In 2012, Eva Longoria found herself faced with a difficult decision after wrapping up the eighth and final season of Desperate Housewives. She was flooded with offers to star in various television shows, but she felt overwhelmed by the prospect of committing to another network series with a demanding shooting schedule. Longoria had always harbored ambitions to produce and direct, but the industry was hesitant to give her the opportunity. Undeterred, she decided to pivot and focus on building up her directing credits.
Longoria started small, directing on shows like Devious Maids and Telenovela, which she had developed and produced through her own production company, UnbeliEVAble Entertainment. She gradually expanded her repertoire, directing episodes of Black-ish, The Mick, Jane the Virgin, and even streaming shows like Netflix’s The Expanding Universe of Ashley Garcia. Over the course of ten years, Longoria found herself building a strong directing portfolio without surrendering to the pressures of network television.
Now, Longoria has released her feature directorial debut, Searchlight’s Flamin’ Hot. The film tells the story of Richard Montañez, a Frito-Lay factory janitor who turned marketing executive and created the Flamin’ Hot Cheeto. Flamin’ Hot became the first scripted feature to debut on both Hulu and Disney+, solidifying Longoria’s status as a director. The film has even been screened on the White House’s South Lawn. Despite these achievements, Longoria remains focused on pushing for more Latino representation in Hollywood, both on-screen and off-screen.
Longoria’s journey in Hollywood hasn’t always been easy. When she first moved to L.A. 25 years ago, she found herself being typecast and facing limited opportunities. Auditioning for Latina roles, she was told she was too white, while auditioning for white roles, she was told she was too Latina. But Longoria persevered and found inspiration in actress Roselyn Sánchez, who was starring in major films at the time. Longoria became determined to break barriers and pave the way for more Latinx representation in the industry.
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Longoria’s impact extended beyond her own career. She hosted and produced the American Latino Media Arts Awards for 10 years, a show dedicated to recognizing and uplifting Latino achievement in entertainment and media. She also became involved with various organizations and nonprofits advocating for Latino causes, immersing herself in activism and education. Longoria audited a Chicano Studies class and eventually earned a master’s degree in Chicano Studies, all while juggling her acting and directing career.
Longoria’s efforts have been driven by a desire to effect change and understand the issues affecting the Latinx community. She has been a vocal advocate for immigration reform and has fought for the rights of undocumented immigrants through her support of the DREAM Act. Longoria’s dedication to activism and education stems from a need to understand the community’s history and where it stands today.
Despite her many accomplishments, Longoria remains humble and focused on the future. She acknowledges that there is still a long way to go in terms of Latino representation in Hollywood and hopes to continue breaking barriers as a director. Longoria believes that with each film she directs, she brings the Latinx community one step closer to achieving true representation and inclusivity in the industry.
In conclusion, Eva Longoria’s decision to pivot from acting to directing has proven to be a successful and fulfilling career move. Over the past decade, she has built up an impressive directing portfolio and marked a significant milestone with her feature directorial debut, Flamin’ Hot. Alongside her directing career, Longoria has been a tireless advocate for Latino representation and has used her platform to effect change. Despite the progress made, Longoria remains committed to pushing for greater inclusivity in Hollywood, recognizing that there is still work to be done.
