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Documentary
"Amancio
- Two Faces on a Tombstone"
a film by Tom
Murray
Late January 2008, The Amancio Project was contacted
by the award winning documentary film director Mr. T. (Tom) Joe Murray.
Mr. Murray’s previous projects are " FARM
FAMILY" In Search of Gay
Life in Rural America (as seen on LOGO TV); "FISH
CAN'T FLY;" "ALMOST
MYSELF;" "TELL;"
and "A
PORTABLE TRIBE."
These films shed light on GLBT issues, and "Amancio"
(working title) is no exception.
The project is being funded by benefactor Mr. Bruce
Presley of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, who operates The Downtown Loft
Studio. The project celebrates GLBT persons who have been
murdered because of their sexual orientation or gender identity and how
their community responded. As
structured, "The project will be informative and educational in nature
while telling this captivating story" said Director Murray.
During our many emails and telephone calls, Tom said,
"I'm exploring stories of people who have been motivated to "fight back"
in some manner by taking action against hate crimes. In doing these
stories, I of course want to honor the victims, but much of the focus
will be on the group efforts. I'm hoping the film would be motivating or
inspiring to others."
After discussing Mr. Murray’s vision with the
Corrales family and receiving their permission, the project was "green
lighted" by Mr. Presley, and Amancio's story and The Amancio Project
is the first in what may well become a series of stories.
The Corrales family and The Amancio Project is
excited on many levels. "This is a beautiful way to memorialize
Amancio." It will also
help to bring National, and eventually world-wide, attention to the
subject of bias-based (hate) crimes and the importance of getting
involved when we become aware of such tragic incidents. On the local
level, it will assist in bringing much needed attention to Yuma’s "often
lost in the shuffle" portion of Southern Arizona.
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March 31, 2008, filming began. We traveled around Yuma visiting various
crime-specific and local sites. First was a visit outside Ron’s bar
where Amancio was last seen alive. While I was driving, Mr. Stu Maddux,
the Director of Photography and Sound, began taking establishing shots
while Director Tom Murray interviewed me. Our next stop was the cemetery
where we spent considerable time. From the cemetery we traveled to the
Yuma County Court House, where the trial of the murder suspect will be
held. We were losing the light so off to dinner we went to discuss the
next day’s activities.
April 1, 2008, was spent filming a nd
interviewing the Corrales family; first at the cemetery, then at the
Court House. After a hardy lunch we caravanned to the Corrales home.
Several interviews were conducted there along with documenting Amancio’s
room and life. The most difficult, yet touching, interview was that of
Mrs. Corrales. One could feel her grief.
Toward sunset, a good friend of Amancio’s, his
sister, and the crew went to the murder scene. Being at the scene again
was a moving experience and many sad memories flooded the minds of those
intimately involved in this tragic event. The effect on the crew was
profound and inspirational as we watched one of Yuma’s best features, a
simple Sunset. It was a touching moment after a difficult day.
April 2, 2008, was spent filming and interviewing me
in my home. Allot of background information was gathered and some rather
"embarrassing" pictures of me as a youth was committed to film. Much of
the interview centered on what motivated me to create The Amancio
Project and the importance of standing up and speaking out for those who
no longer are able to speak for themselves.
After a late lunch we made our way back to the murder
scene. The emotional impact was stronger than the day before as I began
to describe what possibly happened during the early morning hours of May
6, 2005, at this dark and q uiet
spot of the Colorado River. As we explored the area more closely, we
found the remains of a Memorial Cross that had been erected at the site.
We gathered up what we could find; pieces of the cross, some artificial
flowers and the remaining few beads of a rosary.
