Lights, Camera, Acciòn is an American Masters project directed by Ben DeJesus and executive produced by John Leguizamo, Michael Kantor of American Masters, and Sandie Viquez Pedlow of Latino Public Broadcasting/VOCES and David Chitel of NGL Collective premieres Tuesday, October 5, on PBS.

A co-presentation of Latino Public Broadcasting’s VOCES and American Masters, Lights, Camera, Acciòn is a celebration of the incredible impact Latinos have made in Hollywood — past, present and future, with a focus on the exciting new wave of talent that is transforming the industry. Featuring prominent Latino voices in film and television, this special captures the candid perspectives of talent from in front of and behind the camera, as they share their challenges, personal journeys and outlook on the future. 

In the documentary we hear from high profile A-talent who have been grandly representing Latinos in Hollywood for years. The documentary also focuses on the current writers and the on-camera talent that are now front and center, reshaping the image of Latinos in Hollywood through their work. The long list of talent include actors Edward James Olmos, Gina Torres, John Leguizamo, Chelsea Rendon, Jimmy Smits, Ivana Rojas, Esai Morales, Xolo Maridueña; showrunners Tanya Saracho (Vida), Peter Murrieta (Mr. Iglesias) and Marvin Lemus (Gentefied), media scholar Chon Noriega, and more.

“When I set out to make this film, my goal was to shed light on the incredible contributions – often unacknowledged – that Latinos have made to the history and success of Hollywood since the very beginning,” says director DeJesus. “I also wanted to showcase the new generation of talent that are now blazing their own trails, both on-screen and behind the scenes.”

“Visual media is such a powerful medium. It has the power to change the way we look at the world around us,” says executive producer Leguizamo. “Ben is on a 24/7 mission to get more of our stories out there because if people are able to see the incredible contributions that Latinx people make and have made to our society, imagine how they would look at our community. And more importantly, imagine how we would look at ourselves.”

The 24-minute documentary film premieres on Tuesday, October 5, immediately following the broadcast of American Masters — Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided to Go For It at 9 p.m. (check local listings). The film will also be available for streaming on all station-branded PBS platforms, including pbs.org/americanmasters  and the PBS Video App beginning October 5.

Lights, Camera, Acciòn is a co-production of NGL Studios and Latino Public Broadcasting in association with American Masters Pictures, with funding provided by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Directed by Ben DeJesus. Produced by Jill Krikorian and Cionin Lorenzo. Executive Producers: Sandie Viquez Pedlow, Michael Kantor, John Leguizamo, and David Chitel. Series Producer for VOCES: Luis Ortiz. Series Producer for American Masters: Julie Sacks.

The post ‘Lights, Camera, Accion’ Celebrating Latinos in Hollywood Then and Now first appeared on .

Last year Saracho signed a multiple-year overall deal with Universal Content Studios, a division of Universal Studio Group, to create and develop original content for television as well as the studio’s UCP Audio division. She is currently developing a TV movie entitled Brujas about a group of women living in Chicago reconnect with their Latina heritage through music, style, nightlife, and art.

“I am humbled and deeply honored to be recognized by Imagen with this prestigious award, especially one named after such an inspiring and talented icon, activist, and creative force, Norman Lear,” said Saracho. “And I strive to continue in the example he has set and use my platform and voice to increase Latine representation across our industry.”

Vida, which ran from 2018 through 2020, stands out for featuring all Latino directors, writers, main actors and central characters during its three seasons on cable. It is among Saracho’s biggest accomplishments in Hollywood, wearing multiple creative and executive hats. In addition to writing, the filmmaker was creator, executive producer, director and showrunner of the drama about two Mexican-American sisters who move back to their childhood home in East Los Angeles after the death of their mother. The show also marked Saracho’s TV directorial debut.

“Vida broke ground on so many levels, bringing to the forefront stories that otherwise would remain untold,” says Helen Hernandez, foundation president and founder. “Rather than rest on her laurels, Tanya continues to champion…stories and storytellers that reflect our communities’ voices, experiences, and cultures.” Adds Hernandez, “Her work, determination, and willingness to share her voice, reflect the essence of the Norman Lear Writer’s Award.”

