Wilmer Valderrama’s Allied Management Group Signs a Slew of Latino Writers

Posted on February 8, 2024 by Tom Castaneda

Wilmer Valderrama is giving up-and-coming Latino writers their big break…

The 44-year-old Venezuelan & Colombian American actor’s Allied Management Group, which he set up with John Pollak, has signed a number of Latino writers to its roster.

The company has signed Luisa Leschin, Raphael Draccon & Carolina Munhóz, The Original Content Society’s Raúl Campos and Felix de Valdivia, and Daniel and Diego Ayala López.

The goal is for Allied to bring these Latino writers to networks, streamers and studios in the U.S English-language market.

Leschin has worked on nearly 500 episodes of television including Netflix’s Gentefied, where she was a co-exec producer on its second season, Max’s Head of the Class, where she was a co-EP and Hulu’s East Los High. She has also worked on series including Everybody Hates Chris and The George Lopez Show.

Draccon and Munhóz are a husband-and-wife writing team who showran The Chosen One and Invisible City for Netflix and have a first-look deal with Warner Bros. Discovery LatAm to work with Max. They have also written comic books for both Marvel and DC

Campos and de Valdivia are brothers, born in Mexico, who run The Original Content Society. They created, wrote, directed and produced the first YouTube Original sitcom in Latin America – Sobrevivi – as well as Spotify’s first original comedy series, El Grupo, and are co-exec producers for the third and fourth seasons of Amazon’s LOL starring Eugenio Derbez. In addition to producing and directing 24 Netflix comedy specials, they have a first look deal with ITV America, where they are developing an international comedy series called Güerita.

Daniel and Diego Ayala López, born in Colombia were behind Amazon series Manes, which was the most-watched series for Amazon Colombia, and Los Billis. They have worked with Colombia’s Caracol and are currently developing a number of projects with U.S. studios and production companies.

“These writers are currently helping to define the future of Latino story telling by creating universal stories that aren’t defined by borders or language, but instead reflect the modern content experience- groundbreaking storytelling that can be consumed by viewers in a global market,” said Pollak and Valderrama. “As the need for fresh stories and unique points of view continue to be the priority for Hollywood, these writers will lead the charge and redefine how premium content is created and Allied Mgmt Group is honored to be working alongside them.”

Ramón Rodríguez to Receive Spotlight Award at National Hispanic Foundation for the Arts’s Visibility Awards

Posted on September 18, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Ramón Rodríguez is officially in the Spotlight…

The National Hispanic Foundation for the Arts is honoring three artists at its annual Visibility Awards in D.C. on Wednesday, including the 43-year-old Puerto Rican actor, at an event designed to advance Latino representation in film and television.

Rodríguez will receive the organization’s Spotlight Award for producing and starring in the adaptation of the Karin Slaughter crime novel Will Trent.

“Ramón has been a leading voice in continued efforts to open doors for Latino talent in the industry,” the foundation said.

Ángel Manuel Soto, director-producer of the Latino superhero movie Blue Beetle, is being recognized with the organization’s Raul Julia Award for Excellence.

“Ángel’s work advances the presence of Latinos in film and highlights studies demonstrating that Latino directors are more likely to bring Latino talent to their projects,” the foundation said.

Camila Morrone, honored with the Horizon Award, is starring with Willem Dafoe in Patricia Arquette’s, Gonzo Girl, based on Cheryl Della Pietra’s semi-autobiographical novel, based on her time as Hunter S. Thompson’s personal assistant.

The event and Noche Musical, to be held at the Mayflower Hotel, will follow the foundation’s 2023 Visioning Summit, Advancing Representation in Media, Arts, & Beyond. Felix Sanchez, the foundation’s chair and co-founder, said in a statement that the summit’s intent is to “rethink the landscape with images of the American Latino.”

Among those leading panel discussions at the event, to be held Wednesday morning at the National Press Club, will be CBS News’s Ed O’Keefe, CNN’s Jim Acosta, NBC News’ Monica Alba, and NPR’s Claudia Grisales.

Also scheduled to participate are Soto, Carla Dirlikov, senior advisor and envoy for cultural exchange at the National Endowment for the Arts; Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-TX), actor and comedian Eugenio Derbez and producer Flavio Morales. The summit is free and open to the public.

Organizers said that the event will adhere to any modifications per SAG-AFTRA guidelines.

Trailer Released for Eugenio Derbez’s New Spanish-Language Film “Radical”

Posted on September 17, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

It’s a Radical time for Eugenio Derbez.

