Gloria Estefan Among Artists Sharing Personal Stories & Life Lessons on YouTube’s Documentary Series “The Thread”

Gloria Estefan is opening up about her life…

The 66-year-old Cuban singer, actress and businesswoman is among some of the most exceptional Americans in the arts, media, religion and politics sharing their personal stories and life lessons in The Thread, a new documentary series coming to YouTube in March.

Gloria EstefanAs part of the 16-episode series, Estefan sat down for a probing conversation with producers from Life Stories, a nonprofit media organization that makes and distributes “films about people whose lives inspire meaningful change.”

Each conversation is recorded at the highest quality by Emmy-winning filmmakers, notes a release, “and is accompanied by an educator guide so that the documentary series can be used in secondary classrooms and informal educational settings.”

The Thread is an exploration of what it means to live a purpose-driven life,” noted George Kunhardt, executive director of Life Stories. “The voices we amplify in this series spark curiosity, ignite inspiration, and connect us to the multi-faceted people who have helped shape our society. Our mission as filmmakers is to shine a spotlight on the stories of moral leaders to help people find passion and purpose in their own lives.”

The “Get On Your Feet” singer’s episode, entitled Gloria Estefan: Singing Through Struggles, will go live on March 4.

Martin Sheen, who is of half-Spanish descent, will also appear on the series. The West Wing actor’s episode, entitled Martin Sheen: Lights, Camera, Activism, will go live on March 25.

Others Americans to be figured include The Rev. Dr. Jacqueline Lewis, New Yorker cartoonist Roz Chast, Katie Couric, actor Jason Alexander and Sen. Mitt Romney.

The episodes will roll out once a week from March 4-June 17 on the Life Stories YouTube channel and will be released as a podcast on major platforms.

Life Stories is a new division of the Kunhardt Film Foundation, “an organization that has introduced a generation of viewers to artists, cultural, political, and civil rights leaders,” according to a release. The Kunhardts – father Peter and his sons Teddy and George – have earned a combined eight Emmy Awards, two Peabody Awards, a duPont-Columbia Award, an IDA Documentary Award, and two NAACP Image Awards.

“We are bringing our longstanding dedication to quality with increased focus on the power of individual narrative,” said Teddy Kunhardt, EP of The Thread. “We believe that life stories, thoughtfully told, have the power to create change.”

This is the episode guide for season 1 of the series:

March 4 Gloria Estefan: Singing Through Struggles
March 11 Jason Reynolds: The Power of Narrative
March 18 Tova Friedman: Surviving Auschwitz
March 25 Martin Sheen: Lights, Camera, Activism
April 1 Roz Chast: Drawing From Life
April 8 Kurt “Big Boy” Alexander: A Hip Hop Odyssey
April 15 Rev. Dr. Jacqueline Lewis: Finding Wisdom in Pain
April 22 Mitt Romney: Family Ties
April 29 Cecile Richards: Championing Choice
May 6 Reginald Dwayne Betts: A Voice for the Incarcerated
May 13 Tony Hawk: Skateboarding’s Living Legend
May 20 Darren Walker: Hope and Courage in Action
May 27 Katie Couric: From Tragedies to Triumphs
June 3 Jason Alexander: The Power of Laughter
June 10 Betty Rollin: First You Cry
June 17 Father Greg Boyle: Welcoming the Unwelcome

Robert Beltran to Reprise “Star Trek: Voyager” Role on Paramount+’s New Series “Star Trek: Prodigy”

Robert Beltran is heading back to space…

The 67-year-old Mexican-American actor has joined the voice cast of the new animated series Star Trek: Prodigy, which premieres on October 28 on Paramount+.

Robert Beltran

Beltran will reprise his Star Trek: Voyager role as Captain Chakotay on the new series, which will also includes Daveed Diggs, Jameela Jamil and Jason Alexander as part of the voice cast.

The series, produced by Nickelodeon and CBS StudiosEye Animation Productions, showcased a first-look clip from the series at New York Comic Con. It features a hologram of iconic Captain Kathryn Janeway (voiced by Kate Mulgrew).

The series will debut with a one-hour episode titled Lost & FoundIn it, a group of lawless teens, exiled on a mining colony outside Federation space, discover a derelict Starfleet ship. Dal must gather an unlikely crew for their newfound ship if they are going to escape Tars Lamora, but the Diviner and his daughter Gwyn have other plans.

Developed by Emmy Award winners Kevin and Dan Hageman, the CG-animated series is the first Star Trek series aimed at younger audiences, and will follow a motley crew of young aliens who must figure out how to work together while navigating a greater galaxy in search of a better future. These six young outcasts know nothing about the ship they have commandeered – a first in the history of the “Star Trek” franchise – but over the course of their adventures together, they will each be introduced to Starfleet and the ideals it represents.

Wilson Cruz to Take Part in Classic “Superman” Radio Series Reenactments During Next Week’s ‘DC FanDome: Explore the Multiverse’ Virtual Event

Wilson Cruz is preparing for a super project…

The 46-year-old Puerto Rican actor will take part in Warner Bros. and The Creative Coalition’s reenactments of the 1940s Superman radio series to take place during DC FanDome: Explore the Multiverse on September 12. The acclaimed original long-running radio serial originally aired from 1940 to 1951.

