The DGA Latino Committee (LC) hosted a reception and panel discussion entitled "Latina Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakthrough" on Monday, November 18, 2002. As director member and moderator Edward James Olmos (Jack and Marilyn, American Me) pointed out, "The primary purpose of the Committee is to explore how Latino artists can advance their careers, enhance their job opportunities in both the English and Spanish-speaking media, and improve their craft within the television and motion picture industry."
The panel was made up of seven seasoned Latina storytellers: Maria Jimenez Henley (AD/SM, LC Co-chair, AD/SM/PA council member), Betty Kaplan (director, writer), Linda Mendoza (director, writer), Sylvia Morales (director, writer, producer, editor), Elizabeth Peña (director, actor), Elena Santaballa (AD, LC Co-chair, AD/UPM/TC council member, 2002 DGA Negotiating Committee) and Gabriela Vazquez (AD, UPM, production supervisor).
The evening began with remarks by LC Co-chairs Joe Menendez and Jay Torres. Olmos introduced several video clips of the panel's work and each member discussed their material and the challenges they face in their film and television careers, including juggling work and family in a demanding industry, networking, landing a job and keeping it, what's important and what's not, getting the "green-light" and dealing with rejection.
