Mariachi Gringo
William Faulkner is a harp player who's spent over half of his life playing the music of his adopted country, Mexico. Now at 72 he finds himself at a dire point in his life and career as his health falls at a rapid decline.
This documentary is not a comprehensive look at his entire life, rather it’s an exploration of an artist in his twilight years who seeks solace in the one thing that has kept him alive all these years, Mariachi music.
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Miguel Garcia MendozaDirector
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Miguel Garcia MendozaWriter
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Miguel Garcia MendozaProducer
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William FaulknerKey Cast
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Project Type:Documentary, Short
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Runtime:14 minutes 33 seconds
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Completion Date:October 31, 2024
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Production Budget:0 USD
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Country of Origin:United States
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Country of Filming:Mexico, United States
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Language:English, Spanish
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Shooting Format:Digital
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Aspect Ratio:16:9
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Film Color:Color
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First-time Filmmaker:Yes
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Student Project:No
Born in California's central coast Miguel was raised by two immigrant parents from Mexico. He took an interest in film early on in his life making short films on his Mother’s compact digital camera. His taste in movies would be informed in part by the bootleg DVDs his Father would bring home.
He graduated from a local charter high school that had an emphasis on digital media where he directed and wrote a senior thesis film. He used that experience to continue to develop his craft and knowledge of the medium at the University of Santa Cruz.
Post-graduation would see him begin his solo production company, Calaveras Productions.
His work explores a feeling that he’s internalized all his life which is existing in spaces where you don’t believe you belong, but desperately want to be a part of.
Three years ago my Mom and I attended a New Years Eve performance where William was set to play a solo show. He was a family friend for quite a few years then, but the person I saw that night was not who I remembered. His frailty in age showed as he walked up the steps and onto the stage. When he struck a cord his harp gave out a heavenly sound that graced the room and all in attendance. After that he was the youngest person in that room.
When the clock inched closer to midnight everyone rushed downstairs to bring in the new year. As the celebration died down we decided to help William pack up. We found him in that same room sitting on the edge of the stage absolutely drained of all energy. I remember thinking that most people would probably take pity on this old man, but not me. I told myself If I’m as lucky as him and get to reach his age someday I want to be just as passionate about my craft as much as he was of his.
The idea for this documentary came soon after that. I utilized a fly on the wall technique when documenting his many performances in order for the film’s audience to unconsciously settle into the role of attendee allowing themselves to take in the performance as if they were present in those very same rooms. I was fortunate enough to travel to Mexico with William to see how audiences differ in reaction to a white man playing Mariachi. It was there where I began to identify with him on a personal level and as a result the film developed some nuances that paralleled that newfound perspective.
Almost all of my life I felt like a stranger in my own culture and here he was embracing that estranged feeling to share a rich sound with anyone who would lend an ear. Over the course of this documentary’s production I became a much better artist because of him. By observing his many performances I learned firsthand what It meant to have respect for yourself, the audience, and your craft. Those three pillars helped inform every decision made in this film.
Despite this documentary's culturally specific subject matter I’ve come to understand that the experience shared in this film is universal and transcends all language barriers. In my pursuit of completing this project I’ve learned that everyone feels like a Mariachi gringo sometimes.