Vida won the Audience Award for an episodic show at the SXSW Film Festival and received 10 Imagen Award nominations, including two for Saracho herself in the Best Director-Television category. The show also got nods for other creative awards such as the GLAAD Media Awards, Hollywood Post Alliance and Women’s Image Network Awards.

The Norman Lear Writer’s Award honors filmmakers who have “exhibited efforts towards increasing diversity within all aspects of the entertainment industry,” according to the Imagen Foundation. 

Lear is a legendary TV writer and producer who is behind ‘70s hits like All in the Family, Maude, Sanford and Son, One Day at a Time, The Jeffersons, and Good Times. He also produced the remake of One Day at a Time reimagined with a Latino family, starring Rita Moreno. In fact, Lear is credited with inspiring the creation of the Imagen Awards, suggesting in 1985 the creation of a prize to encourage and recognize the positive portrayals of Latinos in the media. 

Diversity is something that Saracho pursues outside her own projects, too. This summer she launched the Ojalá Ignition Lab as part of an overall deal with Universal Content Productions, a lab and incubator program aimed to nurture, amplify, guide and empower intersectional Latino voices in TV. 

Additionally, the filmmaker co-founded the Untitled Latinx Project to increase Latino representation in television, broadcast, cable, and streaming platforms through content created by Latino writers. Saracho is also a co-founder of the Writers Access Support Staff Training Program, which aims to help increase representation and opportunities for underrepresented communities.

Besides being a TV writer, Saracho is a playwright. Before arriving in Hollywood, she had plays produced at Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Chicago’s Goodman Theater, Steppenwolf Theater and Teatro Vista and Los Angeles’ Teatro Luna and NEXT Theater. She received the first Revolucionario Award in Theater from the National Museum of Mexican Art. Furthermore, Saracho is a Spanish voice-over artist and a SAG/AFTRA actress.

Saracho, born in the small city of Los Mochis in the northwestern Mexican state of Sinaloa and raised in Chicago, will join a selected group of prominent Latinos in Hollywood who have received the Norman Lear Writer’s Award. Past recipients include Primetime Emmy Award-winners Peter Murrieta (Wizards of Waverly Place: The Movie) and John Leguizamo (John Leguizamo: Freak); Peabody Award-winner Fred Armisen (Portlandia,); screenwriter Gloria Calderon Kellett (One Day at a Time, How I Met Your Mother), writer/producer Luisa Leschin (Mr. Iglesias, George Lopez) and writer Roberto Orci (Star Trek).  

The 36th annual edition of the Imagen Awards will air on PBSSoCal.org and KCET.org Sunday, Oct.10 at 5 p.m. Pacific/8 p.m. Eastern.

For more information about the Imagen Awards, visit www.Imagen.org.

Featured Photo: Tanya Saracho (Credit: Jackson Davis/Imagen Foundation)

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Tanya Saracho, showrunner for the groundbreaking TV series Vida, and the UCP, a division of Universal Studio Group, have joined together to create The Ojalá Ignition Lab as a means to amplify Latinx Voices & Stories For TV Pilots, They seek writers with television experience up to and including executive story editor level, as well as storytellers from other disciplines such as the digital space, film, theater, literary, journalism, and the documentary world. 

The Ojalá Ignition Lab is committed to empowering creators by offering a nurturing artistic space to hone their voice.  The Lab will serve as a culturally safe creative environment for writers to gain industry insight from established showrunners and producers, all while developing a television pilot script from start to finish. The Lab aims to give development access to TV writers who haven’t yet been staffed or whose careers have been stalled by repeating lower staffing levels, as well as storytellers from other disciplines who desire to enter the television space.  Five writers will be selected to write a new original television project from story idea to finished pilot script.  UCP will compensate the writers for this pilot.

Applicants are asked to submit a one-page television proposal along with an existing writing sample. Upon completion of the application review process, five writers will be selected to participate in the Lab.  The Lab will last 26 weeks, with sessions generally held once a week in a writer’s group setting designed to generate a pilot script.  Additionally, participants will attend a speaker panel once a month. Participants will receive support and feedback from Lab peers, Ojalá and UCP executives.  By the end of the program, participants will have a finished pilot script, meaningful amplification of their professional profile and above all, a close-knit community of peers and allies in the industry intended to help cultivate exciting collaborations and opportunities long into the future.

