Casting for the Era of Representation
Casting Directors discuss the nuances of finding talent and authentically representing Latinidad on screen. The diversity of identities within the Latinidad umbrella brings upon different sets of challenges at the time of finding and selecting talent. As we become more aware of the advantages of working with BIPOC Casting Directors, our panel will dive into the recent years of Latine representation and the future of our cinema.
Moderator
Diana Luna, Executive Director, NALIP
Panelist
Carla Hool, Casting Director
presented in partnership with National Association of Latino Independent Producers
Speakers
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Carla HoolCasting DirectorCARLA HOOL began her career as a casting director on the film MAN ON FIRE for director Tony Scott. Since then she has been responsible for casting such notable films as, COCO, MISS BALA, ICEBOX, LOS INFILTRADOS, THE 33, A BETTER LIFE, BLESS ME ULTIMA, DESPICABLE ME 2, CHE, VANTAGE POINT, INNOCENT VOICES, NACHO LIBRE, APOCALYPTO, SIN NOMBRE, BEVERLY HILLS CHIHUAHUA and RAMBO: LAST BLOOD among many others. Some of the Tv shows she has cast are NARCOS and NARCOS MEXICO for Netflix, LOS ESPOOKYS for HBO, SELENA for Netflix, GENTEFIED for Netflix, COYOTE for Paramount Network, EAST LOS HIGH for Hulu, THE BRIDGE SEASON 2 for FX, and EASTBOUND & DOWN SEASON 2 for HBO. She has collaborated with Directors Tony Scott, Chris Weitz, Cary Joji Fukunaga, Catherine Hardwike, Lee Unkrich, Alejandro G. Iñárritu, Jose Padilha, Guillermo Navarro, Carl Franklin, Jody Hill, David Gordon Green, Luis Mandoki, Jared Hess, Pete Travis, Richard Shepard, Emilio Maillé, Lance Hool, Carlos Cuarón and Mel Gibson. Carla is widely considered to be one of the most knowledgeable internationally focused casting directors in the film and television industry. Carla lives and works full-time in Los Angeles but continues to work on international projects with strong casting affiliations in Mexico, Central and South America, and Spain. Carla has been nominated and won the prestigious Artios Award for Best Casting for the animated feature film COCO. She has also been nominated for an Artios Award for Best casting in the Netflix Drama series NARCOS and Narcos Mexico. Carla has just been welcomed into the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences as a new member.
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Diana LunaExecutive Director, NALIPDiana Luna, M.S., is a seasoned professional with over 20 years of expertise in higher education and the creative sector. Her diverse background includes leadership roles in developing and managing undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs centered around arts, culture, and media. She has worked with prestigious institutions such as Sotheby’s Institute of Art, Claremont Graduate University, Loyola Marymount University, and the Hola Mexico Film Festival. Throughout her career, Diana has shown a strong commitment to advancing careers, securing scholarships and fellowships, facilitating job placements, and advocating for the empowerment of underserved and underrepresented populations.
Currently, Diana holds the position of Executive Director at the National Association of Latino Independent Producers (NALIP). In this newly appointed role, she leads the organization’s mission to advocate for and promote the Latino media industry in the United States. With unwavering dedication to creating a more inclusive future both on and off the screen, Diana is eager to leverage her experience to drive transformative change in the industry.
