THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, March 25, 1996 TAG: 9603240280
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E5 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY MARSHA GILBERT, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 80 lines
WHETHER IT'S Hollywood or Hampton Roads, minority artists feel they are shut out when it comes to lead roles and awards.
Local entertainers share the frustration of the Rev. Jesse Jackson, who will lead protests tonight over the inclusion of only one minority Oscar nominee in a field of 166.
``One director called me to play a token minority part,'' said Pedro Abad, a Norfolk native and an African- and Filipino-American. ``I laid him out. For as long as I've been acting he didn't think of me for any other roles. My work can stand up to anybody else's. Why can't the cast be integrated?''
For 25 years, Abad has been immersed in drama. He studied and taught drama and earned a strong following for his work in Hampton Roads community theaters. Yet he is offered few roles.
``I'm sympathetic and agree with the protest planned by Jesse Jackson,'' said Abad, who acts and directs plays with ZWG, a new African-American repertory theater company in Norfolk. ``It's the same here as in Hollywood. It's so very political.
``A lot of the directors in this area, when they are considering their plays, don't think of using minorities. They don't put much thought into how they can use minority actors in these plays. They should leave the door open so they can integrate the casts.''
Performers from other ethnic groups in Hampton Roads say that have also felt the sting of exclusion.
Felix Diaz, a native of Puerto Rico who lives in Norfolk, was forced to give up his dream of playing guitar at area clubs 10 years ago. His band couldn't land bookings playing salsa and Latin jazz.
``It was hard to get gigs,'' said Diaz, who is musical director for the Cristo Rey church choir in Virginia Beach. ``People don't understand Latin music. Clubs told us to bring a crowd to get a chance to play. When we couldn't get enough people, we couldn't perform.
``It bothers me that no Latinos were nominated for an Oscar. We have to get more involved. There is a lot of talent out there that hasn't been discovered. They need the right management and exposure.''
Hollywood stereotypes also block the progress of ethnic groups.
``I'm completely and wholeheartedly against Hollywood's portrayal of us as drunken bums,'' said Gray Dawn Hawk, a Native American who lives in Hampton. ``We don't all wear war bonnets, loincloths and white buckskins. `How' is not a part of our vocabulary. We don't live in tepees. We don't call our women `squaws.'
``It should not be determined if people get awards by the color of their skin. Talent is from the creator, not color, or the people you associate with.''
Hawk heads a group called the Gray Dawn Hawk Family Clan, who hold fund-raising events and perform educational programs.
``Jackson's protest is one way to bring light to the problems in Hollywood,'' Hawk said. ``I don't think it will change much. Things will be changed in future generations of our children.''
Caroline Cantan, 17, is trying to change negative images of Filipinos. As the reigning Miss Philippines of Virginia, she raised close to $9,000 for the construction of the Philippine Cultural Awareness Center.
``Asians are seen playing stereotypical roles in movies as really smart and nerdy,'' said Cantan, a Norview High School student and accomplished violinist. ``There aren't many in the movies. I want to see more in different kinds of parts.''
Norfolk-based film and stage actor Rodney Suiter has experienced firsthand the difficulties of being an African-American in the entertainment field.
``As long as they can make action films with white actors like Stallone and Seagal and minorities continue to go see them, Hollywood will continue to overlook black talent,'' said Suiter, who's had small parts in films like ``Tracks,'' with Shadow Stevens and shows like ``Vanishing Son,'' with Russell Wong.
``In films, I've played a gangster, pusher, doctor and lawyer,'' Suiter said.
``I'm not limited in the types of parts, but in the time on the screen to show my craft. If we had our own production companies, we could do a lot of good human interest stories that will appeal to everybody. There won't be a change until then.'' by CNB