We activists are fond of
saying, “If you’re not part of the solution, you’re part of the problem, and when
it comes to the representation of Latinos in popular entertainment, the problem remains huge in 2013.
Look no further than this
past Sunday’s Oscar telecast. In
addition to overlooking prolific and gifted actress Lupe Ontiveros in the
memoriam segment, Seth McFarlane’s “joke” about no one understanding nor caring
what Javier Bardem, Penelope Cruz or Salma Hayek says because they’re so hot
had a dissertation full of fail. For example, Zoe Saldana – who co-presented earlier a technical award with former co-star Chris Pine a technical award doesn’t
count as a Latina because… what exactly? She’s Black? She’s not hot? She
doesn’t have an accent? Or is she not
hot because she’s Black? Because she’s doesn't have an accent? Or because she's Black and doesn't have an accent?
See… layers upon layers of failure. And let’s not forget the enduring and complex politics of casting most recently exemplified and further complicated by this year’s Best Picture ARGO. These are only three examples of how little Latinos have come in fourteen years since the so-called Latin Pop Explosion.
See… layers upon layers of failure. And let’s not forget the enduring and complex politics of casting most recently exemplified and further complicated by this year’s Best Picture ARGO. These are only three examples of how little Latinos have come in fourteen years since the so-called Latin Pop Explosion.
 |
| Lupe Ontiveros, 1942 - 2012 |
One way to be part of the
solution is to seize control of our own images and independently produce media
with whatever technology, capital, talent and other resources we have
available. For two seasons, producers Jenny
L. Saldaña and Linda
Nieves-Powell did that with the web series Happy Cancer Chick. Read on in this
third of three installments to discover how they exemplified another saying by
inspirational writer Orison Swett Marden: Don't wait for
extraordinary opportunities. Seize common occasions and make them great!"
SQ: Before HCC, Linda, you were well-known for theater and your novel Freestyle.
What made you decide to realize this concept as a web series instead of, for
example, a play such as YO
SOY LATINA?
LNP:
I
love writing. Period. I don't stay in one place for too long. My first short story, The Fly Ass Puerto
Rican Girl from the Stapleton Projects was just published in the Akashic Books
anthology, Staten Island Noir. I love
to try new things and I'm not afraid of the learning curve when doing so. I really wanted to try this out and now that
I have, I think I'll produce more
SQ: With two seasons under
your belt, what advice do you have to others who may have an idea for a web
series?
LNP:
Writing, whether it's on the web or TV or the stage is still key
to a successful show. Writing is the
blueprint. If it doesn't work on paper,
it won't work at all. Season 2 I actually got hung up on this a lot. I threw out a lot of ideas before finally
feeling that the current format would be the best format to use. I watch a variety of different webseries,
some feature great actors, great writing, most have great intentions, but a lot
are trying to mimic TV. My favorite
webseries is THE GUILD. It's done really well and the content is
perfect for the medium and demographic.
There are other series like THE
MISADVENTURES OF AWKWARD BLACK GIRL, that are about funny moments and less
about story arc. I think ABG structure
is a great format for the web. This
isn't always easy. I'm story driven. So
for me, I have to learn to keep it shorter and sweeter but still have a great
beginning, middle, and end. I find that
the ABG series is more about that moment.
I like that. But I can't write
like that. My brain doesn't function in
moments. I need connect ideas and
themes. Stories have to be bigger for
me. So fitting my writing sensibilities
into this tiny, quick format, requires me to build new skills and create ideas
that will fit this format. My overall
advice is do it. Just do it. You won't know until you try. And don't be afraid of the unions like SAG/AFTRA or WGA. Jenny and I were able to become members of
the Writer's Guild Of America because of this series and several of our actors
were able to join SAG through our little project.
JLS: I think we've
said all we've wanted to say with HCC. For right now the HCC is going to bed.
I'm working on a book of short stories, and am really enjoying that process of
reliving some of my college antics.
LNP: Yes, we decided that we
said everything we wanted to say about HCC for now. If someone came along with an idea for future
episodes, I'd think about it. For now, I've been developing a few projects the
last few months, one for the stage and a few screenplays. As for the web, I have a couple of ideas I'm
developing. One is very close to being
finished. Now that I know the medium a little better I want to try a few
things. I find that I can now play in
two worlds instead of one. The web (new
format) and the real world (traditional format).
Here are Parts I
and II
of my Q & A with the fierce women behind Happy Cancer Chick. In the
meantime, you can check out all five webisodes here and
on Facebook. And by
all means, comment and share!
