When these people started casting, they created a lot of buzz by “recruiting” real kids from the Bronx. My sister went and tried out for the part of Mylene, and I saw many other local kids trying out for the same part. Yet, based on the small research I have done, most of the people they chose for lead roles have established acting experience and are not local kids from the neighborhood.
It’s frustrating for those of us who actually come from the Bronx to wonder what Baz Luhrmann really understands about our experience. This whole process feels like a tease, and not very cool. I know many who came out and tried out—many! Not one was chosen for a major role. It also seems to me that the Latino community is underrepresented on the show. Maybe I’m wrong, and maybe there will be more Latinos added? I mean, the Bronx has a diverse population, so representation matters. My friends at Just a life long New Yorker sharing the journey through my lens. Please take note of a post’s date. The views I express here are subject to change and evolving as I grow and learn.
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