Jesus Salvador Treviño

About the Mexican-American History Maker: Jesus Salvador Treviño has become one of the best-known Chicano filmmakers in America. Known for his temerity, he has told stories that could be perceived as difficult or risky and has attacked issues that other filmmakers were either too timid or too bound by restrictions to attempt. Treviño has also directed episodes of several popular television series. As a Hollywood director, Treviño has directed a number of episodes from the television series Resurrection Blvd., Babylon 5, Bones, Star Trek: Voyager, seaQuest DSV, Crossing Jordan, Third Watch and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.

He has directed two films, a feature and a documentary respectively, Raices de Sangre (Roots of Blood) (1978) and One Out of Ten (1979). Upon finishing Raices, Treviño received funding from the National Endowment for the Humanities for a multi-part series on Chicano history, La Historia, which was eventually halted due to defunding upon the opening years of the Reagan administration. However, one section written by Treviño himself, Seguin, survived and was released as a standalone film by KCET and PBS, directed by Treviño, as part of the American Playhouse drama series in 1982. He has also directed episodes from over thirty other series, including Criminal Minds, Prison Break, The O.C, ER, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, Dawson’s Creek, Chicago Hope and NYPD Blue.

Treviño is a member of the Directors Guild of America (DGA) and served on its National Board during the 2009-2011 term as a board member. As of 2015, he serves as an Alternate Board Member. He was co-founder of the DGA Latino Committee and has also served on the Western Council of Directors and on the DGA Negotiating Committee in 2004, 2007, 2011 and 2014. He was honored with a Lifetime Tribute at the DGA in 2009.