As Hispanic Heritage Month continues in the United States, a new report from the USC Annenberg Inclusion Initiative assesses the state of Hispanic and Latino representation in Hollywood’s top-grossing films.
The full study will be published next month, examining 1,600 of the top-grossing films released from 2007 to 2022 and more than 69,000 speaking characters, as well as qualitative data on how these Hispanic and Latino characters are represented in films, including including whether they “stereotype or stigmatize.” society. This is the third study examining Hispanic and Latino representation conducted by Initiative researchers led by founder Dr. Stacy L. Smith.
According to the report, Latino actors played just 10 lead or co-lead roles in the top 100 grossing films last year, and eight of those 10 roles went to actors of Latino descent. Over the course of 16 years of research, only 76 actors played leading or supporting roles (in 1,600 of the highest-grossing films); 44 were Hispanic/Latino; and five were Hispanic/Latino aged 45 years or older.
Overall, the study found that there were no significant changes in the prevalence of Latino symbols. In 2022, just 6% of speaking characters were Hispanic/Latino, which the researchers note is no different from the 3% found in 2007 but significantly underrepresents the largest ethnic group in the country. (According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the U.S. Hispanic population reached 63.7 million in 2022, representing 19.1% of the population.)
Of the few Latino characters appearing on screen in 2022, nearly 60% were men. This year saw the release of blockbusters such as Avatar: The Way of Water, Top Gun: Maverick and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, which respectively starred actors Zoe Saldaña, Danny Ramirez and Xochitl Gomez (pictured) . above) — as well as “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” which featured a number of Hispanic and Latino actors in its ensemble.
In addition to on-screen cases, the researchers also analyzed behind-the-camera roles. Their findings: “Hispanics/Latinos continued to be largely absent from directing and screenwriting roles among popular films, especially by Latino women and Latinos.”
Lead author of the study, Ariana Case, states, “The best films still do not reflect the stories of Hispanic and Latino communities in this country. Both behind the camera and on screen, the numbers reflect how few opportunities there are for Hispanic and Latino creatives to share their experiences and see themselves reflected on screen.”
While this report examines films from 2022, the results reflect the climate of 2023, where Latinos and other underrepresented and marginalized groups have been hit hard by historic strikes in Hollywood. In August, when actors were unable to promote projects due to the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike, 27 Latino organizations came together to support projects like DC Studios’ “Blue Beetle,” their first film starring a Latino superhero.
The USC Annenberg Inclusion Initiative study was supported by McDonald’s Spotlight Dorado, an initiative aimed at empowering Hispanics and Latinos in a variety of industries, starting with film. Their mission is to increase inclusivity and pave the way for these underrepresented stories and storytellers. McDonald’s US Chief Content and Culture Officer Ryan Worthy notes that the Initiative’s research was “an integral part of how we informed our efforts for Spotlight Dorado.”
Worthy adds, “We are excited to take our partnership to the next level to continue our shared mission of shining a light on the underrepresentation of Hispanics and Latinos while doing our part to give the community a voice and promote much-needed change. in branch”.
In 2022, McDonald’s launched the Spotlight Dorado short film competition, which aims to bridge the gap for aspiring filmmakers. The competition is free to enter, and selected directors receive a production budget of US$75,000 and receive mentorship from industry leaders including Anthony Ramos, Al Madrigal, Danay Garcia, Carlos Lopez Estrada and Nancy S. Mejia while filming their own projects. The 2023 finalists include Marissa Diaz (director of Fancy Flores’ Summer Holiday), Kriz Gauthier (Chimera), and Pablo Risgo (Cuando Volvimos a la Tierra). Their short films will premiere in November and the public will vote for their favorite.