By Bel Hernandez
The star of the evening was director/producer Ben DeJesus whose John Leguizamo’s Road for Broadway documentary was screened on Wednesday, November 14, 2018 for the first time in Los Angeles to a packed house at the Independent Theater in downtown L.A.
DeJesus and his production team
The anticipation of the screening was met with a thunderous applause. As the lights came up, after the screening in the audience was a mix of Latino producers, writers, actors and yes, even family– DeJesus’s dad and brother, who traveled from the East Coast to join him for a most momentous occasion. Also in the house were some of the crew member and instrumental individuals who helped DeJesus make this documentary a reality. “It takes a team,” DeJesus stated at the Q&A.
Avenida Production principals Fanny Veliz and Nelson Grande introduced the film. Avenida was instrumental in securing some of the funding through a crowdsourcing campaign. There was also Ben Lopez, the Executive Director of NALIP, and he spoke about DeJesus’s journey as a filmmaker before the screening.
The documentary is revelatory – invigorating and oh so revealing! You literally take a journey with the uber talent– actor/writer/director/producer extraordinaire– John Leguizamo all the way to a Tony-nominated run on Broadway. “It takes a team,” DeJesus stated about the efforts to get the documentary done.
The documentary does an excellent job of giving you insight into Leguizamo’s early life, his struggles, but most of all his artistry. In a rare appearance, the audience also hears from his wife Justine and the family dynamic that lead to Leguizamo’s need to write and produce his Broadway hit play Latin History for Morans.
The audience is taken on Leguizamo’s creative four-year journey. Literally, from concept to Tony Award nomination. You come away with a powerful sense of pride, about Latino’s positive contribution to our country, the U.S. of A! It is all caught on tape, Leguizamo’s dynamic and at often times emotional journey, for us all to enjoy and be inspired.
But most revelatory was the witnessing of the work of a great documentarian, Ben DeJesus. This was his second documentary with John Leguizamo as the subject, Tale of a Ghetto Klown was the first. During the Q&A DeJesus announced that his next documentary is on the life of actor Raul Julia and his career, he also hinted on a possibly documentary on Sonia Sotomayor, both announcements were greeted with great enthusiasm.
DeJesus w/ his brother & Dad
DeJesus is making his mark as a documentarian, And I look forward to watching him sometime soon, accepting his Oscar. Yes, he is that good.
John Lequizamo’s Road To Broadway premieres tonight. November 16, 2018 on PBS at 9 pm and is a co-presentation of the Latino Broadcasting’s VOCES and Great Performances.
You can read all about Ben DeJesus’ career and his work in Latin Heat’s article by our editor Elia Esparza CLICK HERE
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