A powerful cultural movement is taking shape as Latino celebrities and influencers step into their power—not just as entertainers, but as advocates for justice and unity. The American Friends Service Committee (AFSC), a century-old Quaker organization dedicated to peace and equality, has launched its first-ever Hispanic celebrity PSA and publicity campaign, “Immigrants Make Our Communities Stronger.”

The bilingual, nonpartisan campaign represents a cultural awakening across the Latino creative community. For the first time, some of the most influential names in film, music, and media are aligning to uplift the dignity of immigrants, celebrate their contributions, and push back against divisive narratives with truth and pride.

A New Era of Latino Leadership

Latino immigrants have long fueled America’s progress—powering industries, enriching culture, and driving innovation. Yet in today’s political climate, fear and misinformation threaten to erase their humanity. AFSC’s campaign responds with compassion and storytelling, led by voices that reflect the very communities under fire.

“Immigrants make our communities stronger—neighbors, coworkers, students, and business owners,” said Brian Minter, AFSC’s Chief Marketing & Communications Officer. “But right now, immigrants are being detained and disappeared, tearing apart families and neighborhoods.”For Mexican-American actor Tonatiuh, the message is deeply personal: “My mother came to this country not knowing the language and without a roadmap. She faced an impossible task and persevered. Our story isn’t unique—it’s the story of countless Americans before us. Immigrants are not a problem to fix; we are the living embodiment of America’s values.”

Cultural Power Meets Social Impact

The campaign’s star lineup reads like a cross-section of Latino excellence: labor legend Dolores Huerta, actors Melissa Barrera, Tonatiuh, and Mishel Prada, Grammy-winning icons Los Tigres Del Norte, Ozomatli’s Wil-Dog Abers, Latin Grammy winner Chiquis, beloved singer Marisela, Univision journalist Daniela Ganoza, and radio personalities Don Cheto and Said Garcia Solis.

“Immigrants aren’t just part of America’s story; they are central to its success,” said Huerta, co-founder of the United Farm Workers. “The people being targeted are not just immigrants; they are the indigenous people of these continents. People are being harassed because of the color of their skin—it’s ethnic cleansing.”

Melissa Barrera, who has built a thriving Hollywood career while staying true to her Mexican roots, echoed the urgency: “As a proud Mexican actress working and living in the U.S., I’ve seen the strength and beauty that immigrants bring. We are not outsiders; we are an integral part of the fabric of the United States.”

Mishel Prada added, “Immigration is the heartbeat of American culture. Nothing great here was built alone. We’re all living proof of someone else’s courage to start again.”

The Numbers Tell the Story

• Entrepreneurship: Latino immigrants represent 52% of all Latino-owned employer businesses, employing 3 million workers nationwide.
  
• Economic Growth: Latino-owned businesses grew by 44% between 2018 and 2023, far outpacing their non-Latino peers.
  
• Tax Impact: Immigrants contributed $579 billion in U.S. taxes in 2022, including $96.7 billion from undocumented immigrants.
  
• Essential Work: Over 500,000 Hispanic immigrants power U.S. agriculture, and Latinos make up one in four workers across the food and service industries.
  

Culture, Courage, and Community

Running through the end of the year, AFSC’s “Immigrants Make Our Communities Stronger” campaign will appear across broadcast, digital, and social media platforms. The storytelling-driven effort highlights resilience, family, and cultural pride—core values that define the Latino experience in America.

By leveraging their platforms, Latino stars are not only raising awareness but reasserting leadership in shaping the national narrative on immigration. What emerges is a shared call to action: to recognize immigrants not as strangers, but as the heart of America’s story.

To learn more about the campaign, visit https://afsc.org/stronger-immigrants.

The post Latino Celebrities Lead a Cultural Awakening to Empower Immigrant Communities first appeared on .

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

The post Movies With Latino Leads to Watch in 2023 first appeared on .

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.

