March 29 10:30 PM (PST) on KLCS

Actress/Producer Julie Carmen makes an appearance on the Everybody with Angela Williamson Show to talk about the music and Legacy of Lico Jimenez,

As Women’s History Month comes to a close actress/producer Julie Carmen talks about her work on the documentary about Afro Cuban classical composer Lico Jiménez, the Ebony Liszt (1851-1917)on the Angela Williamson Show on March 29 from 10:30 – 11:00 PM (PST) on KLCS the Southern California PBS culture and arts show.

Carmen’s documentary, which is currently in production, will introduce audiences to the music and legacy of Afro Cuban classical composer Lico Jiménez, the Ebony Liszt (1851-1917). The film is about child prodigy José Manuel “Lico” Jiménez, a Cuban pianist and composer (1851-1917) and it is told through the eyes of his great grandchildren who meet for the first time on the cobblestones of Trinidad de Cuba.  

Julie Carmen, whose work as an actress caught the world’s attention in the 80’s classic film, Gloria and later on in Robert Redford’s Milagro Beanfield War, is executive producing the documentary and will unviel the trailer on the show.

Carmen whose credits in the entertainment industry are extensive, long ago realized the importance of getting the Latino vote out. As an advocate, in the 80’s she executive produced the first two PSAs for Southwest Voter Registration Education Project, which included Latina actresses, producers, activists and businesswomen. The PSAs went on to win Clio Awards and will be highlighted during the interview.

The documentary is directed by: Isidro Betancourt, Julie Carmen, Executive Producer Producers: Jaime Fernández Cuña, Mario Rodríguez Cuevas. For more info on Lico Jimenez go to http://www.licojimenez.com

For more information on the making of the Lico Jiménez documentary or to contribute, please CLICK HERE

@juliecarmen3 @KLCS @KLCS.org. Www.LicoJimenez.com

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Kim Guerra, a queer woman of color, a butterfly woman, writer, advocate, and entrepreneur will lead the Goddess Procession at the opening of the 4th Annual LATINAFest: Mind, Body & Soul on October 22, 2022 at 11 AM as National Women’s Business Week kicks off.

LATINAFest was founded by two Latina entrepreneurs, Bel Hernandez, CEO of Latin Heat Media, and Naibe Reynoso, Founder of Con Todo Press, whose vision for this outdoor event was to celebrate all things Latina and their entrepreneurial spirit, by promoting diversity, community and economic inclusion while amplifying the Latina voice.

“Latina entrepreneurs are at the heart of LATINAFest because we are the future.  We represent ‘18% of all women-owned businesses in the country,’ according to The State of Women Owned Business report.” said Bel Hernandez, co-founder LATINAFest. 

This year LATINAFest and Chase for Business will once again partner to give the 2nd annual LATINAFest HERO WOMAN RISING ENTREPRENEUR GRANT to a Latina business owner who has shown growth, leadership, and a strong mission to grow their business. The $5K grant will be awarded at LATINAFest. Applications are currently open at: https://tinyurl.com/2s43ekhc 

“This year’s LATINAFest theme is, Somos Magia, We Are Magic, and what that means to us is that we can do anything we set our minds to. We are powerful, resourceful, and creative,” said Naibe Reynoso, LATINAFest co-founder. “In fact Latinas are almost 2 times more likely to own or plan to open their own business according to a survey done in partnership with Hispanics Organized for Political Equality (HOPE) and the Latino Victory Foundation.”

The 4th Annual LATINAFest all-day celebration will feature Latina entrepreneurs, over 100 vendors activists and artists including writer/advocate/entrepreneur, Kim Guerra; KDAY Morning Show on-air personality, Cece Valencia; Radio Calli’s A live taping of TheTRENDTalk Show with  Fanny Grande, Co-Founder/CEO Avenida Productions and McDonald’s franchisee, Lori de Bono. 

