Screaming Pleasures: ‘Texicanas’ & ‘Growing Fangs’

(TV Series): TEXICANAS 

Genre: Reality-TV, Drama

Writers: Casaqndra Gaffney, Anna Rodzinski

CAST: (As Themselves) Penny Ayarzagoitia, Mayra Farret, Lorena Martinez, Ana Nolasco, Luz Ortiz, Karla Ramirez

REVIEW:

A disparate group of lovely, well-high heeled San Antonio Latinas balances their active social life with raising their families.

So-called “reality” shows are not reality. The lighting and camera work is too good to be real. It doesn’t even qualify as cinema vérité because the very creative writing, camera work, music and editing make Texicanas an enjoyable visual teat. The pacing and MTV music video-like jump cuts and hand-held camera shots give Texicanas a sense of immediacy and urgency that accentuates the dramatic conflicts between all the “easy-on-the-eyes” characters.

During The Great Depression, Hollywood produced a lot of “feel good” films with beautiful people wearing tuxedos, evening gowns and drinking champagne in posh nightclubs Texicanas could serve that same purpose during this seemingly endless pandemic. A little voyeuristic escapism watching the hijinks of six San Antonio socialites could not hurt.

Producers: Caroline Davoli, David Downey, Ron Mencer, Morgan Miller

Available: Bravo, Hulu, YouTube, Tubi

Rating:

---

(Short Film): GROWING FANGS

Note:  This project is part of Disney+ Launchpad the studios’ new initiative to support and uplift underrepresented filmmakers.

Genre: Fantasy, Comedy

Director: Ann Marie Pace

Writer: Ann Marie Pace

CAST: Griselda Alonzo,  Sean Burges, Nicole Goosby, Terri Hoyos, Zainnam Johnson, Yona Kibreab, Keyla Monterroso Mejia, Gilberto Ortiz, Grace Song, MichelleSophia, Oliver Sullivan

REVIEW:

“You try being the only half living hormonal teenager in the school of undead.” Such is the dilemma facing Lupe Garcia (Cristela Alonzo) in this delightful teen vampire comedy by writer/director Ann Marie Pace. The Garcia’s are your typical modern blended Latino family. Some family members are human. Some are half-human, half-vampire. While others are full-blooded (pun intended) vampires. Lupe is half ‘n half and just wants to be friends with her human amigo, Jimmy (Gilberto Ortiz). When Lupe attends a school of her own kind, she finds it difficult to navigate and fit in with teen werewolves, vampires, zombies and witches. It’s enough teen angst to give any teenager a chronic case of severe acne.

Alonzo, the pride of San Juan, Texas, is a superb comic actress, she had her own ABC TV series Cristela and voiced the Cruz Ramirez car in Cars 3. Growing Fangs is supernaturally funny with enough special effects to keep it interesting. Growing Fangs has all the ingredients for a great TV sitcom series. We could use the laughs these days.

Producers: Geneva Faye, Steak House, Melody Sandoval

Available: Disney+

Rating: