Patricia Riggen
Riggen at the 2015 AFI Fest
Born (1970-06-02) June 2, 1970
Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico
Alma materColumbia University
Occupation(s)Film director, film producer, screenwriter
Years active1997–present
StyleDrama • Action • Thriller
SpouseChecco Varese
Children1

Patricia Riggen (born June 2, 1970) is a Mexican film director. She is best known for directing the 2007 film Under the Same Moon and the 2011 Disney Channel original film Lemonade Mouth.

Early life and career beginnings

Riggen was born in Guadalajara, Jalisco.[1] While in her home country, she gained experience in journalism and writing for documentaries.[1] Riggen obtained a degree in Communication Sciences from ITESO (Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudios Superiores de Occidente), Universidad Jesuita de Guadalajara.[2] Her thesis work was titled "Female Directors" and allowed her to interview the four important female film directors in Mexico at the time.[3] Riggen had many jobs up and into her early 20s, she worked as a writer for her local Guadalajara newspaper, worked for producer Bertha Navarro, and collected research on the death industry for a Guillaremeo Del Toro documentary.[3] In the late 90s, while working as Production Vice President of the short films department at the Mexican Film Institute, Riggen realized she wanted to go back to school.[3]

She moved to New York City, where she received her master's degree in directing and screenwriting at Columbia University.[4] Riggen noted, "I had to write and direct all my exercises and English is not my first language, so I started writing all these little movies that had no dialogue".[3] While attending Columbia, she directed two short films The Cornfield (2002) and Family Portrait (2004), a documentary, the former film won a number of film festival awards.[1] Family Portrait went on to win the Sundance Film Festival Jury Prize in Short Filmmaking.

Riggen found her way into writing and producing film, though she never thought she would end up as a director, comparing the chances of landing a career as a director to the chances of landing a career as an astronaut – slim to none.[5]

Unhappy with producing, Riggen moved to New York to pursue a career in writing. She found herself as a director after directing one exercise.[5]

Directing career

In 2007, Under the Same Moon, Riggen's first major film was released, starring Kate del Castillo and America Ferrera.[6] Riggen partnered up with writer and producer Ligiah Villabobos for the creation of Under the Same Moon.[6] Riggen and Villabobos are both Mexican-born but relocated to the United States, and after taking many years to embrace their careers, they became extremely passionate about the work they produced.[6]

Funding for the binational film Under the Same Moon, which was started in an American studio before Riggen made the decision to direct it independently, was done through both a funding from the Mexican government, and American financers.[6] The film was very well received in 2007 at the Sundance Film Festival.[6] Additionally, the film won the 2008 ALMA Outstanding Spanish Language Motion Picture award, as well as both the 2008 Best Director and Best Film Imagen Foundation Awards.[7]

In 2010, she was chosen to direct the 2011 Disney Channel original film Lemonade Mouth.[8] The film received over 7 million views on its premiere night and was well received.[9] Riggen's work on this film was nominated for the Directors Guild of America Awards category of Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Children's Programs.[10]

She has continued to direct feature films, with her next two being: Revolución (2010) and Girl in Progress (originally titled Ansiedad)[11] starring Eva Mendes and Patricia Arquette. The film was released in 2012. Riggen believed Girl in Progress, could be a crossover movie that attracted many audiences as a coming of age story with a female lead that just happens to be Latina led, but found out it would be marketed exclusively to a Hispanic audience.[3] She worked with this audience she was given and casting actresses who had their own fanbases, including Espinoza Paz.[3]

Riggen's next film was The 33, a movie based on the 2010 Copiapó mining accident.[12] The movie was first released in Chile in August 2015, coinciding with the five-year anniversary of the mine collapse. It was then released throughout Latin America before going to theaters in the U. S. and the rest of the world in November 2015.[13][14]

When approached in 2010 to direct The 33, Riggen recounted her satisfaction that a woman would direct a film with such masculine subject matter.[15] The 33 was shot in the Atacama Desert in Chile, as well as two mines in Colombia.[16] Filmed in real salt mines over 35 days for 14-hour days 6 days a week, Riggen's goal was to have the cast and crew understand what being a miner is like.[15]

In 2016 she completed the film Miracles from Heaven with Jennifer Garner, Queen Latifah, and Eugenio Derbez, a Christian contemporary story based on the book of the same title, recounting the illness and miraculous recovery of a young girl in Texas. As the director of  Miracles from Heaven, Riggen is the only Latin woman director in 12 years (as of 2016) to have a movie appear in the top 100 annual box office films.[17]

In 2018 Riggen expanded her directing talents to TV. She jumped right in, directing 3 episodes of the Amazon TV Series Jack Ryan, starring John Krasinski . This action political thriller was based on Tom Clancy's character Jack Ryan, a CIA analyst who specializes in T-FAD (Terror, Finance and Arm Division). Riggen directs Season 1, Episode 3 – "Black 22" , Episode 5 – "End of Horror" and Episode 7 – "The Boy". Riggen said that she was able to explore new genres by working on episodic TV. She found that she was very comfortable shooting the aggressive fighting sequences and focusing on a sense of character and performance.[18]

