Ben Lopez de Nalip
Ben López, executive director of The National Association of Latino Independent Producers (NALIP), announced during Starz’s Producing for television and building inclusivity panel #TaketheLead, that they partnered with Disney, Amblin Partners, Starz, and the MPA to launch the program of Latino Lens support: Producers Pipeline Incubator, designed to mold and nurture the next generation of executive producers.
“We have found that it is difficult for most of the people who work independently to enter the industry because, perhaps, they did not have a sponsor,” said López. “The main purpose is to empower those who are not at the level of internships and produce content, but have not been promoted.” Through the program, they have the opportunity to receive a paid training for six months and then match them with producers or specific units in the studios so that they have the opportunity to be seen and recognized.
Karen Bailey, EVP of Original Programming for Starz, and other speakers were also discussing the challenges and which path should be followed to improve the participation of all minorities in the industry.
Bailey said that in Starz the call has always been to represent the underrepresented in their programming. “When we are looking to tell stories that appeal to that demographic, we need to find people who have that experience to tell that story.” She also narrowed the need for talent exposure because for one of the shows, focused on female audiences, they needed female directors and there were very few to interview, she noted.
For López, people were required in the creative room, but also at the executive level. “Data was missing from many studies, and what we found came, obviously from the academic side, but now we can measure. We have metrics that we can hold people accountable,” said the executive. “We can see Latinos, who are 20% of the population,” but he pointed out that in key positions “we are less than 7% or 3-4% in many areas.”
He believes that in two years we will be able to see the difference in the number of people who will be decision-makers. He is emphatic on the importance of Latino executives in the industry and making them an important part of the conversation. “When you look at the Hispanic community in the US, Latin America, and Spain, you’re talking about even a bigger piece of the pie.”
However, for López when producers are adapting a show, they need to find someone who can write and make that authentic story and who knows that audience well. “I feel hopeful for the future, but there is a lot of work to do,” said López.
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