The first trailer has been released for the 62-year-old Mexican actor, comedian and producer’s new Spanish-language film Radical.

From screenwriter and director Christopher Zalla and based on a 2013 article written for Wired magazine by Josh Davis, Radical tells the true story of Sergio Juarez Correa (Derbez), a teacher in the neglected town of Matamoros, Mexico, who suffered a mental breakdown after increasingly coming to feel he’s failing to reach his students. But when Correa stumbles upon a new form of learning via a TED Talk that might help him defeat that challenge, he implements it, hoping to turn his classroom situation around.

Radical also stars Daniel Haddad, Gilberto Barraza, Jennifer Trejo, Mia Fernanda Solis and Danilo Guardiola.

Cast will be able to support the film with publicity should they choose to do so during the strike due to a recently approved Interim Agreement granted by SAG-AFTRA. Derbez is expected to do so ahead of the premiere.

The project hails from Derbez’s production company, 3PAS Studios. Derbez produced alongside partner Ben Odell and screenwriter Josh Davis.

Radical, a 2023 Sundance Film Festival “Festival Favorite” breakout, is slated for distribution by Participant and TelevisaUnivision’s Pantelion Films.

It’s opening on October 20th in Mexico and in the U.S. on November 3rd.

Cristo Fernández to Star on Season 3 of Apple TV+’s “Acapulco”

Posted on April 25, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Cristo Fernández is heading to Acapulco…

The32-year-old Mexican actor and Ted Lasso scene-stealer has joined the cast of the Apple TV+ series Acapulco for Season 3.

In Acapulco, Fernández will portray an artist and community organizer, joined fellow new cast member Jaime Camil, who will portray in the role of Alejandro for Season 3.

Production on the 10-episode new season is currently underway.

When Acapulco returns with new episodes, it’s time to reconcile past mistakes and exciting new beginnings. In the present story, older Maximo (Eugenio Derbez) finds himself returning to a Las Colinas he no longer recognizes. While in 1985, younger Maximo (Enrique Arrizon) continues his climb up the ladder of success while potentially jeopardizing all the relationships he’s worked so hard to build.

The cast also includes Fernando Carsa (as Memo), Damián Alcázar (Don Pablo), Camila Perez (Julia), Chord Overstreet (Chad), Vanessa Bauche (Nora), Regina Reynoso (Sara), Raphael Alejandro (Hugo), Jessica Collins (Diane), Rafael Cebrián (Hector), Carlos Corona (Esteban) and Regina Orozco (Lupe).

Austin Winsberg, Eduardo Cisneros and Jason Shuman created the series.

The project hails from Lionsgate TV, 3Pas Studios, Zihuatanejo Productions and The Tannenbaum Company.

Jaime Camil to Star on Season 3 of Apple’s “Acapulco”

Posted on April 11, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Jaime Camil is resorting to new work…

The 49-year-old Mexican actor has joined the cast of Apple’s Acapulco for Season 3. Production on the 10-episode new season is currently underway.

Camil will guest star as Alejandro, the brother of one of the wealthiest men in Mexico and a new co-owner of Las Colinas who makes his co-owner Diane Davies’ (Jessica Collins) life miserable at the hotel.

From Lionsgate TV, 3Pas Studios, Zihuatanejo Productions and The Tannenbaum Company, in Season 3 of Acapulco, it’s time to reconcile past mistakes and exciting new beginnings. In the present story, older Maximo (Eugenio Derbez) finds himself returning to a Las Colinas he no longer recognizes. While in 1985, younger Maximo (Enrique Arrizon) continues his climb up the ladder of success while potentially jeopardizing all the relationships he’s worked so hard to build.

Acapulco is inspired by 3Pas Studios and Lionsgate/Pantelion Films’ box office hit How to Be A Latin Lover. Austin Winsberg, Eduardo Cisneros and Jason Shuman created the series.

Executive producers include Winsberg and director Jay Karas; Derbez and Ben Odell for 3Pas Studios; Eric and Kim Tannenbaum, as well as Jason Wang on behalf of The Tannenbaum Company. Sonia Almanza Gambaro co-executive produces for 3Pas Studios.

Seasons 1 and 2 of Acapulco are now streaming globally on Apple TV+.

Camil is currently starring in Season 2 of Apple’s Schmigadoon! where he portrays Sergeant Rivera, Schmicago’s chief of police. He is most notably known in the U.S. for his series regular role as Rogelio de la Vega in the CW’s Jane the Virgin across all 5 seasons. He also starred in and executive produced the CBS comedy series, Broke. Most recently, he brought to life the legendary Vicente Fernandez in Netflix’s El Rey, Vicente Fernandez.

