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Gregory Nava is a Actor, Director, Scriptwriter, Producer, Editor and Cinematography American born on 10 april 1949 at San Diego (USA)
Gregory Nava (born April 10, 1949 in San Diego) is an American film director, producer and screenplay writer, of Mexican and Basque heritage.
Nava graduated from St. Augustine High School in San Diego and went on to attended film school at UCLA where he earned an MFA in 1976. At UCLA he directed the short film The Journal of Diego Rodriguez Silva (based on the life of García Lorca), and for this work, won the Best Dramatic Film Award at the National Student Film Festival.
Career
While an instructor at Moorpark College teaching classes in cinematography, Nava's first feature film, The Confessions of Amans, won the Best First Feature Award at the Chicago International Film Festival in 1976. Later, he came to the attention of Hollywood producers due to the success of El Norte, which garnered Nava and his wife Anna Thomas an Academy Award nomination, among other accolades, for the screenplay. In 1995 the film was registered by the Library of Congress, National Film Registry. According to Chicago Sun-Times film critic Roger Ebert, "El Norte tells the story with astonishing visual beauty, with unashamed melodrama, with anger leavened by hope. It is a Grapes of Wrath for our time."
Further collaborations with his wife Thomas include: The Confessions of Amans, A Time of Destiny, My Family, and Frida (screenplay), and other works.
Nava had further directing success in 1997 with the film Selena, starring Jennifer Lopez, who was nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress.
From 2003 to 2004, Nava executive produced the television series American Family: Journey of Dreams for PBS. He also directed a few episodes.
Recent projects
In 2006, Nava produced, wrote, and directed the film Bordertown which made its debut at the Berlin Film Festival on February 15, 2007. The film, based on true events, is a political thriller about a series of unsolved murders in Ciudad Juárez, Mexico. It stars Jennifer Lopez as a Chicago-based reporter who follows the story. The film was shot in New Mexico and Mexico.
(2002)
(Scriptwriter)
Source : Wikidata
Gregory Nava
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Biography
EducationNava graduated from St. Augustine High School in San Diego and went on to attended film school at UCLA where he earned an MFA in 1976. At UCLA he directed the short film The Journal of Diego Rodriguez Silva (based on the life of García Lorca), and for this work, won the Best Dramatic Film Award at the National Student Film Festival.
Career
While an instructor at Moorpark College teaching classes in cinematography, Nava's first feature film, The Confessions of Amans, won the Best First Feature Award at the Chicago International Film Festival in 1976. Later, he came to the attention of Hollywood producers due to the success of El Norte, which garnered Nava and his wife Anna Thomas an Academy Award nomination, among other accolades, for the screenplay. In 1995 the film was registered by the Library of Congress, National Film Registry. According to Chicago Sun-Times film critic Roger Ebert, "El Norte tells the story with astonishing visual beauty, with unashamed melodrama, with anger leavened by hope. It is a Grapes of Wrath for our time."
Further collaborations with his wife Thomas include: The Confessions of Amans, A Time of Destiny, My Family, and Frida (screenplay), and other works.
Nava had further directing success in 1997 with the film Selena, starring Jennifer Lopez, who was nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress.
From 2003 to 2004, Nava executive produced the television series American Family: Journey of Dreams for PBS. He also directed a few episodes.
Recent projects
In 2006, Nava produced, wrote, and directed the film Bordertown which made its debut at the Berlin Film Festival on February 15, 2007. The film, based on true events, is a political thriller about a series of unsolved murders in Ciudad Juárez, Mexico. It stars Jennifer Lopez as a Chicago-based reporter who follows the story. The film was shot in New Mexico and Mexico.
Best films
(2002)(Scriptwriter)
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Filmography of Gregory Nava (9 films)
Actor
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Life Itself (2014)
, 2h1Origin USA
Genres Biography, Documentary
Themes Films about writers, Films about journalists, Documentary films about business, Documentary films about the film industry, Documentaire sur une personnalité, Documentary films about cities
Actors Roger Ebert, Stephen Stanton, Werner Herzog, Martin Scorsese, Errol Morris, Ramin Bahrani
Roles Self - Filmmaker
Rating77%
Un documentaire inspiré des mémoires éponymes du critique de cinéma américain et chroniqueur social mondialement connu : Roger Ebert. Lauréat du Prix Pulitzer pour ses critiques publiées dans le Chicago Sun-Times, Roger Ebert est devenu l’une des personnalités les plus influentes du monde de la culture aux États-Unis.
Director
Bordertown (2007)
, 1h52Directed by Gregory Nava
Origin United-kingdom
Genres Drama, Thriller, Crime
Themes Films about writers, Films about journalists, Films about sexuality, Rape in fiction, Serial killer films, Political films
Actors Jennifer Lopez, Martin Sheen, Zaide Silvia Gutiérrez, Sônia Braga, Antonio Banderas, Maya Zapata
Rating60%
The opening titles explain that American corporations are using the North American Free Trade Agreement by opening large maquiladoras right across the United States–Mexico border. The maquiladoras hire mostly Mexican women to work long hours for little money in order to produce mass quantity products.
