessness of crime is brilliant evidence that Tadeo Garcia is a
gifted talent to watch. Recommended for all audiences. Grady Harp
-- Latest Updates --
December 29th 2006 - View highlights of the Downlow DVD Release Party! Click HERE (It's near the bottom).
December 21st 2006 - Director Tadeo Garcia is interviewed by Chicago Journal. See it here!
July 19th 2006 - Preproduction begins on a new Iconoclast feature tentatively entitled REBEL YELL. The screenplay has begun.
Spring 2005 - Preproduction has begun on our latest film - GREASEPAINT! The 'Greasepaint Chronicles' is now up & ready for you to follow our production as it happens.
Click
HERE to enter
is a winner!!!
Selected Best USA Narrative Feature Film Award
NewFest - New York G&L
Film Festival 2004
"For its solitary voice and courage in illuminating a
world not seen before" - Sponsored by New Line Cinema/Fine Line Features.
Official Selection in over 20 USA and International Film Festivals
"Tadeo Garcia's
impressive low-budget 2003 debut...gains unexpectedly
in poignancy, depth, and complexity. The two south-side Chicago gang members, Isaac and
Angel played by Tony Sancho and Michael Cortez are both excellent: Christopher R. Buzek's
burnished cinematography makes inventive use of Little Village locations: Garcia excels at
using offbeat rhythms to establish a palpable tension. Highly Recommended!" -
Patrick Z. McGavin: Chicago Reader 11/06/03
"A Shakespearean "Mean Streets" shot around the Little Village area" - Bill Stamets: Chicago Sun-Times 11/7/03
"Tadeo Garcia's ON THE DOWNLOW will get people talking; DOWNLOW (is) on the way up!" - Terry Armour: Chicago Tribune 03/14/04
"What lingers in the mind isn't the gunplay, but the gentle, sexy ease between Isaac and Angel, and our fervent desire for them to get in that car and drive themselves right out of town!" - Los Angeles Weekly 2004
Original Film Festival Poster
Proposed DVD Release Poster
Set in Chicago’s Little Village, On the Downlow is a feature
film based on
local filmmaker Tadeo Garcia’s award-winning short film
'Broken Warning'. On the
Downlow tells the explosive story of Isaac and Angel, two young
Latinos involved in a south side Chicago gang. The decisions these men make and the paths
they each take, create a trap for them in a community where rules can’t be broken and
secrets won’t be tolerated. With characters that defy stereotyping, and a surprising
tenderness, On the Downlow is an unconventional look at life in the hood.
Iconoclast Films is also very proud to showcase the musical talents of various artists in the film. California native and 14 Year old Gregory Martin wrote and composed the score for the film. California’s hip-hop artist DEADLEE, Spanish rock group ZAMANDOQUE TARAHUM, hip-hop talent CRU LIFE as well as musical group SONIA DADA offer a taste of Chicago’s very own music scene to the film.
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Copyright ©2006 Roger B. Domian