December 7, 2021
Los Angeles – The Directors Guild of America on Saturday, December 4 held a virtual Summit examining the underrepresentation of Latino voices in film and television, the many factors feeding into the issue, and potential solutions. Hosted by the DGA Latino Committee, over 100 members and industry decision-makers attended the event.
“The chronic lack of inclusion by the studios and networks is something our Guild has been fighting against for a very long time, as we’ve pushed for meaningful change,” said DGA President Lesli Linka Glatter in her opening remarks. “It’s mind-boggling to think that despite such a high Latino population in this country, especially here in the industry’s home of Los Angeles, that so many of the gatekeepers continue to bury their heads in the sand on this issue. Last season, our annual inclusion report found that just 7% of dramatic TV episodes were directed by Latinos – that number has barely changed over the years. And while our panelists today will take a deep dive into the many factors and potential solutions to this injustice, there are some things we know are NOT a factor – like talent and compelling stories. There is certainly no lack of either across this vibrant, multi-faceted community, as evidenced by all the compelling work of our Latino members.”
The day included two key panels, followed by a networking mixer where members had one-on-one sessions with studio executives, producers and agents. For in-depth details on the day’s remarks and panel discussions, as well as images from the Summit, click here.
The first panel, DGA Latino Roadmap to Inclusion, was a solutions-based conversation with industry decision-makers to address concerns and create pathways to employment for Latino members. Panelists included:
- Jeffrey Clifford – President, Heyday Films
- Daniela Federman – Agent, WME
- Roberto Patino – Executive Producer, DMZ
- Moderated by: Director and DGA Latino Committee Co-Chair Edward Ornelas (Promised Land)
In the second panel, Increasing Latino Visibility, industry professionals discussed their observations and insights regarding the lack of Latino representation in mainstream media. Panelists included:
- Carlos Aguilar – Journalist: LA Times, The Wrap, Indie Wire
- Jon Cassir – Agent, CAA
- Lorenza Muñoz – Sr. Executive, Amazon Studios
- Dr. Ana-Christina Ramón – Director of Research & Civic Engagement, UCLA
- Moderated by: Director Patricia Riggen (Dopesick)
The Summit was sponsored by the DGA’s Latino Committee – which is dedicated to empowering Latinos in all Guild categories – as well as its Career Advancement Sub-Committee.