THIS WEEK ON LATINOPIA: SILVER SCREEN LATINAS! FRANK BERUMEN ON THE LEGACY OF RAQUEL WELCH, THE LATE DIANE RODRIGUEZ ON HER ROLE IN TERMINATOR TWO, JULIE CARMEN ON HER ROLE IN THE MILAGRO BEANFIELD WAR AND MARK GUERRERO’S EAST LA MUSIC STORIES WITH MAX UBALLEZ,
This week Latinopia looks at Latinas in film. We begin with a biographical essay on screen legend Raquel Welch (nee Tejada) by film scholar Dr. Frank Berumen. Frank looks at the actress (19940-2923) and her long trajectory from early roles in the Ramona Pageant and One Million B.C. which establish her as a sex symbol to later roles where she plumbed the depths of her acting ability like The Last of Sheila and The Three Musketeers. Frank points out that she was more than just a sex symbol but became a role model for Latinas in Hollywood.
Accompanying our look at Latina actresses is an interview with the late actress, writer and director Diane Rodriguez on her role in the landmark film Terminator Two. Diane talks about how once she was cast in the film the director changed her role!
And we look at a third great actress, Julie Carmen. In our interview with Julie she speaks about her role in the Robert Redford motion picture The Milagro Beanfield War. Julie talks about her role and working relationship with director Robert Redford and producer Moctesuma Esparza.
And our fourth actress is also a playwright and director, Rose Portillo. She speaks in this interview about her role in The Exorcist II.
And lastly this week, Mark Guerrero bring us another interview with a pioneer of Chicano rock music in his East L.A. Music Stories. This week he interviews Max Uballez, of the sixties group The Romancers.
I hope you enjoy your week on Latinopia!
Tia Tenopia