CLICK HERE TO APPLY.

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In the last few years, audiences have made a substantial call for content from major and independent studios to include ethnic talent in front of and behind the camera. While there is a positive increase in Black talent and content such as Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom and Judas and the Black Messiah, representation for Latinos is greatly underrepresented.

In response to the persistent lack of Latinos directing film and TV projects, directors Alberto Belli (The House of Flowers), Joel Novoa (Arrow) and Diego Velasco (Orange Is the New Black) and Aurora Guerrero (Gentefied) took matters into their own hands. They created the online database Latinx Directors. Launched last summer, the website’s goal is to offer studios, agencies and others an easy-to-search online resource to find Latino directors for their projects.

Currently, the database lists over 200 talents organized in a dozen genres, from action, comedy and documentary to drama, live events and science fiction. Visitors can filter the roster by the length of experience in television and filmmakers’ participation in diversity programs.

Latinx Directors is a valuable tool needed in the entertainment industry to address the lack of Latino talent hired for films, streaming programs, television shows and commercials. Latinos represent 18.5 percent of the U.S. population.

The 2019 USC study Latinos in Film: Erasure On-Screen & Behind the Camera Across 1,200 Popular Movies found that only 4 percent of all directors were Latinos. The survey evaluated films released from 2007 through 2018. It was conducted by USC Annenberg Inclusion Initiative, National Association of Latino Independent Producers and Wise Entertainment.

Among the talent featured in Latinx Director’s database are the TV directors/showrunners Tanya Saracho (Vida) and Gloria Calderon Kellet (One Day at a Time), as well as film director Fede Alvarez (Evil Dead 2013 and Don’t Breathe).

In our exclusive interview with Velasco, he shares the development of Latinx Directors, their current goals, and hopes for the future.

JUSTINA BONILLA: What was the genesis of Latinx Directors?

DIEGO VELASCO: We’re all directors and part of the Latino Committee at DGA [Directors Guild of America]. We were all separate, [but] hearing, “Oh, I’m looking for a Latin director, but I just don’t know where there’s any.” There are all these shows that have Latin characters and Latin stories, but it was just white guys directing it.

My wife is a writer, and she did [a list], called the Untitled Latinx Project, which is a bunch of female writers who got together and started creating a list to share names. Anytime they would have meetings with executives and studios, they would hear about projects and [asked if they] could send them the list. And [the executives would ask], “You mean you want to send a list of people competing for your job?” They wanted it to go to a Latinx person. [They’d] rather it go to one of us. If [they] don’t get it, then give it to someone whose [on the list].

I thought that was really inspiring. We should be doing the same as directors. We’ll have one place where these producers have a place to find Latinx directors.

JB: How do you qualify to be a part of Latinx Directors?

DV: [Potential members] have to have qualifications to be accepted. They have directed a feature that has been in a recognized in a festival; we have a list of festivals. Or, you have to have done a television episode that is streaming or on a network.

We want to help everyone and be able to lift everyone. But at the same time, we can’t put somebody in a situation that they might not be ready for. We set standards, so if any one of them gets hired, we feel confident that they can do a great job.

JB: How does your database work?

DV: You can [use] filters. We have self-identification, LGBT, or you can do cultural identity or heritage. And you can combine all the ones you want. Plus, you can do film experience, TV experience, union, or not union. It’s the only searchable database for Latinx directors that allows you to do all those things.

JB: What is the overall goal for Latinx Directors?

DV: Our motto is, “No more stories about us without us.” And then, don’t box us into just one category. There are Latinx directors that are incredible in genre, incredible in sci-fi. Just because you are Mexican or your Salvadorian doesn’t mean you can’t [direct] Star Wars.

We just want to be authentic to our culture and to share our unique points of view.

JB: Apart from promoting Latinx Directors, what is your key aspiration?

