Cultural luminary

Claudia Figueroa

Few Latinos have had the courage to take on Hollywood by producing a film

that deals with interracial differences andcultural clashes. But Balboa

Island’s Pepe Serna has done just that.

In his first role as associate producer, Serna -- an actor and artist --

can finally say he has contributed to the ironies involved in cultural

diversity.

The film, “Luminarias,” is a romantic comedy about four Latinas living in

Los Angeles and searching for love. It opens today.

The film involves four friends who explore single life and discover love

with a variety of men. As a result, they have to confront their own

prejudices and those of their boyfriends. The unlikely candidates -- a

Jew, a Korean and an undocumented Salvadoran waiter -- must sift through

a series of unexpected culturally related surprises as well.

Serna, 55, already has a steady gig playing the role of Senior Sanchez on

Eddie Murphy’s animated show “The PJs” and has several film credits under

his belt including “Scarface.” But in this film, Serna has a small role

as one of the leading character’s cousins.

After having a hand behind the scenes, Serna said he likes the creative

aspects of producing -- not to mention the prestige.

Before filming, Serna helped recruit Orange County-based investors Juan

Maldonado and Angel Varela, who also serve as the film’s associate

producers. Maldonado, a Mission Viejo resident, is a partner at Maldonado

and Associates. Varela lives in Laguna Hills and owns a company that

makes aircraft parts. He said this is the threesome’s first business

venture in filmmaking.

Evelina Fernandez, who wrote and has the lead role in the film, said

“Luminarias” is a contemporary look at Latina reality. She said the film

is like a combination of Sandra Cisneros novel and a Spike Lee film.

“It’s similar to a Spike Lee film in the way he deals with harsh issues

in a humorous way,” Fernandez said. “But it’s a lot like Cisneros because

like her, I love my characters and the people I write about. I see them

full of life, love and humor, as opposed to bitter, angry people.”

Fernandez said several characters in the film are based on real people.

She said she met with people of different races and religious backgrounds

to see how they felt about Latinos.

“It’s always difficult to write about a culture,” she explained. “I’m

aware of how people can be sensitive to how they are portrayed on film.

“But I didn’t want to worry about being politically correct,” she said.

“I’d rather write from the heart not my head because that would be

censoring what I write.”

Fernandez, who is “fortysomething,” grew up in East L.A., where she still

lives with her husband, “Luminarias” director Jose Luis Valenzuela.

“Luminarias,” an English-language film, is based on a story Fernandez

wrote several years ago and was later adapted for the stage. The play was

performed in 1996 by the Latino Theater Company (a theatrical group

Fernandez started with Valenzuela) at the Los Angeles Theatre Center.

The independent film, which cost less than $1 million to make, is being

distributed by New Latin Pictures. Fernandez and Valenzuela financed the

film entirely with donations from their family, friends and whomever they

could find to help make the film.

“It must be fabulous to have a group of people who are interested in

supporting your dream,” Serna said. “And hopefully Hollywood is going to

take Latinos more seriously as actors. [Latinos] are rarely portrayed as

professional people; they’re always playing the part of a gang member or

drug pusher. [Latinos] want to see more doctors and lawyers and

professors.

“Our goal is to show the film industry that Latinos care,” he added. “And

that there are professional Latinos out there who will support our

future.”

As proof, Serna founded an entertainment company called Adela

Entertainment. Serna said the company’s first project, a TV/Internet

simulcast called “Adelas Cine Cabaret,” will launch this fall.