The filmmakers of American Sons, producer Laura Varela, along with producer and director Andrew Gonzales, skillfully use the video diaries of Corporal  Jorge “JV” Villareal, the young Marine who did not return, which he recorded for his family in San Antonio, Texas. Those diaries serve as the storyteller’s voice of day-to-day life during his tour of duty in Afghanistan; he tragically did not survive.

The film is skillfully edited into a bookend, non-linear, fractured structure that goes from the video diaries to ten years after, with his surviving Marine brothers sharing their thoughts about J. V., their struggles trying to reconnect back into the “real world”, and tender scenes of his family recalling memories of their son, JV Villareal.

The various emotional and haunting testimonials by Villareal’s brothers in arms, spoken in frank,  intimate streetwise vernacular about their PTSD, isolation, alienation, and hopelessness, often rise to the level of working-class, urban free verse poetry. There’s an eloquent urgency to their authenticity that echoes the pain of servicemen from past conflicts and foreshadows what may be awaiting those serving in the military now.

The overarching truth of American Sons is in its honoring and celebration of those generations of men and women who have given us so much and all too often received so little in return.

American Sons also underscores and reminds us of the tremendous contributions and historic participation of Latinos in the U.S. armed forces since the days of the American Revolution to the present.

It is an honorable legacy of our heritage that Latinos are the most decorated ethnic group in the long and storied annals of American military conflicts.

The story of JV Villareal and his Marine brothers in American Sons is an important chapter in the book of that proud history.

American Sons is a co-production of Infinite Warrior LLC, Latino Public Broadcasting, and Black Public Media. Major funding by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and additional support by the Jacquie Jones Memorial Fund. This project was made possible with support from California Humanities, a non-profit partner of the National Endowment for the Humanities. Additional funding is provided by Bexar County and the City of San Antonio Arts and Culture.

American Sons premieres on PBS on Monday, January 12. Check local listings for time.

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By Bel Hernandez Castillo

As Superman opens in theaters today, audiences will see the arrival of a new generation of DC heroes—and among them, Isabela Merced is stepping into the spotlight. The 23-year-old actress makes her debut as Kendra Saunders, a.k.a. Hawkgirl, in the latest installment of the franchise, marking her first foray into the superhero genre.

Born Isabela Yolanda Moner in Cleveland, Ohio, to a Peruvian mother and American father, Merced grew up speaking Spanish as her first language and often spent summers in Peru. Her stage name, Merced, honors her late grandmother and her family’s heritage—a gesture that reflects how deeply her culture influences her identity. She made her Broadway debut at 10 in Evita, performing alongside Ricky Martin. Shortly after, she found success on Nickelodeon, starring in 100 Things to Do Before High School.

She transitioned to feature films with roles in Transformers: The Last Knight (2017), Sicario: Day of the Soldado (2018), and Instant Family (2018). Her breakout role came in 2019 when she played the title character in Dora and the Lost City of Gold. Since then Merced has been quite busy.  In the past two years, Merced has expanded her portfolio, appearing in projects such as Madame Web, Turtles All the Way Down, and Alien: Romulus (all released in 2024).

The casting of Merced is a significant moment for representation in comic book adaptations. She becomes one of only a handful of Latina actresses to take on a major superhero role in a live-action film, joining names like Zoe Saldaña (Guardians of the Galaxy), Salma Hayek (Eternals), and Xochitl Gomez (Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness).

Hawkgirl is part of director James Gunn’s new “Gods and Monsters” slate for the DC Universe, with Merced set to reprise the role in future projects. The character Hawkgirl is part of the Justice Gang, a group of corporate-sponsored heroes that don’t exactly share Superman’s morals. Hawkgirl makes the first major big-screen appearance and the buzz is that there will be more of Hawkgirl in future sequels.

Earlier this year, she joined HBO’s hit series The Last of Us as Dina, a key character introduced in Season 2. Her performance has been widely praised and is expected to continue in future seasons.

Taking Flight as Hawkgirl

In Superman, Merced’s Hawkgirl is a winged warrior and archaeologist, reimagined with organic, feathered wings and a strong physical presence. The actress underwent extensive stunt and wire work to bring the character to life and has hinted at Hawkgirl’s larger role in the DC Universe moving forward.

Merced has expressed joy about exploring the character further, including potential storylines involving Green Lantern, with whom Hawkgirl has had romantic ties in the comics.

Merced’s trajectory is poised to become a fixture in both blockbuster franchises and prestige television. In addition to her ongoing work in The Last of Us, she is expected to appear in upcoming DC films as part of Gunn’s connected universe. With a growing list of credits across genres and platforms, Merced’s transition from child star to leading actress marks her as one of Hollywood’s rising talents.

DC Studios’ Superman is a A James Gunn Film.  A Troll Court Entertainment/The Safran Company Production, which will be in theaters and IMAX® nationwide on July 11, 2025, and internationally beginning 9 July 2025, distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures.

The post Isabela Merced: Superhero Status As Hawkgirl In DC’s ‘Superman’ first appeared on .

Last week was a busy one!  

