Please enable javascript to view this site.

Image Image Image Image Image Image Image Image Image

Hispanic Archives - Page 2 of 2 - ShowBizCafe.com

Hispanic Archives - Page 2 of 2 - ShowBizCafe.com

Jack Rico

By

2013/01/10 at 12:00am

Exclusive! Argo’s Real Tony Mendez: “I’m Not Hispanic”

01.10.2013 | By |

For the Latino moviegoers who have already seen Argo or those who will now see it due to the 7 Oscar nominations it received today from the Academy, you might be submerged into the controversy that has arisen from the big reveal in the movie… Ben Affleck who directs and stars in “Argo“, is named Tony Mendez, an obvious Latino. So why did Affleck (an Irish guy) play him as opposed to a true Latino actor? What did Tony Mendez, the real life CIA agent that inspired the film, think? And is he really Latino (I couldn’t find any detailed news on his heritage on the web)? Many Latinos are upset at Affleck’s logic here so I decided to go to the main source – Mendez himself. In this exclusive interview, I asked him about his Latino roots, Affleck’s decision not to hire a Latino thespian to play the lead role and much, much more. Read More

Jack Rico

By

2012/10/11 at 12:00am

‘Argo’: Ben Affleck plays a Latino character

10.11.2012 | By |

'Argo': Ben Affleck plays a Latino character

Latinos are seriously EVERYWHERE. In Ben Affleck‘s and George Clooney‘s brand new movie ARGO, based on a true story, Affleck himself plays Latino CIA Agent, Antonio Mendez, a man with a problematic personal life, but very skilled at his professional one. The movie never acknowledges the Latino nationality in anyway besides the name and the real life picture of the man himself at the end of the credits. 

The plot for Argo goes like this: “Argo” chronicles the life-or-death covert operation to rescue six Americans, which unfolded behind the scenes of the Iran hostage crisis, focusing on the little-known role that the CIA and Hollywood played—information that was not declassified until many years after the event. On November 4, 1979, as the Iranian revolution reaches its boiling point, militants storm the U.S. Embassy in Tehran, taking 52 Americans hostage. But, in the midst of the chaos, six Americans manage to slip away and find refuge in the home of Canadian Ambassador Ken Taylor. Knowing it is only a matter of time before the six are found out and likely killed, the Canadian and American governments ask the CIA to intervene. The CIA turns to their top “exfiltration” specialist, Tony Mendez, to come up with a plan to get the six Americans safely out of the country. A plan so incredible, it could only happen in the movies.

Mendez, who was born in Eureka, Nevada in 1940, and is Latino from his father’s side, moved to Colorado as a teen and went on to study at the University of Colorado. Mendez barely speaks Spanish, but nevertheless was able to join the CIA in 1963 and worked in South Asia, Southeast Asia and Middle East. Prior to joining the agency, Mendez was an artist (worked as an illustrator and tool designer for Martin Marietta) and now works on art full time. His work in the agency frequently dealt with forging foreign documents, creating disguises and handling other graphical work related to espionage.

In today’s instant information age, it seems inconceivable that the entire operation in ARGO remained top secret until it was declassified by President Clinton in 1997. Surprisingly, even after Tony Mendez recounted the events in his 2000 book, Master of Disguise, and, later, Bearman detailed them in Wired, most people remain largely unaware of a story that even Affleck admits “sounds utterly absurd. I understand that, because it seems completely unbelievable, but the fact that it happened is what makes it even more fascinating.”

‘Argo’ is a thrilling, nail-biting film that will keep you fully entertained with its captivating storyline and nearly perfect production. This political thriller is able to captivate the audience, by injecting dry humor, some mild action and focusing on the task at hand without getting too politically confusing. I think director Ben Affleck did a fantastic job giving the film the exact feel for the time it is set in, late70’s early 80’s; everything from the shots, to the outfits, cars, colors and even music, blend in masterfully to deliver what I would call one of the best dramas of the year.

