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FEATURE: COVER STORY
Alongside fellow collaborator Kenny Stevenson, Huertas recently launched the production shingle, WestSide Stories. He says the new company has several projects in various stages of development - most of them featuring at least one military veteran or active-duty character. With our company, we have diversity at the heart of every story we want to tell, he said, and for me personally, having an active-duty member of the uniformed services or a veteran with a positive portrayal of that type of character is paramount to each and every one of our stories. In addition to adding more military/ veteran positive roles on the big screen, Huertas is also an advocate for giving Hollywood executives, directors, writers and producers more access to military bases - Air Force in particular - so those on-screen portrayals are more accurate as well. One reason I think its important to see what the Air Force does is that its a lot more than fighter planes and bombers,
STEVE GRANITZ/WIREIMAGE
Jon & Nicole Huertas attend the 71st Emmy Awards at Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles, California.
For me personally, having an active-duty member of the uniformed services or a veteran with a positive portrayal of that type of character is paramount to each and every one of our stories."
he said. There are so many things the Air Force does that gets overlooked because most stories about a military event or conflict involve the Army, the Marines or Navy, with the Air Force in just an air support role. Which is so important. it's how you win wars, Huertas explained, But its also important to shine a light on the other people who volunteer their lives in service of this country. The more we can show people, the more theyll want to tell stories about it.
A Born Actor
Born in New York City to an Afro-Latino father and a Caucasian mother, Huertas was raised primarily by his grandparents. He began acting when he was just 10 years old, taking part in school plays. Reportedly,
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