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Table of contents
Language of Material:
English
Contributing Institution:
Chicano Studies Research Center Library
Title: Alturas Films Records
Creator:
Tejada-Flores, Rick
Identifier/Call Number: CSRC.2018.009
Physical Description:
5.4 Linear Feet
(5 record storage cartons; 1 flat box)
Date (inclusive): 1958-2000
Abstract: Alturas Films is a film production company based in Emeryville, CA that was founded by Rick Tejada-Flores. The collection
consists of material on produced films as well as unrealized projects. There are also office files, and some material on various
college courses.
Language of Material: Material is in English and Spanish.
Physical Location: COLLECTION STORED OFF-SITE AT SRLF. Advance notice required for access. Contact the UCLA Chicano Studies Research Center Library
and Archive for paging information.
Open for research.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Donated by Rick Tejada-Flores, 2015.
The collection is arranged in the following series:
- Series 1. Produced films
- Series 2. Unrealized films
- Series 3. General files
Alturas Films is a film production company based in Emeryville, Californis. Founded by Rick Tejada-Flores, it specializes
in documentaries that focus on overlooked topics in Latino and Latin American culture, many of which were broadcast on public
television. Among its films are
Low 'n Slow,
Rivera in America, and
Elvia.
Rick Tejada-Flores was born in Los Angeles around 1945. After graduating from UC Berkeley, he got his first job in the media
working for KQED, the public television station in San Francisco. In 1973, he made his first film, fulfilling the roles of
co-director, cinematographer, and editor on
Si Se Puede!, for the United Farm Workers. Over the years, he has made over a dozen films. During that time, he has worked in various
capacities in a number of public televsion stations, and he has taught at several California colleges.
[Identification of item], Alturas Films Records, 2018.009, Chicano Studies Research Center, University of California, Los
Angeles.
The collection consists mostly of material on produced films, as well as unrealized projects. Most of the produced films were
broadcast on public television. There are grant proposals, scripts, transcripts, budget material, correspondence, research
material, and publicity material. Films with significant holdings are
Elvia (about Honduran civil rights activist Elvia Alvarado),
Jasper Johns: Ideas in Paint, and
Low 'n Slow (about Chicano lowrider culture). There is a great deal of material on the films made for the long-running American Encounters
exhibit at the Smithsonian. There is also significant material on
Nuestros Hijos, a film made for the California Human Development Corporation. In the Unproduced Films files, there is material for a project
on Ruben Blades. In the General Files, there are documents related to courses taught at various colleges. There is also a
significant amount of material on Channel 35, the television station of San Francisco State University.
Videotapes and film elements for
Elvia and
Low 'n Slow have been transferred to the UCLA Film and Television Archive.
These materials are made available for use in research, teaching, and private study pursuant to U.S. Copyright Law. The user
must assume full responsibility for any use of materials, including but not limited to infringement of copyright and publication
rights of reproduced materials. Any materials used for academic research or otherwise should be fully credited with the source.
The original authors may retain copyright to the materials.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Documentary-style films
Documentary-style television programs
Public television
Johns, Jasper, 1930-
Lowriders
Smithsonian Institution, American Art Museum
Alvarado, Elvia
Blades, Ruben
Alturas Films