The Emmy nominations were announced this morning, and while the 75th Emmy nominations are being touted by industry trades as record breaking, especially for Black women who garnered four Emmy nominations in just the supporting comedy actress category, nominations for Latino/as as a whole were down. Even though Latinos are the largest minority in the U.S. at 18% of the population, the Asian Pacific community (7% of the US population) had one more nominations, with four to only 3 for Latino performers. Black Americans are 13.6% of the U.S. population.

The three Latinos nominated for the coveted television acting categories, Pedro Pascal, Jenna Ortega and Aubrey Plaza represent less than 3% of the total number of actors (102) nominated for an Emmy this year.

Pedro Pascal is top of the list with two Emmy nominations, one for HBO’s The Last of Us and the other for Lead Actor in a Drama Series and Guest Actor in a Comedy Series for his appearance on Saturday Night Live.  Jenna Ortega has received her very first Emmy nomination as Lead Actress in a Comedy Series for her performance in the title role in Netflix’s Wednesday, which was the second-most watched English-language Netflix series last year.  Aubrey Plaza received her nomination for her role in HBO’s social satire The White Lotus as Supporting Actress in a Drama Series.

Once again, the underrepresentation of Latinos at the Emmys is glaring. However, Ortega’s nomination makes her only the third Latina to ever be nominated in this category. Jenna Ortega is a favorite to take the Emmy for Lead Actress in a Comedy Series, and if this happens it will be a big win for our community. and this nomination

In the interest of not being redundant, citing stats (as we do year after year on these occasions and nothing ever changes) that prove the lack of Latino representation in Hollywood, let me just say, aqui estamos y no nos vamos! We are here to stay, we are not going away anytime soon. With a U.S. Latino economic power of $1.9 trillion annual GDP, is it time to leverage our community’s buying power for equal representation? For now our voice is our power, and we need to speak up.

Selena Gomez, snubbed again? There are three leads in Only Murders in the Building.  Martin Short, Steve Martin and Selena Gomez. Both Short and Martin were both nominated last year in the Best Lead Actor category, but the third lead, Gomez was overlooked. Why? Some would say (like her 426 Million instagram followers) that her acting chops are on par with her co-stars.  This year Martin gets a 2nd Emmy nomination and Gomez is once again overlooked. Something is just not making sense. Her Mabel Mora character is the linchpin in the whole dang series!

We are grateful to the writers and producers who write the kind of roles that merit the attention of the Television Academy members.  We are grateful for the showrunners that cast a wide diversity net and think “out of the box”.  Thank you to the casting director of Wednesday Florina Fernandes and director Tim Burton for casting Ortega.  

But what about the Latino writers who have created and cast Latinos in some of the most lauded shows on TV? Where is the recognition for them?   For one, I am talking about Gloria Calderon Kellett who created and was the showrunner on the Netflix TV show, One Day at a Time (2017 – 2020). The critics raved about it. Lead actress Justina Machado was even named as one of the most “Most Dynamic Actresses on TV” by Harper’s Bazaar. But where was Kellett’s writing Emmy nomination or Justina Machado’s Best Lead in a Comedy Series Emmy nomination? 

We will keep asking the questions, as we celebrate Pascal, Plaza and Ortega on their Emmy nominations, and acknowledge the behind the camera Latino Emmy nominees for 2023: 

Outstanding Production Design For A Variety Special

The Apple Music Super Bowl LVII Halftime Show Starring Rihanna / FOX – Maria Garcia, Art Director

Outstanding Fantasy/Sci-Fi Costumes

Hocus Pocus 2 / Disney+ / Walt Disney Pictures – Salvador Perez, Costume Designer

The Mandalorian / Chapter 22: Guns For Hire / Disney+ / Lucasfilm Ltd. – Elissa Alcala, Assistant Costume Designer

What we do in the Shadows / The Wedding / FX / FX Productions – Barbara Cardoso, Assistant Costume Designer

Outstanding Contemporary Costumes For A Series – Only Murders In The Building / Framed / Hulu / 20th Television / Dana Covarrubias, Costume Designer

