On Monday, September 25th, I had the great pleasure of presenting my film, “Boricua Soy Yo” at a free public screening at Canisius University. The Western New York Peace Center hosted this event in conjunction with the Latin American Solidarity Committee of Western New York as part of their monthly “Coffee House” events.  It was a very humbling experience as I sat with folks and observed the audience, watching them watch my film. Regardless of how many times I’ve been part of a screening of one of my documentary projects, the nervous, uneasy feeling one gets as a crowd is watching something you poured eighteen months of one’s life on never gets easy. Although the audience that joined me on this night was not as large as the three-hundred-person audience that first joined me when I first screened it at the Dr. Phillips Center in downtown Orlando in April of 2022 for the UCF Celebrate the Arts screening, the fact that this was being screened in my own hometown of Buffalo, NY made it all the more special.  Documentaries that explore cultural identity and history can be powerful tools for education and awareness. Although they can be an acquired taste, the feedback I received from some of the audience members as the film ended was reassuring. Hearing a gentleman whom I assumed to be in his seventies, mention to me that he had learned quite a few new things regarding the history of Puerto Rico and its relationship to the US was quite the compliment.  After the credits rolled, I was invited to field a few questions from the audience during a short Q&A session, and it was beautiful to engage with the audience in this way. I’ll admit I was a little nervous, not knowing what type of questions would be directed my way. Still, I believe my interactions during the question-and-answer sessions with the audience helped enhance their understanding of the film and provided more profound insights into some of the subject matter covered in “Boricua Soy Yo.”  The fact that many attendees were unaware of some of the subjects covered in the documentary showed the importance of such screenings and is a perfect example of why I chose to become a documentary filmmaker. Once upon a time, I wanted to be an educator and entered a Social Studies Education program at Buffalo State. After some time doing student teaching, I knew my place wasn’t in the classroom; instead, using my background and a previous degree in Media Arts/Filmmaking, I pursued a second bachelor’s in history, envisioning a melding of both backgrounds to not only educate but entertain, inspire, and inform. Sitting in the Science Hall that night at Canisius University, knowing that my little film played a role in expanding people’s knowledge and fostering cultural appreciation of the mainland “Boricua” experience, was a testament to what I envisioned so many years ago as I started my journey as a filmmaker and educator.  I’d like to thank everyone who showed up to the screening event, particularly Alberto Cappas, Solomon Joseph, both of this very publication as well as Maritza Vega and many others. Additionally, I’d be remiss if I didn’t say thank you to the WNY Peace Center and the Latin American Solidarity Committee of Western New York for organizing and hosting this event.  Public screenings like this can contribute to promoting cultural understanding and unity within a community and I was so proud to have been invited to showcase my film. Read More From This Writer All Post Art Books & Poems Business Community Education Entertainment español Food & Culture Health Interviews Military & Veterans Peace People Politics Sports ENTERTAINING, INSPIRING, AND INFORMING  THROUGH FILM October 1, 2023/No Comments Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo. Read More… Read More A BITTERSWEET NIGHT, LISTENING TO THE MUSIC OF “GITANAA July 25, 2023/No Comments On Saturday, June 24th, my wife and I joined a few friends and enjoyed a night of live Latin music… Read More MAKING A MARK ON OUR YOUTH June 6, 2023/No Comments During my column last month, I wrote about having the opportunity to visit my childhood school, Herman Badillo Bilingual Academy,… Read More Load More End of Content.

On Saturday, June 24th, my wife and I joined a few friends and enjoyed a night of live Latin music hosted by “The Gypsy Theatre,” taking place at The Bittersweet Piano Lounge at downtown Buffalo’s historic Hotel at the Lafayette. There is a magical quality about live music that transcends the boundaries of time, space, and culture, and “Gitana,” led by Magdalena Gil and joined by musicians Manny Perez, Alex Aponte, Eddie Candelario, Geraldo Castillo, Piri Rodrigue,z and Joey Gonzalez bright together a harmonious celebration of Latin sounds in the “Bittersweet Lounge” in The Hotel Lafayette. The small intimate venue of “Bittersweet Piano Lounge” was the setting for a night of Latin music standards and familiar favorites, and Magdalena Gil’s voice and the band’s music left an indelible mark on the audience, one full of friends and family alike. While sitting with my wife, taking in the sounds, and singing along to some of the tunes, I could not help but appreciate the music and timeliness of the songs we were blessed with.  Through the dimly lit room, the “Lagrimas Negras” opening lines immediately transported me from Western New York to Santiago, Cuba. Music takes you to places you have been and even places you’ve never seen. As one gets older, there is a certain level of appreciation regarding the old and familiar. When I was a young man, I always wanted to leave Buffalo. However, visiting a few years ago, as a married father of three in his mid-forties, I learned to appreciate everything the area had to offer before moving my small family back after twelve years in Florida. The same could be said for the musical standards of old. Although my wife and I enjoy the sounds of Reggeaton and Latin Trap music artists such as Karol G, Bad Bunny, Rauw Alejandro, and Young Miko, who are at the top of many Latin Music charts, the old familiar songs being performed by the “Gitana” ensemble helped me appreciate the music of old, where talented vocals and instrumentation was at the forefront of music. One of the most remarkable aspects of a live music performance is the emotional connection it fosters, and watching Gil’s family and friends gleam with pride as she hit notes on this intimate performance was palpable. As the music filled the venue, every lyric sung and every note played resonated with the experiences and emotions of the original song lyrics as written by the likes of Willie Colon (Idilo) and Miguel Matamoros (Lagrimas Negras), among others. Live music performances are a symbiotic relationship between the artist and the audience, and Magdalena Gil’s energy fueled the enthusiasm of the crowd, and in turn, the audience’s energy fed the “Gitana” ensemble’s passion and creativity, pouring out their heart and soul into their craft, and the audience reciprocates with cheers, applause, and fervent support. This energy exchange created an electric atmosphere, elevating the music to new heights, leaving the crowd happy and wanting more. As the final chords reverberated through the air and “Gitana” took their final bow, the calls for an encore were answered as Gil began a rendition of “Killing Me Softly” with a Latin twist, to the audience’s delight. After the event, organizer, and host Marta Aracelis-Torres promised future events of the collective, specifically the Puerto Rican Day Parade celebration this coming August, as well as a return to the beloved old Latin Concerts that were held in the Statler Towers Ballroom next year in 2024. Attending a live music event is an experience like no other, especially when the atmosphere, and emotional connection, transport you away to a different place and time, if only for a few hours. The musical journey “Gitana” took us all on was one of the unforgettable moments combined with an experience that will linger in our collective hearts and minds. Should you have a chance to experience “Gitana” the next time they are scheduled to perform, I highly recommend you seize it and allow yourself to be taken on the musical journey, as you will not be disappointed. You can learn more about the Gypsy Theatre by visiting their Facebook page and searching “The Gypsy Theatre.”   Read More From This Writer All Post Art Books & Poems Business Community Education Entertainment español Food & Culture Health Interviews Military & Veterans Peace People Politics Sports A BITTERSWEET NIGHT, LISTENING TO THE MUSIC OF “GITANAA July 6, 2023/No Comments On Saturday, June 24th, my wife and I joined a few friends and enjoyed a night of live Latin music Read More MAKING A MARK ON OUR YOUTH June 6, 2023/No Comments During my column last month, I wrote about having the opportunity to visit my childhood school, Herman Badillo Bilingual Academy, Read More IT STARTS WITH A BOOK May 12, 2023/No Comments IT STARTS WITH A BOOK On Friday, April 29th, I will have attended the 13th Annual Dia del Ninos y Read More Load More End of Content.