ALEX D. CORTEZ was born in Orange County, California. He studied film production at Chapman University, in Orange, California, and French Film aesthetics at Le College International De Cannes, in Cannes, France. He has worked as an assistant to director Gregory Nava (Selena, El Norte, Mi Familia/My Family) on American Family which aired as the first prime time television drama about a Mexican-American family from East Los Angeles on PBS, and as an assistant to director Jesus Salvador Trevino (Resurrection Blvd., NYPD Blue, ER, Dawson Creek, Yo Soy Chicano) on ABC's Miracles, a cross between the Vatican meets the X Files.
Alex D. Cortez has also studied directing with Gil Bettman, who was a director on episodes for The Twilight Zone (TV series, 1985-1987), Automan, Knight Rider, The Fall Guy, and who also directed music videos for Van Halen Hot For Teacher, and Sammy HagerI Can't Drive 55.
In addition, Alex Cortez was a second unit director/cinematographer on Ozomatli's music video for the title track known as Guerillero, which was directed by Barbara Martinez Jitner (VP of Productions for El Norte Productions, 2nd Unit Director for Selena & Why Do Fools Fall In Love). He has recently wrapped production as a director/cinematographer for Brown Shady's Sunshine, and wrote the cover story for the April issue of Latin Style Magazine featuring Eduardo Verastegui of the film Chasing Papi. He has just completed writing a TV Spec script currently known as Devil, an hour long episodic about a Mexican American private investigator. He is also slated to direct this summer a Mexican Regional or Norteno music video for Marco Antonio Garcia, and also a music video for the Hip Hop Hoodios, a Latino/Jewish hip hop rap collective.
Alex D. Cortez will be directing BETRAYAL AND VIOLATIONS: MEXICAN REPATRIATION OF THE 1930'S as his feature length documentary directorial debut.
Dr. ALFONSO ALVAREZ was born and raised in the City of Santa Ana, California. He received his B.A. in Sociology and his M.A. in Organizational Leadership, both from Chapman University in Orange, California. Dr. Alvarez received his doctorate from Argosy University, Organizational Leadership, Ed.D. He is a former serviceman and an active member of the American G.I. Forum. His research interests include race relations, leadership, and Mexican-American military history in the U.S.
Alfonso Alvarez is producing BETRAYAL AND VIOLATIONS: MEXICAN REPATRIATION OF THE 1930'S, and developing a book of oral history testimony by accumulating interviews of victims who suffered deportation or forced relocation during the 1930's.
GERARDO BRICENO was born in Los Angeles, California. He is a second generation Mexican American and the first to graduate college in his family. He attended Chapman University and Cal State Los Angeles and received a Bachelors in Spanish and a Master of Arts in Mexican American Studies. He teaches ethnic studies at Cypress College and East Los Angeles College. His research has focused on Mexican American history and political participation and has studied in depth the experience of Latinos in Orange County. He lives in Santa Ana, California with his Family.
Gerardo Briceno is producing BETRAYAL AND VIOLATIONS: MEXICAN REPATRIATION OF THE 1930'S, and developing a lesson plan and school curriculum to accompany this documentary.
