Name: Eva Longoria and Bela Bejaria Discuss Using Entertainment to Bridge Cultural Divides
Uploaded: 2019-10-23
Duration: 18 min 20 s
Description: Our nation is divided, and across the world other regions are also increasingly split on many political and societal issues. How do we find common ground?

That's very shiny. Very shiny. I think we came up the right way. Have a seat. Thank you guys for joining us. Good morning. Good morning. So we wanna talk about a lot of different things but Eva I'm gonna start with you. As you guys all know, it's been kind of an intense and PW summit this year. And I know we somehow have managed to create waves on both sides of the political spectrum now, so maybe we did some secret, right? I'm not sure but there's been a lot of. Press and pressure. And there's been pressure on you to withdraw from this summit. And so, I wanna start out by addressing that, head on, and ask you why you chose to come. Gosh. Yeah. I mean, I am Latino. I am from the Latino community. And yeah, you all had invited a speaker who is Responsible for one of the greatest and on going human rights disasters in our country, and she took the stage. And the stage is normally reserved for women who have innovation and ideas that are changing the world for the better. And so, i [ APPLAUSE ] The reason I showed up is because I didn't want her to be the only voice in the room you don't she doesn't get to take away my platform. She doesn't get to take away my voice right [ APPLAUSE ] now This stage has hosted so many amazing women and then you see her yesterday. My hope was that she would come to apologize, because her legacy will be putting children in cages. That's going to be her legacy. So you're up here trying to rehabilitate your image, honey it's not going to work. It's not going to work, because what you did was atrocious. And I think that for women who are mothers to rip a child out of people's arms and to stand up here and say well people broke the law, seeking a silent is not law- breaking that's what our country has always done. And I applaud that interviewer for pressing her for facts. [ APPLAUSE ] We are living in a world where facts are going unchecked, and I heard some of the feedback from the women were, the interviewer were too tough, no, you have to seek the truth And what she was saying was not true. She was not a cog in the machine, she was not following laws. She was responsible for this horrific human rights crisis. I mean, she's just This set the policy. She was just responsible for this policy and it's she should be ashamed of taking the stage that really should be applauding women and what they're doing. Well I I hope [ APPLAUSE ] And Whatever our opinion is on that interview, I hope that everybody in the room can agree that we really appreciate you being here. So thank you for that. [ APPLAUSE ] Okay [ UNKNOWN ] To say. [ LAUGH ] We don't want anybody to take your platform away. Right, nobody's going to take away our microphone. You need to be here to have those discussions and to challenge ideology an to challenge each other. And I think Belle and I being in the media, we have an important role in that conversation. Yeah, absolutely. So, okay let's get to it and I really want to get to your questions. I want to leave aside leave plenty of time for that towards the end. But both of you have had really amazing careers and have such interesting backgrounds and so I'm going to ask you another question and then we'll get to you. Okay. That was way more interesting by the way. [ LAUGH ] It's way more interesting. You're both very interesting. So Eva, your ninth generation American, I don't know if people realize that. You're from South Texas, a state that used to be a part of Mexico. And when You spoke at the 2016 Yeah Texas, or Yeah, Mexico, whatever you were clapping for both, when you spoke at the 2016 Democratic National Convention, and you said my family never crossed a border, the border crossed us, which is an awesome line. So how has this We're all products of our history and our families and that trajectory. How has that shaped your career? How has it shaped the content that you've been in and that you're now producing and directing? Yeah, it's interesting. So many people don't understand the history that Hispanics have in this country, and so when you are Mexican- American like I am, we constantly straddle that hyphen, because I'm 100 % Mexican, and I'm 100 % American at the same time. And so to navigate that is difficult in this time in our country, because Of an unconscious bias that we are partly responsible for in the media. People of color, Hispanics, black people, women, anybody who's been marginalized are usually on screen depicted in very narrow ways. And when you see those images repeated over and over, and over and over, You begin to form an idea and an opinion and what you think that community is what you think a woman is what you think Latino is. And unfortunately Latino has become synonymous with illegal, criminal, dangerous. And so my goal as a producer as a director as a content creator, and Is to change that perception and produce with the purpose of changing that unconscious bias in Hollywood. And I think also what people don't realize is what he was talking about when you see those depictions in media in different places in the US, right? We also Hollywood content travels all over the world. So right we do sort of perpetuate. When you look at, the roles of sort of women, and what those stereotypes look like we also then basically export all of our content. So we have to be super mindful of what those representations are Speaking of an international perspective. So, Bella, you're of Indian descent you were born in London lived in Zambia and moved to the US at age nine. So I'm very international perspective and how has