Campus News Fall 2020 Issue 4

Volume 78, Issue 4 | www.elaccampusnews.com | Wednesday, october 7, 2020 | Single copy free - additional copies 50 cents

Auto-tech in-person lab proposal awaits approval

BY JUAN CALVILLO Staff Writer

Automotive Technology Chair Adrian Banuelos presented a proposal that, if approved, would bring back in-person labs for the department during the 2021 spring semester.

The proposal would cover all the automotive class lab sections being offered during the 2021 spring semester and would follow county guidelines on reopening. Lectures would continue as online portions.

At the time of publication, Banuelos said students would not be charged for getting the personal protective equipment that would be part of in-person classes.

He said he has yet to get information on what exact equipment would be given to the students returning.

Dean of Adult and Continuing Education Juan Uridales said that various departments were asked for proposals before returning to in-person classes.

He said departments that fulfill essential worker jobs would be likely candidates for proposals.

Uridales said the process would

be ordered, with students first checking in with sheriffs before going on to campus.

From there students would be issued PPE and move into totally redesigned labs for the lab portion of their classes.

He said appropriate steps would

“The move back to on-campus labs is important for students, especially for the hands-on portion of their classes.”

ADRIAN BANUELOS

Automotive Techonology Chair

be taken if anyone were to be diagnosed with COVID-19.

“Those were things we would have to handle on a case by case, but certainly if we were to find out, we would have to go through procedures of: informing everyone that has been in contact, making sure that they are tested before we can continue...All those safety

COURTESY OF ELACAUTO INSTAGRAM

hands on learning—Spring 2018, auto-tech students work on their course lab work in the auto technology lab. procedures would have to be followed,” Uridales said.

Banuelos said the labs would take into account social distancing, gloves, eye wear and facial shields.

He said the classes would need to undergo some changes and be scheduled to meet new standards.

“We do a lot of five week module

classes. These are seven hour long classes. Seven hours, each week for each class for five weeks, so that comes out to be quite a bit each day,” he said.

“But if we can break it down, for the extent, maybe about half that time on campus, it gives them more time to get to work and get ready for

their jobs and get me working. So they’ll come in for their hands on portion and then they’d be gone, so we’d really wind up being about half the time,” Banuelos said.

He said the classes could be seen as hybrid type classes, but it was because of the circumstances that have caused the department to adapt

to the situation.

The idea being to create a student environment that is both flexible for students working schedules, while also limiting student exposure while they are inside the lab. These classes would be online with theory while limiting lab environments to a couple of hours a day.

Uridales said with students returning, it would be up to the faculty to decide if they will also return to teach the classes.

The decision would be up to each individual to decide if they wanted to return to campus.

He said it would be a personal decision each faculty member would have to make, and that it was centered on each member’s comfort level going forward.

Banuelos said the move back to on-campus labs was important for students, especially for the hands-on portions of their classes.

He also said that it was about giving students the time to learn and make mistakes in a lab setting and not on the job.

Currently all classes are online and take advantage of both Canvas and an additional online learning tool called “Electude,” that is often used for technical education.

Fire ravages through business buildings on Whittier

CN/DANIELLA MOLINA

ALL THAT REMAINS—A fire engulfed half a dozen East Los Angeles business buildings on Sunday evening.

CN/DANIELLA MOLINA

THE AFTERMATH—East Side Driving School located on Whittier Boulevard and Arizona Avenue is a total loss after the massive fire on Sunday evening.

Domestic violence cases increase under quarantine

BY ANNETTE QUIJADA Staff Writer

The East Los Angeles Women’s Center has decided to take action and host informative online workshops for the community due to an increase of domestic violence and sexual assault this year.

With the stay-at-home orders in place these past months during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the E m p o w e r m e n t o f Wo m e n says,“Emerging data and reports from those on the front lines, have shown that all types of violence against women and girls, particularly domestic violence, has intensified.”

This increase in domestic violence has caused a concern among many activists and organizations.