The post Jenna Ortega and Melissa Barrera Headline ‘Scream 6’ first appeared on .

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.

The post HOLLYWOOD TALKS: Latina Award Winners, ‘Promised Land’ and More first appeared on .

The film that has been generating a lot of buzz leading up to today’s theatrical release is In the Heights, written by Lin-Manuel Miranda (Hamilton) and directed by Jon M. Chu (Crazy Rich Asians). It releases today June 11 in theaters nationwide and on HBO Max. Its a film to be appreciated to the fullest on a “big screen” for many reasons.

Almost every single critic has raved about the film, the direction and the casting. You will see an amazing cadre of “new” talented actors (at least on he big screen), starting with the lead Anthony Ramos. Ramos is on his way up with a bullet. Ramos met Miranda when he was cast in his hit play Hamilton. Since then he has worked on four project with him. Even before the release of In the Heights, which is his first starring role in a movie, Ramos’ talent has already led to roles in HBO’s In Treatment, and the Paramount Pictures upcoming untitled Transformers project.

In addition to Ramos, the two female leads Melissa Barrera (Vida) and singer Leslie Grace make their film screen debut and they do it spectacularly! These are now two talents that will be getting a lot more work in Hollywood. As a matter of fact Barrera has already landed her next three films. She just finished shooting Carmen where she plays the lead in the Sony Pictures Classics while also just wrapping Scream for Paramount pictures. The actress just signed a deal to star in Breathe, a six-episode drama series for Netflix.

Grace is a Latin Grammy Award-nominated singer who in 2015 signed a distribution deal with Sony Music Latin and a worldwide contract with Sony/ATV. After her performance in In the Height, where she shines as Nina, we predict you will be hearing about her next role soon.

There is a wave of support for In The Height, which is literally “opening up” theaters with it’s release this weekend. Celebrities who have seen the movie and asking people to go see it include Oprah, Dwayne Johnson, Ariana Grande and Hugh Jackman among others.

Social media is a-buzz with excitement for the premiere with several organizations coming out in full force to support.

NALIP, an organization that addresses the professional needs of Latino filmmakers content creators, launched #LatinxGoldOpen Theater Buyout Movement. An extension of the campaign that began with Asian films, it is now expanding to help secure box office success for Latino movies.

Joining to the supporters are Eugenio Derbez who said, “Thanks to NALIP and Gold House we get behind our creative community and Lin Manuel Miranda is one of the creators we are all most proud of. I’m also in Atlanta shooting our next movie and selfishly want to see In the Heights on the big screen ASAP!”

Actress Tatyana Ali of The Young and the Restless fame stated, “Lin-Manuel Miranda and Jon M. Chu’s upcoming film, In the Heights is a much needed celebration of the diverse perspectives and identities that make up our Latinx communities. To experience the sounds and sights of one’s own culture on the big screen is a balm to the soul. This film is also an invitation to listen to the dreams of others—a declaration of the sueñitos we all share. Join the #LatinxGoldOpen movement to ensure that more stories like In the Heights are told!”

Several multi-cultural organizations including CAPE, African-American Film Critics Association, Define American, The Blackhouse Foundation, and more have joined the effort behind #LatinxGoldOpen.

“Countless studies have demonstrated that films with diverse casts in front and behind the camera tend to do better at the box office,” says Benjamin Lopez, executive director of NALIP. “While Hollywood knows this to be true, there is still a long road ahead for proper diverse representation. We’re excited to work with Gold House for the #LatinxGoldOpen initiative promoting Jon M. Chu’s film In the Heights, based on the stage musical by the same name by Lin-Manuel Miranda and Quiara Alegría Hudes. Added Lopez, “This partnership is a strong example of multicultural organizations coming together to support one cause, amplifying and supporting authentic stories and diverse talent in the media and proving that there is a worldwide audience for them.”