Tom and Stu left for Phoenix the next morning; Tom
back to Florida while Stu now took on the title of Second Unit Director
and interviewed Mr. Sam Holdren of Equality Arizona. Sam was
instrumental in moving The Amancio Project out of the local domain and
into the State level spotlight. Without him, the Project may have never
been as successful as it has become. Stu also spent some time with
Senator Amanda Aguirre (D-24). Senator Aguirre has supported The Amancio
Project from the beginning. She was of great comfort to the family and
encouraged other legislative leaders in an effort to change existing
statues surrounding sexual identification and gender identity.
The Documentary is scheduled to be completed sometime
late after the first of the year. The Amancio Project is hoping to have
preview of it here in Yuma sometime after that. The Documentary is a powerful way to inspire a dialogue
and educate communities about one of the most serious issues facing GLBT
individuals: Hate or bias-based crimes.
Then on April 28, 2008,
the proposed documentary under the working title of “Gay American
Heroes,” which was to feature four separate crimes against GLBT
individuals, will now only feature The Amancio Project.
The Director, Mr. Tom Murray, after reviewing the film
footage gathered during his recent visit to
Yuma, and conferring
with the films financial backer Bruce Presley, decided the film will be
better served as a "stand alone" production. They made this decision
because they were so impressed by the story and the impact of those interviewed
so far.
The film makers returned to
Yuma on May 25 and
remained through May 30 in order “flesh out the story more,” said
director Murray. “There are too many intriguing and important aspects to
this story which need to be told.”
During this time additional interviews were
conducted with family,
friends, news agencies who have been covering this story from the
beginning and interviews with some people connected to to me and the
other projects he is involved in.
May 31, will be spent in Phoenix interviewing friends
of Amancio and touching on he life there as a good friend and performer
as a female impersonator.
On July 9th, the crew returned to Yuma to be present for the Final Trial
Management Conference (FTMC) scheduled for July 10th. During that week
they were able to interview a person who was with Amancio the night of
the murder. The also filmed a meeting of The Yuma County Gay Rights
Meetup, another group I am associated with as well filming more
establishing shots and Yuma background.
The crew will be returning to Yuma on the 4th of August after spending
time in Phoenix where they hope to film some of the female impersonators
and friends of Amancio. There are still a couple of interviews they hope
to get while here.
The
Amancio Project is privileged to receive this recognition. It is a
testament to all the hard work done by many to keep the murder and
memory of Amancio Corrales in the hearts and minds of the public.
Without continued public scrutiny, GLBT related crimes often go
unnoticed.
Michael H.
Baughman, Founder
The Amancio
Project
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Michael and Documentary Director Mr. T. (Tom) Joe
Murray discusses Documentary and plans for next item on the "Shot
List" |
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Director of Photography and Sound, Mr. Stu Maddux
taking a break outside the Corrales home |
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Michael tells "The Project's" story at gravesite |
Mrs. Corrales is overcome with grief as she remembers
her son |
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Mr. Corrales tending to Amancio's grave. |
Documentary crew, Stu the camera man and Director Tom
take a photo break |
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Outside the Yuma County Courthouse
describing the travails of the long road through the justice system |
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Amancio's Bedroom remains much like he left it ..
maybe a tad neater |
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Inside Amancio's Bedroom |
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A small shrine in the living room serves
as a reminder of a beautiful life lost at the hands of cruelty |
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INDEPENDENT DOCUMENTARY filmmakers Stu Maddux (left) and Joe Murray discuss a shot while filming
Tuesday at Gateway Park. |
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Drainage area where
Amancio's body was tossed into the river. |
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Tom
filming the bubbling flow of water at the murder site. |
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Mrs. Corrales and
Michael spend some time together while watching the filming and
interviews being conducted in and around the old cemetery
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WORLD
PREMIERE
Amancio: Two Faces on a Tombstone
A film by Tom Murray
US, 2009, video, 83 min
Saturday, May 2,2009
4:00PM | Gateway Cinema, MGLFF
March 28, 2009
Yuma, Arizona is a relatively small town
with a few notable distinctions. Located on the banks of the
Colorado River and bordering both California and Mexico, it is the
birthplace of Chicano activist Cesar Chavez and one of the hottest
places in the country.