Last Thursay, the East Los Angeles Women’s Center hosted “Engaging Boys and Men to End Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault,” a Zoom workshop in honor of Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

Workshop faciliators were

News Briefs

Prevention Specialist Osvaldo Cruz and Outreach Specialist Luis Mendoza.

They aimed to inform the audience on why boys and men need to be part of the conversations that involve domestic violence and sexual assault.

One of the their main points to get across was that violence against women, children and other men is indeed a men’s issue.

One of their main points to get across was that violence against women, children and other men is indeed a men’s issue.

The topics discussed were messages that boys and men need to hear more often.

Cruz and Mendoza asked the audience,“Do we console young boys the same way we console young girls when they fall and hurt

East Los Angeles College Live

themselves? What do we tell the boys instead?” To which many of them commented that boys are told to,“Walk it off,” “Be a big boy” and “Don’t cry, crying is for girls.”

These young boys are forced to accept this narrative at a very early age. It’s a sad reality for many households, especially in communities like East Los Angeles where there is a large Latino demographic and the issue of machismo being deeply rooted in the Latino culture.

Another key point in the workshop was why young boys and men need to be included in discussions of domestic violence and sexual assault.

They said it’s important to note that most reported cases of domestic violence and sexual assault are prepetuated by men, as men are also victims of both domestic violence and sexual assault.

“We say phrases like,“Good girls don’t initiate,” or “Real men lead the way,” these (phrases) tell boys that they must initiate contact, instead of connecting and understanding where the other person is,” said audience member Ben Hartwell.

But without men taking the

The ELAC outreach team is teaching students about the certificates and degrees that ELAC has to offer on Oct. 12 to Oct. 30. For more information contact outreach@ elac.edu or call (323)-265-8642.

CN/ANNETTE QUIJADA

JOINING THE CONVO—Workshop facilitators, Luis Mendoza and Osvaldo Cruz co-hosted a discussion on why engaging boys and men is essential to end domestic violence and sexual assault. time to be active bystanders or to exemplify healthy masculinity, it becomes more difficult for them to take part in the conversation and for them to involve their family and friends.

Cruz said that historically domestic violence and sexual

Reducing money management stress

The ELAC Financial Wellness Center is having a money management workshop to teach student how to become more fiscally responsible on Oct. 12 from 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. To RSVP call or text (323)-388-3591.

assault advocacy has been seen as only a women’s issue and it’s important for men to play a role in advocating against violence, the pressure should be lifted off the shoulders of women.

If both men and women work together to bring awareness,

domestic violence and sexual assault could be looking forward to lower rates of occurrence.

For victims of domestic violence and/or sexual assault, the East Los Angeles Women Center has a 24/7 bilingual hotline. For more information contact (800)-585-6231.

ASU drive-thru giveaway

ELAC’s Associatted Student Union is giving free antibacterial wipes, sanitizer and a husky plushies on Oct. 23 from 9 a.m. to noon. Students must register to participate and the deadline is Oct. 13 at noon.

RSVP at https://bit.ly/2I3cqHc

2

Opinion

EAST LOS ANGELES COLLEGE CAMPUS NEWS WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2020

New Halloween traditions can be created

BY MELVIN BUI Staff Writer

Halloween is not about one particular day, it’s about the holiday spirit. This spirit is prevalent and celebrated all throughout the month of October.

Nobody said that Halloween was cancelled, so there’s no need to dampen the holiday spirit.

People can still decorate their houses with spooky decorations and such, but should have a sign out-front telling people that they’re not giving out candy to prevent the spread of germs.

It seems like a buzzkill, however.

Halloween isn’t going to be restrictive forever.

Trick-or-treating is dangerous for children this year because of the possibility of getting sick with prolonged health risks.

These children can still expose their housemates to germs and get them sick.

So this holiday season should look different for everybody that is celebrating. Halloween is not just about trick-or-treating. It’s about spending time with friends and family, however, the COVID-19 pandemic will prevent many people from gathering in large groups. This is a great time to start new holiday traditions.

People can still dress up in costumes and have a small party with other household members or have virtual parties with other people. They can still carve

pumpkins, eat candy corn and enjoy other seasonal treats.

