By: Joseph R. Castel
Photos by Daniel P’Lopez
At the end of June, the National Association of Latino Independent Producers (NALIP) held their annual Media Summit, celebrating its 25th Anniversary at the upscale Neuehouse in Hollywood. The conference concluded with a red-carpet event featuring star power attendees such as Edward James Olmos, Jay Hernandez and Dolores Huerta. In a nutshell, NALIP is an organization made of Latino professionals that work to help bring Latino stories to the silver, TV, and streaming screens. Made up of actors, filmmakers, producers, and writers, the organization offers the Latinx community invaluable access to resources and networking events.
This year, one of the Summit workshops focused on LGBTQ stories. A panel made up of LGBT filmmakers and actors proved to be very illuminating as they discussed being their authentic selves in an industry that relies on stereotypes and worn-out formulas. Filmmakers River Gallo (Poniboy) and Aitch Alberto (Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe) discussed how they broke into the industry with their films.
Alberto’s account was particularly engaging as she had written a spec script (meaning she wrote it without being asked or getting paid up front) for the coming-of-queer-age-story based on the best-selling novel, Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe, by Benjamin Alire Saenz. The story centers on a Mexican American teenage boy from Texas who falls in love with his best friend, who is straight.
Alberto did not own the rights to the novel, but convinced the author to take a risk on her profound adapted screenplay. With sheer tenacity, Alberto also pitched her unsolicited script to actor/producer/director Lin-Manuel Miranda of Hamilton fame. And with Miranda’s support, she was able to obtain funding for her first feature film. Alberto had only a few short films under her belt before taking the helm of this indie film that has gone on to critical acclaim. Alberto and Gallo are two trans women directors who have made waves in the film industry with their LGBT stories, but they are not the only trans women kicking down studio doors in the name of queer inclusion and diversity.
Casting director Candido Cornejo Jr. is a Latinx trans casting professional with over 14 years of experience in the entertainment industry with such prominent credits that includes ‘The Hatfields & McCoys’, the Freeform hit show ‘The Fosters’, and the more recent production of ‘Zoot Suit’ for the Center Theatre Group. Cornejo led the NALIP workshop discussion on “Preparing for Agents and Managers.” The screening room was an overflow of anxious Latinx actors, writers, and filmmakers all looking for sage advice in how to obtain representation from the panel made up of literary agents and casting directors, who were also Latino.
A strong advocate for diversity and inclusion, Cornejo commented on how stories about Latinos and LGBT people are being lost because we are not well represented in the industry. “Coming together as a community is incredibly important because not only is our industry changing rapidly, but so are all the generations of people around us. We have various diversities amongst us Latinx people, and some are sadly dying out,” said Cornejo. “We are here as a reminder. I’m a member of the Tlaxcalteca and Pipil people and I’m fortunate to speak some words of our native languages, but most of it, including our dances and practices, died with my grandparents. It’s through storytelling that we keep our cultures alive, and what better avenue to tell them than through Hollywood?”
Actress Laura Lopez, attended her first NALIP Summit and found the event to be inspiring and encouraging. “As an actor it’s easy to get into your head and question if there’s even a place for you in this industry. But being around so many talented artists and having experienced the warmth of this Latino community, and being so far away from home, was definitely something that I am very grateful for,” explained Lopez. Originally from Venezuela, the aspiring actress moved to North Carolina only four years ago, but has already been cast in three films (including a Lifetime movie), and she just moved to Hollywood last May.
Referencing testimonies from the Latinx panel, Lopez, who looks like a 25-year-old Salma Hayek, explained, “I’m motivated from the panel’s personal stories and their accomplishments. I aspire one day to be in their position and be able to inspire a young actor sitting on the other side just like me and to keep going and never give up. As Latinos, we have incredible things to offer and it’s time to share our beautiful culture with the world.”
The real question is, does NALIP really work for those seeking access to the entertainment industry? Summit panelist Debby Wolfe, showrunner for the NBC sitcom Lopez vs Lopez, confirms that it does. According to Wolfe, NALIP has always been a supporter of her writing. “I got to do a workshop with them, and 20 years later, I’m here doing a panel for a show that I’m running.”
“NALIP’s dedication to fostering diverse voices has resulted in notable achievements,” added NALIP’s Executive Director, Diana Luna. “Our programs provide essential pathways to career advancement, including mentorship, access to funding, and distribution channels,”
Cornejo concluded, “I stand here at NALIP as a speaker, in my ribbon skirt proudly representing my indigenous and my 2 Spirit Relatives, showcasing to all these filmmakers and storytellers that our stories still matter; our people matter, our history matters. I’m thankful Diana and NALIP still see the importance of that. We are not just filmmakers, we are the original story tellers of this land.”
For more info on how to join NALIP, visit https://www.nalip.org