Joseph Vasquez
Encyclopedia
Joseph B. "Joe" Vasquez was an American
independent film
maker.
Vasquez was born in the South Bronx
, the son of two heroin addicts. He began making his own films at the age of 12, and was awarded a filmmaking degree in 1983 from the City College of New York
.
In 1991 he released Hangin' with the Homeboys
with New Line Cinema
, the film which earned him critical acclaim. Having been arrested for running naked through an apartment building, he was later diagnosed as manic-depressive.
On December 16, 1995, Vasquez died as a result of AIDS
-related complications in Chula Vista, California
, aged 33.
One of his stories was posthumously used as a segment in the 1997 film Riot
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
independent film
Independent film
An independent film, or indie film, is a professional film production resulting in a feature film that is produced mostly or completely outside of the major film studio system. In addition to being produced and distributed by independent entertainment companies, independent films are also produced...
maker.
Vasquez was born in the South Bronx
South Bronx
The South Bronx is an area of the New York City borough of The Bronx. The neighborhoods of Tremont, University Heights, Highbridge, Morrisania, Soundview, Hunts Point, and Castle Hill are sometimes considered part of the South Bronx....
, the son of two heroin addicts. He began making his own films at the age of 12, and was awarded a filmmaking degree in 1983 from the City College of New York
City College of New York
The City College of the City University of New York is a senior college of the City University of New York , in New York City. It is also the oldest of the City University's twenty-three institutions of higher learning...
.
In 1991 he released Hangin' with the Homeboys
Hangin' with the Homeboys
Hangin' with the Homeboys is a 1991 American coming-of-age comedy-drama film directed by Joseph Vasquez. It premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 1991. It was released by New Line Cinema.-Synopsis:...
with New Line Cinema
New Line Cinema
New Line Cinema, often simply referred to as New Line, is an American film studio. It was founded in 1967 by Robert Shaye and Michael Lynne as a film distributor, later becoming an independent film studio. It became a subsidiary of Time Warner in 1996 and was merged with larger sister studio Warner...
, the film which earned him critical acclaim. Having been arrested for running naked through an apartment building, he was later diagnosed as manic-depressive.
On December 16, 1995, Vasquez died as a result of AIDS
AIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
-related complications in Chula Vista, California
Chula Vista, California
Chula Vista is the second largest city in the San Diego metropolitan area, the seventh largest city in Southern California, the fourteenth largest city in the State of California, and the seventy seventh largest city in the U.S....
, aged 33.
One of his stories was posthumously used as a segment in the 1997 film Riot
Riot (1997 film)
Riot is a 1997 television movie starring Luke Perry, Mario Van Peebles, and Lucy Liu. It was written and directed by four writers and directors of four different racial groups prominent in Los Angeles...
.
External links
- Joseph Vasquez filmography via New York Times