Outstanding Contemporary Hairstyling – Only Murders in the Building / Fabian Gonzalez, Hair Stylist

@belscoolist @latinheatmag

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Release Date: January 13, 2023

Directed by: Jean-François Richet

Written by: Charles Cumming

CAST: Gerard Butler, Mike Culter, Yoson An, Daniella Pineda

SYNOPSIS: 

In the white-knuckle action movie Plane, pilot Brodie Torrance (Gerard Butler) saves his passengers from a lightning strike by making a risky landing on a war-torn island – only to find that surviving the landing was just the beginning. The passengers are taken hostage by dangerous rebels, and the only person Torrance can count on for help is Louis Gaspare (Mike Colter), an accused murderer. Daniella Pineda plays Bonnie, the professional and formidable head flight attendant in the movie.

Plane is produced by Di Bonaventura Pictures for Lionsgate.

Magic Mike´s Last Dance 

Release Date: February 10, 2023

Directed by: Steven Soderbergh

Written by: Reid Carolin

CAST: Channing Tatum, Salma Hayek, Nancy Carroll, Carmen Olivares

Synopsis:

“Magic” Mike Lane (Channing Tatum) takes to the stage again after a lengthy hiatus, following a business deal that went bust, leaving him broke and taking bartender gigs in Florida. For what he hopes will be one last hurrah, Mike heads to London with a wealthy socialite (Salma Hayek Pinault) who lures him with an offer he can’t refuse… and an agenda all her own. With everything on the line, once Mike discovers what she truly has in mind, will he–and the roster of hot new dancers he’ll have to whip into shape–be able to pull it off?

Magic Mike’s Last Dance is produced by: Nick Wechsler, Gregory Jacobs, Channing Tatum, Reid Carolin, Peter Kiernan

Creed III

Release Date: March 3, 2023

Directed by: Michael B. Jordan

Written By: Keenan Coogler, Zack Baylin, Ryan Coogler.

CAST: Michael B. Jordan, Tessa Thompson, Selenis Leyva, Teofimo López and Saúl Alvarez “El Canelo”

SYNOPSIS:

After the events of Creed II (2018), Adonis “Donnie” Creed is thriving in both his boxing career and family life. When a childhood friend and former boxing prodigy, Damian “Dame” Anderson, resurfaces after serving a long sentence in prison, he is eager to prove that he deserves his shot in the ring. Tessa Thompson who appeared in the first two Creed film returns as Adonis’ wife.

Creed III is produced by Ryan Coogler, Michael B. Jordan and Sylvester Stallone

Scream 6

Release Date: March 10, 2023

Directed by:  Matt Bettinelli-Olpin ,Tyler Gillett

Written by:  James Vanderbilt, Guy Busick, Kevin Williamson

CAST: Jenna Ortega, Melissa Barrera, Courtney Cox, Tony Revolori, Hayden Panettiere

SYNOPSIS:

In the next installment, the survivors of the Ghostface killings leave Woodsboro behind and start a fresh chapter in New York City.  Not much else is known about the future sequel. Jenna Ortega whose hit TV show Wednesday is breaking streaming records on Netflix plays the lead role of Tara Carpenter in Scream 6. Melissa Barrera, the other Latina leas reprises her role from last years Scream. She told Us: “They have us so tight-lipped around here. All I can say is how it feels. I don’t wanna say the wrong word, but it feels scarier…I think people are gonna be surprised.”

Scream 6 is produced by Paul Neinstein, William Sherak, and James Vanderbilt for Paramount Pictures.

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3

Release date:  May 5, 2023

Directed by: James Gunn

Written By:  James Gunn, Dan Abnett (comic book) Andy Lanning (comic book)

CAST: Zoe Saldaña, Chris Pratt, Vin Diesel, Dave Bautista, Bradley Cooper, Sylvester Stallone

SYNOPSIS:

American superhero film based on the Marvel Comics superhero team of the same name.Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3:  Still reeling from the loss of Gamora (Saldaña), Peter Quill (Pratt) rallies his team to defend the universe and one of their own – a mission that could mean the end of the Guardians if not successful.

