The Golden Globes has dropped 18 voters who are former members of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association and will not be voting for the 81st awards, TheWrap has learned.
The Globes sent an email informing studios of the change, which was obtained by TheWrap, and did not give a reason for the change. The list included three people – Munawar Hosain, Aniko Navai and Howaida Hamdy Serour – who were expelled after investigations into violations of the Globes’ code of conduct. Two of those members, Hosain and Hamdy Serous, had been investigated by TheWrap.
All the members had been among the former HFPA members who were paid $75,000 per year under the agreement to sell the organization to Eldridge Industries.
The Globes did not respond to a request for comment on the email to studios, or to explain why the members had been dropped as voters.
The awards are scheduled to take place on Jan.
The Globes sent an email informing studios of the change, which was obtained by TheWrap, and did not give a reason for the change. The list included three people – Munawar Hosain, Aniko Navai and Howaida Hamdy Serour – who were expelled after investigations into violations of the Globes’ code of conduct. Two of those members, Hosain and Hamdy Serous, had been investigated by TheWrap.
All the members had been among the former HFPA members who were paid $75,000 per year under the agreement to sell the organization to Eldridge Industries.
The Globes did not respond to a request for comment on the email to studios, or to explain why the members had been dropped as voters.
The awards are scheduled to take place on Jan.
- 9/26/2023
- by Steve Pond
- The Wrap
Awards, sure — over his 60-odd-year career, Wayne Shorter amassed his share of prizes and honors. But none of that conveys what a singular and visionary talent he was more powerfully than this simple fact: Miles Davis and Art Blakey, two of the greatest bandleaders in the history of jazz, fought over him.
In Wayne Shorter: Zero Gravity, director Dorsay Alavi tells his story over three roughly hourlong episodes called “portals,” a fitting nod to the Buddhism that Shorter embraced and the sci-fi and fantasy he adored. The Prime Video docuseries — which takes its streaming bow Aug. 25, on what would have been Shorter’s 90th birthday — traces the chronology of the New Jersey native’s biography, but, much more than that, it’s a chronicle of emotion, creativity and faith, tuned in to the magnitude of Shorter’s musicianship and, no less, to his playfulness and searching nonconformity.
Alavi, who first...
In Wayne Shorter: Zero Gravity, director Dorsay Alavi tells his story over three roughly hourlong episodes called “portals,” a fitting nod to the Buddhism that Shorter embraced and the sci-fi and fantasy he adored. The Prime Video docuseries — which takes its streaming bow Aug. 25, on what would have been Shorter’s 90th birthday — traces the chronology of the New Jersey native’s biography, but, much more than that, it’s a chronicle of emotion, creativity and faith, tuned in to the magnitude of Shorter’s musicianship and, no less, to his playfulness and searching nonconformity.
Alavi, who first...
- 8/22/2023
- by Sheri Linden
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Multi-prized Latin American directors Federico Veiroj, Theo Court, Alicia Scherson and Daniel Hendler head a muscular project lineup at September’s San Sebastian Europe-Latin America Co-Production Forum, the Spanish festival’s industry centerpiece which underscores this year a welling sea-change in the region’s filmmaking.
“The Moneychanger,” the latest film from Uruguay’s Veiroj, was selected for Toronto’s 2019 Platform; “White on White,” from Chile’s Court, won a best director Silver Lion at 2019’s Venice Horizons; Chile’s Alicia Scherson’s debut “Play” snagged new narrative director at Tribeca in 2005: multi-hyphenate Hendler, from Uruguay, scooped best director at Miami for “The Candidate” in 2017.
Also making the cut are Mexico’s Juan Pablo González and Ana Isabel Fernández, director and co-writer of 2022 Sundance Special Jury Prize winner “Dos Estaciones.” Ezequiel Yanco’s “La vida en común” took best documentary at the Biarritz Latin American Festival in 2019.
Mixing top cineasts...
“The Moneychanger,” the latest film from Uruguay’s Veiroj, was selected for Toronto’s 2019 Platform; “White on White,” from Chile’s Court, won a best director Silver Lion at 2019’s Venice Horizons; Chile’s Alicia Scherson’s debut “Play” snagged new narrative director at Tribeca in 2005: multi-hyphenate Hendler, from Uruguay, scooped best director at Miami for “The Candidate” in 2017.
Also making the cut are Mexico’s Juan Pablo González and Ana Isabel Fernández, director and co-writer of 2022 Sundance Special Jury Prize winner “Dos Estaciones.” Ezequiel Yanco’s “La vida en común” took best documentary at the Biarritz Latin American Festival in 2019.
Mixing top cineasts...
- 8/14/2023
- by John Hopewell and Emiliano De Pablos
- Variety Film + TV
Colombian auteur Ana Maria Hermida (“The Firefly”) is directing an all-star cast in Catalyst Studios’ “Alix.”
The film introduces Cristal Aparcio (“Enfermeras”) to international audiences in the title role of Alix. Based on Hermida’s script, the film also stars Natalia Reyes (“Terminator Dark Fate”), Roberto Urbina (“Snowpiercer”), Carlos Bardem (“El Cid”) and Carolina Guerra (“Animal Kingdom”). Principal photography has begun in the jungles of Rio Claro, Colombia.
A redemptive coming-of-age tale about the discovery of inner strength and new beginnings, the film is a magic realist tale that tells the story of Conejo (Urbina), a skilled soldier, and a young girl, Alix (Aparicio), who he recruits to be a child soldier in the Colombian jungle under the command of the charismatic Ramon (Bardem). Alix, innocent and optimistic, deals with the trauma of her hard circumstances by letting her imagination journey to a magical realm.
“Alix” is produced by Lemore Syvan,...
The film introduces Cristal Aparcio (“Enfermeras”) to international audiences in the title role of Alix. Based on Hermida’s script, the film also stars Natalia Reyes (“Terminator Dark Fate”), Roberto Urbina (“Snowpiercer”), Carlos Bardem (“El Cid”) and Carolina Guerra (“Animal Kingdom”). Principal photography has begun in the jungles of Rio Claro, Colombia.
