Chasing stereotypes

"Chasing Papi" actor finds new mission

By Elisabeth Román

Eduardo Verástegui was not born rich or famous. Far from it, he came into this world in a small town in northern Mexico where he dreamed of someday attaining fame and fortune. What Verástegui did have was the fortune of being born into a loving and devoutly Catholic family that taught him to serve the Lord and to love others.

It did not take long for Verástegui to turn his dreams into reality. Talented and handsome, at the age of 18, he moved to Mexico City where he began singing with a band and later acting in popular soap operas. Recognizing career options were limited in Mexico, Verástegui relocated to Miami where he recorded an album as a soloist. When the young actor auditioned and earned a role in the film Chasing Papi, he moved to Los Angeles to begin a new life and acting career.

When filming on Chasing Papi was finished, Verástegui was well on the road to success and rubbing elbows with Hollywood’s rich and famous. Far from being happy, he realized the new lifestyle was empty, meaningless, and unfulfilling. “It was empty, something was missing from my life and I didn’t know what it was. At the same time I realized the reasons I wanted to become an actor were very superficial. It was all about fame, money, career, and I was not using my talents to make a difference and to positively impact people’s lives,” Eduardo Verastegui said.

Frustrated with the way Latinos are portrayed in films and television, Verástegui rejected being stereotyped and decided to make a difference.  “Latinos are always stereotyped as criminals, prostitutes, and thieves. If you happen to be good looking, then you are cast as the Latin lover, a Don Juan, in other words a womanizing liar. Very few times do you see Latinos as real heroes in films or television. I am not talking about heroes like Superman or Spider Man. The real hero is a man who is honest; a man of integrity; a man who is loyal and faithful to his wife, willing to sacrifice everything for family and friends.”

Verástegui says it is no wonder people are often afraid of Latinos. “We are nearly 50 million Latinos in this country and it is very sad people are still afraid of us because they believe what they see in films and TV shows. I want to show the real face of Latinos. We are grateful to this nation, which has been an amazing blessing in our lives and I want to show that we come here to work; we come to give and not take. I want to show our culture, food, music, values, faith, and all the richness that Latinos have.”

To have a say in the way Latinos are portrayed in films Eduardo would have to produce them. “As an actor you don’t have the power to control the message of the film from A to Z. You have to submit to a script, to the studios, producers and directors. I knew the only way to really control the message was to produce it.”

In partnership with Alejandro Monteverde and several friends, Verástegui established Metanoia Films in 2004, a film production company, whose primary goal is to elevate the Latino image and promote Christian values. Metanoia is a Greek word for “light in darkness.”

Metanoia’s first film, Bella, is a heartwarming story that celebrates life, love, family and relationships. Released in 2007, it has not been critically acclaimed and earned several prestigious awards. “Our hopes as producers are for people to leave the theaters wanting to love more, to forgive more, to be a better person; inspired to use their talents in a positive way so we can make this place a better world.”

Your turn
What would be important for you in your professional life…your fame, prestige, money, or your values? How do you think you could make an impact in life from your work?

Why should the media be interested in Latinos?

• The US Hispanic population makes up approximately 13% of the total US population.
• There are about 10 million Hispanic households in the US.
• By 2010 there will be more than 14 million Hispanic households, a 40% increase.
• It is estimated that by the year 2050 close to 25% of the US population will be of Hispanic descent.