Actor Pepe Serna arrives on digital platforms with a documentary about his life
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The life and career of legendary Hollywood actor and renowned visual artist Pepe Serna can be described with a single word: art.
After working on this project for 11 years, his new documentary ‘Pepe Serna: Life is Art’ premiered on digital platforms – Amazon, Apple TV, and iTunes – on February 21.
The documentary, directed by Luis Reyes, is narrated by Serna and follows the extensive career and life of the artist, offering viewers to discover never-known aspects of his journey until now.
Two great friends of Serna —Eva Longoria and Edward James Olmos— also share their personal views and perspectives on the artist’s versatility and longevity, as do Cheech Marin, Gloria Calderón, Luis Valdez, and many others.
Many remember Serna in his memorable role in Scarface, where he gave life to the iconic character of Ángel Fernández, whose fate does not end very well, in addition to hundreds of roles in films such as Car Wash, Postcards from the Edge, The Jerk and many more.
In a recent talk with Vida en el Valle, Serna —who will turn 80 in a few months— shared details of his life and career:
From the age of three, he knew he wanted to be an actor.
His first film was 60 years ago, in 1964, when he played the role of a matador in his town, Corpus Christi.
In March it will be 55 years since he arrived in Hollywood.
He met his wife on his second day of arriving in California.
Six months after arriving he was homeless.
After seeing him in one of his improvisations shows, his wife invited him for a drink and he never left her life.
At almost 80 years old, he has been part of 100 films.
He has his show, a one-man show: El Ruco Chucho Cholo Pachuco
Serna said that one of the things that has given him the most satisfaction is, “the improvisation workshops that I have done working with students for more than 50 to 60 years.”
At almost 80 years old, he said that his entire life, “I’ve been living my life as a life of art.”
When we asked how they were able to capture almost eight decades of life —and more than five decades of work in a one-hour documentary— Serna laughingly replied, “Ask the producer.”
“Yes, yes it was difficult,” he said, adding that apart from the documentary there is his book La Vida es Arte (Life is Art), titled the same as the documentary.
Serna said that Latino actors in Hollywood like him need the support of “our audience.”
“People recognize me (by) my face, but no, they don’t know my name,” Serna said. “And that’s one of the things you have to have, fame.”
Serna not only extends an invitation for the public to view his documentary but also visits his website and sees the improvisation workshops he has there as well as all his art.
“To see what we’re doing,” Serna said, “that’s what we have to do, support each other and help.”
Serna was recently in Chicago at the US Hispanic Leadership Institute conference, for a session to share his story and allow participants to interact and ask questions about his extraordinary journey.
“Life is art, you see, here in my house that is what I am celebrating,” Serna said.
Serna said that art “lifts your spirit, makes you smile.”
One piece of advice that Serna leaves his audience is to love yourself.
“If you love yourself, if you know that you are (a) big person, who has affection, then, that is all you need.”
“When you are good people, then you are going to treat others the same,” Serna said.
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