The Center of Disease Control and Prevention guidelines allow for people to host or attend a small dinner with local family and friends outdoors where people are distanced more than six feet apart.

It is going to be hard to stop people from trick-or-treating.

There are some people who think the pandemic is a hoax.

The only spooky thing this season

for these people is the possible rise in COVID-19 cases.

Sometimes people leave their Halloween cobwebs out until December and it doubles as snow for Christmas decorations. So celebrating Halloween can be convenient for those who are too lazy to set up Christmas decorations.

The CDC guidelines rate traditional trick-or-treating where treats are handed to children who go door to door, as a high risk activity.

Halloween has always been about large gatherings; children line-up in front of houses for candy, streets are filled with trick-or-treaters, large festivals and parties are held.

It gives people the opportunity to look at each other’s costumes and make some priceless memories.

It’s the time of year where people screaming and yelling doesn’t raise much concern. However, this might spread germs because people are doing a lot of inhaling and exhaling.

The CDC guidelines highly recommend for people to avoid attending large indoor celebrations with singing or chanting.

The holiday became a big part of American culture as consumer culture grew. Due to COVID-19, many amusement parks and art venues are losing money because they aren’t able to have their special events.

It is a great time for people to start advertising their business’ or organizations on different types of media to see which audience caters to them.

The festivities start on Oct. 31 and end on Nov. 2. Halloween starts the holiday, extending to Dia de Los Muertos. Halloween and Dia de Los Muertos have some a similarities, however they are entirely different. On Halloween people dress up in scary costumes, but Dia de Los Muertos is a day for people to acknowledge death and remembering the dead.

When the COVID-19 pandemic simmers down in upcoming years, people can go back to their old holiday traditions. People need to realize that missing out on one or two years of trick-or-treating isn’t going to put an end to Halloween spirit.

People should look for new activities that give them joy during the holiday time. Traditions must start somewhere, so why not be the person to introduce new holiday practices.

CN/ DANIELLA MOLINA

Company property tax updated by prop 15

BY LUIS CASTILLA Staff Writer

The world is in the midst of a pandemic and it’s time to plan for the aftermath with updated property taxes.

The state faces the biggest potential change to property taxes in over 40 years if Prop 15 passes. Property tax works like this: A property’s value reflects its property tax. If a property’s value is $300,000 and its tax rate is 1%, its property tax is $3,000.

In 1978, California passed Prop 13, which meant properties had to be taxed based on their original purchase price.

This applies to both commercial and residential properties, rewarding those who remained in

their properties longer with bigger tax breaks. If Prop 15, or “Split Roll,” passes, however, residential properties and commercial properties would be taxed separately.

Nothing would change for homeowners, but commercial and industrial properties would be stripped of their Prop 13 protection, taxing them based on their current market value, which could lead to possibly higher taxes.

Small businesses that are independently owned and have fewer than 50 employees would be exempt, though.

Money from the newly collected taxes would go toward the state to supplement its loss in revenue, and counties to aid Prop 15’s own implementation.

The remaining 60% of the funds

would go to local governments.

The other 40% would go to school district and community colleges through a new Local School and Community College Property Tax Fund.

Community colleges would receive 11% of the funds and other 89% would go to public schools.

Schools and colleges are also required to receive a minimum of $100 for every full-time student.

The money Prop 15 would generate would not come right away, however. It is estimated that full implementation of Prop 15 and its funds will come into place in 2025.

Should Prop 15 pass, between $6.5 billion and $11.5 billion could be generated, with only about 10% of companies paying the majority

of taxes. Many companies benefit from the status quo because they took advantage of land development

long ago.

Disneyland, for example, pays the same property tax as it did in 1975 while its value has skyrocketed.

Prop 15 will do away with an old rule that benefits longevity over progress.

Companies that can afford to stay afloat during the pandemic can afford to pay their due tax and homeowners and small businesses are exempt, so Prop 15 is the best preparation for a post-pandemic California.

The voter registration deadline for California is Oct. 19. Nov. 3 is election day, but early voter ballots are already being mailed out. Vote-by-mail ballots must be postmarked by Oct. 19.

