Capítulo 022: On this episode of Ocu-Pasión we are joined by writer, director, editor, and graphic designer Chris Banda. Listen in as we discuss the process of character building, sharing authentic stories, and healing through writing.
Raised in West Covina, California. Chris was always interested in art and enrolled at Mt. Sierra college to become a graphic designer. Though his abilities in graphic design, he created several layout and film posters. https://bandabear71.wixsite.com/chrisbanda
But film was always his ultimate goal.
Feeling as though there were not enough Latino stage plays that represented what he wanted to work on as an actor, he began his writing career simply out of necessity. He enrolled at Rio Hondo College in Whittier, California, where he wrote several plays, including The Long Walk, dAWGS, The Hand of Handsome Eddie, and Playing Clean which was performed for the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival New Works program. His first professional production was an extended adaptation of his play dAWGS which was produced by L.A. Teatro produced and performed at The Ivar Theater and Gardner Stage in Hollywood, and the prestigious Los Angeles Theater Center.
In 2010, Chris enrolled at the Los Angeles Film School and quickly became recognized for his writing and editing skills in his short films Working: A Jazz Musician and Suerté (https://youtu.be/IU4vDCYUFXI). In 2021, for his thesis film, he adapted his one-act play Playing Clean into a Short Film (https://youtu.be/075ZEjqmgnk) which received high acclaimed for writing and editing. After graduating he began to work as a writer and editor working on several short films, features and web series including the award winning web series Encounters were he wrote two episodes, Adobo, (https://youtu.be/WwYkVECoGo0) and award winning The Moment Between the Lights, (https://youtu.be/T3tnszGeouM) which he also directed.
In 2015, he began working as a fulltime editor editing content for Machinima and Fullscreen Media. It was during this time be began working as the primary editor for Emmy award-winning director Kico Velarde and his docu-series Lowrider Magazine’s Lowrider Roll Models. (Selected Episode https://youtu.be/C7r2tCMmM9k. It was during Lowrider Roll Models where he drew inspiration for his next project.
In 2021, he completed his latest play entitled Lolo (https://youtu.be/kVQtuZ032xc). Lolo Trailer (https://youtu.be/QWigl8Z-Gf0)
The play tells the story of a young Mexican-American woman working as a mechanic in her families Auto shop. The play surrounds her returning home after the sudden death of her father. She must confront the memories of her father, the choice between her education or the loss of the family business, and a cultural identity that makes her feel as though she doesn't belong.
The play was invited to be part of the El Centro del Sur Latinx Theater Festival. Because of Covid restrictions, the play was filmed to be presented virtually. The producers were so
pleased with the final version, it is now making it way in the film festival circuit winning several awards, including Best Stage Play and Best Acting Ensemble.
Chris is currently working as a digital video editor creating content Tennis Channel and NBC Peacock.
He continues to write and recently finished adapting two of his stage plays, The Hand of Handsome Eddie and Dawgs, into feature films. He’s also began writing a semi- autobiographical play about a family in crisis after Covid 19.
Follow Chris:
https://www.instagram.com/el_bandalorian/
https://www.facebook.com/chris.banda
https://bandabear71.wixsite.com/chrisbanda