Marisel Polanco, shown at right, booked a national SAG commercial for Cambridge National Bank after the casting director saw her profile on the HOLA online directory and called her in to audition.
Madelin Quezada, shown at left, was recently crowned Miss Massachusetts Latina US and will vie for Miss Latina US title. She was also featured in the Massachusetts newspaper Rumbo (along with a mention for HOLA). To read the bilingual (English/Spanish) article, click here. 
Check out this article by Michael Scherer in Time Magazine on why the Latino vote will be instrumental in picking the winner of the U.S. presidency in 2012 by clicking here. Also, note the cover of the magazine,
New York, New York, U.S.-- The Hispanic Organization of Latin Actors (HOLA) is pleased to announce that Washington D.C.’s Shakespeare Theatre Company (STC) recently held auditions in New York City exclusively for HOLA members. The company auditioned 45 Latino actors for possible roles in its upcoming season of productions. The opportunity afforded to HOLA members was made possible by HOLA’s advocacy efforts in the wake of recent criticisms surrounding that company’s production of Much Ado About Nothing (which was set in 1930s Cuba).
HOLA applauds the company’s good faith efforts to address the need for greater diversity within its productions. In response to criticisms surrounding its recent production of Much Ado About Nothing, Shakespeare Theatre Company took immediate action by working with HOLA, the nation’s longest running active arts service and advocacy organization for Latino actors. The auditions stand as a testament to their desire to lead a meaningful effort for greater inclusion of minority actors 
within its ranks. “We had a wonderful afternoon of auditions with the Hispanic Organization of Latin Actors. It was a privilege to meet and audition so many talented actors, most of whom we hadn’t met before. We look forward to continuing our relationship with HOLA in the future,” stated Alan Paul, Associate Director of Shakespeare Theatre Company.
“HOLA is heartened to witness this esteemed theatre company’s desire to truly address the issue of diversity. We are proud of the talented and highly trained actors that fill HOLA’s ranks and are confident that Shakespeare Theatre Company now has a roster of Latino actors to choose from for any future productions. Opportunities such as these are a direct result of HOLA’s mission and we are proud to have found an ally in that mission in this leading national theatre company,” stated Manny Alfaro, Executive Director of HOLA.
Wanna be an HOLA member? Wanna know more about HOLA first?
• Is HOLA an agency or management company?
No. While we work similarly to an agency or an artist management company, we do a lot more. In essence, HOLA is a membership organization, a not-for-profit arts service organization that offers jobs and casting opportunities, workshops and seminars and special events to its membership.
• Does one have to audition for HOLA?
No. HOLA is a membership organization. Just pay the annual membership and you become an HOLA member.
• I am a new actor. Does HOLA apply to me?
HOLA member range from the beginner to the established and everywhere in between. HOLA will apply to you at every stage of your career.
• Do I have to speak Spanish (or Portuguese) to be an HOLA member?
No. HOLA members speak English only, Spanish only, or both languages fluently. Our Brazilian members speak Portuguese as well as English. There is no requirement for any member to speak Spanish (or Portuguese) to be an HOLA member.
• What kind of casting notices do you receive?
HOLA receives all kinds of casting notices— from union and nonunion, through the disciplines of film, television, theater and voiceover. The majority of our notices are distributed to our membership. There are some instances, whether because of short notice or because of the search for something very specific, that HOLA makes referrals to certain talent.
• I have signed representation. Would that be in conflict with HOLA?
No. In fact, we would put your signed representative’s name and number on your online profile. It would be another way to promote yourself without conflict.
• If I book a job through HOLA, do I owe you a commission?
No. We are not an agency or artist management company. You are under no obligation to give us a commission. (But if you want to show your appreciation with a donation, we’ll be forced to take it, I suppose.)
• I am in the process of getting my citizenship. Could I still join HOLA?
Yes. As long as you can legally work in the U.S., you can join HOLA.
• Does HOLA have a social media presence?
Yes. We are on Facebook, Twitter and have our own channel on YouTube. In addition, we are on Wikipedia and have our own blog, titled El Blog de HOLA.
• What if I am not an actor but I like what you do?
You could support HOLA by becoming a Friend of HOLA and donating to the organization. If you are a producer or director, a Friend of HOLA donation allow us to promote your productions!
This guest blog is republished from this site.Fast forward to 2012 and it's a different story. Putting yourself on video properly is so commonplace that its now almost being expected. The expansion of broadband has made uploading and screening videos an easy endeavor. Bi-coastal means putting yourself on tape and uploading it in a file that can be sent.
However… you must remember that shooting yourself for an audition, is still putting yourself on video and basic filmmaking techniques apply. How you film yourself will effect the experience for the casting director. The biggest pet peeve I have when people put them selves on tape for me… is sound. It’s the simplest problem to solve. Go to Radio Shack and get a clip-on mic. Most cameras have a basic mic on the front but it is meant to capture all the sound around. A clip on mic (even a cheap one) will capture your voice and make the tape feel much more intimate.
