A Humanitarian, Activist and Writer Who Continues the Good Fight
By Elia Esparza
Since the day Nancy De Los Santos-Reza began her writer/producer career in Chicago for Roger Ebert and Gene Siskel’s film review program At The Movies, she has never slowed down and continues to dive into her projects with an enthusiasm and determination that is rare in writers.
But Nancy De Los Santos-Reza is a force who continues to write, pitch, sell and embrace her victories and learn from the misses– an indefatigable writer who writes as if on a mission, because she does.
On May 1st, her new play, Undocumented Alien Children Estimated Time of Arrival To Be Determined aka UTA ETA TBD explores the plight of thousands of Central American refugee children facing the hardship of fleeing the violence of their homelands to come to the U.S—only to be met with new challenges and threats of deportation.
As part of Plaza De La Raza’s 45th Anniversary celebrations, UTA ETA TBD opens at its Margo Albert Theater on Friday, May 1st, and May 2nd and on May 8th and 9th. It will also be presented at the RedCAT Theater on May 22nd & 23rd in Los Angeles.
What motivates Nancy to keep on ticking like the Energizer Bunny with such committed gusto?
“I write what I know. I write the stories that are in my heart,” says De Los Santos-Reza. “The stories that make me laugh, give me pause for thought, and the stories that are inspired by my love of nuestra cultura.”
Determined not to be defined by Hollywood’s glass ceiling that makes it harder for women—especially Latinas—she shares her insight on what keeps her going.
Elia Esparza: Before diving into your career, I have to ask about the Cristela sitcom—a lot of criticism and most coming from other Latinos. As a writer, what do you think? Why should it be given a second season?
Nancy de Los Santos: I love Cristela. Haters will be haters, but that show has a tremendous amount of
heart built around what I would call a very typical Latino family. I know that mom. I know that sister relationship. I know that darn brother-in-law! I might even have had a Fluffy in my life! But more importantly I love this show because it is about real issues—intangible and sexy topics—loyalty, respect, ambition, body issues. Definitely, it is not your typical sitcom set-ups. And it’s all wrapped around a good dose of cultura and jokes. Yes! Cristela must return for a second, third, and beyond season!
EE: I totally agree with you, Nancy! And, then there’s Jane The Virgin …. breaking Hollywood barriers by becoming an audience-loving, top-rated dramedy that resonates with mainstream America! How do you relate to this show?
NDLS: I am Jane the Virgin, and although I am not a mom, I’m also Jane’s mother “Xo.” As a young girl growing up Catholic, attending parochial elementary and high school, I had that very same goal: To be a virgin on my wedding night. I held out until I was almost 20… but ultimately, it didn’t work out. And I had to come to grips with losing, as the nuns called the, “ultimate gift from God to you and your husband.” So be it. Then, I became “Xo”—details shared only if necessary! LOL.
My abuelita lived with our family for many years. There is something special about having generations living and exploring life together. I learned about life from my grandmother, just as Jane is learning from her Abuela Alba, I can still hear her waking up in the middle of the night to go to her job in a bread factory. My work ethic was baked in that factory.
I pray to the saints—all the santos! I especially love St. Jude,, the “Saint of the Impossible.” And sometimes, St. Jude smiles and says, “Yes”… or maybe it’s “¡Si!”
EE: When did you know you wanted to become a writer? Was there a defining moment?
NDLS: When I was in the fourth grade of All Saints School in Chicago, the school held a composition contest. All students were asked to write an essay about their mother. The winning essays would then be read out loud at the pancake breakfast honoring mothers on Mother’s Day. My essay won in my class, and I felt this surge of pride for winning. But more importantly, experienced the effect my words had not only on my mom, but also on others in the auditorium. Call it the pen-being-mightier than anything else I had experienced, and my love for writing was born.
EE: Who has been your biggest influence with your work on stage, film and television?
NDLS: I have many heroes in my professional life—writers, directors, producers who I’ve been privileged to work with on a number of iconic Latino and non-Latino projects. These include Greg Nava, Anna Thomas, Gale Anne Hurd, James Cameron, Delia Ephron, Roger Ebert, Gene Siskel, and probably every other Latino writer whose path I’ve crossed. Each has offered guidance or advice, set an example, or provided encouragement. And I’m most inspired by the young writers I’m working with now at the Plaza de la Raza Youth Theatre Workshop. To experience the love of writing and creating through the hearts and minds of these young people is a pleasure beyond compare. To see the joy they have in presenting their ideas and words on stage reminds me why I decided to become a writer.
EE: Plaza de la Raza is celebrating its 45th year with an original play you wrote, UAC ETA TBD—did you find it hard to transition from writing plays to writing for TV?
NDLS: Writing is writing is writing. I know how simple that sounds, but I believe in the truth of that statement. To paraphrase Descartes—with shame—I write therefore I am. I write because I must write, and all writing is, well, writing. Different formats, but the basic intention in everything I write is to join our ancestors around the campfire sharing the day’s events, the tale of hunt, and the stories of families and of friends.
The Plaza de la Raza Youth Theatre Workshop
EE: How difficult was it to write UAC ETA TBD and what did you learn from this experience?
NDLS: This definitely was a challenging subject. All you have to do is read any article or listen to any news story about the plight of these young children and teens, and you’ll be shocked by the horrific situations these youngsters are fleeing. Dark situations. Life and death choices they must make on a daily basis, with few solutions pointing to life. My charge was to tell this story for a youth theater audience. My choice was to create a scenario that would offer the opportunity for the audience to have empathy as fellow human beings for these youngsters, and not see them as political pawns.
Thank you, Nancy. You’re an inspiration and set the bar high.
When not contributing to changing society as a playwright, Nancy De Los Santos-Reza writes on a number of projects. She just finished working on the writing staff for the HULU hit show, East Los High. She’s currently developing a number of projects, including a romantic comedy, a campus comedy, and a real-life drama.
Her film credits include: Selena and My Family/Mi Familia (Associate Producer); writing credits: One Hot Summer (Lifetime Movie Network), Gotta Kick It Up! (The Disney Channel), Showtime series Resurrection Blvd, and PBS series American Family. She received a 2009 Imagen Award for Best Live Theatrical Production, as one of the writers for Eight Ways to Say I Love My Life and she’s a co-writer and co-producer of the Cinemax/HBO critically acclaimed feature documentary, The Bronze Screen: One Hundred Years of the Latino Image in Hollywood Cinema. She was recently honored with the NCLR ALMA Award for Outstanding Industry and Community Service.
De Los Santos-Reza wrote UAC ETA TBD in alliance with the students in the Plaza de la Raza Youth Theatre Workshop and the Cal Arts Community Arts Partnership (CAP), as part of their 25th anniversary celebration. A prolific writer, this production marks De Los Santos-Reza’s fifth collaboration with the CAP program including Quinceañera Means Forever and Behind The Scenes Drama.
UAC ETA TBD is free to the public but it is recommended that tickets be reserved via http://www.brownpapertickets.com.
Follow Nancy on Social Media: FB: https://www.facebook.com/NancyDLS Twitter: @NancyDLS Instagram: NancyDLSR
Plaza de La Raza REDCAT Theater Celebrating 45th Anniversary Celebrating 25th Anniversary 3540 N. Mission Road 631 W. 2nd Street Los Angeles, CA 90031 Los Angeles, CA 90012 (323) 223-2475 (213) 237-2800
Comments