sa国际传媒官网网页入口

sa国际传媒官网网页入口-based poet Gigi Bella, who was ranked 10th in the world at the 2017 Women of the World Poetry Slam, just released a new poetry collection, 鈥淲ithout the Frills,鈥� inspired by her experiences working as a background actor.

鈥淚t is about the New Mexico film and television industry and my experience with it, working on a few sets,鈥� Bella said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 also about the importance of telling New Mexican stories 鈥� and the necessary changes needed to happen to make that storytelling equitable.鈥�

One of Bella鈥檚 most positive experiences in the industry was on the satirical 2025 Ari Aster film, 鈥淓ddington,鈥� where she played a pandemic-era protester.

鈥淚 had seen a call on Facebook that was looking for people who had participated in protests in the past and who had tattoos or piercings, bright colored hair. And I was like, 鈥極h, I fit that,鈥欌�� Bella said.

Although the protesters were not the heroes of that film, Bella felt that casting actual protesters brought authenticity to their portrayal.

鈥淭hat made all the difference,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 think that when you鈥檙e looking at people鈥檚 real-life experience and not just a picture of them, or how they present or what their name is 鈥� it changes things when you care about their lived experience. I felt very cared for in that way.鈥�

Other experiences have been less positive. Bella said that as a Chicana actor, she often encounters racism and sexism in the industry.

鈥淚 kept getting approached to do a project 鈥� I was getting these emails specifically to me 鈥� about playing a cartel maid. But I don鈥檛 believe they even looked at my pictures. I think it was just based on my name. And that鈥檚 a problem,鈥� Bella said.

Casting calls sometimes use stereotypical language, phrases like 鈥渟picy Latina,鈥� she said, and non-white actors are often encouraged to use such language on their CV鈥檚 to get more callbacks.

鈥淲e want to be able to have jobs and be in the forefront. But there鈥檚 this compromise that happens. 鈥� Some people are kind of OK with the stereotype, or whatever鈥檚 happening, because the work is there,鈥� Bella said. 鈥溾�� I think we can do better.鈥�

In her poetry, Bella often uses humor to tackle serious issues.

鈥淚 think that laughter is a really powerful tool to get somebody to a vulnerable space with you,鈥� Bella said. 鈥淚f you鈥檙e laughing together, you鈥檙e having a moment of connection that鈥檚 really specific to that moment. I really respect comedians. I take after comedians, and I think that they are amazing storytellers.鈥�

Some of the poems in 鈥淲ithout the Frills鈥� describe her experiences on television shows such as 鈥淧luribus鈥� and 鈥淏reaking Bad.鈥�

鈥淚 talk a lot about 鈥楤reaking Bad,鈥� but I don't want to be 鈥榯he 鈥淏reaking Bad鈥� poet,鈥� if there were such a thing,鈥� Bella said. 鈥淚鈥檇 rather be 鈥榯he Taco Bell poet.鈥欌��

One of Bella鈥檚 best-known poems, which is published in the new collection, is called 鈥淭aco Bell.鈥� In it, she pushes back against what she calls 鈥渢he politics of authenticity.鈥�

鈥淚 hate it when people say that Taco Bell isn鈥檛 real Mexican food, that it鈥檚 disgraceful as a Mexican to eat it, a bastardization of culture,鈥� the poem begins. Later, she writes, 鈥淭aco Bell is the most Mexican thing I have ever eaten, because it was the only thing cheap enough to feed all of us.鈥�

At her book launch at Launchpad in Downtown sa国际传媒官网网页入口, Bella read poems from the new book. There were also performances by seven other poets, as well as music by The Asteroids, Yacht Pops and sa国际传媒官网网页入口 Nuevo Teatro.

Beyond her poetry and acting work, Bella is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Chicano and Chicana Studies at the University of New Mexico. She is also looking for ways to make the film and television industry a more welcoming and comfortable environment for people of all racial backgrounds.

鈥淩ight now, I鈥檓 working toward building a petition for racially insensitive language to be removed from casting calls,鈥� Bella said.

鈥淲ithout the Frills鈥� is available through Button Poetry. Visit for more information or to order the book.

Logan Royce Beitmen is an arts writer for the sa国际传媒官网网页入口. He covers visual art, music, fashion, theater and more. Reach him at lbeitmen@abqjournal.com or on Instagram at .