More than 26 years after the release of his film “Stand and Deliver,” actor Edward James Olmos finds himself back in a similar situation.
Olmos is guiding a young filmmaker into theaters with a film containing important social issues. Much like he did with the story of teacher Jaime Escalante and director Ramón Menéndez, Olmos is lending his support behind the new film “Water & Power.”
The film follows the story of two brothers growing up in Eastside of Los Angeles. One becomes a police officer, while the other one shines bright as a politician. But, both end up caught in the dangerous world of a corrupt city and a no-win scenario. It is written and directed by Richard Montoya, who first created the project as a stage play in 2006. The film stars Enrique Murciano, Nicholas Gonzalez, Clancy Brown, Robert Beltran, Wanda De Jesus and the late Lupe Ontiveros.
It didn’t take long for Olmos to come on board to help get the film in theaters.
“I saw the movie and flipped out,” he said in a recent telephone interview. “Richard has done a good thing. He has a lot of metaphor and he’s got a deep rooted humor and love for what he’s doing. He’s a brilliant playwright.”
The film starts a run at select AMC Theatres’ locations beginning Friday, May 2.
When it comes to how he decides to attach himself to a project, Olmos said it’s all about the story.
“If the story moves you, then even a bad edit or an incomplete script, if the story doesn’t grab you I don’t care how much commerciality you try to put into it. I won’t personally get involved in it,” he said. “It’s all story. If it’s a great story and mediocre writer, you’re still going to read it. If he’s a great writer, but a mediocre story it’s not going to work.”
Olmos said “Water & Power” isn’t like the average film to play at your local area theater.
“This is an entertaining piece of work,” he said. “It is very entertaining, but it’s really thought provoking and socially relevant. It’s intellectual in the administration of what it’s talking about.”
Even with the setting of a corrupt version of Los Angeles, Olmos said the film will connect with audiences all over the world.
“The story rings true whether they’d be black, white, yellow or ride,” he said. “And if they’re from the Inland area or Sacramento or Modesto. They’re going to walk out of the film and go ‘whoa, holy mackerel.’”
Having been in the business for 40 years and appearing in films like “Blade Runner,” “Selena” and “2 Guns” along with television shows like “Miami Vice” and “Battlestar Galactica,” Olmos is adamant about giving back to people trying to break into the Hollywood game.
“It’s key to the whole thing,” he said. “If you can’t help open the door and help people through it, then you’ve lost your sense of balance. You should be trying to make other people even stronger than you so the generations that grow with you and before you are stronger.”
In the time of blockbusters like “The Amazing Spider-Man 2” taking up a number of auditoriums at a single theater, Olmos has started to see more chances for smaller films to be seen.
“In the last two years it’s opened up and I’m grateful for that,” he said. “We have a venue to exhibit this film. It’s hard to get in there, but we are in there.”
‘Water & Power’
AMC locations screening the film starting Friday, May 2:
Inland: AMC Galleria at Tyler 16, AMC Ontario Mills 30 and AMC Victoria Gardens 12.
Orange County: AMC Orange 30
Los Ángeles: AMC Norwalk 20, AMC Puente Hills 20, AMC Covina 30, AMC Universal Citywalk Stadium 19, AMC Burbank Town Center 8 and AMC Santa Anita 16.