The Chicano Squad CAA Screening

At an exclusive screening at the Creative Artists Agency, the audience was treated to a viewing of one episode of the docu-series The Chicano Squad which is set to premiere on A&E beginning on Monday, September 2nd at 9pm/8pm central.

It is a fascinating story of the little group of Chicano Detective up against having to prove themselves and solving cases that had long been abandon. They were given 90 day to solve hundreds of open cases if not they would shut them down.

The Chicano Squad chronicles the groundbreaking team of bilingual patrol officers plucked from their beats and suddenly promoted to Detectives to form the first all-Latino homicide unit dedicated to tackling Houston’s soaring rate of Latino homicide cases in 1979. Dubbed “The Chicano Squad” by the Houston media, the story of these men becoming one of the most highly decorated law enforcement units in the history of Houston is told through firsthand accounts of the original squad members and those impacted by their work.

The docu-series interviews some of the original members of the Chicano Squad, including Jim Montero, José Selvera, Raymond Gonzales, U.P. Hernández, and Cecil Mosqueda about their story which will air 45 years after the formation of the squad.

In attendance were Executive Producers Nancy de Los Santos and Sergio Selvera (whose dad is one of the original Chicano Squad members). It was their collaboration on the story that was taken to Bender Brown Productions who then teamed up with A&E to produce it.

Among the creative talents in attendance at the screening were showrunner/director and executive producer Mario Diaz (who is repped by CAA), Kevin Brown and Lawrence Bender of Bender Brown Productions, and original Chicano Squad members Selvera Jr. and Hernandez.

Hats off to A&E for documenting this very important, untold story about Latinos who for once were the heroes in the story rather than the stereotypes.

The Chicano Squad is produced by Jupiter Entertainment (Snapped) and Bender Brown Productions (Seven Seconds) for A&E.

Carlos Eric Lopez Launches Curalita with Celebrity friends and Community

Carlos Eric Lopez is known for his eclectic taste in glamor, culture and one of LA’s most sought-after photographers in the nation.  His clients like Vogue, Netflix, Amazon, Disney+ and high-profile brands like Ralph Lauren, Fendi, and Nike.  And now Carlos adds entrepreneur to his list of titles.  Always ahead of the cultural curve last week as Carlos launched the delicious and healthy community-driven wellness drink Curalita.

Inspired by his Abuelita – his affectionate grandmother…Carlos named his drinks Curalita, choosing Mexican inspired flavors with names like La Virgen, Por Amor, Mal de Ojo and Sana Sana. 

In attendance to help him launch his brand in a spectacular way was literally a who is who of Latino Hollywood’s hottest talents who have all been photographed by Lopez to support the launch of his product.  His friends actor Xolo Maridueña (Blue Beetle, Cobra Kai),  Annie Gonzalez (Flamin’ Hot, Jenni, Gentified) who also sang, TV Showrunner/actress Gloria Calderon Kellett (With Love, One Day at a Time), Jessica Marie Garcia (On My Block), actress Nicole Richie (Project Runway)  and several others. 

Ugly Little Monkeys Community Screening at La Plaza de Cultura Y Artes

A screening of the documentary Ugly Little Monkeys took place last week under the stars on a cool L.A. summer night at La Plaza de Cultura Y Artes.

Ugly Little Monkeys is a compelling documentary that brings to life the remarkable journey of Los Changuitos Feos de Tucson, the pioneering youth Mariachi group in the United States.

Inspired by Wilfred Arvizu’s captivating book, this film delves into the heart of Tucson, Arizona, where the group was formed in the 1960s under the guidance of an unlikely mentor, Father Charles Rourke, an Irish priest with a deep passion for Mariachi music.  

Audience members experience a rollercoaster of emotions as the documentary screened. With a combination of laughter, shock and in some cases, anger, at the end of the evening several audience members were ready to nominate it for an Oscar!

Participating in the pre-screening Q&A were Co-Directors Enrique Castillo and David Valdez and Richard Moreno the Editor, and moderated by Estrella TV news Anchor, Jose Ronstadt.  The latter three, Valdez, Ronstadt and Moreno were all born and raised in Tucson, where the story mostly takes place, and are very familiar with the story.  Still the interviews with the original members were quite a revelation – to them and the audience.

Five years in the making, nineteen original members were interviewed for the documentary, each telling their first hand recounting of the story, from the founding of the group by Father Rourke, the excitement or traveling across the country, to the unraveling of the priest and ultimately to the triumph of their spirits.

The Changuitos Feos are still thriving after 60 years.  To commemorate this the filmmakers are offering the documentary to non-profit organizations as a fundraising screening to help them raise funds for the arts, and in particular youth mariachi groups. 

Outdoor screenings at La Plaza de Cultura Y Artes are always a fun experience. In spite of the helicopters flying by – the audience was captivated!

Until next week!

The post The Chicano Squad; Carlos Eric Lopez’s Curalita; & Ugly Little Monkeys first appeared on .