For decades studios and the Latino community have had high hopes for Latino themed film to succeed at the box office, only too see them fail. This time around there is also support from other communities, and even mainstream media. This time it feels different.

There is already buzz about Oscar nominations. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves and just get out there, especially if you are vaccinated, and enjoy In The Heights where it was made to be seen, on the “big screen”.

The post Where and why to watch the most talked about film in Hollywood ‘In the Heights’ this weekend first appeared on .

By Marco Antonio Gonzalez 

While there have been a few films, and I do mean a few, inspired by and for Latinos in the Hollywood factory, never has there been a film, much less a musical, where Latinos are not only the subject matter but also the behind the scenes, front and center of a plot. The celebration of community, Latino cultural pride and heritage have rarely been depicted or delivered in such a majestic manner by Hollywood as it has been in Jon M. Chu’s much anticipated Warner Brothers’ adaptation of Lin Manuel Miranda’s Broadway hit musical In the Heights, which opens nationwide on June 11, 2021. 

To be fair, there have been some notable and remarkable films in the limited Hollywood archives that have been reserved for us in a dark corner of their basement and that are worth mentioning as legacy Latino films; some of these iconic films include Zoot Suit, Mi Familia, Stand and Deliver, La Bamba, El Norte, Selena, Frida, The Motorcycle Diaries and most recently, Disney’s Coco. But for the most part, our stories have been relegated to play second fiddle or simply stand in as extras on the sideline of American cinema–Think West Side Story, whose only redeemable element is the presence of our iconic Rita Moreno as the only real Latina in a reinvented Latino-themed Romeo and Juliet Broadway musical-turned-film. 

In the Heights stars Anthony Ramos (A Star is Born, Hamilton, Honest Thief, In Treatment), Corey Hawkins (Straight Outta Compton, Kong: ), Melissa Barrera (Vida, Scream, and Carmen), Lin Manuel Miranda, Jimmy Smits, Marc Anthony, singer/songwriter Leslie Grace in the lead role of Nina and Olga Merediz, who is the only cast member from the original Broadway musical that captures the essence of community and family in her reprised role as Abuela.

In the Heights marks a dramatic and most defined line between visibility and invisibility of the Hispanic experience in America as told by Hollywood, and while it may have taken some time to get here, it makes a bold statement about the importance, contributions and influence of Latinos in America.  In the Heights may take place in New York City’s Washington Heights, but it unites us all by subtly and elegantly embracing all Latinos under one beautifully wrapped bow; it could be the immigrant story of any of our families. Yes, language and culture are perhaps a common thread between the diverse and complex Latin American diaspora in the U.S., but in the end, as members of this rich and mixed culture, we understand that we all inevitably experience our “Latinoness” in a very unique idiosyncratic nationalist way, without failing to accept the fact that we still belong to a larger tribe, and that is the Latin American tribe, where the triumph of one is the triumph of us all. It’s hard for me as an American born Mexican to not move my hips on cue with the first note or beat of a cumbia or salsa track, or the contagious rhythms of Colombian vallenato, or feel pride when I see the Aztec dancers on Olvera Street in downtown Los Angeles or hear the dazzling and intoxicating notes of a Brazilian samba; that’s just who we are!

“In the Heights is more than a movie to me,” said Barrera exclusively to Latin Heat. “It represents honoring our people, it represents honoring our culture, it represents honoring generations of our ancestors that have long felt erased from the narrative and I love that the world will get to see our community in all of our complexity, in all of our beauty and glory too, and to see us celebrate each other and lift each other up because I feel that’s the essence of the Latinx community.” 

When you watch In the Heights for the first time, you feel that type of sensation and a warm fuzzy feeling, and you forget about your own Mexicanness, Puertoricanness (if those are even words), or your own family’s immediate national heritage and you embrace that rich culture that we all call Latino (or Hispanic, Latinx or whatever term you prefer), a culture that is expressed by this musical film in an explosion of color, music, dance, emotion and raw honesty. It took two influential and talented people of color, Miranda and Chu, to get Hollywood to finally tell our story with dignity and respect. 

