Hollywood Is Quiet On Immigration

Stars Fail To Align On Immigration Debate

(AP)  The equation is different for Hispanic performers who have gained fame through Spanish language media. A publicist representing stars from Univision, the popular Spanish-language network, called the National Hispanic Media Coalition to offer their services.

There are risks in speaking out politically, acknowledged former "M-A-S-H" TV star Farrell, and that may preoccupy some celebrities who have a history of activism.

"There are some people, who have been battered and beaten as a result of their opposition to the war," said Farrell. "I think they are a little less willing to stick their heads out from their shells."

The people-powered protests have made celebrity involvement seem inconsequential, added Farrell, who said he's taken part in immigration-related events in recent months, including a protest against the Minuteman Project civilian border patrol group.

Olmos refused to criticize colleagues who haven't spoken up.

"Everybody has to deal with their own situation and their own insights and own feeling about their passion," he said. "I'm sure everybody is trying to do the best they can."

There are other ways to engage in and influence social debate besides marching, said writer-director Nava, whose "El Norte" (1983) was a landmark depiction of the forces pushing people north across the U.S. border and the dangers they face.

"As a filmmaker, I can put a face and a heart and a soul to these numbers and statistics, these `shadows' in our society, people from all over Mexico, Latin America, that are here to work," said Nava. "I feel the most powerful thing filmmakers can do is make movies."

Lopez is considering that path — it's possible, he said, an immigration story line may pop up on his sitcom next season.

Nava, who created the Hispanic TV saga "American Family" and is completing the upcoming film "Bordertown" with Jennifer Lopez and Antonio Banderas, suggested it may be premature to call out Hispanic artists for their lack of activism. Everyone was staggered by the protest turnouts, he said, and predicted other stars will join in time.

One person unsurprised by the white-dominated industry's inability to connect with the issue is Lisa Navarette, spokeswoman for the National Council of La Raza, a Hispanic civil rights organization.

Stars jump into debates over global warming and the Iraq war because their friends and peers are talking those subjects up, Navarette said. Most in the industry don't deal with Hispanics beyond their presence as domestic help.

"You drive by your gardener, you walk by your maid, but you're not necessarily connected to them in any way," she said.