New web series tackles gentrification in Los Angeles

A new web series produced by America Ferrera is using comedy to talk about gentrification in Boyle Heights, a predominantly Latinx neighborhood in Los Angeles. 

“Gente-fied” follows seven characters with diverse relationships to the changing city around them – from bi-cultural Latinxs to business owners – without relying on the usual drug-related violence that Hollywood so often uses to tell Latinx stories. In fact, that was one of director Marvin Lemus’ goals for the project: to create a series featuring Latinx characters that has nothing to do with cartels, smuggling drugs, or gang violence. I guess that’s the kind of quality content you get when the vast majority of the cast and crew are Latinx themselves.

The series looks at the clash of culture and power that happens when privileged people start pushing marginalized communities from their homes, something Latinxs have centuries of experience with. Gender has and continues to play a role in exacerbating that harm: when women earn less than men and are often primary caretakers for children, displacement and rising costs can push them deeper into the cycle of poverty. For that same reason, women and feminist groups are playing an important role in the movement to keep Boyle Heights accessible and affordable.

Check out the Gente-fied trailer below.

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