A redemptive coming-of-age tale about the discovery of inner strength and new beginnings, the film is a magic realist tale that tells the story of Conejo (Urbina), a skilled soldier, and a young girl, Alix (Aparicio), who he recruits to be a child soldier in the Colombian jungle under the command of the charismatic Ramon (Bardem). Alix, innocent and optimistic, deals with the trauma of her hard circumstances by letting her imagination journey to a magical realm.
“Alix” is produced by Lemore Syvan,...
- 3/7/2023
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
Battery Dance presents Battery Dance Now, featuring the work of three female choreographers, on March 8-11, 2023 at 7pm at New York Live Arts, 219 West 19th St., NYC. Tickets are $35 (standard), $20 (student/senior/veteran), and $75 (VIP opening night reception). For more information and to purchase tickets, visit tickets.batterydance.org.
In its New York Live Arts debut, Battery Dance has assembled Battery Dance Now, a program of three contemporary dance works that explore time and transitions: Robin Cantrell’s “The Liminal Year” captures the natural resistance to isolation and the need to fight against fear; Ana Maria Lucaciu’s “It Goes By Quick” explores the urgency and frustration of seeing time slip away; Tsai Hsi Hung’s “A Certain Mood” was inspired by the contrasting shift from dark to light in the work of abstract expressionist painter Hans Hofmann.
Each work is set to an original music score. “The Liminal Year...
In its New York Live Arts debut, Battery Dance has assembled Battery Dance Now, a program of three contemporary dance works that explore time and transitions: Robin Cantrell’s “The Liminal Year” captures the natural resistance to isolation and the need to fight against fear; Ana Maria Lucaciu’s “It Goes By Quick” explores the urgency and frustration of seeing time slip away; Tsai Hsi Hung’s “A Certain Mood” was inspired by the contrasting shift from dark to light in the work of abstract expressionist painter Hans Hofmann.
Each work is set to an original music score. “The Liminal Year...
- 2/28/2023
- by Music Martin Cid Magazine
- Martin Cid Music
For four weeks, People reporter Maria Yagoda committed her entire life to getting red carpet ready, using celeb-approved, beautifying tips and tricks, from extreme fitness classes to colon hydrotherapy to major diet changes. Here’s how week four (and her final day of glam) went:
What Is It: Spray tan, juice cleanse, full day of glam and red carpet cameo!
Who Tried It: Maria Yagoda, People Writer-Reporter
Level of Difficulty: 5 — Juice cleanses are hard, but getting your boobs contoured is not.
After one full month of prepping, it was the final stretch — just three days until the red carpet.
Throughout the month,...
What Is It: Spray tan, juice cleanse, full day of glam and red carpet cameo!
Who Tried It: Maria Yagoda, People Writer-Reporter
Level of Difficulty: 5 — Juice cleanses are hard, but getting your boobs contoured is not.
After one full month of prepping, it was the final stretch — just three days until the red carpet.
Throughout the month,...
- 2/24/2017
- by Maria Yagoda
- PEOPLE.com
Mubi is exclusively showing Diego Echeverria's Los Sures (1984) in a new restoration September 3 - October 2, 2016.Williamsburg Savings BankThomas Wolfe’s short story “Only The Dead Know Brooklyn” first appeared in the June 15 1935 issue of The New Yorker. The story attempts to render spoken dialect into prose: its opening sentence is “Dere’s no guy livin’ dat knows Brooklyn t’roo an’ t’roo, because it’d take a guy a lifetime just to find his way aroun’ duh goddam town.” Wolfe’s mode and the story’s appearance in The New Yorker (the 1930s New Yorker was a very different magazine than it is today) speak to a particular 20th-century perception of the New York City borough of Brooklyn, both within New York itself and as far as the rest of the United States, and the world, was concerned. Brooklyn’s myth was as New York’s cynosure of rough-hewn authenticity.
- 9/5/2016
- MUBI
I programmed Ana Maria Hermida's short film "El Elefante Rojo," a coming of age story about a 15 year old girl who lives in a brothel in Bogota, Colombia who falls in love with her first client, about 8 years ago for the New York International Latino Film Festival. It was clear that Hermida had a vision and the camera empowered her. The awards she garnered were no surprise to anyone. I was elated to find out she had made her first feature film, "La Luciérnaga" (The Firefly), which is nominated for Beat Foreign Film, Best Lead Actress and Best Supporting actress at the upcoming Madrid International Film Festival and We spoke to Ana Maria about was behind the making of the film and the inspiration behind her work.
"La Luciérnaga" screens Sunday March 27 at 9:00 Pm as part of the Colombian International Film Festival in the East Village and tickets can be purchased Here
LatinoBuzz: Why Film?
Ana Maria Hermida: I keep asking myself that question. Why film? Why? It's so hard but the answer is always the same. Film making involves every single creative process that I love. Allow me to explain, I discovered in my early twenties I wanted to be a filmmaker by "accident". Since I was a little girl, I knew I wanted to be a story teller but the only "story telling" I knew growing up, apart from watching my mom tell us amazing stories of her childhood, were the dramatic stories I heard in the local news. So when I was around 8 years-old, I decided I wanted to be a journalist. That quickly changed once I started Journalism school around 10 years later. The reality of journalism, that I could only tell the objective facts of a story, was frustrating. I couldn't alter a story or exaggerate the details to make it exciting. I had no creative control and just as importantly, I couldn't reach the hearts and souls of my audience the way I wanted. It was no fun to be a journalist; I realized then and there that I not only wanted to tell stories but I wanted to create stories and wanted to make people feel something. I was always good at Fine Arts, I love drawing, painting, and taking pictures so I decided to change my major from Journalism to Fine Arts.
Once again, I quickly realized this wasn't for me either, because it felt very lonely; I spent days talking to brushes and canvases. I wanted to be part of a team, a living, breathing, talking team. I needed to collaborate, so once again I was lost and decided to move to NYC. Of course my parents weren't too happy about it. Long sidebar: NYC is the perfect city to find yourself, it constantly gives you clues and answers in so many different ways, you just have to be open to them. When I moved to New York in the fall of 2003, I applied to Cooper Union mainly because it was free. I had an Associate Degree in Fine Arts with a minor in Journalism, and even though I wasn't sure I wanted to become a painter, I decided to give it a second chance. During the application process, I had to take a creative test with six random questions. One of those questions was to show a room from one of its corners. I made a drawing and thinking it wasn't enough, I decided to make a short film. I had access to a little handy camera and with the help of a few friends, I made my first (and favorite) short film. It's called "Another Problem" and it tells the story of a girl who lives inside a tiny TV and writes a letter to the owner requesting her to buy a bigger TV. You can watch it here: https://vimeo.com/2963422.
