Nov 3, 2023
For the last year, Indie Basement cinema has been a monthly showcase of local short films. It is a place where local filmmakers can screen their films in front of their hometown crowd for free. Once a month the basement of XL Public House is turned into a cozy cinema where you can relax and have some popcorn and a beer while watching locally made films.
I sat down with the two filmmakers who were having their movies screened for the anniversary. Jesus Cruz (@jxcruz510) is a filmmaker from Newark who came down to show two of his films: "Peanut Butter and Zombie" and "La Cobija". Julie Ruiz (@julieruizcinema) is a young director from Salinas who screened a music video she directed as well as her short film "Louie's Scary Movies." Sergio (@the_essence_music) can be heard spinning records multiple times a month. He sat down with us to talk about his time watching Indie Basement grow. Joey (@sinistaselecta) is one of the two people along with Rob (@masa_831_), who came up with the idea, and it is their hard work that has made this into the great event that it has become.