Assembly Concurrent Resolution
No. 210
CHAPTER 103
Relative to Resurrection Blvd.
[
Filed with
Secretary of State
July 08, 2002.
]
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
ACR 210, Cedillo.
Resurrection Blvd.
This measure commends Resurrection Blvd., a television program for its creative vision in depicting minority populations in a positive light, and encouraging future endeavors in the diversification of the American entertainment industry.
Digest Key
WHEREAS, The importance of racial diversity in television received national attention throughout the 1999–2000 television season, in which major network executives promised more progressive hiring practices both on and off the screen; and
WHEREAS, Latino actors display an admirable and honorable history in American television and in the motion picture industry, positively contributing to the diversity of the Californian as well as American landscape; and
WHEREAS, While Latinos constitute approximately 12.5 percent of the United States population, they continue to be the most underrepresented ethnic group on prime time television and in films; and
WHEREAS, While Latinos have received 4.9 percent of the roles cast for Screen Actors Guild contracts, the highest percentage since the guild began tracking this statistic in 1992, the appearance of Latinos in television and films approximate less than one-third of their actual proportion of the United States population; and
WHEREAS, Latinos rarely occupy more than 2 percent of the available jobs in the television and film industry in general, further attesting to the consensus about minority underrepresentation since the media reform efforts of the late 1960s and 1970s; and
WHEREAS, The number of Latino characters in prime time television have dropped from 3 percent to 2 percent, from the 1999–2000 television season to the 2000–01 season; and
WHEREAS, Showtime Networks, Inc., demonstrates real commitment and interest in improving diversity in the American television industry, as well as in developing substantive Latino programming; and
WHEREAS, The Showtime-sponsored show Resurrection Blvd. is the first dramatic series on American television to prominently feature Latinos both in front of and behind the camera, including actors, directors, writers, and producers; and
WHEREAS, Resurrection Blvd. highlights multicultural diversity within the television industry by featuring more than 400 Latino actors during the past two television seasons; and
WHEREAS, Resurrection Blvd. is entering its third season in June 2002, marking the first and longest-running Latino-supported dramatic series on television; and
WHEREAS, This groundbreaking show exemplifies sincere efforts towards portraying a truly diverse American scene in the television industry, providing critical exposure for the Latino as well as other minority populations; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate thereof concurring, That the Legislature hereby commends Resurrection Blvd. for its creative vision in depicting minority populations in a positive light, encouraging future endeavors in the diversification of the American entertainment industry; and be it further
Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.