This experience "accidentally" taught me all the steps to make a film. I was able to write a story, film it with friends, edit it with other friends and then show it around. Film making had all the components I love to do so I graduated with honors from the School of Visual Arts in 2009 and my thesis film "El Elefante Rojo" won Outstanding Film of the Year and Best Director. When actor Kevin Kline gave me the Best Director award, he told me to hire him someday. I will; have to keep my word. I hope he keeps his :) "El Elefante Rojo" was inspired by Gabriel Garcia Marquez's book "Memories of My Melancholic Whores" and you can watch it here: https://vimeo.com/21403482
LatinoBuzz: What was it about this story that you had to tell it?
Ana Maria: "La Luciérnaga" is my first feature film and it comes from an event in my life. Even though it's not autobiographical, it has very personal moments. My younger brother passed away in a car accident in December 2007. This has been the hardest thing I've ever had to deal with. It changed my life. It broke me but at the same time, it inspired me. After burying him, I came back to New York to finish school but I barely went to class as it was too hard to even get out of bed. One day, his long time girlfriend called me to tell me she wanted to spend some time with me in my (tiny) apartment in the Upper East side. Knowing she was coming gave me strength. I was able to get out of bed, buy groceries, clean up, and do all the things that seem impossible when you are deeply depressed. She stayed with me for over a month and during that time, I was able to see her discovering my brother through my eyes, and vice-versa. I would see her staring at me and saying thinks like, "you look just like him." This made me feel uncomfortable at first, mainly because it reminded me he was gone, but as time went by, I was able to turn it around and felt inspired to write a love story his death had inspired. "La Luciérnaga" tells the story of two women, who although are not lesbians, fall in love after going through a mourning process together.
LatinoBuzz: Some of the scenes in the film are stunning. What influenced the aesthetics?
Ana Maria: Colombia, my country. We are used to seeing horrible things about it, but Colombia is actually beautiful. I wanted to show that.Villa De Leyva for instance is one of my favorite Colonial towns, three hours away from Bogotá, the city in which I was born and raised. When I wrote the script, I had these locations in mind and working with Alonso Homs (my talented Dp) we were able to define the aesthetics of the film together. As far as filmmakers that inspire me, I love Jean-Luc Godard, Lucrecia Martel, Claudia Llosa, Spike Jonze, Miranda July, to name a few.
LatinoBuzz: You are Colombian but have lived in many cities - which one inspires you the minute you wake up?
Ana Maria: Ha! Good question. Every city I love inspired me in a different way. Bogotá for instance, it's all about family. When I wake up there I can smell my mom's home cooking or hear the little voices of my nephews. It inspires me to love and be loved, to be open emotionally and let my guard down. It reminds me of who I am and that's very helpful when writing. When I'm in NYC, I usually wake up with the city noise: a mix of cars driving by, people talking, sirens, the bus stopping. This "noise" inspires me to work harder and to not give up. It makes me feel invincible and capable of doing anything I put my mind into. When I'm in Los Angeles, the city where I live right now, it's usually the sun-rays that inspire me. It sounds cliché but all that vitamin D really makes me want to move, to go outside, to climb mountains (physically and mentally). It makes me feel positive and motivated. Those are the three cities I spend most of time in. I love waking up in little towns too because everything is new and unexpected. You never know what's going to move you or inspire you.
LatinoBuzz: What was the collaboration process like with your two leads?
Ana Maria: It was amazing and a blessing. They gave their 110%. Carolina Guerra (Lucia) and Olga Segura (Mariana) both loved the project and understood it from the moment they read the script. This made my job easier, and even though we were making a dramatic movie, we had a lot of fun shooting it. It's always nice to work with friends especially when they are so talented. We didn't have a lot of time to rehearse but together we were able to find the voice of each character and I'm very happy with their work - Thank you girls!
LatinoBuzz: Do you think Latin American cinema has become more accepting to financing films with Lgtb themes?
Ana Maria: I'm not sure. I think investors and studios (not only in Latin America but also around the world) are still uptight about investing in films that tell unique stories. In my case, I was very lucky to find investors that loved the story and believed in it. Some are from North America, others from South America. Lgtb themes are still a taboo in many Latin American places and that's another reason why I wanted to make this film. As a Colombian, I wanted to shake things up a bit down there, not in a preachy way but in an understanding way. At the end, we are all people and we were made to love one another regardless of your physical appearance.
LatinoBuzz: Ok, pick a book to turn into a film. who are the leads?
Ana Maria: Good timing! That's exactly what I'm doing right now for my next film. I took Alice in Wonderland and mixed it with the true story of an ex-guerrilla leader who was taken away from home by the guerrilla when she was just a little girl. The movie is called Alicia, and tells the story of an eleven year-old girl who lives in a very remote area of Colombia. One day she meets El Conejo (The Rabbit), a man with big frontal teeth, who convinces her to go with him. Together, they go through what seems to be a magical journey through the Colombian jungle, but it isn't until the end that Alicia finds out that this beautiful place she imagined is not what she thought it would be. The back drop is guerrilla warfare and the recruitment of child soldiers.
LatinoBuzz: What is the best advice has anyone given you regarding making films?
Ana Maria: I've gotten great advice throughout my (short) career but the one thing that really helped me especially during the post production process of "La Luciernaga" was, "Take your time." There is a Spanish saying: “Del afán no queda sino el cansancio". It roughly translates to "Rushing leaves you tired or you are left with tiredness after rushing" or something like that. Time is one (if not the most) important factor when making films. We all know "time is money" so rushing to get a shot or get everything you need is very important, however, there are moments during this creative process when it is very (very) important to take your time. We are artists and we need that time to make our art the best we can. Only with time can one recognize what's working or what's missing - I'm talking from my personal experience - so if you can take your time, do it. Don't rush the creative process especially when you're editing.
