Category: Latinos in film

Anna Ortiz, Chingonas, Dania Ramirez, Devious Maids, Eva Longoria, Judy Reyes, Latino culture, Latinos in film, Lifetime, Marc Cherry, Rosalyn Sanchez

Five Reasons to Like "Devious Maids"

Mona Alvarado Frazier



A television series with Latina’s in the main roles has stoked some strident controversy. The new Eva Longoria production, Devious Maids, written by Marc Cherry have inspired comments on HuffPost and Twitter ranging from “…a wasted opportunity…” to “sell-out,” and “haters.”  

danielsden247.com
Chingaó, (‘damn it’) what a lot of ruido (noise). But, you know, it’s good ruido, healthy. 

I have to admit, that when I first heard of the upcoming program (when ABC was considering it) I immediately thought of the late great Lupe Ontiveros who was often cast as a stereotypical maid, a lá Rosalita in Goonies. Second thought, this better not be another caricature of Latinas. Thirdly, when will film depict Latinas in roles that are multifaceted and realistic for most of us? 

The answer to the third thought: we have to write our own stories and support making these films (like Bless Me Ultima, Cesar Chavez film, and others that were crowd funded). 

But back to Devious Maids (DM). Tonight I found the pilot episode of DM on Lifetime On Demand channel-it debuts on June 23, 2013. I wanted to know what ‘side’ of the triangle I would be on: boycott, embrace, ignore.

Okay, only one way to decide. Watch the show and make up my own mind.

The five maids:

  • Zoila (Judy Reyes-Scrubs) is a caring mother raising a teenaged daughter, (Edy Ganem) Valentina. They both work for Mrs. Delatour  (Susan Lucci), who attempted suicide because her young pool boy amour wouldn’t introduce her to his friends because she’s “…over 40.” Her son, Remi Delatour, moves back in to help his mother. Valentina falls in love with him. “Rich boys don’t marry their maids,” Zoila says.
  • Marisol (Anna Ortiz-Ugly Betty) “…doesn’t have an accent, she sounds like she went to college…has attitude,” whines the new trophy wife Mrs. Stafford. Marisol is assertive, pragmatic, and carries a secret.
  • Carmen (Rosalyn Sanchez-Rush Hour 2) is a “…pretty girl with an agenda,” one titled, “I’m going to be a Superstar.” Confident, self-assured, a little manipulative, she works on staff for Alejandro, a famous Latino singer.
  •  Rosie (Dania Ramirez-Heroes) is a maid and a nanny. She cares for her boss’s baby while missing the young son she left behind in Mexico. She hires an immigration lawyer. Her phone call with her son is especially moving and well-acted.

So far, the women seem like chingona’s, in their workplace and in personality.                                                                               

This is what I liked about Devious Maids (DM’s):   
  1. The premier episode had an intriguing beginning (a murder) sets up the ‘whodunnit’ question. One of the DM’s will investigate the murder.
  2. The DM’s were varied, without falling back on stereotypical Latino cartoony characters. No Gloria Delgado-Pritchett (Sofia Vergara) accents.
  3. Issues of rich vs. poor, prejudice, class distinctions, immigration, sexism, infidelity (I could go on, this is just a taste) are presented.
  4. Their names are other than Maria or Lupe, and there are no exaggerated mannerisms for comic effect.
  5.   There are some very funny scenes along with a couple of poignant moments.

To be fair, I didn’t like a few things either:
  1. The clothes the maids wear to clean house are ones I’d go out for coffee in: nice jeans, wedge sandals, blouse and cardigan.
  2. All of them are skinny, and under 40 (except for Judy Reyes, but she looks -40). Where are the curves?
  3. The maids look homogenous: morena, brunettes, petite. Where are the rubias, the Afro-Cubans, the indias? 
  4.  The maids employers are caricatures: rich, white, (except Alejandro), entitled.
  5. The glamor shots of the maids at the beginning of the show. It’s so 2005, as in Desperate Housewives, and its spawn, Real Housewives of Orange County, Beverly Hills…Do something fresh, get more creative.

