Article from ‘Backtage - The Actor’s Resource’

The link above includes the responses from several Latino actors and others in the film and television business for their thoughts on the industry — from obstacles and expectations through inspirations and successes and advice. What is interesting is how much their replies mirror some of the frustrations of people with disabilities in trying to get into film and television and reminds us that we have to ‘go beyond’ to make sure we are seen as professionals capable of playing an extensive breadth of characters and not just “disability” roles.

In particular, I would like to quote Yareli Arizmendi who has been in films such as A Day Without a Mexican, Fast Food Nation, Like Water for Chocolate and was a regular on ‘24′ as Karima Naiyeer, Reza’s mother, in Season 2.

“Not only have I been discounted, but worse: not even considered for a role I know I could have filled to the nines. In its search for efficiency, the Hollywood casting system — addicted to Breakdown Services and a factorylike production schedule — is by nature one that discounts actors by ethnicity, age, abilities or disabilities, gender — in short, everything tat makes up a person’s physical image. It takes a creative, not-so-incredibly-pressed-for-time casting director and/or agent to think outside the box, to give an actor a chance to show producers/directors an angle not yet discovered by the system. As an actor, one is responsible for finding 1,001 ways of showing all sides of yourself.”