SAG stats show minority gain

Black and Latino performers, along with older women, are getting more opportunities to appear in films and television shows, according to casting statistics released Thursday by the Screen Actors Guild.

Latino performers realized a net increase of 379 roles in 2002, mainly in episodic television, according to SAG. Their share of total TV and theatrical roles rose to 6%, up from 4.8% in 2001, marking their greatest share since SAG began tracking employment.

African Americans realized a small increase of 39 roles, which resulted in their highest share of roles ever -- 15.5% of all roles cast, up from 14.4% in 2001, SAG reported.

Women over age 40 got 29% of all female roles, up from 27% in 2001, according to SAG. But although females are a majority of Americans, they received only 38% of total roles cast.