The Paper Bag Plan

A father devises a plan to teach his physically disabled son how to bag groceries, aiming for him to secure a job and achieve independence. The Paper Bag Plan is a feature film directed by Anthony Lucero who was born and raised in East Oakland and made his directorial debut with the film East Side Sushi, which explores themes of race and gender roles. The original screenplay, written by Lucero, follows Juana, a Mexican immigrant aspiring to become a sushi chef. This drama/comedy indie film was picked up by HBO and won 15 film festival awards across the country. It boasts a 94% score on Rotten Tomatoes and was frequently featured on "Popular on Netflix" throughout 2020 and 2021.

In 2017, Lucero was chosen by USC’s School of Cinematic Arts and the U.S. State Department as an Envoy for The American Film Showcase. This cultural exchange program uses film to promote understanding, cooperation, dialogue, and debate between the U.S. and various countries annually.

Lucero visited six U.S. Embassies and Consulates in Japan as a film ambassador, screening East Side Sushi to hundreds of eager Japanese officials, civilians, and students. Lucero is a graduate of the Netflix Director's on the Rise and the Disney Diverse Directors Fellowship Program. His latest screenplay, Billy Dreams of Bagging, was a semifinalist in the Sundance Development Track.