In 2021, Riggen joined Danny Strong on his Hulu mini-series, Dopesick. Dopesick stars Michael Keaton and is based on the book: Dopesick: Dealers, Doctors and the Drug Company that Addicted America by Beth Macy. Riggen directed Season 1 Episode 5 – "The Whistleblower" and Episode 6 – "Hammer the Abusers". The biggest challenge Riggen faced while filming Dopesick was shooting amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. Riggen said it was vital that young people be aware of what is happening and the risks involved with addictive prescription drugs.[19]

Influences, style and themes

Many of Riggen's films center around authentic human experiences that are full of emotion and easily pull at the heartstrings of the audience. In an interview with Filmmaker Magazine in 2005, when Riggen was just beginning her career in directing, she said, "Although I am a young filmmaker and I don't yet know what my style is, if I have to say one thing that I am interested in, it's to take the audience on a journey and make them feel things."[20] Riggen's films are successful at doing exactly that.

Under The Same Moon is a film that addressed the reality of separation that many families face when immigrating from Mexico to the U.S. The film is told through the eyes of a young boy named Carlitos who crosses the U.S.-Mexico border in search of his mother who is working as a maid in Los Angeles. Within the first few minutes, the film "grabs your heart and squeezes it. The fact that [the film] has been crafted with such a sensitive touch should reassure viewers that, as it approaches its utterly gripping climax, their hearts are in good hands too."[21]

In the film Miracles From Heaven, we once again get a heart wrenching story that by the end restores our faith in the beauty of our human experience. Once again told through the eyes of a child, this film is based on the true story of the miraculous healing of a 10-year-old Texan girl. The Los Angeles Times said that, "the film reaches beyond that audience and provides confirmation of the more human miracles that exist in everyday life, if you choose to see them."[22]

The 33 is a harrowing drama that follows the true story of the 2010 Chilean mining collapse whereby 33 Chilean miners were trapped underground for 69 days. The Amsterdam News said, "It's a story of ordinary people who reach incredible heights to rescue people trapped at an incredible depth. The well-written screenplay is expertly directed by Patricia Riggen. The 33 will touch your heart without even trying."[23]

In the media

Women's activism

Riggen publicly encourages women in film to claim their space in the male-dominated film industry. In an interview with Backstage magazine, Riggen is quoted as saying, "We deserve to be there. The time is now to enter all those areas, particularly the directing arena. That benefits everybody. More women in leadership roles create more jobs for women everywhere. And people of color, too. If we have one person of color [in a leadership role], suddenly there are many more who get an opportunity. […] What we need is to stop the exclusion".[24]

Riggen proudly supports the #LatinaEqualPay movement and has posted about her advocacy on her social media platforms sharing, "Latinas shouldn't be penalized because employers fail to recognize and compensate our brilliance, capacity and potential. Being denied $1.1+ Million over the course of our 40-year career doesn't just hurt us. It hurts our families, our economy and our entire country. We #DemandMore"[25]

Personal life

Riggen currently lives in Los Angeles.[6] She is married to cinematographer Checco Varese, with whom she has a daughter.[26] Varese has served as the cinematographer for all of Riggen's directorial films since Under the Same Moon.

Filmography

Film

Year Title
Director Writer Producer Notes
1997 Perfect Target Second assistant No No
1997 Adiós mamá No No Executive Short film
1997 Pasajera No No Executive Short film
1997 Santo golpe No No Executive Short film
1998 Sin sostén No No Yes Short film
1998 En el espejo del cielo No No Executive Short film
1998 Pronto saldremos del problema No No Executive Short film
2002 Moctezuma's Revenge Second assistant No No
2002 La Milpa Yes Yes Yes Short film
2004 Family Portrait Yes Yes Yes Documentary short film
2007 Under the Same Moon Yes No Yes Full-length directorial debut
2010 Revolución Yes No No directed the segment "Lindo y querido"
2012 Girl in Progress Yes No No
2015 The 33 Yes No No
2016 Miracles from Heaven Yes No No
2022 The School for Good and Evil No No Executive

Television

Year Title Credited as Notes
Director Producer
2011 Lemonade Mouth Yes No Television film
2018 Run for Your Life Yes Co-executive Unsold Syfy pilot
2018 Jack Ryan Yes No Directed 3 episodes
2019 Proven Innocent Yes No Directed Pilot episode
2019 Surveillance Yes Executive Unsold CBS pilot
2021 Dopesick Yes No Directed 2 episodes
2022 Alaska Daily Yes No Directed 1 episode
2023 Saint X Yes No Directed 2 episodes

