02.24.2016 | By Jack Rico |
Latina singer Demi Lovato just released her new music video, “Stone Cold,” which she wrote herself, directed by Patrick Ecclesine, and produced by Mark Taylor. The emotionally visceral track has already garnered more than 1 million views. Read More
09.4.2015 | By Adam Garcia |
The 1-4-0: A direct sequel to the 2002 Tom Cruise / Steven Spielberg film, a Washington DC detective teams up with a “precog” to stop crime before it happens. Read More
08.24.2015 | By Jack Rico |
The FOX network is the multicultural channel of the moment, not only with the most buzzed about show on TV, Empire, but also with a slew of new shows highlighting Hispanic actors. Amongst the new talent lighting up the screen are Wilmer Valderrama, Christina Milian, Diego Boneta and Jaina Lee Ortiz. Watch their show’s trailers, details on their roles and the premise of each program after the jump. Read More
04.8.2014 | By Jack Rico |
In my weekly syndicated radio segment on the Luis Jimenez Show, “Lengua, Cámara y Acción,” on X96.3FM IN NY, I brought up who could replace David Letterman when he retires in 2015 and Luis thought Univision’s Don Francisco had a shot. Following was a hilarious skit of how the Late Show would sound with Don Francisco on CBS. But all joking aside, if there was one person that could pull it off in the television Spanish language market, it’d be Don Francisco. Luis and I also chat about Captain America‘s box office April record and if superhero movies have an expiration date, plus Demi Lovato‘s nude pics on the internet with Wilmer Valderrama! Listen to the radio segment and tell us what you think! Read More
03.29.2011 | By Jack Rico |
Ever since the Broadway show ‘In the Heights’ won Best Musical at the 2007 Tony Awards at Radio City Music Hall – historic moment which I happened to be in the auditorium for – there has been talk of a movie version being developed by Universal Studios for a couple of years now.
First, word came out that ‘In the Heights’ creator, composer, lyricist and star, Lin Manuel Miranda was starring and helping adapt his creation into a film script with the show’s book writer, Quiara Alegria Hudes, writing the script and ‘High School Musical’ helmer Kenny Ortega attached to direct. When I saw Ortega and Wilmer Valderrama chatting at the Four Seasons Hotel in Beverly Hills, I knew this was more than rumor. He was already recruiting and meeting potential cast members. Unfortunately, somewhere along the road, things didn’t go as planned and Lin Manuel, announced via a statement on Deadline.com, that ‘In the Heights: The Movie’ was dead.
According to sources, one of the major reasons for the movie not being greenlit was that Shakira, the ultimate crossover star, couldn’t reach a deal with Universal. She was in talks for the role of Vanessa. It would have been her first motion picture role.
Among the cast members wanting to be part of the star studded cast were Jennifer Lopez for the role of Daniela. That didn’t work out either most likely because of her new found fame with American Idol. Other considerations for her role were Real Housewives star Eva Longoria, Modern Family actress Sofia Vergara and Broadway and TV star from Grey’s Anatomy, Sara Ramirez.
In addition, the cast would have included Rita Moreno, Ruben Blades, and fresh faces like Carlos Peña Jr. from Nickelodeon’s ‘Big Time Rush’, plus Wilmer Valderrama and Gloria Estefan in cameo roles. Speaking of Estefan, iconic record producer Emilio Estefan was having initial conversations to executive produce the film’s soundtrack, a mix of Latin and Hip-Hop songs.
It’s all a shame since dancers were already auditioning, and shooting was slated to begin in August in Washington Heights, New York City with a budget of $37 million dollars. Also, Universal Studios is one of the few studios in Hollywood that has made a commitment to making films with Latino talent, including distributing ‘Savages,’ a cartel movie that will star Benicio del Toro and Salma Hayek, recently announced.
There was no doubt that ‘In the Heights: The Movie’ was going to be one of the most star studded US Hispanic movies in the history of Hollywood, but Lin Manuel Miranda is not giving up on the dream of one day making it happen. He said in a statement, “I have had nothing but a positive experience with Universal Pictures. We weren’t able to make the film version of In The Heights together, but I’m looking forward to working with them in the near future. Moving forward, I’m excited to explore other options to make the In The Heights movie a reality.”
The question now is, what studio will the movie land? My guess is Sony Pictures Classic/Columbia Pictures since they are also very committed to musicals (Burlesque) and Latino talent (Battle: Los Angeles).
Leave your thoughts and comments below.
02.9.2011 | By Jack Rico |
‘From Prada to Nada,’ the first film from Pantalion, has the objective of creating films for the Hispanic American moviegoer. Colombian actress Alexa Vega and Venezuelan actor Wilmer Valderrama talk about the project and their own futures as Hispanic actors.
10.15.2009 | By Jack Rico |
Odd Lot Entertainment, Lionsgate and Videocine announced today the start of pre-production on an English-language Mexican-US co-production film, entitled From Prada to Nada.
Cannes Golden Camera-winner and Alma-nominated director Fina Torres (Woman on Top, Oriana) will helm a contemporary, Latina version of Jane Austen’s classic novel “Sense and Sensibility.” Academy Award and Golden Globe nominated actress Adriana Barraza (Babel, Drag Me to Hell, Amores Perros), Camilla Belle (When A Stranger Calls), Alexa Vega (“Spy Kids” films), Wilmer Valderrama (“That 70’s Show”) and Kuno Becker (“Goal!” trilogy) are set to star in this ensemble romantic comedy.
A whimsical spin on Austen’s original, From Prada to Nada follows two spoiled sisters when they are left penniless after the sudden death of their father. Forced to move in with their estranged aunt in East Los Angeles, this is a fish-out-of-water story where the girls ultimately find romance, as well as a love for their culture. Torres co-wrote the script with Chicano dramatist Luis Alfaro (Electricidad).
Odd Lot, Lionsgate and Videocine are production, financing and distribution partners on the film. Odd Lot’s Gigi Pritzker and Linda McDonough will produce, along with Rossana Arau and Gary Gilbert.
“Fina’s decadent filmic style, combined with a socially relevant and hip story, drew together our exceptional and fresh cast,” says McDonough. Continued Prizker, “I believe in telling stories with a cultural basis, and of course I also believe in smart deals – From Prada to Nada does both.”