Velasco: If people who are not familiar with Latin culture, to not fear it. It’s okay to not know all the answers. It’s okay to be intimidated by it. But, if they give themselves a chance to work with Latinx directors, you might be surprised that everybody who is on that list wants to go above and beyond and wants to do the best job they can. So, you really get a level of commitment that I would encourage everybody to try.

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‘Vida’ Creator Tanya Saracho Launches Ojalá Productions

Tanya Saracho is marking her place among TV elites of showrunners and creating her own production company: Ojalá Productions and has hired Saracho hired Christine Dávila, most recently at Warner Bros. content studio Stage 13, to help her run the production studio. Dávila will be the Head of Development and Production for the studio. 

Saracho, best known as the creator of Vida, is a champion for diversity for Latinos and LGBTQ+ representation. She is also one of the founders of the Untitled Latinx Project which was established to help increase Latinx representation in television, broadcast, cable, and streaming platforms through content created by Latinx writers.

“It is a dream come true to be able to bring such a talented, energetic and accomplished Latina to help me kick off Ojalá,” Saracho told Deadline. “With Christine’s impeccable taste, undeniable intellect and boundless spirit, the possibilities are endless for us.”

“I’m grateful and truly invigorated to work with such an undeniable voice as Tanya’s,” Dávila said of the producer-writer. “Vida was a game changer and there is a lot more where that came from. She is intentional and unapologetic, and committed to supporting Latinx talent in all aspects of the industry and in the most inclusive way.”

Dávila is a prime pick to work with for Saracho having been a member of the programming teams at the Sundance Film Festival, the LA Film Festival and the Morelia International Film Festival. Dávila was also instrumental in helping Diego Luna (Narcos: Mexico, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story) and Gael García Bernal’s (Coco) with their traveling documentary film festival, Ambulante.

Saracho recently penned an overall deal with UCP (Universal Content Productions) that includes the creation of a lab and program for Latino voices. Since the acclaimed Vida ended its three-season run on Starz, Saracho has remained busy working with musician Johnny Flynn (Stardust) on the Love Story pilot for UCP. The pilot will focus on a different heartbreak each season. The first season will feature a Latinx friendship that is tested when the friends become involved with the same musician. 

Saracho is repped by UTA, Writ Large and J.R. McGinnis at Felker Toczek Suddleson Abramson.

Rosario Dawson Makes Debut As Key ‘Clone Wars’ Character in ‘The Mandalorian’

Rosario Dawson finally made her debut on The Mandalorian as Jedi Ahsoka Tano. 

Ahsoka was a fan favorite from Star Wars: Clone Wars and fans have been eager to meet her in the series since Bo-Katan told Mando (Pedro Pascual) that he would need to track her down. Until now, Ahsoka’s character was only seen as a cartoon and was voiced by Ashley Eckstein (Star Wars: Clone Wars). 

This role resulted initially as a Dawson fan-cast for the role on Twitter. Dawson retweeted the fan tweet with immediate interest in the character. Although that’s not how she was ultimately casted for the role, it definitely served as a treat for fans who knew she’d be the perfect Ahsoka. 

Dawson was seen most recently as Allegra Dill on Briarpatch and is best known for her roles in Rent, Eagle Eye, The Lego Batman Movie and Clerks II.

She is set to star in HBO Max’s limited-series DMZ, an adaptation of the DC comic book series by Brian Wood and Riccardo Burchielli. The series being exec produced and directed by Ava DuVernay. Roberto Pattino is set to write the limited-series as well as exec produce alongside DuVernay. 

HBO’s ‘Scenes From A Marriage’ Production Halted Due To Covid-19

The wait to see Oscar Isaac in HBO’s Scenes From A Marriage may have gotten a little bit longer. The adaptation of Ingmar Bergman’s miniseries starring Isaac and Jessica Chastain has been shut down due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The limited series has paused after two production members have tested positive for the novel coronavirus. In order to comply with safety protocols, the two members are in isolation, production is undergoing deep cleaning, contact tracing and testing of all the production members.

Scenes From A Marriage was written and directed by Hagai Levi (Our Boys, The Affair), the series will examine the intricacies of love, marriage and divorce. Isaac and Chastain are set to star as the contemporary American couple that will walk us through these lessons. 

