Better than an Oscar: Rutgers–Camden Filmmaker Honored with Mexico’s Messenger of Peace Award

Known as the “Lindbergh of Mexico,” Carranza died during an historic flight to promote goodwill between the U.S. and his home nation. Inspired by what Carranza had accomplished at the age of 22, Emmons reignited interest in the fated aviator through another vehicle of peace: the documentary.

Now, Mexico is honoring Emmons, associate director of the Rutgers–Camden Honors College. On Feb. 5, Emmons received a Carranza-Lindbergh Messenger of Peace Award for his 2007 film “Goodwill: The Emilio Carranza Story.”

“It’s the greatest privilege and honor I’ve ever received,” says Emmons of the prestigious award presented to him in Mexico City. “My goal was to contribute to [Carranza’s] mission and I feel that’s something I’ve accomplished.”

Just about 22 himself when he learned of how Carranza’s body was found on a stormy night with a flashlight melted into his hand, Emmons narrates the film that explores the accomplished life and untimely death of the Mexican pilot.  Most notably, "Goodwill" details the way Carranza has been honored each year since the crash by the Mount Holly American Legion Post.

In Mexico, Carranza's story has largely been forgotten by the general public. Thanks to the Vuelo Verde Foundation, which presented Emmons with the glass replica of the Carranza Mount Holly monument embedded with a silver medallion of the pilot, “Goodwill” has been translated into Spanish and will become available for Mexican audiences.

Screened across the United States, “Goodwill” debuted in Spanish at the awards ceremony that was held at the Palacio Postal and included attendees from the U.S. Embassy.

“I watched my film next to one of the highest ranking generals in Mexico’s aviation,” says the Rutgers–Camden filmmaker, who was nominated for the award by Sergio Rodriguez Carranza, a relative of the pilot and a great supporter of Emmons’ work.

In addition to Emmons, other recipients of this year’s award included the Mount Holly American Legion and Mel Carranza, a commercial pilot, and distant cousin of Emilio, who assisted Mexico City during its tragic 1985 earthquake.

Rutgers–Camden will receive a similar award in an official ceremony during the week of July 12, the date of Carranza’s crash.

Emmons is busy shooting his next Garden State historical feature about the Blue Comet luxury train, which crashed in Chatsworth, N.J. – the closest town to the site of Carranza’s tragic fall.

“It’s the Bermuda Triangle of New Jersey,” says Emmons, who is also editing the extras section of “Goodwill” for DVD distribution in the U.S.

“History is fantastic because of what it requires of us. We need to imagine ourselves as part of that story and truly become active participants.”

- 30 -