Daniel Ribeiro’s “Perfect Endings” Sold to Distributors in North America and Several European Territories

Posted on June 21, 2024 by Tom Castaneda

Daniel Ribeiro’s latest film will have a worldwide audience…

The 42-year-old Brazilian film director’s romantic comedy Perfect Endings has sold to distributors in North America and several territories in Europe.

Perfect Endings follows João, played by Artur Volpi, an aspiring filmmaker, who is thrown into the dating world after breaking up with his boyfriend of 10 years. At a crossroads in both his personal and professional life, he ends up directing amateur erotic films, while finding his way through the confusion of modern romance.

Dark Star Pictures and Uncork’d Entertainment have nabbed the rights for North America, where Perfect Endings will have its international premiere at Frameline on June 27.

Mike Repsch, president of Dark Star Pictures, commented: “We are incredibly excited to bring ‘Perfect Endings’ to North America. Daniel Ribeiro has once again crafted a heartfelt snapshot of modern romance and we know that the gay audience will enjoy this entertaining film.”

This marks a second recent collaboration between M-Appeal and Dark Star Pictures, which bought Marcelo Caetano‘s Cannes Critics’ Week title Baby, also represented by the agency.

Cinemien will distribute the film across Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Benelux, Poland, Italy and Portugal.

Ribeiro previously won the Berlinale’s Teddy Award, given to the best film with a queer theme in the festival, with The Way He Looks.

Vertigo Releasing Acquires “Your Monster,” Starring Melissa Barrera

Posted on June 21, 2024 by Tom Castaneda

Melissa Barrera’s monster hit is going global…

Vertigo Releasing has acquired Your Monster, starring the 33-year-old Mexican actress, from Bankside Films.

The debut feature from writer-director Caroline Lindy blends romantic musical elements with comedy-horror.

In addition to Barrera, the film also stars Meghann Fahy, Tommy Dewey, Kayla Foster and Edmund Donovan.

The story centers on Laura (Barrera), an actress who, after battling illness and a breakup, returns to her childhood home. There, she discovers a monster (Dewey) living in her closet. As they bond, the monster helps Laura confront her ex and reclaim a promised Broadway role. Their relationship evolves as Laura rediscovers her voice and embraces her inner strength.

Your Monster premiered in the Midnight section at the Sundance Film Festival earlier this year and won the Audience Favorite Award at the festival’s London edition.

Vertigo Releasing will distribute the film in the U.K. and Ireland in the fall.

Vertigo head of acquisitions and business development, Ed Caffrey, said: “We fell in love with Your Monster during Sundance so it was very exciting to see the Sundance London audience connect so strongly with the film. We can’t wait to bring it to U.K. cinemas.”

Your Monster is a Bombo and Merman Films production, in association with Gentile Entertainment Group, with international sales represented by Bankside Films.

Barrera’s previous credits include Abigail, Carmen and Scream 6.

Karol G Releases Merengue-Inspired Single “Si Antes Te Hubiera Conocido”

Posted on June 20, 2024 by Tom Castaneda

Karol G is embracing a new sounds…

The 33-year-old Colombian Grammy-winning singer-songwriter has surprised fans with a new single called “Si Antes Te Hubiera Conocido,” released on Thursday, June 20.

Released on the first day of summer, Karol G’s new single features a bold merengue sound.

“What would it have been like if I had met you before? Most probably you’d be dancing this song with me,” says part of the song’s lyrics.

In the music video, Karol G switched her baby pink locks for a new blonde look while performing the party-starting bop at a tiki bar.

On the eve of the song’s release, Karol G performed it for the first time in London, later explaining on her Instagram that the tribute to the merengue genre is because she owes a lot to The Dominican Republic.

“I worked on part of Mañana Sera Bonito there, and when I need to disconnect from the world and connect with myself I also go there,” she wrote. “Its culture, its music, its colors, the hospitality, the energy… everything feels very authentic and special there. Its people have embraced me in a way that fills my heart and inspires me all the time.”

“Si Antes Te Hubiera Conocido”—which is released in the midst of the European leg of the Mañana Será Bonito Tour—further demonstrates Karol’s ability to experiment outside of the reggaetón realm.