By Mina Briseño

Part comedy, part social commentary, part travelogue, Roots of Comedy With Jesus Trejo gives you an inside look of the other side of the laughter, revealing how the most memorable comedy traces back to the roots of a community with themes that are central to the series. Jesus Trejo, an LA based comedian embarks on an emotional odyssey as he visits with comedians from all walks of life, delving into their childhood, style of comedy and their why.  Why they become a comic, why they choose the jokes they tell, and just plain piercing the facade of the comedian.

Along his journey, Trejo visits six U.S. regions (Denver, Portland, Minneapolis, Austin, Los Angeles and Chinle, Arizona).  He meets with six rising comedians who explore the mosaic of our nation through the lens of stand-up comedy. The six episode series with 30-minute episodes is executive produced by Jesus Trejo, Juan Devis and Danny Lee, and co-produced for PBS by PBS SoCal and BIPOC-production studio CALICO in association with the National Multicultural Alliance. 

Trejo is a Los Angeles-based comedian, actor and writer. Born and raised in Long Beach, Trejo’s first hour stand-up special Stay at Home Son recently premiered on Showtime. He was a Staff Writer on Hulu’s now cancelled TV comedy  This Fool and also the host of Tacos Con Todo. a web series in which he navigates the LA taco scene with celebrity guests. Also an author of two upcoming children’s books, Trejo was named in “Variety’s Top 10 Comics to Watch” in 2017 and is a paid regular at the Comedy Store in Los Angeles.

Beginning on Friday, May 24 all six episodes of Roots of Comedy With Jesus Trejo will stream for free on the PBS app and PBS.org as a special release. The series will also be available to stream on the PBS YouTube channel, following the television broadcast premiere on PBS stations across the country on Fri., June 21 at 10 p.m. ET/ 9 p.m. CT.

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The Emmy nominations were announced this morning, and while the 75th Emmy nominations are being touted by industry trades as record breaking, especially for Black women who garnered four Emmy nominations in just the supporting comedy actress category, nominations for Latino/as as a whole were down. Even though Latinos are the largest minority in the U.S. at 18% of the population, the Asian Pacific community (7% of the US population) had one more nominations, with four to only 3 for Latino performers. Black Americans are 13.6% of the U.S. population.

The three Latinos nominated for the coveted television acting categories, Pedro Pascal, Jenna Ortega and Aubrey Plaza represent less than 3% of the total number of actors (102) nominated for an Emmy this year.

Pedro Pascal is top of the list with two Emmy nominations, one for HBO’s The Last of Us and the other for Lead Actor in a Drama Series and Guest Actor in a Comedy Series for his appearance on Saturday Night Live.  Jenna Ortega has received her very first Emmy nomination as Lead Actress in a Comedy Series for her performance in the title role in Netflix’s Wednesday, which was the second-most watched English-language Netflix series last year.  Aubrey Plaza received her nomination for her role in HBO’s social satire The White Lotus as Supporting Actress in a Drama Series.

Once again, the underrepresentation of Latinos at the Emmys is glaring. However, Ortega’s nomination makes her only the third Latina to ever be nominated in this category. Jenna Ortega is a favorite to take the Emmy for Lead Actress in a Comedy Series, and if this happens it will be a big win for our community. and this nomination

In the interest of not being redundant, citing stats (as we do year after year on these occasions and nothing ever changes) that prove the lack of Latino representation in Hollywood, let me just say, aqui estamos y no nos vamos! We are here to stay, we are not going away anytime soon. With a U.S. Latino economic power of $1.9 trillion annual GDP, is it time to leverage our community’s buying power for equal representation? For now our voice is our power, and we need to speak up.

Selena Gomez, snubbed again? There are three leads in Only Murders in the Building.  Martin Short, Steve Martin and Selena Gomez. Both Short and Martin were both nominated last year in the Best Lead Actor category, but the third lead, Gomez was overlooked. Why? Some would say (like her 426 Million instagram followers) that her acting chops are on par with her co-stars.  This year Martin gets a 2nd Emmy nomination and Gomez is once again overlooked. Something is just not making sense. Her Mabel Mora character is the linchpin in the whole dang series!

We are grateful to the writers and producers who write the kind of roles that merit the attention of the Television Academy members.  We are grateful for the showrunners that cast a wide diversity net and think “out of the box”.  Thank you to the casting director of Wednesday Florina Fernandes and director Tim Burton for casting Ortega.  

But what about the Latino writers who have created and cast Latinos in some of the most lauded shows on TV? Where is the recognition for them?   For one, I am talking about Gloria Calderon Kellett who created and was the showrunner on the Netflix TV show, One Day at a Time (2017 – 2020). The critics raved about it. Lead actress Justina Machado was even named as one of the most “Most Dynamic Actresses on TV” by Harper’s Bazaar. But where was Kellett’s writing Emmy nomination or Justina Machado’s Best Lead in a Comedy Series Emmy nomination? 