Think about it from a filmmaker's prospective. Most films (if you're into them) you can forgive a shot or a bad picture even framing, but sound in a movie is much more difficult to forgive. Bad sound is the hallmark of student films. So when you send a video with bad sound the first thing it does is remind me of all the bad student films I have seen. Bad sound also takes away the intimacy of your performance. We hear an echo of a room and are very aware your surroundings. Where a simple clip mic will bring your voice in line with the closeup and make me aware of your subtleties… not the echo of the room.
If you self-tape- use a clip mic or lavalier.
Alberto Bonilla is an actor, playwright, director, teacher and HOLA member. He currently teaches the Film and TV class at the Maggie Flanigan Studio.
Yanelba Ferreira, shown at left, just finished filming the web series "Happy Cancer Chick." Written by Linda Nieves-Powell and Jenny Lídice Saldaña and directed by Nieves Powell, it also stars Saldaña as her sister and introduces Eudocia Hernández as their mother (in real life, Hernández is Ferreira's mother). The webseries will premiere in March 2012. (She booked the gig after reading about the casting notice on one of HOLA's e-mail announcement notices and submitting herself.) 
Milteri Tucker, shown at right, received a Taíno Award in the category of Best Dancer/ Choreographer at the Fourth Annual Taíno Awards for her work as choreographer in the musical Temple of the Souls (written by Anita Vélez-Mitchell, Anika Paris and Dean Landon). She and her work were also highlighted in the New York Daily News. To read the article, click here. In addition, she was invited to perform with the renowned grassroots band Brown Rice Family in February at a sold out performance at the 92Y Tribeca. She is currently working on new projects with her company Bombazo Dance and most recently was invited by master Ailey teacher and Broadway dancer Fernando Carrillo to dance with him on his developing choreography.
Marco Antonio Rodríguez, shown at left, was inducted into Latino Leaders Magazine's list of "Dallas's 25 Top Young Latino Leaders of the Future."
the casting notice in the daily e-mail announcements HOLA sends out to its members. The play is written by Art Shulman and directed by Kristina Lloyd. It will have its world premiere for a February and March run at The Secret Rose Theatre in the NoHo Arts District of North Hollywood, California. For more information, click here.
Check out this article in the Huffington Post about the new development deal between John Leguizamo, shown at right, and ABC for a new single-camera sitcom by clicking here.
Manuel Herrera, shown at left, along with Janny Landaverde, are hosting a radio program called "Acceso Directo." The entertainment news program will air Saturdays at noon Eastern time (9am Pacific time) at the internet radio station Radio Nación Latina. To tune in, go to their website here.
Check out this article in Latin Heat about a new study from the National Hispanic Foundation for the Arts (NHFA), which states that there is a dearth of Latino representation on the Sunday morning network news and politics programming by clicking here.
osé Roldán, Jr., shown at left, was cast in an educational video for Motion Inc. after the casting director spotted his profile on the HOLA online directory and called him in to audition. In addition, he is in pre-production for the short Infected. Written, directed and co-starring Roldán, the film will also star Jorge Álvarez and Jennifer Fernández.• Is HOLA an agency or management company?
No. While we work similarly to an agency or an artist management company, we do a lot more. In essence, HOLA is a membership organization, a not-for-profit arts service organization that offers jobs and casting opportunities, workshops and seminars and special events to its membership.
• Does one have to audition for HOLA?
No. HOLA is a membership organization. Just pay the annual membership and you become an HOLA member.
• I am a new actor. Does HOLA apply to me?
HOLA member range from the beginner to the established and everywhere in between. HOLA will apply to you at every stage of your career.
• Do I have to speak Spanish (or Portuguese) to be an HOLA member?
No. HOLA members speak English only, Spanish only, or both languages fluently. Our Brazilian members speak Portuguese as well as English. There is no requirement for any member to speak Spanish (or Portuguese) to be an HOLA member.
• What kind of casting notices do you receive?
HOLA receives all kinds of casting notices— from union and nonunion, through the disciplines of film, television, theater and voiceover. The majority of our notices are distributed to our membership. There are some instances, whether because of short notice or because of the search for something very specific, that HOLA makes referrals to certain talent.
• I have signed representation. Would that be in conflict with HOLA?
No. In fact, we would put your signed representative’s name and number on your online profile. It would be another way to promote yourself without conflict.
• If I book a job through HOLA, do I owe you a commission?
No. We are not an agency or artist management company. You are under no obligation to give us a commission. (But if you want to show your appreciation with a donation, we’ll be forced to take it, I suppose.)
• I am in the process of getting my citizenship. Could I still join HOLA?
Yes. As long as you can legally work in the U.S., you can join HOLA.
• Does HOLA have a social media presence?
Yes. We are on Facebook, Twitter and have our own channel on YouTube. In addition, we are on Wikipedia and have our own blog, titled El Blog de HOLA.
• What if I am not an actor but I like what you do?
You could support HOLA by becoming a Friend of HOLA and donating to the organization. If you are a producer or director, a Friend of HOLA donation allow us to promote your productions!
Wanna be an HOLA member? Wanna know more about HOLA first?
