The MEXICO Report
By Susie Albin-Najera
This information below is from a friend of mine who is a filmmaker, professor and a Ph.D., Mr. Paul Espinosa. Along with his filmmaking partner and co-producer, Mark Day, he is working on a documentary of San Diego music legends, Chunky and Los Alacranes.
The project was recently awarded a Challenge Grant of $25,000 from the Leichtag Family Foundation in Carlsbad, California. However, in order to receive the grant monies, they need to raise a matching $25,000.
Chunky and Los Alacranes is an hour-long documentary and educational project on the life of Ramon “Chunky” Sanchez and the musical group he formed in San Diego. Chunky is a charismatic musician who has dedicated his life to using art to promote cultural understanding and tolerance. His life has been a microcosm of the Mexican American experience in the 20th century.
http://vimeo.com/20859305 (click here to watch trailer)
The film explores Sanchez’s life from his rural, farm worker origins to the formation of his community based musical group, from his educational role in the Chicano movement to his influence on the folk music scene in California and beyond.
Beyond the film itself, the project involves educational curriculum plans, outreach materials, and a robust website, all designed to encourage maximum use of the film in classrooms and community centers around the country.
The fiscal agent for the project is the Media Arts Center, San Diego, the annual producer of the San Diego Latino Film Festival. MACSD is a non-profit 501c3 media arts organization promoting media literacy and artistic expression in film, video, audio, and computer-based multi-media.
Any contribution to the project is tax-deductible and will be matched 1:1 – doubling the impact of the donation. Contributions can be made to “Media Arts Center, San Diego” or “MACSD” and mailed to:
Espinosa Productions
P.O. Box 1925
Scottsdale, AZ 85252
Paul Espinosa, Ph.D.
Professor and Filmmaker
Arizona State University
School of Transborder Studies
P.O. Box 873502
Tempe, AZ 85287-3502
Tel: 480-965-5120
Fax: 480-965-7165
Paul.Espinosa@asu.edu
www.EspinosaProductions.com
Many, many thanks!