When Nickolas Duarte, writer and director at Crown Chimp Productions, became a NALIP member he found the acceptance that was missing within the film industry.

Duarte, originally from Tucson, AZ, comes from a loving and supportive family. He had never seen himself as someone who had to overcome serious obstacles. However, after graduating from college and facing an exclusive industry, he realized that there were opportunities he was not able to take advantage of because of his status, background or ethnicity. “Culturally, as Latinos, we have this mentality that we put our heads down and work harder, just put in the extra hours, which is great, but I think there are times that we need to put our heads up and be more aggressive about things,” he said.

Duarte directed an eBay commercial campaign and worked on a series for WB. He premiered several of his works; his short film "Trouble Will Find Her" which premiering online on Film Shortage and Director’s Note and his documentary "Jay" premiered at Academy-qualifying St. Louis International Film Festival.

To him, our #WeAreInclusion campaign symbolizes collaboration and support. “It’s very important to have this group of people, this family that helps build you up.” He hopes to be able to look back 50 years from now and laugh about how “how weird it was that studios had to put in diversity programs to bring in Latino or black voices.”

 

Follow Nickolas

Instagram and Twitter: @mrnickduarte