Levi is exec producing with Michael Ellenberg (Prometheus, Stoker), Lars Blomgren (The Bridge), Chastain, Isaac, Daniel Bergman, Blair Breard (The Half of It, Baskets) and Amy Herzog (Mary Jane).

This isn’t the first time Isaac and Chastain grace our screens together, they previously starred together in A Most Violent Year.

Eugenio Derbez To Star In Apple TV+ Bilingual Comedy Series ‘Acapulco’

Eugenio Derbez is set to star in the TV series Acapulco, a Spanish and English-language comedy that was inspired by his 2017 comedic hit film How to Be A Latin Lover. The series will be on Apple TV+ and will be exec produced by Derbez. 

The series was created by Austin Winsberg (Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist), Eduardo Cisneros (Half Brothers, Instructions Not Included) and Jason Shuman (Half Brothers).

Acapulco will follow a young man who lands an amazing gig at the hottest resort in Acapulco who soon finds himself in over his head when the job is more complicated than he expected. The job soon has the young man questioning his beliefs and morals. The show is set in 1984 with Derbez narrating and playing the present-day version of the main character.

Winsberg will serve as showrunner, with Chris Harris (How I Met Your Mother) as co-showrunner. The two will executive produce alongside Derbez and Odell via 3Pas, Eric and Kim Tannenbaum for the Tannenbaum Co. as well as Shuman and Cisneros. The Tannenbaum Co’s Jason Wang co-executive produces. Gaz Alazraki (Nosotros Los Nobles) will direct and executive produce the pilot.

The post Spotlight: Rosario Dawson’s Jedi, Tanya Saracho’s ‘Ojalá’, Eugenio Derbez In ‘Acapulco’; Oscar Isaac On Hold first appeared on .

By Bel Hernandez

Chelsea Rendon was born to act.  She has been doing so since the age of six — and not just “trying” to act, booking the jobs.  By seven she had booked her first lead role in the ALMA Award winning independent film, No Turning Back. She has not had time to look back much because through her adolescence, her teens and into her twenties, she has been busy working in just about every hit show on TV and some amazing films. Currently Rendon is starring in the third and final season of the Starz hit show VIDA.  Later this year two highly anticipated films she worked on will be released, Cristina Ibarra and Alex Rivera’s The Infiltrators and David Ayers The Tax Collector.

Always driven to excel, in 2017 while working with Ayers on the Netflix film Bright, Rendon took a piece of his advice to heart. He complimented her talent and felt she had a lot more to give.  He suggested she take classes with Ivana Chumbick studios, telling her that Chumbick would be the one to bring it out in her. She started classes in February and in May she booked the role of Mari in VIDA.  It was a turning point in her career.  

Rendon’s Mari, the hard core Boyle Heights gentrification activist, Entertainment Weekly called her performance “fierce and funny portrayal of guerrilla activist Marisol.”  Rendon thanks creator/showrunner Tanya Saracho for writing her character, and all the female characters in theshow, with authenticity and as multi-layered characters; the writing is what allows their talent to shine, which leads to other work.

Last year Rendon landed the recurring role of Annie Gonzalez in Showtime’s groundbreaking hit show Shameless where she had a 6 episode arch in 2019.  She adds that show to the long list of TV credits which include Major Crimes, All Rise, The Bridge, and Bosch, among many.

Currently she co-stars in The Infiltrators which was released on virtual cinemas on May 4th by The Oscilloscope Laboratories and on June 2nd, will release on-demand and digitally.  Then, later this year she will be seen in director David Ayer’s The Tax Collector. 

For now as the final season of VIDA plays out, we see Rendon’s role of Mari become more prominent. In these last episodes of the series, Mari falls out of favor with her crowd of radical gentrification advocates; she faces homelessness; her father died in this past Sunday’s episode; and in the last episode of the series it literally ends on her,  in a quandary, wondering what she will do next.  A set up for a spin-off?  One can only hope — but for sure we will be seeing more of Rendon, you can bet on that.