Why Do Fools Fall In Love (1998)
, 1h56Directed by Gregory Nava
Origin USA
Genres Drama, Biography, Musical theatre, Documentary, Musical, Romance
Themes Films about music and musicians, Musical films
Actors Halle Berry, Vivica A. Fox, Lela Rochon, Larenz Tate, Paul Mazursky, Pamela Reed
Rating64%
Lymon was thirteen years old when the teenage group Frankie Lymon & the Teenagers erupted from radios and jukeboxes with their 1956 hit "Why Do Fools Fall in Love?" and appeared in the movie Rock, Rock, Rock (1956).
Selena (1997)
, 2h2Directed by Gregory Nava
Origin USA
Genres Drama, Biography, Musical theatre, Documentary, Historical, Musical
Themes Films about music and musicians, Musical films
Actors Jennifer Lopez, Edward James Olmos, Constance Marie, Jon Seda, Lupe Ontiveros, Jacob Vargas
Rating68%
The film opens on February 26, 1995, with Selena (Jennifer Lopez) performing to a sold-out crowd of 65,000 at the Houston Astrodome in Houston, Texas. The film then flashes back to 1961, where a young Abraham Quintanilla and his band, The Dinos, are rejected for an audition by a restaurant owner due to a whites-only policy. Crushed, Abraham gives up music.
My Family (1995)
, 2h8Directed by Gregory Nava
Origin USA
Genres Drama, Comedy
Actors Jimmy Smits, Edward James Olmos, Esai Morales, Jennifer Lopez, Elpidia Carrillo, Jacob Vargas
Rating72%
The story is narrated by the family's oldest son, Paco (Edward James Olmos). The film begins with the father of the family, José Sanchez (Jacob Vargas), making a journey that lasts one year on foot from Mexico to Los Angeles. He travels to Los Angeles to meet a distant relative known as El Californio, who was born in the city when it was still part of Mexico. They become fast friends and grew a corn farm together. However, after several years, El Californio nears death. Shortly before dying, El Californio says he wants the following written on his tombstone:
A Time of Destiny (1988)
, 1h58Directed by Gregory Nava
Origin USA
Genres Drama, War
Themes Political films
Actors William Hurt, Timothy Hutton, Melissa Leo, Francisco Rabal, Stockard Channing, Megan Follows
Rating51%
Soldiers Martin (William Hurt) and Jack (Timothy Hutton) are very good friends during World War II. While their friendship grows, they do not realize they are brothers-in-law. Martin eventually learns that Jack is married to his sister Josie (Melissa Leo).
El Norte (1983)
, 2h19Directed by Gregory Nava
Origin USA
Genres Drama, Thriller, Adventure
Themes Films about immigration, Politique, Films about the labor movement, La précarité, Political films, Films about Latin American military dictatorships
Actors Zaide Silvia Gutiérrez, Lupe Ontiveros, David Villalpando, Ernesto Gómez Cruz, Trinidad Silva, Enrique Castillo
Rating76%
The writing team of Nava and Thomas split the story into three parts: Arturo Xuncax: The first part takes place in a small rural Guatemalan village called San Pedro and introduces the Xuncax family, a group of indigenous Mayans. Arturo is a coffee picker and his wife a homemaker. Arturo explains to his son, Enrique, his world view and how the indio fares in Guatemalan life, noting that, "to the rich, the peasant is just a pair of strong arms". Arturo and his family then discuss the possibility of going to the United States where "all the people, even the poor, own their own cars". Because of his attempts to form a labor union among the workers, Arturo and the other organizers are attacked and murdered by government troops when a co-worker is bribed to betray them—Arturo's severed head is seen hanging from a tree. When Enrique attempts to climb the tree that displays his father's head, a soldier attacks him. Enrique fights and kills the attacker, only to learn that many of their fellow villagers have been rounded up by soldiers. The children's mother too "disappears": abducted by soldiers. So, using money given to them by their godmother, Enrique and his sister Rosa decide to flee Guatemala, the land of their birth, and head north.
The Confessions of Amans (1976)
, 1h28Directed by Gregory Nava
Origin USA
Genres Drama
Rating59%
This costume drama, set in medieval Spain, is about an itinerant student of philosophy hired by an uneducated Lord to tutor his wife.
Scriptwriter
Bordertown (2007)
, 1h52Directed by Gregory Nava
Origin United-kingdom
Genres Drama, Thriller, Crime
Themes Films about writers, Films about journalists, Films about sexuality, Rape in fiction, Serial killer films, Political films
Actors Jennifer Lopez, Martin Sheen, Zaide Silvia Gutiérrez, Sônia Braga, Antonio Banderas, Maya Zapata
Rating60%
The opening titles explain that American corporations are using the North American Free Trade Agreement by opening large maquiladoras right across the United States–Mexico border. The maquiladoras hire mostly Mexican women to work long hours for little money in order to produce mass quantity products.
