Gregory Nava on the way in which her 1997 film “Selena” resisted the test of time

During the three decades that followed the death of Selena Quintanilla-Pérez, her story was told in a variety of formats, from a podcast to one Limited television series And children's book. However, few remained as culturally significant as the 1997 biopic, “Selena”.

True target sentences like “anything for Selenas” or relatable scenes representing the heavy relationship of his family with their American hybrid identity, “Selena” continues to resist the test of time – and remains one of the few cinematographic representations of the pop star approved by his family.

Shortly after the murder of Selena, her relatives hit the nominated filmmaker with the Oscars Gregory Navawho previously told immigrant stories in 1983 “NorthernAs well as his 1995 film, “Mi familia”. The latter followed an American Mexican family in Los Angeles with a complete Latin distribution, including Edward James Olmos, Constance Marie, Jacob Vargas and a flourishing Jennifer Lopez.

“Selena's family was very strong that only a Latin filmmaker would be able to understand the culture, her philosophy and the world from which she came,” explains Nava.

With the financial support and distribution of Warner Bros., Nava wrote and directed the film in Texas. He interviewed members of the family and friends close to the singer, who at 23, had captured the public through the diaspora with her voice and his presence on the captivating stage.

“She was such a brilliant light,” said Nava. “It was really tragic when she left us, but I feel that her mind is always with us.”

“Selena” reported 35 million dollars When it was released – and Lopez's performance as a singer of “Como la Flor” earned her a nomination for the best actress in the 55th Golden Globe Awards. De Los spoke in Nava about the lasting meaning of his film, 30 years after the death of the superstar.

The following was published and shortened for more clarity.

Take me through these first moments when you were approached to make the film “Selena”.
I had a film, “Mi familia”, which was a huge success after (Selena died). I think AB Quintanilla watched her with his family and said, “This is what we want in our film Selena.” I concluded an agreement with Moctesuma Esparza and they contacted me to write and make the film.

Many people advised me not to do it. They said: “You are a very serious filmmaker and it's hot, popular. It is a film for television and it is not a good career movement for you.”

But I was very taken by his story. I lived in Venice in Los Angeles at the time and I was walking and thought of making the film, and I came across two young Latinas wearing selena t-shirts. I asked them, “Why do you like Selena?” And they looked at me and said, “Because she looks like us.”

I made our young women, our community, we have no images on the screen that resemble us. And that means the world to see itself on the screen. I thought: “I'm going to make this film for these young girls.”

Jennifer Lopez and Greg Nava on the “Selena” set.

(Thanks to Gregory Nava)

Were there times when you put heads with Selena's family?
I would not give them the approval of the script. For me, as a filmmaker, I really wanted to tell a true story. I had a conflict, not really with the family, but with Abraham. Her father was very protective towards her.

When I sat with Chris Perez, he asked, “Do you want me to tell you what really happened?” Or do you want to know what Abraham wants you to know?

I said, “I don't care what Abraham wants. I want to know what happened.” Chris says: “The truth is that it was not my idea of ​​fleeing. It was Selena's idea to run away. ”

This is the scene you see in the film.

When Abraham read the script, he really turned upside down because until that time, he thought it was Chris's idea to run away and that Chris had corrupted his beautiful daughter. He therefore calls me in his office and closes the door, and we had a scene that lasted several hours. We were crossing this script and the whole script, but in particular this moment.

He said, “You can't do that, Greg … You can't put on the screen that he is just for a young girl to disobey his father.”

I said, “Isn't that a more important point to argue that she does what she knows well? And (that) she does the right thing because she knows that she loves Chris and Chris loves her?” You should see these love letters that she wrote to her.

What did love letters implied?
She really loved her. She knew that the only way they could be together is if she disobeyed her father, but in a sense, it would be healing the whole family. When a young woman has to find her independence, it will always lead to a struggle, right?

So I said (to Abraham): “Isn't it more important for our young women to find themselves?”

He says, “Ok, Greg. I guess if I have to seem bad for Selena to be beautiful, I will do it.” He has a soft heart and finally saw that it was the right thing to do, but it took hours of lively discussion.

