Se Fija!

The Fate of the Furious in Theaters April 14

The eight film in the franchise goes like this: Now that Dom (Vin Diesel) and Letty (Michelle Rodriguez) are on their honeymoon, Brian and Mia have retired from the game, and the rest of the crew has been exonerated, the globetrotting team has found a semblance of a normal life. But when a mysterious woman seduces Dom back into a world of crime that he can’t seem to escape, the crew will face trials that will test them as never before.

Beauty and the Beast Press Day in Photographs

Beauty and the Beast, Alan Menken, Audra McDonald, Bill Condon, Dan Stevens, Emma Watson, Luke Evans, Josh Gad, Gugu Mbatha Raw

L-r: Alan Menken, Audra McDonald, Bill Condon, Dan Stevens, Emma Watson, Luke Evans, Josh Gad and Gugu Mbatha Raw

Josh Gad, Alan Menken and Luke Evans

All in all, I enjoyed the film. The music was great, it made me want to go back and watch the animated version again.

One of the things that bothered me was the time lapse close to the end; it felt rushed. But most won’t notice it and it will be a hit.

We thought we would share some images from our press day, a little performance treat we got with Josh Gad (LeFou), Alan Menken (songwriter) and Luke Evans (Gaston).

Present at our press day was Emma Watson (Belle), Dan Stevens (Beast), Audra McDonald (Madame Garderobe), Gugu Mbatha Raw (Plumette), and director Bill Condon. — A.O.

Audra McDonald, Bill Condon and Dan Stevens

The Belko Experiment is A Bloody Mess

Director Greg McLean
©2017 Angela María Ortíz S.

If you enjoy bloody scenes, this horror film is for you. The Belko Experiment has enough funny and suspense to keep you watching. The guy behind it is no other than writer/producer, James Gunn, who told us about working with small independent film budgets compared to big blockbusters and what Guardian of the Galaxy 2 means to him.

Michael Rooker and Sean Gunn
©2017 Angela María Ortíz S.

Adria Arjona
©2017 Angela María Ortíz S.

John Gallagher Jr.
©2017 Angela María Ortíz S.

James Gunn
©2017 Angela María Ortíz S.

They are many familiar faces in this movie, whose characters have to make some hard choices.

James Gunn

John Gallagher

The plot: On what appears to be a normal day at Belko Industries, Belko employees are horrified when they find out that they’ve become guinea pigs in a company-wide experiment which will lead them to either kill their fellow employees or be murdered themselves.

Adria Arjona

Sean Gunn

Michael Rooker

Greg McLean

We caught up with a few of cast; Sean Gunn, Michael Rooker, Adria Arjona who told us about the character she plays in the upcoming Pacific Rim: Uprising, John Gallagher Jr., and director Greg McLean. Now listen in on the fun conversations, just click on any of the audio buttons. The film also stars Tony Goldwyn, John C. McGinley, and Melanie Diaz.

The Belko Experiment in theaters March 17. — A.O.

Un Lugar en el Caribe Trailer

The story: Gael (José Zuñiga), a Latin-American writer travels to Isla de Roatán, Honduras to finish his novel and finds love at first sight. Sofia and her father missed their cruise and are forced to stay in the wonderful island—three love stories told around this magical place.

Honduran writer/director Juan Carlos Fanconi brings an international cast together for his latest project, Un Lugar en el Caribe (A Place in the Caribbean). Starring José Zuñiga (Honduras), Gabriela de la Garza (México), Lali González (Paraguay), Rodrigo Guirao Díaz (Argentina), Daniel Zacapa (Honduras), Ana Clara Carranza (Costa Rica), Jamie Bernadette (USA), and Gastón Pauls (Argentina).

Despicable Me 3 Coming this June!

Gru has a TWIN brother! Check out the trailer.

Cast: Steve Carell, Kristen Wiig, Trey Parker, Miranda Cosgrove, Dana Gaier, Nev Scharrel, Steve Coogan, Jenny Slate and Julie Andrews. Directed by Pierre Coffin, Kyle Balda, and co-director Eric Guillon.

Despicable Me 3 will be released in theaters on June 30, 2017.

Disney•Pixar’s Coco Opens this Fall

In Coco, Miguel (voice of newcomer Anthony Gonzalez), despite his family’s baffling generations-old ban on music, dreams of becoming an accomplished musician like his idol, Ernesto de la Cruz (voice of Benjamin Bratt).

Desperate to prove his talent, Miguel finds himself in the stunning and colorful Land of the Dead following a mysterious chain of events. Along the way, he meets charming trickster Hector (voice of Gael García Bernal), and together, they set off on an extraordinary journey to unlock the real story behind Miguel’s family history. Directed by Lee Unkrich (Toy Story 3) and co-directed by Adrian Molina (story artist Monsters University), Disney•Pixar’s Coco opens in U.S. theaters this fall.

Kong is King!

Tom Hinddleston, Kong: Skull Island, ©2017 Angela María Ortíz S.

Tom Hinddleston
©2017 Angela María Ortíz S.

Toby Kebbell & Jason Mitchell
©2017 Angela María Ortíz S.