LatinoBuzz: What's next?
Ana Maria: Next is Alicia, my second feature, as well as a TV series that is cooking. I wish I could talk more about it but I can't - Please cross your fingers! That way I can tell you everything about it when it gets into production. Yeah. One last note, I wanted to let you know this movie was made mainly by women. I wrote it, directed and produced it with the help of my friend and fellow producer Luisa Casas. The main leads were women too as well as many crew members. It is important to mention the need of equality in the film industry. I don't blame anyone for it, but I do want to be part of the change and in order to have change, we need to create awareness and talk about it.
Give the film lots of love here:
Facebook
Twitter - @LuciernagaMovie
Written by Juan Caceres . LatinoBuzz is a feature on SydneysBuzz/Indiewire that highlights Latino indie talent and upcoming trends in Latino film with the specific objective of presenting a broad range of Latino voices. Follow [At]LatinoBuzz on Twitter and Facebook...
"La Luciérnaga" screens Sunday March 27 at 9:00 Pm as part of the Colombian International Film Festival in the East Village and tickets can be purchased Here
LatinoBuzz: Why Film?
Ana Maria Hermida: I keep asking myself that question. Why film? Why? It's so hard but the answer is always the same. Film making involves every single creative process that I love. Allow me to explain, I discovered in my early twenties I wanted to be a filmmaker by "accident". Since I was a little girl, I knew I wanted to be a story teller but the only "story telling" I knew growing up, apart from watching my mom tell us amazing stories of her childhood, were the dramatic stories I heard in the local news. So when I was around 8 years-old, I decided I wanted to be a journalist. That quickly changed once I started Journalism school around 10 years later. The reality of journalism, that I could only tell the objective facts of a story, was frustrating. I couldn't alter a story or exaggerate the details to make it exciting. I had no creative control and just as importantly, I couldn't reach the hearts and souls of my audience the way I wanted. It was no fun to be a journalist; I realized then and there that I not only wanted to tell stories but I wanted to create stories and wanted to make people feel something. I was always good at Fine Arts, I love drawing, painting, and taking pictures so I decided to change my major from Journalism to Fine Arts.
Once again, I quickly realized this wasn't for me either, because it felt very lonely; I spent days talking to brushes and canvases. I wanted to be part of a team, a living, breathing, talking team. I needed to collaborate, so once again I was lost and decided to move to NYC. Of course my parents weren't too happy about it. Long sidebar: NYC is the perfect city to find yourself, it constantly gives you clues and answers in so many different ways, you just have to be open to them. When I moved to New York in the fall of 2003, I applied to Cooper Union mainly because it was free. I had an Associate Degree in Fine Arts with a minor in Journalism, and even though I wasn't sure I wanted to become a painter, I decided to give it a second chance. During the application process, I had to take a creative test with six random questions. One of those questions was to show a room from one of its corners. I made a drawing and thinking it wasn't enough, I decided to make a short film. I had access to a little handy camera and with the help of a few friends, I made my first (and favorite) short film. It's called "Another Problem" and it tells the story of a girl who lives inside a tiny TV and writes a letter to the owner requesting her to buy a bigger TV. You can watch it here: https://vimeo.com/2963422.
This experience "accidentally" taught me all the steps to make a film. I was able to write a story, film it with friends, edit it with other friends and then show it around. Film making had all the components I love to do so I graduated with honors from the School of Visual Arts in 2009 and my thesis film "El Elefante Rojo" won Outstanding Film of the Year and Best Director. When actor Kevin Kline gave me the Best Director award, he told me to hire him someday. I will; have to keep my word. I hope he keeps his :) "El Elefante Rojo" was inspired by Gabriel Garcia Marquez's book "Memories of My Melancholic Whores" and you can watch it here: https://vimeo.com/21403482
LatinoBuzz: What was it about this story that you had to tell it?
Ana Maria: "La Luciérnaga" is my first feature film and it comes from an event in my life. Even though it's not autobiographical, it has very personal moments. My younger brother passed away in a car accident in December 2007. This has been the hardest thing I've ever had to deal with. It changed my life. It broke me but at the same time, it inspired me. After burying him, I came back to New York to finish school but I barely went to class as it was too hard to even get out of bed. One day, his long time girlfriend called me to tell me she wanted to spend some time with me in my (tiny) apartment in the Upper East side. Knowing she was coming gave me strength. I was able to get out of bed, buy groceries, clean up, and do all the things that seem impossible when you are deeply depressed. She stayed with me for over a month and during that time, I was able to see her discovering my brother through my eyes, and vice-versa. I would see her staring at me and saying thinks like, "you look just like him." This made me feel uncomfortable at first, mainly because it reminded me he was gone, but as time went by, I was able to turn it around and felt inspired to write a love story his death had inspired. "La Luciérnaga" tells the story of two women, who although are not lesbians, fall in love after going through a mourning process together.
LatinoBuzz: Some of the scenes in the film are stunning. What influenced the aesthetics?
Ana Maria: Colombia, my country. We are used to seeing horrible things about it, but Colombia is actually beautiful. I wanted to show that.Villa De Leyva for instance is one of my favorite Colonial towns, three hours away from Bogotá, the city in which I was born and raised. When I wrote the script, I had these locations in mind and working with Alonso Homs (my talented Dp) we were able to define the aesthetics of the film together. As far as filmmakers that inspire me, I love Jean-Luc Godard, Lucrecia Martel, Claudia Llosa, Spike Jonze, Miranda July, to name a few.
LatinoBuzz: You are Colombian but have lived in many cities - which one inspires you the minute you wake up?
Ana Maria: Ha! Good question. Every city I love inspired me in a different way. Bogotá for instance, it's all about family. When I wake up there I can smell my mom's home cooking or hear the little voices of my nephews. It inspires me to love and be loved, to be open emotionally and let my guard down. It reminds me of who I am and that's very helpful when writing. When I'm in NYC, I usually wake up with the city noise: a mix of cars driving by, people talking, sirens, the bus stopping. This "noise" inspires me to work harder and to not give up. It makes me feel invincible and capable of doing anything I put my mind into. When I'm in Los Angeles, the city where I live right now, it's usually the sun-rays that inspire me. It sounds cliché but all that vitamin D really makes me want to move, to go outside, to climb mountains (physically and mentally). It makes me feel positive and motivated. Those are the three cities I spend most of time in. I love waking up in little towns too because everything is new and unexpected. You never know what's going to move you or inspire you.