Frida (2002)
, 2h3Directed by Julie Taymor
Origin USA
Genres Drama, Biography, Romance
Themes Feminist films, Peinture, Politique, Films about sexuality, Bisexuality-related films, LGBT-related films, Political films, LGBT-related films, LGBT-related film, Lesbian-related films
Actors Salma Hayek, Alfred Molina, Antonio Banderas, Valeria Golino, Ashley Judd, Mía Maestro
Rating73%
Frida begins just before the traumatic accident Frida Kahlo (Salma Hayek) suffered at the age of 18 when a trolley bus collided with a motor bus she was riding. She is impaled by a metal pole and the injuries she sustained plague her for the rest of her life. To help her through convalescence, her father brings her a canvas upon which to start painting. Throughout the film, a scene starts as a painting, then slowly dissolves into a live-action scene with actors.
Selena (1997)
, 2h2Directed by Gregory Nava
Origin USA
Genres Drama, Biography, Musical theatre, Documentary, Historical, Musical
Themes Films about music and musicians, Musical films
Actors Jennifer Lopez, Edward James Olmos, Constance Marie, Jon Seda, Lupe Ontiveros, Jacob Vargas
Rating68%
The film opens on February 26, 1995, with Selena (Jennifer Lopez) performing to a sold-out crowd of 65,000 at the Houston Astrodome in Houston, Texas. The film then flashes back to 1961, where a young Abraham Quintanilla and his band, The Dinos, are rejected for an audition by a restaurant owner due to a whites-only policy. Crushed, Abraham gives up music.
My Family (1995)
, 2h8Directed by Gregory Nava
Origin USA
Genres Drama, Comedy
Actors Jimmy Smits, Edward James Olmos, Esai Morales, Jennifer Lopez, Elpidia Carrillo, Jacob Vargas
Roles Writer
Rating72%
The story is narrated by the family's oldest son, Paco (Edward James Olmos). The film begins with the father of the family, José Sanchez (Jacob Vargas), making a journey that lasts one year on foot from Mexico to Los Angeles. He travels to Los Angeles to meet a distant relative known as El Californio, who was born in the city when it was still part of Mexico. They become fast friends and grew a corn farm together. However, after several years, El Californio nears death. Shortly before dying, El Californio says he wants the following written on his tombstone:
A Time of Destiny (1988)
, 1h58Directed by Gregory Nava
Origin USA
Genres Drama, War
Themes Political films
Actors William Hurt, Timothy Hutton, Melissa Leo, Francisco Rabal, Stockard Channing, Megan Follows
Roles Writer
Rating51%
Soldiers Martin (William Hurt) and Jack (Timothy Hutton) are very good friends during World War II. While their friendship grows, they do not realize they are brothers-in-law. Martin eventually learns that Jack is married to his sister Josie (Melissa Leo).
El Norte (1983)
, 2h19Directed by Gregory Nava
Origin USA
Genres Drama, Thriller, Adventure
Themes Films about immigration, Politique, Films about the labor movement, La précarité, Political films, Films about Latin American military dictatorships
Actors Zaide Silvia Gutiérrez, Lupe Ontiveros, David Villalpando, Ernesto Gómez Cruz, Trinidad Silva, Enrique Castillo
Roles Writer
Rating76%
The writing team of Nava and Thomas split the story into three parts: Arturo Xuncax: The first part takes place in a small rural Guatemalan village called San Pedro and introduces the Xuncax family, a group of indigenous Mayans. Arturo is a coffee picker and his wife a homemaker. Arturo explains to his son, Enrique, his world view and how the indio fares in Guatemalan life, noting that, "to the rich, the peasant is just a pair of strong arms". Arturo and his family then discuss the possibility of going to the United States where "all the people, even the poor, own their own cars". Because of his attempts to form a labor union among the workers, Arturo and the other organizers are attacked and murdered by government troops when a co-worker is bribed to betray them—Arturo's severed head is seen hanging from a tree. When Enrique attempts to climb the tree that displays his father's head, a soldier attacks him. Enrique fights and kills the attacker, only to learn that many of their fellow villagers have been rounded up by soldiers. The children's mother too "disappears": abducted by soldiers. So, using money given to them by their godmother, Enrique and his sister Rosa decide to flee Guatemala, the land of their birth, and head north.
The Confessions of Amans (1976)
, 1h28Directed by Gregory Nava
Origin USA
Genres Drama
Roles Writer
Rating59%
This costume drama, set in medieval Spain, is about an itinerant student of philosophy hired by an uneducated Lord to tutor his wife.