Journalists’ rights remain unprotected

BY JOSE IVAN CAZARES Staff Writer

California Governor Gavin Newsom failed to protect people’s First Amendment right when he vetoed SB-629.

He failed to address police officers’ blatantly ignoring journalists’ right to cover public protests and demonstrations under the First Amendment.

SB-629 was intended to further protect journalists from police officers, but lacked language that would truly discourage officers from arresting journalists when they’re deemed an inconvenience or from outright assaulting.

As Newsom pointed out, journalists are already protected under Penal Code 409.5, but the language he mentions in his veto notes is limited to one sentence which says journalists are exempt from a long list of reasons an officer can arrest someone at a protest or closed area.

The bill was approved by the California Senate and Assembly in August following the arrest of several reporters covering demonstrations in the wake of George Floyd’s death at the hands of police in Minneapolis.

On Sept. 13, KPCC reporter Josie Huang was arrested while covering a protest outside a hospital where two Sheriff’s deputies were being treated for gunshot wounds.

This further demonstrated police willingness to ignore journalists’ First Amendment rights.

Huang was recording as a man was being arrested and she was pinned to the ground despite www.ELACCampusNews.com

identifying herself as press.

In addition to clearly defining a journalist’s right to report the news, even if it involves police, it is crucial that a new bill be proposed, passed and enforced.

This bill should help hold officers accountable when they abuse their power during protests.

Laying out consequences for officers is necessary whether in the form of fines, unpaid suspension, dissmisal or jail time depending on the level of the offense.

Of course reporters also need to train themselves to deal with aggravated police and demonstrators in the current political climate.

Reporters do their jobs fully aware

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East Los Angeles College Campus News 1301 Avenida Cesar Chavez E7-303 Monterey Park, CA 91754 (323) 265-8819, Ads (323) 265-8821 Fax (323) 415-4910 The East Los Angeles College Campus News is published as a learning experience, offered under the East Los Angeles College Journalism program. The editorial and advertising materials are free from prior restraint by virtue of the First Amendment to the United States Constitution.

The opinions expressed are exclusively those of the writer.

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It is not just rookie reporters who are suseptible to harrassment by police. of the dangers, and need to use common sense for their own sake and to avoid obstructing officers.

Huang and CNN correspondent Omar Jimenez, who was arrested along with his crew in March are two examples of journalists being arrested despite properly idenifying themselves to authorities.

They are both seasoned reporters, and their arrests show that it’s not just rookie reporters who are

EDITOR IN CHIEF Juan Cavillo

susceptible to harassment by police.

They were released and no charges were pressed.

Stopping reporters from reporting on a story is an affront to the First

Amendment; an affront that could become the norm if people don’t speak out while the conversation of police reform is taking center stage.

CN/ DANIELLA MOLINA

Arts 3 ‘Super Mario 3-D All-Stars’ brings nostalgia to fans EAST LOS ANGELES COLLEGE CAMPUS NEWS

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2020

BY RAYMOND NAVA Staff Writer

Super Mario 3D All-Stars is a fantastic Switch port of three 3D Mario classics from the past 20 years with a few issues here and there.

To celebrate the 35th anniversary of the Mario franchise, Nintendo released a compilation of three past Mario games on Sept. 18.

The games included in All-Stars are Super Mario 64, originally released on the Nintendo 64, Super Mario Sunshine, originally released on the GameCube, and Super Mario Galaxy, originally released on the Wii. All-Stars though is a limited release and will only be available to purchase until March 31.

Super Mario 64 is the first 3D Mario game in the franchise, instead of being a 2D platformer like previous installments which follow Mario in many platforming stages collecting stars inside Peach's castle.

Super Mario Sunshine follows Mario on his vacation to a tropical island where he's mistaken for a criminal and is tasked with collecting all of the island's guardians, the Shine Sprites.

Super Mario Galaxy follows Mario across the galaxy with space based game mechanics while taking advantage of the Wii's motion controls.

