The Varied Voices of “East Los High’s” 3rd Season Characters
Premieres Wednesday, July 15th on Hulu
If you think you’ve seen it all on East Los High…think again. When Hulu’s East Los High premieres on July 15th it will blow your mind.
These are not your mainstream TV network Latino gangbanger and maid characters. The East Los High storyline go where no other series has gone before and the “others” can now wonder why they didn’t think of it.”
The first season of Hulu’s original online series East Los High was fresh, unique and groundbreaking in so many ways but mostly because it was the first series about Latinos high school students in East Los Angeles. Secondly, it gave many Latinos a rare chance at playing a lead roles, for that they can thank show creators Carlos Portugal and Kathleen Bedoya who created the world. The world they wrote has hit a nerve with audiences, the drama of Latinos in high school, infused with heighten cultural drama and taboos. On the eve of the third season premiere on Wednesday, July 15th, East Los High steps it up a few notches adding the most interesting and controversial Latino characters on any TV or online programming in addition to new sexy dancers to the bomb squad.
“Jocelyn & Camila”
With the second season, came an Emmy nomination for East Los High and for Vannessa Vasquez and Danielle Vega. At the center of season two was the story of the tumultuous on and off again love affair between Camila Barrios (Vasquez) and Jocelyn Reyes (Andrea Sixtos). More on that relationship in season three.
These are not your mainstream TV network Latino gangbanger and maid characters. The East Los High storyline go where no other series has gone before and the “others” can now wonder why they didn’t think of it.
You will see familiar faces like Gabriel Chavarria as Jacob Aguilar, an East Los High graduate turned coach; un-reformed bad girl Vanessa De La Cruz played by Tracy Perez; and domestic violence victim Ceci played by Danielle Vega. All three actors originated their characters in first season — now their characters serve as cautionary tales, or a good example, of what might come after high school. Ashley Campuzano also returns as Tiffany Ramos, a member of the school’s dance team ‘The Bomb Squad.
Blanca Valdez, the casting director of East Los High has had the difficult job of finding the best young Latino talent in Hollywood, and no other casting director can claim the success she has had in uncovering Hollywood’s finest talent. This season the production also focused on bringing in talent with an existing profile. Actress/singer/songwriter Christina Milian, Academy Award nominee Catalina Sandino Moreno (Maria Full of Grace) and JD Pardo (Revolution), and finally Carlito Olivero The X-Factor finalist round out the cast in season three.
In anticipation of the hottest season of East Los High to date, Latin Heat reached out to some of the newest characters to give us an insight about themselves and their roles.
Newcomer to East Los High, Karen Anzoategui plays Daysi. Daysi is queer and proud. Her natural charm and family connections attract Jocelyn’s attention, but will Camila’s presence interfere?
Anzoategui tell us about her character:
“I am cast as Daysi Cantu, as I am, a genderqueer masculine appearing and androgynous queer/fluid person in this world.
Daysi is funny and loving and charismatic and confident and supported by her familia. I am honored and blessed to play a character like this on TV that reaches so many youth and shows our communities more in the light of who we are.
As Daysi, I get to stand up for myself and be confident and be supported even by administrators…. this is so not an experience I am familiar with, this is truly acting”.
Catalina Sandino Moreno & Carlito Olivero
Catalina Sandino Moreno will be playing Carmen, mother to Bomb Squad’s new heartthrob, Eddie (played by Carlito Olivero). Although undocumented, his mom will do anything to give her son the best in spite of her circumstances and her deteriorating health and having to choose between what is good for her son or for her.
Carlito Olivero was one of the finalist on The X Factor in 2011 and he hasn’t stopped working since. This season he brings more sexy to the series as his character become one of the Bomb Squad newest member – yes the Bomb Squad is going coed. The series hasn’t started but already his kissing scenes are going viral. His trick to those arduous kissing scenes? “I have gum in my pocket”.
Christina Milian, tapping into her own music career, will play Liliana, season and in-control music producer at R&R Records mentor to Vannessa Vasquez’s Camila. Milian certainly has the experience since she started her career at the age of 19 when she signed a contract with Def Jam.
Milian has worked with some of music top producers including Cool & Dre, J.R. Rotem, The Runners, Danja, Madd Scientist, T-Pain, Jim Josin and Toby Gad.
Ashley Campuzano plays Tiffany Ramos, a member of the school’s dance team ‘The Bomb Squad’ who was introduced in season two. Ashley, a Southern Californian native, grew up in the community of Downey and talks about what she finds unique in working on East Los High:
“Working on East Los High for the past two years has definitely been a very unique experience in so many ways. One of the ways was that the set did not feel like any ordinary set, it felt so comfortable and welcoming, basically like a big family. Everyone was so positive and uplifting every single day. Another unique thing is that the majority of the cast is of Latin descent which is nice and helpful while filming a show based off of, and portraying, the lifestyle and community East Los Angeles. (For more on Ashley Click Here).
Oskar Rodriguez originally from Puerto Rico is a phenomenal dancer who has danced for Rihanna, JLO, Janet Jackson and so many more. Having worked with all these mega star, here is what Rodriguez said is special about working on the East Los High set.
“I think working with an ALL latino cast on this show was pretty unique and spectacular. The fact that this show allows us to explore and show our audience real issues that happen in our culture and community on a daily basis is just groundbreaking. We’re not just the maid, or the restaurant server, or the bathroom attendant, how they usually portray us latinos in movies and television.”
JD Pardo bring the mystery back to East Los High. Not since the first season when Maya (Alicia Sixtos) went a whole season with secrets in her closet has the mystery quotient been so high. Pardo plays Jesus, the dangerous newcomer with a mysterious past. Camila (Vasquez) is forced to work with the sexy bad boy and soon discovers there is more to Jesus than she imagined.”
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