This movie has the ability to literally keep you at the edge of your seat, providing some of the most intense, nail-biting scenes I’ve ever experienced in a movie theater. Scriptwriter Chris Terrio gave such a solid compact story that Affleck was able to create a class A film, with some help from producer Grant Heslov and George Clooney. You truly feel like a part of the film, so much so that at points you want to elbow some of the characters for their actions. The film gives an inside look into a story that was classified until 1997 and that many people might remember living it. Having been part of history some may already know the outcome of the film, either way it’s all about the top-secret intense journey it takes us on. 

Mack Chico

By

2012/02/21 at 12:00am

Guillermo del Toro to produce ‘Day of the Dead’

02.21.2012 | By |

Guillermo del Toro to produce 'Day of the Dead'

The Hollywood Reporter reports that Mexican director Guillermo del Toro will be producing ‘Day of the Dead,’ a CG-animated movie. Del Toro will also present the film, which is being directed and co-written by Jorge R. Gutierrez (the co-creator of a Nickelodeon show named El Tigre: The Adventures of Manny Rivera) and is being eyed for a fall 2014 release.

‘Day of the Dead’ is described as a Romeo and Juliet-style love story set against the Mexican holiday Day of the Dead.

Music will play a key part in the movie and producers are hoping to snag an international who’s who for the soundtrack.

Reel FX who is also producing, is currently working on an animated feature adaptation of the Dark Horse graphic novel Beasts Of Burden.

Jack Rico

By

2011/10/05 at 12:00am

Bobby Cannavale to star in Broadway’s ‘Funny Girl’

10.5.2011 | By |

Bobby Cannavale to star in Broadway's 'Funny Girl'

FUNNY GIRL, starring two-time Emmy Award nominee Lauren Ambrose as Fanny Brice and two-time Tony Award nominee and Emmy Award winner Bobby Cannavale as Nick Arnstein, will open on Broadway in April, 2012 at the Imperial Theatre (249 West 45th Street), following its engagement at Center Theatre Group/Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles from January 15 through February 26, 2012, it was announced today by producer Bob Boyett. Additional casting, preview and opening dates will be announced shortly. It will be the first time FUNNY GIRL will be on Broadway since the 1964 original production.
 
FUNNY GIRL features music by Jule Styne, lyrics by Bob Merrill and book by Isobel Lennart, and will be directed by Tony Award-winner Bartlett Sher.
 
“It’s been 47 years since FUNNY GIRL has been on Broadway, but I’m sure that everyone is as thrilled as I am to have it back in New York this spring, following our Los Angeles engagement,” commented producer Bob Boyett.  “Fanny Brice was the greatest star of the early 20th century and we cannot wait to examine this fascinating woman’s life and career, with our great stars Lauren Ambrose and Bobby Cannavale and the incredibly talented Bart Sher at the helm with his extraordinary creative team.”
 
FUNNY GIRL is the road-to-stardom story of legendary entertainer Fanny Brice (Lauren Ambrose), from her start in a Brooklyn music hall to her meteoric rise as a headliner in the Ziegfeld Follies.   While her career soars, she falls in love with charming gambler Nick Arnstein (Bobby Cannavale), just as his own lucky streak is running out.  FUNNY GIRL is an irresistible backstage drama, a heartbreaking romance and a classic musical comedy filled with unforgettable songs by the team of Jule Styne and Bob Merrill including “Don’t Rain on My Parade,” “I’m the Greatest Star,” “The Music That Makes Me Dance,” and the iconic hit “People.”
 
FUNNY GIRL originally opened on Broadway on March 26, 1964 at the Winter Garden Theatre and played for 1,348 performances.  FUNNY GIRL was a hit on national tour and in London and was adapted to the screen for the popular 1968 movie version, but has not played Broadway since the original production closed in 1967.
 
Scenic design is by Michael Yeargan, costume design by Catherine Zuber, lighting design by Donald Holder and sound design by Scott Lehrer.  Music director is Kimberly Grigsby.  Choreographer is Christopher Gattelli.
 
