25 years ago, the film about the life of the late singer Selena was released. At that time, Jennifer Lopez, who played her on the big screen, became the highest-paid Latina actress in Hollywood. It was reported that Lopez received a million dollars for Selena.

Today, over two decades later, the story of Selena, the Queen of Tex-Mex Music, is being re-released in theaters in the United States. The movie’s writer-director, Gregory Nava, looks back on the making of the biopic that debuted in 1997.

He says, “I think the movie is more popular now than it was 25 years ago. The great success of this movie is due to the magnificent spirit of a young woman who left us very early and her name is Selena.”

Nava has very good memories of the filming but there is a special one that stands out.

“I have a lot of memories but I think something incredible that happened was that we wanted to shoot the opening scene, the concert at the Houston Astrodome. We didn’t have a very big budget but we wanted to have an incredible scene. So 35,000 people came and filled the stadium for free.

“Those 35,000 people stayed all day to help us shoot that scene. I have to thank the Texan community because, without their help, that scene could not have been filmed. There were no special effects. Everything was real. For a director to have that support is something extraordinary because the fans were there out of love.”

Lopez has commented in interviews that it was a privilege for her to have given life to Selena since she identifies a lot with her. Like Lopez, she was not only a singer but she was also passionate about the world of fashion. Nava remembers the experience of directing the production as if it were yesterday.

Did you imagine that Jennifer Lopez was going to become the star that she is now after Selena?

Jennifer Lopez is an extraordinary talent. I knew she had the ability to be a star but she is more than a star. Now, she is an icon in our community and in our country. She is a very, very special woman. She was at the right time of age, in her career, to take on the role of Selena. So I think it was another example of Selena’s magic.Entertainment Weekly said that Lopez’s performance is one of the best in musical biography stories and is one of the reasons the movie survives. But I have to thank the entire cast of the film. They were all fantastic.

Are you still in touch with the cast?

I still keep in touch with almost all of them. And almost all of them also participated in my TV series. I also did another movie with Jennifer. The talent that is in our community is incredible. The Latino community has extraordinary talent.

Will there be another Selena in 50 or 60 years?

Each talent is unique. In the case of Selena, she is unique. There has never been someone like her. Selena had extraordinary magic. When I interviewed her family and friends, she filled the interviews with her spirit. She touched the hearts of all the people she worked with and friends.

The Quintanilla family tells me that people come from China, Africa, France, and Germany to visit the Selena Museum in Corpus Christi, Texas because they saw the movie.

Selena’s story is universal. She was an extraordinary woman and for me, the fact that people want to return to theaters and see Selena on the big screen is a very proud moment. For the new generations who have only seen the film on television, this is an opportunity to see Selena as she should be seen, on the big screen.

Could it be said that Selena is the most successful film that you directed in your career?

Well, commercially yes, Selena is the most successful movie I’ve ever had and again it’s due to Selena’s magnificent spirit.

What would you like to say to all Selena fans?

That they go see the film as it should be, in a movie theater with good sound. At every single screening, it will be a great party.

Translation by Mario Amaya