FACES - GANGS
In April of 2019, two young members of an LA gang invited me to view their automatic machine guns and hear what it’s like being born into organized crime.
We met at a hangout tucked behind a strip of nondescript shops in a quiet blue collar neighborhood. I had only an hour to shoot video, photos and eat their delicious offerings of seafood tacos served with cold micheladas before one of the members had to pick his daughter up from school.
Through the 8 minute film, charismatic duo speak candidly about violence, drugs, home robberies and the occasions their guns were used. We learn how they both moved back home after graduating college to continue the family business. They are close with their families despite having mothers disapproving of their criminal pursuits. They are knowledgeable film buffs and appreciate nature. They were unassuming and held low key day jobs. They dressed nice if not a bit preppy and learned that blending in is more advantageous to thwart law enforcement than flaunting their success. Their organization appeared modern and sophisticated with multiple generations keeping a close eye on their succession.
It was a complicated reminder to never judge gang members by their outdated stereotypes.
“Gangs” is 25th installment of the FACES series created by Josh Ethan Johnson. FACES are spontaneously shot documentary films and photos made with little to no prior knowledge of the subjects.
Film by Josh Ethan Johnson - Music by Grant Cutler