By Patrick Burke 
East L. A. is a famous Mexican-American community, but even a lot of people who live there aren't aware that it's an “unincorporated” area, governed remotely by the County Supervisors.
Cityhood supporters in East L.A. are closer now than they have been since 1974 to realizing their dream of local control. With the help of a loan from the state legislature, the East Los Angeles Residents Association (ELARA) is far into the formal process of proposing a City of East Los Angeles. If a forthcoming financial study finds evidence that it would work, a new generation of voters could get the chance to empower their iconic community.
This documentary news video will be for veteran journalist Daniel Weintraub’s new site, www.HealthyCal.org. It is part of his larger series on poor, heavily minority and unincorporated communities, and their lack of political clout.
Here are a few samples of what I'm working with.
I’m a freelance reporter, cameraman, and editor. My current and recent employers include NBC-Universal, MTV.com, HealthyCal.org, and The New York Times. From early-2003 to late-2008, I was immersed in Southern California’s movements and power structures as News Editor, Associate News Producer, and News Director at KPFK (90.7-FM, Los Angeles).
My full resume and demo reel are on my website, www.burkepost.com. Please check them out. In addition to the news and entertainment content, there’s a condensed Dharma talk I shot and edited that you might enjoy!
The finished product will be a documentary video about seven minutes long, rich in interviews and atmosphere. It will help East Los Angeles voters understand the proposal for a new city. There will be limited narration. I'm allowing the characters tell the story for themselves.
I have interviewed 1st District Supervisor Gloria Molina, who represents unincorporated East L. A. and sits on the board overseeing the cityhood effort. My video piece will also have scenes from an ELARA board meeting, a volunteer organizing session, an interview with the author of the Initial Fiscal Analysis of cityhood feasibility, and an outspoken critic of the movement from the East Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce.
To deliver an informative and interesting video that penetrates into the issues of this story takes at least 4 weeks of research, coordination, shooting, writing, and editing.
