Salvador Carrasco

Salvador Carrasco is a Mexican film director based in Santa Monica, California. He is the writer and director of the highly acclaimed and influential feature film The Other Conquest about the Spanish colonization of Mexico. Carrasco has won numerous film and academic awards, and is currently developing new film projects through his production company, Salvastian Pictures, based in Santa Monica, California, including film adaptations of stories by preeminent writers Juan Gabriel Vásquez and Stephen Graham Jones. Carrasco is a tenured film professor at Santa Monica College, where he is the Head of the Film Production Program, recently featured in Variety magazine.[1] Carrasco has been featured as a guest film director at the CinemadaMare Film Festival in Italy, along with directors Margarethe von Trotta, Paolo Sorrentino, and Krzysztof Zanussi. He is also a regular contributor of Senses of Cinema.

Salvador Carrasco
Carrasco on a film set in 2017
Born
Mexico City, Mexico
OccupationFilm director

Short biography

Earlier career

Carrasco was born in Mexico City and now resides in Santa Monica, California. He first attended Bard College and then graduated in 1991 with a degree in Film and Television from New York University's Tisch School of the Arts, receiving the Founders Day Honors Award. At NYU he wrote and directed three award-winning short films: Alone with His Void, Marblood, and To Fall in Exile. In 1992 Carrasco and producer Alvaro Domingo co-founded Carrasco & Domingo Films, a film production company based in Mexico City and now also in Los Angeles. They also created the Spanish-language cultural magazine, Litoral, which published a wide range of international writers and artists.

The Other Conquest

Carrasco's first feature, The Other Conquest (La Otra Conquista), was distributed by Twentieth Century Fox and became the highest-grossing Mexican film ever at the time of its release.[2] During its run in Los Angeles, The Other Conquest had great box-office success and wide critical acclaim, becoming one of The Los Angeles Times' Top 10 Films of 2000.[3] LA Times' critic Kevin Thomas wrote: "Dazzling, Stupendous, Daring! In his bravura feature debut, Carrasco has created nothing less than a superb cinematic vision."[4] Variety called The Other Conquest "the first 3 million dollar movie that looks like 30!"[5] and in the words of Oscar-Watch's Sasha Stone: "Carrasco ought to emerge as one of the world's best directors, taking his place alongside such uncompromising giants as Martin Scorsese and Akira Kurosawa."[6] The Other Conquest was re-released in US theaters in 2008, accumulating more than 40 rave reviews,[7] and a 90% score with top critics on the Rotten Tomatoes website. The Other Conquest is now available on DVD.

More recent output

Carrasco is currently developing film projects as a writer-director, including adaptations of celebrated literary works by Juan Gabriel Vásquez and Stephen Graham Jones. He is a regular contributor of the quarterly online film magazine Senses of Cinema, which publishes work by the top film critics worldwide. He has also directed episodic television, including Nickelodeon's hit series comedy, Brothers Garcia. As a writer, Carrasco's essays and poems in both English and Spanish have been published in books, magazines, and newspapers that include The Los Angeles Times' Calendar section[8] and Book Review,[9] His song-cycle Solamente Sola has appeared twice on CDs (Island Records and Urtext) and was described by Fanfare magazine as being "…of a Spanish intensity reminiscent of [Spanish poet] García Lorca"[10] and by The New York Times' Allan Kozinn as "four songs couched in effusive and seductive folk styles... a hauntingly evocative cycle on poems by Salvador Carrasco".[11]

Academic positions

Carrasco is the 2002-2003 recipient of the Moseley Fellowship in Creative Writing at Pomona College.[12] He has taught directing at the University of Southern California; screenwriting at Pomona College; film theory and history at Santa Monica College; and he was the Advanced Directing Course Director at The Los Angeles Film School from 2003-2010. In July 2010 Carrasco was appointed as a tenured film professor at Santa Monica College, where he created a new Associate in Science degree program in Film Production.

