Thirty years ago, Hollywood Pictures quietly released the film Blood In Blood Out, directed by Academy Award-winning director Taylor Hackford, as an ode to the Chicano barrio in 1993. The making of this cult film, loved by fans worldwide, is the topic of a new book by the same name, Blood In Blood Out, commemorating the film’s 30th anniversary with a book launch at Cal State LA University in Los Angeles. The all-day event will culminate with a screening of the film, and Enrique Castillo’s character, Montana, often described as the conscience of the film, will live to see another day on screen.
 

 
Carlos Aguilar wrote in an LA Times article earlier this year, “Akin to ‘The Godfather’ in its scope and themes, Blood In Blood Out, which turned 30 this year, stumbled at the box office but was saved from obscurity by fervent Latino audiences, who reclaimed it as a cornerstone of their representation in cinema.”
 
In the ensuing thirty years since its release, the film has only grown in popularity, amassing millions of fans nationally and internationally. The fans, who have grown up watching it on DVD or online, and passing on the tradition to their kids, have kept the film very much alive for thirty years. Blood In Blood Out has become a cult film akin to The Rocky Horror Show in that fans memorize the words to the film and recite their favorite character’s lines.
 
“The enduring legacy of Blood In Blood Out is a tribute to everyone involved in making it happen,” said Castillo.  “I consider myself fortunate to have been a part of it.”
 
Members of the all-star cast will be in attendance to celebrate the book launch and attend the screening, which will be the first time since the film’s release it has been shown on a big screen. Over 15 original cast members, including Benjamin Bratt, Jesse Borrego, Danny Trejo, and Castillo, will be in attendance at the festivities.  Tickets for the screening sold out within 24 hours.
 
Castillo’s role in Blood In Blood Out has not only etched a permanent mark in the realm of classic L.A. cinema but also garnered him a devoted following both in the US and as far as Holland and Nigeria. His portrayal of Montana is often likened to iconic characters in cinematic history, showcasing the depths and nuances of the Chicano experience. In Vincent Canby’s review of the film in The New York Times, he exalts some of the characters in the film, particularly Castillo’s performance of Montana.
 
The release of this book will now serve as a testament to the film’s lasting legacy. The screening will serve as the film’s premiere which it never had due to Hollywood Pictures scaling back on the release in 1993 due the climate of civic unrest at the time. 
 
The limited-edition book is published by Hat & Beard Press and co-authored by Academy Award-winning director Taylor Hackford (Ray, The Devil’s Advocate), screenwriter Jimmy Santiago Baca, on-set photographer Merrick Morton, and the late Chicano artist Adan Hernandez.  It chronicles their deeply personal journey to bring Blood In Blood Out to the screen. It features a foreword by groundbreaking Chicano writer/director Luis Valdez (La Bamba, Zoot Suit) and includes insights from Hackford, Baca’s powerful new poems inspired by the film, and a wealth of behind-the-scenes content. The presence of Castillo at the event adds a layer of authenticity and connection to the film’s legacy, especially for those inspired by his portrayal of Montana.
 
This anniversary event, alongside the book release, serves not only as a celebration of a film that resonated strongly with Latino audiences but also as a homage to actors like Enrique Castillo, whose performances have left an indelible impact on viewers and the cinematic landscape. The overwhelming response to the event, with 2,000 tickets claimed within 24 hours, reflects the enduring influence of Blood In Blood Out and the actors who brought its story to life.
 

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The Karen Bass for Mayor campaign announced a new wave of endorsements, a growing coalition of support from cultural and entertainment leaders among them are Singer Stevie Wonder, Actor/Director Eva Longoria, Angela Bassett, showrunner Gloria Calderón Kellett,  (WIth Love, One Day at a Time), actors Danny Trejo (Machete), Richard Cabral (Mayans MC) and Mexican actress and radio host Angelica Vale.

The new ist of cultural and entertainment leaders also including: Herbie Hancock, James Pickens Jr., Jesse Bochco, Judge Greg Mathis, Julian Morris, June Diane Raphael, Keith David, Lesley-Ann Brandt, Mike and Corky Stoller, Meredith Salenger, Melissa Benoist, Nicholas Maye, Nancy Stephens, Rick Rosenthal, Omar Benson Miller, Paul Scheer, Sterling K. Brown, Tina Knowles–Lawson among others.

“Los Angeles is the entertainment capital of the world, and these culture leaders of our city are committed to solving the crises we are facing,” said Rep. Karen Bass. “Thank you for standing with me as we continue to fight for an equitable, safe and just Los Angeles for all.” 

