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TAMIU Student
Shares His ‘Milagro’
It started as a student film project and morphed
into a 91-minute independent filmthat profiles the life
of a bright and kindhearted young woman trapped in
a chaotic household.
“Milagro,” (“Miracle”) a Soha Producciones film
by TAMIU senior José Luis Montoya, premiered
to a packed house at the Center for the Fine and
Performing Arts Recital Hall in November. The film
was filmed in Spanish and subtitled in English.
Montoya, a psychology major, wrote and directed
the film and shot it using high definition video with
Dolby digital 5.1 surround sound in Nuevo Laredo,
Tamaulipas, México.
The story is a combination of heartbreaking and
uplifting scenes that weave a profound message:
strength to surmount adversity lies within each of us.
The film was created with the support of young
aspiring actors (some TAMIU classmates) and
friends. Other young visionaries shared talents in
cinematography, editing and music to bring to life
a shared message: kindness begets kindness and
culture creates more culture.
Montoya hopes that his future will include
additional opportunities to write and perhaps create
more films…and more
milagros
.
Students selected for the rare study opportunity
were Arturo James Crake, Marcos Roel Cruz, Karen
Cristina De La Garza, Olinda Victoria Domínguez,
Amanda Michelle Garza, Oscar Eduardo Leyva,
María Andrea Martínez, Javier Mendoza, Vanessa M.
Navarro, Phillipe Quach, Richardson, CarolinaYvette
Salazar, Erika Salazar, Reymundo Salinas and Luís
AlbertoVela.
From Phnom Penh, the group visited Kirirom
National Park, stayed with local families and learned
about Cambodia’s environment and wildlife. They
visited the storied Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum and
the Killing Fields. They learned about social business
ventures, studied affordable water solutions and
sampled dance and cuisine. A highlight was a visit to
the mystical temples of AngkorWat.
The students were selected based on an
application, interviewandessayabout2011’s“Reading
the Globe” text, Somaly Mam’s “The Road of Lost
Innocence: The True Story of a Cambodian Heroine.”
Mam visited TAMIU in advance of their journey. To
read more of Richardson’s essay with fellow student
Vanessa Navarro
You’ll also find photo galleries, essays and blogs
of the Cambodia trip and “Reading the Globe” travels
to Poland and Ghana.
This December, a new Reading the Globe group
travels to Chile to experience its own life-changing
experiences.
continued from page 9
Cultivating Leadership
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