Council Biography
Moctesuma Esparza
Moctesuma Esparza is a multi-talented award winning filmmaker, producer and entertainment industry executive. He has received over 100 honors including an Academy Award nomination, an Emmy, a Clio Award, and Cine Golden Eagle Award. Mr. Esparza along with Mr. Robert Katz are partners in Esparza/Katz Productions. Mr. Esparza's film credits include:
PRODUCER, "PRICE OF GLORY" written by Phil Berger. Directed by Carlos Avila. Starring Jimmy Smits and Jon Seda with Paul Rodriguez and Ron Perlman. Released in March 2000 by New Line Cinema.
PRODUCER "DOROTHY DANDRIDGE" an HBO project released August 1999, starring Halle Berry. Screenplay by Shonda Rhimes and Scott Abbott.
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER, "SELMA, LORD, SELMA" an ABC/DISNEY project released to commemorate Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Based on the award winning book/screenplay by Cynthia Whitcomb.
PRODUCER, "THE DISAPPEARANCE OF GARCIA LORCA" written by Marcos Zurinaga and Neil Cohen. Directed by award-winning director Marcos Zurinaga. Starring Andy Garcia, Esai Morales, Edward James Olmos and Giancarlo Gianini. The budget was $14 million and was released in September 1997 by Columbia/Tristar.
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER, "THE ROUGHRIDERS" a four hour mini-series starring Tom Berenger and Sam Elliot written by Hugh Wilson (FIRST WIVES CLUB) and directed by John Milius (WIND AND THE LION, APOCALYPSE NOW) aired on TNT in July 1997. The budget was $18 million.
PRODUCER, "SELENA" the biopic which was written and directed by Gregory Nava was released in April 1997 by Warner Bros. The picture has earned an excess of $35 million at the box office. Starring Jennifer Lopez, Edward James Olmos, Jon Seda, Constance Marie.
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER, "BUTTER" written and directed by Peter Bunch and starring Nia Long, Shemear Moore, Ernie Hudson aired in 1998 for HBO.
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER. "A GIFT OF GIVING" directed by Stuart Margolin and starring Dianne Carrol and Tisha Campbell, a production for Showtime in 1998.
PRODUCER, "GETTYSBURG" directed by Ronald Maxwell. A mammoth film released theatrically by New Line Pictures and premiered on TNT as a four-hour miniseries in 1995. Has the distinction of garnering the highest ratings share for any cable movie. The largest undertaking for Turner Pictures and TNT starring Tom Berenger, Jeff Daniels, and Martin Sheen.
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER, "THE AVENGING ANGEL" directed by Craig Baxley starring Tom Berenger, James Coburn, and Charlton Heston aired in 1995 on TNT.
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER, "THE CISCO KID" in 1994 was written and directed by Luis Valdez (LA BAMBA) starring Jimmy Smits and Cheech Marin was one of the highest rates movies ever to premiere on TNT.
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER, "A BOWL OF BEINGS" a one-hour PBS Great Performances Special of a play by Culture Clash, air date March 1992.
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER, "CALIENTE Y PICANTE" a one-hour HBO music special starring Ruben Blades, Linda Ronstandt, Carlos Santana, Tito Puente, and Ciela Cruz in 1990.
PRODUCER, "THIE AMBULANCE" a feature film directed by Latty Cohen and starring Eric Roberts, Janine Turner, and James Earl Jones. Released by Columbia in 1993.
PRODUCER, "THE MILAGRO BEANFIELD WAR" feature film directed by Robert Redford. A 1988 Universal release starring Sonia Braga, Ruben Blades, Melanie Griffith, and Julie Carmen.
PRODUCER, "THE TELEPHONE" feature film directed by Rip Tom starring Whoppie Goldberg, released by New World Pictures in 1998.
PRODUCER, "THE BALLAD OF GREGORIO CORTEZ" feature length theatrical film for PBS, American Playhouse. Starring Edward James Olmos and released by Embassy Pictures in 1994.
