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A Western Story with Some Complex Hearts

We liked this western. The story and the complexity of the main characters kept you captivated. The Dead Don’t Hurt is a powerful and profoundly personal cinematic western written and directed by Viggo Mortensen. In theaters nationwide May …

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Unsung Hero Based on A Remarkable True Story

Coming to theaters on April 26. Tickets available now. Unsung Hero is a deeply moving story about an immigrant family that arrived in the USA in the 1970s, braving the unknown to pursue a better future. …

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Upcoming Documentaries Worth Watching

A Thousand Pines, the documentary is directed and produced by Sebastián Díaz and Noam Osband, follows a season of Oaxacan tree planters traveling the United States and explores the hidden world of guest workers regrowing …

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FURIOSA is On Her Way!

Ready for some action? Check out the trailer with Anya Taylor-Joy and Chris Hemsworth in Academy Award-winning mastermind George Miller’s Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, the much-anticipated return to the iconic dystopian world he created more than …

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Shirley Fearless. Fierce. First.

Being old enough to remember when Shirley Chisholm ran for president and the feeling it left you with was, boy, she had guts! Her slogan was “Unbought and Unbossed.” —A.O. Regina King stars as Shirley …

A Western Story with Some Complex HeartsUnsung Hero Based on A Remarkable True StoryUpcoming Documentaries Worth WatchingFURIOSA is On Her Way!Shirley Fearless. Fierce. First.

Judas and the Black Messiah Trailer

Chairman Fred Hampton (Daniel Kaluuya) was 21 years old when he was assassinated by the FBI, who coerced a petty criminal named William O’Neal (LaKeith Stanfield) to help them silence him and the Black Panther Party. But they could not kill Fred Hampton’s legacy and, 50 years later, his words still echo…louder than ever.  

I am a revolutionary!

In 1968, a young, charismatic activist named Fred Hampton became Chairman of the Illinois chapter of the Black Panther Party, who were fighting for freedom, the power to determine the destiny of the Black community, and an end to police brutality and the slaughter of Black people.  

Chairman Fred was inspiring a generation to rise up and not back down to oppression, which put him directly in the line of fire of the government, the FBI and the Chicago Police.  But to destroy the revolution, they had to do it from both the outside…and the inside. Facing prison, William O’Neal is offered a deal by the FBI: if he will infiltrate the Black Panthers and provide intel on Hampton, he will walk free. O’Neal takes the deal.

(Center front-back) LaKEITH STANFIELD as William O’Neal and DANIEL KALUUYA as Chairman Fred Hampton in Warner Bros. Pictures’ JUDAS AND THE BLACK MESSIAH, a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo by Glen Wilson

Now a comrade in arms in the Black Panther Party, O’Neal lives in fear that his treachery will be discovered even as he rises in the ranks.  But as Hampton’s fiery message draws him in, O’Neal cannot escape the deadly trajectory of his ultimate betrayal.

Though his life was cut short, Fred Hampton’s impact has continued to reverberate. 

Judas and the Black Messiah is directed by Shaka King, marking his studio feature film directorial debut.

The ensemble cast also includes Algee Smith (The Hate U Give, Detroit), Darrell Britt-Gibson (Just Mercy, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri), Dominique Thorne (If Beale Street Could Talk), Amari Cheatom (Roman J. Israel, Esq., Django Unchained), Caleb Eberhardt (“The Post”), and Lil Rel Howery (Get Out).

In theaters in 2021.

The New Mutants ComicCon@Home Panel On July 23

Charlie Heaton as Sam Guthrie, Anya Taylor-Joy as Illyana Rasputin, Blu Hunt as Danielle Moonstar, Henry Zaga as Roberto da Costa and Maisie Williams as Rahne Sinclair in 20th Century Studios’ The New Mutants. Photo courtesy of 20th Century Studios. 

A special ComicCon@Home panel featuring writer/director Josh Boone and the stars of The New Mutants, including: Maisie Williams, Anya Taylor-Joy, Charlie Heaton, Alice Braga, Blu Hunt, and Henry Zaga. Moderated by Ira Madison III, will debut on July 23, 2020. Panel can be viewed via Comic Con’s YouTube channel. In the meantime, check out this special look at the original horror thriller.

 

Danny Arroyo A Multifaceted Actor

Danny Arroyo

Danny Arroyo spoke to Mabel Aragon about his latest acting projects and his thoughts about how Latinos are portrayed on screen. 