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 3 is produced by Marvel Studios and distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, it is the 10th film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU).

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse 

Release Date:  June 2, 2023

Directed by: Joaquim Dos Santos, Kemp Powers, Justin Thompson

Written by: Christopher Miller, Phil Lord, David Callaham 

CAST: (voices) Shameik Moore, Oscar Issac, Luna Lauren Velez, Natalie Morales

SYNOPSIS:

Miles Morales returns for the next chapter of the Oscar®-winning Spider-Verse saga, an epic adventure that will transport Brooklyn’s full-time, friendly neighborhood Spider-Man across the Multiverse to join forces with Gwen Stacy and a new team of Spider-People to face off with a villain more powerful than anything they have ever encountered. Miguel O’Hara/Spider-Man 2099, who is once again voiced by Oscar Isaac, is unmasked. Also voices by Luna Lauren Velez, Natalie Morales, and Joaquin Cosio

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse is produced by Marvel Entertainment, Sony Pictures Animation, MÁS.

Flamin’ Hot

Release date: June 9, 2023 on Hulu

Directed by: Eva Longoria

Written by: Linda Yvette Chavez, Lewis Colick

CAST: Annie Gonzalez, Jesse García, Emilio Rivera, Pepe Serna.

SYNOPSIS:

Flamin’ Hot is the story of Richard Montañez played by Jesse Garcia, a janitor in the Rancho Cucamonga, California Frito Lay plant who channeled his Mexican-American upbringing, and and his taste in foods to turn Flamin’ Hot Cheetos into a snack that disrupted the food industry and became a global phenomenon. Rising star Annie Gonzalez plays his wife Judy. This is also Eva Longoria’s directorial debut and for which she is already receiving accolades.

Flamin’ Hot is produced by DeVon Franklin’s Franklin Entertainment and Searchlight Pictures.

Asteroid City

Release Date: June 23, 2023

Directed by: Wes Anderson

Written by: Wes Anderson (screenplay), Roman Coppola

CAST: Tom Hanks, Margot Robbie, Tony Revolori, Scarlett Johansson

SYNOPSIS:

The itinerary of a Junior Stargazer convention is spectacularly disrupted by world-changing events.  Asteroid City is an American romantic comedy-drama film written, directed, and produced by Wes Anderson. The cast has been described as being “larger than most other Anderson films that are ensemble in nature.” 

Asteroid City is produced by Empirical Pictures and will be released by Focus Features in the United States for a limited release on June 16, 2023, before opening wide on June 23.

Mission Impossible: Dead of Reckoning – Part One

Release Date:  July , 2023

Directed by: Christopher McQuarrie

Written by: Bruce Geller

Produced by: Tom Cruise and Christopher McQuarrie

CAST:  Tom Cruise, Esai Morales, Mariela Garriga, Rebecca Ferguson,Cary Elwes

SYNOPSIS:

Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One is an upcoming American action spy film written, produced, and directed by Christopher McQuarrie. It is the sequel to Mission: Impossible – Fallout (2018) and is the seventh installment in the Mission: Impossible film series. Esai Morales will appear as the main antagonist in part one and will reprise his role in the sequel Part Two.

Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One is produced by Tom Cruise, David Ellison and Christopher McQuarrie

Haunted Mansion

Release Date: August 11, 2023

Directed by: Justin Simien

Written by: D.V. DeVicentis

Produced by: Dan Lin, Jonathan Eirich. 

Production companies: Walt Disney Pictures, Rideback

CAST: Winona Ryder, Danny DeVito Jaret Leto, Jamie Lee Curtis, Rosario Dawson

SYNOPSIS:

The Haunted Mansion remake follows a single mom named Gabbie, played by Dawson, and her 9-year-old son, who move into a mansion in New Orleans. They quickly discover it’s haunted and turn to a priest (Wilson), a psychic (Curtis), a historian (DeVito), and a paranormal investigator (Stanfield).