COURTESY OF NINTENDO

SUPER MARIO COLLECTION—”Super Mario 3-D All-Stars” features some of the most iconic

games in the “Super Mario” universe.

All three Mario games have been ported to the Nintendo Switch in high definition, which makes the games graphically more appealing.

This especially is apparent in Super Mario Sunshine where the game's sunny island setting looks gorgeous in high definition. The game of the three that doesn't really have a noticeable difference is Super Mario 64 due to the game's blocky graphics. Super Mario Galaxy also looks fantastic in it's new high

All three Mario games have been ported to the Nintendo Switch in high definition, which makes the games graphically more appealing.

definition resolution.

All of the game's controls have been optimized for the Nintendo Switch. While 64's control scheme is relatively unchanged, Galaxy and Sunshine do have some differences from their previous console's versions.

Super Mario Galaxy was originally released on the Wii, which used motion controls. The Wii nunchuck controlled a pointer the player could move on screen to

collect collectables.

The Switch Joy-Con mimics this well. However, when playing in handheld mode, the player can use the Switch's touch screen to get the collectables. This is a smart decision as users who only have the Switch Lite aren't limited in playing the game.

The mechanics are also not a major part of the overall game, so using the touch screen is not much of a problem. The motion controls used by the nunchuck have been mapped to the Joy-Con buttons, such as Mario's spin which was originally made by shaking the nunchuck.

Sunshine's controls for the switch take some time to get used to but feel strong for the most part. One thing that is disappointing is that the GameCube controller adapter for the Switch is not compatible.

The controller lacks the ability to let the player ground pound in the game, a move that's needed for many levels.

The games are ported very well, but there are some problems, particularly with Sunshine, because the game has been ported to higher definition.

Some things in the game stand out that were previously hidden thanks to the lower quality at the time the original was released. One example of this is in some of the primary platform levels. The game’s debug boxes can be seen in some

parts, which is a little sloppy. So far though there haven't been big glaring problems and there aren't any apparent ones in 64 and Galaxy either.

All three games are also ported from their original state. Aside from tweaks to the controls, Nintendo did not add any new content to the games. This is a little frustrating as some quality of life additions would have been appreciated such as adding the ability to skip cutscenes in Sunshine, which are still unskippable. The camera controls in 64 are also still a pain to deal with and can get frustrating at times, but this is more of a sign of the times the game came out in.

The decision to make this compilation pack a limited release is a bad one. On one hand, it's understandable that making it limited gives it some sort of specialness aligning with its 35th anniversary.

But making it a limited release hurts gamers, especially ones who don't have enough money to buy a Switch right now. People could buy the game in advance but it's still a bad move from Nintendo.

Super Mario 3D All-Stars is currently available for $60. All three games individually would have cost $60 and it would have been very tempting for Nintendo to release each individually at that price. At that deal, All-Stars is a solid recommendation.

‘Enola Holmes’ refreshes Holmes

BY MELODY ORTIZ Staff Writer

“Enola Holmes” is a great way to introduce younger audiences to the world of Sherlock Holmes.

It is also a refreshing new view for those who are already fans of Holmes and his adventures.

Though Sherlock is not the main character in this movie, viewers still get plenty of similar themes, mysteries and “ah-ha!” moments from his adventures.

“Enola Holmes” is about Sherlock’s 16-year-old sister Enola, played by Millie Bobby Brown, who is desperate to find their missing mother, Eudoria, played by Helena Bonham Carter. Bonham Carter is, no surprise, perfect in her role and made a sweet mother-daughter pair with Brown.

Brown made a big impression on audiences when she played Eleven in Netflix’s show “Stranger Things.” Fans of the show will get pleasure in seeing Brown play Enola, who has a similar personality as Sherlock and is very different from the role of Eleven.

Enola has a love for thrills, mysteries and being right.

Fans of Sherlock will be pleased with Henry Cavill’s (Superman in 2013’s “Man of Steel”) portrayal of the famous detective. Though maybe not the best actor that’s played Sherlock (Robert Downey Jr. and Benedict Cumberbatch beat him by miles), Cavill is a good fit for this particular movie.

