CMU School of Drama


Tuesday, November 07, 2023

Hispanic and Latino Actors and Filmmakers Still Underrepresented in Hollywood

www.thewrap.com: Hispanic and Latino performers and filmmakers continue to be underrepresented in top movies. That was the key finding from a new report from the USC Annenberg Inclusion Initiative covering top films from 2007 to 2022. The latest study, tracing Hollywood’s efforts (or lack thereof) in terms of onscreen and offscreen inclusivity examined Hispanic and Latino representation.

2 comments:

John Alexander Farrell said...

As a Mexican-American theatremaker studying management, I've noticed an increasing discussion surrounding diversity and inclusion in the entertainment industry, particularly on social media. While the importance of representation is undeniable, what struck me most about this article was its discussion of underinvestment in Hispanic/Latinx productions. Representation is a critical first step towards fostering a more inclusive and equitable media landscape. However, the real impact of representation can only be fully realized when it's accompanied by adequate resources and support. The study's findings highlight the concerning reality that Hispanic/Latinx productions are often underresourced, and this hinders their potential for success. This article serves as a crucial reminder that diversity and inclusion efforts should extend beyond casting decisions and into the realm of resource allocation. We need to actively address the systemic barriers that limit the full potential of Hispanic/Latinx voices in the industry, making certain that their stories receive the attention, support, and investment they deserve.

Penny Preovolos said...

First of all, I am really glad that someone (more like an organization) is at least doing the research and analysis that allows us to see these numbers. What is really interesting to me is to see the disparities between the onscreen representation and off-screen representation within the production and design world. I think the fact that the number significantly drops for representation once you move off-screen says a lot about the world of Hollywood. I feel like a lot of productions believe that as soon as you use actors that are diverse all your problems are solved in terms of diversity. Whereas to have a truly diverse film/production you need people who are painting, writing, and directing to be able to actually create deep, authentic, and cutting stories to also be diverse. It seems very evident to me through the numbers that most productions will just do the minimum to get their “diversity pass.” I mean it is good to see the slight improvement that this research shows there is but it definitely highlights that there is a long way to go.