Daniela P. Ontiveros says being interviewed by the Tucson Weekly about Pan Left is a full-circle moment. After all, it was
in the Weekly where Ontiveros read a cover story about the
Mexican mining town of Cananea—her birth town, where her
grandfather and uncles still lived. The story (see “Cheap Labor …
Cheap Lives,” April 8, 1999) inspired her to make a documentary, and it
was the nonprofit video collective Pan Left that gave her the skills
and resources to make it happen. The organization celebrates its 15th
anniversary this year. For more information, visit www.panleft.org/index.php.
How did you get involved with Pan Left?
Several years back, the Tucson Weekly did a feature
story on Cananea and the labor issues happening with the copper mine.
At the time, I was going to Pima (Community) College and moving in the
direction of video production. The article hit close to home. I was
born in Cananea and still have family living there. … The article
inspired me to do a feature-length documentary about my roots and the
issues confronting my family and the town.
What was your connection to Cananea?
My grandfather and my uncles still live in Cananea and have all
worked at the mine. I was born in the union clinic there. The way I
told my story in the documentary was based on my history and my
connection to the town. I went back to reconnect with my roots. I
interviewed my family and got them to share some personal history, as
well as what was going on in the town, and how the mine was affecting
not just my family, but the environment. It was a journey that helped
me discover a lot about the roots of my family as well as the history
of Cananea.
What was the title of your documentary?
The Heart and the Monster: A Journey to Cananea. (The mine)
sustains the town, but at the same time, it’s killing the town’s
spirit. My big question at the time was, “If the strike continues, and
the corporation decides to shut down the mine, will Cananea turn into a
ghost town? Where do people go?” And what does that mean? What happens
to your own personal history? Today, the mine is still in operation,
but there are still a lot of issues.
How did you get to Pan Left?
I came across a flier; I didn’t know how to produce a video, so I
attended a Pan Left meeting. I had the desire and the necessary passion
to produce my documentary, but now I needed the resources and the
tools. I learned how to write a video proposal, and then I presented
the proposal to the collective for approval. … They offered me the
necessary support, tools and resources; they also helped me get my
first grant through the Tucson Pima Arts Council, which paid for travel
expenses and my videographer. I also received some funding from private
donors.
If you didn’t pick up that flier, would you have still made your
documentary?
In all honesty, I don’t think I would have been able to do it
without Pan Left’s help.
What’s kept you involved the past 10 years?
The people who make the collective keep me coming back. We do what
we can do with limited financial resources, but the dedication of the
collective members and their commitment to keep the organization afloat
is one of the main reasons the collective still exists. We only have
one paid staff (member), which makes Pan Left a volunteer-driven
collective. Being around this energy is inspirational.
What does Pan Left offer?
Pan Left offers individuals in the community the support and the
tools to produce their own videos. We also have a fee-for-service
program where organizations who need video-productions services can
hire us. … Some organizations and independent producers also use Pan
Left as an umbrella, for our 501(c)3 status.
Has the organization changed over the years?
It’s definitely growing and changing, but the core belief of the
mission still remains: If you want to produce or become an independent
producer, and want to get your message out to the community, we are
here to support you. But please be aware that we are Pan Left, hence the name, and not all projects get the green light. … Our
financial situation is not always as steady as we want it to be, but it
remains an awesome community resource.
This article appears in Aug 20-26, 2009.
