Five years in the making this inspiring story of cultural pride and resilience was brought to life by co-directors David E. Valdez and Enrique Castillo, with renowned actor/activist and Edward James Olmos as one of the executive producer.

The evening’s star-studded guest list included Rudy Ramos (Yellowstone), Benito Martinez (With Love), Nicholas Gonzalez (La Brea), Jesse Garcia (Flamin’ Hot), Laura Patalano (This Fool), Victor Rivers (Blood In, Blood Out), writer/producer/director Rick Najera; and notable actors Alejandro Patiño (Papi Chulo), Karina Noelle Castillo (NCIS, The Good Doctor), Sol Castillo (Confessions of a Gangster), Raul Cardona (Babylon), and Kikey Castillo (Mayans MC. Multi-GRAMMY Award-Winning Mariachi Divas members Cindy Shea, Daniela Gutierrez, and Julissa Dominguez; singer-songwriter Dan Navarro (We Belong).

The night celebrated the film’s LA premiere and the impact of mariachi on Mexican-American identity, with a Q&A following the screening that deepened the audience’s appreciation for this legacy. In attendance were five original members of Los Changuitos Feos, Wilfred Arvizu, David Ruiz, Gilbert Velez, Francisco Escobar, and Cosme Barcelo, who received a standing ovation from the crowd. Their presence brought an added layer of significance, allowing attendees to connect personally with the legacy captured in the film.

With Ugly Little Monkeys, the filmmakers have succeeded in not only preserving but celebrating an essential piece of American Latino history. The documentary is an unforgettable tribute to the unifying power of music and cultural heritage, sparking pride and inspiration for generations to come.

The Ugly Little Monkeys filmmakers have also been partnering with organizations nationwide to bring this powerful documentary to communities across the country. Community groups, cultural institutions, and educational organizations interested in hosting a screening in their city are encouraged to reach out to coordinate a local event. To bring Ugly Little Monkeys to your area, please contact: info@uglylittlemonkeys.com.

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The National Association of Latino Independent Producers (NALIP), the nonprofit offering programming and resources for Latino content creators and filmmakers, will hold its End of Year Celebration at the Sunset Room in Hollywood on Friday, Dec. 15.

Hosted by the Lopez Vs. Lopez actor and alum of The Daily Show, Al Madrigal the celebration which will be attended by Annie Gonzalez and Jesse Garcia (Flamin’ Hot), Chelsea Rendon (Vida), Vadhir Derbez (De Viaje Con Los Derbez), Clayton Cardenas (The Mayans), Harvey Guillen (What We Do in the Shadows), Marco Pigossi (Gen V), Omar Chaparro (No Manches Frida) among others.

As NALIP prepares for its 25th Anniversary in 2024, this event will pay tribute to trailblazers actively shaping the narrative for the Latino community. The event will recognize not only individual Latino milestones but also acknowledge the impact of diversity and inclusion on the entertainment industry.

“For the past 25 years, NALIP has established itself as a beacon of empowerment and advocacy for Latino creatives in the film and media industry. This year, amidst challenges like strikes that temporarily dimmed our jubilation, we recognize not just the hurdles but also the triumphs that emerged in their wake,” said Diana Luna, Executive Director of NALIP. “This End of Year Celebration aims to honor the remarkable progress and resilience of our talented community, a narrative shaped by overcoming adversity and embracing the enduring spirit of achievement.”

“It’s a privilege to celebrate the remarkable achievements of Latino content creators and industry professionals who continue to inspire and shape our cultural landscape,” said Craig Robinson, Executive Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer at NBCUniversal. “We also take pride in supporting NALIP’s mission to empower and provide opportunities for talented individuals, ensuring a thriving community of diverse voices in the film industry for years to come.”

For more information in attendence visit NALIP.ORG

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By Roberto Leal

With the recent release of Flamin’ Hot, Eva Longoria, the talented actor, producer,
makes her directorial debut telling us an inspirational Horatio Alger-like story with a
decided Mexican twist of Richard Montañez, the humble janitor working for Frito-Lay
who developed the spicy seasoning for Flamin’ Hot Cheetos, America’s favorite snack
chip.

