Special screening of Roll Modelz on Saturday during Cultura on the Lake
by Loni Rahm
Independent film making is a labor of love. So is building a custom car from scratch.
Both require dedication, time, and unwavering passion. Both rely upon an internal motivation that is sometimes hard to describe. And both showcase a message of intensely personal significance with an audience they hope will appreciate it.
Usually, these are two completely unrelated journeys…but on occasion, these paths intersect. And the result can be 12-1/2 minutes of pure inspiration!
How it all began
Meet Yahir Tzec-Carrasco, a Film and Media Studies major who was starting his senior year at Whitman College in Walla Walla, Washington.
In the fall of 2024, Yahir wandered through the Wheelin’ Walla Walla Car Show. Interspersed among the classic and vintage cars on display, he noticed a contingency of lowrider vehicles. Most of them belonged to the Walla Walla based Washington State Lowriders Car Club.
Yahir chatted with club founder and president Jason Pastor-O’Neel, a lowrider enthusiast who was eager to share the story of the club’s origination.
It’s a story that began with tragedy and grief, and over time has transformed into a shared tribute that has been embraced by an entire lowrider community.
In the spring of 2023, Jason’s cousin Cris Avila and his wife, Mallory lost their 18-year old daughter, Mya, in a car accident. Transforming her beloved truck into a lowrider helped Cris channel an unimaginable loss into a project that kept Mya close. He cruises with her picture on the dash, playing her favorite music, her memory ever-present.
The Washington State Lowriders Car Club was founded by Jason Pastor-O’Neel and Cris Avila in Mya’s memory. The club’s mission is to keep the art, customization and community traditions of lowriding alive and family-friendly.
The potential for the story to become a documentary film clicked with Yahir.
Jason Pastor-O’Neel, president of WA State Lowrider’s Car club, (left) and Cris Avila (right) kneel in front of the lowrider truck dedicated to Mya Kay Avila.
Co-directors Yahir Tzec-Carrasco (left) and Oliver Rodriguez Dickson (right) prepare for their first day of filming. Courtesy: Agustin Ramirez Jr.
Building the team
A bit intimidated about pursuing the project alone, Yahir reached out to fellow Whitman senior, Oliver Rodriguez Dickson, for assistance. Oliver immediately loved the idea.
As co-directors, Yahir indicated that he and Oliver both knew they wanted the documentary to be “non-superficial.” They wanted the project to be deep and personal.
They spent time with Mya’s family and the extended family of club members. They learned more about the club’s mission of honoring family and community. They also learned to dispel many of the inaccuracies about the Lowrider community. As the days went by, the story became deeper and more personal.
Once the project gained momentum, they reached out to producer Dasha Levin, an award-winning filmmaker based in California.
Co-directors Yahir Tzec-Carrasco (holding microphone) and Oliver Rodriguez Dickson (holding camera) interviewing members of WA State Lowrider’s Car Club. Courtesy: Agustin Ramirez Jr.
A common dream
What all three young men have in common is a Mexican-American heritage. They also share a dream to highlight some of the unique aspects of their culture through film.
Dasha said the dream grew as the project grew. Conceptually it was the story of the loss of a loved one and how tragedy inspired the formation of a car club.
In reality, the film has become more about bringing the voices of an entire culture to the screen, recognizing long-standing traditions of honor, and showcasing the artistry and skill needed to build lowrider cars and bikes.
Oliver put it this way: experiencing the story can change your perspective of the lowrider community.
It helps give the viewer access to a different world – one that crosses boundaries while demonstrating the common theme of love, family and remembrance.
Audience Reaction
On a warm autumn day in 2025, the Washington State Lowriders Car Club held its First Annual Car Show on the grounds of a drive-in movie theatre in Milton-Freewater, Oregon — a small town just a few miles from Walla Walla.
It was the perfect venue and the perfect occasion for the premier of Roll Modelz.
Cars of all makes and vintages were there, including a tremendous showing of lowriders. At the conclusion of the film, there was a sustained applause – in the form of incessant horn honking.
Although lacking the opportunity to honk their horns in appreciation, audiences in traditional theatre settings have embraced the documentary as well.
Aerial view of the premiere of Roll Modelz at the Milton-Freewater Drive-In theater. Courtesy: JD Stewart
Premiere of Roll Modelz at the Milton-Freewater Drive-In theater. Courtesy: Steve Lens
Film Festival Recognition
Roll Modelz was selected to appear as a “Best of NFFTY” at the Seattle International Film Festival. The 2026 “National Film Festival for Talented Youth” segment showcases the talent from emerging filmmakers 24 years old and younger from around the world.
https://www.siff.net/festival/best-of-nffty-2026
And recently, Roll Modelz won Best Documentary Short at the San Antonio Film Festival.
Roll Modelz team hold their 2026 NFFTY Audience Award. Courtesy: NFFTY
What’s next for the talented trio?
The filmmakers are working on a new documentary that feels like a fitting continuation of Roll Modelz.
They are following the story of Arianna Gutierrez, a 19-year old girl who is currently building her own lowrider. She is a member of the Northwest Finest Car Club, a well-known lowrider car community based in Seattle, Washington.
After decades of often being viewed as more of a passenger than a driver, the subject of the new film is just one example of the emergence of a vibrant community of women in Washington State’s lowrider community.
The new documentary doesn’t have an official name yet, but it will by the film’s release in Spring of 2027.
A word of thanks
Independent filmmaking relies upon independent funding to survive.
The team wanted to express how grateful they are for the grant programs, donations and fundraising efforts that made their project possible. They also wanted to thank the lowrider community for their ongoing participation and support.
If you are interested in following the filmmaking progress and helping with the fundraising effort, click this link:
Special Screening in Chelan
Lowriders have a long history within the Hispanic community. Outsiders may erroneously associate the low-riding vehicles with gangs, but the truth is completely opposite of that assumption.
Lowriders embrace culture, artistry, and community. That’s a story that Roll Modelz is happy to tell. And viewers are quick to embrace.
The 12-1/2 minute documentary Roll Modelz will be featured in its entirety in an outdoor screening on Saturday, August 29th in Chelan’s Riverwalk Park.
Part of the Cultural on the Lake event, the screening is scheduled at 8:30 p.m., immediately following the awards ceremony.
Members of the Washington State Lowriders Car Club and members of the greater Washington lowrider community will be in attendance during the event to answer questions you may have.
Watch the film trailer above
Follow the filmmakers on Social Media
About Saturday’s Event
Cultura on the Lake is free to attend and welcomes visitors of all ages. Organizers encourage guests to arrive early, enjoy dinner downtown, explore local shops and wineries, and stay for the full evening of entertainment.
For the full event schedule and additional information, visit LakeChelan.com/Cultura.
Folklorico Tierra del Sol performing at the 2025 Cultura on the Lake car show. Courtesy: Yahir Tzec-Carrasco
