The acclaimed film A Better Life is the story of an undocumented landscaper working hard in East LA to provide a brighter future for his son. Last weekend, it finally made its way down to OC theaters.
For rapper/actor Baby Jokes, the theme of the script could have easily applied to the trajectory of his own struggle. His role in A Better Life is that of a gangster named Marcelo Valdez who tempts the son of the film's main protagonist Carlos Galindo (Demián Bichir) into entering the gang life.
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Born Richard Cabral, Baby Jokes was subject of a recent profile in the Los Angeles Times
where he talked about where life took him as a young man raised by a
single mother. In March 2004, at the age of 20, he was facing 35 years to life in prison for attempted murder in
connection to a gang-related shooting.
Staring down a possible future
spent solely behind bars, Cabral took a plea deal and accepted a five
year sentence. Released in 2006, he knew it was time for a change and
went to Homeboy Industries where many others in similar situations seek a
better life through Father Gregory Boyle's notable “Jobs not Jails”
program in Los Angeles.
It's also where acting as a career path was
introduced, as the Frame Grab LA Times feature notes:
Cabral answered phones at the front desk, took Narcotics
Anonymous classes and worked in the bakery for close to two years. When
Central Casting came to Homeboy looking for extras for a “CSI: Miami”
episode, Cabral raised his hand. He then landed his first speaking
part, one line in TNT's “Southland.” “Right there, I was hooked,” says
Cabral, sipping coffee in the Homegirl Café adjacent to Homeboy
Industries. “The pay was pretty good. I got an agent.” From there
Cabral began studying acting, taking classes and spending time at the
Samuel French book store soaking up technique from legendary acting
coaches.
The acting bug has brought Cabral to the moment of his big-screen debut. Life on the Streets,
his first solo album as Baby Jokes was also just released last week.
Film and television auditions continue as the actor hopes he can expand
the roles being offered beyond portraying a gangbanger. When that
happens for Cabral, it will be a moment when art imitates life, a better
life.
A Better Life is now playing at: Krikorian Buena Park Metroplex,
Edwards Westpark 8 in Irvine, AMC 30 at the Block, Century Stadium 25 in
Orange, Century Huntington Beach and Edwards Long Beach Stadium 26
Gabriel San Román is from Anacrime. He’s a journalist, subversive historian and the tallest Mexican in OC. He also once stood falsely accused of writing articles on Turkish politics in exchange for free food from DönerG’s!