Rob LeDonne When Jeff Lima, an actor of Puerto Rican descent (“Chicago Fire”), began auditioning for television and film work, he noticed something dejecting. “Early on, I can’t tell you how many of the same characters I was going out for,” says Lima, 30, of the stereotypical hardened-Latino roles he was presented with. “Back then I tried to make sense of it and wouldn’t say no to work, but it took a great deal of stepping outside the dream.”In turn, Lima launched the Jeff Lima Production Award three years ago to bolster Latino representation in film.
A $10,000 prize is given to a New York University thesis student or alum to fund a short film that advances the Latino presence on-screen.
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