Medavoy talk turns up Heat

By VARIETY STAFF

The Latin Heat conference was jump-started Wednesday with an inspirational speech by Phoenix Pictures chairman Mike Medavoy, who reminded Latinos that their growing numbers represent real power in the marketplace.

Medavoy's keynote address, "The Business of Latino Entertainment: Progress and Profit," kicked off the three-day Third Annual Latin Heat/Lemi Entertainment Conference in Burbank.

"It is and should be very clear to all in the entertainment industry that, not unlike any other industry, the Hispanic community's moment has arrived," Medavoy said to about 400 attendees at the Castaway Conference Center. "With its almost 30 million people (and) annual spending of $280 billion, it not only is an important market but a crucial one."

"The industry listens to political pressure," Medavoy said, responding to an attendee's query on why Latinos have been slow to break into entertainment compared to African-Americans. "I am not saying blacks, Armenians or anybody else has gotten there on the basis of their political clout. But you do have political clout (because) you buy tickets."

But Medavoy later added: "I am 100% behind merit, as opposed to because you happen to be Latino or you because you happen to be Chinese."

On Friday, director Gregory Nava will receive this year's Vision Award for his positive portrayals of Latinos in pics such as "Selena" and "Mi Familia."

Latin Heat is sponsored by Sony Pictures, the Directors Guild of America, IFP West, Macy's, Four Brown Hats, KABC, Paramount Pictures, Filmmaker magazine, Hispanic magazine, Latin Style, Que Linda and KVEA.