While the nuts-and-bolts facts surrounding the development of Flamin’ Hot Cheetos are
in dispute, Longoria doesn’t go into that aspect of the story but rather brings clear
focus the body and soul of this story which is Richard Montañez’s rags-to-riches, triumph over adversity buoyed by the strength of his Mexican heritage and close-knit family.

Jesse Garcia (The Avengers) gives an honest, sympathetic performance as Richard, a
young Mexican struggling to navigate and overcome the barriers of a troubled upbringing and systemic racism to realize his ambitions and dreams.

Annie Gonzalez (Gentefied, Vida) delivers an excellent performance as Judy, Richard’s wife who bolsters, encourages, scolds, and never loses faith in Richard. In many ways, Judy’s never faltering strength in this story is reminiscent of the tireless determination of the Mexican wives in the  Herbert J. Biberman directed feature The Salt of the Earth (1954) who were the driving force behind the copper miners strike in New Mexico.

Judy’s presence in the film reminds us that Mexican society is not necessarily a male dominated, macho one, but more often a matriarchal hierarchy ruled by: las madres, abuelas, tias, hermanas, and comadres. At least that was the reality in my family.

Longoria’s even-handed directing style is crisp and fast-paced. She allows the story to evolve and reveal itself at its own chosen speed. There are no slow parts in Flamin’ Hot. The story is punctuated and rounded out by the casting of veteran character actors: Dennis Haysbert, Tony Shouloub, and Pepe Serna.

Flamin’ Hot was recently screened at the White House as part of the administration’s advocacy efforts to strengthen DACA and immigration reform. Alicia Menendez, host of MSNBC’s American Voices asked Longoria why she made Flamin’ Hot: “It’s a love letter to the Mexican American community”, said Longoria.

“When I think about tonight’s movie, I think about courage. So many of you, your ancestors left behind all that they knew to start a new life in the United States,” President Biden said as he addressed a crowd of over 900 person there for the outdoor screening of the film for community, White House staff and press.

Flamin’ Hot is indeed a love letter to our community. But it is also a message to Hollywood we need to see more positive representations of Latinos in film, TV and theater and we have exceptionally talented storytellers, like Eva Longoria, to bring those “love letters” to American audiences and beyond.

Richard Montañez disrupted the food industry in the ‘90s by channeling his Mexican American heritage to help turn Flamin’ Hot Cheetos into a multibillion-dollar brand today and a cultural phenomenon,” Longoria said. “We are telling a story that celebrates the American entrepreneurial dream without sidestepping the fact that the dream isn’t available in the same way for everyone.”

Flamin’ Hot starring Jesse Garcia and Annie Gonzalez is currently streaming on Hulu and
Disney+.

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Sitting “al fresco” at the community screening of Eva Longoria’s directorial debut Flamin Hot (releasing June 9, 2023), at Los Ángeles cultural center La Plaza de Cultura Y Artes was such a beautiful experience! 

Over 1000 men, women, and children, mostly Latino audience seeing themselves reflected on screen.  It was an amazing thing to witness.  As I looked around at the audience I saw grown men watching the screen with wonder. The ladies hooting and hollering when the female character took charge, while the children watched and giggled along. I turned to look back and saw a wave community collectively feeling what representation on screen feels and looks like, as they watch a Latino-themed, all-Latino cast film directed by Longoria and produced by the man that saw its potential Devon Franklin (Miracles from Heaven). 

This inspiring true story of Richard Montañez (Jesse Garcia), a Frito Lay janitor who disrupted the food industry by channeling his Mexican heritage to turn Flamin’ Hot Cheetos from a snack into an iconic global pop culture phenomenon.  He along with his wife Judy (Annie Gonzalez) knew how our community loves to spice up any food with a little bit of “chile”.  He saw an opportunity and took it. Back in the early 1990’s Montañez convinced the big bosses at Frito-Lay they were missing out on making money with the growing Latino consumer market.  That caught their attention.   

