Olmos: Latinos Must Focus on TV Image

By Stephen M. Silverman And Jennifer Blaise

Friday September 20, 2002 01:00 PM EDT

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"American Family" star Edward James Olmos landed in Washington, D.C., this week to attend a Congressional conference in which he noted that less than 2 percent of the entertainment industry is Latin-based, PEOPLE reports.

Speaking at the Hispanic Caucus Institute 2002 Issues conference, Olmos, 55, stressed that the future depends on Latinos taking hold of the market today and maintaining a cultural presence on TV for future generations.

Also there to lend their support were the stars of the HBO film, "Real Women Have Curves," Lupe Ontiveros and America Ferrara.

"When I started pursuing my career," Ferrara, 18, told PEOPLE, "I had to go out a lot for the pregnant 16-year-old, or the gangbanger or the girl that dropped out of school. They were never quality parts."

Added Ferrara: "You just look at the few we have who are huge stars -- Jennifer Lopez, Shakira, Salma Hayek -- they've been pigeonholed into sex-symbols, and people forget the enormous talent that they have. I think it's really up to the talent to remember what they're doing and remember that it's all about the work ... and that all that extra stuff is just extra stuff."