Karen Bass is looking to maximize the potential of Los Angeles as a global destination and innovation center while addressing the city’s most urgent concerns including homelessness, safety, traffic and justice for all according to the campaign

Latinos are showing up strong for Rep.
Bass, some lending their support even though they do not reside in Los Angeles. Last month saw endorsements from actors Adam Rodriguez, Colman Domingo, Rosario Dawson, Alfre Woodard, Alyssa Milano, Connie Britton, and Chelsea Handler, Aloe Blacc, Derek Fisher, Don & Bridgid Coulter Cheadle, D Smoke, Chris Silvermann, Dulé Hill, Eric Ortner, Gil Robertson IV, Issa Rae, Jane Fonda, J.J. Abrams & Katie McGrath, John Legend, Kal Penn, Ken Jeong, Kerry Washington, Kym Whitley, Lil Rel Howery, Magic & Cookie Johnson, Marla Gibbs, Norman Lear, Piper Perabo, Robin Thede, Samuel L. and LaTanya Jackson, Stan Lathan, Steve McKeever, Tracee Ellis Ross and Yvette Nicole Brown.

The Los Angeles Mayoral race is gearing up to be an even tighter race than anticipated. It is unknown if the perceived “racist” remarks made by four L.A. City Council members earlier in October may have, or not, played a part in some of the endorsements.

Last month, the Congresswoman earned the endorsement of the International Alliance of Theatrical and Stage Employees and Motion Picture Technicians, Artists and Allied Crafts (I.A.T.S.E.). Bass is the only Los Angeles Mayor candidate endorsed by the Democratic Party. Since winning the primary, she has received more than 250 endorsements from community leaders, labor unions and elected officials including President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris.

The post Latinos in Hollywood Show Support for Karen Bass’s L.A Mayoral Race first appeared on .

The evening began with a red carpet and screening followed by a Q&A at the Laemmle Royal in Los Angeles and continued with an intimate experience at SUR Restaurant and Lounge in West Hollywood where guests enjoyed global food and themed drinks in a lush tropical garden setting.

Shadow of the Cat delves into the story of Gato (Zapata) lives with his teenage daughter Emma (Maite Lanata) and a small group of people, including Sombra (Trejo), on an isolated farm without telephones or internet. But Emma, tempted by curiosity, runs away into town one day to attend a carnival and gets her hands on a mobile phone. After she uploads a video of herself to the internet, Emma is contacted by a mysterious woman named Celia (Mónica Antonópulos) who claims to be her long-lost mother. What follows is a mystical tale of family, identity and broken trust set amidst the turmoil of one girl’s question about her past.

The after-party soiree at SUR Restaurant, where Zapata is one of the owners, was also an opportunity for the filmming of the Bravo TV show Vanderpump Rules which is filmed at SUR. The production team captured the party in full swing, so stay tuned for that episode to air!

Q&A with filmmakers and stars. The exclusive and intimate after-screening experience was held at SUR Restaurant and Lounge in West Hollywood where guests enjoyed delectable dishes and drinks in a lush tropical garden setting at Sur.

Shadow of the Cat is now available on Apple TV, Prime Video, Vudu/FandangoNOW, Google Play and DirecTV. 

The list of cast and VIP attendees included Jose Cicala cast members Trejo and Zapata, Lisa Vanderpump and Ken Todd from Vanderpump Rules, Emilio Rivera (Mayans M.C.), Jacob Vargas (Mr. Iglesias), Patricia De Leon (Mayans M.C.), Carlos Gomez (Baker and the Beauty), J.R. Yenque (NCIS: Los Angeles), Laura Patalano (Gentefied), Frankie Loyal (Mayans M.C.), Yadi Rivera (The Family Business), Erik Lutz (Glow), Actress C Fabian Alomar (Mayan M.C.), Musician Casey Clare, Sharon Leal (Dreamgirls), Jay Hunter (Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.), Vienna Hayden (Serial Blondes), Jay Montalvo (S.W.A.T) and Elena Goode (Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin).
 

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Written by Roberto Leal

The Netflix animated mini-Series Maya and the Three is a colorful, action-packed adventure tale that reminds us of the little-known and rarely shown great mythology of Mesoamerica and the ancient civilizations from which they came. Thanks to Maya and the Three the mythology of Mesoamerica will take its place alongside those of Greece, Rome, Asia and England.