LATINAFest will also feature a line-up of amazing entertainment and activities including:

• Goddess Procession and Spoken Word Opening with Influencer Kim Guerra
• “We Belong To Something Beautiful” Activation presented by Sephora
• Kids Yoga is provided by the Latina and Black-owned Tree Yoga Cooperative
• Morning Slow Flow Yoga for adults with actress Julie Carmen
• The Goddess Fashion Show Curated by Diana Diaz of the Goddess Mercado
• Women Empowerment Panel: Mujeres, Magicas Y Jefas, a panel of entrepreneurs and leaders which will be taped before a live audience
• Book Readings from Latina/o authors who are writing our stories featuring: #1 best-selling author, Annette Chavez Mejia reading from Big Chicas Don’t Cry; Producer Dan Guerrero reads from his legendary father, Lalo Guerrro’s book, My Life & Music; and Actor Enrique Castillo reading his In the Dead of Summer novel.
• Over 100 small businesses vending in our Beauty, Kids, Wellness, Food, Financial, and Mindfulness Zones

LATINAFest is partnered with presenting sponsor Chase for Business, which is committed to supporting Latina entrepreneurs and the Latina community as a whole. This year Sephora joins the LATINAFest mission as well as, L.A. County Supervisor Hilda Solis, Molina HealthCare, McDonald’s of Southern California, Verizon Wireless, Mujeres Brew House, Red Skirt Wines, and Golden Road Brewery. And we welcome LATINAFest Kid Zone partners, Tree Yoga Cooperative, the first Latino &  Black owned yoga studio in So. Los Angeles and Headstart.

Tickets: $10 Adults (12+); Children under 12 yrs are free

To purchase tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/313798278097

To view 2021 Video Recap: https://youtu.be/quupmcY1csE
To learn more about LATINAFest:www.latinafest.net

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Actors Edward James Olmos, Julie Carmen and Pepe Serna will headline an online panel discussion about the lack of Latino representation in the entertainment industry this weekend in what is being called a “call to action” by event organizers.  

“The State of Latinos in Hollywood—The Systemic Brown Out of Latinos by the Entertainment Industry” will take place live via Facebook and YouTube at 5:30 p.m. (Pacific Standard Time) on Oct. 17.

The panel will also feature Thomas A. Saenz, president and general counsel of the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund, and Claudia Puig, president of the LA Film Critics Association.    

The virtual event is presented by Latin Heat Media, owners of the entertainment trade website Latinheat.com, and palabra.  a digital news site founded by Alberto B. Mendoza, executive director for the National Association of Hispanic Journalists.

A CONGRESSIONAL HEARING, NEWS MEDIA ABSENCE
The event comes just a month after a congressional hearing on the representation of people of color that received almost no attention from major media, including Hispanic outlets, and corporate Hollywood. In fact, the panel is in direct response of the dismissing, of what diversity advocates described as an “historic” hearing in Washington, D.C. in the middle of Hispanic Heritage Month by media outlets.

“The genesis of this live discussion came about due to the lack of coverage of the House Judiciary Committee hearing entitled ‘Diversity in America: The Representation of People of Color in the Media,’” says Bel Hernandez, Publisher and CEO of Latin Heat Media. “Hollywood’s disregard of the hearings and lack of media coverage, especially among Latino press, became the impetus for organizing such event.”

Hernandez adds, “I have to say that what I witnessed was quite historic. It had been almost 30 years since any type of judiciary hearing on diversity had been held. What I found incredibly disappointing was the lack of media coverage by film, television, and news outlets.”

Hernandez will moderate the Saturday virtual discussion. Latin Heat co-hosts the event along with palabra., an off-shoot of of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists.

PANEL TOPICS
The Oct. 17 panel will discuss issues affecting Latinos in entertainment including Hollywood’s disregard for Latino stories, Brown-facing, Latino diversity initiatives, access to the executive positions, systemic racism, representation in guilds, talent agencies and the trades.

