Hispanic Heritage Month on PBS
September 5, 2008—New York, NY John ContrubisHispanic Heritage Month 2008 (September 15-October 15) is coming up, and PBS is celebrating with a great lineup of programs that entertain while examining the history, heritage and cultural contributions of Hispanic and Latino Americans. Many of the programs are by NALIP members.
All month, PBS explores the rich and varied styles of Latin music. From Texican (LOS LONELY BOYS COTTONFIELDS AND CROSSROADS, produced and directed by NALIP founding member/mentor Hector Galan) to Afro-Cuban pop (INDEPENDENT LENS “La Lupe: Queen of Latin Soul," produced and directed by NALIP founding member Ela Troyano) to an all-female mariachi band (INDEPENDENT LENS “Compañeras”) to traditional Mexican corrido (P.O.V. “Al Otro Lado [To The Other Side],” produced, directed, and edited by NALIP member Natalia Almada [LPA 2003; Estela]), the creative talents of diverse musicians are on display.
The award-winning new documentary "Calavera Highway" (produced by NALIP BOD member Evangeline Griego) will make its broadcast debut on P.O.V. this month. The film follows seven brothers on a road trip to bury their mother's ashes, unearthing the saga of a Mexican American family.
PBS will also re-broadcast several of its recent nominees for Imagen Awards, created to honor excellence in Latino entertainment, including BROWN IS THE NEW GREEN (produced and directed by NALIP member Phillip Rodriguez [Conference 9]), AMERICAN MASTERS “Orozco: Man of Fire” (written, directed, and produced by NALIP founding member/mentor Rick Tejada-Flores) and P.O.V. “Made in L.A.” (by NALIP member Almudena Carracedo [LPA 2004; Estela]).
And, a special presentation in October, LATINOS ’08, examines the election through the prism of ethnic politics.
PBS’ children’s content continues to serve a diverse audience with series that encourage healthy exploration of cultural differences while providing opportunities to learn and grow as individuals. On the new season of SESAME STREET, kids can follow Murray, the street’s newest friendly resident monster, as he deciphers clues from his little lamb friend, Ovejita. Murray faces a challenge, however: all of Ovejita’s clues are in Spanish! Murray uses visual hints to stay hot on Ovejita’s trail.
On the PBS KIDS preschool destination, Miss Rosa invites children to discover new cultures and build language skills through Spanish language content, while PBS KIDS series BETWEEN THE LIONS, DRAGON TALES and JAY JAY THE JET PLANE insert Spanish words into their curricula to help English speakers learn beginning Spanish. On PBS KIDS GO!, MAYA & MIGUEL (also a nominee for the Imagen Awards), continues to promote the value of cultural diversity while supporting school-age English language learners by combining English and Spanish language in stories about Maya, Miguel, their family members and their friends.