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LOCKED Is Intense and Entertaining A talk with the Director

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 …

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At a Screening of Dog Man the Movie

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 …

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Unstoppable Streaming on Prime Video

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 …

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Sonic the Hedgehog 3 The Speed to the BoxOffice

“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 …

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Mufasa: The Lion King the Prequel

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 …

LOCKED Is Intense and Entertaining A talk with the DirectorAt a Screening of Dog Man the MovieUnstoppable Streaming on Prime VideoSonic the Hedgehog 3 The Speed to the BoxOfficeMufasa: The Lion King the Prequel

Last Days in the Desert is A Visual Play

Angela Ortíz and Rodrigo García

Angela Ortíz and Rodrigo García

I recently had a great conversation with writer/director/producer Rodrigo García on his latest film, Last Days in the Desert. We talked about how this film is affecting the viewer and what he hopes people will take from it. And what he would like to work on next.last-days-in-the-desert-poster

García is known for directing many independent films, including the award-winning Nine Lives and the three-time Academy Award-nominated Albert Nobbs, starring Glenn Close. He’s written and directed episodes of the HBO series In Treatment. His other television credits include the Sopranos, Six Feet Under, Carnivale and Big Love. He’s co-creator of WIGS, the digital drama channel of original content on YouTube. Rodrigo wrote and directed two of the series on WIGS, Blue with Julia Stiles, and Christine with America Ferrera.

Rodrigo García

Rodrigo García

Synopsis: Last Days in the Desert follows Jesus (Ewan McGregor) in an imagined chapter from his forty days of fasting and praying in the desert. On his way out of the wilderness, he struggles with the Devil, also played by McGregor, over the fate of an ordinary family (Tye Sheridan, Ciarán Hinds, and Ayelet Zurer) in crisis, setting for himself a dramatic test with distinctly human conflicts.

Now sit back and listen in on our conversation. The film is in theaters May 13.

FOX Orders Six New Scripted Series for the 2016-17 Season, and Latinos are Cast in Five of Them

Natalie Martinez

Natalie Martinez

Jordana Brewster

Jordana Brewster

Fox has recently announced a slate of new shows for the Fall season, and Latinos are part of the mix in almost every one. Take a look:

  • Our old friend Natalie Martinez is featured in A.P.B., a drama about a for-profit company ‘reinventing’ the corrupt and inefficient 13th Precinct of the Chicago PD.
  • The amazing Jordana Brewster of the Fast and Furious films and the successfully rebooted Dallas is one of the leads, along with Damon Wayans, Sr., in the TV version of Lethal Weapon.
  • Carla Jimenez

    Carla Jimenez

    Alfonso Herrera

    Alfonso Herrera

    Alfonso (Poncho) Herrera, last seen as a regular in Netflix’ Sense8, plays a Catholic priest in the series version on The Exorcist. Herrera is also a well-known musician and part of the Latino music group called RBD.

  • Mark Consuelos, one of the most beautiful men on the planet and husband to Kelly Ripa, is part of Pitch, a sport-drama about the world’s first woman professional baseball (The San Diego Padres, actually), with a stellar cast that include Ali Larter, Mark-Paul Gosselaar, and Dan Lauria. The “big leagues” in more ways that one.
  • Coral Peña

    Coral Peña

    Formidable character actress Carla Jimenez joins the very funny and slightly insane Kaitlin Olson (It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia) in The Mick, a comedy about a brash, blue-collar hustler (guess who?) who is forced to assume custody of her sister’s rich, entitled children.

Add all that to the Latinos who are already part of two other new series FOX announced a few days ago: 24: Legacy with Coral Peña and Jimmy Smits as part of the cast, and Star, about a girl group, with Benjamin Bratt. It’s a great sign of support for Latino actors by Fox, and a great time to be Latino in Hollywood! — B.M.

 

The Darkness is Coming!

The DarknessThe Darkness (May 13)

Director: Greg McLean. Cast: Kevin Bacon, Radha Mitchell, David Mazouz, Lucy Fry, Matt Walsh, and Jennifer Morrison.

Jason Bourne is Back!

Jason BourneThis Jason Bourne featurette has Matt Damon talking about getting this role 16-years ago and how this new Jason Bourne has so much in it.

Director: Paul Greengrass. Cast: Matt Damon, Julia Stiles, Alicia Vikander, Vincent Cassel, and Tommy Lee Jones.

In theaters in July.

