We caught up with the director of LOCKED David Yarovesky (Brightburn, Nightbooks), just before we screened the film with no spoilers. The film took nineteen days to shoot. Watch our quick interview. Synopsis: No escape. No …
It was an enjoyable screening with two of the grandsons. The five year old said it was happy and sad at the same time. And he loved it! The twelve year old who has read …
Unstoppable is the inspiring true story of Anthony Robles (Jharrel Jerome) who was born with one leg but whose indomitable spirit and unbreakable resolve empowered him to defy the odds and pursue his dreams. With the …
“Sonic 3 will beat out Mufasa, for sure!” — JimmityCritic (12) Sonic the Hedgehog 3, what a fun evening with the grandkids it was. When you have a 12, 10 and 5 year-old clap their hands at the end …
Mufasa: The Lion King was entertaining and the production value was amazing to watch. Set in Africa, all-new film blends live-action filmmaking techniques with photoreal computer-generated imagery. My 12 year-old grandson thought it was one …
After studying and working abroad from his native Mexico, Cruz returned to start the production company Canana in partnership with Gael Garcia Bernal and Diego Luna. Now located in Los Angeles, he’s brought us Ambulante California.
AmbulanteCA is a documentary festival started in Mexico by Bernal, Luna and Cruz. The festivals are being staged in communities that aren’t known for having film festivals.
On May first, I joined Cruz, Christine Davila (director, AmbulanteCA) and an enthusiastic MacArthur Park crowd to watch, Cesar’s Last Fast, a doc I highly recommend. Look for AmbulanteCA back in September in Los Angeles.
Cruz talks to us about Ambulante in the video below. And you can follow them on Facebook or check out their website here.
Two independent films and one blockbuster in theaters today…
Richard Montoya’s Water & Powerand Kiki Melendez’ Journey of a female comic, both with Latinos in front and behind the camera. Click on their titles to check out our interviews on the films. They are up against the new The Amazing Spider-Man 2—written by the team of Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman. With a few Latinos involved like Adrian Martinez and the young Jorge Vega.
Once again, slim pickin’s for Latinos on the networks until next week…enjoy Philip Anthony-Rodriguez continues his arc on Grimm, 9P on NBC…and finish up with Marisa Ramirez on Blue Bloods, 10P on CBS
Photos: Marisa Ramirez and Philip Anthony-Rodriguez
J.D. Pardo’s character is no longer but we still have Mat Vairo on Revolution, 8P on NBC
Danny Pino Law & Order: SVU
Sofía Vergara and Rico Rodriguez on Modern Family, 9P on ABC
Lindsey Morgan is beautiful and challenging on The 100, 9P on the CW
Danny Pino and Raúl Esparza enforce and prosecute on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, 9P on NBC
George Lopez takes another crack at sitcoms with St. George at 9P on FX. David Zayas, Danny Trejo, Olga Merediz, and Diana Maria Riva, among many others talented Latinos, are along for the ride
Adan Canto and Alexis Carra keeps drinkin’ and jokin’ on Mixology, 9:30P on ABC
Jon Seda and Monica Raymund continues with Chicago Fire’s crossover episode on Chicago PD, 10P on NBC
I met Kiki Melendez in the late 90s, just before her show Kiki desde Hollywood. She was full of excitement and energy then and she still is today. She may not be a household name, but if you mention her name in a Hollywood crowd you’ll hear her name come up again and again—I know I have.
Kiki is an award-winning actress, writer, producer, TV personality and trailblazer, best known for creating Kiki Desde Hollywood, Galavision’s #1 entertainment show in 2000, and Showtime’s Hot Tamales Live! in 2008, the longest running all-female comedy show on TV (and now available on Hulu).
“Hollywood is confused about Latinos; they don’t know what to do with us…”
Now she has put everything on the line with her documentary, Journey of A Female Comic, where she shows snippets from a vault full of past interviews of the likes of Aaron Spelling, Usher, Sofía Vergara, Halle Berry, John Travolta, Shakira and Marc Anthony. The documentary also includes Latino trailblazers in Hollywood, Edward James Olmos, Esai Morales, the late Lupe Ontiveros, Maria Conchita Alonso, Guy Ecker, Jacob Vargas and Nadine Velazquez. And she’s willing to show the in’s and out’s of Hollywood’s workings.
Melendez says Hollywood is confused about Latinos; they don’t know what to do with us. They don’t ‘get’ that what works for Puerto Ricans and Cubans is not the same for Mexicans…which is the same conversations we have a lot in our Se Fija! office.
Melendez is always working; she started in radio in SoCal and now you can hear her Sunday mornings on L.A.’s Latino 96.3, also available on the Internet. Along with her busy professional life she’s a devoted mother of twin girls, and married to a Scotsman, John Berry.
Kiki Melendez is well known without being famous. Check out our interview below.
Richard Montoya, Wanda de Jesus, Se Fija!’s Angela Ortíz and Emilio Rivera
By Angela Ortíz
Montoya is well known for being one third of the performance troupe,Culture Clash. They are well known for their satirical look at our society and Chicano culture. Now he’s completed his film, Water and Power.
