Moctesuma Esparza facts for kids

Moctesuma Esparza (born March 12, 1949) is an American film producer, businessman, and community activist. He is famous for producing movies that celebrate Latino culture, such as the popular film Selena.

Esparza is the CEO of Maya Cinemas, a movie theater chain that serves Latino communities in the United States. He also runs a production company called Esparza/Caldera Entertainment. He has produced more than 20 films and won over 200 awards for his work.

As a young man, Esparza was part of the Chicano Movement, which fought for the civil rights of Mexican Americans. He continues to support organizations that help Latinos learn about and succeed in the movie industry.

Early Life and Education

Moctesuma Esparza was born and raised in East Los Angeles, California. His father had come to the United States from Mexico. From his father, Esparza learned about the importance of social justice, or fairness for everyone. As a kid, he loved watching Spanish-language movies and playing the saxophone.

He studied film at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and graduated in 1973. While he was a student, he helped create the first multicultural film program in the country. This program was designed to include students from different backgrounds.

In the 1960s, Esparza joined the Chicano Movement. In 1968, he helped organize the Chicano Blowouts. These were protests led by students who demanded a better and more equal education. His experience with the news media during these protests sparked his interest in film. He later produced an HBO movie about these events called Walkout.

Career in Film and Business

First Films

Esparza's first films were connected to his activism. He made a documentary about a protest against the Vietnam War called the Chicano Moratorium. He also helped create a committee that studied how the media showed minority groups.

After graduating from UCLA, he worked on the children's TV show Sesame Street, creating segments in both English and Spanish. He then produced the first season of the PBS show Villa Alegre, which won many awards.

Becoming a Producer

Esparza became an independent producer, making documentaries and other films. His big break in Hollywood was the movie The Milagro Beanfield War. He went on to produce other famous films, including Selena and Introducing Dorothy Dandridge.

Maya Cinemas

In 2005, Esparza opened his first movie theater, a 14-screen Maya Cinemas in Salinas, California. His goal was to create modern theaters for Latino families. Maya Cinemas show popular Hollywood movies, sometimes with Spanish subtitles. The theaters are decorated with Mayan designs, which reminded Esparza of the theaters he visited as a child.

Awards and Recognition

Moctesuma Esparza has won more than 200 awards for his work. These include an Emmy Award, a Clio Award, and an ALMA Award. He has also been nominated for an Academy Award and a Golden Globe. In 2008, The Imagen Foundation named him one of the 50 "Most Powerful and Influential Latinos."

Selected Filmography

Here are some of the movies Moctesuma Esparza has produced:

• Without Men (2011)
• Across the Line: The Exodus of Charlie Wright (2010)
• Walkout (2006)
• Gods and Generals (2003)
• Price of Glory (2000)
• Introducing Dorothy Dandridge (1999)
• Selma, Lord, Selma (1999)
• Selena (1997)
• Gettysburg (1993)
• The Milagro Beanfield War (1988)
• The Ballad of Gregorio Cortez (1982)
• Villa Alegre (1973)
• Selena: The Series (2020)

Preservation

One of Esparza's earliest films, Requiem-29, was about the Chicano Moratorium. The UCLA Film & Television Archive has carefully restored this important documentary. Now, new generations can watch it and learn about this moment in history.