So when the company’s marketing failed to attract the Latino community, Montañez rallied his co-worker and friends, and family to help promote the new Flamin’ Hot Cheetos product to the people he knew would love it. He took matters into his own hands creating a grassroots marketing campaign to prove that our community buys when we are marketed to with intention.

As a film-going community, we now have an opportunity to prove our VIEWING POWER.  We can choose to rally our friends and family to watch this film. 

Garcia and Gonzalez turn in outstanding performances as the lead of the film, and the supporting cast is a combination of established actors that include Emilio Rivera (Mayan MC), Tony Shalhoub (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel), Pepe Serna (Art is Life, Scarface) and Dennis Haysbert (Lucifer).  Additionally, other cast members include Bobby Soto (The Tax Collector)  and the charismatic Brice Gonzalez (Lopez vs. Lopez).  At the end of the day, if we can really show that we support well-made films with talented Latino actors, there will definitely be more stories.  Maybe next time it will be your story.  

Just as Montañez did in real life, rallying his community to support Flamin Hot Cheetos, we as a film-going community, have an opportunity to rally our friends and family to watch this film on Hulu and/or Disney+ starting Jun 9.  We have an opportunity to watch and enjoy this film and show our LATINO VIEWING POWER…and have a good time doing it.

When “community” comes together it is an unforgettable experience. 

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Gonzalez was surrounded by many cast members of the film and TV projects she has worked on this year, as well as her family and close friends.

The event was hosted by NEFT Vodka at their headquarters in the city of El Segundo, California. The intimate, exclusive event had a feeling of familia. Special invited guests of seasoned talent who have literally paved the way for the next generation included actors Marlene Forte (Superstore, Star Trek), Enrique Castillo (In Other Words, Blood In Blood Out, DejaVu), Patricia Rae (All Rise) and Seidy Lopez (Selena: The Series, Mi Vida Loca), Art Bonilla (Gentefied) and Emmy Award-nominated writer-producer Nancy De Los Santos (Answer to My Prayers, Selena, Mi Familia).

The young cadre of Latino actors in Hollywood was in full force, a sign that Latinos are a new creative force on the big and small screens. Among the new stars that attended to celebrate Gonzalez were Julio Macias (Selena: The Series on My Block), Joseph Julian Soria (The Flight Attendant, Gentefied), Chelsea Rendon (Maya and the Three, Vida), Julissa Calderon (With Love, Gentefied), Jacqueline Grace Lopez (East Los High), Armida Lopez (Boss Level), Karina Noelle Castillo (NCIS, S.W.A.T.), Suanny Serpas (Eye for an Eye) Momo Rodriguez (Mayans MC) and Jesse Garcia (Flamin’ Hot, Narcos Mexico).

Other guests included Emmy Award-winning actor Terrence Terrell (Giants), NEFT Vodka’s Director of Business Development Enrique Velez, Brenda Herrera of The Herrera Agency, Gabriel Gonzalez of Grammy-winning band Quetzal, and Dr. Jose Luiz Ruiz, president of the Mexican-American Cultural Education Foundation, entertainment photographer Eddie Sakaki and Ruben Cardiel of the Raza Golf Club Association.

Featured Photo: Annie Gonzalez receives the Latin Heat Rising Star Award (Photo: Cesar Arredondo/Latin Heat)

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Produced by DeVon Franklin for Franklin Entertainment with a script by Lewis Colick (October Sky) and Linda Yvette Chávez (Gentefied), Flamin’ Hot is the inspiring story of Richard Montañez, the Frito Lay janitor who channeled his Mexican American heritage and upbringing to turn the iconic Flamin’ Hot Cheetos into a snack that disrupted the food industry and became a global pop culture phenomenon. 

The inspiring movie features a cast of Hollywood veterans, rising stars and newcomers. 

Actors Jesse Garcia (Quinceañera) and Annie Gonzalez (Gentefied) headline the cast as Richard and Judy Montañez. 

The indie film Quinceañera, winner of the Grand Jury Prize at the 2006 Sundance Film Festival, set Garcia’s Hollywood career in motion, leading to his first major leading role in a film. His credits include Narcos: Mexico and From Dusk Till Dawn: The Series. 

