The energy outside The Beverly Hilton was electric last month as the National Hispanic Media Coalition (NHMC) hosted its annual Impact Awards Gala. Among the night’s most anticipated attendees was powerhouse creator, director, writer, showrunner, and producer Linda Yvette Chávez. Known for her groundbreaking work as the creator of Netflix’s Gentefied, the writer of the hit film Flamin’ Hot, and the voice behind Orion Pictures’ upcoming I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter, Chávez has made a career out of telling complex, intergenerational stories.
Hosted by the hilarious duo of comedian Chris Estrada and actress Isabella Gomez, the evening was a vibrant celebration of the creators, writers, and performers who are actively shattering stereotypes and bringing accurate, multi-dimensional Latino representation to the screen. On the red carpet, Chávez caught up with Movie Mija for a deeply candid conversation that touched on Hollywood rooms, protecting one’s mental health, and a heartwarming, unexpected moment of mutual admiration.
The Recipe for Hollywood Buy-In: “Guns a Blazing”
For Chávez, the secret weapon isn’t a magical pitching formula; it’s radical, unapologetic authenticity.
“I think oftentimes, we come into rooms thinking that we need to give people what they’re looking for,” Chávez explained. “But the reality is, most people are human beings who want to just connect to something that’s authentic and something that’s human.”
Chávez recalled pitching Gentefied and Flamin’ Hot alongside her creative partners with a fierce sense of conviction. “We came into every room guns a blazing, really fiercely believing in the stories we’re telling and not being apologetic about it. This is who we are. These are the people we love… And people really resonated with that passion. Our people are worthy of being honored and held up on screen. Why wouldn’t people want to put their money behind that?”
“A Dysregulated Nervous System is the Enemy of Creativity”
Chávez expanded on advice she frequently shares online regarding the importance of building writing rituals and especially protecting one’s mental well-being, especially in a world that can feel increasingly overwhelming. “Being online a lot, we’re exposed to more than I think humanly we should be exposed to,” she said. Chávez went on to explain that having rituals. Including ways to preserve our minds and bodies, the way our communities have for generations, is vital. She also emphasized how a dysregulated nervous system is the enemy of creativity. “Right now, all of our nervous systems are extremely dysregulated. When we’re trying to be creative, we need to have all those blocks removed.”
“I feel that as creators, as artists, we’re channeling messages into this world,” Chávez added, describing herself with a laugh as a “spiritual person/recovering Catholic.” “So why not protect the vessel that is bringing story into this world? Close the door to negative messages when you need to.”
What’s Next for Linda Yvette Chávez?
While Hollywood’s standard non-disclosure agreements kept Chávez from spilling details on her upcoming studio projects, she did share a deeply personal project close to her heart.
“I can talk about a personal project that I’m working on that is something that I’m writing and hopefully will direct,” she teased. “It’s about a medical journey that I went on recently. It’s about love, it’s about death, it’s about grief, and it’s about Brown love. I hope that’s something that can be made in the future soon.” With her unwavering commitment to protecting her peace and championing her community, there is no doubt that whatever Chávez touches next will continue to shift the cultural landscape for the better.
