“Down for Life” (2010)

Directed by	Alan Jacobs
Produced by	Scott Alvarez
Screenplay by	Alan Jacobs Trina Calderon
Starring	Jessica Romero Danny Glover Snoop Dogg Elizabeth Pena Laz Alonso Kate del Castillo Emily Rios Lil Rob
Music by	Vito Colapietro Neely Dinkins
Cinematography	Dana Gonzales
Editing by	Clayton Halsey Roger Marshall
Release date(s)	September 12, 2009 (2009-09-12) (TIFF) October 2010 (2010-10) (United States)
Country	United States
Language	English

Down for Life is a 2010 American dramatic film directed by Alan Jacobs based on the true story of a 15-year old Latino gang leader in Watts, Los Angeles. The story follows one day in her life as she struggles to break away from her gang. Made in cinéma vérité style, the film stars many local teens, with veteran actors such as Danny Glover, Laz Alonso, Kate del Castillo, and Snoop Dogg in supporting roles. Down for Life focuses on the gritty reality of gang life and the racial tension surrounding it. Ultimately, the film’s message is one of hope to those in tough circumstances while shedding light on a pressing social issue.

The film spans one day in the life of Anjelica Soto, aka “Rascal” (played by Los Angeles native Jessica Romero), a 15-year old Latino gang leader in Watts, as she struggles to survive. Surrounded by escalating violence and racial tensions, Rascal realizes her days in the gang are numbered. Encouraged by her English teacher (Danny Glover) to apply for a writing program in Iowa, Rascal hopes to use the material from her life to write her way out of Watts. The forces around Rascal thrust her into a deadly cycle of violence that seems almost impossible to escape. To leave, she will have to make the dangerous decision to renounce her loyalty to the gang.