Before making a splash in the English-language market, Camil was already a bona fide star in his native Mexico and stateside for his work in Spanish-language projects both in TV and film. Hits include the telenovela La Fea Más Bella, Por Ella Soy Eva and Qué Pobres Tan Ricos, to name a few.

Camil currently has a first-look deal with VIS (a division of Paramount) to develop an array of TV and film projects for Paramount+.

Oscar Isaac Teams Up with Gaby Moreno to Release Stripped-Down Cover of “Luna de Xelajú”

Posted on March 31, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Oscar Isaac is paying homage to his Guatemalan roots through song…

The 44-year-old Cuban-Guatemalan actor has joined voices with Gaby Moreno to release a stripped-down rendition of the classic waltz anthem, “Luna de Xelajú.”

The lead single off Moreno’s upcoming album was released on Friday alongside a music video directed by Diego Contreras, which sees the two guitarists and singers performing the track in one take at the Palace Theater in Los Angeles.

“‘Luna de Xelajú’ is considered the 2nd anthem of my country, Guatemala. Written by Paco Pérez in the 1940s,” explains Moreno. “I’ve been singing it since I was a teenager and more recently have been performing this song live in my concerts, usually as an encore. I invited my dear friend and incredible artist, Oscar Isaac, to sing it with me for this very special acoustic version…Just two voices with two guitars, singing together this timeless, sweet, and nostalgic song from our motherland.”

Isaac is no stranger to displaying his musical prowess on screen.

The Golden Globe-winning and Emmy-nominated actor played a struggling folk musician in the Coen Brothers-directed Inside Llewyn Davis, and also co-wrote an original song for the 2011 film 10 Years. However, “Luna de Xelajú” is particularly notable because it sees Isaac singing in Spanish.

“My grandmother Graciela Argentina Nicolle de Estrada would perform ‘Luna De Xelajú’ in the concert halls of Guatemala. Growing up it was always hummed or sung as a lullaby by my mother Eugenia, and was a favorite of my uncle Guillermo’s,” Isaac says. “I’m grateful to Gaby for asking me to share this song as a way of honoring my family and all of Guate.”

Since moving to the U.S. from her native Guatemala, Moreno has put out seven albums with her 2022 record Alegoría earning a Grammy nomination for best Latin rock or alternative album. She was previously nominated in 2017 in the best Latin pop album category for her Spanish-folk album, Ilusión.

In addition to her music, Moreno has a long list of credits in TV and film. She co-wrote the theme song for Parks and Recreation, and most recently collaborated on Guillermo del Toro’s Netflix show Cabinet of Curiosities.

Moreno also received a 2023 Guild of Music Supervisors Awards nomination for her song “A Song In My Heart” in the Eugenio Derbez-starring film, The Valet.

“Luna de Xelajú” is the first single from Moreno’s “X Mí (Vol. 1)” EP (pronounced “Por Mi”), slated for release on May 5 via Cosmica Artists.

The new record — a blend of songs in both English and Spanish — “will house a collection of rich and soulful acoustic songs that have remained dear to Gaby’s heart,” per the press release.

Raúl Martínez Signs with The Gersh Agency

Posted on March 21, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Raúl Martínez has new representation…

The Gersh Agency has signed the 51-year-old Mexican director.

Martinez is known for Spanish-language titles including The Waiter, which came in as the highest-grossing film native to the country in its July 2021 debut.

In the comedy penned by Alberto Bremer and Martínez, a waiter pretends to be an important businessman in order to reach the upper class through his entrepreneurial dreams.

Other notable big-screen titles from Martínez include Cuando sea joven for Eugenio Derbez’s 3Pas Studios and Lionsgate’s Pantelion; The Patriarch for Panorama Global and Distant Horizon; and Grumpy Christmas for Panorama and Netflix.

Martínez is currently attached to direct the comedy Cholitas, based on a script by Jason Richman and Kira Kalush, for 20th Century Studios and Hulu. Blumhouse will produce alongside Michael Seitzman’s Maniac Productions, with casting underway.

The Mexico City-based artist, who has also helmed over 40 episodes of the sketch-comedy series Backdoor, continues to be managed by Jorge Garcia.

Eugenio Derbez’s 3Pas Studios Signs Multi-Year Production Deal with Audible

Posted on March 18, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Eugenio Derbez is getting audible…

The 61-year-old Mexican actor, writer, director and producer’s 3Pas Studios, the entertainment company he co-founded with business partner Ben Odell, has signed a multi-year production deal with Audible.

