Alex LeVesque | Mentoring Gang Members with Classic Cars, 10min., USA
Directed by John Snyder
Alex LeVesque is the founder of the Automotive Mentoring Group (AMG), a nonprofit that works to counter gang violence in the city of Chicago, Illinois. The organization recruits gang members from across the city and teaches them the skills needed to build careers as auto mechanics, thus giving a chance at reform to those who would otherwise likely fall victim to violence in the streets.

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Get to know Executive Producer Albert Crane:

1. What motivated you to make this film?

Alex Levesque deserves to have his story told to as many people as we can share it with. His work in Chicago and his ability to tell stories is just such a rare talent, we wanted to make sure we told his story over and over. Alex was one of the first stories that John and Jim showed me. I asked John the director if he could go back and reshoot Alex's story again after seeing the one they made so many years ago. John lucky agreed and here we are.

2. From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this film?

A few months, the lengthy parts were due to the editing and scheduling of Alex, to make sure John was able to capture his story properly, within the time he was able to allocate to him.

3. How would you describe your film in two words!?

Restoring. Lives.

4. What was the biggest obstacle you faced in completing this film?

Scheduling and Timing, we loved Alex's story so much we wanted to get it right.

5. What were your initial reactions when watching the audience talking about your film in the feedback video?

What a good approach, and we're so thankful for the kind words of encouragement. We love the fact that we're receiving feedback from the festival. Often, we get no responses.

6. When did you realize that you wanted to make films?

I've thought about this a lot lately, as this question keeps coming up. My father (Albert H. Crane III) always had a camcorder in his hand, and was obsessed with trying to make the Golf channel happen on cable. He had worked for CBS for a very long time. When I was a kid and it was either MTV or some TV show that I was watching, they lip sync'ed a music video with kids dancing on the bleachers of their school. I thought that was cool, and wanted to do something similar. I don't shoot or edit the films, but we do feature these stories, and Alex among others deserve to have their stories told over and over, so we're doing what we can to provide that.

7. What film have you seen the most in your life?

Previously it was Grease, Pulp Fiction and The Matrix, moving away from Neo. I did watch the 90's movie 'Hackers' a TON! Zero Cool, Lord Nikon, Crash Override. The Plague... Now I need to go watch that again. Thanks. HACK THE PLANET!!!

8. What other elements of the festival experience can we and other festivals implement to satisfy you and help you further your filmmaking career?

You offered to bulk review all of our pieces, which we're still verifying which ones we'd like to shoot over. I think it would be interesting to have your reviews go up either in line, or before the S3 piece goes live. So that's something to think about.

9. You submitted to the festival via FilmFreeway. How has your experiences been working on the festival platform site?

Uploading to it is a pain, but once the page is created, and the film is there, submitting to festivals is easy. My only issue is the point of contact, many times I get emails addressed to the Director, but since I'm the Producer, it's a bit frustrating, but nothing that can't be fixed.

10. What is your favorite meal?

Halloween is quickly approaching, if i didn't say my wife's cookies, I may not get any. So I pick those.

11. What is next for you? A new film?

I think I've been saying the same thing for MONTHS!!! Season 3!!! Teasing it hard! We are so close. You're going to love it. It'll air on FilmFreeway and www.youreverydayheroes.com so soon. Promise. Starting with Melissa Paris The First Female World Superbike Racer. You'll definitely see an underlining theme for Season 3, I don't want to spoil it, but we have some really strong stories to share.