Tag Archive: Gentefied

Brenda Banda, Gentefied and Her Many Hats

Brenda Banda
©2020 Angela María Ortíz S.

Disclaimer: this interview was done two weeks prior to the COVID-19 shutdown. I think it’s a fun interview, so take a listen. Be safe and stay at home.

It was my first time meeting Brenda Banda, who plays Norma on Netflix’ hit series, Gentefied. We met at my favorite coffee shop and I think we had a great conversation. I find her character Norma to be the force of reason.

Art by @pholkgiant

Banda is a very proud Angeleno—an actor, director, playwright and acting coach who grew up in South Central (renamed South Los Angeles in 2003). She was only eleven years old when she first stepped onto a stage at Russell Elementary, where she performed as MC at their 6th grade culmination.

Angela Ortíz and Brenda Banda

We talked a little about her upbringing, but mostly we focused on her 23-year career in this business, where she is at this moment in her life, how Gentefied is her first big television debut and what a hoot it is to be part of the series.

Brenda Banda

We even talked about what’s next on her docket…Which happens to be a pilot about detectives who become vigilantes, Wrong for Right.

Now sit back and listen in on our conversation.

The ten episodes of Gentefied is streaming on Netflix. — A.O.

Gentefied Will Settle How to Pronounce Latinx

A couple of weeks ago I screened all ten episodes of Netflix’ upcoming series, Gentefied. I enjoyed every episode for what it was and hope others will too. There’s so much that’s relatable with the characters in the show. They are likable for many different reasons. My fave is the Afro-Latinx activist, Yessika (Julissa Calderon).

For me, it’s personal. I live in Northeast Los Angeles. Through my teenage and college years, I spent A LOT of time in Boyle Heights. Mind you, Northeast Los Angeles is a very large area with many wonderful communities within it, and I’ve seen a lot of changes. Gentrification is real; sometimes it’s good…and sometimes it isn’t. That’s why I think this series hits a nerve within me.

L-r: Joaquín Cosío, Joseph Julian Soria and Carlos Santos

Gentefied is ambitious, in a good way. It tries to show different facets of the Latino/Latinx community in one area of the city, because we all know we aren’t all the same, just as Starz’ VIDA (Tanya Saracho) has been doing in their two seasons (with a third on its way in April).

Gentefied was created by two Chicano first-gen writers, Marvin Lemus and Linda Yvette Chávez, who are credited as executive producers alongside Monica Macer, Aaliyah Williams, America Ferrera, and others. America Ferrera even directed a couple of the episodes. The half-hour dramedy premiered on February 21 on Netflix. It stars Joaquín Cosío as Pop, Karrie Martin as Ana Morales, Joseph Julian Soria as Erik, Carlos Santos as Chris, Annie Gonzalez as Lidia Solis, Felipe Esparza as Crazy Dave, Rafael Sigler as Pancho Solis, Jaime Alvarez as Javier Fernandez, Bianca Melgar as Nayeli Morales, and Michelle Ortiz as Connie.

I had a chance to talk with some of Gentefied’s stars just a few days before its premiere on Netflix. They gave us some real insight into what the series is about, and what a joy it’s been to be part of it.

Joseph Julian Soria, known as JJ, plays Erik. Erik is all about family, even though things don’t seem to always go his way. I asked JJ how much of Eric’s love of family and ambition is like his own. “I understood Eric’s love for family quite well,” he told me. “I myself am very close to my family.  Read the rest of this entry »

Gente + Gentrified = GENTEFIED

GENTEFIED 7 Characters 7 Episodes

GENTEFIED 7 Characters 7 Episodes

We’ve only seen the trailer, but this web series looks hilarious!

America Ferrera shared the trailer on her Facebook page. She said, ”Finally! I get to show you the trailer for GENTE-FIED, a new web series I executive produced with MACRO…It’s a funny and heartfelt peek into the lives of the people in the changing Los Angeles neighborhood of Boyle Heights…A series that proudly features all Latinos both in front of and behind the camera! So proud of it!”

The series main casts are Alicia Sixtos (Ana), Art Bonilla (Javier), Edsson Morales (Chris), Rafael Sigler (Pancho), Sal Velez, Jr. (Erik), Victoria Ortiz (Josie), Yareli Arizmendi (Lupe) and featuring America Ferrera, Montse Hernandez, Brittany Ashley, Jenny Lorenzo, Rickey Thompson, and Soledad St. Hilaire.

There’s no release date yet, but we’ll let you. — A.O.

Gente/People + Gentrified = Gentefied