PRODUCER, "RETROACTIVE DREAMS" a science fiction/fantasy feature film. Foreign release, Manson International, 1985.
PRODUCER, "BORDERLANDS" a one-our documentary. Portrayal about the lives of people who are caught up in the immigration story along the United States-Mexican border. Primetime PBS, May 1982.
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER, "LA RAZA SERIES" responsible for production of six (6) one-hour documentary specials for McGraw Hill Broadcasting Co., Inc. Nationally syndicated. 1975-79.
PRODUCER-WRITER, "SURVIVAL" one-hour documentary special for "LA RAZA SERIES" for Mc-Graw Hill Broadcasting Co., Inc. National Syndication 1975.
PRODUCER-WRITER, "CELEBRACION" one-hour entertainment documentary special on the music and culture of the Mexican-.American for Mc-Graw Hill Broadcasting Co., Inc. National Syndication. 1975.
PRODUCER-WRITER, "A WORKING PEOPLE" one-hour documentary special for Mc-Graw Hill Broadcasting "LA RAZA SERIES."
DIRECTOR- PRODUCER-WRITER, "THE ALLEN GROUP" one-hour documentary special for Mc-Graw Hill Broadcasting "LA RAZA SERIES" National Syndication 1976.
DIRECTOR-PRODUCER-WRITER, "A POLITICAL RENAISSANCE" one-hour documentary special for Mc-Graw Hill Broadcasting "LA RAZA SERIES" National syndication 1977.
PRODUCER-WRITER, "THE FUTURE IS NOW" one-hour documentary special for Mc-Graw Hill Broadcasting "LA RAZA SERIES" National syndication 1979.
PRODUCER-WRITER, "CELEBRATION OF LOVE, THE VENEGAS FAMILY" half-hour film documentary on 60th wedding anniversary celebration. Prime time special KCBS-TV Los Angeles, 1981.
PRODUCER, "ONLY ONCE IN A LIFETIME" a feature-length motion picture distributed by Movietime Films, 1978.
PRODUCER-WRITER, "AGUEDA MARTINEZ - OUR PEOPLE OUR COUNTRY" short subject, nationally released 1977.
PRODUCER-WRITER, six (6) Educational films, 15-18 minutes, on communications, Religion Career Education, and Guidance for BFA Educational Division, CBS, Inc. National release 1976.
PRODUCER-WRITER, series of 12 short Bilingual - Bicultural Mathematics films for Educational Development Center Program "INFINITY FACTORY" National PBS 1975.
FILM PRODUCER-DIRECTOR OF FILM OPERATIONS, Bilingual Children's Television, PBS Network Children's Show, "VILLA ALEGRE" 1973-74.
PRODUCER-WRITER, four Voter Registration Public Service Commercials, Southeast Voter Registration Educational Foundation, 1975-76.
PRODUCER-WRITER, "CINCO VIDAS" a one-hour documentary special presenting a portrait of five lives in the barrios of East LA. KNBC-4, aired in Jan 1973.
DIRECTOR OF TRAINING, BC/TV Media Training Program. Taught and directed 15 students in Art and Techniques of Film and TV Production, March-Sept 1973.
PRODUCER-WRITER, three short educational Bilingual films for Children's Television Workshop, Sesame Street, 1972-73.
PRODUCER. "REQUIEM 29" a half-hour film examining the death of Ruben Salazar during disturbances in East L.A. August 9, 1970.
PRODUCER-WRITER- HOST, for over 350 public affairs and cultural radio programs, Pacifica Radio, KPFK-FM Los Angeles, CA, 1968-77.
TWO-WAY RADIO PERSONALITY, public affairs and cultural program, "INVOLVEMENT" KLOS-FM, ABC Radio, LA, 1972.
PUBLIC AFFAIRS PRODUCER/HOST, "LA RAZA NUEVA" weekly radio program of Pacifica Radio 1968-75.
Additionally, amongst the many other projects they have in development is "THE CESAR CHAVEZ STORY" written and directed by Luis Valdez (LA BAMBA, ZOOT SUIT) for Warner Bros.
