Zachary Laoutides Explained

Birth Date:13 December 1986
Birth Place:Chicago, Illinois, US
Yearsactive:2005–present

Zachary Laoutides (born December 13, 1986) is an American actor, screenwriter and filmmaker from Chicago, Illinois. In 2014, he co-founded independent film company Ave Fenix Pictures,[1] originator of an art house filmmaking style known as "la raza".[2] [3] Inspired by La raza cósmica, this technique involves working together with the urban youth in recreating their own stories, regardless of film background.

His first starring role was in the film Adiós Vaya con Dios (2014), which earned him nominations for Best Actor and Best Screenplay at the Bel Air Film Festival. He also wrote and acted in Ave Fenix Pictures' Arise from Darkness (2018), based on the story of psychic Lázaro Rubén Torres,[4] and Black Ruby (2019), claimed to be the "first feature to be shot on an iPhone 7."[5]

Early life

Laoutides was born in 1986 in Chicago where he studied media and journalism. He spent his early years working in community outreach and introducing the performing arts to youth at risk.[6] He resides in Chicago and is still active in community outreach working with Mónica Esmeralda León.[7]

He is of Sephardic, Greek, Turkish and Slovenian heritage.[8] [9] His Eastern European ancestry were ethnic minorities from the Austrian Empire and Russia Empire; Slovenian with some Polish and Scandinavian. His Jewish heritage traces back to Levite rabbinical families Halevi and Benveniste of the 11th to the 15th century in Barcelona. His background includes Moroccan Jewish, Indian Jewish and distant Latino roots from his father's grandmother

Career

Laoutides's first role was in Adiós Vaya con Dios, released worldwide by Indican Pictures on January 19, 2016.[10] Laoutides starred in the film and wrote the screenplay while living in an urban Latino neighborhood, about a half white and half Mexican gang member trying to leave the barrio.[11] Adiós Vaya con Dios was the first movie to use real gangs and streets artists.[12] Laoutides was nominated as Best Actor and Best Screenplay writer at the Bel Air Film Festival where Adiós Vaya con Dios earned an Official Selection and Runner-up for Best Audience Feature Film.[13]

He was also the finalist out of Chicago for Simon Fuller's XIX Entertainment nationwide talent search for new actors.[14]

Laoutides was a musician on the Adiós Vaya con Dios soundtrack, composing and producing several songs. The movie was first to integrate a British and Mexican rock soundtrack over a Latino urbanized film.[15]

In 2014 Laoutides co-founded Ave Fenix Pictures with Mónica Esmeralda León.[16] Ave Fenix Pictures is the first Latino film studio in Chicago.[17] [18]

In 2016 Laoutides wrote and starred in Arise from Darkness, an official selection at Film Invasion L.A. based on true events in the early life of psychic Lázaro Rubén Torres, who was declared clinically dead five times .[19] [20] Laoutides composed and produced several tracks for the movie's soundtrack.[21] Laoutides was nominated for Best Screenplay and shared in the nominations for Best Feature Film and Best Director.[22] The film received three four stars reviews from Examiner.com, Inquisitr, and The Levity Ball, with critics comparing Laoutides performance to the opening of Javier Bardem's character Anton Chigurh in No Country for Old Men (film).[23] The film was ranked number one in the 10 Best Supernatural Horror Movies Of The Last Decade, Ranked According to IMDb Rating.[24]

In 2017 Laoutides premiered the film Black Ruby at the London Independent Film Awards. The company claimed it was the first to be shot with an iPhone 7.[5] He earned nine nominations in London[25] and Rome. His performance was compared with Montgomery Clift and Marlon Brando.[26]

In September 2020, Laoutides was cast along with Jaime Zevallos and Alexander James Rodriguez in the upcoming film "Where Sweet Dreams Die."[27] [28] The movie completed shooting in Chicago and New York in March 2022.[29]

Filmography

Film
YearTitleRoleNotes
2006Let's Go to PrisonMexican gang member
2016Adiós Vaya con DiosRory KingNominated—Bel Air Film Festival: Best Actor
Nominated—Bel Air Film Festival: Best Screenplay
2018Arise from DarknessLázaroNominated—Film Invasion L.A.: Best Actor
Nominated—Film Invasion L.A.: Best Screenplay
2019Black RubyLouis KatzNominated—London Independent Film Festival: Best Director
Nominated—London Independent Film Festival: Best Actor
Nominated—London Independent Film Festival: Best Screenplay
Nominated—London Independent Film Festival: Best Feature Film
Nominated—London Independent Film Festival: Best International Actor
Nominated—London Independent Film Festival: Best Foreign Feature Film

Nominated—Rome Film Awards: Best Actor
Nominated—Rome Film Awards: Best International Film
Nominated—Rome Film Awards: Best Director
Nominated—Rome Film Awards: Best Feature
Nominated—Rome Film Awards: Best Writer
Nominated—Rome Film Awards: Best Foreign Actor

Los Angeles Film Forum
Won—Los Angeles Film Forum: Best Actor
Won—Los Angeles Film Forum: Independent Spirit Award
Won—Los Angeles Film Forum: Best Adapted Screenplay Feature

2024Where Sweet Dreams DieUnknownUpcoming Film
Television
YearTitleRoleNotes
2005-06Prison BreakPrisoner
2006Triple Cross: Bin Laden's Spy in AmericaWadih el-HageNational Geographic TV documentary

