Latinos Are Still Out of the Picture in Hollywood: Few Roles, Frequent Stereotypes on the Big Screen

Summary

The National Hispanic Media Coalition (NHMC) has long advocated for better Latino representation in Hollywood, highlighting the severe underrepresentation of Latinos in both front- and back-of-camera roles. Despite Latinos contributing significantly to U.S. movie ticket sales, they remain excluded from key industry opportunities. The NHMC has organized protests and calls for boycotts, particularly against Paramount Pictures, demanding more inclusive hiring and storytelling. The coalition's mission centers on amplifying Latino voices, addressing the lack of Afro-Latino narratives, and ensuring that the industry's representation reflects the diverse makeup of the U.S. population.

Takeaways

• 😀 Latinos have historically been the most underrepresented minority in Hollywood, both in front of and behind the camera.
• 😀 The National Hispanic Media Coalition (NHMC) demands better Latino representation in Hollywood, as Latinos make up 18% of the U.S. population and contribute significantly to the film industry.
• 😀 In 2016, only 3.1% of speaking roles in the top 100 grossing films were Latino, with similarly low representation for Latino writers, directors, and producers.
• 😀 The NHMC has launched nationwide protests to address the exclusion of Latinos in the film industry, highlighting the lack of Latino voices in major filmmaking roles.
• 😀 Despite recent progress for African American and LGBT actors, Latino actors were shut out of major acting categories in the 90th Oscars.
• 😀 American Latinos have won only six Oscars in the 19 years of Oscar history, with no Latino actor being nominated in the last six years.
• 😀 The NHMC believes that the lack of Latino representation in Hollywood is a form of racism and injustice.
• 😀 In February 2018, the NHMC organized a protest at the Oscar nominees luncheon to target studio executives who have the power to hire Latino talent.
• 😀 In 2018, the NHMC called for a boycott of Paramount Pictures due to its history of Latino exclusion, claiming the studio's practices were contributing to racial discrimination in society.
• 😀 The NHMC's boycott of Paramount aimed to force the studio to commit to better Latino inclusion in filmmaking by signing a Memorandum of Understanding outlining changes.
• 😀 The NHMC stresses the importance of telling Afro-Latino stories and combating the gatekeeping that prevents such narratives from being told.

Q & A

What is the main focus of the National Hispanic Media Coalition's (NHMC) campaign?

The NHMC is focused on increasing Latino representation in Hollywood, both in front of and behind the camera, and advocating for better portrayals of Latinos in the media.

Why does the NHMC emphasize the importance of Latino representation in film?

Latinos make up 18% of the U.S. population, with a significant economic influence, including a $1.5 trillion consumer power. The NHMC argues that such a substantial demographic deserves more representation and recognition in the film industry.

What is the current state of Latino representation in top-grossing films, according to the NHMC?

In 2016, only 3.1% of speaking roles in the top 100 grossing films were Latino, and the representation of Latinos among writers, directors, and producers was similarly poor.

What action did the NHMC take to address the lack of Latino representation in Hollywood?

The NHMC's Action Network, consisting of writers, producers, directors, and actors, held a press conference and launched a nationwide campaign of protests against film executives for their exclusion of Latinos from significant roles in the industry.

What did the NHMC criticize about the recent Oscar nominations?

The NHMC criticized the Oscars for excluding Latino actors from major acting categories, despite the recognition of African-American and LGBT actors and the inclusion of a Latino animated story.

How many Oscars have been awarded to American Latinos historically?

In 19 years of Oscar history, American Latinos have won only six Oscars, with no Latino actor nominated in the past six years and no winner in the past 17 years.

What did the NHMC do in response to the Oscars' exclusion of Latino talent?

The NHMC organized protests at the Oscar nominees luncheon, targeting not the Academy, but the studio executives who hold the power to hire Latino talent.

What stance did the NHMC take if protests did not bring about change?

If protests were ineffective, the NHMC was prepared to boycott the studios and their films, demanding that they better represent Latinos in their movies.

Why did the NHMC target Paramount Pictures in 2018?

The NHMC targeted Paramount Pictures in 2018 due to its poor track record of Latino inclusion in films, calling the studio complicit in civil rights violations associated with the Trump administration's racist actions against Latino immigrants.

What did the NHMC demand from Paramount Pictures after their boycott?

The NHMC demanded that Paramount's executives sign a Memorandum of Understanding, committing to addressing the lack of Latino representation and ensuring it aligns with the U.S. Latino population's demographics.