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Transformation

Documentary spotlights California

Independent documentary filmmaker Paul Espinosa is busy these days promoting his latest project, California and the American Dream, which PBS is about to screen nationally.

"California..has changed dramatically in the last 35 years," Espinosa says. "Who’s there is very different, and that’s transformed California. Furthermore, it’s a window into the future of America. The things that are happening there either are happening or will happen to a community near you soon."

The four-part documentary is a landmark series that takes a close look at dynamic changes in the West Coast state.

"It’s been a big project. Three of us (Espinosa, Lyn Goldfarb and Jed Riffe) have been the series’ executive producers. We’ve raised the money, overseen the series, produced it and directed it," he says. "We’re definitely in the home stretch here."

Espinosa will be traveling to a Los Angeles premiere this month at which Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa is scheduled to speak. A sneak peek in Phoenix was held last month, along with a discussion panel.

The filmmaker quickly ran through an outline of the series:

California’s "Lost" Tribes (Part 1): "Gaming has really transformed Native American tribes in California from being the poorest people in the state to being the most powerful in terms of lobbying," Espinosa says. "I think it’s really going to be the first major portrait. Will there be some long-term economic footprint left by the casinos or will it be just money in/money out?"

The Price of Renewal (Part 2): Espinosa examines what it takes to redevelop an inner city San Diego area.

"It looks at... how doing any kind of redevelopment today, it’s almost incumbent upon people to have both public sector and the private sector involved, as well as philanthropy," he says. "City Heights is often called the Ellis Island of San Diego. It’s a snapshot of these kinds of issues."

The New Los Angeles (Part 3): This episode traces the development of immigrant political clout, beginning with the 1973 election of Mayor Tom Bradley.

"Part of (Bradley’s) success really lay in coalition building between different groups in the city," Espinosa says. "Villaraigosa’s election last year is really an extension of that same sort of thing and the growing political strength of immigrants and labor."

Ripe for Change (Part 4): Two opposing views contrast how food producers and agriculturists see the industry. Organic farmers are pitted against large-scale agriculture companies, fueling the debate over sustainability amid dwindling resources.

"California is always a map of contradictions," he says, "It brought us both fast food and organic farming."

For information and resource materials, visit www.california
dreamseries.org or www.pbs.org.

California and the American Dream,
a four-part documentary,
9 p.m. April 13 & 20;
9 and 10 p.m. April 27
KAET, Channel 8