On November 20, the Latino Committee (LC) meeting featured the discussion, The Business of Being a Filmmaker with Julian Franco. During a discussion moderated by Director/LC Co-Chair Jay Torres, Fox Entertainment’s President of Strategy and Operations Julian Franco shared strategies for Directors navigating the studio system including tips on building invaluable connections and how to understand the unique dynamics of studios versus streamers. Franco also dove into the role of diverse voices in shaping the industry’s future and discussed how Directors can leverage their craft to connect with audiences, drive social impact, and inspire change.
On changing the perception of Latinos in the film industry, Franco said, “With diversity, you want to always be aware of it. Part of it is finding a way to amplify Latino voices and making sure underrepresented demographics have an equal shot at telling their stories.”
He also noted that inclusive hiring means you can’t always hire the ‘most experienced’ person, or you will likely be giving every job to a straight white male in their 60s or 70s who have historically been given the most opportunities, but rather, approaching hiring inclusively begins with “which voice do we think is best for this?” while factoring in work experience to determine who is best for the job.
ABOUT THE COMMITTEE:
The Latino Committee was created as a networking group to advance career and job opportunities for Latino DGA members by improving craft skills, networking, and making Latinos better known to the Hollywood creative community.