Prior to her merengue tune, she tapped into bachata (“El Barco”), corrido tumbado (“200 Copas”), cumbia (“Mi Ex Tenía Razón”), and even dropped a salsa version of “Amargura” at the 2024 Billboard Women in Music gala, where she was named this year’s Woman of the Year.

The vibrant “Si Antes Te Hubiera Conocido” marks Karol G’s second single of the year following the Tiësto-assisted “Contigo,” which peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard Hot Latin Songs chart dated March 2; reached No. 27 on the Latin Airplay chart dated June 1; and debuted at No. 61 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in March, becoming Karol’s 30th entry on the all-genre chart.

Diego Calva to Appear on Season Two of “The Night Manager”

Posted on June 20, 2024 by Tom Castaneda

It looks like Diego Calva will be working nights…

The 32-year-old Mexican Golden Globe-nominated actor will appear in the upcoming second season of The Night Manager.

Calva, who rose to acclaim following roles in Narcos: Mexico and Babylon, is among a roster of new cast additions that includes Camila Morrone, Indira Varma, Paul Chahidi and Hayley Squires.

Olivia Colman will return to reprise her Emmy-nominated role as intelligence officer Angela Burr.

Additionally, Noah Jupe will return as Danny Roper, Alistair Petrie as Alexander “Sandy” Langbourne, Douglas Hodge as Rex Mayhew and Michael Nardone as Frisky.

They join the returning Tom Hiddleston as former military officer Jonathan Pine.

Season 2 will begin filming later this year and will pick up with Hiddleston’s Jonathan Pine eight years after the explosive finale of Season 1, going beyond the original book, which was written by the celebrated British writer in 1993.

Additional plot details are being kept under wraps and there is not yet confirmation as to whether EP Laurie’s Richard Roper, who was last seen in the back of a paddy wagon driven by arms buyers who were not best pleased with him, will return to star.

The Night Manager Season 2 two is created and executive produced by Farr, based on the characters created by le Carré.

Matt Lopez to Serve as Executive Producer & Showrunner of CBS’ “Sheriff Country”

Posted on June 19, 2024 by Tom Castaneda

Matt Lopez has gone country…

The Latino television writer and producer has joined CBS’ recently picked up drama series Sheriff County as executive producer and showrunner.

The Fire Country spinoff, headlined by Morena Baccarin, is slated to debut during the 2025-26 season, with a writers room expected to open in late summer.

Sheriff Country was introduced when Baccarin guest starred in an April episode of the mothership series.

Like the Fire Country pilot, the planted spinoff was written by Joan Rater and Tony Phelan from a story the duo co-wrote with series’ star Max Thieriot, whose real-life experiences inspired Fire Country.

Thieriot also directed the backdoor pilot episode.

The offshoot also is following Fire Country‘s leadership pattern.

While Grey’s Anatomy alums Rater and Phelan are executive producers and a writers room fixtures on the mothership series, Tia Napolitano was brought in as day-to-day showrunner. Lopez is taking on the duties for Sheriff Country. He was already in negotiations when CBS in May announced a series pickup for the spinoff.

Sheriff Country stars Baccarin as straight-shooting sheriff Mickey Fox, the stepsister of Cal Fire’s division chief Sharon Leone (Diane Farr of Fire Country), who investigates criminal activity as she patrols the streets of small-town Edgewater.

The series, from CBS Studios, is executive produced by Thieriot, Phelan, Rater, Lopez as well as Jerry Bruckheimer and KristieAnne Reed for Jerry Bruckheimer Television.

Lopez created, executive produced and served as showrunner of ABC’s 2022 family drama series Promised Land.

His feature writing credits include Max’s top-rated original Father of the Bride, from Warner Bros., and several Disney movies, including The Sorcerer’s Apprentice.

Lopez is a former entertainment lawyer and DreamWorks business affairs executive.

Ruby Cruz to Appear on Season Three of Max’s “The Sex Lives of College Girls”

Posted on June 19, 2024 by Tom Castaneda

Ruby Cruz is heading to college…

The 24-year-old Mexican American actress has joined the cast for the upcoming third season of Mindy Kaling and Justin Noble‘s The Sex Lives of College Girls.