Saturday’s goal is to “have a lively, honest and deep conversation on why the entertainment industry is so resistant in giving opportunities to Latinos to tell their stories or to have a meaningful participation in an industry that shapes the consciousness of America and the world,” says Hernandez. “We will address how race plays a key role in the exclusion of Latinos’ participation in this industry and we will offer concrete solutions.”

The challenges facing Latinos in Hollywood are indeed gargantuan.

DISMAL NUMBERS
A recent USC study of the 100 top grossing movies from 2007-2018 reports that only 3% of films featured leads or co-leads with Latino actors and only 4.5% of all speaking characters were Latino. Nationwide, Latinos make up more than 18 percent of the American population, according to the U.S. Census.

Those meager representation figures of Latinos in Hollywood might be even more shocking considering the geographic location of the so-called “world’s movie mecca.” “Despite all of the talk about diversity and inclusion in Hollywood and the popular press, these findings represent no change in depictions of the  largest ethnic group in America, who also comprise 39% of the population of the state of California, and 49% of Los Angeles’ population,” states the 2019 USC Inclusion Initiative Study “Latinos in Film: Erasure on Screen and Behind The Camera.”

And inclusivity may not the only problem for the largest American minority. “Erasure, not inclusion, is the norm for Latinos on screen,”  reads a key finding in that USC study. “Forty-seven percent of the 1,200 movies in the sample completely erased Latino speaking characters.”

ACTOR, FILMMAKER, ACTIVIST
Among the most vocal advocates for better Latino representation in Hollywood is Academy Award-nominated and Golden Globe-winning actor Edward James Olmos, one of the Oct. 17 panelists. With more than 40 films under his belt, including Stand and Deliver, two Blade Runner movies, and Selena and iconic performances in television series like Battlestar Galactica, Olmos is one the most successful Latino actors. With those filmmaking credentials earned over five decades of work, his opinion is sought-after.

I can tell you for the fact that those same actors are not testifying before you today because they are afraid. They are afraid of being blacklisted and punished for speaking truth to power.
I am not afraid. I have the truth on my side.” — Edward James Olmos

“Just because there are several successful Latino actors does not mean that Latinos are making it in Hollywood,” said Olmos in a statement submitted to the House Judiciary Committee’s hearing ‘Diversity in America” last month. “I can tell you for the fact that those same actors are not testifying before you today because they are afraid. They are afraid of being blacklisted and punished for speaking truth to power.” He adds, “I am not afraid. I have the truth on my side.”

AN URGENT APPEAL
For his part, veteran actor Pepe Serna has issued a “call to action to address and resolve the lack of inclusiveness and diversity in the entertainment industry.” At the same Congressional committee hearing, the Scarface and Car Wash actor said, “I challenge each and every one of you (to) become more familiar (with) and aware of the struggles and challenges that we as Latino Hollywood actors, producers, directors, technicians, and others supporting our trade face in our day-to-day activities.” Serna has been in the filmmaking business for about 50 years, working with with Oscar-winning producers, writers, directors, and actors in approximately 100 films and 300 television shows.

Panelist actor Julie Carmen has a career spanning over four decades. She rose to prominence after a high profile role in director John Cassavetes’ Gloria. Her credits include films like The Milagro Beanfield War, Mouth of Madness, and Fright Night Part two. She played Angelina Jolie’s mom in the Hallmark miniseries True Women and also starred in the TNT television film Gore Vidal’s Billy the Kid, opposite Val Kilmer.

Claudia Puig of the LA Film Critics Association brings an insightful journalistic perspective to media coverage within the industry, while Thomas A. Saenz of MALDEF looks at the issue of Latino representation in the movies through the legal and policy lens.

Says Saenz, “The routine practice of excluding Latinos in entertainment has created an ominous gap in comparison to population, and this pattern continues at our entire nation’s peril.” And he adds, “It’s not a stretch to conclude that this pattern contributed to the rise of an obscure presidential candidate who has built his political career around demonizing the Latino community.” 