FUNNY GIRL will be produced in Los Angeles at the Ahmanson Theatre by Center Theatre Group, with special permission from Bob Boyett, Sonia Friedman Productions, Jean Doumanian, Stacey Mindich and Tim Levy. FUNNY GIRL will be produced on Broadway by Bob Boyett, Sonia Friedman Productions, Jean Doumanian, Stacey Mindich, Tim Levy and Center Theatre Group.

Jack Rico

By

2011/06/21 at 12:00am

Cameron Diaz Explains Her Latina Heritage

06.21.2011 | By |

Cameron Diaz isn’t known to talk much about her Latina roots, but on a press day for her new R-rated comedy ‘Bad Teacher‘, Diaz opened up to me about her cultural heritage in a detailed fashion like never before. She said she doesn’t speak Spanish, but you could tell that she has close ties to her Cuban side and seems to be proud of it. So, what is Cameron Diaz’s ethnicity? Watch the interview. Read More

Mack Chico

By

2008/12/08 at 12:00am

‘Nothing For The Holidays’ Is Not A Latino Film

12.8.2008 | By |

There is a right way and a wrong way to describe the new feature film Nothing For The Holidays. The wrong way is to call it a Hispanic holiday film. The cast and crew of the film stress that the right way to describe their movie is that it is a holiday film that just happens to have a Hispanic family at its core.

It might sound like semantics. But it makes a world of difference to those involved with the family comedy that opens Friday.

The first description means the movie is aimed directly at a certain ethnic movie-going audience. The other description is more in line with what star and executive producer Freddy Rodriguez wants to get across with the movie. The Chicago native, of Puerto Rican descent, wanted this movie to have a Hispanic spirit, but a universal feel.

“We wanted anyone – of any ethnicity – to watch this movie and go ‘That’s my family. My uncle. My cousin. We yell like that at the dinner table.’ We want everybody to be able to relate to it. At the same time, we wanted to keep a level of authenticity so it does not feel manufactured or whitewashed,” Rodriguez says during an interview at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel.

Film history is not on Rodriguez’s side. The majority of films released in United States theaters that focus on characters of Hispanic, Latino or Spanish heritage – such as “My Family,” “Under the Same Moon” or “Real Women Have Curves” – have dealt with specific ethnic themes and situations. That has resulted in a narrowing of the moviegoing base.

Rodriguez wants everyone to see his film. He knows they will relate to the themes regardless of their ethnicity.

Rodriguez saw how taking what could be a specific subject and giving it universal appeal could work through his guest-star turn on the ABC series “Ugly Betty.” The television series is based on the Colombian telenovela “Betty la Fea.”

“How come there has never been a commercial movie that revolves around a Latin family? It is kind of what (executive producer) Salma (Hayek) did with “Ugly Betty.” She did an American television show that happens to revolve around this Latin girl and this Latin family,” Rodriguez says. “She made it universal for everybody. I always admired what her and (executive producers) Silvio Horta and Jose Tamez did with that show and wondered why it hasn’t been done in the film world.

“And so I just felt like it was my job to do it.”

The result is a movie about a Chicago family that comes together to celebrate Christmas. It stars Rodriguez, Elizabeth Pena, Melonie Diaz, Luis Guzman, Jay Hernandez, Vanessa Ferlito, John Leguizamo, Alfred Molina and Debra Messing.

“Nothing Like the Holidays” shows how each family member brings his or her own problems to the annual reunion. And these problems – medical issues, starting a family, duty to country, etc. – are not specific to any ethnic group.

Pena, whose father is Cuban, plays the mother in the film. When Pena saw the script, her reaction was, “I could see it as a Jewish family or an Italian family.”

The universal themes aren’t just a way to open up the movie to a larger audience. It gives the cast a way to play a role that is more about people than their ethnic backgrounds.

Jay Hernandez, a fourth-generation Mexican-American, is happy to be in “Nothing Like the Holidays” because he has faced typecasting throughout his career.

“For me, that was like the first five years of my career. Always the same sorts of things, the same kind of roles, same kind of characters. A lot of them were gang members. I avoided that for so long,” Hernandez says.

Select a Page