27 Latino Organizations Unite in Support for ‘Blue Beetle’ During Hollywood Strikes

Latinos were optimistic about making a great stride in representation in the summer box office season with films like Blue Beetle, the first superhero movie directed and written by and starring Latinos. However, writers and actors arent able to promote their projects during the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes, as guild members advocate for new contracts. So multiple Latino organizations have united and signed an open letter calling on the community to amplify the work that countless Latino artists have worked so hard to create.

Signed by 27 Latino Hollywood orgs such as the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (CHCI), LA Collab, Latino Film Institute, National Association of Latino Independent Producers (NALIP) and the National Hispanic Media Coalition (NHMC) the letter is a call to action with the hashtag #SupportLatinoCreatives proposed to back the creatives and their stories.

Stories are more than entertainment, the letter begins. They are a powerful tool for social change that fuels our collective movement to build a more equitable, just world for those who have been historically underrepresented and marginalized. Actors, writers, and directors are essential to this work. As we watch them do what they do best, we are reminded that their art influences how people think and feel about our communities both at home and abroad. While were encouraged by some of the changes we have seen in recent years, we continue to deal with the repercussions from years of being actively erased and invisible on screen.

In a Variety interview, Blue Beetle director ngel Manuel Soto expressed his understanding of the strikes and how they can affect the films performance, especially without the help of his cast, including breakout sensation Xolo Mariduea, George Lopez and Oscar nominee Adriana Barraza. We want the movie to succeed, he said. But I also want my actors and writers to be treated as they should. If that happens, well have more stories like this. Things that are often deemed impossible are not.

In a 2021 study by USC Annenberg that looked at over 1,300 films over a 13-year timeframe, only 5% of 51,158 characters identified were Hispanic or Latino.

In the letter, which highlights the decades of work the organizations have advocated, including talent development, serving as cultural experts, and pushing for fair and adequate resources for creatives, it acknowledges the work is far from over.

Actors and writers deserve a deal that protects their work and livelihoods, so we will continue to support them as they fight for better treatment and fair compensation. And since we represent a rapidly growing demographic with tremendous influence over the global cultural landscape, we also remain dedicated to recognizing and celebrating their artistic excellence and its invaluable role in reflecting our community and culture on screen. For the sake of current and future generations of Latinos, we will not delay our progress any longer. We invite you to join us in our effort to amplify the work that countless Latino artists have worked so hard to create. Its important that we show up for them at a time when they are not able to promote their projects, the letter says.

Other films with Latino talent set to open this year include Amazons Cassandro with Gael Garcia Bernal and Raul Castillo, Lionsgates The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds Snakes with Rachel Zegler and Netflixs Rustin with Colman Domingo.

The letter concludes: Our stories are universal and need to be told. Together, we must continue to advocate for a more equitable and inclusive industry, one that respects and honors our storytellers and stories.

The letter with the list of orgs is below. Blue Beetle opens in theaters on Aug. 18.

An open letter from Latino leaders

Stories are more than entertainment. They are a powerful tool for social change that fuels our collective movement to build a more equitable, just world for those who have been historically underrepresented and marginalized.

Actors, writers, and directors are essential to this work. As we watch them do what they do best, we are reminded that their art influences how people think and feel about our communities both at home and abroad. While were encouraged by some of the changes we have seen in recent years, we continue to deal with the repercussions from years of being actively erased and invisible on screen.

For decades, our network of organizations has advocated for more authentic, inclusive representation of the Latino community in film and television, both in front and behind the camera. Weve invested in creative talent development and executive pipeline programs to prepare aspiring creators and a new generation of business leaders to succeed across our industry. Weve created our own platforms to celebrate Latino excellence in media and honor work that uplifts our communities.

Weve served as cultural experts to studios, networks, and producers to ensure that their projects authentically reflect our complex diversity.Weve pushed those in leadership to provide fair, adequate resources to our writers, directors, and talent so they dont encounter unnecessary barriers in bringing their stories to life. Weve insisted on better representation within existing narratives by calling out harmful and dangerous stereotypes, and weve held studio leadership accountable when they make irresponsible creative decisions that have serious real-world consequences. Its clear that we still have a long way to go, but were proud of our Latino creatives who are elevating our humanity and moving culture forward through their work.

We were particularly optimistic about this summer. We were approaching a critical turning point for Latino representation as we saw the return of some of our favorite shows and characters, the launch of exciting new series, and prepared for a groundbreaking moment on the big screen the first superhero movie directed, written, and starring Latinos. We were hopeful that our long overdue cultural moment had finally arrived.

And now we are confronted with this pivotal moment across the media industry; a double strike that will have a significantly disproportionate impact on artists from underrepresented communities.

Actors and writers deserve a deal that protects their work and livelihoods, so we will continue to support them as they fight for better treatment and fair compensation. And since we represent a rapidly growing demographic with tremendous influence over the global cultural landscape, we also remain dedicated to recognizing and celebrating their artistic excellence and its invaluable role in reflecting our community and culture on screen.

For the sake of current and future generations of Latinos, we will not delay our progress any longer. We invite you to join us in our effort to amplify the work that countless Latino artists have worked so hard to create. Its important that we show up for them at a time when they are not able to promote their projects.

Our stories are universal and need to be told. Together, we must continue to advocate for a more equitable and inclusive industry, one that respects and honors our storytellers and stories.

Together in the movement,

Acevedo Foundation

Alliance of Latinx Executives

Avenida Productions

Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (CHCI)

Friends of the National Museum of the American Latino

Hispanic Association on Corporate Responsibility (HACR)

Hispanic Coalition of Small Business (HCSB)

Hispanic Federation

Hispanic Heritage Foundation

LA Collab

Latin Heat

Latino Community Foundation

Latino Film Institute

Latino Filmmakers Network

Latino Slant

LTX Connect

Luz Media

National Association of Latino Independent Producers (NALIP)

National Hispanic Foundation for the Arts

National Hispanic Media Coalition (NHMC)

New York Latino Film Festival (NYLFF)

Nosotros

Poderistas

The Latinx House

UnidosUS

Voto Latino

We Are All Human