Letter from the Editor

This week's issue is devoted to our first-ever Latino Report. I wish it were unnecessary to point out that the majority of Latino actors still face obstacles in the entertainment industry, but the reality is that much more is needed to bring about colorblindness when it comes to casting talent based on, well, talent.

I'd like to thank our excellent sources for this report, in particular our cover subjects Lupe Ontiveros, Oscar Nuñez, and Nadine Velazquez, whose open dialogue addresses so many great points about perseverance. I'd also like to thank the many actors who contributed quotes related to their experiences as Latinos in the industry. I found their comments refreshingly frank and direct. At the same time that there remain feelings of frustration at the treatment of Latino actors in the United States, part of the solution is the need for more Latino writers, directors, producers, and entertainment executives pushing projects forward that include Latino talent. As Nuñez, Ontiveros, and countless others are doing, stepping behind the camera or backstage to have a pivotal voice in content being created is critical to overcoming the racial barriers that continue to exist. Also needed are more casting directors and those who have a hand in selecting the cast to have a more open mind when it comes to casting Latinos -- and other minorities -- in roles that are not race-specific.

I hope you also find our articles on bilingual actors, telenovelas, and the current state of Mexican cinema to be insightful. And if you would like to contribute to the dialogue on any of these topics, please write to us at [email protected]. As always, we'd love to run your letters and comments in a future issue.

-- Jamie Painter Young, National Editor-in-Chief