Montoya is a constant writer, always working on his craft. He’s created everything from hundreds of comedic sketches to full-length plays and screenplays, under his own name and with his Culture Clash mates. Now Water & Power, written and directed by Montoya, is based on his play of the same name about twin brothers–yes, “Water” and “Power”–who were given those nick names by their father, and how those names guided their future.
“You might have to see the film a few times to get all the nuances that run through it. You also need to be up on your L.A. history…”
Created through a grueling but rewarding twelve-day shoot, this film isn’t for everyone; it has a specific audience in mind. It’s dark, gritty, and even funny at times. You might have to see the film a few times to get all the nuances that run through it. You also need to be up on your L.A. history. The film is not perfect but as a first-time film director Montoya manages to take you on a poetic ride.
There’s also some good acting in the feature, by Nicholas Gonzalez, Emilio Rivera, Clancy Brown and Enrique Murciano. And it’s worth mentioning that W&P boasts one of the largest Latino casts and crews in a very long time, including the late and many more.
Check out the interview below with Montoya, Wanda de Jesus and Emilio Rivera.
At least there’s one night a week in April that’s worth watching…
Shakira’s there to hear the results just like on The Voice at 8P on NBC
Daniella Pineda is enchanting as usual on The Originals, 8P on the CW
Lea Michele and Naya Rivera are great fun on Glee at 8P on FOX
Jessie Garcia, Eiza González, Wilmer Valderrama, D.J. Cotrona and others on From Dusk Till Dawn series, 9P on El Rey Network (if you get it) or check it out on iTunes tomorrow
Monica Raymund and Jesse Spencer Chicago Fire
Miguel Ferrer is the boss you never want to get on the bad side of at NCIS: Los Angeles, 9P on CBS
Al Madrigal is a good buddy and dad on About a Boy at 9P on NBC
Hayley Orrantia is an 80s teenager on The Goldbergs, 9P on ABC
Natalie Morales plays the goofy gf to a tee on Trophy Wife, still a likely candidate for the programming guillotine at 9:30 on ABC
The amazing Sarah Shahi is at the center of the action in the equally amazing Person of Interest at 10P on CBS
Somethings burning, and it’s probably Monica Raymund and Joe Minoso in a big episode of Chicago Fire 10P on NBC
New this Monday, just Shakira presiding over more live performances on The Voice at 8P…Felix Solis continues his arc on The Following, 9P on FOX…Anabelle Acosta joins Jon Huertas and the crew solvin’ crimes on a new Castle at 10P on ABC and Nestor Carbonell the sheriff on a new Bates Motel, 10P on A&E
Photos: Nathan Fillion, Jon Huertas and Felix Solis
Marvel Studios’ Captain America: Brave New World storms onto digital platforms including Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, and Fandango at Home on April 15, before making its triumphant debut on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, and DVD May 13.
Synopsis: In Marvel Studios’ Captain America: Brave New World, Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie)–who now wields the shield of Captain America after events in The Falcon and The Winter Soldier–meets with newly elected U.S. president Thaddeus Ross (Harrison Ford) and soon finds himself in the middle of an international incident. In a race against time, Sam must discover the reason behind a nefarious global plot before the true mastermind has the entire world seeing red.
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Tombstone 4K Blu-ray, UHD/BD Combo + Digital + Steelbook arrives on April 22.
Synopsis: Every town has a story—Tombstone has a legend. Experience the explosive, action-packed battle on 4K Ultra HD. U.S. Marshall Wyatt Earp (Kurt Russell), his brothers (Sam Elliott, Bill Paxton) and the outrageous Doc Holliday (Val Kilmer) band together to bring law to the lawless in a notorious showdown at the O.K. Corral. The star-studded cast also includes Dana Delany, Jason Priestley, and Michael Biehn in an epic story of Wild West justice. Directed by George P. Cosmatos.
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Abbott Elementary: The Complete Third Season on DVD is available now!
From Warner Bros. Discovery Home Entertainment. Follow the lives of the staff we have grown to know and love working at Willard R. Abbott Elementary School, and go down memory lane with all 14 hilarious, wholesome and “educational” episodes from the third season.
Synopsis: It’s the season for change for the teachers of Abbott Elementary. Janine leads ambitious growth initiatives for the school while navigating personal and professional challenges. Gregory embraces his role as the “cool” teacher. Ava surprises with moments of unexpected leadership. From Career Day to a heartfelt end-of-year celebration, the Abbott staff prove that with teamwork- and Janine’s relentless drive-they can handle anything.
The cast includes Quinta Brunson as Janine Teagues, Tyler James Williams as Gregory Eddie, Janelle James as Ava Coleman, Lisa Ann Walter as Melissa Schemmenti, Chris Perfetti as Jacob Hill, William Stanford Davis as Mr. Johnson, and Sheryl Lee Ralph as Barbara Howard.
Favorite Shot of the Day
Podcast
You can also listen to any episode of all of the podcast at thebradmunson.com