The post Chelsea Rendon’s Mari Shines in Last Season of “Vida” 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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The 2nd season of the STARZ series, Vida which rocked the TV world for presenting an never before look at life in East L.A., premieres on May 26th. And if you really can’t wait you can watch it on May 23rd on the STARZ app.

When last we saw the estranged sisters Emma (Mishel Prada), the career-focused and successful lawyer from Chicago, and Lyn (Melissa Barrera), a flaky yoga loving vegan relying on her looks and other people’s money to get by, they had returned to their childhood neighborhood of East Los Angeles, only to see their lives turn topsy turvy.

It was a lot to take in. Upon their return to bury their mom, they find out she had a wife who they are now tied to as all three own the family bar. Both daughters planned to leave and get back to their “normal” lives. But “el destino” had other plans.

The first season of Vida put a whole new hue on the “old neighborhood”, and to say that this is not your grandmother’s neighborhood anymore, would be an understatement. On the surface, it may look the same, but as the “chisme” spread throughout season two, what we got was a stark new look at the old neighborhood.

Vida is a never-before-seen contemporary portal into a multi-generational Latinx neighborhood exploring complex narratives and an intersecting range of issues including sexual, cultural and spiritual identity, class and race, all under the gaze of fast changes and growing conflicts with gentrification.

In season 1, the girls learned the truth. In the second season, they face reality as Lyn and Emma begin the monumental task of rebuilding their mother’s business while navigating financial constraints, competing developers, and the growing anti-gentrification movement.

What do we have to look forward in season two, which has expanded to 10 episodes, up from the 6 they shot last season?

• The sisters will be forced to dig deeper to unearth the true legacy of their mother and what means to them.
• Raul Castillo (Looking, Amexicano) Baco, will be guest starring as the bar’s new handyman with a questionable past.
• Adrian Gonzalez (Superstore) will recur as Rudy, an L.A. city councilman who Lyn meets at a gym class
• Roberta Colindrez (I Love Dick, The Deuce) joins the cast as series regular Nico, the new bartender at the family bar.
• Ser Anoategui who plays Eddy, Emma and Lyn’s “stepmom” isn’t going anywhere so maybe some bonding is in store? After all, they have a bar to run.
• Showrunner Tanya Saracho makes a move to the back of the camera as she makes her directorial debut in season two!

And what would Vida’s East L.A. be without the chola tagger played by Chelsea Rendon, and Carlos Miranda whose character Johnny can’t decide what women he needs to be loyal to? We also look forward to seeing the neighborhood’s colorful residents who always add a lot more flavor to the season.

Watch on STARZ on May 26. The series is produced by Big Beach TV with Robin Schwartz, Peter Saraf and Marc Turtletaub serving as executive producers. Stephanie Langhoff is also executive producing with Chrisann Verges producing.

The post The Much Awaited “VIDA” 2nd Season Premieres May 26th On STARZ first appeared on .

A very busy week for Latinos in Hollywood.  From film premieres to castings, distribution news and award recognition. However, the top story goes to Gina Rodriguez.  This powerhouse actress, producer and outspoken advocate for Latinos in Hollywood is killing it.

Gina Rodriguez Owns This Week’s News

Coming off the premiere of her animated Netflix TV Show Carmen SanDiego (where she voices the title character) last week, this week is all about Gina Rodriguez playing a badass in Miss Bala which premieres today.  

There is only one new film release going wide this weekend due to the Superbowl and that is Miss Bala.  The preview screenings on Thursday brought in $650,000 at the box office with critics agreeing that Gina has a future as an action hero!

The unity that the famous 2017 Power Brunch organized by Gina and America Ferrera instigated was still evident as Latinas came out to support Gina at the L.A. the red carpet premiere of Miss Bala. In Attendance were America Ferrera, Eva Longoria, Gina Torres, Rosario Dawson, Wilmer Valderrama, casting director Blanca Valdez and so many more.

Gina made more news this week with the buzz around the Jane the Virgin Spinoff from the CW that she will narrate and produce; the Carmen SanDiego live action feature she is woking on; and her new film she is set to star in for Warner Bros., Bobbie Sue.