To register for “The State of Latinos in Hollywood—The Systemic Brown Out of Latinos by the Entertainment Industry,” CLICK HERE.

For press inquiries CLICK HERE.

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The Gracie Awards recognize exemplary programming created by women, for women and about women in radio, television, and interactive media. Honorees are selected in national, local and student markets, including both commercial and non-commercial outlets. This year’s honorees represent the substance and ethos of women’s storytelling and journalism at its best.  Their work during this global state of affairs – full of innovation, courage and endurance – serves as inspiration today for the journalists of tomorrow.

Among the presenters for the evening are Julie Carmen Malin Akerman, Sanjay Gupta, Cassie DiLaura, Imani Walker,  Elaina Doré and Angélica Vale. The Alliance for Women in Media are the organizers of the event and they have announced that Grey’s Anatomy will be the evening’s Special Honoree and Mickey Guyton will perform.

Among the honorees are:

Izzie Pick Ibarra (THE MASKED SINGER)

FOX Broadcasting Company

Showrunner – Unscripted

Soledad O’Brien (American Injustice: A BET TOWN HALL)

BET Networks

On-Air Talent – News Special

Stephanie Beatriz (Brooklyn Nine-Nine)

Universal Television

Actress in a Supporting Role – Comedy or Musical

Latino USA (A Child Lost in Translation)

Futuro Media Group

Documentary [Radio – Nationally Syndicated Non-Commercial]

Children as passports, the phenomenon behind the humanitarian crisis on the border

Univision Noticias Digital

Website – New

Extreme violence is driving Salvadoran girls to kill themselves

Univision News Digital & TIME

Original Online Programming – Standalone Video Hard News

“Our leadership is proud to honor the best of the best who embody the spirit and intention of the Alliance for Women in Media Foundation’s Gracie Awards. We want to thank those on the front lines telling the important stories still impacting our world.” said Becky Brooks, Executive Director, The Alliance for Women in Media Foundation.  “It is our distinguished honor to recognize the reporters, hosts, producers and media executives who are working to ensure the public is informed. We know everyone in media has been impacted in some way, and we continue to salute this outstanding list of honorees for their award-winning passion, energy and perseverance.”

Nancy de Los Santos, one of the writers for the actual virtual show told us she was, “Excited to work on the production team of the first virtual awards”.  She lauded the producers Vic Bullock and Jeff Atlas for being, “…the masterminds in the complex schedule of over twenty awards and ten presenters, a tribute to front line journalists and musical performances.The Gracies will stream live on AWMF’s Facebook page beginning at 7 p.m. ET/PT.

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August 26, 1926 – May 20, 2020

Born in Hamburg, Germany to Spanish parents the same year as Marilyn Monroe and Queen Elizabeth, this remarkable woman began a journey that eventually brought her to North Hollywood, CA. Carmen Jiménez Friedman is the mother of veteran film and TV actress, Julie Carmen, and throughout the years, many people in the film and television industry came to know her. 

Born Carmen Emma Jiménez to parents Adólfo Jiménez and Elisabeth Jiménez (nee Neubauer). Her father was in the raw cocoa bean import business and later became the Honorary Consul of Spain. Her mother was an obstetric nurse who had taken care of wounded soldiers during World War I. Both of her parents were Spanish citizens living in Hamburg and were fluent in Spanish, German, French, and English. Her father was an excellent cellist and a friend of Pablo Casals. She herself was passionate about playing the violin and studied at the Madrid Conservatory and the Mannes School in New York.

On her father’s side, she descended from four generations of Afro-Cuban classical musicians. Her grandfather José Manuel (Lico) Jiménez Berroa was a child prodigy pianist, composer, and professor at the Hamburg Conservatory.

According to her daughter Julie, “Composer Lico Jimenez was a family hero for many reasons. A Cuban black man being Director of Composition at Hamburg Conservatory for 30 years and bringing German Lied music back to Cuba, influencing Cuban danzón and even Chucho Valdes and his son Chuchito Valdes recorded songs called Evocación a Lico Jiménez.”