The Haunted Mansion is produced by Jonathan Eirich, Dan Lin, Brigham Taylor for Walt Disney Studios

Blue Beetle

Release Date:  August 18, 2023

Directed by: Angel Manuel Soto

Written by:  Gareth Dunnet-Alcocer

CAST: Xolo Maridueña, Bruna Marquezine, George Lopez, Adriana Barraza, Elpidia Carrillo, Damiàn Alcàzar, Raoul Trujillo, Belissa Escobedo, Harvey Guillen, Felipe Eparza and Susan Sarandon.   

SYNOPSIS:  

A Mexican-American teenager Jaime Reyes (Xolo Maridueña) gains super powers when a mysterious scarab binds to his spine and provides him with a powerful suit of blue alien armor.  Blue Beetle is about an American superhero film based on the DC Comics character Jaime Reyes. It is intended to be the 14th film in the DC Extended Universe (DCEU). 

Blue Beetle is produced by DC Studios, Entertainment One, S&K Pictures, and the Safran Company, and set for distribution by Warner Bros. Pictures. 

Kraven the Hunter 

Release Date: October 6, 2023

Directed by: J.C Chandor

Written by: Steve Ditko, Matt Holloway

CAST: Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Russell Crowe, Ariana De Bose

SYNOPSIS:

Russian immigrant Sergei Kravinoff is on a mission to prove that he is the greatest hunter in the world. Ariana De Bose plays a voodoo priestess, Calypso, who utilizes magic potions, and besides being an adversary of Spider-Man, she is also the occasional partner and lover of Kraven.

Kraven the Hunter is produced by: Avi Arad, Matt Tolmach, Amy Pascal for Columbia Pictures and Marvel entertainment

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Following the latest Ghostface killings, the four survivors leave Woodsboro behind and start a fresh chapter. In Scream VI, Barrera (Sam Carpenter), Jasmin Savoy Brown (Mindy Meeks-Martin), Mason Gooding (Chad Meeks-Martin), Ortega (Tara Carpenter), Hayden Panettiere (Kirby Reed) and Courteney Cox (Gale Weathers) return to their roles in the franchise alongside Jack Champion, Henry Czerny, Liana Liberato, Dermot Mulroney, Devyn Nekoda, Tony Revolori, Josh Segarra, and Samara Weaving.

The highly anticipated film will be available on theatrical release on March 10th, 2023, and while fans are already speculating about the next plot twist in the story, a new teaser trailer is giving us a glimpse of the imminent danger the characters are about to experience in one of the most hectic cities in the world.

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After testing positive for COVID-19, actor and comedian George Lopez was forced to drop out of announcing the list of nominees along with his daughter Mayan Lopez.

Among the nominees are Cuban-Spanish actress Ana de Armas, Mexican actor Diego Luna, Mexican-Puerto Rican Jenna Ortega, for her performance in Wednesday. Luna is the fourth Latino actor to be nominated for best male performance in a television series. Aubrey Plaza was nominated for Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television. Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio has also been nominated for Best Animated Movie.

The 2023 edition of the Golden Globes will return to NBC in January after last year’s controversy over the lack of diversity in the Hollywood Foreign Press Association.

To see the full list, CLICK HERE

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I have built my career in journalism highlighting the triumphs of our Latino community collective through our publication, now online www.latinheat.com. Believe me when I say that we are finally being given opportunities in all aspects of the entertainment industry. The days of slim pickings are behind us. There is still work to be done to reach parity, but we have made progress. However, there is also much more to do and more competition. Talent is key for the continued growth of the presence of Latinos in Hollywood and beyond; with that comes the raising of the bar and the need for everyone to up their game!

It’s an exciting time and we will record the milestones in this column, by following the “Latino surge” in the industry as well as spotlighting the issues that pertain to Latino/as. As an opinion piece, it will represent my voice and not necessarily the position of Latin Heat, a news platform that strives to be impartial.
It will be a fun ride and I hope you will want to chime by leaving a comment to enrich the discussion.

So let the Talks begin.

