Read on Twitter
Introduced my gf's 10 yr old daughter to Selena (the film) last night. Hadn't seen it since it came out in the theaters. She loved it, of course--and was surprised when she heard "Bidi Bidi Bom Bom"--she knows the song, but didn't know from where! But it caused me to reflect..1.
It came out in '97--1 yr after I wrote my 1st ep of tv. The landscape for Latino entertainment looked very different...& strangely the same. I was living in NYC, trying to make my next break happen. There were no Latino stars of tv, none really in film outside of Andy Garcia...2.
I went to see the film w/20 friends--magazine people, indie film people, activists. You wouldn't exactly call us Selena fans--we were a bunch of East Coast salsa/hip hop kids--but we were hungry to both see likeness of ourselves onscreen, and anxious to help make that happen...3.
The "buzz" was that this was Jennifer's big shot. Some of us knew her personally. Some of us knew Jon Seda. All of us had mad respect for Eddie Olmos. This was a real big studio film, from Latin filmmakers & a Latin cast. Man, even as I type that, I remember how that FELT...4.
Tejano music--even Selena's--was not what we played in our cramped little NYC apartments (even though, after hearing her, you couldn't help but love hers.) But that movie happening was infused with something more for us. It was IMPORTANT. Without saying it, we all knew. 5.
I can't overstate how barren the landscape for Latinx was back then. We hadn't had a truly successful film since La Bamba. We. Were. INVISIBLE. It was sad, and it was angering.
But this film was a real shot for us. And my friend group was going to show up for that. 6.
But this film was a real shot for us. And my friend group was going to show up for that. 6.
The theater in Midtown was PACKED. A LOT of moms and little girls. Taking photos by the poster. (Man, even THAT gets me emotional.)
Yes, we saw first hand why Selena was iconic. But we saw so much more.
Yes, we saw first hand why Selena was iconic. But we saw so much more.
We were a bunch of Puerto Rican & Dominican kids, but onscreen, we saw family dynamics that looked so much like our own. We saw the hunger for our own dreams. We saw the bright, blazing talent of those who looked like us, sounded like us. And we saw...possibilities. 8 (?)
The possibility that there might be a place for us in this industry. The possibility--and the excitement--that there may be space to show the different nuances, celebration, joy, and love of a varied Latinx culture. It was...exciting. 9.
Whatever quibbles we may have had with the filmmaking--young kids trying to break in ALWAYS think they know better--we all knew how important this moment was. The actors/filmmakers came to play. We showed up. And at the end of the weekend, Selena was the #1 film in the US. 10.
More than 20 years later. Many of us went onto full careers--Actors, writers, directors, & that's a blessing. But watching Selena last night, I felt proud of what the cast/filmmakers did then. But also like we're still fucking trying to make the next goddamn thing happen. 11.
Like after more than 20 years, the thirst, the NEED to see ourselves on screen has been woefully unfulfilled. Has been excluded. Has been denied. Like we've been given crumbs. And that shit just made me angry. 12
I know there's a number of us working to change that--FEVERISHLY. I have to think Vida and One Day At A Time and Gentified and Selena the series knocked bricks down from that wall we're all trying to scale. Where Latinx stories become a MAINSTAY--not a yearly "here's your ONE" 13
Diary of Future President & Ashley Garcia & the new Saved By The Bell & Julie & the Phantoms making vital strides w/Latinx as LEADS. INCREDIBLY important.
But how often do we see Latinx adults on tv/film...dating? With stories that reflect things other than our trauma? 14.
But how often do we see Latinx adults on tv/film...dating? With stories that reflect things other than our trauma? 14.
Seeing Selena the film last night made me realize that it's going to take ALL of us, taking a lot of shots, to right this. So that in 23 years, the next ones won't still be dealing with "here's your one." FIN.