I follow a few television series: The Big Bang Theory (I love nerds), Grey’s Anatomy, Downton Abbey, Call the Midwife, and Mad Men. They all peek into the lives of people very different from me and my upbringing, but I find their stories fascinating.

I can’t say I’ll be a follower of Devious Maids, I don’t know yet. From this first episode I can say that I’m interested in hearing the stories about the lives of these Latina characters. It will be an episode by episode kind of thing before I can say I’m a fan but I’ll be watching-at least the second episode. 


Art, Chingonas, Dreamers, Faith, Film, Homeless kids, Inocente, Kickstarter, Latinos in film, Parenting, Strong Women

Homeless at 9, Artist at 15

Mona Alvarado Frazier


1 in 45 Kids is homeless in the U.S.
What can you do for 1?

This is Inocente…

“In San Diego, a young teenage girl’s eyes stare into a compact mirror. She paints a dramatic black swirl around her eye. She never knows what her day will bring, but she knows at least it will always begin with paint.”

Inocente has been homeless since she was nine, along with three siblings and her mother. After escaping physical violence, she found shelters, but despair took its toll. Her mother took her up to the S.D. bridge where she told her and her siblings to jump with her. Inocente stopped her mother.

An award winning film documentary, of the same name, illustrates her rocky journey from violence, instability and despair to her dream of becoming an artist. Inocente tells you how it feels to be homeless, the conflicts, her fears, her hopes, and her art. 

But, there is a rock in the road. Although the documentary won awards the producers need more funds for community screenings, marketing, making free downloadable companion curricula for teachers and creating an arts workshop template for community organizations.

Homelessness among children contributes to juvenile and adult crime. We know that poorer children and teens are also at greater risk for several negative outcomes such as poor academic achievement, school dropout, abuse and neglect, behavioral and socio-emotional problems, physical health problems, and developmental delays. 

What can we do to help one kid, two, possibly more? 

The directors have placed their film project up on Kickstarter. It’s a fundraising site. Inocente is described as “Neither sentimental nor sensational, INOCENTE will immerse you in the very real, day-to-day existence of a young girl who is battling a war that we never see. This film will usher you into the secret life she returns to at the end of every day…”

The challenges are staggering, but the hope in Inocente’s story proves that her circumstances do not define her–her dreams do.

                                                                         


“I have a lot of impossible dreams, but I still dream them…I don’t know if I’m a strong person…”


Yes, I’d say she’s epitomizes a strong young woman. 

Inocente’s story has resonated with me and I hope it touches you. Her story is the story of thousands of kids who had hope and who dreamed. Some made it and some did not. I hope and pray that Inocente and her family makes it out of shelters into a home of their own and that her art and stories make it into galleries and the film watching world.  

Just so you know where your $10 ( or more) donation goes to:


“Shine Global is a 501(c)3 non-profit film production company dedicated to making films and other media aimed at raising awareness, inspiring action, and promoting change. All contributions to this project are tax deductible through Shine Global and will go to finishing INOCENTE. All profits Shine’s films make are returned to the children we document through partner organizations working on the ground.”

My hope is for Inocente’s film to be funded and spread far and wide. I’ll be on the lookout for her gallery showings. Follow  the Facebook page.

     Art inspires, so does compassion. I hope you are moved by Inocente’s story. 

Update:

 Inocente’s story has 14 days before funding closes (July 21st) and they are 50% to their goal. You can donate $, blog, or tweet any of these (or your own):

  @Inocentedoc exposes issues of immigration, youth homelessness, & arts edu in a touching story. Show support http://kck.st/My0yEZ
 @Inocentedoc exposes the issue of teen homelessness in a meaningful film. Support the story & cause on #kickstarter http://kck.st/My0yEZ
 Homeless but determined 15 yr. old artist Inocente defies her circumstances in @inocentedoc http://kck.st/My0yEZ