First off we cannot let the month of January pass without acknowledging major firsts in Hollywood.

HISTORIC THREE GOLDEN GLOBE WINSThis year in their non-televised and no-celebrity awards show, the Golden Globes upped their past record of one Latina award winner. This year three Latinas took home the GG. Rachel Zegler became the first Latina in GG history to win the Best Actress – Motion Picture Comedy or Musical award, Ariana DeBose took the Supporting Actress prize, both for their work in Steven Spielberg’s re-dux of West Side Story. On the television side, MJ Rodriguez won for her role on the FX show Pose. Encanto and its producers, among them Yvette Merino, writer Charise Castro Smith, and composer Germaine Franco, all noted for their work on the animated feature that took the top prize of Animated Film.

What other mainstream awards shows have this track record?

I have always had a special connection to the Golden Globes as I have observed the inclusion of more Latinos at these high-profile awards than any other mainstream awards show. The GG were the first to nominate and bring attention to Latina and Latino talent before other awards shows. (full disclosure, last year I was appointed to the Credentialing Committee for the Hollywood Foreign Press Association who produce the Golden Globes. My feelings towards the inclusion of the GG were formed prior to the recent snafu that they are currently facing.

The list of Latinos who have won a GG is impressive. Latinos honored include: Benicio del Toro, Guillermo del Toro, Gina Rodriguez, America Ferrera, Alejandro González Iñárritu, Andy Garcia, Jimmy Smits, and Rita Moreno, among others. It put them on the map. Both del Toros and Iñarritu were the only ones that went on to win an Oscar for the same projects they received their GG for. But the careers of Rodriguez and Ferrera literally took off with their GG wins.

ANOTHER WIN FOR THE POWER OF LATINA LEADS

The film Scream, released earlier this month, has proven once again that Latinos will support Latino/a leads in a film franchise – especially if it’s a horror flick.

Melissa Barrera(In The Heights, Vida) and Jenna Ortega (Yes Day, Jane the Virgin) play sisters in the latest Scream franchise film. On its opening weekend it beat every other film at the boxoffice with a resounding $30M and to date has made $85.6 million internationally.
That box office could be due to the fact that Latinos LOVE horror flix…so maybe in this case Latinos did go support the film which had Latinas in the lead? We will take that.

‘PROMISED LAND’ AND LATINO WINEMAKERS

There is a new ABC TV series, Promised Land, that just premiered Jan. 24. It’s a Dallas-like TV show set in California’s wine country, Sonoma Valley, where Mexican-American families have gone from working in the fields picking grapes to becoming vintners and, ultimately, to owning the winery. Two of those families include Maria and Reynaldo Robledo who founded the Robledo Family Winery in Sonoma, the first winery established by Mexican Americans. In 1988 The Ceja winery was founded by Amelia, Pedro, Armando and Martha Ceja.

Promised Land is patterned after these families who are also multi-generational. That may be the only resemblance between real life and the television family. The TV show has the telenovela style of intrigue, power, jealousy and money. It follows more along the lines of past successful primetime shows like CBS’ Dallas, ABC’s Dynasty (1981) and CBS’ Falcon Crest which ran from 1981 to 1990 and did have some Latino regulars in the cast (Ana Alicia and Lorenzo Llamas). ABC describes the Promised Land as, “An epic, generation-spanning drama about a Latinx family vying for wealth and power.”

In 2006 CBS premiered Cane with the patriarch played by Jimmy Smits (In The Heights, How to Get Away With Murder). It was a generational series, however, this time about the Cuban-American Vega family and their sugarcane business. Seasoned and well known Latino actors lead the cast, Hector Elizondo (Last Man Standing), Rita Moreno (West Side Story), Nestor Carbonell (The Morning Show), Oscar Torre (7th & Union). However, it was cut short in its first season when the great writers’ strike of 2007 forced it off the air temporarily. It was forgotten after the strike, never to be seen or heard of again.

Here’s to a better fate for Promised Land which, pardon the pun, looks “promising.” John Ortiz leads a very talented cast which includes many fresh new faces.

