Everyone who loves the thespian craft knows just how excruciatingly difficult it is to make it. Forget the youthful desire of ‘making it to the top’. The world can only bear so many DeCaprios, Pitts, Clooneys… For everyone else it is a matter of patience, persistence and a continuous test to their passion for the acting craft.

To make it in Hollywood –I’ve found this phrase as devoid of meaning as say, who’s the true god? – implies a number of well known factors. In order of importance, they are:

a) contacts,

b) contacts,

c) contacts,

I’m somewhat exaggerating to drive the point across. But thousands of aspiring actors know what I’m talking about: here, in LaLa land, your acting skills are good enough to get you the enviable title of waiter at one of Sunset’s upscale Bistros or clubs. To make it –no wait, just to get- into the movies, it’s as uphill a battle as there’s one.

And I haven’t even mentioned that being Latino can be another additional hurdle blocking your way to the top. A few decades ago, our assigned roles in the movies were robbers, bandits and campesinos in western flicks.

You have to thank actors like Dolores del Rio, Anthony Quinn, Edward James Olmos, Pedro Armendariz, Ricardo Montalban and many other pioneers who broke the bandit mold once and for all for the rest of us.

Now, Edward James Olmos, among other top Latin actors getting the recognition they deserve out there come together as part of the 7^th Annual NALIP conference. Nalip is the National Association of Latino Independent Producers and one of the most progressive organizations trying to steer both aspiring actors as well as filmmakers and producers in the directions which worked for others already making their mark.

Come here and bring plenty of business cards. Be assertive. Find out how you can start making significant advancements in your own career in the film industry. Evaluate what some of these networking groups have to offer you in exchange for their ‘privileges card’. Attend the Q&A sessions with Moctezuma Esparza (Celina’s producer) and Edward James Olmos. Make sure to do your research and feel free to ask relevant questions to people in the panel.

The only bad news is that still today, there’s no secret formula for success that you can download inside your brain. You’ve got to do the work. You have to be assertive in your approach and know the motives why you want to attend.

Perhaps you and I will never be as famous as some of these Hollywood Celebrities. But in the end, it may just rescue us from the mediocre output that constantly defines the big studio projects. You may actually have to re-think your priorities and only focus on being passionate about your acting or filming craft.

If you achieve this, just about everything you’ve desired for yourself, will eventually fall on your lap.

NALIP is a four day conference taking place in Long Beach, California. For a complete conference program and how you can subscribe to attend, please log on to http://www.nalip.org/conference2006/index.html

A brief and extremely informative synapses of the conference follows:

How are true stories inspiring today’s Latino narrative independent films?
What opportunities are created for Latinos by the commercial success of documentaries? Where are our true successes and improvements in the television and feature industries?

For the past 6 years, the National Association of Latino Independent Producers has gathered the field of Latino/a Film, Television, Documentary and New Media makers: producers, directors, writers, performers, creative crew, funders, distributors, representatives, students, educators and activists for a critical look at Latinos in front of and behind the camera, plus those in executive suites and decision-making positions. Our National Conference provides an opportunity to consider the state of the field during a dynamic weekend of professional seminars, hands-on workshops, provocative keynote addresses, screenings of member work, networking events and celebrations of our latest accomplishments.

This year, LATINO LENS: NAKED TRUTH runs March 9 – 12, 2006 at the Hyatt Regency in Long Beach, CA. HBO, Variety and the National Latino Media Council present this year’s Conference, chaired by NALIP Board member and Vice President, POV/American Documentary, Cynthia Lopez and writer/producer, Barbara Martinez-Jitner (BORDERTOWN, “American Family”).

Saturday Gala Evening – w/ Celebrity Hosts, music & 4 honors: Lifetime Achievement in Producing goes to feature film producer, David Valdes (ASSASSINATION OF JESSE JAMES, OPEN RANGE). Lifetime Achievement in Advocacy goes to Helen Hernandez, Founder and President of the Imagen Foundation. Outstanding Achievement Award goes to Moctesuma Esparza, founder of MAYA CINEMAS, a chain of mega-plex movie theatres in locations with a strong Latino presence. And, in 2006, the new ESTELA Award to recognize two rising and brilliant talents in the Latino media landscape. ESTELA Awards will go to filmmaker Rodrigo Garcia (NINE LIVES) and Marilyn Agrelo (MAD HOT BALLROOM).

Our mission is simple: promote the advancement, development and funding of Latino/a film and media arts in all genres. As professionals, we unite to create more images by and about Latinos everywhere you see media.