LatinoBuzz: What was the collaboration process like with your two leads?
Ana Maria: It was amazing and a blessing. They gave their 110%. Carolina Guerra (Lucia) and Olga Segura (Mariana) both loved the project and understood it from the moment they read the script. This made my job easier, and even though we were making a dramatic movie, we had a lot of fun shooting it. It's always nice to work with friends especially when they are so talented. We didn't have a lot of time to rehearse but together we were able to find the voice of each character and I'm very happy with their work - Thank you girls!
LatinoBuzz: Do you think Latin American cinema has become more accepting to financing films with Lgtb themes?
Ana Maria: I'm not sure. I think investors and studios (not only in Latin America but also around the world) are still uptight about investing in films that tell unique stories. In my case, I was very lucky to find investors that loved the story and believed in it. Some are from North America, others from South America. Lgtb themes are still a taboo in many Latin American places and that's another reason why I wanted to make this film. As a Colombian, I wanted to shake things up a bit down there, not in a preachy way but in an understanding way. At the end, we are all people and we were made to love one another regardless of your physical appearance.
LatinoBuzz: Ok, pick a book to turn into a film. who are the leads?
Ana Maria: Good timing! That's exactly what I'm doing right now for my next film. I took Alice in Wonderland and mixed it with the true story of an ex-guerrilla leader who was taken away from home by the guerrilla when she was just a little girl. The movie is called Alicia, and tells the story of an eleven year-old girl who lives in a very remote area of Colombia. One day she meets El Conejo (The Rabbit), a man with big frontal teeth, who convinces her to go with him. Together, they go through what seems to be a magical journey through the Colombian jungle, but it isn't until the end that Alicia finds out that this beautiful place she imagined is not what she thought it would be. The back drop is guerrilla warfare and the recruitment of child soldiers.
LatinoBuzz: What is the best advice has anyone given you regarding making films?
Ana Maria: I've gotten great advice throughout my (short) career but the one thing that really helped me especially during the post production process of "La Luciernaga" was, "Take your time." There is a Spanish saying: “Del afán no queda sino el cansancio". It roughly translates to "Rushing leaves you tired or you are left with tiredness after rushing" or something like that. Time is one (if not the most) important factor when making films. We all know "time is money" so rushing to get a shot or get everything you need is very important, however, there are moments during this creative process when it is very (very) important to take your time. We are artists and we need that time to make our art the best we can. Only with time can one recognize what's working or what's missing - I'm talking from my personal experience - so if you can take your time, do it. Don't rush the creative process especially when you're editing.
LatinoBuzz: What's next?
Ana Maria: Next is Alicia, my second feature, as well as a TV series that is cooking. I wish I could talk more about it but I can't - Please cross your fingers! That way I can tell you everything about it when it gets into production. Yeah. One last note, I wanted to let you know this movie was made mainly by women. I wrote it, directed and produced it with the help of my friend and fellow producer Luisa Casas. The main leads were women too as well as many crew members. It is important to mention the need of equality in the film industry. I don't blame anyone for it, but I do want to be part of the change and in order to have change, we need to create awareness and talk about it.
Give the film lots of love here:
Twitter - @LuciernagaMovie
Written by Juan Caceres . LatinoBuzz is a feature on SydneysBuzz/Indiewire that highlights Latino indie talent and upcoming trends in Latino film with the specific objective of presenting a broad range of Latino voices. Follow [At]LatinoBuzz on Twitter and Facebook...
- 3/24/2016
- by Juan Caceres
- Sydney's Buzz
Eva Longoria and America Ferrera’s long-awaited TV returns have a date: Monday, Jan. 4.
That’s when NBC will officially premiere the actresses’ latest series: Superstore (starring Ferrera) at 8/7c, and Telenovela (starring Longoria) at 8:30.
In advance of the new year, the Peacock net will offer sneak peeks of the new comedies. Two episodes of Superstore will air on Monday, Nov. 30, at 10 following The Voice. A week later, Telenovela will follow The Voice in the same slot.
PhotosNovember Sweeps Preview: Scoop on Castle, Vampire Diaries, The Blacklist, Quantico, Gotham, NCIS and More
Telenovela stars Longoria as Ana Sofia, the...
That’s when NBC will officially premiere the actresses’ latest series: Superstore (starring Ferrera) at 8/7c, and Telenovela (starring Longoria) at 8:30.
In advance of the new year, the Peacock net will offer sneak peeks of the new comedies. Two episodes of Superstore will air on Monday, Nov. 30, at 10 following The Voice. A week later, Telenovela will follow The Voice in the same slot.
PhotosNovember Sweeps Preview: Scoop on Castle, Vampire Diaries, The Blacklist, Quantico, Gotham, NCIS and More
Telenovela stars Longoria as Ana Sofia, the...
- 11/2/2015
- TVLine.com
Following the success of "Jane The Virgin," which is based on a telenovela, the new film "Ana Maria in Novela Land" follows the magical conundrum of super fan, Ana Maria, who swaps places with her favorite telenovela star, Ariana Tomosa. The film stars Edy Ganem ("Devious Maids") who takes on the roles of both Ana Maria and Ariana Tomosa. In the new clip, we see a very confused and angry Ariana Tomosa who confronts Ana Maria's parents, presumably before realizing that they have switched places. The acting in this clip appears to be very much in the vein of a telenovela, so the film is sure to be a fun watch. Directed by Georgina Garcia Riedel, the film also stars Michael Steger, Luis Guzmán and the late Elizabeth Peña. The film, distributed by Fluency Studios, will open in select theaters today, February 27. Check out the clip below: Read More:...
- 2/27/2015
- by Jena Keahon
- Indiewire
Young and willful, Ana Maria Soto loses jobs as easily as she live-tweets her favorite telenovela. It just comes naturally to the 24-year-old woman, who still lives at home with her middle-class parents and makes grand statements about her principles while making no plans for the future. It's a comfortable existence for Ana Maria, allowing her to focus primarily on Pasion Sin Limites, a typical Spanish-language, limited-run soap opera. The show is approaching its conclusion, which gives her an excuse to write fan fiction instead of doing her job, and to blow off real-life friends and possible romances -- including her longtime next-door neighbor, who is now a doctor -- because her Twitter followers 'demand' her commentary, at least in her vivid imagination. And then...