He gives Sherlock a softer personality while still providing much of the arrogance and godcomplex he’s loved/hated for.

Enola, unlike her brother, is more emotional, family-oriented and progressive. The movie has many scenes showing the limitations place on women had in that period and serves as a

great girl-power flick, without being too cheesy.

The best quote from the movie is about this very issue and is said by the character Edith to Sherlock: “Politics doesn’t interest you because you have no interest in changing a world that suits you so well.”Edith, played by Susan Wokoma, says this when Sherlock brushes off her lecture on the need for change.

One of the antagonists in the movie is the eldest Holmes, Mycroft, played by Sam Claflin (Finnick in “The Hunger Games” series).

Mycroft works in the government and is against change. Some of his quotes can arguably be compared to today’s politics or politicians.

The movie has many scenes showing the limits women had in that period and serves as a great girl-power flick, without being too cheesy.

“If there is one thing this country doesn’t need, it’s more uneducated voters.”

This quote shows that Mycroft would put more thought into restricting voters rather than educating them, thus preventing change.

Claflin plays Mycroft with such intense emotion, I wouldn’t be surprised if Brown didn’t need to do any acting in their scenes together.

The anger and tears in their arguments were something to be praised.

Although, the beginning half of the movie is mostly setting up characters and plots, it can be forgiven in being slow-moving due to its scenery.

The music, sets and costumes are beautifully done without looking too flashy.

Had the movie not had the name Holmes in it, viewers could still guess that they are watching a Holmes adventure.

The upbeat violin is so familiar to those who have watched BBC’s “Sherlock” or Warner Brothers’ “Sherlock Holmes” (which is set to release a third movie in 2021).

The movie really starts picking up around the halfway point, where audiences find themselves hooked and ready for the ride that ensures the rest of the way. Some may think that may not make up for the first hour. However, rumors of a sequel have already started, and whether or not any loose ends were left by the end of the movie, it still set up many possibilities for future adventures.

These adventures can easily be original or taken from the books that the movie is based on, “The Enola Holmes Adventures” by Nancy Springer.

It is also exciting to think what direction they will take the movies. Will they get darker, like the “Harry Potter” series? Or will it stay light with some danger thrown in, like the “Nancy Drew” series?

Lastly, in recent years, movies have been getting better with casting actors who actually resemble the characters’ ages.

No more 30-year-olds playing teenagers. This really helps with the acting because the emotion and energy feels completely natural. It also helps that the character is growing at the same rate as the actor, making it easier to relate.

COURTESY/ NETFLIX

MOTHER’S LOVE—Eudoria (left) and Enola (right) Holmes enjoying books before Eudoria

goes missing.

COURTSEY OF NETFLIX

BOYS WANNA HAVE FUN—Michael(left), Emory, Bernard and Larry(right), having the time of

their lives at Harold’s(off-screen) birthday party, in “Boys in the Band” now streaming on Netflix.

Film pays homage to original play

BY SONNY TAPIA Staff Writer

“The Boys in the Band” lives up to the hype and controversy of the original play produced in 1968 through true actor portrayals.

Seven gay friends celebrate a birthday of Zachary Quinto’s character Harold in Michael’s apartment in New York 1968.

Michael is played by Jim Parsons in the film.

The original production of “The Boys in the Band” was created by Mart Crowley in 1968 and debuted as an Off-Broadway production in 1968.

The play came out a year before the Stonewall Riots adding to the controversy surrounding the production of gay rights.

The play was adapted into a film in 1970 starring Kenneth Nelson as the lead role of Michael. The film came out before the AIDS movement and recognition.

Most of the original cast died in the 1980s due to AIDS related reasons, but inspired the current cast to revive the production.

In 2018, the cast took to the Broadway stage to revive “The Boys in the Band” for its 50th anniversary of the original play in 1968.

The Broadway production won a Tony Award for the best revival of a play at the 2019 Tony Awards. Production of the Netflix Original Film began and created something worth watching.

The entire cast of the film is openly gay. This gave the film a feel of authenticity since the actors were portraying gay characters living with guilt and pain.

