‘Mucho Mucho Amor’ Filmmaker Cristina Costantini on Bringing Latinx Icon Walter Mercado to the Screen
Story written by Nicky Valdes
Legendary astrologist Walter Mercado with Producers of the ‘Mucho Mucho Amor’ documentary (from left to right) Kareem Tabsch, Cristina Costantini, and Alex Fumero / Photo via Netflix
“There are so many stories out there to tell, and if we're telling the stories through just men, that's only half of the stories in the world.”
Cristina Costantini studied storytelling long before becoming a director and producer. As an investigative journalist, she sharpened her narrative skills. According to the producer, "you really have to understand story arcs, narrative tension, and resolution in order to make a documentary about a very serious subject interesting."
Deciding to become a filmmaker came at a pivotal moment in her career. "I was working as a journalist for six or seven years, and it honestly became very draining. I was talking to immigrants, and fielding calls from detention centers. It was really hard work. I thought, 'I want to do something happy and something that makes me laugh,'" says Costantini. Her desire for something different led her to explore the world of science fairs, a community she was a part of during her high school years. "I was a science fair kid. I felt that that world needed to be captured and memorialized," she told The Mujerista. Her 2018 documentary, Science Fair, follows nine students on their way to The International Science and Engineering Fair. The film went on to acclaim at Sundance and awarded Costantini and her team a News & Documentary Emmy.
Costantini's newest film Mucho Mucho Amor: The Legend of Walter Mercado, follows the story of Walter Mercado, the famous Puerto Rican astrologer and TV personality. Choosing Walter as the subject of this film came to her while reminiscing about her childhood. "As an adult, I started thinking about my first interactions with the genderqueer community and thought back to Walter. Astrology is so in these days, and I started thinking back to my first encounters with astrology as well, and he came up again," says Costantini. "I started thinking about what a trailblazer he was as an adult and how brave he was to go on TV every day and be so radically himself," she adds.
Mercado was known for his elaborate capes, theatrical persona, and androgynous appearance. His television shows captivated the Latinx community, becoming a cultural phenomenon. Mucho Mucho Amor, which started streaming on Netflix this month, follows his career and what happened when he went off the air—seemingly vanishing—in 2006.
Meeting Walter for the first time was a one-of-a-kind encounter for Costantini, something she describes as akin to a "religious experience." "He is incredibly warm, gracious, and wonderful. He makes everyone else feel good. He cares more about the well-being of everyone else over his own," she adds.
Photo via Netflix
Watching the documentary, you can sense Walter's warmth and kindness. Still, there's no denying there was a theatrical side to the famous personality that Costantini says is all Walter. "He loves himself and how he looks. That's part of him, but he loves everyone else even more, and I don't think I expected to see that."
Having Mucho Mucho Amor premiere on Netflix has been exciting for the Latinx community. There has been much curiosity surrounding Mercado's life. Costantini says having a Latinx personality like Mercado being represented on the streaming platform was an extraordinary win. "It was hard to finish this film. Most of the people who work in Hollywood are white and English-speaking, so they didn't understand the value of Walter in these communities. They didn't understand how many people loved him. We kept getting asked for data on Walter to prove he was a big star. It's been very validating."
Walter's message of "mucho mucho amor," was repeated throughout his career. It was the ultimate send-off and one that's felt while watching the film leaving modern audiences with a memento of his legacy. "Walter has always been an advocate for inclusion, for immigrants, and LGBTQ+ communities. I think we need him again. We need him to remind us that the most important thing in the world is to practice love. We should all be trying to lead with love," says Costantini.
As a female director, Costantini recognizes that she is a part of a small group. "There are so many stories out there to tell, and if we're telling the stories through just men, that's only half of the stories in the world. It's an exciting time to be in Hollywood, and I encourage any young female filmmaker to join us. We need you guys." When discussing her career thus far, Constantino says, "It's been such an honor to tell these kinds of stories.