Awards and nominations

Year Film Award
2002 La Milpa OCIC Award - Special Mention at Havana Film Festival
2003 La Milpa Gold Medal Student Academy Award
2003 La Milpa Best Short Film at the Ariel Awards
2003 La Milpa DGA Student Film Award
2003 La Milpa Best Short Fiction Film by the Mexican Cinema Journalists
2004 La Milpa First Place Winner Dramatic at ATAS Foundation College Television Awards
2005 Family Portrait Jury Award for Best Documentary at Aspen Shortsfest
2008 La Misma Luna Best Director at Imagen Foundation Awards
2012 Girl in Progress Special Achievement Award at the ALMA Awards
2012 Lemonade Mouth Nominee for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Children's Programs
2012 Girl in Progress Best Director/ Feature Film at Imagen Foundation Awards
2015 The 33 Truly Moving Picture Award at Heartland Film
2016 The 33 Nominee for Most Valuable Film of the Year at Cinema for Peace Awards
2016 The 33 Best Director at Imagen Foundation Awards
2017 Miracles from Heaven MovieGuide Awards - Best Movie for Families[27]
2017 Miracles from Heaven Teen Choice Awards - Choice Movie: Drama[27]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Patricia Riggen bio at Fox Searchlight.com
  2. ↑ "HSF: HSF Stories Detail". hsf.net. Retrieved March 16, 2021.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Immigrant Experience - Patricia Riggen". dga.org. Retrieved March 16, 2021.
  4. ↑ 25 NEW FACES OF INDEPENDENT FILM 2005 Archived February 18, 2011, at the Wayback Machine – FilmMaker magazine
  5. 1 2 Kuhn, Sarah (2008). "A Time of Renaissance". No. 10. Back Stage West. pp. 11–14.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Patricia Riggen: Love and Politics Under the Same Moon Archived September 25, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
  7. ↑ La misma luna, IMDb, retrieved March 16, 2021
  8. ↑ Disney Rocks "Lemonade Mouth" Archived July 14, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
  9. ↑ "Ratings - Disney Channel's "Lemonade Mouth" Turns Up the Heat... DVR Viewings "Determinate" No. 1 Movie of Year Among Kids and Tweens". The Futon Critic. Retrieved March 16, 2021.
  10. ↑ "DGA Announces TV & Commericals [sic] Nominees". Deadline. January 10, 2012. Retrieved March 16, 2021.
  11. ↑ Eva Mendes Joins Ansiedad, MovieWeb.com dated January 14, 2011
  12. ↑ Mango, Agustin (February 8, 2014). "Miner Drama 'The 33' Begins Filming in Chile". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved February 8, 2014.
  13. ↑ Campbell, Christopher. "THE 33 TRAILER: REVISIT THE STORY OF THE CHILEAN MINING ACCIDENT". Retrieved April 10, 2015.
  14. ↑ "Fox Sets Release Dates for Antonio Banderas Pic 'The 33' Across Latin America". July 24, 2015.
  15. 1 2 Coggan, Devan; McGovern, Joe; Sperling, Nicole (October 30, 2015). "Oscar's Freshman Class". No. 1387. pp. 46–47.
  16. ↑ Oppenheimer, Jean (December 2015). "Darkest Days". American Cinematographer. pp. 64–77.
  17. ↑ Romero, Ariana. "Is Hollywood on the Edge of a Latinx Revolution? Ask Director Patricia Riggen". Refinery29. Retrieved March 16, 2021.
  18. ↑ Miller, Liz (September 2, 2018). "'Jack Ryan' Director Patricia Riggen Is Kicking Ass Across All Genres of Television". IndieWire. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
  19. ↑ By; Goldrich, Robert. "Director Patricia Riggen Reflects on Hulu's "Dopesick"". SHOOTonline. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
  20. ↑ "25 NEW FACES OF INDEPENDENT FILM 2005 - Filmmaker Magazine - Summer 2005". filmmakermagazine.com. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
  21. ↑ ncs-import. "'Under the Same Moon': Across the Border and into Your Heart". nevadaappeal.com. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
  22. ↑ "Review: 'Miracles From Heaven' delivers a fact-based doozy, but also offers more human miracles". Los Angeles Times. March 16, 2016. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
  23. ↑ News, Amsterdam (November 19, 2015). "True-life drama 'The 33' gets a '10'". New York Amsterdam News. Retrieved December 7, 2021. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  24. ↑ Mink, Casey (November 4, 2021). "The Director Behind 'Dopesick' Explains Why There's More Diversity on TV Than in Film". Backstage Magazine.
  25. ↑ "Login • Instagram". instagram.com. Retrieved December 7, 2021. {{cite web}}: Cite uses generic title (help)
  26. ↑ Horn, John (November 11, 2015). "Filmmaker Patricia Riggen: 'It's harder to be a woman than Latina' in Hollywood". The Frame.
  27. 1 2 "Miracles from Heaven", IMDb, retrieved December 7, 2021
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