THE QUEST

All great myth stories involve the hero embarking on a journey in a quest for something that will bring change or resolution to a problem. It can be a Golden Fleece, a Holy Grail or a sword embrued with magical powers. It often means the hero has to cross a threshold into a different world or realm.

Maya, the Princess of Teca, balks at becoming a mere royal diplomat. She wants to become a warrior and seek out and destroy the evil god of the underworld who threatens the existence of all humanity.  Zoe Saldana (Avatar) is the perfect voice-over actor to portray Maya. Beginning with her role in Avatar and other action-adventure films, the actress is the live-action embodiment of a warrior princess. But in Maya and the Three, Saldana uses only her voice acting skills to project a sense of physicality and urgency to Maya. The temptation is to go over the top and turn Maya into a one-dimensional, strident character. But Saldana controls and modulates her vocal performance and gives Maya nuanced emotional notes especially when she makes mistakes and wrestles with regrets and doubts. Saldana makes Maya a hero the audience can emphasize and cheer on to victory.

However, in order to achieve that victory over the evil god of the underworld, Maya recruits three legendary fighters to help her in her cause. Rico (Allen Maldonado, Heels), Pichu (Gabriel Iglesias, Fieldhand) and Chimi (Stephanie Beatriz, Brooklyn Nine Nine) join Maya on her quest. All three are fearless fighters. All three are flawed and bring their own personal baggage to the journey. Not only do they fight the evil god of the underworld but also battle their personal demons.

A TRIUMPH OF ANIMATION

Jorge R. Gutiérrez is the artistic and creative genius behind the visual landscape of the fantasy world of Maya and the Three. Gutiérrez’s deft drawing hand is responsible for the animation in The Book of Life, El Tigre, The Adventures of Manny Rivera, Space Punch plus many other Latino-themed animated shorts and TV series.

But Maya and the Three is by far his most ambitious undertaking to date. “I love those great Hong Kong martial arts movies,” says Gutérrez. “I was inspired by the choreography of those martial arts fight sequences.” Gutierrez points out all the time, effort and detail that went into choreographing the fight senses in Maya and the Three. “Every episode ends with a totally different fight sequence,” declares Guitérrez with a hint of pride. He goes on to effusively discuss what inspires his approach to animation.

“The animation style in Maya and the Three is very much a love letter to everything I love,” says Guitérrez. “I love Japanese animation. I love the classic American rubber hose animation of the ’30s.” Gutiérrez continues, “I also love super-flat, super-stylized European animation from the ‘50s.” And finally, Gutiérrez concludes with, “I love stop motion. I also love imperfect folk art because it reflects the humanity of the artist.”

That’s a whole lot of loving for one animator. Regardless, Gutiérrez uses colors from all those influential palettes and creates an animated fantasy world that reflects not only his humanity but that of his characters as well.

MEXICO IN THE MIST

The classic Mesoamerican civilizations of the Olmecs, Toltecs, Mayans and Aztecs are the inspiration and backdrop for the fantasy landscape of Maya and the Three. In every episode, we see the temples and pyramids that were found in Teotihuacán, Chichen Itza and Cholula that equaled anything built in Egypt. The names are slightly changed. For example, Maya is the Princess of Teca. Teca? Could that be shorthand for Toltec? One of Maya’s legendary fighters is named Pichu, which is a nod to the city of Machu Pichu of the majestic Inca Empire. And of course, there’s our hero, Maya, her name refers to the Mayans who built enormous cities in the jumble, developed a lunar calendar and invented the mathematical concept of “zero.”

The characters can often be heard speaking words or phrases in Spanish. But wait! ¡Uno memento, por favor! This fantasy story is set in an epoch long before the Spanish Conquest. So where did these folks learn Spanish? Was thee some ancient Berlitz course we are not aware of?

No, Gutiérrez is just taking a little historical poetic license to impress on us Maya and the Three is about the past cultural glories and legacy of Mexico that, as proud Latinos, is our treasured heritage.

AN ALL-STAR CAST OF VOICES

The list of actors who lent their voices to Maya and the Three reads like a Who’s Who of Latino Hollywood: Kate del Castillo, Cheech Marin, Rita Moreno, Rosie Perez, Sandra Equihua, Jorge R. Gutiérrez, Alfred Molina. Even Queen Latifah gets in on the fun. But it’s the strength, power and humanity of Saldana’s voiceover as Maya, Warrior Princess, that draws us through episode after episode on this action-packed adventure fantasy ride to its thrilling conclusion.

