In a strategic move that underscores the accelerating demand for short-form storytelling, Great American Media has partnered with Minivela to develop, distribute and monetize a slate of premium micro-dramas aimed at U.S. Latinos and Latin American audiences.

The alliance—announced April 8 in New York during ANA GrowthFronts—will anchor the launch of Pure Flix Familia, a new Spanish-language and bilingual destination focused on faith- and family-driven content, set to debut later this year.

The partnership is notable within the evolving vertical video ecosystem: it represents one of the first Latino-centric ventures creating culturally specific content in English and bilingual formats, positioning both companies at the intersection of mobile-first consumption and underserved Hispanic audiences.

Minivela is the first bilingual vertical shorts platform serving the U.S. Latinos and Latin American markets, Brilla Media co-founder and former Hispanicize CEO Manny Ruiz is its Chief Executive Officer.

A Mobile-First Bet on Cultural Relevance

The collaboration combines Pure Flix’s established base in values-driven entertainment with Minivela’s creator-led, mobile-first production model. The result is a pipeline of vertical-format micro-dramas tailored for audiences increasingly consuming content on smartphones.

As part of a multi-project agreement, Minivela will produce original IP as well as adaptations from Pure Flix’s existing library—reimagined specifically for short-form vertical viewing. Content will be produced across key production hubs including Miami, Los Angeles, New York and locations throughout Latin America.

“We’re excited to build Pure Flix Familia with a highly creative partner that shares our commitment to meaningful storytelling for Latino audiences,” said Bill Abbott, President and CEO of Great American Media, about the strategic alignment.

Data-Driven Development Meets Creator Economy

A key component of the partnership is the use of Pure Flix’s proprietary audience data to inform development decisions—an increasingly critical advantage in the fragmented streaming landscape. The companies will also collaborate on distribution opportunities and content acquisition strategies aimed at scaling reach among Latino viewers.

Beyond content, the alliance opens the door to integrated brand partnerships, giving advertisers new ways to engage audiences through culturally resonant storytelling rather than traditional ad formats.

Expanding Latino Creative Opportunities

For Minivela, the deal represents both scale and mission alignment as Co-founder Carlos Ponce highlighted the creative upside: “This creates opportunities for Latino writers, directors and creators to bring their voices into purpose-driven storytelling.” Ponce is also set to star in upcoming projects under the Pure Flix Familia banner.

“We’re focused on delivering stories that truly entertain, inspire and connect,” said Co-founder Manny Ruiz, added that the partnership stands apart in a crowded micro-drama space often driven by volume.

The micro-drama format—short, serialized content optimized for mobile viewing—has seen rapid growth globally, but remains relatively underdeveloped for U.S. Larino audiences, particularly in the faith and family segment.

With this move, Great American Media continues to build a multiplatform ecosystem targeting audiences seeking values-based entertainment, while Minivela strengthens its position as a leading creative and production partner in the vertical content space.

The launch of Pure Flix Familia later this year will test the viability of this hybrid model—combining bilingual storytelling, culturally specific narratives and mobile-first distribution—at a time when Latino audiences remain both one of the fastest-growing and most underserved segments in streaming.

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There is power in numbers, and if that is so, with the new partnership between novela and film star Carlos Ponce, Brilla Media, Numatec, and Chicano Hollywood, who are launching Minivela, it is a power move in the right direction. Minvela is their digital shorts joint venture launching in January 2025 aimed to set in motion a bold new era for American Latino filmmakers, creators, and advertisers. The announcement was made at the 26th annual ANA Multicultural Marketing & Diversity Conference in Las Vegas earlier this week.

Minivela is an American Latino-owned and operated company dedicated to producing advertiser-supported digital shorts created by Latino filmmakers and creators with a target audience of primarily American Latinos ages 18-34. Initially the streaming content verticals will range from 10 to 90 minutes. A key pillar of Minivela’s approach is to catapult select narratives into independent features or series utilizing the innovative, adtech-powered approach.

“This is a groundbreaking journey that we believe will empower Latino storytellers and drive U.S. Hispanic digital advertising for years to come,” said Manny Ruiz, who serve as the Chief Creative Officer and Executive Producer of the joint venture alongside Ponce, who will also write and direct select Minivelas. ““Our focus is on consistently producing universally appealing stories with a vision that extends beyond Minivelas.  A key pillar of our innovative approach is to catapult select narratives into independent features or series.”

“When the Hollywood system is undergoing a much-needed reboot, Minivela represents a beacon of hope, experimentation, and opportunities for Latino creatives at a time” said Ponce.  Adding that the Latino-owned venture will address the representation gap for our community organically, and that our operations are driven by pioneers in Latino social media, digital media, and adtech.

The family-friendly digital films will be accessible free on Minivela’s YouTube, and social media channels, as well as thru adtech conglomerate, Numatec’s distribution partnerships.  Combined with Brilla Media’s Nuestro Media network, brand sponsors will be able to secure USH audiences effectively across digital, CTV, and other platforms.

