Moctesuma Esparza

Esparza was born and raised in East Los Angeles, California. His father, a refugee of the Mexican Revolution, migrated to the United States in 1918. His father's awareness of the motivations behind the Revolution imbued him with a strong sense of social justice. He attended the School of Theater, Film and Television at the University of California, Los Angeles, where he received his B.A. in 1971 and M.F.A. in the same field in 1973. During his sophomore year at UCLA, Moctesuma created an ethno-communications program at the film school. He wrote a proposal, made the curriculum, and created (and was a student in) the first multicultural film program in the United States. During the 1960s, he participated in the Chicano Movement, advocating for the civil rights of Mexican Americans. He was one of the organizers of the 1968 Chicano Blowouts, a series of youth-led protests inspired by educator Sal Castro in which Mexican-Americans demanded equal educational opportunities. His dealings with the press during the walkouts led to his interest in the media. His 2006 HBO film Walkout is based on the events of the protests. ==Career==

Early years Esparza's earliest work in film was in service to the Chicano Movement. He filmed a speech given by Reies Lopez Tijerina at UCLA, as well as the 1970 Chicano Moratorium against the Vietnam War. The Moratorium footage became his first documentary, Requiem 29. He was a producer and writer for the documentary unit of NBC in Los Angeles. Following the success of Villa Alegre, Esparza became an independent producer of documentaries. He also filmed a production of the Chicano comedy troupe Culture Clash, A Bowl of Beings. His big break into Hollywood cinema was the feature film The Milagro Beanfield War as a partner at Esparza-Katz Productions, where some of his other production credits include Selena and Introducing Dorothy Dandridge. ==Awards==

Moctezuma has won over 200 honors and awards, He received the 1994 Professional Achievement Award from the UCLA Alumni Association. In 2008, Moctesuma was selected as one of the 50 "Most Powerful and Influential Latinos" by The Imagen Foundation. ==Filmography==

• Taco Shop (2012) (executive producer) (filming) • Mosquita y Mari (2011) (executive producer) (filming) • Without Men (2011) (executive producer) • Across the Line: The Exodus of Charlie Wright (2010) (executive producer) • Harlem Hostel (2010) (executive producer) • One Hot Summer (2009) (made for television) (executive producer) • Moe (2008) (executive producer) • The Startup (2007) (executive producer) • Walkout (2006) (HBO) • Gods and Generals (2003) (executive) • Price of Glory (2000) • Introducing Dorothy Dandridge (1999) (executive, made for television) • Selma, Lord, Selma (1999) (executive, made for television) • Butter (1998) (executive, released on video as Never 2 Big) • Rough Riders (1997) (TV) (executive) • The Disappearance of Garcia Lorca (1997) • Selena (1997) • The Avenging Angel (1995) (made for television) • The Cisco Kid (1994) (TV) (executive) • Gettysburg (1993) • The Ambulance (1990) • The Milagro Beanfield War (1988) • The Telephone (1988) • Radioactive Dreams (1985) • The Ballad of Gregorio Cortez (1982) (made for television) • Agueda Martinez: Our People, Our Country (1977) (producer) • Only Once in a Lifetime (1979) • Villa Alegre (1973) (producer- season 1) • Selena: The Series (2020) (producer) == Preservation ==

Requiem-29 was preserved and restored by the UCLA Film & Television Archive from 16mm prints. Restoration funding was provided by the Council on Library and Information Resources and the UCLA Film & Television Archive. The restoration had its world premiere at the 2024 UCLA Festival of Preservation. ==References==