Imagen Honours: Helen Hernandez Talks about Hollywood Latinos' Progress (Q&A)

The 26th annual Imagen Honours, which happens Friday, August. 12 in the Beverly Hilton Hotel, honors positive portrayals of Latinos in film and tv. Just just before the ceremony, Helen Hernandez, who co-founded the Imagen Foundation with Norman Lear in 1985, talked using the Hollywood Reporter concerning the progress of Latinos and describes why the entertainment industry must market more to that particular demographic. The Hollywood Reporter: What recent film or Television show makes probably the most effect on you this season? Helen Hernandez: Probably the most impactful movie I saw, An Attractive Existence, wasn't even nominated to have an Imagen Award. An Attractive Existence attempts to create an awareness from the problem of immigration and also the impact particularly on Central American and Mexican immigrants. All they need would be to make a living for his or her families. They are not requesting other things. I love to help remind people who you usually visit a Latino immigrant selling oranges, selling cherries, selling flowers - you won't ever discover their whereabouts pleading. Our community includes a strong work ethic. An Attractive Existence really impresses upon the significance and worth of what our community gives america. THR:Why wasn't it nominated? Hernandez: You will find there's very specific entry process. Individuals have to submit to be able to be looked at. We would like everyone to submit but when they not - you will know saying, you are able to lead a equine to water however, you can't make sure they are drink? Consider the movies which were posted - From Prada to Nada, Gun Hill Road - the company directors of individuals films were qualified, too, they are Latino, but for reasons uknown, they chose to not submit, either. THR: Would you send memory joggers it's time for records? Hernandez: Obviously. We sort out the systems we sort out the development companies. Honestly, I believe lots of occasions it has related to the talent representation. The majority of the talent representation is not Latino. They just don't comprehend the Latino market or even the Latino community so I'm not sure when they place the value on (an Imagen Award) they should. They have to. My mantra nowadays is the fact that we're 1 in 6 - 1 in 6 people residing in america are Latino. It's within the welfare from the entertainment industry to understand this. They might want to take a look at marketing more to Latinos because we will function as the market for the future. THR: How does one rate a year ago when it comes to supplying projects or visibility for Hispanics in the market? Hernandez:It simply keeps improving. Roles for Latinos aren't limited to gang people or drug sellers any longer we are seeing increasingly more ensemble casts on primetime and films which are being created concerning the Latino experience. Shall we be where you want to be? Not. Shall we be on our way? Absolutely. THR:How has got the business transformed because the Imagens first began 26 years back? Hernandez:We now have more Latinos professionals in decision-making positions, you will find more producers, you will find there's couple of showrunners - although not as much as we want. One sector that we are still missing was authors. To have the ability to produce a program that's concerning the Latino community, you will need to have people who be aware of experience to be able to have the ability to talk about it. THR: Exist authors available who're simply not obtaining the chance? Hernandez:Absolutely. THR:How's that situation transformed? Hernandez:Let me let the production companies and also the systems to begin searching for more Latinos authors. We certainly can be quite useful for the reason that area. Fox, ABC, CBS, NBC - every one has authors programs. Many of them are made to give people an chance. I understand several people who were within the ABC Authors Program - who have been suggested by Imagen incidentally - who're now staff authors. The systems may need to look at their very own programs to be able to discover the authors they require because they are being mentored through the authors inside their own system. THR:Just how can the Imagen Foundation help? Hernandez: We are able to help identify the quality of authors they require for primetime, be it on cable or network. THR: What will get you out of trouble of mattress each morning? Hernandez: My life's work happens to be to try and really make a difference. Dealing with people cooperatively to really make a difference for the community but for the industry too, that is what drives me. I do not do that for the money. Anyone who knows me recognizes that we are extremely middle-class. We are not wealthy but I've been very, very wealthy within the possibilities that I've been given. Related Subjects