So for all you action hero film fans, Miss Bala is about a badass woman – in this case a Latina, go see it. Then make sure to go to Rotten Tomatoes and let them know how you liked it! #WomenActionHeroes, #BadassWomenUnite #LatinaBadass #MakeBoxofficeNews

Vergara Ventures off to The Big Screen

According to a Deadline, Sofia Vergara will not only be producing an upcoming untitled “female ensemble comedy with action” film with Original Film but she will also be producting.  Baywatch and Last Vegas writing duo Kyle Pennekamp & Scott Turpel will write

Dune A-Listers

Hunky Oscar Isaac (Star Trek) and Javier Bardem (Loving Pablo) will be joining director Denis Villeneuve in the adaptation of the 1965 Frank Herbert classic novel Dune.  Isaac will play Duke Leto Atreides, Timothee Chalamet dad in the film and Bardem will play Stilgar, the leader of planet’s nomadic tribes known as Fremen.

Dune is a sci-fi literary classic.  It tells the story of a fallen noble family’s attempt to control a desert planet named Arrakis.  Latinos into the sci-fi future!

Bryana Salaz to Star in Team Kaylie

Actress/Singer Bryana Salaz will be starring in the live-action comedy series Team Kaylie for Netflix. Salaz will play a selfie obsessed celebrity who assigned to community service, Created by Emmy-winning producer Tracy Bitterolf (Emma Approved).

Known to The Voice audiences for her appearance on NBC’s reality TV singing competition for season 7 in 2014.  Since then she has been cast in a pilot (Urban Cowboy) starred in Best Friends Forever for Disney and several other TV show and a few independent films.  You will be hearing more about her, so stay tuned!

Congrats to…

…Red Hot Busy Showrunner of Starz drama Vida, Tanya Saracho who was honored at the Final Draft Screening Awards this week. Here she is flanked by members of her cast and creatives on the red carpet. Gloria Calderon Kellett (another awesome talented showrunner (Netflix’s One Day at a Time) presented her with the award.

But wait there is more. Both of these talented showrunners, Saracho (Vida)  and Calderon Kellett (One Day at a Time), have been nominated for their respective for a GLAAD Award this week! This, just the latest in accolades they have received.

Chisme

Off of social media… @TanyaSaracho gave us an early glimpse of what she has cooking

Tanya Tweet – Jan 16th “Aaww! I’m so happy you like it! My play Enfrascada is sort of the inspiration or jumping off point for my next (hopefully) series called Brujas!” 

Sounds great!  We will light the “velitas” and hope to see “Brujas” soon.

And congratulations to Sophia Santi, a character actress whose work encompasses both TV and film, for receiving the Best Performance award for her role in the short film Sin Cielo at the PA Indie Shorts Film Festival 2018.  Her performance of a strong matriarch dealing with the injustice brought upon the women in Juarez, Mexico was highlighted with this award.

More Castings

Rosario Dawson has joined the cast of Zombieland 2 which is the next installment of the post-apocalyptic zombie comedy from Sony.  She joined Woody Harrelson, Jesse Eisenberg, and Emma Stone. Ruben Fleischer will be back to direct the sequel.

Corey Hawkins has been cast in the role of Benny in the Quiara Alegria Hudes and   Lin-Manuel Miranda in the feature adaptation of In The Heights a Warner Bros. Prod.  He joins Hamilton’s star Anthony Ramos who will be playing the lead role of Usnai; Rita Moreno (One Day at a Time) as Abuelita Claudia, Joseph Velez as Kevin Rosario (Stranger Things, Iron Man 3)  and Daymien Valentino (Billions)

Jon M. Chu (Crazy Rich Asians) is set to direct; Anthony Bregman, Mara Jacobs, Scott Sanders and Miranda are producing. Marc Klein wrote the script, with musical book by Hudes.

Indie Film News

Congratulations Writer/Director Anthony Solorzano on the upcoming release of his film Varsity Punks on February 26th.  If you have followed his journey this coming of age film about high school kids, you know his hands approach in creating buzz, 4-walling this film — could only lead to a wider distribution.  Stay tune for the full story but meanwhile here is the trailer

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