In the Heights, the musical film is the product of two brilliant minds that bring to life our Latin experience in the U.S., the life of hard-working immigrant families who have been a quintessential part of the American fabric and the greatness of this nation. It is also a celebration of community, family and cultural pride, and heritage. The film is brilliantly directed by Chu as a musical of colossal proportions, with a crescendo effect of color and music that result in an explosive cinematic masterpiece with musical choreographies and numbers that are reminiscent of some of Hollywood’s most epic musicals of yesteryear. 

While the Broadway musical focused on the life and aspirations of Nina (played by Dominican singer Grace) and her personal conflicts between fulfilling her academic dreams and leaving her barrio behind, the film actually pivots its attention to the romantic storyline between the film’s lead characters Usnavi de la Vega (Ramos) and Vanessa (Barrera). The on-screen chemistry between Ramos and Barrera is pure magic and seamless. You believe their romance and truly fall for their love story from the opening of the film to the last frame that closes this unapologetic musical. 

In her film debut, Barrera steals every scene she appears in and unravels her singing, dancing and acting abilities in a similar fashion that Moreno must have done in 1961 when she swept Hollywood off its feet with her performance as Anita in West Side Story, which won her an Oscar for best actress in a supporting role that year. Barrera is not the next anything, she may very well be Hollywood’s newest quadruple threat, singer, actor, dancer and perfectly bilingual, a feat not seen or accomplished since Moreno’s successful and legendary career in entertainment. “I’m so excited for all the world to see us, to see our stories and to empathize with us, because I feel like we’re so much more similar than we are different,” said Barrera.

The film opens with the title track of “In the Heights,” and it is then that you immediately realize that you’re in for a very exhilarating and unforgettable cinematic experience because what comes next is an amalgamation of stellar choreographies, great music and a beautiful story that will endure the test of time. The grandeur and colorful performances of the “96,000” musical number in the community swimming pool are simply mesmerizing, and perhaps one of the most memorable moments in recent cinematic splendor. It truly is difficult to pick just one favorite moment, because Chu practically makes any plot fragment a gem without even trying, as is the case with the musical number “When You’re Home” with Hawkins and Grace dancing away on the side of an apartment building with the sunset as a golden backdrop or “It Won’t Be Long Now” with Barrera and Ramos. The art direction and the clever, timely insertion of the Dreamers storyline, which is not part of the original Broadway musical, are undoubtedly both carefully crafted characteristics that give the film and its characters a breath of depth and dignity you would never come to expect from a musical. 

Like Barrera said, In the Heights is more than a movie, it truly is an experience, the collective narrative of a group of people that have long been ignored by and intentionally left out of the Hollywood storytelling machine. In the Heights is the story of all Latinos living in the U.S. and a celebration of our communities, our cultural heritage and our powerful voices. In the Heights is truly the story of all of us. 

Featured Photo: ‘In the Heights’ (Credit: Warner Bros.)

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Slated for Sat., May 29 from 6 to 9 p.m., the fest’s music headliners include reggaeton artist Jay Wheeler, norteña group La Original Banda Limon, urbano star Rafa Pabon, pop singer Tefi Valenzuela and L.A.-based band La Santa Cecilia. Other confirmed performers are Dafne, Diego Latoo,  El Chapo de Sinaloa, Grupo G, ICC, Jessi Uribe, Jawn Darko, Lady Vixxen, Los Dioses del Ritmo, Los Wizzards, Melanie Pfirrman, Paola Jara, and Yanet Guadalupe. 

