I'd like to share my experience at the HBO Present NYILFF Panel Discussion – From Hip Hop to the Silver Screens
– Moderated by Martha Diaz, Professor of Hip-Hop studies at NYC and Speakers-Actress
Gina Rodriquez, Casting Director/Director Ulysses Terrero and Hip-Hop Legendary Bobbito Garcia discussed how
hip hop culture, it’s music, aesthetics and issues are portrayed on the silver
screen and the ways it has influenced film and vice-versa, spawning a new genre
of film and storytelling. There’s
no doubt about it, the entertainment industry has changed and the common thread
for all three Panelist was, they did it for the love of the art.
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| Moderator Martha Diaz with Actress Gina Rodriquez |
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| Actress Gina Rodriquez*Casting Director/Director Ulysses Terrero*Hip-Hop Legendary Bobbito Garcia |
Casting
Director, Ulysses Terrero shared his experience stating, “In the beginning, I
started out as a Extra’s Casting director for films and someone came up to me
and asked if I wanted to do a Tim Dog music video and I was like Hell Yea! Jumped
on it for FREE!” He then asked others to join him, being on the set for 20 hours
just for the pure love of the music and creative process. He continued to express how much the
industry has changed from the Video Music Box days. Ulysses said, “It literally
went from doing it for free to getting $50…$500…$1000 for the videos which was
cool because at that point he was to be able pay other people to do what they
love. But these days, it’s become
a business. Going from paying
thousands for videos, to paying ONE girl $10 Grand to be in the video.” For
the most part, what your seeing in hip hop videos is an Entrepreneurs lifestyle.
He also expressed how he was always conscious of doing music videos that has a
storyline and artistic point of view, not just hot chicks in bikinis. He
stated, “I did one bad video that
no one seems to forget.” Now, as a Father of his daughter he continues to keep
that in mind when in the creative process of his next project and wants to
contribute to liberating the stigma portrayed for Latinos seen on videos, TV
and film today.
Check
out his website http://www.ulyssesterrero.com for his latest work and for all you aspiring
actors, become a member on his casting site http://casting.ulyssesterrero.com
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| Me & Ulysses Terrero |
Actress,
Gina Rodriquez who is now enjoying her rapid success of her recent film “Filly
Brown”, where she plays her breakout role in the story of Maria Jose “Majo”
Tonorio, a.k.a. Filly Brown, a young Los Angeles hip-hop artist who spits from
the heart. When a sleazy record producer offers her a crack at rap stardom, she
faces some tough choices. For one, with an incarcerated mother, a record
contract could be the ticket out for Filly’s struggling family. But taking the
deal could also mean selling out her talent, not to mention her only true
friends that helped her to the cusp of success. This role was perfect for her, in that it related to
the issues in her own life. It’s obvious she’s passionate and enthusiastic about
making a difference in changing the dishonor of how Latinos are seen today in films;
stating, “we still have a lot of work to do.” Emerging Latino talent in films doesn’t
reflect our social reality enough today.
Latino’s are CEO’s, doctors and lawyers and we can play those roles on
the big screen too. But what
really stood out for me in her speech was how she handled being an actress in
this business and the advice she gave us was, “Don’t be in competition with the
actress that just left the room at the audition, be in competition with
YOURSELF!” She had an experience right before entering the audition that
prompted her to spit a rhythm before she left the room. It was a spontaneous and improvised move.
But more importantly it was from her heart and she challenged herself. Gina is without a doubt a talent that
has worked hard for it. Therefore it’s no surprise that soon after that
audition, she was in the recording booth, creating songs for the movie. Her life changed because of that very
moment.
Check
out the trailer for the film Filly Brown:
http://nylatinoff.festivalgenius.com/2012/films/fillybrown_youssefdelara_nylatinoff2012
.
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| Actress Gina Rodriquez |
Bobbito
Garcia is a NYC legend sharing his love for the hip hop culture over the years,
with a list of titles and credits: DJ, writer (I followed his
monthly column in VIBE magazine), entrepreneur, streetball player/coach/announcer,
sneaker connoisseur, and let’s not forget a member of the Rock Steady Crew. This
Nuyorican has made an amazing career
for himself starting with the love of basketball and music. All being part of the hip-hop culture. Most, notably in the 90’s he co-hosted,
The Stretch Armstrong & Bobbito Show that introduced the world to a lot of unsigned artist, like
Nas, Big Pun, Busta Rhymes, Fat Joe and Biggie just to name a few, changing the
world of Rap. At the time The Source Magazine named it “BEST HIP HOP RADIO SHOW
OF ALL TIME”. In 2006 he became
the first Latino broadcast member in the 60 years history franchise to host the
show “Hot Minute At Half Time” on the Madison Square Garden Network (MSG-TV).
He’s an exemplary example of always staying true to what he loves so
at the panel when he expressed his disappointment in the way the music industry
has changed today stating, “I can’t remember the last good record I bought, I
heard maybe 3, 5 tops good records in the last year”. I was kind of stunned,
but it’s true. I agree with
him. In any event, he stays
positive and focuses on the real. Which
is his mission, to “Expose the Unexposed”.
Garcia’s most
recent film project continues to do just that. He co-directed with Kevin Couliau a
documentary called “Doin’ It in the Park: Pick-Up
Basketball” http://www.doinitinthepark.com/ where they visited 180 basketball courts throughout NYC’s five
boroughs on their bikes with film equipment in their backpacks to explore the
definition, history, culture and social impart of New York’s summer b-ball
scene, widely recognized as the worldwide “Mecca” of the sport.
The
message was strong from all three panelists expressing that we have to support
ourselves in this business, to know who you are and give your dream direction. To change the game where Latinos can attain
the Hollywood dream and continue book roles outside of the roles casted in the
past, i.e. housemaid, drug dealers and prostitutes’.
It’s
evident that we’re in state of groundbreaking changes within the film industry
especially now that we have social media to thank. Giving us the all access
pass to create and post our creative efforts. There’s no doubt that the shift is happening NOW, let’s take
in a direction that continues to make us proud and excited to experience Urban
cinema.
Peace
& Light
Lily
Agosto
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