Wilson Cruz

The reenactments of the Superman radio series will be available all day during the virtual confab and feature an all-star roster of actors toplined by Cruz, who stars on Star Trek: Discovery, Tim Daly and Daniel Dae Kim as the Man of Steel himself.

Superman Radio Series

Using original scripts from the long-running radio serial recently unearthed from the Warner Bros. Studios vault, this rare production will allow fans to experience one of their favorite superheros in a unique way.

“We are thrilled to join comic fans and creators at DC FanDome: Explore the Multiverse to bring the original Superman to life and celebrate the arts,” said The Creative Coalition CEO Robin Bronk. “We encourage Superman fans to learn more about The Creative Coalition’s mission to support the arts by visiting TheCreativeCoalition.org. We are grateful to Warner Bros. and DC for supporting that work.”

In addition to Cruz, Daly and Kim, the radio series will feature Jason Alexander, Troian Bellisario, Erich Bergen, Anthony Carrigan, Terry Crews, Sam Daly, Lea DeLaria, Giancarlo Esposito, Sean Giambrone, The Good Doctor’s Nicholas Gonzalez, Jason Isaacs, Richard Kind, Eric McCormack, Dean Norris, CCH Pounder, Anthony Rapp, Yolonda Ross, Caterina Scorsone, Tony Shalhoub, Tamara Tunie, Henry Winkler, Alfre Woodard and Constance Zimmer.

Click here to learn more about the DC FanDome: Explore the Multiverse.

Jessica Meraz Lands Major Recurring Role on The CW’s “Supergirl”

Jessica Meraz has landed a superrole…

The half-Mexican American actress has landed a major recurring role on The CW’s drama Supergirl. 

Jessica Meraz

Meraz will portray Menagerie/Pamela Ferrer, an iconic DC villain and a member of Manchester Black’s “Elite.” Menagerie is a jewel thief who doesn’t mind hurting people.

The DC/Berlanti Prods.drama Supergirl, from Warner Bros. Television, is now in its fourth season on the CW. The series is headed into the network’s annual DC crossover, which kicks off on Sunday.

The casting marks Meraz’s return to WBTV whose cable division produced Major Crimes for TNT. Meraz was a series regular on the final season of The Closer spinoff.

Meraz recently appeared on stage at the Pasadena Playhouse in the Jason Alexander-directed Native Gardens. She is currently recurring on Tacoma FD for TruTV and has also been working on Blue Ribbon Content’s Splash Damage, a VR experiment currently in development.

Jaime Camil to Star in the Bilingual Comedy “My Boyfriend’s Meds”

Jaime Camil is off his Meds

The 45-year-old Mexican actor, singer and television personality and Jane The Virgin) and Sandra Echeverria are set to star in the English and Spanish-language comedy My Boyfriend’s Meds.

Jaime Camil 

In the film, Echeverria plays Jess, a talented, high-powered marketing executive who falls for Hank (Camil), a charming mattress store owner she meets while shopping for a new mattress. When the two go on a surprise trip to an island resort, Hank forgets to bring the prescription medicine he takes for a string of disorders, meaning he is no longer able to control his various symptoms.

Production is underway in Mexico on the film, which is being made by Lionsgate and Televisa JV Pantelion, Hands of Stone producer Fuego Films and Mexican outfit Traziende.

The film will also star Brian Baumgartner, Ana Belena, Kevin Holt, Daniel Tovar, Pamela Almaza, Juan SolerJames Maslow, Brooke Shields and Jason Alexander.

Argentinian filmmaker Diego Kaplan (Desire) is directing from a screenplay by Gary Marks & Randi Mayem Singer.

Camil plays Gina Rodriguez’s father on hit CWseries Jane the Virgin and recently voiced the character of Chupacabra in Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation.

Echeverría recently starred in comedy Mas Sabe El DiabloPor Viejo and Telemundo series La Querida Del Centauro and voiced the character of Maria in The Secret Life of Pets.

Pantelion recently teamed up with MGM and 3Pas Studios on remake Overboard with Eugenio Derbez, Anna Faris and Eva Longoria.

Fuego is developing a biopic of baseball star Roberto Clemente from O.J.: Made In America director Ezra Edelman. Traziende’s recent releases include American CuriousCómo Cortar A Tu Patán and Más Sabe El Diablo Por Viejo with up-comers including Como Novio De Pueblo.

Jason Statham’s “Heat” Reboot with Vergara Earning International Sales

Sofia Vergara’s latest film is packin’ serious heat…

The Simon West-directed Heat reboot, which stars Jason Statham and the 40-year-old Colombian actress, has been selling quite well for Sierra/Affinity Films.

Sofia Vergara

The remake of the 1986 film of the same name starring Burt Reynolds was penned by William Goldman. Currently in-production, Heat is expected to be released in 2014.

Since introducing the action film in Berlin and a day into the Cannes Market, Sierra/Affinity’s film has more than 20 territories finalized including the UK (Lionsgate), Germany, Latin America, South Africa and Turkey.

Along with Statham and Vergara, the film also stars Michael Angarano, Stanley Tucci, Milo Ventimiglia, Dominik Garcia-Lorido, Hope Davis, Jason Alexander, Max Casella and Anne Heche.