Go for It! (2011)

On a shoestring budget Carmen Marron has produced a wonderful first film. She obviously has a big heart and great compassion for the underdog. Her actors portray their characters in a believable manner and the cultural values of the community are realistically represented. The high energy dance scenes provide a perfect complement to the compelling plot line. There is a good mixture of the harsh reality of life in the projects juxtaposed with the joy from dancing that the lead character has, and this also personifies her personal struggle between breaking away and continuing on a path that will perpetuate the generational cycle of poverty and dysfunction.

Dance films can be quite entertaining because they provide movement which means a lot of action for the viewer's eyes. Of course, there is the question of story. It's dance but is it interesting? Fortunately, this film has both. For the first 1/3 of the film one must be patient because the director takes her time to setup the story. The viewer is rewarded with an entertaining, intense, and uplifting last 2/3 of the film. Street dancing is still popular all over the world's major cities and not just in the U.S. This is Ms. Marron's first film project and to deliver such a story on such a low budget is inspiring to any new filmmaker. A must see because it is just not "another" dance film.

An impressive first-time effort from emerging filmmaker Carmen Marron. This movie manages, though dealing with familiar themes, to touch the heart and make the coming-of-age story of a young dancer who finds the courage to "go for" her dreams come alive. The message that Ms. Marron is sending with her film is an inspirational one, that hard work, perseverance and belief in oneself can, and will, change lives for the better. At the end of the film after acing her audition, the viewer doesn't know exactly what will happen to the lead character Carmen, but it's satisfying to see that she had the determination to break out of her constraining life to go in a different direction. Realistic and slice-of-life acting from a large ensemble cast, and production values far beyond the film's budget.

Carmen Marron had no previous experience in film except as a casual moviegoer. She didn't spend years learning and honing her craft, nor was she educated at UCLA's film school or Columbia College.Yet, with the financial assistance of her husband, she went on to direct "Go For It" a film that explores the lives of Carmen Salgado (Aimee Garcia), her best friend Gina (Gina Rodriguez), families and the influence of dance in their lives.With dance scenes choreographed by four different choreographers - Kristin Denehy, Alison Faulk, Ruth Inchaustegui and Rino Nakasone - "Go For It" gives us lively and varied dance with driving beats.The story is not unique, we've seen a version in just about every film of the genre.Carmen wants to dance with her hip hop troupe in her Logan Square (Chicago) neighborhood. Though not against her dancing, most in her family would rather her pursue an education, specifically her father who is a garbage collector.Her best friend Gina is in a toxic relationship with a ill tempered boy whose only interested is deviant sexual acts with her all while he chases other girls. It's a relationship that Carmen is against but Gina is determined to maintain because of her own low self esteem.In school, Carmen is under the watchful eye of her teacher Frank (Al Bandiero) who wants her to apply for a school in Los Angeles that teaches dance so she can get away from the hood. However, he has his own demons that continue to haunt him.As in most films of this nature, dance is Carmen's only release. She practices everyday after school in the park with the rest of the local dance troupe. Most of their performances are at a local underground club that offers of dance slams.In the middle of all this, she gets involved with a middle class white boy from Evanston who seems genuinely interested in her and consequently pulling her in a separate direction altogether.The theme is fairly close to films like "Flashdance" and "Footloose" with elements of "Dirty Dancing", "Step Up" and even "Saturday Night Live" tossed in.However, instead of sticking with middle of the road hip hop dance sequences, Ms Marron mixed the themes with the addition of Asian and Flamenco nuances. Combined with crack cinematography by Christian Sprenger "Go For It" delivers delightful dance scenes that entertain but don't overwhelm.More impressively - this is Carmen's first film...with no film background! "Go For It" is far from perfect in that it joins a growing list of dance slam films. Yet it is infinitely better than films developed by directors with extensive film backgrounds and training. Ms Marron proved to be a quick study with a stylish, entertaining film. Continue to go for it Carmen! - Geoffrey Burton