ABC interviews Pinoy talents

May 14, 2008
Written by News Team, in US News

By Jose Katigbak
WASHINGTON – The Disney-ABC television group tried to make nice with Filipinos and Filipino Americans in Washington in an apparent attempt to mollify the community outraged by a perceived racial slur in the “Desperate Housewives” TV series six months ago.

In the first of a series of outreaches to Filipinos across the United States, Disney-ABC group executives led by Bob Mendez, Sr. Vice President, Diversity and Tim McNeal, Vice President, Talent Development met on April 24 with about 50 candidates wishing to pursue careers in television as actors, writers, directors and producers.

“It would be a wonderful opportunity for ABC to deepen the talent pool with candidates from the Filipino community,” Mendez said.

Filipinos at home and abroad were incensed last October when actress Teri Hatcher playing one of the lead characters in “Desperate Housewives” asked to see her gynecologist’s diplomas “to make sure that they’re not from some med school in the Philippines.”

Following a wave of protests across the United States, statements of indignation and condemnation by government officials in
Manila and threats of a lawsuit and boycott Mendez in talks with community leader Jon Melegrito agreed to explore a program that might help increase opportunities for Filipinos at ABC.

Melegrito, Communications Director of the National Federation of Filipino American Associations, said instead of threats and lawsuits NaFFAA believed convincing the network to open employment opportunities at all levels for Filipino Americans was more productive.

Melegrito said most of those who attended the Washington meeting submitted their resumes and had one-on-one interviews for possible jobs as script writers, directors and performers.

He said ABC executives were impressed with the talent the candidates had.

Successful candidates will be given a one-year $50,000 fellowship to shadow established ABC directors, producers and other
talent. If they do well they will be offered full time jobs.