It is no secret that I am a huge fan of FX’s Mayans M.C. I continue to support and cover the show not only because I genuinely enjoy it, but I also know it’s importance in making Hollywood more inclusive. Just this past August, the USC Annenberg Inclusive Initiative came out with a study titled “Latinos in Film: Erasure On-Screen & Behind the Camera Across 1,200 Popular Movies,” which quantified the lack of LatinX representation in film. http://assets.uscannenberg.org/docs/aii-study-latinos-in-film-2019.pdf
The comprehensive study concluded that within 1200 popular movies, only 4.5% of all 47,268 speaking or named characters across the last 12 years were Latino and only 3% of lead or co-lead actors were Latino. It is clear we have a long way to go. Shows like “Mayans M.C.” fight against this and make the communities that feel invisible feel like they are seen.
I first interviewed the cast and creators a few years back at San Diego Comic-Con before season one hit the air. I immediately fell in love with all of them and could see the camaraderie and respect they each had for one another. It was the highlight of Comic-Con for me, and that was before I had even seen the show! There’s a reason the cast of Mayans continues to be my favorite cast to interview. Every one of them is not only extremely talented, but they are all incredibly humble and genuinely authentic.
With Season Two almost at a close, it has been quite an explosive ride! There have been exciting revelations and turns in every episode. When I was given the opportunity to go to FX Networks to interview Danny Pino, who plays Miguel Galindo, I, of course, jumped at the chance. Danny Pino is a well-respected actor in theater, film, and TV. I loved him on “The Shield”, “Cold Case”, “Law & Order, SVU”, and of course, “Mayans M.C.” It is always an honor to speak with him. We talked about the importance of the show, the evolution of his character, working with the cast, and with Elgin James. Danny is not only a gifted actor but is authentically kind, incredibly intelligent, thoughtful, and hilarious. Watch our interview below and make sure to check out “Mayans M.C.” Tuesday nights at 10 on FX.