Maya and the Three is currently streaming on Netflix.

MAYA AND THE THREE

Cast: Zoe Saldana, Allen Maldonnado, Stephanie Beatriz,Gabriel Iglesias, Jorge R. Gutiérrez, Diego Luna, Dee Bradley Baker, Sandra Equihua, Grey Griffin, Alfred Molina, Carlos Alazraqui, Eric Bauza, Stephanie Beatriz, Kate del Castillo, Rita Moreno, Queen Latifah, Jeff Ranjo, Cheech Marin, Gabriel Iglesias, Joaquín Cosío, Hailey Hermida, John DiMaggio, Isabela Merced, Carolina Ravassa, Gael García Bernal, Chelsea Rendon, Wyclef Jean, Danny Trejo, Rosie Perez and Raphael Alejandro. Additional voices: Alanna Ubach and Andy Santana.

The post Zoe Saldana Rules as a Warrior Princess in ‘Maya and the Three’ first appeared on .

Movie-making dreams took San Antonio-born Danny Ramos to Hollywood. After working in popular television series and films for many years, the Texan actor, producer and screenwriter returned to his hometown to make his feature film directorial debut. That movie, The Margarita Man, is a coming-of-age comedy starring Anthony Guajardo, Jesse Borrego and Danny Trejo, is now streaming on Amazon Prime and other streamers.

The story is inspired by Ramos’s brother, Miguel, who had a side hustle as the guy who rented margarita machines for parties and events in the late 1990s. “Many times, after he delivered the machine and mix, the guests would invite him to stay for the party! He always had funny stories and strange experiences,” recalls the filmmaker. Ramos added that he once jokingly promised his brother that one day he would make a movie about him. It took him quite a few years due to his busy Hollywood career but that jest ultimately and seriously turned into a film.

The script was written by Aaron Lee Lopez and David Reyes, with Ramos supplying the story. Set on a college campus, the story is about a young man who goes to college where his love for a good party gets him cut off financially from his family, forcing him to sell frozen margaritas at parties in order to pay for his schooling. 

BIG NAMES & UP-AND-COMERS
With a long career in the World’s Movie Mecca, Ramos secured top Latino talent for his film.  

Award-winning actor Trejo (Machete, From Dusk Till Dawn) plays the college president. Ramos’s fellow Texan stars Anthony Guajardo (The Walking Dead) and Jesse Borrego (Fame, Con-Air) play brothers Jimmy and Miguel Martinez. The cast also features the seasoned and prolific Pepe Serna, who has appeared in more than 100 films that include Scarface, Silverado and American Me, starring Al Pacino, Kevin Costner and Edward James Olmos, respectively. Also appearing in the film are Valeria Jauregui (Colossal Youth), Arlene Cavazos (It Came Upon a Midnight Clear) and Shira Lazar (Celeste & Jesse Forever).

Ramos had worked with Borrego on another project and Serna joined as both an actor and one of the film’s producers. Coming full circle, Ramos returned to his alma mater, San Antonio College, to film The Margarita Man. “Stepping back on campus, this time with a camera crew, that was a proud moment, one I won’t forget,” he said with pride in his voice.

The acting and production bug bit him in his teen years when he also discovered he could wear many creative hats. 

In high school, he joined the school’s Drama Club with the goal of becoming an actor. “All the students were actors on stage and at the same time had to work on the production crew,” he recalls. “I would jump from saying my lines on stage to backstage to operate the lighting board. It was crazy but a lot of fun and you learned a lot quickly.” He became fascinated with the behind-the-scenes production. 

Ramos was also a big fan of Entertainment Tonight, the entertainment news TV program. “Sometimes they would visit a movie set and show what was happening behind the camera,” recalls of the popular series. “I would see the lights and camera crew, and now and then, a guy with a clapboard shouting, ‘Quiet on the set! We’re rolling!’ And I thought, ‘That’s what I want to do.’”

A FILMMAKER IS BORN
Serious about a career in Hollywood, Ramos enrolled at San Antonio College and majored in radio, television and film. When Dick Clark Productions came to Texas for ABC Celebrity All-Stars at SeaWorld, Danny joined the production as an intern and was soon hired on in the all-important Cue Card Department. That was his first professional job as a freelance production crew member. Soon after that, Lifetime Network set up shop in San Antonio for the show Attitudes, a soap opera talk show and Ramos then joined the Directors Guild of America as a 2nd assistant director/unit production manager.