Cruz, who most recently starred in Bottoms, is among a roster of new cast additions that includes Devin Craig, Michael Provost and Roby Attal.

All four will recur as students at Essex College.

Created by Kaling and Noble, Max‘s The Sex Lives of College Girls follows four college roommates in their first year at New England’s prestigious Essex College. Season 2 picked up with the students returning after their fall break, tackling the challenges that were thrown their way at the end of Season 1, while also facing their next semester filled with new faces, parties and predicaments.

Returning series regulars for Season 3 are Pauline Chalamet, lyah Chanelle Scott, Amrit Kaur, Christopher Meyer, Ilia Paulino and Renika Williams.

Reneé Rapp has exited the series as a regular for the upcoming season. She’ll reportedly appear in a handful of episodes and will depart after those episodes. Craig, Cruz, Provost and Attal join a recurring cast for Season 3 that includes Rebecca Wisocky, Nabeel Muscatwalla and Michael Hsu Rosen.

The series is executive produced by Kaling, Noble, who serves as showrunner, and Howard Klein. Kaling International and 3 Arts Entertainment produce in association with Warner Bros. Television.

Cruz was most recently seen as one of the young stars in Orion’s critical darling Bottoms opposite Rachel Sennott and Ayo Edebiri.

On the television side, Cruz co-starred in Disney+ series Willow as Princess Kit.

She’ll next be seen in indie feature The Threesome, opposite Jonah Hauer King and Zoey Deutch.

Ivy Queen to Make Carnegie Hall Debut as Part of the Iconic Venue’s Nuestros Sonidos Festival

Posted on June 18, 2024 by Tom Castaneda

Ivy Queen is preparing to make her Carnegie Hall debut…

The 52-year-old Puerto Rican singer, rapper, songwriter and actress, whose real name is Martha Ivelisse Pesante Rodríguez, has been added to the roster for Carnegie Hall’s Nuestros Sonidos festival.

Ivy Queen, considered one of the pioneers of the reggaeton genre and commonly referred to as the Queen of Reggaeton, will be joined by fellow debutantes Monsieur Periné and Grupo Niche.

They will join Natalia Lafourcade, Cimafunk, Gustavo Dudamel, Quetzal and others for the concert series.

Nuestros Sonidos — which kicks off on October 8 with the festive Opening Night Gala featuring Dudamel leading the Los Angeles Philharmonic and concludes with Cimafunk and La Tribu on May 22, 2025 — will see the three newly announced performers make their debut at the prestigious Manhattan venue.

Ivy Queen, who was honored with the Icon Award at the 2023 Billboard Women in Music event, earned her name as the Queen of Reggaetón for her formidable contributions to the Puerto Rican genre. With hits such as “Quiero Bailar,” “La Vida Es Así” and more recently, “Toma,” her contributions extend beyond the genre she helped pioneer, making a mark in salsa, hip-hop and bachata. She’s scheduled to perform on November 20 at Stern Auditorium’s Perelman Stage, Carnegie’s main hall, which seats more than 2,800 people.

Meanwhile, Bogota-based group Monsieur Periné has been bringing boleros, swing and indie music to the Latin scene. Their most recent album, Bolero Apocalíptico (2023), earned them a Latin Grammy for best alternative album. They are set to perform at Zankel Hall, a smaller venue that seats about 600 people, on February 22.

Grupo Niche will also make its Carnegie Hall debut on April 17 next year on the Stern Auditorium’s Perelman Stage. Hailing from Cali, Colombia, the legendary group founded by Jairo Varela and Alexis Lozano has kept salsa alive and thriving since the late ’70s, releasing iconic songs such as “Cali Pachanguero,” “Una Aventura” and “Gotas de Lluvia.” A Grammy Award-winning band, they are considered one of the most influential and respected bands in the salsa genre.

Carnegie Hall’s Nuestros Sonidos celebrates the “vibrant sounds, pioneering rhythms, diverse traditions, and enormous influence of Latin culture in the United States,” says the press release.

For more information, visit the Carnegie Hall website.

Bella Thorne’s “Saint Clare” to Open Italy’s Taormina Film Festival

Posted on June 18, 2024 by Tom Castaneda

Bella Thorne’s latest project is set to open one of Italy’s most popular film festival.

