The usual red carpet star studded movie premier was a bit different for the premier of The Tax Collector, a David Ayer film set to release August 7, 2020. The Tax Collector follows Bobby Soto and Shia LaBeouf as two tax collectors for a Los Angeles crime lord. The family business, led by uncle Luis, played by George Lopez, becomes compromised by an old rival resulting in a war over power and protecting family over anything.
The creatively planned old school style drive-in premier took place on July 30th, a Thursday evening at Arclight drive-in in the City of Industry to accommodate COVID restrictions and regulations. While the drive-in premier may have not been the preferred route pre-COVID, as movie-goers lined up in their cars waiting for the gates to open at Arclight the outcome felt befitting to the Latin American/Chicano demographic in and around Los Angeles.
Throughout the four lots, oceans of cars set up camp as if it were a pre-game tailgate party. Amongst the crowds, actors roamed incognito with the help of mask regulations. Cast members from the popular Chicano Netflix show, Gentefied, Annie Sanches and Carlos Santos were spotted. Noel G, also known as Hector from Fast and The Furious & Training Day, who made a cameo as a store owner in The Tax Collector was taking pictures with fans and other fellow cast mates such as Shia LaBeouf. As the sun set and cars continued to flow into the drive-in, there was an ever growing sense of Latin American family vibes where everyone is family and new & old friends have come together to support. In this case, the support is for this minority heavy cast of Latinos and Afro Americans.
Photo by: Katherine Nataly
Finally the sun said goodbye and the four Arclight screens lit up to reveal David Ayers passion project, The Tax Collector. The film highlighted the thick as thieves bond of the Latino family culture in the relationship between tax collector David, played by Bobby Soto, and his uncle Luis, played by George Lopez, as well as with David’s partner Creeper, played by Shia LaBeouf. Like any good crime/gang inspired movie, raw violent action scenes played out showcasing the risks in power-seeking warfare. However, all is fair in love & war. The love story depicted between David and his wife Alexis, played by Cynthia Carmona, brought balance to the film. David’s love for Alexis, the future of his children, and his partner Creeper becomes the propelling force in him uniting with Bloods gang leader in the attempt to take out old rival crime lord Conejo, played by Jose “Conejo” Martin. The concluding scene leaves viewers with questions and the insinuation that David Ayer’s may be working on a follow-up movie that may continue David’s story, but you’ll have to check it out for yourself!
Photo by: Katherine Nataly
Post film, a virtual Q&A was conducted with David Ayer, Shia LaBeouf, Bobby Soto, George Lopez, Cynthia Carmon, Conejo, and other supporting actors. David Ayer, the creator of the Fast & Furious Franchise, End of Watch, and Fury just to name a few, is a true rags to riches story himself that came from a rough background from the streets of Los Angeles, made a clear and strong point to highlight that this film was strategically written and made to uplift the Latin American community of actors in Hollywood. His hope is that through this film, Bobby Soto, being the new kid on the block, can be catapulted in the industry where not only Soto can “make it big” but all his supporting cast can as well through association and pull. While many anticipated more of Shia in the film, as Ayer mentioned, the film was truly meant to shine light on Bobby Soto and the supporting actors in the film — all of who are Latinos and Afro American.
I had the opportunity to connect with Noel G and asked, how was it working with the cast of this film? He said, “It felt like family…the Latino community in Hollywood is so small that you see each other at the same auditions and on the same sets over and over again, so this was no different, but it was great that we as Latinos are given these types of opportunities to be seen.”
The Tax Collector is set to hit public streaming Friday, August 7th. The film will be available on Amazon, Apple TV, and Google Play.
