By Denise Nelson-Prieto / El Paso Inc

Local businessman Don Shapiro and author/filmmaker Valentin Sandoval have joined forces to build a creative center for established and emerging artists of all mediums.

The pair launched Power at the Pass film production studio and marketing agency a year ago at 1931 Myrtle, one of seven properties Shapiro owns in the area. The building is a holdover from his former apparel business, Action West.

Sandoval and Shapiro originally met to collaborate on Shapiro’s autobiography and documentary, also titled “Power at the Pass” – two projects expected to wrap up in a few months. The work highlights not only Shapiro’s life, but how he has affected commerce and culture in the region.

“We constructed him as an allegory of the American dream and how he could make it happen in places like El Paso and Juarez,” Sandoval said. “The book is also a how-to and a demonstration of how he did it in his prime and what he’s doing now at 90.”

From there, they decided to continue their collaboration and give other artists a leg up in their creative endeavors.

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