We will keep asking the questions, as we celebrate Pascal, Plaza and Ortega on their Emmy nominations, and acknowledge the behind the camera Latino Emmy nominees for 2023: 

Outstanding Production Design For A Variety Special

The Apple Music Super Bowl LVII Halftime Show Starring Rihanna / FOX – Maria Garcia, Art Director

Outstanding Fantasy/Sci-Fi Costumes

Hocus Pocus 2 / Disney+ / Walt Disney Pictures – Salvador Perez, Costume Designer

The Mandalorian / Chapter 22: Guns For Hire / Disney+ / Lucasfilm Ltd. – Elissa Alcala, Assistant Costume Designer

What we do in the Shadows / The Wedding / FX / FX Productions – Barbara Cardoso, Assistant Costume Designer

Outstanding Contemporary Costumes For A Series – Only Murders In The Building / Framed / Hulu / 20th Television / Dana Covarrubias, Costume Designer

Outstanding Contemporary Hairstyling – Only Murders in the Building / Fabian Gonzalez, Hair Stylist

@belscoolist @latinheatmag

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U.S. Latinos constitute 18% of the U.S. population with , and Warner Bros. recognizes that it is essential for their studio to target this portion of the demographic, which is why Warner Bros. Discovery U.S. Hispanic is focused on serving the Spanish language sector in the U.S.

“As multicultural marketing becomes increasingly important, more brands are partnering with us to forge genuine connections with U.S. Hispanic consumers,” said David Tardio, Vice President, Advertising Sales and Integrated Marketing, Warner Bros. Discovery U.S. Hispanic of their Spanish language content. “We offer a comprehensive solution: valuable, proprietary insights into the Hispanic viewer, and an engaged audience watching and streaming our shows in their native language.”

“The influence of Latinos continues to rise, and their stories, experiences, and passions are central to our content strategy,” said Andres Mendoza, Vice President of Programming at Warner Bros. Discovery U.S. Hispanic. “Our viewers seek authentic stories that celebrate the richness of Latino culture. By developing original content with the Hispanic viewer in mind, we continue to deliver a bold and engaging entertainment proposition for our audience.”

Warner Bros. Discovery U.S. Hispanic’s four networks that focus on Spanish content have been been engaging Spanish language viewers through culturally relevant and relatable programming. The upcoming slate for Warner Bros. Discovery’s U.S. Hispanic brands includes returning hit series such as Mexicánicos and Remodelaciones con Celebridades, in addition to new seasons of top titles such as Supervivencia al Desnudo, Todo en 90 días and Rodando por América.

“CNN en Español is the leading news brand for unbiased and relevant news and information content to U.S. Hispanics, in addition to a wide array of related content including DocuFilms, entertainment programming, health-focused content and more”, said Cynthia Hudson, Senior Vice President & Managing Director of CNN en Español and US Hispanic Strategy CNN.

Warner Bros. Discovery’s U.S. Hispanic division is one of the many choices for Spanish-speaking audiences in the United States.

The post Warner Bros. Discovery Increased Viewing Share of Spanish Language Content first appeared on .

By Bel Hernandez 

The biggest winner at the 2022 Academy Awards was inclusion.

Setting aside “The Slap” that was seen around the world, it was a historic evening for Latinos and other disenfranchised groups, whose presence was felt from the red carpet arrivals to the last Oscar given to the Best Picture winner Coda, whose cast included two deaf actors and a Latino who played a doctor.

All around this year’s Oscars looked as diverse as none other in past history. It was a beautiful thing to see the whole spectrum of nationalities and races — on the red carpet, on the nominee list, in the performances, and ultimately on the Oscar winners list.

During the pre-show to the Oscars Global Indigene, Bird Runningwater set the tone for the evening by address the global audience on the red carpet:

Movie lovers come together for this celebration on the ancestral lands of the Tongva people. The Academy pays respect to the Tongva people as well as the Tataviam and the Chumash people, the original caretakers of the water and land where many of us in the film community live and work. As we honor this year’s best stories and films, let’s also celebrate the original storytellers, the indegeons peoples of this region.”

Amy Schumer, Wanda Sykes and Regina Hall the hosts for the evening, kicked off the 94th Academy Awards ceremony as the first time three women hosted the star-studded event. Except except for the bit about Covid, they were funny and on point.

Serna and Venus Williams made the introduction to “Queen Bey” Beyonce as she kicked off the awards with a showstopping performance that took place the roof of a structure in the City of Compton transformed into a luscious lime green fantasy oasis housing an orchestra, dancers and Beyonce singing “Be Alive”, the nominated song from the movie King Richard. 

Then the Oscars were in full swing. Up first was the Best Supporting Actress category, which as pundits, critics and filmgoers predicted, went to first-time Oscar nominee Ariana DeBose for her performance as Anita in West Side Story.  With this much-anticipated win Debose made history for winning the Oscar in the same category, and role of Anita, that Rita Moreno, who was in the audience to cheer her on, won 50 years ago.

On accepting her Oscar DeBose said:

“Now you see why Anita says ‘I want to be in America’ because even in this weary world that we live in, dreams do come true…[looking at Rita Moreno] I am so grateful your Anita paved the way for tons of Anitas like me…Lastly, imagine this little girl in the back seat of a white Ford Focus. Look into her eyes and you see a queer, openly-queer woman of color. An afro-Latina who found her strength in life through art and that’s what I believe we’re here to celebrate.”

