Ola, Latin Film geeks. Well, here is the premiere of Latin-AICN a weekly column edited by our reporter/editor Coffin Joe in Sao Paulo, Brazil. He has been posting stories with us for some time now(over a year) and Father Geek was very happy when he agreed to take on this important job for our Austin Headquarters. In the coming weeks he will be covering the hemisphere south of the Rio Grande for all the Latin film news he can find, and he's going to need your help. Make sure and send him ALL the film scoops and festival reports you can dig up. He'll post them here every Tuesday morning in this column...

Hey Father Geek, AICN readers, it´s spooky Coffin Joe with the first ever edition of Latin-AICN, how about that? Let´s get right to it:

-Brazilian director Hector Babenco ( Kiss of the Spider-Woman , Pixote ) is working on the film adaptation of a book called " Estação Carandiru " by Drauzio Varella, which chronicles the life of inmates in a prison here in São Paulo and their relationship with the author, a doctor who does voluntary work at this prison . Right now Babenco is directing a play , called " Mais Perto " , " Closer " in English , by the British author Patrick Marber .

COFFIN JOE NOTE : I´ve read this book and it isn´t one of those books where the author hammers the prison system or says the government is doing it all wrong , not at all . Mr.Varella simply tells his experiences there , ever since he began an AIDS prevention program at Carandiru in 1989 ; some of the stories are quite a kick in the groin because they are real . Stuff that actually happened and that he saw while he was there , so expect a different sort of prison movie . Definetely not Prison on Fire or the Shawshank Redemption .

-There´s a lot of talk in the local press that Sly Stallone and Renny Harlin are coming down to Rio de Janeiro at the end of the month to shoot real racing footage at the Rio 200 CART race for their film "Champs " .

-" Estorvo " , the latest film from Brazilian director Ruy Guerra , has been selected for the official competition at the Cannes film festival.

-Carlos Saura , the Spanish director of " Tango " , has a new movie called " Goya en Burdeos " , based on the life of the famous Spanish painter Francisco José de Goya y Lucientes . The movie is the third collaboration between Saura and director of photography Vittorio Storaro who is responsible for the movie´s stunning visuals.

From El Chango we received the following report on filming in Mexico.

"The Mexican" will be shooting this month and next in the Mexican Ghost-town of Real de Catorce, SLP. in the heart of the Sierra Madre. Brad Pitt and Julia Roberts will star, directed by Gore Verbinski (Mouse Hunt). I also received the news today that Sean Connery will hace a part in the movie, and I'm pretty sure that Tony Soprano himself, James Gandolfini, will be there too.

I don't know much about the story, only that Brad takes an ancient weapon called The Mexican across the border to this town, were his girl (Roberts) tries to persuade him to stop his life of crime. I don't know anything about the parts Connery or Gandolfini would play.

The sets are finished and work well underway on the production... I'll be on the set in a couple of weeks, so you'll probably receive some reports on that.

Well, guys... that's it. Nos vemos luego,

El Chango

From Austin Texas we have this report that should be of interest to all readers of this Latin-AICN column.

Get ready for Cine Las Americas!

During this week, you can participate in one of Austin's new traditions. It is an event that celebrates the Latino community and culture through the culmination of stories, legends, myths and modern day heroes. Our selection for 2000 includes everything from sexy shorts, great comedies, fascinating documentaries, and art films from Cuba, Mexico and the United States. The artists, actors and directors represent both established and emerging filmmakers of varying genres. And once again, we are able to bring some of these talented artists to Austin, Texas for you to meet.

Join Cine Las Americas for our panel discussions! OPEN TO THE PUBLIC AND FREE!!

April 25th at Miguel's La Bodega 5:oopm before the screening of Nuyorican Dream! "Young Filmmakers from Coast to Coast" Valdez Bros (US) "Ballad of Soldier" Laurie Collyer (US) "Nuyorican Dream" Eduardo Marquez (Mexico) Zurdos

April 27th at El Sol y La Luna 5:00pm before the screening of Las Profecias de Amanda! "Latin American Cinema and Magical Realism" Pastor Vega (Cuba) "Las Profecias de Amanda" Alejandro Springall (Mexico) "Santitos"

April 28th at Miguel's La Bodega 5:00pm before the screening of Nuyorican Dream! "Women Filmmakers Exploring the Latino Experience" Laurie Collyer (U.S.) "Nuyorican Dream" Marcy Garriot (Austin) "Split Decision" Nancy Schiesari & Amparo Garcia Crow (Austin) "Loaves and Fishes" Heather Courtney (Austin) "Los Trabajadores"

