from September 20, 2007

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Intrepid filmmaker Esau Melendez

On March 10, 2006, award-winning filmmaker Esaú Meléndez took a camera to the streets of Chicago to document 500,000 people protesting HR 4437, the proposed Border Protection Antiterrorism and Illegal Immigration Control Act.

The bill, if enacted, would affect the lives of 12 million undocumented workers and countless more whose families back home depend on income earned on American soil.

(The bill was passed by the House but died in the Senate).

Capturing this significant moment in modern history was the start of Meléndez’ role as the documentary filmmaker of “Immigrant Nation!” about the immigration reform movement.

This month, a year-and-a-half and 100 hours of footage later, he completed principal photography.

“Immigrant Nation’s” central character was an icon of the movement, Elvira Arellano, and it features an exclusive, intensely personal perspective into Arellano’s struggle.

It brings a face to America’s undocumented population, “To see them as human beings, not as a political issue,” said Meléndez.

Following the 2006 march, Meléndez continued gathering footage for what he believed would become a 30-minute piece about the movement.

Digging further, he began to interview undocumented individuals, among them Arellano, who was arrested in 2002 as part of the post 9/11 crackdowns while working on the cleaning staff at O’Hare.

Film follows controversial Elvira Arellano to Mexico www.immigrantnationfilm.com.

Deported Elvira Arellano adds to the controversy

In August 2006, months into Melendez’s coverage of her story, Arellano faced inevitable deportation and separation from her American-born son Saul. In desperation, she sought sanctuary at the Adalberto United Methodist Church in Humboldt Park, making international headlines.

Finding himself with the makings of a controversial and historic film, Meléndez formed Un Sueño Americano LLC and followed Arellano for the next 18 months, mostly funding the production out of his own pocket.

Last month, officials apprehended Arellano in Los Angeles, and repatriated her back to Mexico.

Meléndez flew to Tijuana to meet with Arellano, then to Mexico City where he shot interviews with her family members. Reunited with Arellano after a 10-year separation, the family expressed skepticism for her involvement in the cause of immigration reform.

“Their point of view is very different,” said Meléndez. “Her parents are really worried about her. They think she is putting herself in a very risky situation.”

Meléndez documented the Mexican Congress passing a unanimous decision requesting that the United States give Arellano a diplomatic visa. The U.S. government has yet to respond.

For fair and balanced coverage, Meléndez conducted on-camera interviews with representatives of the Minuteman Project and plans to dig into the “government part of the story.”

But essentially, he said, the “story has concluded” at its heart with Arellano in Mexico, where she faces an uncertain future and continuing the fight for immigration reform.

Finding completion funds, distribution is a dilemma

Now, Meléndez faces a new challenge: The resources to cut 100 hours of footage into a film. “It has been very difficult for me to get funding,” he disclosed.

With the help of his production team, he raised about $20,000 toward postproduction, but is unsure where the remainder of the completion funds will come from.

Distribution is also a question mark.

Having already pitched the film to several major networks, Meléndez admitted, “I’m being turned down a lot,” partly because he is an unknown director, and partly, he feels, because of the risk factor of taking on a film with such a political charge. “This thing is going to make people mad,” he acknowledges.

Melendez’s crew consists of writer/associate producer Juan-Carlos Hernandez and co-associate producer and researcher/archivist Pat Lofthouse. Jorge Busot edited, Victor Pichardo provided the score.

Additional shooting provided by Andrew Freund, Jesus Torres, Alexy Lanza, Vicky Cervantes and Victor Arroyo. Chicago Institute for the Moving Image (CIMI) is the film’s fiscal sponsor.

Meléndez ’s last short film “Escucha!” won Best of the Fest at the Big Screen Film Festival and placed third at the U.S. International Film Festival. This is his first feature.

“Immigrant Nation!” (working title, “Immigrant Nation! A Human Rights Struggle of the New Millennium”) is scheduled for completion in the winter. A 20-minute trailer is available.

Esau Melendez can be reached at sueno@immigrantnationfilm.com. See —Jacque E. Day

Jacque E. Day produced the award-winning Discovery Health Channel series “Chicago’s Lifeline,” and is co-author of the books “Images of America: Rogers Park” and “Images of America: West Ridge.” A film industry veteran, she produced the award-winning GayCo comedy film series, and is on the editorial staff of Publications International. Email:

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