ANOTHER HONOR FOR LEGENDARY EGOT

Rita Moreno has been selected to receive the 2022 Stanley Kramer Award at the 33rd annual Producers Guild Awards on March 19. That is another honor to add to more than 30 film, TV and music awards by the Puerto Rican star. She is among a selected group of artists who have won the four major American entertainment awards, the Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony–hence EGOT. Moreno is also among a distinguished roster of performers who have accomplished what is known as the Triple Crown of Acting, with individual competitive Academy, Emmy and Tony prizes for acting. Furthermore, she has received several lifetime achievement awards, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, a Kennedy Center Honor a Peabody Award.

LOOK OUT FOR JENNA ORTEGA

In 2022 Jenna Ortega started the year with a lead role in Scream and will next star in The Fallout, which premiered Jan. 27 on HBO Max. The film follows two teenage classmates navigating grief after surviving a school shooting. AND…many are anxiously awaiting to see her in the title role of Tom Burton’s Netflix’s live action film Wednesday, an offshoot of The Addams Family. She is one of the youngest and brightest stars in Hollywood. Ortega was seen last year in director Miguel Arteta’s Yes Day, starring alongside Jennifer Garner and Edgar Ramirez.

VIDEO OF THE WEEK: Actress Maria Canals-Barrera is a recent cast addition to NBC’s Kenan. Catch her work TONIGHT in the final episode on January 31, on NBC 8/7c.

Until next time.

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The film series was originally written by Kevin Williamson, with Wes Craven directing the first four films. Original cast members returning for their fifth turn at playing the iconic Scream roles are Neve Campbell playing Sidney Prescott, Courtney Cox as Gale Weathers-Riley and David Arquette who plays Dewey Reily. Roger L. Jackson also returns to voice Ghostface.

It’s twenty years later and a new killer takes on the Ghostface mask and begins targeting a group of teenagers. One of those teenagers is Jenna Ortega (Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous, Jane The Virgin) who plays Tara Carpenter and is attacked by the “slasher.” Melissa Barrera (In The Heights, Vida) plays Sam Carpenter, a central character in Scream 5. Having escaped Woodsboro years ago, Sam returns when her sister Tara is attacked by Ghostface. Her boyfriend Ritchie Kirsch, played by Jack Quaid comes along to help.

The new cast of teenagers and friends of Tara is played by Dylan Minnette, Jasmin Savoy Brown, Sonia Ammar, Mikey Madison and Mason Gooding and they get the thumbs up by some critics. AP film writer Jake Coyle wrote, “Working in their favor is a solid young cast, including Ortega, Melissa Barrera (“In the Heights”) and Jack Quaid”.

As for Barrera, she is standout in the film. Jeannette Catsoulis of The New York Times signaled her, “…operating on a different plane is the terrific Melissa Barrera as Sam, a fragile Woodsboro returnee hiding a terrible secret…but Barrera, who mesmerized me for weeks in the recent Starz drama “Vida,” begs us to care about her anyway. She’s a marvel.”

In her interview about the film on TheTRENDTalk, Ortega talked about spending three months studying the past four Scream and credits the original film for setting the tone for all that followed. “Wes Craven and the original cast really did such a phenomenal job at making things intimidating, but also funny at the same time,” she said. Writers James Vanderbilt, Guy Busick and Kevin Williamson continue the tradition and take it a bit further by also poking fun at the horror genre itself. Co-directors Matt Bettinelli and Olpin-Tyler Gillet (Ready or Not) carried through with the cast to deliver that tongue-in-cheek and frightful effect throughout the film.

Critics are mostly in agreement that the film delivers. “A Bloody, funny thrill ride that honors Wes Craven,” screams a review headline on Rotten Tomatoes where the film rates 77% on the Tomatometer and 92% on their Audience Score.

Social media is abuzz with excitement and anticipation. “The cast was great, it’s hilarious and of course, the jump scares GOT ME GOOD,” Miriam Tapia posted on Twitter. While Kevin McCarthy of KevinMcCarthyTV gave it the ultimate review,”The 5th SCREAM film is the closest I’ve felt to the brilliance, excitement and horror of Wes Craven’s 1996 masterpiece.”