 The West Coast production arm of the company and a cornerstone of Minivela is Chicano Hollywood, the influential L.A.-based production, media, and magazine company that produces the annual Elevate conference for Latino filmmakers.

Chicano Hollywood is already producing one of the platform’s early bets, a feel good romcom called “Cholita Takes L.A.” that is being directed by a rising Chicana director. Cholitas, Cholos, and Cholas shine in this story about a young Bolivian luchadora and aspiring fashion designer who journeys to L.A. to care for her ailing grandmother—only to discover she must also overcome culture clashes and personal challenges on her path to unexpected love.

“Minivela is putting deeds before words, and that’s something the Latino film community will root hard for, and why we’re a proud partner,” said Johnny Murrillo, founder and CEO of Chicano Hollywood.  “It’s also critical to note that for Minivela, the projects must be Latino-produced but the stories must appeal to audiences universally even outside our core Hispanic community.  We have some fun ones lined up!”

Angela Sustaita-Ruiz, chairwoman of Brilla Media, the parent company of Minivela, expands on the mission of the venture, “We’re going to push boundaries and prove that you can be creative and positively provocative without leaning on the usual violent drug dealers, and other tired tropes that diminish our community.”

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Corchado (Sneakerheads, Little America) and Ponce (Julie and the Phantoms, Spy) are joining Brandt (Soulmates, Breaking Bad) and Richards (The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills) in the fictional town of North Pole, Vermont, according to a press release from the streamer, for the production of the Christmas drama. The movie is to be released later this year. 

The movie follows the two women known as the Christmas Queens of the North Pole who compete annually in a yuletide contest. Trish (Richards) and Diana (Brandt), have won the city’s Best Holiday House decorating contest every year for the past nine years. But days before Christmas, a friendship-ending argument sparks a town-wide feud and draws the attention of a national magazine writer hoping to make a name for herself with her scintillating expose titled “Real Housewives of the North Pole.”

While the movie title may seem to suggest a connection to the series Bravo’s Real Housewives media franchise, the film is separate from the cable channel’s so-called reality TV series. Coincidentally, the series’ spinoff The Real Housewives of New Jersey currently streams on Peacock, too. 

In The Real Housewives of the North Pole, Corchado will play Skye, Trish’s daughter, who is home for the holiday break. Her need to be perfect for her mom has made tensions extra high this Christmas. Ponce will play Paul, Trish’s husband. He feels guilty about leaving his family for a Christmas work trip but he’s the breadwinner paying for the family’s palace.

Corchado starred in an episode of the television 2020 Apple TV series Little America, inspired by the true stories featured on Epic Magazine. Her role as Marisol Rosado earned her an Imagen Foundation Award for Best Actress-Television. More recently she appeared in the Netflix comedy/drama series Sneakerheads, about the booming trade of the popular shoes, and the indie TV series LA 143, about three young women experiencing life, love and hookups in the City of Angels. Other credits include Cucuy: the Boogeyman and The Blacklist. The actress also aspires to have a career in music. Earlier this year, Corchado released “Magia bendita,” her debut single that she co-wrore in Spanish, along with a video in which she also stars.

Actor/singer Ponce has been acting in Spanish and English for more than three decades. He has been a heartthrob of Mexican and American telenovelas as well as a host of TV singing competitions and other shows in Puerto Rico and the U.S. The Santurce-born is currently featured in the Telemundo soap operas La Suerte de Loli and La Doña. He also appears in the popular Netflix comedy/musical/drama series Julie and the Phantoms, winner of three Daytime Emmys this year. The actor also co-starred in the ABC series Cristela, winning him a nomination to the Imagen Award for Best Supporting Actor-Television in 2015.  

The two Boricua stars are among the several new members recently added to the cast of The Real Housewives of the North Pole. The others are Broadway actress Kyle Selig (Mean Girls, The Book of Mormon), Tetona Jackson (Boomerang), Alec Mapa (Ugly Betty), Damon Dayoub (Stitchers). Also featured are Melanie Haynes (Doug Unplugs) and newcomer Jason “LJ” Littlejohn.

Corchado is repped by Amsel, Eisenstadt, Frazier & Hinojosa, Inc. and managed by Candu Management. 

Ponce is repped by SDB Partners and Mills Kaplan Ent.

The Real Housewives of the North Pole will be produced by Motion Picture Corporation of America, MPCA. Daytime Emmy winner Ron Oliver (Scout’s Safari) will direct and Tippi Dobrofsky, Neal Dobrofsky and Spyder Dobrofsky will write and executive produce. Brad Krevoy executive produces on behalf of MPCA, alongside Amanda Phillips and Eric Jarboe. Jake Relic, David Wulf and Chris Bongirne also produce.

Featured Photos: Carlos Ponce and Jearnest Corchado (Jonathan Fieweger/NBCUniversal)

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