Carmen Jiménez Friedman earned her Master’s degree from New York University in Spanish and German Literature and Education. She won the 2000 Mercedes-Benz Mentor Award from the Fulfillment Fund for Excellence in Mentoring, an award handed to her by Antonio Banderas, of which she felt very proud. Well into her nineties she loved reading the latest books in German and Spanish, including everything by women authors Maria Dueñas and Julia Montejo. She frequently accompanied her daughter to screenings and lectures because “She found them stimulating.” Carmen Jiménez Friedman was a deep thinker, a high school teacher, a scholar, and a humanist.

Carmen Jiménez Friedman was married to Leonard, who preceded her in death in 2008, and is survived by her beloved children, son George Friedman-Jimenez, MD, DrPH; daughter-in-law Rosa Nelly Lavergne, PhD; daughter Julie Carmen Hoffman, son-in-law Gary Hoffman and her four grandchildren, Zayani Lavergne-Friedman, Camille Safiya (Marc Anthony Robinson), Benjamin Hoffman and Anita Hoffman.

Julie Carmen shared this about her mother:

“Until her final days, my mother had a visceral reaction to the current global trend towards dictatorships, oligarchies, racism and ignorance. During World War II, at the age of 15, she and her mother fled Germany to Spain. She’d seen how too many people turned a blind eye to the extermination of millions of people, brutal hatred and division. During her 30 years as a high school Spanish and German teacher, she influenced students at North Plainfield High School, John Burroughs High School in Burbank, and the Buckley School in Sherman Oaks to not repeat those aspects of 20^th Century European history.”

Señora Friedman, as her Buckley students called her, was known for her joy of learning, her beauty, her warmth, and especially her remarkable ability to focus on the good things about almost any person or situation. 

In lieu of flowers, Carmen’s family suggest making a donation to the Chalice Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of the Conejo Valley Capital Campaign where she was a vibrant member of the congregation and they shared her philosophical values, and/or to the U.S. Holocaust Museum in Washington DC. CLICK HERE for the links. 

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Windows on the World, a drama that captures one family’s anguish as they seek information on their patriarch’s fate began streaming on Vix on Thursday, April 23, 2020.

According to Casting Director, Sig de Miguel on his Facebook post:

“We had the privilege of casting the feature film Windows on the World, which is launching on the Vix streaming service on April 23. Vix is the largest streaming service for Latino/Hispanic diaspora content. It’s a very special film and I am happy the world gets to see it .”

Headlining the cast is are Ryan Guzman, Edward James Olmos, Richard Cabral, Julie Carmen, Luna Lauren Velez, Glynn Turman, Jacqueline Obradors, Stephen Spinella and the late Rene Auberjonois. Film crew includes Michael D. Olmos, Director, Robert Mailer Anderson, and Zack Anderson, Writers.

According to industry trades, Vix is a multi-platform Latino digital media company that reaches more than 34 million U.S. Hispanic unique users on its Vix.com. Vix is an ideal platform for Windows on the World, as it has doubled its audience in March and its watch-time was spearheaded by a 70% life in mobile viewing. Considering the current landscape of at-home viewing via streaming, Windows on the World will add to Vix’s growth.

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If you missed Sunday’s episode, which broadcast on MeTV is also available on YouTube and social media. But, to make sure you don’t miss it, we also have it here.

TheTRENDTalk Show hosts, Naibe Reynoso and Bel Hernandez welcomed actress Julie Carmen whose current film Window on the World, which stars herself, Edward James Olmos and Ryan Guzman shed a light on the undocumented persons who perished in the 9/11 domestic terrorist attack on the World Trade Twin Towers.

Also, Lourdes Reynolds recounts her difficult challenge and journey after being diagnosed with cancer and choosing to heal herself via a holistic, natural treatment. The ladies talk to about her new book, “Our Journey To Option C,” and documentary that follows her remarkable recovery. Also, spa/massage therapy entrepreneur Sharon Marquez talks about the ups and downs of running your own spa just south of Los Angeles, and how she makes it work around her being there for her kids.