As the Head of SMC's Film Production Program, Carrasco teaches both filmmaking and critical studies courses, and mentors award-winning short films as Executive Producer: Solidarity (dir. Dustin Brown),[13] Annabel Lee (dir. Ronja Jansz),[14] Rachel 9000 (dir. Angelo Chavez),[15] (dir. Morgan Peterson),[16] Hurt (dir. Brandon Chang),[17] Cora (dir. Kevin Maxwell),[18] Muñecas (dir. Ozzy Ozuna),[19] Bird (dir. Brittany Barber),[20] Like A Rolling Stone (dir. Daniel Hawley),[21] Shape Shifter (dir. Kelly Thompson),[22] One of These Days (dir. Chris Wilson),[23] Once Upon A Woman (dir. Wayne Hodges),[24] With A Single Leg (dir. Gabriel Santos),[25] Hinge (dir. Lisa Mayo),[26] Out of Touch (dir. Bobby Murphy),[27] Ritornare (dir. Joelle Graham),[28] The Attempt (dir. Daniel Despart),[29] Old Cliff Rising (dir. Curtis Roland),[30] Broken Layers (dir. Niccolo Rolim),[31] Ink (dir. Ozzy Ozuna),[32] The War Within (dir. Marta D'Ocon),[33] Leaving the Factory (dir. Alessia Crucitelli), and Las Tres Chicas (dir. Camila Conte), as of November 2020. In addition, under Carrasco's leadership the SMC Film Program has co-produced award-winning short films with CinemadaMare in Italy: A Fish Story,[34] Spaghetti Romance,[35] and Mu, all of them written & directed by Carrie Finklea.

Solidarity, Cora, Spaghetti Romance, and The Attempt have been screened in competition at the Emerging Filmmaker Showcase at the Cannes Film Festival.

Impact Award

On January 10, 2015 Salvador Carrasco was honored at the Aero Theater by the Santa Monica International Film Festival with the "2015 Impact Award" celebrating the local and international educational, economic, and artistic impact of his work at Santa Monica College as Head of the new SMC Film Production Program. Other recipients of the SMFF Impact Award include film directors James Cameron and John Frankenheimer, as well as actor Pierce Brosnan.[36]

Unrealized Projects

Salvador Carrasco was attached to direct The Holy Road, sequel to the film Dances with Wolves, but the project was not realized.[37] [38]

Other works

References
  1. Malina Saval. "Film Professor Creates Low-Cost Production Program at Santa Monica College". Variety.
  2. "- Trailer - Showtimes - Cast - Movies - New York Times".
  3. "Small Business: Web Hosting, Domains, Ecommerce & Email". Small Business.
  4. "Los Angeles Times: Archives - Movie Review".
  5. Army Archerd. "New filmmaking from A to Z.com". Variety.
  6. "La Otra Conquista- By Sasha Stone".
  7. External reviews, La otra conquista, IMDb
  8. "Los Angeles Times: Archives - An Appreciation".
  9. "Los Angeles Times: Archives - The mestiza Scheherazade".
  10. Fanfare Magazine; October 1989, p.384
  11. http://www.presser.com/Composers/info.cfm?Name=SAMUELZYMAN#Reviews
  12. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2006-09-01. Retrieved 2008-04-13.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  13. Solidarity at IMDb
  14. Annabel Lee at IMDb
  15. Rachel 9000 at IMDb
  16. I'll Take Care of You at IMDb
  17. Hurt at IMDb
  18. Cora at IMDb
  19. Muñecas at IMDb
  20. Bird at IMDb
  21. Like A Rolling Stone at IMDb
  22. Shape Shifter at IMDb
  23. One of These Days at IMDb
  24. Once Upon A Woman at IMDb
  25. With A Single Leg at IMDb
  26. Hinge at IMDb
  27. Out of Touch at IMDb
  28. Ritornare at IMDb
  29. The Attempt at IMDb
  30. Old Cliff Rising at IMDb
  31. Broken Layers at IMDb
  32. Ink at IMDb
  33. The War Within at IMDb
  34. A Fish Story at IMDb
  35. Spaghetti Romance at IMDb
  36. "Santa Monica International Film Festival".
  37. "The Other Conquest Conquers America". alibi.com.
  38. "Interview with director Salvador Carrasco". Indie Cinema.

