Filmmaker Merced Elizondo grew up in Oak Cliff surrounded by blue-collar grit, a Mexican-American household, and a love for storytelling—long before he knew that filmmaking could be his path. In this episode, he shares early doubts, a pivotal college internship, and how his father’s temporary paralysis inspired his acclaimed short Manos de Oro. We dive into his punk rock approach to filmmaking, his love for old cinema, and the emotional weight behind his Oscar-eligible short The Mourning Of. Plus, Merced previews his upcoming feature, The Thing About Elephants, and explains why he’s committed to making movies—and building a creative community—right here in Oak Cliff.

Photographer and filmmaker Don "Tortellini" Thomas II didn’t set out to document Oak Cliff—he just picked up a camera and let the neighborhood guide him. From capturing the heartbeat of community initiatives to having his work archived at UNT, Don shares his journey from picking up a Canon A1 on a whim to becoming a recognized visual storyteller in the city. We talk about his early creative experiments, his transition from photography to filmmaking, and the responsibility that comes with telling a community’s story the right way.