Latino leaders are urging the support of striking actors and writers from underserved communities in an open letter released on the 100th day of the WGA strike.
“Stories are more than entertainment. They are a powerful tool for social change that fuels our collective movement to build a more equitable, just world for those who have been historically underrepresented and marginalized,” reads the letter, signed by 27 groups.
It continues, “Actors, writers, and directors are essential to this work. As we watch them do what they do best, we are reminded that their art influences how people think and feel about our communities – both at home and abroad. While we’re encouraged by some of the changes we have seen in recent years, we continue to deal with the repercussions from years of being actively erased and invisible on screen.”
While the signatories say they were optimistic about the summer, many projects will not be promoted in the usual big ways as actors and writers are limited as to what they can and cannot say based on the rules of their respective guilds. One major accomplishment for the Latino community in the mix is the Warner Bros film Blue Beetle, directed by Angel Manuel Soto, written by Gareth Dunnet-Alcocer and featuring a largely Latino cast led by Cobra Kai star Xolo Maridueña. It hits theaters August 18.
Read the groups’ open letter in full below.
- We’ve invested in creative talent development and executive pipeline programs to prepare aspiring
creators and a new generation of business leaders to succeed across our industry. - We’ve created our own platforms to celebrate Latino excellence in media and honor work that uplifts
our communities. - We’ve served as cultural experts to studios, networks, and producers to ensure that their projects
authentically reflect our complex diversity. - We’ve pushed those in leadership to provide fair, adequate resources to our writers, directors, and
talent so they don’t encounter unnecessary barriers in bringing their stories to life. - We’ve insisted on better representation within existing narratives by calling out harmful and
dangerous stereotypes, and we’ve held studio leadership accountable when they make irresponsible
creative decisions that have serious real-world consequences.