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Part 5: Lou Diamond Phillips on Playing a Cholo in "Stand and Deliver", Nominated for Golden Globe
Part 3: Lou Diamond Phillips on Playing Mexican Ritchie Valens in "La Bamba" as a Filipino American
Part 1: Lou Diamond Phillips on Many Military Kids Being Mixed, First Racist Encounter in College
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Lou Diamond Phillips revealed he earned only $6,000 for his iconic role in "La Bamba," due to getting the industry-standard scale rate of $1,100 per week. Despite this modest paycheck, Phillips shared how he gave half of his earnings to his mother following her divorce, reflecting his character, Richie Valens’ supportive nature. Though initially struggling financially after the film as an unknown actor from Texas, Phillips landed a well-paying guest spot on "Miami Vice," which helped sustain him. This appearance ultimately led to his role in "Stand and Deliver," securing his future career.
"La Bamba," with a $6 million budget, was a huge success, grossing $54 million in North America alone and further boosting Phillips’ career, even as he didn’t receive royalties from the movie. Reflecting on Hollywood’s penchant for remakes, Phillips expressed skepticism towards the upcoming "La Bamba" remake. He advocated for originality in cinema, stressing the need for films with “heart and soul” alongside unique storytelling to keep the art form alive.
