Rome Flynn Talks Afro-Latino Representation, SAG Strike Fears, and the Dream of Portraying Roberto Clemente

Brown & Black

Actor and musician Rome Flynn joins the podcast to discuss his reprised role as Santiago Zayas in Season 2 of Amazon's hit rom-com series, 'With Love'. In our conversation, we discussed the importance of "casting authentically," the escalating concerns about actors' self-audition tapes, and Flynn's thoughts on the potential havoc a SAG strike could inflict on the Hollywood industry. We also broached the question: could Rome Flynn be the one to bring baseball legend Roberto Clemente's epic story to the big screen?

Episode Highlights:

"The Power of Authenticity": Rome Flynn discusses his approach to portraying honest and relatable characters, focusing on his role as Santiago Saez, a modern Afro-Cuban American cynic. He shares the challenges inherent in bringing such a layered character to life.

"Afro-Latino Representation and the Casting Process": Flynn illuminates the casting process for Santiago, and discusses the commendable efforts of Black actors in creating opportunities for underrepresented demographics within the industry.

"Navigating the Acting Industry": Flynn candidly shares his journey within the industry, and the strategic choices he has made to maintain his artistic integrity. He underscores the importance of decision-making for actors of color, which sometimes includes turning down certain roles.

"The Impending WGA Strike and AI Disruption": Flynn shares his insights on the ongoing WGA strike, the potential of a combined strike with SAG, and emphasizes the necessity for actors to fight for fair compensation, residuals, and protections against the potential threat of AI-digitization.

"Self-Auditions From Hell": Flynn discusses the current state of self-audition tapes, even though he no longer uses them. He recognizes the emotional weight that actors carry during the process and acknowledges the limitations of self-tapes in capturing a performer's essence.

"The Roberto Clemente Dream": Flynn expresses his enthusiasm for potentially playing such a role. However, he highlights the importance of aligning with the right team and storytellers who can honor and do justice to Clemente's inspiring story.

The Brown & Black podcast, a 2023 Webby Nominee in the Best DE&I Episode Category, offers insightful examinations of race and pop culture. Hosted by two distinguished film and culture critics - one Latino and one Black - the podcast reimagines the narrative surrounding pop culture news and opinions in America. Jack Rico and Mike Sargent feature interviews with Latino and Black filmmakers, actors, musicians, and artists, unpacking the complex relationship between entertainment and race.

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