A well-known “artivist” and movie star, Dawson is a co-founder of Voto Latino, a nonprofit that encourages young Latinos to vote and get politically involved, and has also supported various causes from the environment to farmworkers. Coincidentally, she was cast as Dolores Huerta in the 2014 biopic Cesar Chavez about the late labor union leader, which won her a special achievement Alma Award. Her film and TV credits include Sin City, Rent, Seven Pounds and the series Jane the Virgin. She will star in the upcoming series Ahsoka Tano, a spinoff of the series The Mandalorian.

Barrera, who got her start in the U.S. as one of the leads on Starz’s Vida. Soon after the series was canceled, Barrera landed the lead in the upcoming musical feature, In The Heights, based on Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Tony Award-winning musical. The Mexico-born artist starred in telenovelas like Siempre Tuya Acapulco and Tanto Amor before coming to the U.S. She also co-stars in the upcoming installment of the horror franchise Scream. 

The fest’s fashion segment is curated by Adriana Pavon, a Mexican designer and founder of México Cultura y Orgullo, a nonprofit initiative supporting indigenous artists.

Cinco de Mayo LA will also feature a comedy skit by MexicanGueys, an L.A.-based duo composed by cousins Jairo Orozco and Bryan Rojo of the podcast Spilling the Frijoles. 

The fest will also include mixology segments and recipes, highlight the importance of getting the COVID vaccine and spotlight In the Heights, the movie.

A production of Brilla Media, the event is presented by the Latino Community Foundation and will raise funds for the California Rural Legal Assistance, a legal aid nonprofit serving farmworkers.

“Cultura, Musica y Arte – it’s the medicine we all need right now, and that’s why LCF is honored to support the Cinco de Mayo LA Festival,” says Jacqueline Martinez Garcel, LCF’s CEO. “As we celebrate, let’s also make sure our loved ones get vaccinated. We miss those fuerte abrazos!”

The festival will be broadcast on the VMe national network, Viva Live TV’s OTT platform and streamed on the Facebook fan pages of Spanish Broadcast System stations like New York’s La Musica Mega 97.9 and 93.1 Amor, Los Angeles’s 97.9 La Raza and Mega 96.3, Miami’s El Zol 106.7, Zeta 92 and Ritmo 95.7, San Francisco’s 93.3 La Raza, Maria Marin Live and Cinco de Mayo L.A., among others.

Organizers hope the fest will also be am in-person in the streets of Los Angeles next year in addition to its webcasting.

Other festival sponsors are Converse, WSS, Disney and Pixar’s upcoming animated film Luca, the Friends of the National Museum of the American Latino and MyCajita.

Strategic partners, producers and media allies for this year’s Cinco de Mayo L.A. festival include EsTiempo, Latin Heat Media, Viva Live TV, The Cerro Group, La Plaza de Cultura y Artes, Dustelli Music. 

For more information, visit https://www.cincodemayola.com.

Featured Photo: Melissa Barrera (Credit: Barrera IG) and Rosario Dawson (Credit: ABC)

The post Rosario Dawson and Melissa Barrera to co-Host Cinco de Mayo L.A. fest first appeared on .

Claim your balcony and mezzanine Comp Tickets by CLICKING HERE

Nosotros, the non-profit organization the produces the Golden Eagle Awards has a few tickets available to the star-studded evening that is the 49th Golden Eagle Awards, which happens tomorrow Thursday 9/19. Show starts at 8 pm.

Join host Ferrrnando with 3 Rs for the 49th Annual NOSOTROS Golden Eagle Awards tomorrow, Thursday, September 19, 2019, at 7:30 pm in Hollywood. Honorees include Edward James Olmos and Ozzie Areu, founder of Areu Studios – the first Latino Owned and Operated Film Studio located in Atlanta, NBCUniversal Talent Infusion Programs, Actresses Adriana Barraza Melissa Barrera and Ivonne Coll. Latina Leader Honorees: Maestra Blanca Araceli Soto, Jandiz Cardoso, and the late Margarita Martinez. Musical Performances by Multi-Grammy Award Artist include KC Porter, Ozomatli and TeCheetah Lopez Artist Page

We’ll end the night with a rooftop party for VIP Ticket holders featuring drinks, food and TeCheetah with her 10 team salsa band! Visit https://www.themontalban.com/golden-eaglefor more information.