The shooting took place shortly after the death of Selena. Was there any challenges you met because of this?
Yes. Due to the sensational nature of her death with the president of her fan club who shoots her … I mean, people sneaked up in the morgue and took photos of the corpse of Selena and had put it on the internet. He became uncontrollable. Abraham estimated that they had to make a film quickly to consolidate Selena's heritage.

I launched this film in various studios. I have to give Bill Gerber a cry, who was president of Warner Bros. At the time, and he came from a musical environment. He played a decisive role by making us do this.

The studio decided to release the film on the second anniversary of its death. It's really quick to make a film release. They essentially have the film Green without a script. It was a very daring and courageous thing for the studio. It can take eight months to a year to do post-production and mix everything; From the last day of the main photography when (“selena”) opened its doors in theaters, I had 12 weeks. At the time, the film was released on the film, and they had to hit 2,000 impressions. We did not sleep for 12 weeks to get this film released in theaters. It was a Herculean task.

Jennifer Lopez, on the left, Gregory Nava and Constance Marie at the third annual conference of the Latin entertainment industry on September 12, 1997, in Burbank.

(Albert L. Ortega / Wireimage / Getty Images)

How did the public react?
When we previewed the film, he obtained a (score of) 97. (We would never have seen an overview as this one. The Latin and the non-latinos loved it. The actors really channeled these characters. He was embraced from the start because he was cured. And people needed to heal this.

What role do you think that the film had to shape Selena's image after her death?
Abraham was very wise by pushing him quickly. Selena gathered us all, and that cemented her inheritance positively. All the negativity was dissipated by this film. You see that in the film and you feel it. Jennifer Lopez was really the key to the launching process of her light. You must have an actor who can bring it. (Lopez) lived with the family, studied videos from Selena (playing) and worked hard to capture her heart and soul.

What do you think of the various Selena media that exist and that have not been approved by the family?
There are a lot of documentaries It is not the family, who are sensationalized – fortunately, the power and the reputation of the film have replaced all these things. I spoke recently to Chris Perez and he said: “(The film” Selena “), it's the Bible.”

Why was it important to film in Texas?
Because this is where the story takes place! Selena is Texas, Texas, Selena. I knew we would get the support of the Tejano community if we made the film there.

I wanted to start with this big scene, but we had no money for the extras. We shot the (Houston Astrodome) scene at Alamodome in San Antonio. We put an ad in the newspaper: “Come and dress as you would arrive at a Selena concert.” We did not know if someone would present themselves or not, (but) 35,000 people came. When you see this opening scene of the film, they are all real people. There is no CGI.

Jennifer Lopez, on the left, and Selena's sister, Suzette Quintanilla, behind the scenes of a media event for “Selena”.

(Thanks to Gregory Nava)

What do you think is your favorite “selena” scene?
I love the most tender scenes that are very human and very emotional. I think the scene where she tells Chris that they must be a big scene. Another thing I love in the film is little children when they don't want to train. (Or) when the two sisters are on the roof by looking at the moon and dreaming of playing.

Have you seen the new Selena documentary, “Selena y los dinos”?
I thought it was wonderful. You really have the chance to see the real Selena in all these videos at home, to speak and react with Chris and to react with his family and all that. This woman is so brilliant and so charming.

What impact would you say that the course of Selena Quintanilla-Pérez continues to have on future generations?
Selena is an example of someone who overcome one obstacle after the other, after the other, and she did everything with joy, enthusiasm. Here is this young woman who has become the largest star in the music world in Tejano, and to date, she is the star 1 of the kind. But people do not realize what achievement in a world (dominated by) machismo. And then she (burst into) dominant American pop music (with) these English songs she made, “Dreaming of You” and “I could fall in love”

She conquered this and became n ° 1 as a Mexican American in Mexico. I was right there in a film festival, and they have Selena events in all these festivals where everyone goes and they dance to Selena's music. Everyone always listens to Selena because the music is timeless. In thirty years, they will always play (her songs). Its light shines more than ever.