Pedro Carvajal, Director/Producer/Director of Photography Carvajal has made documentaries on East Village squatters, the Yanomami, and an AIDS patient (winning the Chicago International Film Festival's Silver Plaque award). Entitled “Special K,” this gripping documentary found Mr. Carvajal chronicling Karen Sofield’s struggle with AIDS for a period of 3 years. One of Ms. Sofield’s primary concerns is the future welfare of her son while she lies chronically ill in bed with AIDS related complications. It is the last installment of a three part series dealing with AIDS and women.
His videos Citizen Art and Subvertising focus on culture jamming in public spaces, particularly billboard liberation, in which an outdoor ad is altered to critique the original company or product, or deliver a public service message. Citizen Art focuses on the antics of the billboard liberation collectives, Artfux and Cicada -- with whom Pedro collaborated in Jersey City and New York. This documentary was showcased on Thirteen/WNET Reel New York, and introduced by Laurie Anderson. Subvertising has additional grass roots footage, as well as commentary by sociologists and media critics.
His latest documentary: "POPaganda: The Art & Crimes of Ron English," an official selection at the 25th IFP Market Spotlight on Documentaries chronicles the culture jamming and billboard liberation antics of pop-iconoclast Ron English. Ron first gained fame in 1982 by surreptitiously reworking billboards to critique American society, risking arrest in the process. “POPaganda" covers the full range of Mr. English achievements, including his most recent works.
Mr. Carvajal is currently directing and producing a documentary about the Harmony Program, a music program that trains college and graduate student musicians to teach music to economically disadvantaged young people.
Drawing from Venezuela's world famous model of music, known as "El Sistema,"
the Harmony Program emphasizes the influence of music-making on social development, encourages learning through ensemble playing, fosters a supportive community for program participants and families, and requires of all involved a high degree of commitment to daily music study.
