Spotlight on Diana Romero

In honor of National Hispanic Heritage Month, we're shining a Q & A spotlight on OM2's very own Diana Romero, screenwriter and producer. 

•   Tell us about yourself.

I’m an anomaly. I was born in Kansas after my dad had been granted a Visa by the US to practice medicine here. He was a doctor in Colombia when he met my mom. Within 3 months they married and were on their way to Kansas, where my dad would specialize in psychiatry. Both my parents have PhD’s thus dispelling the stereotype that all first generation Americans tend to go further in education than their parents did. Nope, not in my case. I only have an MFA. After Kansas, I lived in Colombia for a few years before we returned to Kansas. However, my middle school and high school years were done in Washington state. I went to college in California, right outside LA and graduated with a BA in Social Work. I was a social worker for about 5 years. I worked with incarcerated at-risk youth as well as runaways, street kids, sex workers and the trans community in the mean streets of Hollywood. One day I decided that I wanted to tell their stories, so I went back to school to be a writer/filmmaker. The first short I wrote and produced won a lot of awards and screened all over the world. I always wanted to be a writer, but my path took me on a producing route. I worked as a producer for several years until I had a health setback and found myself reliant on a wheelchair. That was the moment I decided to focus on writing full time. So here I am, a budding TV writer looking for that lucky break after many heartbreaks in this industry. 

•    How did you get into screenwriting?

I come from a family of writers and I loved reading when I was a kid. I would write stories and even wrote plays that I would cast and produce. We would put shows on for our families. I continued to write through my youth and as an adult. I just never thought of it as a career. I grew up with a lot of love for movies and TV. I went back to school for a 2nd BA in film and TV production after I decided to leave social work as a career. In school I had to write my own projects and the first class short I wrote and produced, was invited to a festival where it was chosen as the “best of”. Then I got my MFA from the American Film Institute. My thesis film was greenlit for production and the short went on to win numerous awards from film festivals around the world. I had also audited a screenwriting class to learn how to wirte a spec episode of a current TV show. I loved the class but I still wasn’t ready to pursue writing as a career.

•    When did you realize this was your calling?

In 2018 when I found myself relying on a wheelchair, I decided that I was going to focus on my writing and was going to start a new career path towards being a television writer. Since 2018, I have added tv pilots to my portfolio, which also includes feature film screenplays. After 18 years of working in production and distribution, I found myself in entry level positions, often much older than support staff and a lot of the writers. But this doesn’t dissuade me, I am doing what I love. Everyone should do that and age shouldn’t be a factor.

•    Who were you influenced by?

There is no “who” there are many experiences that influenced me. My parents are the most influential people in my life. They are my biggest supporters and cheerleaders. They taught me to follow my dreams and to never give up regardless of obstacles are thrown in my path. My uncle is a very well-recognized novelist and poet from South America, so he was also an influence.

•    How does your culture show up in your work?

I am bi-cultural so my stories are informed by my experiences as an American daughter to Colombian parents. Everything I write is through the lens of a woman who has no one culture to dig from.

•    How do you overcome stereotypes in both your culture and as a disabled person?

By writing true and authentic stories that don’t adhere to the same old and tired Hollywood playbook. As a disabled person, 1st gen American with Colombian parents, I can say with much certainty that I don’t fit a single stereotype about Latinos or people with disabilities. Because of this, my stories don’t abide portray the foolish stereotypes created by our film/TV industries. 

•    Are there any Latinx industry professionals you would love to work with?

I’d like to cast John Leguizamo, Sofia Vergara, Jimmy Smits, Efren Ramirez, Esai Morales and other Latino/a actors in my shows and movies. I’d love to work with Gael Garcia Bernal and Diego Luna as well as Pedro Almodovar and Guillermo Del Toro. 

•    What does the future hold for you?

Future credits include TV/Film writer, showrunner, creator, producer. Also touring with my solo show on stages and at schools as I show people what it’s like to be born to Colombian parents in Kansas.

•    What advice would you give to other Latinx screenwriters?

My advice would be the same for all screenwriters. Make sure writing, television and film are in your blood. That’s the secret to a lasting career. Be prepared for lots and lots of rejections. Savor the wins. Keep learning your craft and the business aspect of it. Write, write, write. There will be many times where you won’t work for a while so save your money, spend it wisely and don’t waste it. Always love what you do, if you stop loving it, move on to something else, don’t navigate this industry jaded. People can read that a mile away. Believe in yourself and believe that if you put in the time and do the work, you’ll be rewarded. Hopefully.

Related links:

Diana Romero signs with OM2

Diana Romero on IMDb

National Hispanic Heritage Month is observed from September 15 to October 15 in the United States, to celebrate the many achievements of Latin Americans and their cultural and historical influence in our community.

OM2 is the literary management division of One Moorer, a media and management company that specializes in book-to-screen projects and seeks to amplify underrepresented voices.