TV AND LATINOS, CONT.

As members of the Latino Writers Committee of the Writers Guild of America, West, we feel compelled to respond to the letters about “Casting the Spotlight on TV’s Brownout” (by Greg Braxton and Jan Breslauer, March 5).

While we agree with Migdia Chinea-Varela that CBS’ “access program” is discriminatory in nature, the Minimum Basic Agreement of the WGA provides for such programs. CBS dictated the guidelines, the LWC did not, which is why we as individuals and as a committee have chosen not to participate. No one is forcing us or anyone else out.

The LWC and/or its representative have been in contact with other networks. NBC has promised to develop scripts with committee members, ABC is putting up funds so that Latino writers can obtain free-lance assignments on its current shows, and Fox has opened its doors. This may be way short of having a hit show on the air, but it’s a start. And all of this has been accomplished in the past several months.

If our founder, Ms. Chinea-Varela, and letter writer Julio Vera had bothered to come to any of our recent meetings, they would know all of this.

ROSEMARY ALDERETE,

JULIE FRIEDGEN, JOSEFINA

LOPEZ, DENNIS E. LEONI

A small group of us have organized to start alt.net, alternative television network, precisely to voice the views of the Latino disenfranchised. alt.net will provide bilingual shows on Latino and Chicano art, programs concerning Latinos and the Internet, Latin American films with English subtitles, and a Latino-based shopping program.

To date we have received very little support; however, we are aware of the obstacles and with quality programming we will succeed.

DEANNA DURON-

GONSALVES

alt.net. Business Manager

Fullerton

Re Nikki Capshaw’s letter last Sunday referring to “our” own programs in “our” own language geared especially for “us”:

Perhaps if “we” saw some more Latinos on prime-time TV shows, more of “us” would watch, thereby picking up the language. Many of “us” may not speak English fluently, but “we” do understand the language. After all, Ms. Capshaw, “we” are your neighbors--”we” are not from another planet.

ISABEL DE LA VEGA

Montebello

We Latinos need to cultivate our talent in every aspect of the business and get people “up there,” so that once they are there they can look back and give the same chance to others in the community.

Thirty years of color television and we still can’t receive the color brown over the airwaves.

EDWARD M. FLORES

Altadena

Long before there was “Hill Street Blues,” “L.A. Law,” “a.k.a. Pablo” etc., there was “Archie Bunker’s Place.” That’s right . . . TV’s most famous bigot had not one but two Latino actors as regulars for four years. Carroll O’Connor and Norman Lear didn’t shout from the rooftops “Hey we hired two Latino actors, aren’t we great,” but instead just plain hired two very good actors for the roles.

MINDY BLAKE

North Hollywood