What is an otherwise a quiet desert city
was also the site of a devastating murder that destroyed a family,
bewildered a community, and ignited one man’s passion to rise and
say “Enough is Enough.”
Amancio Corrales was an attractive 23
year-old with a zest for life and a network of loving family and
friends. Born in Mexico and raised in the US, Amancio loved the
arts, particularly the stage, leading him to launch a career as a
female impersonator at age 20. Set on becoming a Vegas showgirl,
Amancio gained notoriety throughout Northern Mexico and the
southwest with each show. In May of 2005, his dreams and life met
with a tragic end. His body was found floating on the Colorado
river.
Michael Baughman had never met Amancio
Corrales when he read of his death in the local paper. They had no
mutual friends, didn’t frequent the same places, or come from
similar backgrounds. What they did share was a joie de vivre that
was infectious. Horrified by the case and how the sheriff dealt with
it, Michael made it his personal mission to insure that justice
prevailed. Amancio: Two Faces on a Tombstone is the tragic story of
a young life cut short and of one man’s efforts to make sure that no
one else meets the same end.
— Kareem Tabsch,
Miami Gay and Lesbian Film Festival
FILMMAKER BIO
Filmmaker Tom Murray & subject Michael
Baughman will be attending for the Q and A afterward.
Tom Murray studied filmmaking in his college years, and yet it was
only in his “50+” years that he tackled his first feature length
work. His feature films include Fish Can’t Fly (2005) and Farm
Family: In Search of Gay Life in Rural America (2006).
Visit
The Amancio Project for details of the case
Visit “Amancio
– Two Faces on a Tombstone” official website
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AMANCIO: TWO FACES ON A TOMBSTONE - Presented by Wingspan Reel Pride
Thursday, May 7th at
7:30 p.m.
Admission: $10.00 general; $8.00 Loft Cinema members
Proceeds to benefit the non-profit Loft Cinema and Wingspan
Meet director TOM
MURRAY, film subject MICHAEL BAUGHMAN, and other special guests in
person at this special Arizona Premiere of AMANICO: TWO FACES ON A
TOMBSTONE!
As a young boy, Amancio Corrales
immigrated from Mexico to Yuma, Arizona with his parents in search
of a better life. Gay and Hispanic, Amancio dreamed of one day being
a performer in Las Vegas, but his dream was cut short on May 6, 2005
when Amancio’s body was found floating in the Colorado River near
Yuma. He had been brutally beaten and stabbed. He was just 23 years
old. For the first time, the story of one man’s journey to seek
justice for the murder on behalf of Amancio’s family and friends is
revealed in the new documentary AMANCIO :TWO FACES ON A TOMBSTONE,
created by award winning documentary filmmaker Tom Murray.
Well known in clubs throughout
northern Mexico and the Southwest for his performance work of female
impersonation, Amancio was dressed as a woman the night he died. His
amazing talent to recreate popular female singers on stage went
above and beyond his contemporaries. While there seemed to be an
initial flurry of interest in the murder, soon the incident began to
fade from Yuma headlines. Was this a random event? Was this a hate
crime? Would any evidence or clues be found that would lead to the
murderer? Sensing that there was apathy on the part of local law
enforcement, area resident Michael Baughman became concerned, and
believed that justice would not be served unless someone took
action.
AMANCIO contains moving interviews
with Amancio’s family and friends, and follows local activist
Michael Baughman's three-year journey seeking justice on behalf of a
young man he had never met. Filmed in Yuma, one of America’s hottest
and driest locations, the documentary offers a fascinating and
poignant look into a small community forced to confront issues not
often discussed, such as sexual orientation and gender expression.
Could justice be served in this environment?
VISIT THE OFFICIAL MOVIE WEBSITE:
http://www.amancio-themovie.com/index.html
(Tom Murray, 2009, 74 mins., Not
Rated)
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