Fast 8 Making History in Cuba

L-r: Michelle Rodriguez, F. Gary Gray and Vin Diesel Photo: @fgarygray

L-r: Michelle Rodriguez, F. Gary Gray and Vin Diesel
Photo: @fgarygray

The cast of Fast 8 is currently filming in Cuba, and just shared a video of their historic experience on social media. And we are sharing it here. The film is in theaters in 2017.

Hollywood Rediscovers Cuba

Papa Hemingway in Cuba

Papa Hemingway in Cuba

“American filmmakers are eager to take advantage of the island’s distinctive look and feel and its cheap labor.” 

Report by Mandalit del Barco

Report by Mandalit del Barco

Check out this great piece by NPR’s Mandalit del Barco on films being done now in Cuba. The first movie to be sanctioned by both the U.S. and Cuba is, the newly released Papa Hemingway in Cuba and the second one, Fast and Furious 8.

You can listen to the report or read the post on the NPR website.

Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising Advance Screening Passes!

NEIGHBORS 2 SORORITY RISINGGiveaway! In the Los Angeles/South Gate area, we have 25 pairs of an advance screening of Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising!

Download a first-come, first-served screening pass by clicking on the link below. Screenings will take place on Tuesday, May 17 at 7:30P local time (Have your pass ready to show at the door).

Follow the instructions in your pass and share your excitement using #Neighbors2. ENJOY!

Los Angeles http://www.gofobo.com/SFOLAN2

The film, directed by Nicholas Stoller, stars Zac Efron, Seth Rogen, Chloë Grace Moretz, Dave Franco, Rose Byrne, Kiersey Clemons, Beanie Feldstein, Selena Gomez, Ike Barinholtz, and Lisa Kudrow.

Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising will be in theaters on May 20.

Calling Hordes of Walkers for Universal Studios New Attraction

©2016 Angela María Ortíz S.

©2016 Angela María Ortíz S.

I had the pleasure of covering an open casting call seeking hordes of walkers for Universal Studios new permanent attraction, The Walking Dead opening this summer.

The auditions took place over two days and from what I saw, they had some good walkers to choose from. Because there were hundreds of actors aspiring to become one of the 100 male and female actors to be cast as a “Dead Inside.”

Creative director John Murdy

Creative director John Murdy

The Walking Dead attraction will be a real-life interpretation of AMC’s award-winning television series. To elevate its authenticity, Universal Studios Hollywood is partnering with The Walking Dead’s creative team, including visionary executive producer and director, Greg Nicotero and his special effects company, KNB Efx. Nicotero’s team is responsible for masterfully creating the show’s realistic decaying walkers, will construct prosthetics, utilize original molds and painstakingly apply paint and detailing to the attraction walkers.

Check out the videos below, one is an overlook of the morning and the other is with Raúl Becerra, Universal Studios Hollywood Latino Media rep., who spoke to us in Spanish. So, please enjoy. — A.O.

Lin-Manuel Miranda In His Own Words

Photo courtesy: Lin-Manuel Miranda

Photo courtesy: Lin-Manuel Miranda

Lin-Manuel Miranda conceived, wrote and stars in this breakthrough masterpiece, Hamilton, cementing his place as one of the most creative minds of our time.

Hamilton the musical has won a Pulitzer Prize for Drama and 16 Tony nominations.

Here’s a video interview from Time’s The 100 Most Influential People. You can read the piece here.

Captain America: Civil War is Super Awesome!

©2016 Angela María Ortíz S.

©2016 Angela María Ortíz S.

Captain America: Civil War doesn’t disappoint (like another recent movie we won’t mention here), Civil War is so much fun to watch. It has enough action to keep you at the edge of your seat, and the usual sly humor you come to expect from these Marvel films.

©2016 Angela María Ortíz S.

©2016 Angela María Ortíz S.

It was tough to watch many of your favorites having to choose sides but it was all worth it. Below you can watch the actors talk about the film and their characters at the “Captain America Civil War” press day.

Now choose your team: Iron Man or Captain America…in theaters may 6.

Team Iron Man Panel
Robert Downey Jr. (Iron Man), Paul Bettany (Vision), Emily Van Camp (Sharon Carter), Don Cheadle (War Machine), Anthony Russo (Director), and Kevin Feige (Producer).

Team Captain America Panel
Chris Evans (Captain America), Sebastian Stan (Winter Soldier), Anthony Mackie (Falcon), Paul Rudd (Ant-Man), Elizabeth Olsen (Scarlett Witch), Jeremy Renner (Hawkeye), Joe Russo (Director), and Kevin Feige (Producer).

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