The post Latin Heat Reader Ticket Giveaway To The 45th Golden Eagle Awards first appeared on .

By Elia Esparza

Mexican actress-singer Melissa Barrera and Irish thespian, Jamie Dornan (Fifty Shades of Grey franchise, Robin Hood), have been cast to headline in the feature film, Carmen, a contemporary version based on the Bizet’s opera masterpiece, “Carmen.”

Not since 1984, has anyone attempted to make another film based on this celebrated opera. In the older film version of Carmen, that starred Julia Migenes and Placido Domingo, which today is considered a classic among film aficionados. Let’s hope that the new Carmen will create its own modern time classic with wonderful reviews. We wish Roger Ebert was still with us because he absolutely raved about the 1984 film, enthusiastically stating, “Cheers! As Bizet’s towering masterpiece blazes across the screen! Cry bravo! To passion, romance, adventure….!”

Sony Pictures Classic has acquired rights for Benjamin Millepied’s debut film, Carmen, in what they are calling a “modern-day reimaging of one of the world’s most adored operas.” Producing is Dimitri Rassam (Playmobil). In addition, the Pulitzer-Prize winning playwright, Nilo Cruz (Anna in the Tropics), is finalizing the shooting script. Composing the original score is composer Nicholas Britell (Moonlight, Vice).

Barrera is also in pre-production for the movie adaptation of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Broadway musical, In the Heights, in the role of Vanessa. In addition, the 2nd season of the critically acclaimed drama series Starz’ Vida, in which she stars as Lyn, premieres May 23, 2019.

Born in Monterey, Nuevo Leon Mexico, Barrera attended and graduated from American School Foundation of Monterrey. Her love of theater started during her middle school years and participated in school plays and musicals: The Wizard of Oz, Footloose, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, and Aida). At 18, she headed to New York to attend college. She auditioned and 2009, she became part of the Collaborative Arts Project 21 (CAP21) as part of the Tisch School of Arts in New York University.

As a singer, Barrera has recorded her first album with “Melissa y Sebastian” and had her first top ten radio hit with their first single “Mamma Maria”. WIth her singing talent she is sure to dazzle audiences with both of her upcoming performances in Carmen and In the Heights.

Melissa Barrera is repped by United Talent Agency (UTA) and Cross Over Entertainment, and Wolf-Kasteler Public Relations.

Follow Melissa on social media:
Twitter — @MelissaBarreraM
Instagram — @melissabarreram

The post Melissa Barrera Nabs Two Starring Roles In High Profile Films first appeared on .

In the second season of Vida, Lyn (Melissa Barrera) and Emma (Mishel Prada) begin the monumental task of rebuilding their mother’s business while navigating financial constraints, competing developers, and the growing anti-gentrification movement. Lyn and Emma must contemplate the relationships in their lives, including their own, and are forced to dig deep to unearth what their mother’s legacy means to them. Mishel Prada, Ser Anzoategui, Chelsea Rendon, Carlos Miranda, and new additions to the cast Raúl Castillo, and Roberta Colindrez are ready to shake, rock and roll in a community in the East Los Angeles.

And just in time for the premiere of their second season, Starz is offering a $5/month for 3 months deal. They are encouraging a “Vida binge watch” beginning on May 23rd when the series premieres. Not only can you watch season two, but you can catch up and start at the beginning with season one.

Follow Vida on social media:

INSTAGRAM: @vida_starz
TWITTER: @VIDA_STARZ
FACEBOOK: Facebook.com/VidaSTARZ

Instagram: @vida_starz
Twitter: @VIDA_STARZ
Facebook: https//:www.facebook.com/vidaSTARZ

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