Latino Public Broadcasting and PBS SoCal to Present New Season of VOCES on PBS in April-May 2015
LATINO PUBLIC BROADCASTING
AND PBS SOCAL TO PRESENT NEW SEASON
OF VOCES ON PBS IN APRIL-MAY 2015
COSTA MESA, Calif. (March 5, 2015) – Latino Public Broadcasting’s season four of VOCES, the Latino arts and culture documentary showcase series, will premiere from April 17 to May 1, 2015 with three new broadcasts on Fridays at 10:00 p.m. PBS SoCaL is the presenting station for the series, airing nationally on PBS as a part of its commitment to highlight the historical stories of our nation’s diverse communities.
The 2015 season of VOCES will present a new lineup of four original documentaries that shine a light on some of the most unique and untold aspects of Latino culture and history. Kicking off the series on April 17 is “Children of Giant,” followed by “Now en Español” on April 24, and “El Poeta” on May 1. A fourth film, “Pedro E. Guerrero: A Photographer’s Journey,” will premiere this fall as a special co-presentation of VOCES and THIRTEEN’s American Masters.
The spring 2015 series of VOCES is as follows:
Friday, April 17, 2015, 10:00-11:30 p.m.
“Children of Giant”
Producer/Director: Hector Galán
In the summer of 1955, it seemed as if all of Hollywood had descended on the dusty West Texas town of Marfa as production began on the highly anticipated movie Giant, starring Elizabeth Taylor, Rock Hudson, and James Dean. Based on Edna Ferber’s novel about three generations of a powerful ranching dynasty, Giant took an unflinching look at feminism and class divisions and was one of the first films to explore the racial divide between Anglos and Mexican Americans in the Southwest. Now, 60 years later, “Children of Giant” goes back to Marfa. The film combines interviews with the cast and crew of Giant with the recollections of residents who participated in and witnessed the making of the film, many of whose lives mirrored the controversial themes of the film.
Friday, April 24, 2015, 10:00-11:00 p.m.
“Now en Español”
Producer/Director: Andrea Meller
A fascinating look at a rarely seen side of Hollywood, “Now en Español” follows the trials and travails of five hard-working Latina actresses who dub “Desperate Housewives” for Spanish language audiences in the U.S. With real lives that are often as dramatic and desperate as those of their onscreen counterparts, the five dynamic women featured struggle to pursue their Hollywood dreams while balancing the responsibilities of paying rent and raising children. The film chronicles their lives as they audition for parts and work in the dubbing studio while striving for a career that offers more prominent — and on-screen roles.
Friday, May 1, 2015, 10:00-11:00 p.m.
“El Poeta”
Producers/Directors: Katie Galloway and Kelly Duane de la Vega
Both heartbreaking and inspiring, “El Poeta” tells the story of renowned Mexican poet Javier Sicilia, who ignited mass protests and an ongoing international movement for peace after the brutal killing of his 24-year-old son Juan Francisco – collateral damage in a drug war that has left more than 100,000 dead or missing since 2006. Filmed over the course of three years, the film follows the journey of Sicilia and his movement as they make their way from Mexico’s most embattled cities – Juarez, Chihuahua, Durango and others – to the U.S., urging American citizens and lawmakers to share in the responsibility for the violence. “El Poeta” transforms the hard news story of drugs, murder, and corruption into a deeply personal examination of the impact of the ultimate loss on the human psyche – as well as the power of righteous protest.
As the flagship PBS station in Southern California, PBS SoCaL works with independent filmmakers to develop and broadcast high-quality programs and series that educate, entertain and enlighten our viewers. “PBS SoCaL National Productions” is proud to distribute a number of these completed programs and series to PBS stations nationally each year. For more information about “PBS SoCaL National Productions” please go to https://www.pbssocal.org/tv/presents/.
About PBS SoCaL
PBS SoCaL is the only station in the Greater Los Angeles area providing the full PBS schedule to Southern California and is home to all PBS program premieres as they are released nationally. As Southern California’s flagship PBS station, PBS SoCaL provides early education, access to a broad array of arts and culture, and programs for, about and by the people of Southern California.
PBS SoCaL is the parent to three unique broadcast channels, PBS SoCaL/KOCE-HD, PBS SoCaL Plus, and PBS SoCaL World, which are dedicated to educating, entertaining and enlightening viewers throughout Southern California. PBS SoCaL offices are located in Downtown LA, Century City and Costa Mesa. PBS SoCaL is proudly, our communities’ largest classroom, largest stage for the arts and trusted source of information. Explore the future of PBS in Southern California at www.pbssocal.org.
About VOCES
Produced by Latino Public Broadcasting, VOCES is PBS’ signature Latino arts and culture documentary showcase and the only ongoing national television series devoted to exploring and celebrating the rich diversity of the Latino cultural experience. The series is presented by PBS SoCaL and supported in part by the National Endowment for the Arts, the National Association of Latino Arts and Cultures, the Ford Foundation, and the Surdna Foundation through a grant from the NALAC Fund for the Arts Grant Program. More information about VOCES is available at VOCES on Facebook or Twitter.
About Latino Public Broadcasting
Latino Public Broadcasting (LPB) is the leader in the development, production, acquisition and distribution of non-commercial educational and cultural media that is representative of Latino people, or addresses issues of particular interest to Latino Americans. These programs are produced for dissemination to public broadcasting stations and other public telecommunication entities. Latino Public Broadcasting provides a voice to the diverse Latino community throughout the United States and is funded by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Between 2009 and 2014, LPB programs won 85 awards, including the prestigious George Foster Peabody Award, two Emmys, two Imagen Awards and the Sundance Film Festival Award for Best Director, Documentary. In addition, LPB has been the recipient of the Norman Lear Legacy Award and the NCLR Alma Award for Special Achievement – Year in Documentaries.
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CONTACT:
PBS SoCaL
Stacy Shaffer
(714) 241-4166