Latino Hispanic Culture, Art and Film at Bullfighter’s Cafe

I’ve watched all the films on the Mercury Film Challenge website and while all are praise worthy, La Chiva is my personal favorite by Akiva Penaloza. The beautiful lighting, rustic location, well cast actors and simple story all contribute to a film that feels nostalgic and personal. Screenwriter/director Akiva shares her experience. [Editor note: this interview was written in2006]
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BFC: What was the culture in your home growing up? How did you get into film?
I come from a military family. My father migrated to the U.S. from Mexico City and quickly found a career he loved in the Marine Corps. We lived on military bases throughout the country and many of my childhood memories involve the sound of combat boots marching down the road to the familiar cadence of the drill instructors voice. My father and mother spoke Spanish to each other, but not to the children because my father didn’t want us to have his accent. We always knew we were Mexican though, and my parents instilled in us deep pride for our heritage. But what informed my need to be an artist was my early understanding of the painful truth. For instance, the truth that my traditional parents considered me, a female, as second class to my brothers. The truth that Caucasians in my neighborhood considered me a “dirty Mexican.” I could not find the words back then to rally against these truths, so the injustice I saw in the world formed the rumblings of my inner artist. The style of communication I eventually found is the visual art of directing and screenwriting. No verbal explanation could match the passionate one I can give in the simplicity of an image or in the action of a character. My inner voice is booming – but not in audible, verbal sounds. No, it’s strong in images and actions and this is the language in which I am most fluent, and more importantly, most confident. Screenwriting, and filmmaking, is my native language.

BFC: Tell us about the Mercury Latino Lens Short Film Challenge? How did you hear about it? What were the requirements and what prompted you to go for it?
Mercury Latino Lens Short Film Challenge is a partnership of Mercury and the National Association of Latino Independent Producers (www.NALIP.org) to fund Latino filmmakers to make Latino-based films. I wrote and directed La Chiva as a finalist in the contest. Robert Rodriguez (Sin City, Spy Kids, Once Upon A Time In Mexico) and Rodrigo Garcia (Six Feet Under, Big Love, Carnivale, Sopranos) judged and selected my script to receive $10,000 toward production. I also received personal mentoring from Rodrigo Garcia. La Chiva is the story of my mother. It’s about Gloria, a poor, young girl whose parents finally have enough money to buy her a much needed dress. But when her father comes home with a milking goat to provide his family with fresh milk, the goat breaks loose and eats the new dress off the clothesline. The mother, who bought the five dollar dress on credit, must continue to make the payments. But Gloria refuses to give in to her grief – she resumes wearing her old dress with pride. La Chiva is a story with a message of hope about the human capacity to rise above adversity and continue past life’s tragedies, no matter how big or small. As one of three final films, La Chiva will be competing online at www.mercuryfilm.com for a grand prize. The winner of the online voting receives $5,000 to cover extra film costs and an all expense paid trip to the Sundance Film Festival to attend with the NALIP contingent. I knew I wanted to be a part of this the moment I read it on the IFP NY website (www.ifp.org). Their theme was “Mucho Por Descubrir” (Much to Discover) and that appealed to me on a personal level. I took it as “much to discover about oneself”, and about one’s internal strength. And I found that strength in the character of Gloria. I had to give her character a chance and I entered the contest with great results.

BFC: What is the premise of La Chiva?
At its heart, La Chiva is a story about survival. It’s about the soul of a young girl as she confronts the anguish of poverty and loss. Will she crumble? Will she rise to the challenge before her? It’s the story of a little girl who is well acquainted with the intricacies of poverty. She watches her mother humble herself to negotiate a dress with little money in front of a threatening, racist dressmaker. So when the goat eats her new dress, her one prized possession, her first instinct is childlike and she weeps. But it’s her second instinct that defines her authentic character. She struggles her way into the old dress and with a fierce instinct to survive, moves beyond the childhood heartache toward adult understanding.

BFC: Have you accomplished your dreams? If not yet, where else do your dreams take you – a few years from now?
I would love to say I’ve accomplished my filmmaking dreams, but I am just getting started. My dream is to create a body of cinematic work that through the years will be well known for having disturbed the mainstream through its daring portrayal of the truth. I’m not interested in creating or watching fluffy films. I’m interested in changing the world and that takes courage, honesty and audacity. Most of all, it takes time. All I can do is keep plugging away and that I will do.

BFC: Do you think Blacks/Latinos/Women have to work harder than any other group in the film industry?
Women have it hardest of all, in my opinion. Of the 250 top-grossing films released in 2004, only 5% were directed by a woman. That’s 12.5 movies. And of those films, only 16% of all those working as directors, executive producers, producers, writers, cinematographers, or editors were women. And that number is a decrease from 2001 when the figure was 19%. (Source: Women Make Movies) Beyond that, I don’t have enough knowledge to say whether Blacks or Latinos suffer from invisibility more, but I feel confident in saying that people of color in general are sorely underrepresented. I understand that Mexican cinema itself is going strong but there again, it too is male dominated. Working on my set was a new experience for most of the Caucasian crew. First, we shot the film in Spanish. Second, there was a large Latino cast and crew. I felt protective of my non-Latinos, but I later found that the experience had to be uniquely eye-opening. For me, it felt incredibly empowering to work with so many Latinos on a Latino film about a little girl. This little film found a way to change the world.

BFC: What have been the obstacles you’ve run into as a film maker?
The number one issue and the greatest obstacle has been funding. Having Mercury team up with the National Association of Latino Independent Producers (NALIP) has been a real boon to an emerging filmmaker like myself. For their money, Mercury brought six new films on the Latino experience into the world and assisted young filmmakers find their voice. Yes, they bought publicity and attraction to their new SUV, but at least their marketing strategy has a conscience. There seem to be more sources of financing (Netflix, etc.) for films, but we have to see if those funds will lend themselves to Latino filmmakers making Latino themed films. That should be a cue to filmmakers to bring even more vivid, universal stories of our Latino lives to the page. Somehow we will find a way to get our voices heard.

BFC: What is one mistake that you would not want anyone to recreate?
Don’t tell stories you don’t know. I’ve written a few scripts that won a few contests, but they weren’t close to my heart and didn’t give me the emotional satisfaction I need as an artist. The minute I started to write from the heart, I heeded even better results all the way around. Be authentic to your art and trust in your voice.

BFC: Do you have any words of inspiration for Bullfighter’s that want to follow in your footsteps?
In the moments of doubt, and you will have them, stop and remember what daily life was like for your ancestors. They confronted racism, poverty, alienation – and this on a daily basis. My grandmother could never have imagined that her granddaughter would be one day make a film about her family. She was consumed with survival, struggling day by day to make a better life for her children. My grandfather was deported many times, including on a night my grandmother went into labor. He was beaten then dumped at the border with no money, no food, no place to sleep. So when the moments of doubt hit me, I turn to their lives, take in their struggles and reach back across the years to say “Yes I can. I can change the world because I come from strong people.” I say to myself, “Si se puede!”

BFC: How can Bullfighters.com Magazine readers contact you for more info?
Please view my film at www.mercuryfilm.com then feel free to find out more about me at www.myspace.com/akivapenaloza or email me at akiva@scorpyofilms.com.

AM10/06