MOVIE SCREENINS

ALEJANDRO SPRINGALL (MEXICO) "SANTITOS" The excutive Producer for this film is John Sayles. Screening at Alamo Drafthouse Wednesday April 26 at 9:45 Friday April 28 9:45

PASTOR VEGA (CUBA) "Las Profecias de Amanda" Essentially, Pastor is here for the whole festival. Pastor's career spans 3 decades. He was a student a year after the Cuban Film Institute was founded in 1959 (by Alfredo Guevara). Pastor's partial filmography includes: de la Guerra Americana '69; Retrato de Teresa '79; Habanera '83; Amor en Campo Minado '87; Vidas Paraletas '92; Profecias de Amanda '99 Screening at the Center for Mexican American Cultural Arts Saturday April 22 at 7:00pm Screening at Alamo Drafthouse Thurday April 27 at 7:00

LAURIE COLLYER (US..NYNY) "Nuyorican Dream" Laurie's film screened at Sundance this year. Five years in the making, Laurie (a recent NYU film school graduate) collaborated with Robert Torres in this emotionally powerful exploration of Torres' Puerto Rican family from Brooklyn, NY. Screening at Alamo Drafthouse Tuesday April 25 at 9:45 Friday April 28 at 7:00

ANAHUAC AND KINAN VALDEZ (US..CALIF) "Ballad of a Soldier" The movie is an adaptation of Luis Valdez's 1971 acto, "Soldado Razo". They have formed a production company named Chicanos on the Run. Screening at Alamo Drafthouse Tuesday April 25 at 7:00 Thursday April27 at 9:45

SPLIT DECISION by Austin's Marcy Garriott Shot on DV and digitally transferred to 35-mm film, "Split Decision" tells the story of Jesus Chavez, a talented boxer who finds his rise to the world championship cut short when he is deported to Mexico for a youthful crime in his past. Back in the country he left as a child, Jesus finds himself facing two new battles... the fight for the right to return to his family and career in the U.S., and the struggle to be accepted in the country of his birth. Original music for the soundtrack was composed by Austin's Joel Guzman, with additional songs by Aztex, Kid Frost, Los Super Seven, The Sandblasters, El Chicano, Willie & Lobo, and the San Antonio Vocal Arts Ensemble. The world premiere for Split Decision was held April 2 at the Chicago Latino Film Festival, where the film was very well-received by the public and press. "Split Decision," a documentary film about Austin championship boxer Jesus Chavez, will have its Southwest premiere on closing night of the Cine Las Americas Film Festival: Saturday, April 29, at the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema (7:00 and 9:45 P.M.)

For more information check out Cine Las Americas, at their web site .

-José Mojica Marins , better known as Coffin Joe ( the real one not me ) , held a contest last year to pick one man to be the next Coffin Joe . Mojica wants to keep the character alive even after his death , so he decided to choose one guy to become the character , instead of him . He´s also saying that he has something big coming so we´ll wait and see what it is . A movie ? Who knows , the guy is nuts so there´s no way to tell what in god´s name he´s planning . God bless that cooky man.

That´s it for me, hope everyone enjoyed it. Don't forget if you have any news concerning films from, or the film industry in Mexico, Central, and South America send it along with any premiere, or festival invitations to AICN's office in Sao Paulo, Brazil. See ya next week.

Coffin Joe says bye, and obrigado.

25/04/2000

Father Geek here with a personal story concerning Real Catorce where the motion picture "THE MEXICAN" is filming as Coffin Joe reported. It's the story of an early adventure that Harry experienced at age 7. Please forgive the All caps text, that's the way the original document was set up years ago.

FOR A WEEK SURROUNDING THE THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY IN NOV.OF 1978 HARRY, WITH JAY AND HELEN (Harry's Mom, now deceased), ALONG WITH ARTIST WALTER FALK AND ACTIVIST SANDWICH VENDOR/LAWYER ROLAND DENOIE (the deceased dad of RoRo one of AICN's tech crew), TRANSVERSED THE RUGGED SIERRA MADRE OF THE NORTH CENTRAL DESERT OF MEXICO. THE OBJECT OF THIS TRIP WAS TO FIND THE MEXICAN GHOST TOWN OF REAL CATORCE, SO NAMED FOR THE 14 MINES THAT SURROUNDED THE 16TH CENTURY CITY.

