Now available on DVD at Texas Folklife

The Big Squeeze is a joyful leap into the heart of Texas music. And where there’s music there’s usually some grilling going on. That’s why Herminio Ramirez builds a stage right in the tiny kitchen of their Houston home for his son John. From the urban barrios of Houston to the colonias along the U.S.-Mexican border, legacies fueled by the passion-stirring combination of family, friends and food, is being passed along. In The Big Squeeze, we follow 16 year old John Ramirez and other young musicians as they do battle at the statewide accordion throwdown.

The Big Squeeze had  its world premiere at the 2009 SXSW Film and Music Festival in Austin Texas.  Convention Center.

The Big Squeeze is a Production of Galán Inc for Texas Folklife.

Spanning a period of almost eighty years, this inspirational and compelling film captures the life and legacy of Patrick Flores, the first Mexican American to be appointed Bishop in the history of the Catholic Church. The film chronicles his childhood and early years as a migrant farm worker, high school drop out and cantina musician. Patrick Flores dreamed of becoming a priest, a nearly impossible goal for a Mexican American in those days in Texas. The film is a microcosm of the struggles and triumphs of Mexican Americans. The film captures Patrick’s amazing journey to the top hierarchy of the Catholic Church, becoming one of the most influential Latino leaders in the United States.

PBS Broadcasts: Summer/Fall 2008. Check local listings for future broadcasts.

Now available on DVD! Check the catalog link above.

Check out these film clips - more under the filmography link above.

Accordion Dreams
Chicano
Cinco De Mayo
Cottonfields And Crossroads
Forgotten Americans
I Love My Freedom, I Love My Texas
Los Mineros
New Harvest Old Shame
Songs Of The Homeland
The Color Of Your Skin
The Hunt For Pancho Villa
Vaquero
Visiones

The Big Squeeze is a joyful leap into the heart of Texas music, from the urban barrios of Houston, to the colonias of the Rio Grande Valley, we find young musicians carrying on a passionate musical legacy fueled by family, friends, and food. The film follows them as they battle at the annual accordion throwdown.

The Big Squeeze is a Production of Galán Inc for Texas Folklife

After a childhood of playing cantinas and honky tonks, Los Lonely Boys blazed onto the music scene with a 2004 self-titled debut release that went multi-platinum and a 2005 Grammy win for their hit single, “Heaven”. The Garza brothers- Henry, Jojo, and Ringo- have a unique signature sound they call “Texican”. Los Lonely Boys Cottonfields and Crossroads brings their amazing story to the screen.

Acclaimed documentary filmmaker Hector Galan, himself a San Angelo native, fuses exciting live performances, vivid imagery of West Texas, intimate personal stories told by the band and their family, weaving a historical and cultural perspective on Los Lonely Boys, their Mexican-American roots and musical influences.

The film had its world premiere at the 2006 SXSW film festival and its West Coast Premiere at the Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival. It was nominated for a 2007 Imagen Award for Best Documentary film and screened at the 3rd annual Turks & Caicos International Film Festival in October 2007.

National PBS Television Broadcast on Wednesday, Sept. 17th at 9:30 pm Eastern/Pacific, 8:30 pm Central time (check local PBS listings) Don’t Miss It!
Stay tuned!

Check the film’s website at: Los Lonely Boys Cottonfields and Crossroads Film Website

For Press/Reviews, go to LLB Doc/Press
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SIX-EPISODE PBS SERIES
The award winning VISIONES:LATINO ART & CULTURE is a journey through the music, words, dance, painting and performance of rich Latino cultures made more complex and fascinating by their history in our country. The series explores how contemporary Latino artists continue to build on rich traditions that reflect a unique multi-ethnic experience, taking established art forms and reinventing them, constantly challenging themselves and the communities which nurture them. From New York City’s break-dancers to mural-painters in Los Angeles and Chicago to theater in Texas, the series offers a unique cross section of Latino artists working today.

A co-production of the National Association of Latino Art & Culture and Galán Productions, Inc. Presented by ITVS, co-presented by Latino Public Broadcasting. Executive Producers: Hector Galán and Sally Jo Fifer (ITVS) for more info, go to www.visiones.org

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