LA ROPA SUCIA
La Ropa Sucia is a fotonovela produced by ETV in collaboration with Palmetto & Luna and designed to target both Hispanic and non-Hispanic teenagers; the title, which means “Dirty Laundry,” is based on the Hispanic adage, “La ropa sucia se lava en casa.” (“Dirty laundry is washed at home,” or “Don’t air your dirty laundry.”).

The purpose of La Ropa Sucia is to shed light on the issues facing Hispanic teens, such as racism, assimilation, and religious and sub-cultural division, as well as more universal issues such as poverty, domestic violence, access to healthcare and low self-esteem – issues that many teens may face. By examining and dramatizing the distinctions and the similarities between cultures, La Ropa Sucia aims to increase cross-cultural empathy and awareness.

The story was conceived by Marycruz Figueroa, a first-generation American of Mexican and Guatemalan descent. She developed the project while she was an intern at ETV from Columbia College. La Ropa Sucia was funded in part by the Humanities Councilscand was produced with the support of the Hispanic arts organization Palmetto & LUNA.

Read La Ropa Sucia

Credits

Executive Producer Betsy Newman
Writer/Producer/Director Marycruz Figueroa
Photographer Gaines Halford
Web Developer Connie Robinette
Logo Design Sammy Lopez
Associate Producer Patrick Gilmore
Spanish Translator Iván Segura

Cast

America (Meri) Marycruz Figueroa
High School Friend: Chelsea Vaughan Parler
Nate: Kevin Smith
Meri's Mother: Lucia Vega
Pulguita: Kenia Chavez
Meri's Father: Roberto Belén
LoLó: Maria Bravo-Carillo
Ema: Gaby Ruiz
Manuel: Alejandro Garcia-Lemos
Nate's Mother: Loretta Smith Gobbel