When word got out that the Selena movie, starring Jennifer Lopez and Edward James Olmos, was going to be filmed in San Antonio, Ramos mailed his resume to the production office. Weeks later, he got a call from the film’s producer, Moctezuma Esparza. “I had just finished working on a film called The Big Green as a key set production assistant and as a second AD on (the) second unit, and Mr. Esparza was looking for local hires and Latinos with production experience,” says Ramos. “I had some great experience, but had not been a second-second assistant director, which is what they needed at the time.” 

FILM ADMINISTRATIVE WORK
The San Antonio native got the Selena job, handling all the paperwork associated with actors on the set–schedules, production reports, accounting and time cards, often feeling lost in a whirlwind of paperwork. But he preserved and survived. “I just got through it,” he says. “It’s the kind of job where the job description just happens to you.”

Ramos’s advice to newbies coming onto a production, “Take it all in. Ask questions. Learn as quickly as you can and hold on! Then take what you’ve learned from that experience and build on it for the next gig.”

That’s exactly what the filmmaker did, building a solid filmmaking foundation one job at a time and knowing almost every production position on a film set. All that proved helpful when directing The Margarita Man. 

Celebrating his movie’s release, Ramos is promoting the “Margarita Man Weekend” September 15 through 19, offering audiences the opportunity to send in their favorite margarita recipe to win a bottle of premium tequila–the prime ingredient in any margarita. Just send your favorite margarita recipe to MargaritaManMovie@yahoo.com

The Margarita Man is now streaming on Amazon Prime Video, TubiTV and IMDB-TV. The DVD is available to purchase on Walmart, Amazon, Best Buy as well as Turner Classic Movies’ website, www.shop.TCM.com.

The post Danny Ramos Makes Feature Directorial Debut With ‘The Margarita Man’  first appeared on .

The multiple-award-winning slasher film Murder in the Woods will once again play for audiences. Featuring a mainly Latino cast, the film was released last summer in various independent movie theaters. Iga hopes the film could get some traction with a second run with live audiences hoping to escape months of pandemic isolation. “It’s the first All-American slasher with a full people-of-color cast,” says the director with pride.

The film stars Catherine Toribio (L.A.s Finest, Jane the Virgin), Jeanette Samano (Reversion), José Julián (A Better Life, Narcos: Mexico), Chelsea Rendon (Vida), Kade Wise (Empire), Jordan Diambrini (Jane the Virgin) and Soledad St. Hilaire (Beatriz at Dinner) along with the legendary Danny Trejo of Machete fame. The screenplay is by Yelina De Leon (Tales from the East Side), who also co-produces with Iga.

Screenings are scheduled in cities with sizeable Latino populations like Los Angeles, San Diego, Calexico and Pico Rivera in California, Tucson in Arizona and Miami in Florida. But the movie will be shown also in other places like Tuscaloosa in Alabama, Loveland in Colorado, Liberty Township in Ohio and Leesburg in Virginia.

Murder in the Woods won six awards, two at San Diego’s FANtastic Horror Film Festival, three at New York’s Macabre Faire Film Festival and one more at L.A. Skins Fest, the latter a Native American festival. 

For a complete list of movie theaters, visit  www.murderinthewoodsmovie.com.

Check out the trailer:

The post Slasher Film ‘Murder in the Woods’ by Mexican Director Returns to Movie Theatres first appeared on .

More than 400 films will compete at this year’s annual HollyShorts Film Festival that will take place Nov. 9 through 15.

Most official selections are from the United States while over 120 come from other countries, including a few from Latin American nations like Brazil, Mexico, Peru and Spain. Forty percent of all competing shorts are directed by women, according to fest organizers. HollyShorts is an Academy Award-qualifying festival.

This fest’s 16th annual edition will be held online over its own streaming platform Bitpix and will also host a short film market for the first time, the fest announced. Targeting leading buyers of shorts, the HollyShorts Market Week will take place the week after the competition screenings.

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS
Some standouts of the fest program include: Michael Schilf’s The Fixer, starring Jesse C. Boyd, Veronica Diaz Carranza and Danny Trejo; Lucifer stars Kevin Alejandro and Lesley-Ann Brandt’s Adult Night; and Jose Acevedo’s Eagle, starring Daniel Taveras, Antonio Ortiz and Roy Wood Jr.

Another highlight is Sweet Potatoes by Los Angeles-based Rommel Villa Barriga, one of three winners in this year’s Student Academy-Award narrative category. 

