Latinos are the most underrepresented group in Hollywood, according to a recent study published by USC's Annenberg School for Communications and Journalism.

The study, entitled "Inequality in 700 Popular Films: Examining Portrayals of Gender, Race, & LGBT Status from 2007 to 2014," attests that from 2007 through 2014, Hispanics have been represented in an average of 3.4 percent of the top 100 films of any given year. Blacks have averaged appearances on 12.65 percent of the films while Asians have appeared in 4.98 percent of them. The highest percentage for Latinos in that time span was 4.9 percent in 2008; the lowest was a year later when they appeared in just 2.8 percent of top 100 films. The report does not include statistics for 2011.

According to the report, Hispanics comprised 17.1 percent of the U.S. population in 2013, more than either blacks (13.2 percent) or Asians (5.3 percent). Moreover, in 2014 Hispanics purchased 23 percent of movie tickets.

The report also indicates that of the 100 top films of 2014, 17 featured a lead or co-lead from an underrepresented ethnic or racial group; Latinos only made up 11.8 percent of those 17 leads.

More problematic is that of the Hispanic characters on film, which as indicated are minimal to begin with, only 31.5 percent of those characters are female. Going deeper into onscreen portrayal, the report notes that Hispanic female characters are hypersexualized (shown in sexy attire or with exposed skin) more often than any other demographic in the industry. Meanwhile male Hispanics obtain this representation less than white males and black males.

While the report might be revelatory, many experts note that this is not a new trend.

"For people researching this topic, this is not news," said Hector Amaya, associate professor and chair of the Department of Media Studies at the University of Virginia, during a phone interview with Latin Post. "This report in a sense supports and replicates the findings of 'The Latino Media Gap.'"

"The Latino Media Gap," a study conducted by Columbia University and spearheaded by Frances Negrón-Muntaner alongside other colleagues, states that by 2015, "Hispanic buying power is expected to reach $1.6 trillion." That figure would represent the economy of the 14th largest country in the world according to the report.

Yet it also points out, "As Latino consumer power grows, relative Latino media presence shrinks."

"We know today that Latino representation in media today is worse than it was 70 years ago," Amaya said.

Other major findings of the report indicate that the trend is far greater than just the seven-year stretch showcased by the USC findings.

For example, the study found that the number of Latin American leads has actually decreased in the past 10 years despite reaching an apex around the turn of the century.

"At the turn of the millennium, there was a moment where we were excited because we knew that Latin Americans would pass African-Americans as the largest minority group in the U.S. and we were hopeful of our increased opportunity to contribute," Amaya said. "The reality is that a lot of the xenophobia that 9/11 produced was directed at Latinos."

Regarding Latino directors, producers and writers, there has been somewhat of an increase but ultimately an inconsequential one. "The Latino Media Gap" states between 2000 and 2009, Latinos made up 2.4 percent of directors, 0.8 percent of producers and 0.6 percent of writers. Between 2010-2013, Latinos comprised 2.3 percent of directors, 2.2 percent of producers and 6 percent of writers.

The report does mention that Latin actresses are getting more opportunities, but their visibility is limited to appearances in animated or fantasy films such as "Shrek Forever After," "Avatar" or "How to Train Your Dragon."

Finally, the report notes that any gains by Latinos come at a cost.

"The majority of top Latin American writers, producers, and directors are involved in mainstream big budget productions and do not focus their work on Latino stories nor cast U.S. Latino Actors," states the report.

This extends to the casting of Latin American talent in their films. Mexican directors Alfonso Cuaron and Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu are arguably the most prominent Latin American filmmakers working in the industry. Both have won Academy Awards in the last few years for such films as "Gravity" and "Birdman."

While they have made Latin American stories with Latin American actors in their early projects (and continue to hire Latin American crew members), their recent work has seen them shift toward predominantly white casts. Inarritu's Oscar-winning "Birdman" did not feature any Latin American actors; neither did Cuaron's award-winning "Gravity."

Inarritu's upcoming "The Revenant" also stars an all-white cast as well, further supporting this trend.

Guillermo del Toro, who broke out in 2006 for his work on the Mexican-produced "Pan's Labyrinth," has also followed this trend of Latin American directors in mainstream Hollywood, moving away from telling Latin American stories and casting Latin American actors. His upcoming "Crimson Peak" does not feature a single Latin American actor but features an all-white cast.

However, as Amaya noted, one cannot put the responsibility on a few individuals to change a major trend.

"Those directors, Cuaron and Inarritu, have impact on what they can do in their productions and they have often done what they can to correct this issue. I love them all as directors, but I personally think that Guillermo del Toro has done the most of the three," Amaya said. "That said, a single person cannot do much to correct a far greater tendency in such a large industry.

"This, I think, goes beyond what directors can do. I am talking about casting. I am talking about script writing. I am talking about the stories we choose to tell. ... [Studios] assume that the general public do not want to hear our stories. They assume that we do not want to hear our own stories. That's the irony and those are the problems that need to be addressed."

Associate professor Christina L. Sisk of the University of Houston said another problematic preconception that remains at the forefront is that people still assume Latinos are only speaking Spanish.

"I think it is starting to change, particularly with some personalities like George Lopez paving the way, but it still has a long way to go," she said.

Ultimately for Sisk, progress must come from all sides. She said more people need to be like Robert Rodriguez, "who is one of the few Latin Americans truly taking risks in mainstream Hollywood. ... Latinos behind the scenes need to come out and tell their stories. Make them relevant." 

However, she added they cannot do it alone. 

"People have to put their work out there but for that to happen, they have to have money. They need resources that will promote Latino films. Hollywood will have to respond to the demand. I think it is starting to see that, but it still has to grow. That is where the audience still has some power."