María Agui Carter is a prize-winning independent filmmaker whose PBS credits include Tango Dual Dance (2000), Rumble Over West Side Story (2000)  and The Devil’s Music (2000).  She also produced the independent  feature documentary about women war correspondents No Job For A Woman in 2011.  Her latest independent project is a hybrid documentary/drama titled Rebel which was broadcast nationally on PBS in 2013.  It tells the story of Loreta Juaneta Velasquez, a Cuban woman soldier/spy during the American Civil War.  Latinopia asked her about Velasquez and why her story is so important for Latinos today.

Carlos Avila is a producer and director whose credits include the PBS series Foto-Novelas (1997) and the feature film Price of Glory (200) which starred Jimmy Smits.  His latest project is a PBS documentary about luchadores, Mexican masked wrestlers. In this intriguing documentary Carlos explores the history of the luchador tradition as well as contemporary luchadores. Carlos told Latinopia that in making the film he discovered that there is a bit of luchador in all of us.

John Valadez is the producer and director of two episodes of the six part PBS documentary series Latino Americans. In the episode titled “Prejudice and Pride,” he tackles the story of the Chicano Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s and 1970s.  Previously, in the 1990s, PBS broadcast a four-part documentary series titled “Chicano! History of the Mexican American Civil Rights Movement.”. Latinopia wanted to know how John would approach telling a story that had been told once before. How would he make his one hour show distinctive? As you will see John found an inventive approach to telling this story.

Henry Darrow is a pioneering Puerto Rican actor who won acclaim when he starred as “Manolito” in the western television series “High Chaparral,” (1967-1971). Latinopia caught up with him at the Gene Autry museum in Los Angeles at a book-signing for his biography, “Henry Darrow- Lightning in the Bottle,” co-authored with Jan Pippins.

John Valadez is the producer and director of two hours of the six-part PBS documentary series, “Latino Americans.” In his episode titled “War and Peace”, John took on the task of documenting the story of Latinos in World War Two. Latinopia asked John how he went about shaping a documentary that covers a decade of complex events and personalities. Here’s what he said.

Danny De La Paz is an accomplished actor of stage and screen whose motion picture credits include Boulevard Nights and American Me. Known for his portrayal of cholos or gang members, Latinopia was surprised to find that Danny had to “learn” how to portray a cholo.

Edward “Junior” Gonzalez is a director and cinematographer from the San Francisco bay Area who is a second-generation Salvadoran American. In his recent documentary, “Words of Revolution,” he confronts stereotypes of the Salvadoran community in the United States and strives to present an authentic  portrayal of Salvador Americans. Latinopia asked him about the Salvadoran community and the legacy of the 1908s civil war in El Salvador.

María Jiménez Henley pioneering Latina actress, choreographer and stage manager. She began her career when she played  the role of “Teresita” in the motion picture WEST SIDE STORY. Latinopia learned that  after María was accepted into the cast of the film, something happened which nearly ended her career before it began. We hear this story in her own words.

Rey Villalobos is the acclaimed Director of Photography of such motion pictures as “Urban Cowboy,” “Nine to Five,” “A Bronx Tale,” and “American Me.” He has also directed numerous episodic television dramas.In 1993, when César Chávez passed away, Villalobos joined Latino directors Greg Nava, Edward James Olmos, Jesús Treviño, Luis Valdez and producer Moctesuma Esparza in a very special assignment, the filming of the César Chávez funeral. He recalls the day.

John Valadez is an accomplished documentary filmmaker who directed and produced the award-winning PBS documentary “The Chicano Wave” and the highly acclaimed documentary “The Longoria Affair.”  Latinopia was surprised to learn that John got his inspiration for becoming a filmmaker and storyteller from a visit to a village bonfire in India.

Pepe Serna is an accomplished actor with more than 100 films to his credits and numerous television appearances. One of his most memorable roles was that of “Angel” in the motion picture “Scarface.” In that film Pepe acted opposite screen legend Al Pacino. Latinopia asked Pepe how he came to get the role and what it was like working with Pacino.

Richard Yñiguez is a veteran television and motion picture actor who has starred in Boulevard Nights, Raíces de Sangre, The Deadly Tower and River of Promises as well as numerous television series. Latinopia asked Richard how the role in the motion picture Bouleveard Nights came about and discovered that Richard tried to steer the film away from it gang theme.

Ritchie Valens (Richard Valenzuela) was the first Latino rock star in music history. He died at age 17 in a tragic plane crash in 1959 along with two other rock legends, the Big Bopper (J.P. Richardson) and Buddy Holly. The story of  Ritchie’s brief career is told in the motion picture La Bamba, written and directed by Luis Valdez. What few know is that it was Luis’s brother, actor/musician Daniel Valdez, who spent many years pursuing the Ritchie Valens story and finally securing the right to tell the story from Ritchie’s family. Here Daniel recounts how the making of  La Bamba came about.

Evelina Fernández is a versatile actress and playwright whose acting roles include such motion pictures as Zootsuit, L.A.Confidential, and American Me. Frustrated over the lack of true depictions of Latinas in television and cinema, Evelina decided to write and produce her own motion picture titled Luminarias. Latinopia asked Evelina how this came about.

What is it like to act opposite a screen legend? Richard Yñiguez, star of the classic movie Boulevard Nights and of numerous television shows, learned early in his career when he landed a role acting opposite movie icon Anthony Quinn in the television series “The Man and the City” which was broadcast in 1971-72. Richard shares his novice experiences with Latinopia.

How does  an actor audition for a role? This is a question that every actor must ask before they walk into a casting room often facing not just the casting director, but the writer of the film or TV show, the director and often the producer as well. Latinopia asked veteran Latino actor Pepe Serna, with more than 100 films to his credit, how he approaches the addition process, how he deals with rejection,  and what advice he would give to fellow actors

Rose Portillo is a gifted actress who starred as Della in the acclaimed play Zoot Suit as well as many roles in television and movies. Her first major role was in the movie “The Exorcist II: The Heretic,” playing opposite Richard Burton. Latinopia discovered that Rose’s first movie shoot was full of surprises.

Latinopia Cinema Ruth Livier from Latinopia.com on Vimeo.

Ruth Livier was the star of the Showtime drama series Resurrection Blvd.  Now she has now created her own webisode drama series about a struggling Latina in Hollywood titled Ylse.Com.  Latinopia interviewed Ruth about the series and her career.

Danny De la Paz is a celebrated actor of stage and screen. With a career that spans decades, he is perhaps best remembered for his riveting portrayals of”Chuco” in the movie “Boulevard Nights” and “Puppet” in the movie “American Me.” Latinopia asked Danny the difference in these two iconic roles and how he came to be cast as “Puppet.” To find out more about Danny De La Paz visit his website: www.krazyvatosemporium.com

Latinopia Cinema – Villalobos Urban Cowboy from Latinopia.com on Vimeo.

Rey Villalobos is a director of photography for such motion pictures as Urban Cowboy, Nine to Five, A Bronx Tale and American Me. He explains how he got the job of Director of Photography for Urban Cowboy without an agent.

Roberto Olivares is a member of the “Ojo de Agua” (Eye of Water) film collective based in Oaxaca, Mexico. The group produces documentaries about the indigenous communities of Mexico while also empowering these communities with instruction on video production so that they can tell their own stories. Latinopia asked Roberto to tell us about “Ojo de Agua.”