Robert Rodriguez’ Heartfelt Speech at SAAHJ – His Motives, and Latinos in Film

By Victor Landa, NewsTaco

Those of us seated at the annual San Antonio Association of Hispanic Journalists (SAAHJ) awards gala last month got a rare glimpse of Film Director Robert Rodriguez’ emotional side.

Rodriguez was given SAAHJ’s first ever Corazon de Oro award for his generosity and pioneering spirit. There’s little need to recount Rodriguez’ well known trajectory from a breakout  $7,000.00 budgeted film called El Mariachi to a television network, El Rey, based in Austin, Texas.

There is a need, however, to say that Rodriguez seldom shows a vulnerable side in public. It may have been that he felt comfortable, at home, in a room filled with Latino media professionals. It may have been that he felt inspired to share his story with people who would understand.  That night his emotions showed, if only for a few moments, when he talked about the reason he became a filmmaker.

An introductory video, produced by Ralph Lopez,  followed by the speech begin at 6:17 mins below.