David Bianchi on Afro-Latino Identity, Spoken Word Roots & Dystopian Sci-Fi Vision

For over two decades, Afro-Brazilian actor, producer, and spoken word artist David Bianchi has called Los Angeles home. When he graduated from theater school in 2004 and headed west, the entertainment industry looked very different. “Being ethnically ambiguous wasn’t a cool thing in Hollywood,” he recalls. “To be Afro-Latino wasn’t a big thing. Even the term ‘Latinx’ didn’t pop up until about eight years ago, so it was really challenging to get cast. That’s why I started to produce.”

Bianchi’s identity as an Afro-Latino was something he didn’t see reflected on screen growing up. It wasn’t until he began frequenting spoken word open mic events in LA that he met others who shared his background. That sense of community inspired him, but it also solidified his purpose. If Hollywood wasn’t going to create space for voices like his, he would build that space himself.

Before filmmaking, Bianchi produced raves in upstate New York. His first experience attending one sparked a lightbulb moment, he saw the potential to generate income and gather people. That early work in event production laid the foundation for his later career in film and television. “When I think about the macro, I knew I was in a place that was in my purpose,” he says of his time in theater school.

Now, as a producer, Bianchi is committed to helping others “cross,” a phrase he borrows from Tyler Perry. “It’s important to help people cross. Whether I’m hiring people of different diasporas—that stuff means a lot to me, because for me, I needed people to help me cross.”

One of his most meaningful moments came during the wrap party for a recent project. An actor approached him and said, “You changed my life. I joined SAG because of you.” That moment stuck with Bianchi. “That feel is life-defining for an artist,” he says, reflecting on when he received his own SAG card and the sense of arrival it brought.

Among the projects closest to his heart is The Catalyst, which he’s been developing since 2017. The film is groundbreaking not just in subject matter, but in process, the entire script was born from seven hours of improv between actors. That raw, immersive experience speaks to Bianchi’s belief in authentic storytelling and experimentation.

His love of dystopian films further informs his artistic lens. These speculative stories, often rooted in social commentary, have long inspired him. And as someone who sees his work as mission-driven, the genre’s relevance aligns with his worldview.

Looking ahead, Bianchi remains grounded in faith and purpose. “Life is what happens when you’re making plans,” he says. “If I continue to do my best, then God or the universe will take care of me.” That mindset has carried him through the highs and lows of the industry—and it continues to guide him.

Through every challenge, Bianchi has never wavered in his belief. “There was never a part of me that believed I wouldn’t make it,” he affirms. For the Afro-Latino kids coming up behind him, that unwavering sense of self may be the most powerful message of all.