By Brenda Norrell

Censored News
http://www.bsnorrell.blogspot.com/

LOS ANGELES -- Made in L.A. tells the story of three women, and of all women, who sacrifice for their children, and struggle against all odds. But it also tells the story of courage, the courage of all people who are called on to give more than they think they can. Ultimately, Made in L.A. is the story of America, of the United States, and the blindsightedness and denial that keeps Americans shopping for low prices without regard for the consequences to others.
Made in L.A. is the story of sweatshops, the story of sweatshops in the United States, where migrant women are exploited for cheap labor, women working 12 hours a day, with children at home. These are women working surrounded by rats and roaches, in inhumane conditions, then fired without pay.
The profiles of three women reveal the broken hearts and broken dreams of the women who come to this country seeking education and opportunity, only to find that the United States is neither as kind, or alive in spirit, as the countries they leave behind. The documentary film reveals the heartbreak of the women who must come to this country to labor, and leave their precious children behind in their home countries, because there is no way to provide food for them.
It also reveals the long hours and struggle of single mothers and the long path endured for justice.
After three years of protests and court battles against Forever 21 clothing factories in L.A., these women and their coworkers gained justice and dignity through community organizing and perseverance. The film is a testament to the strength of women and a reminder that the colonized United States, established by immigrants, has become a world leader in human rights abuses, racism and xenophobia toward migrants.
Congratulations to these women of courage and the filmmakers of Made in L.A. for their Emmy!
The film, which premiered on PBS, received an Emmy at the 29th Annual News and Documentary Emmy® Awards in the category of Outstanding Continuing Coverage of a News Story-Long Form at the ceremony in New York.

Synopsis by Made in L.A.
Made in L.A. follows the remarkable story of three Latina immigrants working in Los Angeles garment sweatshops as they embark on a three-year odyssey to win basic labor protections from trendy clothing retailer Forever 21. In intimate observational style, Made in L.A. reveals the impact of the struggle on each woman’s life as they are gradually transformed by the experience. Compelling, humorous, deeply human, Made in L.A. is a story about immigration, the power of unity, and the courage it takes to find your voice.
Lupe Hernandez, a five-foot tall dynamo who learned survival skills at an early age, has been working in Los Angeles garment factories for over 15 years since she left Mexico City at age 17. Maura Colorado left her three children in the care of relatives in El Salvador while she sought work in L.A. to support them. She found that the low-paid work came with a high price - wretched conditions in the factories and an "undocumented" status that deprived her of seeing her children for over eighteen years. María Pineda came to Southern California from Mexico in hopes of a better life at 18, with an equally young husband. Twenty three years later, substandard working conditions, a meager salary and domestic abuse have left her struggling for her children's future and for her own human dignity.
These three women, along with other immigrant workers, come together at L.A.'s Garment Worker Center to take a stand for their rights. Against all odds, these seemingly defenseless workers launch a very public challenge (a lawsuit and a boycott) to one of the city's flagship clothiers, calling attention to the dark side of low-wage labor north of the U.S.-Mexico border and revealing the social fault lines of the new globalization.
As seen through the eyes of María, Maura, and Lupe, the workers' struggle for basic economic justice and personal dignity yields hope and growth, but it is also fraught with disappointments and dangers. As the campaign drags on through three long years, meetings at the Garment Worker Center become more contentious and the women undergo dramatic moments of conflict and discouragement. But then the story takes a surprising turn, and the three women find the strength and resources to continue their struggle.
For Lupe, Maura and María, the long campaign is a turning point from victimization to empowerment, and each makes life-changing decisions that they never could have envisioned. Overlooking the city of Hong Kong, where she has traveled after she's hired as an organizer, Lupe reflects on her journey: The more I learn, the lonelier I feel. Ignorance somehow protects you. But then I say, I've come this far, and nothing can take that away from me.

Latina Immigrants Documentary Made in L.A. Wins Emmy Award
Made in L.A. (http://www.madeinla.com) is an intimate portrait of the struggle of three Latina immigrants to obtain basic labor rights in Los Angeles garment sweatshops. “Labor protest is not dead. Nor is it futile, according to ‘Made in L.A.,’ an excellent documentary… about basic human dignity.” – Andy Webster, The New York Times
NEW YORK – Sept. 26, 2008 – The documentary had its national broadcast premiere on the PBS series P.O.V. in 2007. Five years in the making, Made in L.A. is Carracedo’s first feature documentary. The 70-minute film follows the remarkable story of Lupe, Maria and Maura, three Latina immigrants working in Los Angeles garment sweatshops as they embark on a three-year odyssey to win basic labor protections from trendy clothing retailer Forever 21. In intimate observational style, Made in L.A. reveals the impact of the struggle on each woman’s life. Compelling, humorous and deeply human, it is a story about immigration, the power of unity and the courage it takes to find your voice.
“This film started as a small, grassroots project to tell the story of three brave Latina immigrants and their struggle for their rights and their personal dignity,” said Carracedo, herself an immigrant from Spain. “We hope that this award will help us continue our work to bring the film to communities around the country and abroad, and that it will help put a human face on issues of immigration, low wage work and the everyday struggles of immigrant workers.”
Made in L.A. has received critical acclaim and has been shown at film festivals around the world festivals, winning several prestigious international accolades before going on to win the Emmy on Monday night.
The filmmakers are currently engaged in a two-year long outreach campaign and have recently launched a new "Host A Screening" initiative (http://www.madeinla.com/get/host) that enables grassroots groups, nonprofits, student groups, unions, and faith-based organizations to hold their own screenings of Made in L.A. in order to engage their communities around local issues and spark an essential dialogue around low wage work, women’s empowerment, consumer awareness and the everyday struggles of immigrant workers.
Made in L.A. is a co-production of Semilla Verde Productions, Inc. (www.madeinla.com), Independent Television Service (www.itvs.org) with funding provided by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (www.cpb.org). A Co-Production of P.O.V.’s Diverse Voices Project (www.pbs.org/pov). It is a co-presentation with Latino Public Broadcasting (www.lpbp.org). CONTACT:
Almudena Carracedo, Director/Producer
Robert Bahar, Producer
contact@madeinla.com
(323) 924-5445