A self-identifying Chicana, Gonzalez is best known for her role as the fiercely intelligent and beautiful Linda Solis in Netflix’s Gentefied. Most recently, she was cast in the ABC pilot Bucktown. The actress was also one of the original dancers on Jamm X Kids on the WB.

SUPPORTING CAST

Rounding out the ensemble of stage and screen actors are Dennis Haysbert (Far From Heaven), Emilio Rivera (Venom), Tony Shalhoub (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel), Matt Walsh (Veep), Pepe Serna (Scarface), Bobby Soto (Narcos), Jimmy Gonzales (The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It), and TikTok child star Brice Gonzalez. 

Haysbert is cast as Clarence Baker. In addition to the Oscar-nominated Far From Heaven, he has appeared in various other film and TV projects like Love Field, Absolute Power, Major League, Heat and Waiting to Exhale. He is known for his television work on the series 24. He has been the spokesperson for Allstate since 2003.

Rivera, who plays Vacho Montañez, has been featured in notable films such as Steven Soderbergh’s Traffic, David Ayer’s Street Kings and Michael Mann’s Collateral. He can be seen in F. Gary Gray’s A Man Apart and the blockbuster film Venom. Rivera is perhaps best known for playing the starring role of Marcus Alvarez on FX’s Sons of Anarchy and its spin-off, Mayans M.C. 

Shalhoub, in the role of Roger Enrico, is a celebrated actor of stage, screen and television who has starred in award-winning TV series such as Monk, Wings and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, and films like Galaxy Quest, Men in Black, Barton Fink, The Man Who Wasn’t There and The Siege. He has won four Primetime Emmys, six Screen Actors Guild Awards, a Golden Globe and a Tony for his stage work in The Band’s Visit.  

Walsh, cast as Lonny Mason, starred in HBO’s award-winning comedy series Veep, for which he received two Primetime Emmy nominations. He can also be heard opposite Kevin Bacon on the scripted comedy podcast The Last Degree of Kevin Bacon. Walsh is a founding member of the Upright Citizens Brigade. In addition to his film and TV work, he is a founder of Gender Nation, an organization that empowers children through access to stories that demonstrate all genders and sexualities.  

Pepe Serna, whose character is Abuelito, has worked in many film and television roles for over 30 years in the business, including iconic movies as Scarface,  American Me and Silverado, and the TV series The Rockford Files, Kojak, CHiPs, Hill Street Blues, Miami Vice and Cagney & Lacey. 

Bobby Soto, playing Tony Romero, just finished shooting the upcoming season of Netflix’s Narcos, created and developed by Jose Padilha and Eric Newman. Most recently, he was seen in The Quarry, opposite Michael Shannon and Shea Whigham. Additionally, Bobby played the lead of David Ayer’s film The Tax Collector.  

Gonzales is cast as Hector Morales. He can be seen starring opposite Dennis Quaid in Netflix’s Blue Miracle and as a recurring guest star on FX’s  Mayans M.C. Other TV credits include roles on AMC’s Lodge 49 and The Walking Dead, The CW’s Containment, NBC’s  Game of Silence and David E. Kelley’s Mr. Mercedes. Recent feature film credits include supporting roles in Godzilla: King of Monsters. 

And newcomer child actor Gonzalez, who plays little Steven Montañez, is a 6-year-old social media sensation. He and his father Randy Gonzalez are collectively known as the Enkyboys on TikTok and Instagram. The duo does lip-sync recreations of famous movie scenes, viral dances and comedy skits that have garnered over 10 million followers.  

Also joining the cast are Vanessa Martinez (Warrior), Fabian Alomar (Cholos Try), Mario Ponce (Cholos Try) and Hunter Jones (Gotham). Production recently wrapped in New Mexico.  

Martinez, who plays Concha Montañez, has appeared in several films including Warrior, McFarland, USA and Lone Star, as well as the series Dirty John, The Rookie and 9-1-1.  