Kong: Skull Island was a good action film, lots of explosions and creatures to watch. I enjoyed the music and the throw back to the 70s and monster movies.

For our press day, I told Samuel L. Jackson that I thought his character was scarier than some of the creatures in the film. Brie Larson told us about taking a lot of the behind the scene photographs with her own camera and how she got into photography. Listen in to hear their answers to me. Including the other actors who joined us; Tom Hiddleston, John Goodman, Toby Kebbell, Jason Mitchell, director Jordan Vogt-Roberts, and screenwriter Max Borenstein.

Jordan Vogt Roberts & Max Borenstein
©2017 Angela María Ortíz S.

Samuel L Jackson
©2017 Angela María Ortíz S.

Cast: Tom Hiddleston, Samuel L. Jackson, John Goodman, Brie Larson, Jing Tian, Toby Kebbell, John Ortiz, Corey Hawkins, Jason Mitchell, Shea Whigham, Thomas Mann, Terry Notary, and John C. Reilly.

All in all, I enjoyed Kong: Skull Island it was fun to watch and in theaters now.

Vogt-Roberts

Max Borenstein

Larson & Goodman

Kebbell & Mitchell

Samuel L. Jackson

Tom Hinddleston

Al Coronel, No Sign of Slowing Down for This Working Actor

Al Coronel, Angela Ortíz, Wendy Pineda, Hugh Jackman, Dafne Keen, Logan, Colony, Training Day, The Last Ship, Jane the Virgin, Secrets and Lies, NCIS: Los Angeles, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Colony, Training Day

Al Coronel and Angela Ortíz
Photo: Wendy Pineda

I’ve known Al Coronel for many years and I’ve watched him work really hard on his craft. It is sure paying off.

This past year has seen him very busy with a recurring role on The Last Ship, guest roles on Jane the Virgin, NCIS: Los Angeles, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Secrets and Lies, and countless others.

Born and raised in Los Angeles, Coronel has always been surrounded by the entertainment industry, but came to acting much later in life. Prior to his acting career, Coronel was a world-recognized dancer in the world of Salsa, traveling extensively to teach and perform at Salsa festivals and events around the globe.

He’s a military veteran, and he continues to support vets through the Veterans in Film and Television program, participating in many events for the members. He believes in giving back to the community and is very involved with Children’s Hospital LA; he is a co-host of their annual December blood drive.

In the video interview below, we finally got to catch up. Coronel is in the hit movie Logan, where he plays Federale Commander. Along with Logan, you can see him in USA Network’s Colony and CBS’ Training Day.

The Shack is About Love, Forgiveness and Moving On

Octavia Spencer, ©2017 Angela María Ortíz S.

The Shack plays like the book it was based on. For a faith-based film, it doesn’t feel like your usual brimstone and fire story. The approach they took on this film would make an agnostic feel the positive message. I do feel that some bible thumping believers may not like some of the positivity shown in this film cause it doesn’t show a heaven or hell. On the down side, I think Sam Worthington was missed cast as Mack, he should have been the good buddy and Tim McGraw should have played the lead character.

With that said, here’s a bit of the plot: The Shack takes us on a father’s uplifting spiritual journey. After suffering a family tragedy, Mack Phillips (Worthington) spirals into a deep depression causing him to question his innermost beliefs. Facing a crisis of faith, he receives a mysterious letter urging him to an abandoned shack deep in the Oregon wilderness. Despite his doubts, Mack journeys to the shack and encounters an enigmatic trio of strangers led by a woman named Papa (Octavia Spencer).

We had the opportunity to talk with the story author William P. Young. It was a lively and passionate talk with him. He talked about music and his next two books that will be films soon.

Octavia Spencer told us she would not have done the movie if she didn’t believe in the message it conveyed. The Academy award winner talked about how diversity in front and behind the camera, starts with films that are green-lit.

Radha Mitchell, ©2017 Angela María Ortíz S.

Radha Mitchell is Nan Phillips, Mack’s wife. She told us why she loves to mix up different film genres to work on. The Shack to her was about forgiveness and she realized that her character had a deeper connection than her husband character played by Worthington.

William Young

Octavia Spencer

I always enjoy doing roundtables and this one was a really good one. Now you can listen in on the conversations.

Radha Mitchell

Also starring in the film are Avraham Aviv Alush, Sumire Matsubara, Alice Braga, Graham Greene, Megan Charpentier, and the young Amélie Eve. Directed by Stuart Hazeldine.

The Shack, in theaters March 3. — A.O.

Alien: Covenant Official Trailer

Ridley Scott returns to the universe he created, with a new chapter in his groundbreaking Alien franchise.

The plot: The crew of the colony ship Covenant, bound for a remote planet on the far side of the galaxy, discovers what they think is an uncharted paradise, but is actually a dark, dangerous world. When they uncover a threat beyond their imagination, they must attempt a harrowing escape.

Cast: Michael Fassbender, Katherine Waterston, Billy Crudup, Danny McBride, Demián Bichir, Carmen Ejogo, Amy Seimetz, Jussie Smollett, Callie Hernandez, Nathaniel Dean, Alexander England, and Benjamin Rigby.

In Theaters May 19.