[Read the whole post on twitchfilm.com...]...
[Read the whole post on twitchfilm.com...]...
- 2/26/2015
- Screen Anarchy
Jose Moreno Brooks (MTV’s One Bad Choice), a former semi-pro soccer player-turned-actor, has been cast as a series regular opposite Eva Longoria in NBC's 13-episode single-camera comedy series Telenovela starring and executive produced by Eva Longoria. Written/executive produced by Chrissy Pietrosh and Jessica Goldstein, based on an idea by Longoria, and directed by Steve Pink, Telenovela stars Longoria as popular diva Ana Maria, star of Latin America's most beloved…...
- 2/20/2015
- Deadline TV
The mainstream embrace of ABC’s “Ugly Betty” and The CW’s “Jane the Virgin” will hopefully mean that the charming and hilarious telenovela satire “Ana Maria in Novela Land” can find a larger audience beyond the Latino movie ghetto. Starring Edy Ganem (“Devious Maids”) in what should be a star-making turn as both schlubby millennial Ana Maria and hyper-glamorous “gold-digging orphan/whore” Ariana (the protagonist of the fictional “Pasión Sin Limites,” or “Passion Without Limits”), this switching-places comedy warmly and trenchantly sends up the telenovela genre’s swooning melodrama and oversexed-but-prudish contradictions. “Novela Land” begins with a flawless spoof,...
- 2/16/2015
- by Inkoo Kang
- The Wrap
Another month, another horror film about possession.
This one takes us down to Columbia where a dysfunctional family finds themselves trapped in a secluded house that has a dark evil within. Best known for horror film sequels, Spanish director Victor Garcia was tapped to direct The Damned (formerly known as Gallows Hill) to bring a certain authenticity to the film. But not even he can breathe any life into this imitation horror film. American David Reynolds (Peter Facinelli) comes to Bogota with his British fiancé Lauren (Sophia Myles) to find his disapproving daughter Jill (Nathalia Ramos) who is hiding from life with her boyfriend Ramon (Sebastian Martinez), a cameraman, and her Columbian aunt Gina (Carolina Guerra), an eager journalist. But a terrible storm leaves this group stranded in the middle of nowhere, with only an isolated house as refuge. The owner of the house, Felipe (Gustavo Angarita), is wary of...
This one takes us down to Columbia where a dysfunctional family finds themselves trapped in a secluded house that has a dark evil within. Best known for horror film sequels, Spanish director Victor Garcia was tapped to direct The Damned (formerly known as Gallows Hill) to bring a certain authenticity to the film. But not even he can breathe any life into this imitation horror film. American David Reynolds (Peter Facinelli) comes to Bogota with his British fiancé Lauren (Sophia Myles) to find his disapproving daughter Jill (Nathalia Ramos) who is hiding from life with her boyfriend Ramon (Sebastian Martinez), a cameraman, and her Columbian aunt Gina (Carolina Guerra), an eager journalist. But a terrible storm leaves this group stranded in the middle of nowhere, with only an isolated house as refuge. The owner of the house, Felipe (Gustavo Angarita), is wary of...
- 2/6/2015
- by John Keith
- JustPressPlay.net
Eva Longoria’s Telenovela has found its dastardly villain… or has it? (Just kidding. It totally has.)
Prison Break‘s Amaury Nolasco will play Rodrigo, the bad guy on the show-within-a-show in NBC’s upcoming Longoria-led comedy, per The Hollywood Reporter.
The 13-episode, single-camera series centers on popular daytime actress Ana Maria (Longoria) and her life on and off set.
Telenovela also cast Jencarlos Canela (Más Sabe el Diablo) as superstar heartthrob Xavier and Diana Maria Riva (The Bridge) as Ana Maria’s best friend Mia.
Nolasco’s credits include Gang Related, Justified, Work It and Rizzoli & Isles.
Related storiesTVLine Items: Full House Reunion Video,...
Prison Break‘s Amaury Nolasco will play Rodrigo, the bad guy on the show-within-a-show in NBC’s upcoming Longoria-led comedy, per The Hollywood Reporter.
The 13-episode, single-camera series centers on popular daytime actress Ana Maria (Longoria) and her life on and off set.
Telenovela also cast Jencarlos Canela (Más Sabe el Diablo) as superstar heartthrob Xavier and Diana Maria Riva (The Bridge) as Ana Maria’s best friend Mia.
Nolasco’s credits include Gang Related, Justified, Work It and Rizzoli & Isles.
Related storiesTVLine Items: Full House Reunion Video,...
- 1/26/2015
- TVLine.com
Eva Longoria isn’t Desperate for work.
TV’s erstwhile Gabrielle Solis will star in NBC’s Telenovela, a 13-episode series about popular daytime actress Ana Maria (Longoria). The single-camera comedy will chronicle Ana’s life on and off-set.
Longoria’s post-Housewives credits include roles in Brooklyn Nine-Nine, The Simpsons and Welcome to the Family.
Ready for more of today’s newsy nuggets? Well…
* The Vampire Diaries has finally found the real Sarah Salvatore. Tristin Mays (Big Time Rush) will recur as Stefan and Damon’s distant relative, per The Hollywood Reporter, beginning in the Jan. 22 winter premiere.
* Albert Tsai...
TV’s erstwhile Gabrielle Solis will star in NBC’s Telenovela, a 13-episode series about popular daytime actress Ana Maria (Longoria). The single-camera comedy will chronicle Ana’s life on and off-set.
Longoria’s post-Housewives credits include roles in Brooklyn Nine-Nine, The Simpsons and Welcome to the Family.
Ready for more of today’s newsy nuggets? Well…
* The Vampire Diaries has finally found the real Sarah Salvatore. Tristin Mays (Big Time Rush) will recur as Stefan and Damon’s distant relative, per The Hollywood Reporter, beginning in the Jan. 22 winter premiere.
