Written by Michael Thervil
We had the opportunity to serve on the set of MI REINA Y EL REY which is directed by film Directors Raul "DJ Woo" Rodriguez and Mark "LoveSun" Rodriguez. Also featured in this interview is Director of Photography Alex Saenz who served as the co-founder of the "Houston Media Source Filmmakers Project". According to the Houston Based Directors:
"Mi Reina y El Rey is the first film to be based on a true story of the Mexican American/Chicano Culture in the East End and 2nd Wards of Houston."
The visionary Directors also stated that:
"Mi Reina y El Rey is a moving, heartfelt story about the ties that bind us to our heritage, the transformative power of music, and the unbreakable bond between a mother and son. Set against the vibrant backdrop of Houston’s Mexican-American community during a pivotal time in civil rights history, this film captures the struggles and trumps of a family reconnecting with their roots and each other."
What we love about this short film is that it's first filmed in Houston, Texas in some of the most historic buildings and neighborhoods within Houston. Secondly, as we were shooting, we fell in love with not only the vision of the Directors but also the high degree of talent that was displayed by the actors and actresses in the film. We also appreciated the wardrobe selection and that this film was filmed in Spanish. But even more than that, we love the stage performance by Gaspar who played the Mexican singer “El Rey”.
MI REINA Y EL REY explored the unseen and often unspoken "inter-cultural" divide between Mexicans born in Mexico and Mexicans born and raised exclusively in America rarely spoken about outside the confines of Mexican culture. Also, the film MI REINA Y EL REY also graciously explores both Mexican culture and music while articulating the captivating grip it has on not only on the lives of the film’s main characters but on people all over the world. Currently, there isn’t an official public release date available at this time, but there will be a limited viewing of MI REINA Y EL REY at Houston’s own Rice University. While speaking to the Directors, they stated that they plan to show the film at various film festivals around the country.
Again, MI REINA Y EL REY is a heartwarming film that is sure to capture the attention of audiences worldwide and will leave you wanting to learn more about not only Mexican culture and music.; but this film will spark the interest of its viewers wanting to learn more about the historic roots of how Mexicans and their culture have played a vital role in the growth of the city of Houston and how their children have remain committed to sharing Mexican culture over time.
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