Great Britain made history at the festival this year by becoming the nation with the most shorts ever accepted in HollyShorts with 30 films in competition, followed by Canada (14), and France (12). Spain and Mexico each have 3 shorts in competition while Peru and Brazil each have one.

OTHER SELECTIONS
Notable films include the animated short Cruel Shoes written and narrated by Academy Honorary Award winner Steve Martin; I Wish For You featuring Jeremy Irons; the Will Ferrell comedy David directed by Zach Woods of television series Avenue 5 fame; Deon Taylor’s 8:46 starring Tyrese Gibson and featuring CeeLo Green; and the high school drama At Last directed by Lorena Gordon and featuring George Lopez.

Founded in 2005 by Daniel Sol and Theo Dumont, HollyShorts Film Festival showcases works that are 40- minutes or less in various categories such as short animation, short live action, short documentary, music video, webisode, commercials, youth film and digital microbudget. The fest was recently designated an Academy Awards qualifying festival, according to HollyShorts official website.

Before co-founding HollyShorts, Sol worked at the Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival, Pasadena International Film Festival and Lionsgate, according to his Facebook page.

Check out the trailer below for The Fixer.

The post HollyShorts Film Fest Will Showcase 400-Plus Selections first appeared on .

Aaron Lee Lopez is not waiting for Hollywood to come calling. He has created his own film production company and is not looking to Hollywood to “Greenlight” his film career. He consistently produces/directs or writes at least two low budget films a year. So far this year one of his films Teenage Girl: Valerie’s Holiday has released; and the trailer for his latest film Teenage Vampire, which premieres on October 24 2020, just dropped a few days ago.

Lopez began his filmmaking career after receiving his BA from South West Texas  State University. He began working in the film business  as a production assistant onTV shows and movies like Grindhouse, The Hangover, and Parenthood, and others. Since then, Aaron has spent most of his time in San Antonio, Texas growing the film industry and mining the audience for his films.

Although Lopez has produced a variety of low budget films, from comedy to drama to horror, Lopez’s Mutt Productions has found its sweet spot producing films for an audience of elementary kids, middle school kids and high school kids. It has proved to be a winning formula, so much so that when you look at his IMDB page you would think you were looking a one of Hollywood’s top director/producer’s page with a listing of twelve (12) different projects all in different stages of production.

Casting is also a signature of Lopez’s type of filmmaking. He chooses put Latinos in the lead roles, adding when possible some recognizable names from Hollywood. When asked why, he simple says, “I feel that Latinos need more representation in film especially doing roles that are not just stereotypical.”

In his upcoming film, Teenage Vampire the cast includes Claire Tablizo, Jaeden Riley Juarez, Gabby Garcia, Tres Allison,  Mick Buck, and Cynthia Fray. Latinos are also well represented behind the camera with Lopez, Stephen Allen Gutierrez, R. Scott Leisk, and Paul Matthew Lopez the same four producers behind the 2019  San Antonio Film Festival Audience Award Winner Teenage Girl: Valerie’s Holiday. Teenage Vampire was executive producer Kurt Wipfli and directed by Aaron Lee Lopez and written by him and his brother Paul Matthew Lopez.

Lopez directed Teenage Vampire, a story that revolves around Chase (Tablizo) and her best friend Pam (Juarez) who decide to join the cheerleading squad to become the cool kids in school. Chase, who has a crush on Sean (Buck) has been invited to join the cheer team and has been invited to a house party where she is forced to drink from a chalice as an initiation into the cheer group.  In the morning she finds out that she has become half vampire and begins to grow teeth.  Chase’s brother Dean (Allison) becomes concerned and starts to investigate the situation. Sin (Garcia) is the head of  the Vampires; while Dean joins forces with Sean and tries to save Chase and Pam and others as they fight to escape the Vampire’s doom.  

Lopez also wrote/produced and directed Teenage Girl: First Wheels whose cast included Claire Tablizo, Jaeden Riley Juarez, Lexi Villareal and Corey Feldman and Teenage Girl: Valerie’s Holiday which stars Valeria Jauregui, Jesse Borrego, Dallin McKay,  Paulina Chavez (Feliz NaviDAD, The Expanding World of Ashely Garcia), Montana Leann, Sandra Nori, and Paul Matthew Lopez.