* Albert Tsai...
- 1/16/2015
- TVLine.com
Dan Velez, who combined a magnetic personality and deep passion for movies to launch a thriving career as a casting director, passed away Oct. 31. He was 30. At the age of 13, Dan left Colombia with his mother, Ana Maria, and younger brother, Alejandro, and settled in Paw Paw, Mich. Dan didn’t speak a word of English, but he quickly conquered the language barrier by devouring American movies and television shows. In Dan’s own words, “If Jean-Claude Van Damme could make it in the United States with an accent, then so can I.” Dan was both a fastidious high school student and immensely popular with his peers. Voted “most likeable” by his senior class, Dan finished with the second-highest grade point average in high school and won a full scholarship to Western Michigan University. But Dan knew his ultimate ambition was to make it in the entertainment industry, so he...
- 11/12/2014
- backstage.com
Elizabeth Peña, who died last month at age 55, stars in “Ana Maria in Novela Land,” her final film, individuals with knowledge of the project told TheWrap. The film, which will premiere in theaters at the end of February, was produced for Telemundo division Fluency, which is part of NBCUniversal's Hispanic Enterprises and Content. Produced for Fluency by Zach and Shane O'Brien at Synthetic Cinema International, the film will make its television debut next summer. See photos: Hollywood's Notable Deaths of 2014 The movie is shot in predominately English with about 10 percent in Spanish and geared toward a young hispanic audience. Peña,...
- 11/5/2014
- by Tony Maglio
- The Wrap
• Ed Harris, Jim Sturgess, Abbie Cornish, and Andy Garcia are currently in negotiations to join the sci-fi adventure film Geostorm. Gerard Butler has already been tapped to star as a stubborn satellite designer who must work with his estranged brother to save the world after climate-controlling satellites malfunction. (There’s also a plot to assassinate the president for good measure.) Sturgess is in talks to play Butler’s brother with Cornish as Sturgess’ girlfriend, a Secret Service agent. Harris and Garcia would play the secretary of state and president, respectively. Dean Devlin, who co-wrote the script to Independence Day, will...
- 8/16/2014
- by Jake Perlman
- EW - Inside Movies
Meadowland, Ana Maria, The Ticket, and other films have all made recent film casting, screenwriting, and director news. These films come from movie studios primarily based in the United States. The castings, screenwriters, and directors are subject to change. Sinister 2 Shannyn Sossamon and James Ransone are set to star, with the latter reprising his [...]
Continue reading: Film Casting: Meadowland, Ana Maria, Malin Akerman in The Ticket...
Continue reading: Film Casting: Meadowland, Ana Maria, Malin Akerman in The Ticket...
- 8/15/2014
- by Rollo Tomasi
- Film-Book
Edy Ganem has the lead role in the indie feature Ana Maria. She plays the title character, a receptionist obsessed with a telenovela who suddenly finds herself transferred to the TV world of her beloved characters, where everyone thinks she is the fabulous and beautiful star of the show. Georgina Riedel directs the pic, which he co-wrote with Jose Marquez and is being shopped. Ganem stars as Valentina Diaz on Lifetime’s Devious Maids and next appears in the feature After The Wedding. She is represented by Paradigm, McKeon-Myones Management and Morris Yorn.
Charlie Carver has joined the cast of Michael, a drama from executive producer Gus van Sant. James Franco stars in the title role as a gay activist and magazine founder who is “saved” from his homosexuality after turning to God and eventually becomes a Christian pastor. Carver will play Tyler, who gets involved in a relationship with...
Charlie Carver has joined the cast of Michael, a drama from executive producer Gus van Sant. James Franco stars in the title role as a gay activist and magazine founder who is “saved” from his homosexuality after turning to God and eventually becomes a Christian pastor. Carver will play Tyler, who gets involved in a relationship with...
- 8/15/2014
- by The Deadline Team
- Deadline
Is it just me, or does horror material come in waves? Just as I was complaining how witches have lost their popularity status in modern day horror, during my Witching & Bitching review none the less, The Damned comes along with a sinister “bruja” cursing poor victims and raising Hell. Originally titled Gallows Hill – a more interesting headline when compared to The Damned‘s nondescript nature – director Víctor García attempts to redefine typical haunted house stories with a dash of occultism, but something feels constantly amiss. Despite a menacing child, morphing skin, and some seriously tingling chills, García’s film just isn’t as damning as we’d hope.
Peter Facinelli plays David Reynolds, an overprotective husband and father who only wants to retrieve his vacationing daughter (Nathalia Ramos) before his wedding day. Driving down a twisty, beaten road, David’s family – along with a journalist Aunt and her cameraman – find...
Peter Facinelli plays David Reynolds, an overprotective husband and father who only wants to retrieve his vacationing daughter (Nathalia Ramos) before his wedding day. Driving down a twisty, beaten road, David’s family – along with a journalist Aunt and her cameraman – find...
- 7/23/2014
- by Matt Donato
- We Got This Covered
Victor Garcia returns to the genre with The Damned (formerly known as Gallows Hill) and we now have a trailer and one-sheet to share today. The synopsis: After suffering the recent loss of his wife, David Reynolds (Peter Facinelli) decides to take his family on a cathartic trip to her home village in Columbia. While en route, they get into a car accident and seek refuge in a secluded inn.While there they find a mysterious young girl, Ana Maria, locked up with cryptic symbols painted on the walls of her cell.
The post Trailer & One-Sheet for Victor Garcia’s The Damned Arrive appeared first on Shock Till You Drop.
The post Trailer & One-Sheet for Victor Garcia’s The Damned Arrive appeared first on Shock Till You Drop.
- 7/1/2014
- by Ryan Turek
- shocktillyoudrop.com
Once in a while a simple hunch, with perhaps a bit of faith, may provide sufficient confirmation that a play is just right for an actor. With a heavy theater background and a strong foundation in the church, Cinthia Leon realized that a casting notice for 'Viva Cristo Rey' blended her craft and her faith. It was an exceptional opportunity on BackStage.com that she could not bypass.Initially, the title of the play (meaning "Long live Christ the King") was the hook for Leon. After beginning research, she says, "what grabbed me was the entire play. Every character is unique, and without one of them you're missing something." The role of Ana Maria Pro gave the actor a call of duty: to portray a real person with little documented history to go on. Much of the play is about Ana Maria's brother, Miguel Pro, who was executed in...
