Estevan Oriol: LA Originals Documentary Film
On Netflix, you can see LA Originals, a documentary focusing on the story of photographer Estevan Oriol and artist Mister Cartoon and their rise to the hip-hop world of Los Angeles. An exploration of the culture and landmarks of the Chicano and street art movement that cemented Mister Cartoon and Estevan Oriol’s status as behind-the-scenes hip hop legends. Photographer Estevan Oriol and artist Mister Cartoon turned their Chicano roots into gritty art, impacting street culture, hip hop, and beyond. Estevan Oriol directed the documentary.
About the Author
Estevan Oriol is an internationally celebrated professional photographer, director, and urban lifestyle entrepreneur. Beginning his career as a hip-hop club bouncer turned tour manager for popular Los Angeles-based rap groups Cypress Hill and House of Pain, Estevan’s passion for photography developed while traveling the world. With an influential nudge and old camera from his father, renowned photographer Eriberto Oriol, Estevan began documenting life on the road and established a name for himself amid the emerging hip-hop scene.
Nearly 20 years later, Oriol’s extensive portfolio juxtaposes the glamorous and gritty planes of LA culture, featuring portraits of famous athletes, artists, celebrities, and musicians as well as Latino, urban, gang, and tattoo culture lifestyles. He has photographed Al Pacino, Robert Dinero, Dennis Hopper, Ryan Gosling, Chloe Moretz, Marissa Miller, Kim Kardashian, Kanye West, Snoop Dogg, Floyd Mayweather, and others. He has also produced shoots for internationally acclaimed photographers such as Ellen von Unwerth for Sang Bleu and Luca Babini for GQ Italy.
In addition to shooting campaigns for companies including Cadillac, Nike, and Rockford Fosgate and directing new media projects for My Cadillac Stories, MetroPCS, MTV, and Apple, Estevan has designed album covers and/or directed music videos for artists including Eminem, Cypress Hill, Blink 182, Snoop Dogg and Xzibit.
His work has been showcased in select galleries and institutions—such as Smithsonian Center for Latino Initiatives, Mesa Contemporary Art Center, Petersen Automotive Museum, and The Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles’ Art in the Streets exhibit—concluding with best-selling books of his work: LA Woman, L.A. Portraits, And This Is Los Angeles capturing the dangerous gangsters, Lowriders, Musicians, Celebrities, L.A. Lifestyle and alluring beauty of women shot in his uniquely provocative and raw style. His photography has been featured in Complex, FHM, Juxtapoz, GQ, Vibe, Rolling Stone, and other publications, with appearances on popular television shows such as CNN’s Anthony Bourdain-UnKnown Parts, CNN’s Street Food-Roy Choi, HBO’s Entourage, and Last Call With Carson Daly.