“Even when I write today, unless it’s for a specific role, I want to be able to show us in a light where anybody can play that role. It doesn’t matter what race or nationality.”

Born in the Bronx, actor Danny Arroyo is making strides on the big screen with films, including The Last Smile, which led to his Best Actor award at the Silicon Valley Film Festival. He wrote, produced and directed the short film Bite, the winner of 6 awards at various film festivals. This Latino actor, who is also of French descent, also starred and produced the cop drama thriller Branded and the romantic comedy Switched at Love. He takes pride in stirring up emotion for the audience, as he does with the character Christian Santos in the series Sangre Negra, a cross-generational drama that’s been described as Dallas meets the Sopranos, captivating viewers with family deception, power and intrigue.  

Now, sit back and enjoy as he shares his experiences working in the industry, and what he’s taken away from all of his projects.

In part one, this multifaceted actor talks about what’s compelled him to work in front of the camera as well as behind the scenes as a writer, producer and director for a few of his films. Stay tuned for part two. Find out what few may know about his love for quotes and comic books; and how much does he know about his favorite superheroes?

Fun Activity Books for Download

We have a few fun activity books for Call of the Wild and Spies in Disguise. You can download for a kid in your life. Just by clicking on the images of the ones you want.

 

 

 

LOLA Phase 2 Crowdfunding Campaign

We like to support interesting and meaningful projects and we try to help where we can. Read below and see if you can give a helping hand.

At the end of the day, they will hit the 3rd day in their @seedandspark #lolasjourney phase 2 Crowdfunding campaign. They have been told that they need to raise 30% by the end of the day to be successful–so they need your help!

Please share the link to their campaign and follow if you truly care about LatinX and multicultural representation that stays always from stereotypical tropes and instead tells a story that will impact many, many people.

Synopsis: LOLA is a story about the plight of a plus-sized woman and the discrimination she faces in her relationship, friendships, and the medical community-until she finds her inner power amidst the noise and learns to both love and accept herself. Written and directed by Ana Lydia Monaco and executive producer MC Sundeen.

Ana Lydia Monaco

About the team. Our team is composed of a primarily female cast and crew, with cross-spectrum of diverse filmmaking professionals.

The project leads are both Mexican-American women filmmakers.

The cast is representative of CIS LatinX Females, CIS LatinX Male, CIS White Male, CIS Asian Male, CIS African American female. The cast is also inclusive of diverse ages ranging from 24+ and body sizes.

The crew is representative of Both LGBTQ/Non-Gender Conforming and CIS LatinX Females, CIS LatinX Male, CIS Asian Males, CIS Asian Females, LGBTQ/Non-Gender Conforming Asian, LatinX and African American They, CIS White Females, and CIS White Males. The crew is also inclusive of diverse ages ranging from 24+ and body sizes.

José Yenque, Actor, Producer and Humanitarian

José Yenque

José Yenque talked with Mabel Aragon about his acting career and his beloved non-profit, Arts for a Better Tomorrow (ABT), the organization serves underprivileged youth in Los Angeles, Tijuana and San Diego.

Yenque is a native of New York, who was introduced to the theatre early in life thanks to his mother, renown stage actor Teresa Yenque. Her example inspired him to give acting a try in his youth, and he found it to be a positive venue for overcoming self-doubt and shyness.

“We use the arts together with elements of CBT to help youth believe in themselves again while providing coping tools to help them overcome trauma and learning barriers. This helps them to excel academically and in life as emotionally healthy global citizens.” — José Yenque

Now sit back and watch his back and forth about his adventures in the business and his passion. He said, “sometimes the roles he plays are therapeutic.”

In part one, the producer, writer and award-winning actor shares his passion for his humanitarian work and why he loves playing a villain, a role he plays so well. Stay tuned for part 2. Will Yenque’s next film be a musical? In part two; he talks about his character in Traffic, opposite Benicio del Toro, and why working with his mom, Teresa Yenque on The Blue Diner was so special.

Stay Safe! Stay Inside! But If You Must Go Out Protect Your Eyes

Hey everyone! When going outside stay safe! Wear a mask, keep your distance, use sunblock and wear Vogue Eyewear by Gigi Hadid to protect you eyes (and look fabulous). Taking care of ourselves is how we take care of others.