that I mean, now you're you're overseeing international original content at Netflix. So how has that global background and perspective helped you? In your role today. So I think what was interesting for me because I have that background and have just a frame of reference and a perspective which was sort of a different one. I sort of went into Hollywood 23 years ago. There was definitely, there was no Indian people and there was very few brown people anywhere really. When I got into the business And it's been interesting for me cuz I always growing up in an Indian family from Africa, always sort of felt a little bit more of the world. I mean, I think sort of in a little bit what Eva was saying, right I was definitely Indian and I love my culture and I my heritage, but I grew up in America for the most part. And so I really had this how do you blend both of those things? And I always felt a part of lots of those. So when I was at Netflix and they asked me to take on international which means basically means, it does not mean which people think it's a CIA show that we shoot in a bunch of different countries and that feels international. That is not what that means. [ LAUGH ] It actually means we go into countries And we make non- English local, originals with local filmmakers and all of these countries. That's what it means. It really means going into a country finding an authentic local story and telling that. And what was exciting for me is when they asked me to do it, it was just it just felt such a natural extension of who I was because I also because the trick is also to go into these countries. You can't feel imperialistic. It can't be like, let's show the West culture of the West way. That's not what we're trying to do. We're trying to go in and really tell authentic stories in these countries. And I had an enormous respect for it because I don't feel that you know, the West is better, you know, and again, I think growing up Indian and sort of feeling that push poll I can sort of really get my back up against that too, so it's been really fun and a very natural extension of who I am to go into countries and really just find amazing film makers, cuz they're everywhere, and really tell those stories. So, I grew up in Israel and I watched The Cosby Show growing up and everything was dubbed and I swear to God I thought the Cosby family was Israeli. [ LAUGH ] It was like a shock. But what content travels and like I get what you're saying you're making it authentic there are these universal themes right? And what both of you do, what content travels? What are those universal themes? I mean, I think when we look at storytelling so when we do it sort of at Netflix, it really is to say what is the best most authentic version of the story? And usually when you go into a country, you're not trying to make it global. You're just really trying to make the most authentic. Version of that story in this country for these people, and what you find is those shows because they're authentic in themes, universal themes of marriage and relationships and family and loss and all of these things connect us, right and so You will see it dubbed or subtitles, and you can watch it from any different country. But those themes are similar and people will just connect to those. And so it's not a specific kinds of content that travels. It's not like family dramas travel, sort of, you know, more than or you know, or it's not like that. It really is. It's a really great Show her movie and it really connects to people in that country, it usually connects to people in other countries. Are you thinking globally when you pick projects either to act in or to produce? Yes. Mel and I had this conversations many times. Where I'll find a story, somebody brought me an Argentinian story and it was a white filmmaker and I said, well, it's gonna be in Spanish, right? Because I mean that just made sense And they were like, I didn't think of. [ LAUGH ] Like, I've always lived in a global community just like Bella. I've traveled so much and I think once we all realize we live in a global community, we don't live in Texas, we don't live in the United States. We live in a global community then you are more responsible with what What your projects, what you're gonna dedicate your time and energy to. And so, yeah, I think I agree with her. I think if you look back at Desperate Housewives, it traveled so well because it was all those things. It was family, and it was divorce, and it was relationships. And people go, yeah, that they saw themselves in it. Am I saying I've worked with him for a long time now? And what's always been interesting, sort of the conversations we've had is that from very early on, it was always interested about the business of it. Right? You were always sort of asking before, I mean, now it feels like it's a conversation we have, you know, just sort of much more sort of openly and publicly, but that was a long time ago. And it was always the Who is this for and do we have representation and are we really reaching people sort of globally. And you were very ahead of that conversation. Thank you, [ UNKNOWN ]. [ LAUGH ]. And you both are very actively promoting women storytellers in different ways Eva, I didn't realize you also have done research and work on women in STEM. And in 2013. You actually completed a master's degree in Chicano Studies. But Your thesis was titled success stems as in stem from diversity, the value of Latinas in STEM careers. Can you talk a little bit about why you chose to concentrate your thesis on that and and time on it. I when I was getting my masters my cohort was 20 20 other colleagues and 19 of them are doing their thesis on immigration, and I was like I'm doing my thesis on immigration. And then somebody said, is that going to be your life's work? And I said, no