The Documentary Director

Tommy Sowards does not do soft and cuddly. As a graduate film student at UCLA he directed music videos in the emerging gangster rap genre. Tommy became friends with renowned rapper Kurtis Blow who introduced him to several members of the "Rollin' 20's" Bloods gang. Tommy spent the next decade documenting the underbelly of Los Angeles gang life. The resulting film "Slippin: Ten Years With the Bloods" offers a rare glimpse inside LA's gang culture. Tommy went on to make documentaries about prison rehabilitation efforts for Latino gang members and the world of extreme martial art fighting. His new film is about Wallid Ismail, a legendary Brazilian martial artist who pioneered competitive MMA fighting in Brazil. Despite Tommy's preoccupation with violent and dark subject matter, he is actually a quiet and sensitive man. He is a devoted father and a passionate filmmaker. He looks forward to the day when he can make his scripted feature films. (5" x 7", black ink print)