Latinos in Film Industry Rally Their Own Support

‘There’s always work at the post office” was the quirky battle cry that galvanized a community of African American filmmakers and pricked the conscience of Hollywood in the 1980s.

The line from Robert Townsend’s “Hollywood Shuffle” signaled a new resistance to playing Hollywood’s version of black and, more important, a united African American filmmaking community working together to do it for themselves. The result was more African Americans making more movies with greater impact in Hollywood and the popular conscience.

To date there has been no such battle grito in the Latino filmmaking world. Increasingly, those in front of and behind the camera are recognizing there’s much to be learned from African American filmmakers.

“We’ve been a sleeping giant,” explains actress Constance Marie (“Selena,” “Spin City”). “Unfortunately, we don’t have a huge industry movement like African Americans.”

“It brings a knot to my throat,” says actress Elizabeth Pena, Independent Spirit Award nominee for “Lone Star.” “I admire the African American filmmakers, the Jewish filmmakers, the way they came together behind closed doors and came out a community, working together.

“Edward James Olmos works that way but we’re still a bunch of people who are drowning and trying to save our own tush. It’s sad because there’s so much power, talent and possibility but we’re not there yet.”

“We don’t help one another out enough,” agrees Salma Hayek, star of “Desperado,” “Fools Rush In” and “The Hunchback.” “There are exceptions and because of them I’m here talking to you. But not enough people in Hollywood really care about the community. Most of them care about themselves, saying, ‘Oh, we’re going to form an organization to do this and that for Latinos,’ but once they get the attention, they try to kill each other.”

Some believe that cultural differences within the Latino community are partly responsible.

“We’re a little slower to give a hand,” says actress and writer Rose Portillo. “So often the issue is more complex, even touchy. There are Cuban, Chicano, Puerto Rican filmmakers. The umbrella of Hispanic doesn’t always and shouldn’t always address all issues. Nationalism and culturalism are important but we must be reasonable about certain issues. Solidarity is sometimes more important.”

Jackie Guerra, who last year became the first Chicana to star in her own sitcom, “First Time Out” on the WB network, agrees. “The issue of Latinos in Hollywood is only as complicated as we make it,” says the former union organizer and community activist currently featured in “Selena.” “What we are learning from the African American community is you can work without having to shuck and jive. You can make money shucking and jiving but why? It doesn’t feel good to get rich playing something you’re not proud of.”

The practice of working together and pulling one another up through the industry ranks is only now beginning to take root. A strong and increasingly successful core of Latino filmmakers is intent on finally forging a community. They are willing to fight to realize their vision of not only the project but also Hollywood.

When the powers that were wanted a blond to play opposite Antonio Banderas in “Desperado,” director Robert Rodriguez went to the mat to cast Hayek. Director Gregory Nava had the same battle with executives in making “Mi Familia.” With the release of Nava’s latest picture, “Selena,” that new attitude and a nascent sense of community are on display.

“Gregory Nava insisted on a Latino cast and multicultural crew,” Guerra explains. “I never saw so many Chicanos with cell phones. Is he a genius? Maybe. Does he settle for less than other directors? Absolutely not. The difference? He’s on a mission.”

“Changing the mind-set of Hollywood is a two-way battle between what they need to do but also what we need to do,” Nava says. “If you get the opportunity, you have to give opportunities to make the changes grow.”

“The giant is waking up and saying this is bull,” Marie says. “We have to do it for ourselves by helping each other. Considering Hollywood is in what used to be Mexico, I’d say it’s way overdue.”