Hollis Tyde

You can buy your sunglasses from SmartBuyGlasses, with one of the largest selections of styles, you are sure to find the perfect pair. In SmartBuyGlasses buying glasses online has never been so fun and easy with the 3D Try-on Software, you can try several pair before buying them. Also with the free Lens Scanner App you easily get your current prescription by scanning your glasses anywhere, anytime in just few minutes. — H.T.

BingeWorthy on Netflix

What we’ve watched on Netflix…If you haven’t watched these. You might want to check them out. Streaming now on Netflix.

LA Originals (documentary). Photographer Estevan Oriol and artist Mister Cartoon turned their Chicano roots into gritty art, impacting street culture.

In the Dark (first season). An irreverent blind woman in her twenties, Murphy drifts through life in a drunken haze. She has only two friends—Jess, her understanding roommate, and Tyson, a teenage drug-dealer who saved her from a violent mugging. Starring Perry Mattfeld, Brooke Markham, Thamela Mpumlwana, Keston John, and Kathleen York. Created by Corinne Kingsbury.

The 2nd season started this past week on the CW.

Unorthodox is a limited series (4 episodes). A woman flees an arranged marriage in Brooklyn to start a new life abroad, then her past catches up with her. Starring Shira Haas, Jeff Wilbusch, and Amit Rahav. Directed by Maria Schrader.

Sergio (movie). United Nations diplomat Sérgio Vieira de Mello must fight for his life when a bomb blast in Baghdad, Iraq, cause the walls to come crashing down. Starring Wagner Moura and Ana de Armas. Directed by Greg Barker.

A Nice Jewish Couple Ran Circus of Books — A Netflix Doc

For decades, a nice Jewish couple ran Circus of Books, a porn shop and epicenter for gay LA. Their director daughter documents their life and times.

For over 35 years, the gay porn shop Circus of Books gave Los Angeles’ LGBT+ community a space to socialize and celebrate themselves without judgment. Executive produced by Ryan Murphy, Circus of Books is the debut documentary from artist Rachel Mason, who finally asks the least radical people she knows- her parents- how they became American’s biggest distributors of gay porn. Only on Netflix April 22.

Carlos Gómez Talks The Baker and the Beauty

Carlos Gómez as Rafael Garcia

The first time I met Carlos Gómez, it was on the set of Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman, where he was playing the role of Father Carlos. Over the years we would bump into each other at Latino Hollywood events; we would talk about the projects he was working on or going to be on. He’s been in this business for about thirty years, from Broadway (In the Heights) to Hollywood. All of his hard working ethics and talent have brought him great success, and will continue to take him to greater heights as he continues his career. Carlos is of Cuban descent, fluent in English and Spanish, and resides in LA, NY and Miami.

L-r: Alex Meneses, Carlos Gómez
and Jane Seymour on the set of
Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman, ©1997.

For me, he’s played some memorable characters, like medical examiner Carlos Sanchez on The Glades, and Miguel Salazar on Gang Related and of course many others. But I think, the father figure of Rafael Garcia on ABC’s new romcom The Baker and the Beauty was made for him. From what I’ve seen, he’s just wonderful in it.

We got a chance to talk with Carlos weeks before the shutdown and I think it’s it a very thoughtful interview that you can watch here.

Angela Ortíz and Carlos Gómez

During our interview, he was asked about following in the footsteps of trailblazers like Desi Arnaz…and since he is a trailblazer himself, if he felt any responsibility for being a good role model. He said, “Completely, completely. I was doing an interview and I was  asked, ‘When was the last Cuban on national TV?’ and I said it was Desi in 1960 or 50-something. It’s amazing that it has taken this long to have a Cuban or Latin family like this on a network television show. So I feel immense responsibility. There’s so many, over 15 million Latinos in this country and we are such a power. As a Latino, I’ve been in this industry for so long and I have seen the ups and downs and the little bumps in the road.”

The Baker and the Beauty is giving Carlos and his culture other opportunities to share their experiences as well. “This is an opportunity for us for to show my Cuban culture in the light, and to show that Latino immigrants have different problems. We all come in different colors; Mexican immigrants are different from the Cuban immigrants, different from the Puerto Ricans and Dominicans, but we’re all immigrants and once we get to United States, we’re all here. We’re all together. It doesn’t matter. Yeah, you could have your tamales from Mexico; I can bring my rice and beans; but we’re all haciendo un sancocho in the United States. So to me, it’s a huge responsibility to show it, to portray it…and to portray it right. (sancocho is a South American and Caribbean food, a thick soup made from meat and root vegetables—a tasty stew!)

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