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Andrés Useche
Andres Useche.jpg
Andres Useche
Background information
Origin Manizales, Colombia
Occupation(s)
Instruments

Andrés Useche is a Colombian American writer, film director, graphic artist, singer-songwriter and activist.

Early life

Andres Useche was born in Manizales, Colombia where he wrote and drew his first published political cartoon, "Soy Libre", at age 11. In high school, he won the Colombian Ministry of Culture Individual Creation Prize in Graphic Arts with his graphic novel Vana Espuma ("Idle Mist"). Upon high school graduation Useche scored documentaries and composed "Azul de Noche", a quintet performed by members of the Manizales Chamber Orchestra.

Career

Useche wrote and drew comics as a child, turning 11 years old by the time his political cartoons were first published. While in high school he created award-winning comics which led to his multiple roles, writing, directing, editing, scoring and starring in a film adaptation of one of his graphic novels. The movie had a minuscule $100 budget but won the Best Fiction Film, Best screenplay and Best actress César Awards, along with other nominations for Useche for Best Actor and Best Music.

After graduating as a visual designer with emphasis on Film from the Universidad de Caldas, Useche moved to Los Angeles, California to work as a filmmaker, eventually gaining dual citizenship.

In 2008, in support of Sen. Barack Obama's presidential campaign, Useche volunteered, sang and spoke at rallies and wrote, performed and co-directed in the viral video "Si Se Puede Cambiar", a Spanish language music video also directed by Eric Byler and Warren Fu, which debuted on YouTube on February 22, from the group United For Obama. On April 8, 2008, "Si Se Puede Cambiar" was chosen by YouTube to represent Obama in the first-ever "Trendsetter Tuesday".

Andres continued pushing for immigration reform in the United States and wrote the song "Dream to Belong" in direct support of the DREAM Act. Actor John Leguizamo has featured Andres Useche on his page.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Andrés Useche para niños

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