GUIDEBOOKS INFORMED THE EXPLORERS THAT THERE WOULD BE NO LODGINGS, FOOD, OR DRINK AVAILABLE WITHIN 30 KILOMETERS OF THE SITE AND THAT THE ONLY WAY IN OR OUT OF THE RUINS WAS A ONCE A DAY FOUR WHEEL DRIVE MINI-BUS TO BE CAUGHT AT A REMOTE DESERT CROSSROADS 25, OR SO KILOMETERS SOUTH OF SAN CAYETANO DE LAS VACAS, NORTH OF MATEHUALA.

OUR BAND OF HEARTYS STUFFED THEIR BAGS WITH FOOD, DRINK, AND TOLIET PAPER, AND HITCHED TO THE CROSSROADS WHERE AFTER HAVING CAPTURED THE VAN, HARRY AND COMPANY CLIMBED INTO THE MOUNTAINS (MADE FAMOUS IN THAT 1948 BOGART FLICK) WHOSE VERY NAME MEANS " CLOSED ". SUDDENLY FROM NO-WHERE A ROCK WALL DEAD END PRESENTED ITSELF TO THE GROUP AND THE GUIDE INFORMED THE HEARTY BAND THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO TRAVEL THROUGH A 1 MILE UNLIT, FLOODED, DRIPPING ABANDONED MINE SHAFT TO GET TO THE ACTUAL TOWNSITE, UNLIVED IN SINCE THE 1914 REVOLUTION WHEN PANCHO VILLA FLOODED THE 14 MINES AND SACKED THE TOWN OF 10,000 PEOPLE. THE DARK, SPOOKY, CRUMBLING TUNNEL WAS LIT ONLY BY OCCASIONAL CANDLES AT SMALL, PERSONAL SHRINES TO DEAD MINERS, OR TRAVELERS LOST TO FREQUENT CAVE INS. THE OVERLY ATMOSPHERIC TREK WAS WELL WORTH IT, THE STONE CITY, TOTALLY RINGED BY DESERT PEAKS, WAS HUGE, COMPLETE WITH CRUMBLING BULLRING AND SEVERAL MASSIVE CATHOLIC CHURCHES, AND TO THEIR PLEASENT SURPRISE A HANDFUL OF FAMILIES STILL SURVIVED THERE, CLAWING OUT A LIVING IN THE ROTTING MINES. IN THE SHADOW OF A HUGE HAND HUINED CROSS PERCHED ATOP THE HIGHEST MOUNTAIN THEY ARRANGED TO SLEEP IN THE ANCIENT HANDFORMED STONE HOME OF SUCH A FAMILY (A HUSBAND & WIFE, HIS MOTHER & MOTHER-IN-LAW, AND 5 CHILDREN), AND STAYED TO EXPLORE THE RUINS, MOUNTAINS, AND MINES FOR 3 DAYS (WITH THE AID OF LOS TRES NINOS).

ON THE USA'S THANKSGIVING DAY THE PEONS KILLED US A GOAT AND HARRY FEASTED. ROLAND HAD BROUGHT 3 BOTTLES OF DEEP DARK RED FRENCH MERLOT WINE IN HIS PACK, HELEN HAD SOME JARS OF FINE ITALIAN ANTIPASTO IN HER BOLSA, JAY HAD PACKED IN SEVERAL TINS OF SMOKED SHELL FISH, EEL, AND FROG LEGS, THE FALK HAD POUNDS OF FRENCH RABBIT PATE' AND HARRY HAD CARRIED IN 12 FANTASTIC BOTTLES OF NOCHE BUENA DARK CHRISTMAS BEER. THEIR HOST PREPARED THE YOUNG GOAT ON A SLOW SMOKE, LOW HEAT FIRE BURIED DEEP IN A HANDMADE PIT DUG INTO THE DRY WHITE ROCKY SOIL AND FILLED LARGE EARTHEN POTS WITH BLACK BEANS, SPICED RICE, AND POLLO TIPICO. THE 14 OF US SAT AROUND THE HUGE RANCH TABLE ATOP THE FAMILY'S SECOND STORY ROOF/PATIO AND IT WAS A MEAL HARRY WOULD NEVER FORGET.

Well that's it, hope you found it interesting. We had to shoot (Guns & Bullets, not Film & Cameras) our way back to Matehuala (REALLY!!!) and brave the company of real live masked banditos, but THAT is another story. When he was a kid I took Harry into the interior of Mexico and Central America about 20 times. Whenever one of his adventures fits into the storyline of one of these Latin-AICN columns I'll relate it to all of you.

This has been an excert from "TRAVELS WITH HARRY", a journal of true life adventures handwritten by Jay Knowles throughout the mid-1980's.