The sentimental win the Latino community was rooting for, became a reality and now it was on with the show to see what was ahead.

AN OSCAR 1st:

Ariana DeBose became the first Queer-AfroLatina to win an Oscar in the acting category.

Director Alberto Mielgo and Producer Leo Sanchez took home the Best Animated Short Film Oscar for The Windshield Wiper.  Director Hugo Covarrubias was also a nominee for Bestias, The other nominees included directors Dan Ojari and Michael Please for Robin Robin; Joanna Quinn and for Affairs of the Art; and director Anton Dyakov for Box Ballet.

In the Live Action Short Film Category, writer/director Kristen Davila was the indie filmmaker the Latino/a community was rooting for. And the Oscar went to The Long Goodbye directed by Aneil Karia, from a script by Karia and Riz Ahmen.

The Best Animated Feature film Oscar went to Encanto and with that Producer Yvett Merino accepted her very first Oscar, along with the other producers Jared Bush, Clark Spencer, and Byron Howard responsible for this amazing film that has touched hearts around the world, introducing the Madrigal family and their magical powers.

First time nominee, and Encanto composer Germaine Franco was nominated for Best Original Score and althought she lost out to Hans Zimmer who took home his second Oscar for Dune, (his first  was for The Lion King in 1994), she is forever more an Oscar nominee, which in itself is quite extraordinary.  

Also “winning” were the musical performances by Colombian singer Sebastian Yatra who sang “Dos Oruguitas” (Two Caterpillars), the song written by Lin Manuel Miranda and nominated for best song. The Oscar went to No Time to Die from the film by the same name, which was performed by Billie Eillish and her brother Finneas.

The biggest number of the evening was the spectacular musical performance of Encanto’s runaway hit song “We Don’t Talk about Bruno”. It was introduced by John Leguizamo who was the voice of Bruno.

The performance immediately lit up the room as dozens of dancers and original film cast members Adassa, Stephanie Beatriz, Mauro Castillo, Carolina Gaitan and Diane Guerrero, all dressed in a flurry of brightness took the stage. Leading the vocals were internationally known and lauded singers Luis Fonsi and Becky G who were joined by Megan Thee Stallion who added the hip hop flavor to the performance. And just like that audiences across the world witnessed the first-ever live on-stage performance of “We Don’t Talk About Bruno”.  

The multi-talent and one of Hollywood’s favorite directors Guillermo del Toro’s film Nightmare Alley was up for what was his sixth Oscar nomination. He is a two-time winning Oscar winner, both Oscars for The Shape of Water (2018) for which he took home the Best Picture and Best Directing prize. This year he lost out to CODA, a favorite to win and that did win.

As the cast of CODA took to the stage to pick up the award, actor/producer Eugenio Derbez who played Dr. Bernardo Villalobos in the film, took his rightful place on stage as part of the amazing cast.  

AN OSCAR 1st: 

Apple’s ‘CODA’ is the first movie from a streaming service to win Best Picture Oscar, and Troy Kotsur who played the dad won Best Supporting Actor was the first deaf actor to win

Javier Bardem who was nominated for Best Supporting Actor lost out to Troy Kotsur who won his Oscar for playing the role of Frank Rossi, the deaf father of the lead played by Emilia Jones 

The Best Actress Oscar went to the lovely and very talented Jessica Chastain for her performance of Tammy Faye in the bio-pic The Eyes of Tammy Faye.  Penelope Cruz’s nominated for her standout performance in Parallel Mothers, which has already garnered her eight awards including the National Society of Film Critics awards, went home with her husband Javier instead of “Oscar.”  However, both Cruz and Bardem already have an Oscar each. Cruz, a three-time nominee won the Oscar in 2008 for Vicky Cristina Barcelona, her other nominations were in 2006 for Volver and 2009 for Nine. While Bardem won his Oscar for the Coen Brothers’ No Country For Old Men.

PRESENTING

The 2022 Latinos Oscar presenters included Academy Award nominee Rosie Perez (Fearless 1994) who presented along with her White Men Can’t Jump castmates Woody Harrelson and Wesley Snipes), the award for Best Cinematography which went to Greig Fraser.  Then John Leguizamo, who had earlier last week done a secretive social media post saing that he would be at the Oscars, but didn’t say in what capacity, introduced the live performance of “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” another song written by Miranda for Encanto, which has become the highest-charting song from a Disney movie since 1995

Rachel Zeigler, who prior to the Oscars had also posted on social media to say she had not been invited to the Oscars, in spite of having played the lead role in the Oscar-nominated film West Side Story. Fast forward to Oscar night and she presented the Best Visual Effects category alongside Jacob Elordi (Euphoria). During the mile banter Elordi said that while growing up in Australia he would have never imagined being invited to the ceremony, to which Zegler jokingly said “I never thought I’d be here… six days ago [sic].” One of the funniest off-the-cuff remarks of the evening.