- 11/19/2011
- by help@backstage.com (Michael Coughlin)
- backstage.com
*A review copy of this film was provided by Maya Entertainment.
Director/writer: Ricardo Islas.
Zombie Farm is an upcoming dramatic thriller release from Maya Entertainment. This title is slated for a March 8th release, on DVD. Previously titled Macumba, this film is not to be confused with the 2007 Zombie Farm, from director Barsuglia. This Zombie Farm has a Latino vibe, with this title being filmed in both Spanish and English. Full of silly Latin jokes and dramatic social commentaries, this film is a light hearted, entertaining time, with zombies acting as a dumbed down version of immigrant labour.
The film begins with a young wife, named Ana Maria (Monika Munoz) searching for a solution to domestic abuse. She is physically abused by her alcoholic husband (Khotan Fernandez) and a snake oil salesman on television (Roberto Montesinos) promises a cure. However, Maria is disappointed to find out that Roque is just another charlatan.
Director/writer: Ricardo Islas.
Zombie Farm is an upcoming dramatic thriller release from Maya Entertainment. This title is slated for a March 8th release, on DVD. Previously titled Macumba, this film is not to be confused with the 2007 Zombie Farm, from director Barsuglia. This Zombie Farm has a Latino vibe, with this title being filmed in both Spanish and English. Full of silly Latin jokes and dramatic social commentaries, this film is a light hearted, entertaining time, with zombies acting as a dumbed down version of immigrant labour.
The film begins with a young wife, named Ana Maria (Monika Munoz) searching for a solution to domestic abuse. She is physically abused by her alcoholic husband (Khotan Fernandez) and a snake oil salesman on television (Roberto Montesinos) promises a cure. However, Maria is disappointed to find out that Roque is just another charlatan.
- 2/27/2011
- by Remove28DaysLaterAnalysisThis@gmail.com (Michael Allen)
- 28 Days Later Analysis
"The Strange Case of Angelica" is helmed and screenwritten by Manoel de Oliviera and finds release at the IFC Center in New York on December 29th. Starring in the indie flick are Ricardo Trêpa, Pilar López de Ayala, Leonor Silveira, Luís Miguel Cintra, Ana Maria Magalhães and Isabel Ruth. François d’Artemare, Maria João Mayer,Luís Miñarro, Renata de Almeida and Leon Cakoff produce. "The Strange Case of Angelica" is a magical tale of a young photographer who falls madly in love with a woman he can never have, except in his dreams. One night, Isaac is summoned by a wealthy family to take the last photograph of a young bride, Angelica, who has mysteriously passed away...
- 12/7/2010
- Upcoming-Movies.com
"The Strange Case of Angelica" is helmed and screenwritten by Manoel de Oliviera and finds release at the IFC Center in New York on December 29th. Starring in the indie flick are Ricardo Trêpa, Pilar López de Ayala, Leonor Silveira, Luís Miguel Cintra, Ana Maria Magalhães and Isabel Ruth. François d’Artemare, Maria João Mayer,Luís Miñarro, Renata de Almeida and Leon Cakoff produce. "The Strange Case of Angelica" is a magical tale of a young photographer who falls madly in love with a woman he can never have, except in his dreams. One night, Isaac is summoned by a wealthy family to take the last photograph of a young bride, Angelica, who has mysteriously passed away...
- 12/7/2010
- Upcoming-Movies.com
Geri Halliwell is taking her relationship with lover Henry Beckith to the next level - she introduced her mother to the aristocrat's posh parents during a trip to London's West End earlier this week. The former Spice Girls has dated the British heir since 2009, and sparked rumors she was planning to move in with the multi-millionaire earlier this year when the pair was spotted househunting in Wiltshire, England.
And despite proving their commitment to each other over the last 18 months, the couple only arranged for their parents to meet this week, according to Britain's Daily Express. The publication reports Halliwell introduced her Spanish mother Ana Maria to Sir John and Lady Beckwith when they went to see Frankie Valli musical Jersey Boys.
A source tells the publication, "Geri and Henry went to chat to the cast and their parents were left to mill about. They were chatting to each other...
And despite proving their commitment to each other over the last 18 months, the couple only arranged for their parents to meet this week, according to Britain's Daily Express. The publication reports Halliwell introduced her Spanish mother Ana Maria to Sir John and Lady Beckwith when they went to see Frankie Valli musical Jersey Boys.
A source tells the publication, "Geri and Henry went to chat to the cast and their parents were left to mill about. They were chatting to each other...
- 12/3/2010
- by AceShowbiz.com
- Aceshowbiz
In the all's-well-that-ends-well department, Ana Maria Macedo -- who was stood up by her fiancé a year ago just two weeks before they were set to swap vows -- married him on Saturday, capping a three-day, fairy-tale wedding celebration.
Brazilian-born Ana Maria, a model and fashion designer, married Swedish financier Jon Jonsson at St. Bartholomew's Church in front of 200 jet-setting guests, including novelist Coerte Felske, restaurateur Vittorio Assaf and his Swedish wife, Charlotte, shipping heir Alexei Zoulas and his Brazilian wife, Priscilla, and Nicole Coste, the former flight attendant who has a son,...
Brazilian-born Ana Maria, a model and fashion designer, married Swedish financier Jon Jonsson at St. Bartholomew's Church in front of 200 jet-setting guests, including novelist Coerte Felske, restaurateur Vittorio Assaf and his Swedish wife, Charlotte, shipping heir Alexei Zoulas and his Brazilian wife, Priscilla, and Nicole Coste, the former flight attendant who has a son,...
- 6/16/2009
- NYPost.com
A Romanian hospital has sent a new mum home with the wrong baby, according to reports. Cristina Zahariuc gave birth to a little girl but was apparently stunned to discover she had been given a little boy to take home instead. The 35-year-old and her husband Constantin had invited friends and family to their home in Horlesti to see their daughter Ana Maria for the first time. However, the new mum said she was shocked when she went to change (more)...
- 11/7/2008
- by By Sarah Rollo
- Digital Spy
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