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: You Either Give It Your All, or You Live an Average Life – Zachary Laoutides . 2024-08-14 . www.flaunt.com.
  2. http://abc7chicago.com/entertainment/award-winning-latino-filmmakers-thrive-in-aurora/1464700/ Award-winning Latino filmmakers thrive in Aurora
  3. News: Art with Purpose: Interviewing Ave Fenix Pictures. Mogul. 2018-11-14. en.
  4. Web site: https://web.archive.org/web/20160409084315/http://www.inquisitr.com/2888408/actor-zachary-laoutides-talks-about-adios-vaya-con-dio-in-interview/. April 9, 2016. Interview with 'Adios Vaya con Dios' Actor Zachary Laoutides. Stabile. Ryan. March 14, 2016. July 3, 2020. Inquisitr.
  5. Web site: Reviews: Black Ruby. Gibson. Bradley. March 28, 2019. July 3, 2020. Film Threat.
  6. http://www.theherald-news.com/2016/01/14/former-joliet-man-hoping-to-inspire-young-people-through-film-he-wrote-and-shot/ajysckd/ Former Joliet man hoping to inspire young people through film he wrote and shot
  7. Web site: La actriz, productora y directora Mónica Esmeralda León unificando artistas alrededor del mundo. Huellas de México. es. March 25, 2016. July 4, 2020.
  8. Web site: Zachary Laoutides The Emerging Performance. STAFF. BAE. 2016-05-19. Bae Daily. en. 2019-08-12.
  9. Web site: 'Race, religion and violence haven't been more poetic and amusing.' Talking Diversity with Zachary Laoutides. Mogul. en. 2019-08-12.
  10. http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/aurora-beacon-news/opinion/ct-abn-crosby-aurora-movie-st-0629-20160629-column.html Producers credit the people of Aurora for movie's success
  11. Web site: La Revolución en las Calles de Zachary Loutides . es. Huellas De Mexico. April 24, 2016. July 4, 2020.
  12. http://www.costaricantimes.com/adios-vaya-con-dios-the-first-ever-award-winning-film-made-by-chicago-latino-gangs-mexico-the-uk/43916 The first ever award winning film made by Chicago Latino gangs
  13. http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/aurora-beacon-news/opinion/ct-abn-crosby-aurora-movie-st-0629-20160629-column.html The dynamic young founders of Ave Fenix Pictures, which entertainment folks describe as one of the first Latino film studio in the Chicago area
  14. Web site: Crosby. Denise. Producers credit the people of Aurora for movie's success. 2021-01-16. chicagotribune.com. June 28, 2016 .
  15. Web site: 2018-12-02. Adios Vaya Con Dios Soundtrack as compelling as the movie - AXS. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20181202070750/http://www.axs.com/adios-vaya-con-dios-soundtrack-as-compelling-as-the-movie-76238. 2018-12-02. 2021-01-16.
  16. http://huellas.mx/cultura/2016/03/25/la-actriz-productora-y-directora-monica-esmeralda-leon-unificando-artistas-alrededor-del-mundo/ Laoutides ha estado en las noticias recientemente, es un actor y escritor cuya asociación con Ave Fenix Pictures
  17. http://abc7chicago.com/entertainment/award-winning-latino-filmmakers-thrive-in-aurora/1464700/ One of the nation's most successful Hispanic production companies is thriving in the Western Suburbs
  18. Web site: Aurora Home To Only Latina Owned Movie Studio In Midwest . wbez.org . October 16, 2017 . WBEZ Chicago.
  19. News: Chicagoland's own Latino film studio making its mark in cinema. 2016-10-13. WGN-TV. 2018-09-18. en-US.
  20. Web site: Crosby. Denise. Fox Valley shooting for new film fest, more local movies. 2021-01-16. chicagotribune.com. January 12, 2017 .
  21. Web site: 2018-08-31. 'When my Eyes go Dark' has a soundtrack that will keep you awake - AXS. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20180831174915/http://www.axs.com/when-my-eyes-go-dark-has-a-soundtrack-that-will-keep-you-awake-81033. 2018-08-31. 2021-01-16.
  22. Web site: Arise From Darkness: The Voices of Psychic Lazaro Torres Releases Worldwide 2017. 2018-09-18. costaricantimes.com. January 3, 2017 . en-US.
  23. Web site: 2020-06-07. Arise From Darkness: The ominous life of a psychic captured through voices and soundtrack. - AXS. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20200607224228/https://www.axs.com/arise-from-darkness-the-ominous-life-of-a-psychic-captured-through-voi-112720. 2020-06-07. 2021-01-16.
  24. Web site: 2020-09-16. 10 Best Supernatural Horror Movies Of The Last Decade, Ranked According to IMDb Rating. 2021-10-01. ScreenRant. en-US.
  25. News: Production company joins forces Manchester, Glasgow, Chicago. Bdaily Business News. 2017-10-26. en.
  26. Web site: Brando And Montgomery Clift Performances In First Iphone7 Film. Akorede. Shakir. 2017-03-12. Huffington Post. en-US. 2018-09-18.
  27. Web site: Hipes . Patrick . Indie 'Where Sweet Dreams Die' Sets Cast; Rom-Com 'They/Them/Us' Wraps Shoot During COVID-19; Danny Trejo & More Star In 'The Shift' – Film Briefs . deadline.com . Deadline . 23 September 2020 . 10 September 2020.
  28. Web site: Oscars Release Clarifications in Diversity Rules Insider . 2022-09-06 . www.yahoo.com . en-US.
  29. Web site: Where Sweet Dreams Die evoking inspirations of Taxi Driver and American History X – The Hollywood Reporter . 2022-03-19 . www.yahoo.com . en-US.

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