Scream hits the theaters on May 14 exclusively. How long it runs there will depend on how well it does. The next window for viewing the film will be on Paramount+, the streaming service. Afterward, it will be available for rent on digital platforms.

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Black Lives Matter Founder, Alicia Garza, Signs With ICM Partners

According to the industry pub, Deadline, Black Lives Matter Co-Founder, Alicia Garza has signed on with ICM Partners for representation.

Garza is an Oakland-based writer and public speaker and she’s also the Principal at the Black Futures Lab and the Black to the Future Action Fund. Recently, Garza has been featured on Politico and in print from The New York Times, Essense, and Time. In 2017, she was tapped as one of Time’s 100 Women of the Year and Essence’s Woke 100 Women. Other notable honors come from The Root, Glamour, Marie Claire, and BET’s Black Girls Rock Awards.

Garza is the creator and host of the  Lady Don’t Take No podcast, and has a number of future projects lined up. She authored her first book, Purpose of Power: How We Come Together When We Fall Apart, and is set for an October 20, 2020 release date. In addition, she is also set to appear alongside Oprah Winfrey for HBO’s adaptation of Between The World And Me, the New York Times bestseller by Ta-Nehisi Coates. 

Aside from Garza, other fellow Black Lives Matter co-founders have also signed to Hollywood agencies– Patrisse Cullors, Good Trouble writer, signed with CAA. And, Opal Tometi, also a co-founder earlier in the year signed with WME.  Garza is repped by Skai Blue Media, info@skaibluemedia.com. Follow Alicia Garza on Social Media: Twitter @aliciagarza

Camila Mendes (Riverdale) Cast with Pete Davidson & O’Shea Jackson Jr. for STX “American Sole” Film

Joining the STX’s aftermarket sneakers high-stakes feature drama, American Sole is Camila Mendes (The Perfect Date, Palm Springs) as reported by industry pub Deadline.

The film is set to feature an all-star cast and crew, co-starring Saturday Night Live’s Pete Davidson and Straight Outta Compton’s O’Shea Jackson Jr., Ian Edelman (How To Make It In America), story creator, will write the script and direct. Actor, comedian Kevin Hart, and NBA player Chris Paul will be producing along with Jake Stein through his Scondo Productions label. Hart is producing through his Hartbeat banner with Paul producing through his Oh Dipp!!! American Sole marks Paul’s first feature film as a producer. Stadium Goods, the world’s premier sneaker and streetwear marketplace, serves as a consulting producer on the project. John McPheters, on behalf of Stadium Goods, serves as an EP along with HartBeat’s Bryan Smiley.

STXfilms is not wasting any time in tapping into the massively-profitable world of aftermarket sneakers and the end result is American Sole, a story that follows two college grads (Davidson and Jackson Jr.) in their 20s who are stuck with massive college debt. In order to get out of debt and pursue their American Dream, the two run into every obstacle imaginable after their venture’s startup money runs out, and the pair are forced to turn to shady investors for financial assistance. What could go wrong? Well, their dream turns into a nightmare. 

“We’re always looking for ways to tap into the zeitgeist, and anyone who’s paying attention to popular culture around the world knows that this particular trend authentically marries the worlds of fashion, music, sports and business and this project has garnered genuine interest in all of those key verticals,” said STXfilms chairman, Adam Fogelson. “We believe we have assembled a dream team of filmmakers, and with the cast led by Pete, we couldn’t ask for a more exciting fit for STXfilms.”

Mendes starred in the indie film Palm Springs alongside Andy Samberg and Christin Milloti, which scored a record acquisition deal at Sundance earlier this year by Hulu, which streamed in July 2020. American Sole follows the success of another STXfilms project Hustlers, starring Jennifer Lopez, Lili Reinhart, Cardi B, and Constance Wu.

Camila Mendes is repped by CASA, Luber Roklin Entertainment, and Hansen, Jacobson, Teller, Hoberman, Newman, Warre, Richman, Rush, Kaller & Gellman LLP.