The actors being openly gay adds more raw emotion to the scenes that needed it.

Alan played by Brian Hutchison said in an interview with E News that it was almost like a sigh of relief and understanding for the entire cast to know that they were all in the same boat.

In the film Michael has given up drinking and smoking for the past five weeks because he is simply upset with how it feels

Due to the actors being openly gay this added more raw emotion to the scenes that needed it.

the morning after.

Throughout the movie Michael is seen slowly going back to his former self, but struggling to accept who he is inside.

This lead him to create a drinking game where the party goers earn points for making phone calls to the one person they truly loved in their lives.

This enables the friends to uncover truths about themselves and their true feelings about how their lives have turned out.

Alan is the unexpected heterosexual friend that was not supposed to be at the party in the first place. He is the minority in the movie when it comes to sexuality and displays moments of strong homophobia toward Emory played by Robin de Jesus.

Michael says “If we can only learn to not hate ourselves so much,” and “Run, charge, run, buy, borrow, make, spin, run, squander, beg, run, run, run, waste, waste, waste,” this

relates to his true feelings within himself.

He continuously adds insult to injury through beating his friends down along with himself.

Michael later tells Alan that he ended a friendship because he could not face who he truly was.

The film can offer a self reflection to some viewers that understand what it is like to be gay in a society that does not fully accept it.

The characters face their own personal issues throughout the film that the viewer can see without them necessarily talking about it.

Viewers can see Michael crumbling through each argument and phone call, drinking and smoking more and more.

Michael continuously runs from his true self because of his religious upbringing and beliefs.

This forces him to continue to “turn” as Harold puts it, until his full breakdown.

He harps on all of his friends’ love lives drunkenly, while risking his friendships as a whole.

Regardless, Michael continues to show his uncaringness for his friends.

Finding themselves remains the focus of the film and a better understanding of who they want to be come. The emotions of everyone feel raw no matter what scene the characters are in.

The bottled up fear can be seen through each character seeping out from his mouth as they speak during the drinking game.

The Boys in the Band reflects the belonging and identity of the gay community, while showing the viewer some of the internal struggles some may face.

The film leaves viewers thinking about whether they truly know themselves. If they do not then they think of how they can find it. www.ELACCampusNews.com

4

Arts

EAST LOS ANGELES COLLEGE CAMPUS NEWS WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2020

King Gizzard and Lizard Wizard unleash double album

BY LUIS CASTILLA Staff Writer

Accepting the limits of pandemic life, Australian rock band King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard released two new albums that perfectly encapsulate the quarantine experience.

Often regarded as one of, if not the most, prolific bands of the 21st century, King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard have released 16 studio albums since 2012 with almost each one tackling a new genre of music.

“Demos Vol. 1 +Vol. 2” and “Live in Asheville ’19” are now the latest additions to King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard’s ever-growing discography. The band made the release on online music platform Bandcamp.

“Demos Vol. 1 +Vol. 2” is a collection of 28 demos from many of the band’s albums with some new instrumentals sprinkled throughout.

What makes “Demos Vol. 1 +Vol. 2” unique in the band’s discography, or Gizzverse as its fans have dubbed it, is it’s the first time the band has released anything so stripped-back. These tracks are raw and unpolished, but listening to the unfinished product provides a unique experience.

There are seven new instrumentals on this album and in true King Gizzard fashion, each is completely different from the last.

The artwork for “Demos Vol. 1 +Vol. 2” is, fittingly, a collection of unused sketches by Jason Galea, who has designed all of the band’s album covers.

“These are recordings which were never supposed to see the light of day, but here they are: loose as; sloppy as. Hopefully endearing. In truth, an insane

amount of effort and love went into these songs and I feel buoyed by sharing them. I’ve shed my skin, I’m a butterfly, I’m on fire,” Stu Mackenzie the band’s frontman, said on Instagram.

King Gizzard and the Lizard Wi z a r d ’s s e c o n d r e l e a s e , “Live in Asheville ’19” is a live album recorded at New Belgium Brewing Company in Asheville North Carolina last year. Mackenzie said he found the recordings on an old hard drive.