Articles
  • Marina Saval, "Film Professor Creates Low-Cost Production Program at Santa Monica College","Variety" (USA), 18 July 2014.
  • Feature story on The Other Conquest re-release, Los Angeles Times, 2007.
  • Article on high-audience turnout for The Other Conquest, Los Angeles Times.
  • Feature story on The Other Conquest release, Los Angeles Times, 2000.
  • "Chasm Separates 2 Movie Views of Mexican History", Los Angeles Times.
  • Feature story on Director Salvador Carrasco, Los Angeles Times.
  • Gregg Kilday, "Indie 'Conquest" re-enters U.S.", "The Hollywood Reporter" (USA), 11 April 2007.
  • Monika Bartyzel, "Mexican Indie Flick 'The Other Conquest' Gets Second Chance", "Indie" (USA), 12 April 2007.
  • Dave McNary, "'Conquest' wins re-release","Variety" (USA), 11 April 2007.
  • "The San Diego Union Tribune" (USA) 18 May 2007, by: Lilia O'Hara, "Mayas and Aztecs: Apocalypto vs. The Other Conquest"
  • "Los Angeles Times" (USA) 12 May 2007, pg. cover story (Calendar section), by: Reed Johnson, "Another chance for 'The Other Conquest'"
  • "Vida en el Valle" (USA) 2 May 2007, pg. cover story (front page), by: Juan Esparza Loera, "The Other Conquest"
  • "Variety International" (USA) 27 April 2007, by: Dave McNary, "Second coming of 'Conquest': Union Station re-releasing Mexican epic"
  • "La Jornada" (Mexico) 24 April 2007, by: Notimex, "Reestrenarán en Estados Unidos el filme mexicano 'La Otra Conquista'"
  • "DGA magazine" (USA) September 2000, Vol. 25, Iss. 3, pg. 52-54, by: Jose Martinez, "DGA Lends Support"
  • "Entertainment Weekly" (USA) 9 June 2000, Iss. 544, pg. 51, by: Daniel Fierman, "The Specialists"
  • "Screen International" (USA) 19 May 2000, pg. front page, by: Anna Marie de la Fuente, "Box office round-up: Mexico's Conquest Wins Again"
  • "Column of the Americas" (USA) 19 May 2000, pg. cover story, by: Patricia Gonzales and Roberto Rodriguez, "'The Other Conquest' Continues: Which America do we live in?"
  • "Los Angeles Times" (USA) 29 April 2000, pg. F2 (Calendar section), by: Lorenza Muñoz, "History (and Some Marketing) Conquer Box-Office Adversity"
  • "Los Angeles Times" (USA) 19 April 2000, pg. F1, F4, by: Lorenza Muñoz, "Preparing a Conquest"
  • "Cinemania magazine" (USA) April 2000, Vol. 2, Iss. 16, pg. 42-44, by: Luis Tovar, "La Otra Conquista: Una Teoría de los Opuestos"
  • "Venice magazine" (USA) April 2000, Vol. XII, Iss. 6, pg. 34-36, by: Jose Martinez, "The Other Conquest: Filmmaker Salvador Carrasco Presents a Bold New Look at the Spanish Conquest"
  • "Latin Style magazine" (USA) April 2000, Vol. VI, Iss. 6, pg. 20-24, by: Jose Martinez, "La Otra Conquista: A Bold New Look"
  • "Los Angeles Times" (USA) 25 March 2000, pg. F1, by: Judith Michaelson, "'Conquista' Conquering"
  • "Hollywood Reporter" (USA) 16–22 May 2000, pg. S3-S4, by: Cindy Mulkern, "Target Practice: Finding the right audience for a movie oftentimes means looking beyond the obvious"
  • "Siempre" (Mexico) 6 May 1999, Vol. 45, Iss. 2394, pg. 78, by: Mario Saavedra, "Con La otra conquista: Promisorio debut de Salvador Carrasco.(TT: The other conquest: promising debut of Salvador Carrasco.)"
  • "Marie Claire" (Mexico) May 1999, pg. 124, by: Sophie Desoche, "La Otra Conquista: Una nueva visión"
  • "Revista Cultural El Angel (Periódico Reforma)" (Mexico) 25 October 1998, pg. 3, by: Eduardo Subirats, "La Otra Conquista"
  • "Los Angeles Times" (USA) 23 October 1998, pg. F2, F19, by: Guy Garcia, "A Story of Tolerance Across the Ages"
  • "La Opinión" (USA) 23 October 1998, pg. 10E, by: Juan Rodríguez Flores, "Verdades históricas: La cinta La Otra Conquista describe la llegada de los españoles a México desde la perspectiva indígena"
  • "Reforma" (Mexico) 22 October 1998, pg. 3, by: Hugo Lazcano, "España filma su versión"
  • "Reforma" (Mexico) 22 October 1998, pg. front page, by: Nora Alicia Estrada, "A la Conquista de Hollywood"
  • "La Opinión" (USA) 21 October 1998, pg. 5, by: Francisco Mendoza, "La otra cara de la moneda"
  • "Letras Libres" (Mexico) July 1999, Vol. 1, Iss. 7, pg. 44-47, by: Hank Heifetz, "Todos los dioses: La Otra Conquista, de Salvador Carrasco"
  • "La Voz Nueva (Denver)" (USA) 17 October 2007, pg. 8-11, by: Don Bain, "The Other Conquest examines the consequences of empire"

Interviews

Magazine cover photos
  • "Estrenos" (Mexico) April 1999, Iss. 9
  • "La Opinión" (USA) 21 October 1998, Vol. 4, Iss. 1
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