To get his film out to audiences, Lopez works with a sales rep and he told that he takes a direct approach for getting his films to theaters; he usually just goes straight to the local theaters and works out a distribution deal with them because he believe there is an audience for them.  “These films have a market because not many people are doing this John Hughes style 80’s type of movies anymore,” he explained. “And that’s what I do best, is try and recreate that nostalgic feeling that I used to have as a kid when I went to the theater.” 

Lopez was also as a writer/producer of the feature film The Margarita Man (2019) which starred Anthony  Guajardo, Renessa Sanders, Sean Koetting, Jesse Borrego, Valeria Jauregui, Pepe Serna, Barry  Corbin, Paul Matthew Lopez and Danny Trejo. Like many Hollywood directors, Lopez likes to work with the same actors casting them over several of his films.

While Hollywood is grappling with diversity and how to “get it right” when it comes to the inclusion of Latinos in front of, and behind the camera, Lopez has been doing it “right” in San Antonio, TX.

Teenage Vampire will be having its world premiere at City Base Cinema in San Antonio TX, on October 24,  2020 and will have a limited theatrical run.  

The post Director Aaron Lee Lopez’s “Teenage Vampire” Comedy For Tweens first appeared on .

According to the 2015 NPR article, “Why Latinos Love Horror Films”, nearly, “…half the box office” of horror film ticket sales comes from Latino moviegoers. With such a hunger for horror films, comes an equally strong desire from this fanbase, to see horror films include Latino characters, filmmakers, and/or storylines. Murder in the Woods, covers all of these areas, thanks to its collaboration between writer and producer, Yelyna De Leon, and director Luis I. Garza.

While working on their master degrees at the USC film school, De Leon and Garza were putting together possible film projects which included leading and non-stereotypical roles for Latinos. Pulling together their resources, investors, and inspirations, they saw the potential of creating a low budget slasher mystery horror film. Horror, unlike most film genres, can actually benefit from a low budget, inspiring filmmakers to become more creative with their content. This scenario has created groundbreaking chills and thrills, such as Night of the Living Dead and Paranormal Activities.  

Murder in the Woods follows six teenage friends, who drive from Los Angeles to an isolated cabin, in Topanga Canyon, for an all-out birthday bash. While indulging in intoxicating and sensuous fun, a mysterious assailant torments the friends. Now, they all must work together and fight back, before they all lose their heads.

According to De Leon’s Horror Talk interview, Murder in the Woods the first American horror film to feature, “an all-American Latino cast, to have lead characters in non-stereotypical roles”. The main cast features Chicano cinematic legend Danny Trejo as Sheriff Lorenzo, along with the main six young people, including José Julián (Narcos: Mexico), Jeanette Samano (Reversion), Chelsea Rendon (Vida), Catharine Toribio (Jane the Virgin), Kade Wise (Empire), and Jordan Diambrini (Jane the Virgin). The supporting cast features Soledad St. Hailaire (Real Women Have Curves), De Leon (Will & Grace), Rolando Molina (Next Friday), Kurt Caceres (Prison Break), and newcomer Max Chavarria.

This indie thrasher horror film combines two classic horror storylines, being isolated in a cabin in the middle of the woods (Cabin Fever) and an unknown killer on the run killing a group of young people (I Know What You Did Last Summer).

When writing the script for Murder in the Woods, De Leon drew from her early horror influences from her grandmother’s ghost stories. She expressed how, “This movie is a love letter to her” grandmother. On long Greyhound bus road trips every Summer, from her native Chicago, Illinois to Tampica, Tamaulipas, Mexico, De Leon’s grandmother would tell her scary Mexican folk stories. Every story came with a moral, encouraging De Leon to behave, or else.

Murder in the Woods is a refreshing take of beloved horror storylines, seamlessly blending in cultural references, funny moments, and blood. Considering the lack of representation of Latinos in American horror films, especially Latino Americans, this brings a deeply desired Latino diversity to the screen. Overall, Murder in the Woods is a bloody good time.

Now playing nationwide in select drive-ins and in theatre. Also available now on digital download and VOD.

For tickets and further film information: https://www.murderinthewoodsmovie.com/

Rated R

The post “Murder in the Woods” A Bloody Good Time first appeared on .

By Justina Bonilla

Danny Trejo is the hardest working man in Hollywood. The ex-con turned Chicano film icon has defied the odds to become one of the most beloved and recognized faces in American cinema and Los Angeles pop culture.

