Support Latinos in movies and on television. If seeing more Latino faces on screen and more Latino last names in the credits is important to you, then support Latino movies. America’s sweetheart Gina Rodriguez posted about this issue on her Instagram account last Monday. She’s asking you to make some noise where it matters most. It doesn’t hurt that she highlighted Oscar Isaac in her first #MovementMondays post.
“This is Oscar Isaac. He is a Guatemalan American actor. This is a picture from Ex Machina directed by Alex Garland and was released this past year. With all this Oscar Talk and lack of diversity I decided to start a movement and speak from the perspective of a Latina American who desires to see more Latinos on screen.
“There are 55 million Latinos in this country and although we all come from various backgrounds our unity can make a movie explode at the box office or a tv show soar to the highest viewers possible. The better these projects do financially, the more money they will spend on putting Latinos In blockbuster films, as leads in tv shows Etc.
“My solution is this, support is needed. Right now there isn’t one Latino that can Greenlight a movie. That means no studio will put their money behind a Latino face as a lead of a movie because they don’t believe we can make their money back. I am told time and time again “Latinos dont watch Latino Movies. Latinos don’t support each other” and sadly that is true. I’m not saying go and see a movie you don’t like to blind support, im saying if you want to see us represented on film and tv, if you want to see Latinos nominated for Oscars, we NEED to support one another.
“The industry sees money, the excuse can’t just be racism. We can make a difference in a very powerful way if we unite our support as one Latino community. Oscar Isaac, in my opinion had an Oscar worthy performance in this film.
“Let’s start making noise with where it matters most, where we put our dollars. Go support these films, watch these shows (mine is on tonight by the way, shameless promotion feel free to watch on the CW) and we can take making a change into our own hands.
“Each Monday I will highlight a latino artist we can support. Let us use our numbers and powerful voices to prove we support one another, to prove we can make a box office hit, to prove they need to support all the various Latino cultures in the media. That can be one part of the solution, so next year we have many movies that are worthy of Oscar contention! #MovementMondays Pick any Latino currently working we can support!”
Photo credit: Richard Sandoval, Flickr.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/hispaniclifestyle/15318745790/
¡Eso, Gina!
When I began writing about movies, my first movie review was GIRL IN PROGRESS starring two Latinas, Cierra Ramirez and Eva Mendes. I knew then that it would be important to me to use this platform to discuss or at least inform about Latinos/as in Hollywood.
Last year, I asked you, Queridos, to answer a survey about what you would like to see on QueMeansWhat.com and several of you left comments about wanting more stories about Latinos/as in entertainment whether they were big in Hollywood or not. Bueno. It’s taken some time but I’m ready to deliver. Will you continue to join me?
When I can’t get the full stories posted on this blog, I’ll be sharing about hem on the Que Means What social media accounts. So be sure to follow along on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Plus, I’m also using Periscope and Snapchat more and more these days. You’ll find me as QueMeansWhat on all accounts.
For now, here’s a Latino-filled television schedule that I’m watching:
Sundays:
BORDERTOWN on FOX, 8:30 p.m. CST – Featuring the Voice of Nicholas Gonzalez
Mondays:
SUPERSTORE on NBC, 7 p.m. CST – Starring America Ferrera
TELENOVELA on NBC, 7:30 p.m. CST – Starring Eva Longoria
JANE THE VIRGIN on The CW, 8 p.m. CST – Starring Gina Rodriguez
Thursdays:
SHADES OF BLUE on NBC, 9 p.m. CST – Starring Jennifer Lopez
Also, If you haven’t caught MOZART IN THE JUNGLE on Amazon yet, do that very soon! I binge-watched both seasons right after Gael García Bernal won the Golden Globe for his performance.
Photo Credit: Flickr by User: russavia
I will follow up with a blog post about the Latinos behind the camera and in the writing rooms. Queridos, this is just as important! En serio. Like Gina mentioned, there’s not one Latino that can greenlight a movie. I’m not sure about television but I haven’t heard of any. I’ll be researching that and reporting back to you what I can find out.
Until then, be sure to watch THE REVENANT directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu. It’s still in theaters and yes, it is a 2016 Oscar-nominated Best Picture and Iñárritu is nominated for directing.
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Which Latinos are you watching and supporting on #MovementMondays? ¡Vamos, Queridos!