Oscar-winning actress Lupita nyong’o (for 12 Years a Slave 2013) was looking regal in her golden Prada gown. Mexican claim her as their own as she was born and lived in Mexico as a child. In 2014 she finally set the record straight about her nationality when she told media outlet El Mañana a few years back, “I’ve seen the quarrels over my nationality, but I’m Kenyan and Mexican at the same time. I am Mexican-Kenyan and I am fascinated by carne asada tacos.” We are all fascinated with this lovely and powerful actress!

Then there was “The Slap” with Will Smith playing the “Slapper” and Chris Rock the “Slapee.” The drama happened just prior to Smith winning the Best Actor Award for King Richard. And that is all I want to say on this matter.

The evening ended with the fluttering of hands in the theater, which in the deaf world is the way to show applause. Both Kotsur and Marlee Matlin who starred as the parents in the drama CODA are deaf and when the film won, the “applause” came in visual waves as the audience, which truly was “NOT so White”, was captured on camera.

All in all, this was the best Oscar night in a very long time. Represented on stage was amazing talent from Asia, the Middle East, Europe, Latin America, Mexico, Africa, and so many other countries and regions. Inclusion played a big part and the hope is that it continues. Because when the Oscars are truly representative of creative talents the world over, it creates a better understanding of our cultures.

One of the most poignant moments in the evening came when actress Mila Kunis (Family Guy, That ’70s Show) whose family is from Ukraine, introduced singer Reba Mackentire who sang “Somehow You Do”, the song from the nominated film Four Good Days. 

Before the introduction Kunis, without having to mention the country’s name, but every audience member and viewer knew, said:

“Recent global events have left many of us feeling gutted.  Yet when you witness the strength and dignity of those facing such devastation, it’s impossible not to be moved by their resilience.  One cannot help but be in awe of those who find strength to keep fighting through unimaginable darkness..”

This was followed by an on-camera chyron that directed people to donate. A powerful moment seen by millions, appealing to their generosity to the human spirit in all of us and at the same time, this gesture did not take anything away from the purpose of the evening.

Let’s not let the actions of one person pull focus on what a historic evening in Hollywood it was at the 94th Academy Awards.

The world is made up of many ethnicities and nationalities that for one evening come together to share the world’s love of film.  We are a world of film magic, let’s use that to make it a better place.

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Lights, Camera, Acciòn is an American Masters project directed by Ben DeJesus and executive produced by John Leguizamo, Michael Kantor of American Masters, and Sandie Viquez Pedlow of Latino Public Broadcasting/VOCES and David Chitel of NGL Collective premieres Tuesday, October 5, on PBS.

A co-presentation of Latino Public Broadcasting’s VOCES and American Masters, Lights, Camera, Acciòn is a celebration of the incredible impact Latinos have made in Hollywood — past, present and future, with a focus on the exciting new wave of talent that is transforming the industry. Featuring prominent Latino voices in film and television, this special captures the candid perspectives of talent from in front of and behind the camera, as they share their challenges, personal journeys and outlook on the future. 

In the documentary we hear from high profile A-talent who have been grandly representing Latinos in Hollywood for years. The documentary also focuses on the current writers and the on-camera talent that are now front and center, reshaping the image of Latinos in Hollywood through their work. The long list of talent include actors Edward James Olmos, Gina Torres, John Leguizamo, Chelsea Rendon, Jimmy Smits, Ivana Rojas, Esai Morales, Xolo Maridueña; showrunners Tanya Saracho (Vida), Peter Murrieta (Mr. Iglesias) and Marvin Lemus (Gentefied), media scholar Chon Noriega, and more.

“When I set out to make this film, my goal was to shed light on the incredible contributions – often unacknowledged – that Latinos have made to the history and success of Hollywood since the very beginning,” says director DeJesus. “I also wanted to showcase the new generation of talent that are now blazing their own trails, both on-screen and behind the scenes.”

“Visual media is such a powerful medium. It has the power to change the way we look at the world around us,” says executive producer Leguizamo. “Ben is on a 24/7 mission to get more of our stories out there because if people are able to see the incredible contributions that Latinx people make and have made to our society, imagine how they would look at our community. And more importantly, imagine how we would look at ourselves.”

The 24-minute documentary film premieres on Tuesday, October 5, immediately following the broadcast of American Masters — Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided to Go For It at 9 p.m. (check local listings). The film will also be available for streaming on all station-branded PBS platforms, including pbs.org/americanmasters  and the PBS Video App beginning October 5.

Lights, Camera, Acciòn is a co-production of NGL Studios and Latino Public Broadcasting in association with American Masters Pictures, with funding provided by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Directed by Ben DeJesus. Produced by Jill Krikorian and Cionin Lorenzo. Executive Producers: Sandie Viquez Pedlow, Michael Kantor, John Leguizamo, and David Chitel. Series Producer for VOCES: Luis Ortiz. Series Producer for American Masters: Julie Sacks.

The post ‘Lights, Camera, Accion’ Celebrating Latinos in Hollywood Then and Now first appeared on .

By Justina Bonilla

Comic-Con, the biggest entertainment convention in the world, went virtual this year, allowing everyone globally to attend the vast variety of world-famous programs through the Comic-Con International channel on YouTube. Among the array of topics such as comic books, movies, video games, and lessons in creating original content, was a diversity of ethnic orientated panels, including Asian, African American, Native American, and Latino.

