Panelists Announced for the Theology and Film Discussion on Nacho Libre
The Church of the Resurrection has announced its panelists for the Theology of Nacho Libre discussion which will take place at approximately 8:30 pm on Tuesday, April 28th, immediately following the Nacho Libre Watch Party which begins 7 pm.
The stellar line up includes:
Stefany Bremer, M.Div Fuller Theological Seminary
Stefany is the Editor-in-Chief of Libros Águila Mexico, a growing publishing company for K-12 textbooks. Before moving back to Mexico, Stefany studied in Los Angeles where she met her güero husband (Mike) and also attended Church of the Resurrection.
Nacho Cred: Like Ignatio, her dad was missionary who tried to convert her mother and then they fell in love and got married. Stefany is expert in Nacho Libre Studies and can quote most of the movie in Spanish and in English. She also saw ran into Ana de la Reguera (a.k.a. Encarnación) at the airport once (before social distancing, etc.).
Blaine Swen, Ph.D Loyola University Chicago
Blaine is the founder and creator of The Improvised Shakespeare Company, a touring comedy troupe. During the week he improvises jokes in Shakespearean English and on Sundays his church makes him say prayers in Spanish.
Nacho Cred: Dr. Swen is a newcomer to the field of Nacho Libre Studies, but he did write a discertation on the the logic of the Atonement. And he also attended Biola University (BA 2000) where he was a member of the first class of the Torrey Honors Institute. So we trust he will be able to make something up (hopefully with a British accent in a middle English dialect).
Nathan Roberts, Phd Candidate, Film and Visual Studies, Harvard University
Nathan is the author of the book Surface Tensions, which demonstrates how the entertainment world reflects the universal hunger for connection. He recently moved back to his hometown Los Angeles after stints in Boston and New York City.
Nacho Cred: Roberts first saw Nacho Libre with his dad when he was only an 8th grader. He would go on to describe is at as a “defining cinematic experience.” And because he studied Cinematic Philosophy at NYU and is finishing up a PhD in Film at Harvard, he is helping up put the film in the “theology and film” for our panel.
KATE PARSONS, M.F.A., UCLA, M.A., CSU-NORTHRIDGE
Kate is a Visiting Assistant Professor in Digital Art and Communication Studies at Pepperdine University, and an Instructor in the Media Design Practices program at Art Center College of Design. She runs a video art festival and co-founded a VR Studio.
Nacho Cred: Kate is also a newcomer to the field of Nacho Libre Studies. Prior to COVID-19, she was slated to present her research on Media Art and Human Connection at SXSW in Austin, Texas. This research was inspired by the work of author Craig Detweiler, as well as a class she took as an undergrad in 2003: Film and Religious Studies. She really hopes she can find the syllabus.
Rev. Jon Ziegler, M Div, Fuller Seminary
Jon is the pastor and founder of Church of the Resurrection in Highland Park, Los Angeles, where he lives with his wife (Madre Janna) and four niños.
Nacho Cred: there is more here than a simple blog would warrant. When Jon and Janna were in seminary, they invited a friend experiencing homelessness to secretly live in their seminary apartment for 9 months. That man, Manu Montoya, was a native of Mexico City and had been living on the streets of Los Angeles for many years. He only owned one DVD: Nacho Libre. The movie was on every day when Jon returned from class. Things have never been the same since. Also, performs priestly duties and keeps time by “Easters.”
Jack Black, played the star role of Ignatio in Nacho Libre.
Not yet confirmed, but we did invite him to be on the panel. (We slid into his DM on the gram). He has not yet confirmed (as of 3:49 PM PST), but we are still hoping that he might come through, or at least that he will find this and an attend our church one Sunday after the quarantine.
Nacho Cred: he knows a buttload of crap about the gospel—or at least was really good at acting as if he did. Also performs priestly duties.
The discussion will be moderated by Carla Neuss, a PhD candidate currently working on a dissertation about something to do with medieval theatre and possibly also the portrayal of monastic life in Oaxaca in early 21st century film (but we aren’t sure about the last part)
We invite you to watch the movie with us and tune into our Zoom panel discussion with your own questions. More details here: https://resurrectionla.org/church-of-the-resurrection-blog/2020/4/25/family-movie-night-nacho-libre