Alomar, in the role of Pablito, appears as himself in the hit Mitu series Cholos Try. He has also been featured in the series Mayans M.C., Joy and  Southland.  

Ponce, whose character is Diego, also appears as himself in the hit Mitu series Cholos Try. Other credits include the series Gentefied and How to Be Broke.  

And Jones is Lucky Montañez in Flamin’ Hot. He has appeared on shows including Gotham, Chicago P.D. and Manifest. 

“I’m so honored to have led this team in telling a beautiful story where people can see themselves in these characters and are inspired by the endless beauty and talent that is so rich in our community,” said Longoria. “Every day we were on set, I was reminded again and again by our amazing cast and crew that our community is smart, creative, and endlessly talented.” 

‘A STORY OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP’

“Eva and DeVon came to Searchlight with a powerhouse pitch, a singular vision, and a deep passion for this exhilarating story of entrepreneurship,” said Searchlight Pictures’ Presidents Matthew Greenfield and David Greenbaum in a joint statement. “We are thrilled to bring this film to audiences everywhere.” 

‘AGAINST ALL ODDS’

“From the moment I found Richard Montañez’s story, I was inspired by his sheer determination to succeed against all odds,” said Franklin. “I’m equally inspired by our cast, crew and visionary director Eva Longoria’s unwavering commitment to bring the production of his amazing story to life.” 

Longoria and Franklin’s crew include Director of Photography Federico Cantini (Give or Take), Casting Director Carla Hool (Narcos), Production Designers Brandon Mendez (Black Is King) and Cabot McMullen (Super Troopers 2), Costume Designer Elaine Montalvo (A Better Life) and Editor Liza D. Espinas (Vida). 

Flamin’ Hot is overseen by Searchlight Pictures’ Senior Vice President Production Taylor Friedman and Director of Development Zahra Phillips. 

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By Bel Hernandez

The lead actors for Eva Longoria’s directorial debut, Flamin’ Hot, the true story about the janitor who invented the Flamin’ Hot Cheetos, were announced today. Jesse Garcia and Annie Gonzalez will play the central characters.

Flamin’ Hot is a rag to riches story about a son of Mexican immigrants based on Richard Montañez’s autobiographical book “A Boy, a Burrito, and a Cookie.” It revolves around Montañez’s work as a janitor at the Frito Lay plant in Rancho Cucamonga, California. It was there he came up with the idea to infuse Cheetos with the unique flavor, inspired by the Mexican grilled corn on the cobb known in Spanish as elote.  At work, Montañez would ask for the throwaway batch of uncheesed Cheetos. He would take them home and experiment adding chili and lime.  

Garcia (Narcos: Mexico, From Dusk Till Dawn: The Series) landed the lead role of Richard Montañez. The indie film Quinceañera, winner of the Grand Jury Prize at the 2006 Sundance Film Festival, set the actor’s Hollywood career in motion, leading to his first major leading role in a film. 

For her part, Gonzalez will play Richard’s wife Judy Montañez. A self-identifying Chicana, Gonzalez is best known in her role as the fiercely intelligent and beautiful Linda Solis in Netflix’s Gentefied. Most recently, she was cast in the ABC pilot Bucktown. The actress was also one of the original dancers on Jamm X Kids on the WB.

In a town where books becoming films may take up to twenty years, it took Montañez about five. He took meetings with established Latino and non-Latinos producers and eventually signed on with award-winning film and TV producer Devon Franklin‘s company Franklin Entertainment (Miracles From Heaven).

“It has been my biggest priority to make sure we are telling Richard Montañez’s story authentically,” said Longoria. “I am so happy to have two extremely talented and fellow Mexican-Americans on board in these pivotal roles. Jesse and Annie have a deep understanding of our community and will be able to help tell this story of great importance for our culture.”

Linda Yvette Chavez has joined the production, adding revision to Lewis Colick’s penned screenplay. Chavez is also currently adapting I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter for America Ferrera’s directorial debut. 

Searchlight is producing Taylor Friedman as VP of production and Zahra Phillips as director of development. Montañez himself will also serve as executive producer. 

The film is set to begin shooting this summer in New Mexico.

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