Over the 5-day virtual convention from July 22 – 26, 2020, Latino talent was represented in a number of panels, with talent In front and behind the camera. With such an abundance of scheduled programs, here is a highlighted list of programs about and panels featuring Latino talent.

July 23, 2020 – Thursday

Marvel Storyboards: An interview with Marvel Executive VP, creative director Joe Quesada, about his documentary series Marvel’s Storyboards. Before VP, Quesada started at Marvel as an artist, eventually rising to the editor, then editor-in-chief.

His Dark Materials Virtual Panel and Q&A Session: The panel of the HBO adaption of the global bestselling trilogy book series His Dark Materials, by Philip Pullman, features executive producers and six cast members (Lin-Manuel Miranda) discussing the influence the series has had on them artistically and the upcoming second season this fall.

Collider: Directors on Directing: Three directors, including Robert Rodriquez, Colin Trevorrow, and Joseph Kosinski, go in-depth about their experiences in directing, including the artistic craft of directing, projects of the past, current projects, and those to come.

Dubbing American into Latin American – A Chat with Dub Actors: With syndication of American English language shows into Latin America, especially Mexico, is a need for skilled Spanish speaking dub voice actors. Featured are some of the top dubbing voice actors of Mexico sharing their professional experiences in this field. The conversation is in Spanish. English subtitles are not automatic, however, are available through the setting corner of the screen. 

The State of the Industry: Animation Superstars: Taking a deep inside look at the animation world and the work it takes to become an animator, with a special array of contemporary animation talents (including Jorge Gutierrez and Alonso Ramirez Ramos).

July 25, 2020 – Saturday:

Cosmos: Possible Worlds: The scientific and creative talent for this third series of Cosmos, including with Afro-Puerto Rican host astrophysicist Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson, Ann Druyan (creator, executive producer, director, and writer), and an introduction by Seth MacFarlane emphasizes the importance of science literacy today, the history of the original Cosmos series, and the exciting topics and stories to come this season.

Latin American Horror Cinema 2: Sometimes they Come Back: Part two from Comic-Con 2019 highlights directors of the new wave of horror from Latin America, featuring Issa Lopez (Tigers Are Not Afraid), Alejandro Brugués (Juan of the Dead), Isaac Ezban (The Incident), Demián Rugna (Terrified) and Gigi Saul Guerrero (Culture Shock).

Guillermo del Toro and Scott Cooper on Antlers and Filmmaking: Oscar-winning director Guillermo del Toro is producing the upcoming supernatural horror film Antlers, about a folklore creature causing on a bloodthirsty spree in a small isolated town. He discusses alongside the film’s director Scott Cooper about the film and their experiences as filmmakers and film lovers.

Latinx & Native American Storytellers: Latinx and Native American Writers from comics to children’s literature, evaluate the history of Latinx and Native American characters in media, while also discussing the increased demand and possibilities available for Latinx and Native American storytellers and characters.

Mexico’s Magnificent Stop-Motion Seven: With Mexican cinematic talent, especially animation, continuing to get increased recognition by the foreign market, this panel the contemporary masters of Mexican stop motion animation. Panel spoke in Spanish, with English subtitles.

Mexican Lucha Libre: History, Tradition, Legacy: In Mexican pop-culture history, a beloved image is the Lucha Libre wrestlers, most notably the hero El Santo. The panelist explores just how impactful this type of entrainment is in Mexico, including its influence in cinema. Panel spoke in Spanish, with English subtitles.

What We Do in the Shadows: Recently nominated for a 2020 Emmy for Best Comedy Series, the main cast (Harvey Guillén, Matt Berry, Kayvan Novak, Natasia Demetrious, and Mark Proksch), writers/producers (Paul Simms and Stefani Robinson) and special guest Haley Joel Osment of What We Do in the Shadows go in-depth of different elements of the show including personal behind the scene stories. The series has been greenlit for a much-anticipated 3^rd season.

July 26, 2020 – Sunday 

Aztec Depictions in Pop Culture: 500 Years After the Fall: In current American pop-culture, the Aztec empire is one of the most referenced classic pre-colonialist empires, alongside the Greek, Egyptian, and Roman empires. Panelist (David Bowles, Javier Rayón, Mario Fuente, Flora Alexandra Reese-Arredondo, Paul Guinan, and Anina Bennett) use the Aztec culture and history as inspirations to their stories, while also evaluating how our prior knowledge of the Aztec empire is continually growing.  

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CLICK HERE For a Full List of Latinos Eligible for An Emmy Nomination

By Justina Bonilla & Bel Hernandez

As the Television Academy Primetime Emmy Awards begin the journey to the awards ceremony and the selection of the 2020 Emmy winners on September 20, 2020 at 5 PM PST on ABC, we point out that this year there is a record number of Latinos (over 150) who are being considered for a nomination. 

The official announcement of the 2020 Primetime Emmy nominees will be streamed on emmys.com on Tuesday, July 28th beginning at 11:30 a.m. ET / 8:30 a.m. PT.

