For the Texans, Serena will always be La Reina. At the premiere of the Lone Star State of the documentary “Serena y Lone Dinos” on SXSW on Wednesday, Serena fans packed the historic Paramount Theatre in downtown Austin, wearing images of pop culture icons on T-shirts, earrings and vest Y-mas, indicating that she lives in her fans as her legacy marks the 30th anniversary of her fans.
In a foresight interview at the height of her fame, Serena said it really is up to the public to decide how much she remembers. At the Texas film premiere, which attracted fans from both inside and outside the state, it is clear that the Grammy-winning Queen of Tejano Music has a lasting power that goes on for generations.
Directed by Isabel Castro and directed by an executive produced by Suzette Quintanilla and Abu Quintanilla III, the film is waiting for a review of the former fan club president who shot her in Corpus Christi, Texas, on parole.
“Serena y los dinos” takes viewers on an emotional journey, bringing Serena to her own words and intimate views from the perspective of her family and bandmates.
“It was the best time of my life,” said musician Chris Perez during the post-screening Q&A.
He is famous for running through the stars after a secret romance. In the film, fans really watch their relationship. Perez reveals that he first “feeled a butterfly” during a band trip to Mexico, and that they shared their first kiss in Laredo.
In the documentary, Chris reads an excerpt from a love letter that Serena wrote to him after their relationship was discovered, and he had to leave the band. In it, she brings the possibility of marriage and how much she misses him.
Photo: Superfans flock to the premiere of the “Serena y los dinos” film on SXSW
Fans get a glimpse of young girls who resonated with the Latino generation, through family photos, interviews with Serena in the archives, and mostly home videos they have never seen before, recorded by Suzette Quintanira.
“Did you not like watching her grow up?” Suzette asked the SXSW audience. She shared how beautiful it is to watch the film showcase its transformation. “You know not just her, but us and our hairstyles? I loved seeing it.
Serena fans at the screening were crying, laughing and crying in the community. Viewers will not only watch Serena in the spotlight, but also during the stupid times when Suzette makes a video, or when she’s in a bad mood after a exhausted day. You can even get a glimpse into her Spanish lesson notes.
Some of the transitions seen on screen include Serena increasingly delving into her legacy and speaking Spanish. Spanish is weaving the film together with the perfection of chord switching, and it is woven like Serena without an apology.
The documentary introduces viewers to the special people and things in Serena’s life.
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“Serena urges me to think bigger and reach a higher range,” director Castro said after the screening.
The magic behind what became a supergroup happened as a team and family unit. The film gives insights into those magical touches that have made dreams possible, from songwriting and production by Serena’s brother AB, to whether the talent and musical prowess of Pete Astodiro and keyboardist Ricky Vera all help promote the band.
AB admitted to introducing Astudillo to Cumbia Sounds, reconsidering it as adding elements of contemporary music.
“God blesses you (Suzzet) with the footage for being in ass pain,” Astodiro said. Filming while on tour was annoying at the time, but now it’s possible to share her story in this new way.
“There was a big gap,” Suzette said when Serena passed away. “Not only personally, I missed my old life. I missed them,” she said, pointing to Perez, Astodiro and Vera. “They are a large family and they will be like that forever, so they will remain next to me to this day.”
In the film, the family recounted where they were when she passed away. In a collective moment of sadness, the audience could hear the sniffing as the couple share tissue paper to wipe away tears. But somehow it felt fine. At that theatre, a safe space emerged among those who got it.
“Serena was our muse,” Astodiro said. And when it comes to fans, we’ve always dreamed of Serena.
Additional screenings:
On March 15th, we will catch “Serena Y Los Dinos” on SXSW at AFS Cinema. Stay tuned for the latest news that the film is expected to be released widely.
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