There is no official release date for American Sole.  Follow Mendez on Social Media: Instagram @camimendes 

Did you know that O’Shea Jackson Jr. is Ice Cube’s son? Or that Pete Davidson’s dad, a firefighter hero died on 9/11?

“Scream 5” Adds Jenna Ortega, Who Was Fantastic on “You” Last Season 
Ortega Joins Spyglass Media Group on Paramount Pictures’ Horror Relaunch

For those Netflix’s stalker series You last season, you are going to be thrilled to read that Jenna Ortega ( You, Jane the Virgin) has joined the growing cast of Scream 5. According to industry buzz, Ortega joins Courteney Cox and David Arquette, who will reprise their roles as Gale Weathers and Dewey Riley. In addition, Neve Campbell is in talks to return as Sidney Prescott. In the Heights star Melissa Barrera also recently joined the cast — however, both of their roles are being kept under wraps. Why? Well, according to rumors, perhaps they will be the new Billy and Stu. 

Directing are filmmakers Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillette of Radio Silence (Ready or Not, V/H/S), with a screenplay written by James Vanderbilt (Zodiac) and Guy Busick (Castle Rock). Producing will be Vanderbilt with his Project X Entertainment partners Paul Neinstein and William Sheraik. Scream creator, Kevin Williamson will executive produce with Radio Silence’s Chad Villella.  The production will shoot in Wilmington, North Carolina. 

Throughout four installments, the Scream franchise counts over $600M at the global B.O. The pics were directed by late horror master Wes Craven with Williamson penning the original film as well as Scream 2 and Scream 4.

Recently, Jeff Sneider from Collider.com congratulated Ortega, who last December said this about Ortega: “Prediction: @JennaOrtega is going to be a major star, and every studio/network is going to be chasing her one day.” Apparently, he has an eye for young talent and his feeling about Ortega was strong and knew that it would not be long before she landed a major franchise. 

Ortega is best known for her roles in the Netflix series You as Ellie and the CW’s Jane the Virgin as Young Jane. Ortega can next be seen in Yes Day starring Jennifer Garner and The Babysitter: Killer Queen with Bella Thorne. The actress recently wrapped filming on Songbird opposite Demi Moore and Bradley Whitford, which was one of the first notable feature productions to shoot in Los Angeles after the pandemic shutdown.

Spyglass launched as a partnership between Gary Barber and Lantern Entertainment. The company has strategic investment backing from Warner Bros. Pictures, Eagle Pictures, the largest independent distributor in Italy; and Cineworld Group, the second-largest theater chain in the world. Spyglass counts such movies in its library as Inglourious Basterds, The Upside, The King’s Speech, The Artist, among many others.

Ortega is represented by CAA, Gilbertson Entertainment and Jeff Hynick at Jackoway Tyerman, Wertheimer, Austen, Mandelbaum, Morris & Klein.

Follow Jenna Ortega on social media: Twitter @jennaortega 

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Jenna Ortega, who first came to the attentions of audiences when she played the young Jane in the CW’s hit series Jane the Virgin, has been cast as the lead in the high-school feature drama The Fallout to air on Netflix. According to Deadline, the news was announced at the European Film Market (EFM) by Clear Horizon.

Actress Megan Park (What If) will direct, with David Brown and Giulia Prenna producing for Clear Horizon, and Joannie Burstein and Rebecca Miller producing for The Burstein Company.

Ortega will play Vada who is dealing with the trauma of witnessing a high school tragedy, making her whole outlook on life shift.

Ortega who got her star on TV has been making the jump into films and it seems to be a good career mover. She recently filmed Yes Day, directed by Miguel Arteta, in which Jennifer Garner and Edgar Ramirez play her parents who try to make it through an entire day by only saying, “yes”. to their children’s requests. She also stars opposite Bella Thorne in The Babysitter 2 a horror-comedy directed by Dan Lagana.

Jenna Ortega is represented by CAA and Baker Winokur Ryder PR

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