Though best known for his acting, Trejo is also pursuing a vast variety of endeavors, including restaurateur, author, producer, entrepreneur and substance/alcohol abuse counselor. Now, his extraordinary journey from prison inmate to Hollywood star is being featured in the documentary Inmate #1: The Rise of Danny Trejo, available now on stream and on demand.

Trejo, a Los Angeles native from Pacoima, CA, spent his early life heavily impacted by crime and substance/alcohol abuse. After spending many years in and out of jail from Los Angeles juvenile hall to county jail, to Folsom Prison and San Quentin, Trejo had a life changing experience in 1968, at 24 years old.

Trejo was facing the possibility of the death penalty, because he allegedly injured a lieutenant with a rock during a prison riot in Soledad State Prison in California. The alleged attack was labeled as an attempted murder on a prison staff with a deadly weapon.

Praying to God, Trejo asked, “If you let me die with dignity, I’ll say your name every day, and I will do whatever I can for my fellow man.”

With no witness to the alleged crime, the charge was dropped, and Trejo was released from prison on August 3, 1969.

Post-prison, Trejo worked a variety of odd jobs until he became an alcohol/substance abuse counselor, which he still does to this day. Trejo received his first film role by helping a production assistant through his work as a drug counselor.  Also, thanks to his boxing background, he was hired to train an actor to box for Runaway Train (1985).  Trejo was also asked to do a bit part in the film. This opportunity led him down a path of success beyond his wildest dreams.

Along the way Trejo’s tough Chicano persona got him cast as the nameless assassin in Robert Rodriguez’s Desperado (1995). Trejo continued to build his acting resume in supporting roles, with a cult following, until Rodriguez cast Trejo as Uncle Machete in Spy Kids (2001), bringing him international fame. The character Machete made another appearance as the vengeful machete-wielding anti-hero in a faux film trailer for the double-feature film Grindhouse (2007).

With so much interest in a Machete film, Rodriguez co-wrote/directed Machete (2010) with Trejo in his first leading role. Trejo became Hollywood’s top Chicano action star, known respectfully as El Machete. The success of Machete led to its sequel Machete Kills (2013), with fans hoping for the possibility of the third installment, Machete Kills in Space.

As a child, Trejo often told his mom that they should open the restaurant with her mouthwatering recipes and amazing cooking techniques. After making a name for himself in Hollywood, Trejo pursued that dream and opened the successful Trejo’s Tacos in 2016.

In 2017, Trejo also opened Trejo’s Cantina-Hollywood and Trejo’s Coffee & Donuts. Trejo has also opened other locations of his taco restaurant, including the Los Angeles International Airport and at the popular Original Farmer’s Market in Los Angeles. Trejo also partnered with the Lincoln Beer Company to release his own line of beer called Trejo’s Cerveza.

In June 2019, Trejo started his own independent record company, Trejo’s Music. The company focuses on up and coming music artists. He is also a music producer for the label. Trejo’s Music released their first album, Chicano Soul Shop Vol 1, as a modern interpretation of the classic lowrider music of the 1960s and 1970s.

Adding to his food endeavors, Trejo released the cookbook Trejo’s Tacos: Recipes and Stories from L.A., in April 2020. This unique cookbook, with 75 recipes from his popular award-winning tacos to donuts. It also pays homage to his colorful life and Los Angeles experience.

As of June 2020, Trejo has over 380 acting credits to his name, including the Hollywood blockbuster Heat, television’s The Young and the Restless animated series King of the Hill and indie films such as Sherrybaby.

Known to some of the highest profile talent in Hollywood, Trejo has helped others start their film careers, including Oscar-winning singer/songwriter Lady Gaga.

According to Trejo, he and Gaga were at the famous Los Angeles Shamrock Social Club tattoo shop, when she showed interest in also acting in Machete Kills. Trejo immediately called Rodriguez about Gaga. Her role in Machete Kills as La Chameleón, was her first credited film role, leading her to her Oscar-nominated leading role in A Star is Born (2018).

Trejo has been blessed with a long and groundbreaking career beyond his wildest dreams. According to Trejo, his cinematic hero is the old Hollywood icon John “The Duke” Wayne. Wayne was a flawed, but highly beloved badass, dominating the classic western film genre. The hero Wayne was to many on film, as what Trejo is to many film fans today.

Wayne never made it to space, whereas Trejo  might still make it to space, going beyond the stars and so much further than we can imagine. Viva Machete!

Running time: 1 hour 47 minutes. Available to rent or buy on Amazon, Google Play and streaming on various platforms and pay TV operators.

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