I really want to do something in education. And so, just finding academically to find the need of papers that prove something that people don't know. And, And so when I researched, there was no, very few, I think 1 % of stem jobs are filled by Latinos. Mm- hm. And then you contrast that with the [ INAUDIBLE ] is going demographically in the United States are Latinos, which means they're gonna be the future workforce of not only this country of the world And then you contrast that with We are the economic engine of the United States there are industries solely dependent upon immigrant labor that is not just agriculture. So, if you look at anybody who comes out of college, if you are in any STEM field, there are two to three jobs waiting for them. They are in a different major, there are three to four people waiting for that job. All right? And so if you just think about the economic imperative of making sure we prepare the future workforce, which is no doubt going to be Latino. Okay. Questions from the audience for [ UNKNOWN ] Bella. Got one over here, there's a microphone coming to you, if you could just introduce yourself. Hi, I'm Asahi Pompey from Goldman Sachs, thrilled you're here. Question for you, content creators often have stories that they want to tell that haven't been told. What's a story on women that you want to get told that is not being told currently? All of them [ LAUGH ] There is a lot of them. So many I actually belly you should produce this lecture do it was a people don't know there was a story during the Civil War how many women fought as men, and how many black women disguise themselves as men to fight and then to vote. They dressed as men. And every time, this was maybe five, seven years ago. I was pitching it and every single man in the room was like, Nobody wants to see women soldiers. And I was like, But this is history. This happened, and these people are real. And I remember, it was very interesting, because there were women on both sides. There were women for the Confederates. That I was like there was a Latina who was funding the Confederates and I was like, And I just thought what a fascinating character. And and for it to be true, and that's just what my point being I want to show more stories of how women contributed to, to this this country specifically, but also just There are complexities which are not really explored enough, right? Yeah. And what we're doing is, when we go into a lot of these countries and we're making local original shows, we're really trying to find female storytellers, female creators And in some places, there's just not that many sort of female show runners to do TV shows. And we have really made it, a very purposeful thing. And, in Italy we have a new show coming out that is all female directors or female writers and it has a lot of sort of interesting female themes. With very complex characters, they're not just all nice girls. It's complicated women. And we have many, we have a new show coming out of Africa that has a female show runner, and we're really trying to go into these countries and give this platform and this voice to female creators. Because I think then you're gonna see many more of those stories. And much more representation that way. Because they have to be assertive on the behind the camera side also, of being able to sort of tell those stories. And we have a very strong slate in the next couple years, coming out, by going into these communities, and really tapping into and finding, and giving opportunity to female creators. Mm- hm. I got a question over here, can you introduce yourself? Sure under media Chavez with the National Council on Aging, Bella ever thank you for being here. I know you came across town from the Latino summit on the hill. Thank you for your service to Maldef as well. It's important that we're in these discussions. I've been coming to this event for several years. And the reason I'm here is because the ladies in the room are our partners, and they're gonna support us as we move forward. These issues are difficult for everyone. But as you said, our voice is necessary. So what do you need from these women leaders to ensure all voices Are seen and heard? Yeah, that's a great question. I actually thank you for that, because we do need, for the Latino community and for people of color, we need our white female allies. I need you to care as much about this issue as we do in our community. I think, the main thing for me, for women in general, if you're in a leadership position, Say yes. Say yes to that person who does not have the experience who does not have the body of work that that she's trying to apply for be the first line on her resume that says you hired her mentor her. Believe in her say yes to somebody with a different perspective with a different language with a different skin colour. Say yes, that is your job. is to say yes. And, [ APPLAUSE ]. And for women in this room who are not in leadership positions who are looking for, for that opportunity and chance to say no, right? No to that door that closed in your face, no to the person who says you're not gonna do it, you can't do it. You don't have the experience. You don't have the The credential say no. I'm going to do it. And so that's your homework for both both leaders and non leaders. Well, we we wanted to close the program with an uplifting note and you guys really delivered so I again, so appreciate both of you being here with us today. [ APPLAUSE ] [ LAUGH ] Good girl [ LAUGH ] [ APPLAUSE ] Thank you guys, I will see you over there. [ BLANK_AUDIO ]

Eva Longoria and Bela Bejaria Discuss Using Entertainment to Bridge Cultural Divides

Leadership

Our nation is divided, and across the world other regions are also increasingly split on many political and societal issues. How do we find common ground?