An All-Latino Cast? Hollywood Passed, but ‘El Chicano’ Is Coming

If there is a under-represented group in American films, it is Latinos. I may be wrong but they seem to be the largest "ethnic" group in our country yet there are very few U.S.- made movies made from their point of view. Do you hear me, Hollywood?

Mexico and Canada, united by a common enemy.

Hey Hollywood: I got my big boy pants years ago. I can handle watching a movie without needing some executive to swoop in and force a gratuitous token-white-guy character into the script just to coddle my supposed identity needs. I know perfectly well that there are nonwhite neighborhoods in our country. I'm not too fragile to watch a movie about one without adding some sort of white safety blanket, and really, I take it as a bit insulting that some studio exec takes it for granted that I need such a thing. I'm white skinned, not thin skinned. Thanks!

Anyone wonder why, if diversity is so great, that different groups want to live together, make movies together, write books about their own culture? Why do we need an all Hispanic movie, or all black or white movie. If we are truly diverse and integrated, why all the demand for 'movies about me?' Yes, historically, most movies out of Hollywood were made with white actors. But that hasn't been true for some time. I see TV and movies with Hispanics, blacks, 'non-Hispanic' whites, etc. All in the same movie. I understand pride on one's heritage and maybe that's what all this is about. Just really tired of identity politics throughout everyday life and commentary. Enough.

I’m not a flying superheroes movie fan (although I recall Iron Man as being fun) but I’m hoping the Batman of the barrio makes it down here. Glad the auteurs persevered. Felicidades.

This is very exciting. I don't go for these shoot em' up movies so I probably won't see it but LOTS of people do. I believe their persistence will pay off. The large Latino populations in this country should come out in full force - especially the young people. Good Luck!

I want to see the film!!! But I live in Seattle---- when will it be shown here?

Latinos make up 18 percent of the U.S. population and are the largest minority group in the country. They are also very young with a median age of 26 and in their prime child bearing years. Latinos are expected to grow to 20 percent of the population in a short time and then a quarter. And they are the most avid moviegoers of any ethnic group--why? See median age. Hollywood will tap into these stories if for the market alone but it doesn't know how and is afraid. Filmmakers like Ben Hernandez Bray are breaking that ground. Yes, an all Latino cast reflects an all Latino neighborhood, in a majority Latino city. As Chris Rock once said, "You're in L.A, you've got to try not to hire Mexicans."

Hey! Still waiting for a great movie about Latinos in the US. Trailer shows that the movie will have the same male-centric aspect with heavy on the car chases/violence/gore themes of so many mainstream movies. And no diversity! What’s with that? But glad they got it financed.

The fact that there are comments having a problem with this movie being an all-Latino cast only confirms the problem is very real. The fact that an all-Latino cast was a non-negotiable does not mean it's against diversity and certainly it does not imply that diversity means "non-white". The reason why an all-Latino cast was a non-negotiable is because we need this. It shows that any role and any position can be played by a Latino. In this case you can be the hero, you can be the old wise man, you can be the bad guy, you can be the good guy, etc. You can be a Latino actor that can play any role, not just the funny latino character with an exaggerated latino accent that everybody makes fun of or dies in the first hour of a "white" movie. There are many examples of role models for white people, nobody is saying white people are bad, nobody is asking for white people to stop doing movies or having role models, you need them too. It's just that the Latino community needs this. When they pitched their project they were asked for "Caucasian influence". They were not asked for black or asian or "middle-east" influence, they specifically asked for white characters. That tells a lot. Doing an all-Latino cast is not a statement against white or black or any other race. It's not about the others, it's about us, we need this.

Congratulations to the filmmakers. Bravo Canada! I can't wait to see it!

Will this movie create a "bankable" actor who can provide the assurance that millions will come out for that actor? Having a diverse group of bankable actors should help reduce the silly barrier the risk-averse greenlighters hold up.

"having an all-Latino cast was nonnegotiable." Good, fine - people should absolutely be able to tell the stories they want to tell. And yet they complain to the Hollywood Diversity Report about being asked to (god forbid) *diversify* their cast! There is nothing racially "diverse" about a group of people from the same ethnic/racial background. Simply not being white doesn't make you diverse. Diversity refers to a mixture, a variety. This is a serious bait-and-switch on a societal level. We're constantly told that Diversity is essential, it's critical to a healthy society because (as they explain) the cross-cultural exchanges of ideas strengthens us all. Ok fine, maybe there's something to that. But then once every school, corporation, and government agency has all subscribed to the "Diversity is Great" mantra they change the meaning: now it just means non-white.