Spotlight on Josefina Lopez
from the Latino Writers & Jouranlists textbook

I chose to personally interview my subjects in the Latino Writers & Journalist to best capture the spark that makes them inspirational to readers, which is the point of any biography. I wanted to gain a glimpse into the foundation that molded them. In this way the biographical essays establish a commonality with readers and hopefully inspires and encourages them to seek out and unearth their own unique gifts.

Another memorable interview was with Josefina Lopez, playwright best known for her play, Real Women Have Curves, which became the hit movie by the same name. Now I love this movie. I thought it was insightful, funny, and very real. I really wanted to talk with Josefina, but she was living in Paris. And interviewing via email didn't seem personal enough. I found out she would be attending the NALIP (National Association of Latino Independant Producers) conference in Huntington Beach, California, where I was living. I joined the organization and attended the conference. I met Josefina at the conference luncheon and picked her brain in between courses. It was difficult to remain casual, while I was in such awe of her talent and accomplishments. Once I broke through my nervousness, I found commonalities we shared, such as the fact that we are only a year apart in age and actually had similar viewpoints, particually spirituality. This interview was one of those times when I experienced the point of writing biographies - establishing a relationship, a common ground, with a successful person as a point of inspiring successes of my own. To further establish the realness underlying her success, Josefina offered me some of her wisdom in life and writing, ?humour in a story that otherwise could easily be a drama or a tragedy gives the characters a certain degree of dignity and it makes the audience bare or at least be entertained enough to listen to new truths that are sometimes to painful to accept.? We're still in touch today, as not too long ago I visted her at her theater Casa 101 in Boyle Heights.

>> BACK TO SPOTLIGHT PAGE