As to what Kate Del Castillo talks about, well you will have to watch the show!

TheTRENDTalk Show — Click Subscribe.

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Method Festival
Beverly Hills
Thursday, March 28^th, 7:30 PM
TICKETS

When an undocumented worker (Edward James Olmos) at the Windows on the World restaurant atop the World Trade Center goes missing after 9/11, his son (Ryan Guzman) embarks on a journey from Mexico to New York City after his mother (Julie Carmen) insists that she saw her husband on the news.

Olmos, directed by his son Michael D. Olmos, portrays Balthazar Reynoso, the beloved patriarch of a Mexican family who leaves their tight knit community for New York in search of a job when the shrimp industry in Mazatlan shuts down for the season. 

Concerned that his mother is dying from grief and uncertainty, Balthazar’s son Fernando (Gumzan) sets out to find his father. While crossing the desert he befriends Domingo (Richard Cabral). This is where we begin to realize the savvy intelligence and heartfelt point of view of writer producer Robert Mailer Anderson (Boonville). 

Fernando’s journey is a kaleidoscope of new friendships, romance with empathic beauty Lia (Chelsea Gilligan), employment as a window washer with Nigerian immigrant Lou, powerfully played by Glynn Turman. Anderson memorializes the underbelly of New York City, in those days immediately following 9/11 with street poet Abiodun Oyewole, best known as founder of the Last Poets  considered by many as the Father of Hip Hop and Rene Auberjonois delivering a blistering rendition of New York New York at a karaoke bar. 

When Fernando is told by officials that undocumented workers at the World Trade Center, “did not exist” so no services are offered to their families, he scours the morgue, attends a funeral for his father’s co-worker and interviews his Balthazar’s New York girlfriend (Laura Luna Velez), eventually confronting his father in a stunning scene that exposes his brutal perspective of life and loyalty.  

Broadway World Review: CLICK HERE

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Also honored: Documentarians Chelo Alvarez Stehle and Jessica Congdon; and Costume Designer Mayes C. Rubeo

Chelo Alvarez Stehle was honored with The Best Documentary in the Humanitarian category for her shattering filmSands of Silence Waves of Courage about personal stories of sex traffic survivors.

Casting Director, Victoria Thomas (Fences, Hidden Figures, Roman J. Israel), was honored with the Diversity Award for her casting of Kathryn Bigelow’s unrelentingly honest film, Detroit, with 80 percent unknown actors in lead roles. Diversity isn’t just ethnicity – it’s about the vision to look to see things differently.
Jan Creamer was honored with The Otilia Animal Advocacy Award. At the awards luncheon, Creamer showed a heart wrenching film about the work her organization, Animal Defenders International, does to rescue wild animals from circuses.
Lisa Szilagyi was honored with the Career Achievement Award for creating Aurelia Foundation that works to help young adults with special needs aging out of the school system.
TheWIFTS Foundation International Visionary Awards, now in its 10th year, marking a total of 300 Awards given to ‘singular women as individuals,’ is held alternatively in Los Angeles and in London.
A past recipient of theWIFTS Elizabeth Grant’s Entrepreneur Award, Carmen is currently Clinical Professor of Yoga Therapy for Mental Health at Venice Family Clinic, a program she created and launched through Loyola Marymount University but she’s still very active as an actress, co-starring with Eddie Olmos and Ryan Guzman in the upcoming Windows on the World and opposite Peter Fonda in You Can’t Say No.
For a complete list of winners go CLICK HERE.
The Women’s International Film & Television Shorts Showcase (TheWIFTSS) was founded in 2008 by Elspeth Tavares. With the same aims and objectives in mind, TheWIFTSS recognizes women producers, directors and cinematographers worldwide in film and television who create ‘Shorts’ as a ‘Showcase’ of their talents as they pursue their individual dreams as filmmakers.

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