Last week, ITVS filmmaker Ilana Trachtman joined the mariachi band comprised of students featured in the LPB-supported film Mariachi High for a performance at the Naval Observatory Residence for the fourth annual reception in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month (running Sept 15 – Oct 15). The documentary, which kicked-off PBS’s Arts Festival last year, spent a year in the life of top-ranked members of Zapata High School’s championship mariachi ensemble on the Rio Grande in South Texas. Mariachi High director Ilana Trachtman offered BTB this report from the event.
Vice President Joe Biden talks to High School Mariachis from Zapata Texas on the front porch of the Naval Observatory Residence, before a Hispanic Heritage month Reception, September 26, 2012. (Official White House Photo by David Lienemann)
As documentary filmmakers, we always hope that our stories will take exciting and unexpected turns while our cameras are rolling. It’s pretty exciting when the unexpected happens during outreach as well.
A serendipitous series of events brought 18 of the current mariachi musicians from Zapata High School to the Naval Observatory Residence, to play for Latino leaders across the country at Joe Biden’s annual Hispanic Heritage Month celebration. Continue reading