Through their overall exclusive audio deal, 3Pas Studios will produce scripted and unscripted audio content for Audible in both English and Spanish.

“The partnering of Audible’s powerful medium with 3Pas’ culturally authentic stories is an exciting combination. We will be developing fiction and non-fiction stories in both English and Spanish in order to reach audiences with our storytelling pillars of the 3 H’s: Humor, Heart, and Humanity,” said Odell, CEO and co-founder of 3Pas Studios.

To lead these efforts, 3Pas has hired Cristy Marrero as Head of Podcast Content Development; Marrero will oversee all creative and physical production of 3Pas podcast content.

An award-winning bilingual journalist and media executive with over two decades of experience in the U.S. Latino and Latin American markets, Marrero has held leadership roles at Dotdash Meredith, Courier Newsroom, Hello and Hola. At age 30, she became the youngest Latina Editor in Chief, leading Meredith Corporation’s Siempre Mujer magazine.

3Pas brings culturally-inspired stories to life through feature films, scripted and unscripted television, podcasts, digital, and more. With first-look English language deals at Lionsgate for features, ABC Signature for television and TelevisaUnivision for Spanish language content, and Audible for audio content, 3Pas develops and produces English and Spanish language content for global audiences.

This collaboration joins Audible’s production and development deals with top industry creatives including President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama’s Higher Ground, George Clooney and Grant Heslov’s Smokehouse Pictures, Brad Pitt’s Plan B Entertainment, Kerry Washington’s Simpson Street, and Lena Waithe and Rishi Rajani’s Hillman Grad Productions and Daniel Dae Kim’s 3AD Productions, to name a few.

Anjelah Johnson-Reyes to Serve as Presenter at This Year’s PGA Awards

Posted on February 24, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Anjelah Johnson-Reyes is headed to the PGA Awards…

The Producers Guild of America has revealed the presenters lineup for the 34th annual PGA Awards, to be held on Saturday at the Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles, with the 40-year-old half-Mexican American actress/comedian making the list.

In addition to Johnson-Reyes, other notable celebrities set to take the stage to present throughout the evening include Angela Bassett, Austin Butler, Billy Eichner, Bob Odenkirk, Brendan Fraser, Cate Blanchett, Danielle Deadwyler, Dave Burd, Diego Luna, Eugenio Derbez, Hannah Einbinder, Hong Chau, Jamie Lee Curtis, Jay Ellis, Kate Hudson, Ke Huy Quan, Kerry Condon, Leslie Odom, Jr., Michelle Williams, Michelle Yeoh, Mo Amer, Monica Barbaro, Nicole Byer, Paul Dano, Robert Rodriguez, Ron Howard, Sacha Baron Cohen, Sandra Oh, Sherry Lansing and Stephanie Hsu.

The PGA Awards celebrate the producers behind the best films, television series, and new media projects of the year.

Widely known as a reliable bellwether for the Best Picture category at the Oscars, the PGA has nominated Avatar: The Way of Water, The Banshees of Inisherin, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Elvis, Everything Everywhere All at Once, The Fabelmans, Glass Onion: Knives Out Mystery, Tár, Top Gun: Maverick and The Whale for its Darryl F. Zanuck Award for Outstanding Producer of Theatrical Motion Pictures Award.

The 2023 Producers Guild of America Awards is produced by Anchor Street Collective for the Producers Guild of America.

Marisol Nichols to Star in the Romantic Drama “Winter Spring Summer or Fall”

Posted on February 17, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Marisol Nichols is your girl for all seasons…

The 49-year-old half-Mexican American actress and Riverdale star has joined the cast of the romantic drama Winter Spring Summer or Fall.

Nichols will star opposite Jenna Ortega, Percy Hynes White and Adam Rodriguez in the project, which will mark the feature directorial debut of screenwriter Tiffany Paulsen.

Billed as Before Sunrise meets The Perks of Being a Wallflower, the film is written by Dan Schoffer, with revisions by Paulsen. It tells the story of teens (Ortega & White) on the cusp of adulthood who meet and fall in love over four significant days of the year.

Nichols will play Ortega’s overbearing attorney mother, who is focused on getting her only daughter into Harvard. Rodriguez is playing Ortega’s father, as previously announced.

Best known for her role as Hermione on The CW’s Riverdale, Nichols has also been seen on Teen Wolf and 24, among many other series.

She recently appeared opposite Eugenio Derbez in the Hulu rom-com The Valet and has also appeared in features including Spiral, Big Momma’s House 2, Bowfinger, Can’t Hardly Wait and Scream 2.

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