The list of Latinos eligible for Primetime Emmy nominee consideration was definitely in the upswing this year.  It might be an indication that finally the Latino themed shows and/or Latinos/as in lead roles on networks and streaming platforms shows, are being written with enough of a storyline that truly offers the actor the ability to show their skills and  be noticed.  To their credit, the networks/streaming platforms are finally showing their support by submitted Latinos/a talent for consideration.

However, none of this happens without the scripts that provides the vehicle for the actor to shine. Shows created by Gloria Calderon-Kellett (One Day At a Time), Tanya Saracho, (Vida), Linda Ivette Chavez (Gentefied) and Marvin Lemus (Gentefied) are the major reason of why so many Latino/as are in consideration this year.

Whether it be in an all Latino themed show or with Latino/a series regular, there is an uptick in participation in the 2019-2020 television season.  With over 150+ Latinos appearing in front of the camera, starring as the “topliners”. 

“Topliners”, is defined in the Latino Donor Collaborative (LDC), a non-profit organization dedicated to reshaping the perception of Latinos as part of the American social mainstream, in their 2019 study Above The Line Latinos In Media as; a) the actor or actress in the protagonist role, b) a show’s host or judge; or c) a co-lead in an ensemble cast., as exemplified in the TV series Mr. Iglesias (Netflix) and One Day at a Time (Pop). 

While there is an increase of Latinos in topliner shows, such Nexflix’s On My Block , One Day at a TIme and Gentefied, and Latinos in lead roles in various series, such as Brooklyn Nine Nine, What We Do in the Shadows, overall Latino representation is still minimal. It does not look any better, as this year has also seen the recent cancellations of Latino themed TV shows, including ABC’s The Baker and the Beauty, Starz’s Vida, Freeform’s Party of 5, and Hulu’s Broke. The surprising killing off of actor Nicholas Gonzalez’s character of Dr. Melendrez on The Good Doctor was a major step backwards for ABC since Gonzalez’s was beloved by fans but more importantly showed Latinos a very positive role.

The cancellation of not one, but three Latino themed show continues to send a message, that diversity, to the Hollywood powers that be, does not include U.S. Latinos.

According to the LDC study, the majority of Latino topliners on the small screen are most visible on broadcast network shows at 11.1%, followed by OTT (streaming platforms) at 8.8%, then premium cable shows at 6.8%, and finally, the lowest visibility being 5.6% on cable shows. 

In acknowledgement of the small advancement of Latino/a representation on broadcast, streaming platforms and cable, Latin Heat is releasing its own prediction list of who we would like to see get that Primetime Emmy nomination.  Our choices are based on IMDB ratings as of the writing of this article, and audience reaction to the show.  We have made two selections under for each category, a “Top Bet” and a “Long Shot”.

In acknowledgement of the small advancement of Latino/a representation on broadcast, streaming platforms and cable, Latin Heat is releasing its own prediction list of who we would like to see get that Primetime Emmy nomination.  Our choices are based on critical acclaim, audience response, and IMDB ratings as of the writing of this article.

Latin Heat selected two persons for each category with the following rating: “Top Pick”; “Sure Bet” and the ones we would like to see get a nomination but are probably a “Long Shot”.

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series:

Top Pick:  Gabriel Iglesias – Mr. Iglesias, Netflix

Long Shot: Arturo Castro – Alterlatino with Arturo Castro, Comedy Central

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series:

Top Pick: America Ferrera – Superstore, NBC

Top Pick: Justina Machado – One Day at a Time, Netflix and Pop TV

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series:

Top Pick: Fred Armisen – Los Espookys, HBO

Sure Bet: Jason Genoa – On My Block, Netflix

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series:

Top Pick: Rita Moreno – One Day At a Time, POP TV

Top Pick: Stephanie Beatriz– Brooklyn Nine, NBC

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series:

Sure Bet: Diego Luna – Narcos: Mexico, Netflix

Long Shot: Carlos Miranda – Vida, Starz

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series:

Top Pick: Alice Braga – Queen of the South, Netflix

Top Pick: MJ Rodriguez – Pose, Netflix

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series:

Top Pick: Nicholas Gonzalez – The Good Doctor, ABC

Top Pick: JD Pardo – Mayans MC, Hulu

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series:

Top Pick: Melissa Barrera – Vida, Starz

Sure Bet: Danay Garcia – Fear of the walking Dead, Hulu

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie:

Long Shot: Rosario Dawson – Briarpatch, Hulu

Long Shot: Dani Montalvo, I Was Lorena Bobbit, Lifetime

Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance:

Top Pick: Anthony Mendez – Jane The Virgin, CW

Long Shot: Lin Manuel Miranda – My Favorite Shapes by Julio Torres, HBO  

Outstanding Variety Talk Series:

Top Pick: The Real, (with Adrienne Bailon) Syndicated

Sure Bet: Jimmy Kimmel (with Guillermo Rodriguez) – Jimmy Kimmel Live!, ABC

Good luck to all! CLICK HERE for the complete list of Latino/a who up for consideration for a Primetime Emmy nomination (Listed by Show Title).

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