Saint Clare, starring the 26-year-old half-Cuban American actress/singer and Ryan Phillippe, will open Italy’s Taormina Film Festival.

Described as a “thriller,” the film is based on Don Roff’s novel Clare at Sixteen.

Set in a small town, the story follows a solitary young woman who is haunted by voices that lead her to assassinate ill-intended people and get away with it until her last kill sucks her down a rabbit hole riddled with corruption, trafficking, and visions from the beyond.

The film is directed by Italian film director and screenwriter Mitzi Peirone, who also co-wrote the script with Guinevere Turner.

Thorne stars in the titular role with Philippe and Rebecca DeMornay (Wedding Crashers) supporting.

The film was produced by David Chackler, Arielle Elwes and Joel Michaely.

The original soundtrack is by Zola Jesus.

“We couldn’t have dreamed of a better debut for our oneiric film than the gorgeously historic Taormina,” said Peirone. “We are elated and humbled, especially for a picture that delves into spiritual beauty, female sainthood, and fate, there is no better home in the world than Sicily.”

Thorne returns to Taormina after guest curating a gala evening at last year’s festival.

Taormina runs from July 12 to July 19.

Ice Spice Teases Unreleased Song

Posted on June 17, 2024 by Tom Castaneda

Ice Spice is teasing new music…

The 24-year-old half-Dominican American rapper, who is set to roll out her debut album Y2K! in the near future, has posted a video of her rapping an unreleased song with the caption reading, “phattt buttttttttt,” and she has a clear message for her competition: Stop bitin’.

“Got these b—s copying my pose/ Got these b—s biting all my flows/ Like ballerinas, keep ’em on their toes/ And I really write, like f—k a ghost,” she rapped in the preview.

Ice Spice, one of the hottest female rappers at the moment, recently announced her debut album, artwork and a world tour.

She received some backlash from the David LaChapelle album cover to which she responded to a fan who “fixed” the cover in a since-deleted tweet as “delulu.”

So far, she has released two singles “U Think U the Shit? (Fart)” and “Gimmie a Light” with the former peaking at No. 37 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

She also made a guest appearance on Cash Cobain and Bay Swag’s “Fisherrr (Remix)” as the continue to push New York City’s “Sexy Drill” scene forward.

This album will be her first project since 2023’s Like..? EP, which peaked at No. 15 and turned her into a superstar.

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Still no word on the actual name of the song or when its being released, but it should be soon as her album is supposed to come out next month. Y2K! is set to drop July 26 and her world tour kicks off in Denmark on July 4.

NBCUniversal Renews Mario Lopez’s “Access Hollywood” & “Access Daily” Through 2026

Posted on June 17, 2024 by Tom Castaneda

Mario Lopez still has daily access…

NBCUniversal has renewed its daily talk show Access Daily with Mario & Kit, featuring the 50-year-old Mexican American actor and television host, and Access Hollywood through 2026 in syndication.

The studio has sold entertainment news show Access Hollywood to NBCUniversal Local’s NBC Owned Television Stations, along with leading station groups across the country, for two additional seasons, said Tracie Wilson, Executive Vice President, NBCUniversal Syndication Studios & E! News.

“We’re thrilled to continue our successful partnership with the NBC-owned stations, bringing the ‘Access’ brand to local stations for additional seasons,” Wilson said. “Our talented hosts have incredible chemistry and our seasoned production team work tirelessly to bring viewers quality content each day on Access Hollywood and Access Daily.”

For the 2023-24 season, its 28th in broadcast syndication, Access Hollywood is averaging about 1.1 million viewers daily.

“Access Hollywood and Access Daily deliver engaging and entertaining content to our audiences, which has made them an indelible part of our NBC stations’ lineups,” said Therese Gamba, Chief Marketing Officer & Executive Vice President of Acquired Programming, NBCUniversal Local. “We’re excited to continue to serve as the home of Access Hollywood and Access Daily in leading markets across the nation.”

Lopez has served as a host on Access Hollywood since 2019.

Access Daily, a spin-off of Access Hollywood, debuted on September 13, 2010. The daytime talk show – currently hosted by Lopez and Kit Hoover, features entertainment news stories and in-studio guests.

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