The tracklist for this album is mostly made up of tracks from “Fishing for Fishies” and “Infest the Rats’ Nest,” as the band released these two albums earlier in 2019.

These releases are the skeleton of King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard’s all-encompassing discography.

This is the fifth live album the band has released. Earlier this year, King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard released “Chunky Shrapnel,” a live film and album.

Last year, the band released three live albums on Bandcamp, with all proceeds going toward Australian fire relief.

During a time when concerts are impossible, listening to a live performance is a bit nostalgic.

While most humans on Earth struggle with living life as it used to be, it feels strangely appropriate that King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard release a handful of old demos, like a compromise between the rapidfire releases fans are used to and the fact that such releases are impossible right now.

The double drop came on Bandcamp Friday, wherein Bandcamp waives its fees, allowing all money from sales to go directly to artists. This has been an ongoing event from Bandcamp since the pandemic began.

COURTESY OF KING GIZZARD AND THE LIZARD WIZARD

Netflix drops new gentrification horror movie

BY JUAN CALVILLO Staff Writer

“Vampires vs. the Bronx” is campy and a bit rough, but a fun movie about fighting for and loving your town and friends. The Netflix original film weaves the sneaking vampire invasion of the Bronx along the more obvious gentrification of the borough. This makes for a fun, restrained, horror movie with plenty of in-your-face criticism of gentrification.

The movie's themes are brought to life through the hard work of young actors Jaden Michael, Gerald

Jones III and Gregory Diaz IV. The three friends find themselves at the center of efforts to stop the borough from losing more businesses to gentrification. Their attempts to save a local bodega from closing are what thrusts them into trouble from the beginning, and reveals that they need to fear more than just “white people with canvas bags.”

Each of the young actors does their best and it’s fun watching them go from friends to comrades in arms against the undead. Michael, playing Miguel Martinez, plays the activist hero perfectly, mixing the feeling of helping with the awkwardness of being a young teen.

Jones III, playing Bobby Carter, is great at being the cool friend who is being seduced by the gang lifestyle. Finally, Diaz IV, who plays Luis Acosta, is the character and actor who should’ve had more screen time. His change from funny, hero knowledge specialist sidekick to self-possessed hero is fun to see. Seeing more of his funny one-liners throughout the end of the movie would have been hilarious.

The only sore spot comes from the late inclusion of Coco Jones as Rita as part of the hero group.

At the onset of the movie Jones’ Rita is seen as a love interest for

Michael’s character of Martinez. But her eventual turn is unforeseen and just plain awesome. Her inclusion might give vampire fans a nostalgic twinge of other vampire fighters.

The problem “Vampires vs. the Bronx” has is with its villains. The vampires are really more bark than bite, and while they do kill, it is often off screen. The special effects from vampires' deaths are very reminiscent of the Marvel movies and the “Blade” series, with of course an eye on a smaller budget.

Unfortunately, the lack of character depth is a bit annoying. Even the main vampire's main mission seems a bit old hat.

The movie is co-written and directed by Osmany Rodriguez, director of television comedies like “The Last Man on Earth” and “A.P. Bio.” Thankfully, the funny moments outweigh the bland ones throughout the film, and Rodriguez handles the slight nods to other vampire movies perfectly. It’s other moments like the vampire attacks that are fully camp with super speed attacks and a rather off floating scene.

Most of the movie's fun comes from the social commentary against gentrification and the interesting use of social media as an exposition tool. While the vampires are a

physical threat, it’s the looming sense of loss of identity that gentrification brings that’s much scarier. That coupled with the sense of defeat some characters exude when they talk about the situation makes it scary to think. One of the more entertaining aspects is the use of social media when the need for information dumps are needed. It’s a unique way of getting information across quickly and with it being entertaining.

When it comes to the story, “Vampires vs. the Bronx” is a bit of a mixed bag, but the main characters save it from being lost in the Netflix shuffle of films.

COURTESY OF IDMB

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