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.

Congressman Joaquin Castro Launches National Call for Latino Films to Nominate for National Film Library

Posted on July 18, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

U.S. Congressman Joaquin Castro is working to get more Latino films preserved…

The 48-year-old Mexican American politician, who has represented Texas’s 20th congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives since 2013, has teamed up with members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus to launch a nationwide call for Latino films to nominate for the National Film Registry.

The U.S.’s preeminent archive of films with cultural, historic or aesthetic significance is essential in preserving cinema. Every year, the Librarian of Congress adds 25 new movies to the registry after reviewing titles nominated by the public and conferring with National Film Preservation Board members and Library film curators.

As of 2023, there are 24 Latino films on the National Film Registry, less than three percent of the 850 movies in the registry.

“Since the earliest days of cinema, Latino actors, writers, directors, and creatives have made extraordinary contributions to American filmmaking,” said Congressman Castro. “As the Library of Congress works to preserve the films that shaped American culture, public nominations will put a spotlight on the Latino-driven films that have sold out theaters and defined generations. As we launch this year’s push for inclusion, I look forward to hearing from folks across America about the Latino films that have made an enduring impact on their lives.”

Most recently, the NFR added: “Cyrano de Bergerac” (1950), starring Puerto Rican actor José Ferrer, the first Latino ever to win an acting Oscar, and “The Ballad of Gregorio Cortez” (1982) with Edward James Olmos. Other notable inclusions are “West Side Story” (1961), “La Bamba” (1987), “Selena” (1997) and “Real Women Have Curves” (2002).

To be eligible, films must be at least 10 years old. To qualify for nominations to the Library of Congress, submissions must be received by August 3.

Some titles the Library of Congress might consider include Guillermo del Toro’s adult-fantasy drama Pan’s Labyrinth (2006), Peter Sollet’s independent New York film Raising Victor Vargas (2002) and Alfonso Cuarón’s coming-of-age masterpiece Y tu mamá también (2002).

Suggestions may be submitted at Congressman Castro’s website.

National Hispanic Media Coalition to Honor Colman Domingo at This Year’s Impact Awards Gala

Posted on August 17, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Colman Domingo is makin’ an impact…

The National Hispanic Media Coalition has announced its honorees for this year’s Impact Awards gala, with the 52-year-old Belizean-Guatemalan American actor and social justice activist among those being feted.

Domingo is part of a roster of honorees that includes Francia Raisa, George Lopez, Mayan Lopez and Yvett Merino.

On My Block star Jessica Marie Garcia will serve as host of the festivities; U.S. Congressman Joaquin Castro will make a special appearance.

Returning to the Beverly Wilshire Hotel after last year’s virtual celebration, the Impact Awards celebrate the outstanding individuals dedicating themselves to creating a more inclusive entertainment industry through the positive portrayal of the Latinx community, both in front of and behind the camera.

“This year’s honorees have helped push the industry forward and have been instrumental in the movement for an increased and accurate representation of Latinos in Hollywood from the very start of their careers,” said Brenda Victoria Castillo, President & CEO of the National Hispanic Media Coalition in a statement. “NHMC is thrilled to be returning to an in-person celebration after a year, and what better way to make our return than by honoring some of Hollywood’s most illustrious movers and shakers.”

The Impact Awards Gala is just one part of the NHMC’s overall mission to spotlight the importance of accurate, fair, and positive representation in media, including advocating for an increased number of Latino writers on major networks, the increased representation of diverse talent on major television and film sets, and educating media and industry executives on the variances of Latino culture.

The Impact Awards gala will take place on September 9.

Longoria to Executive Produce Politically Themed Latino Family Drama “Pair of Aces”

Posted on September 20, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Eva Longoria is bringing Texas politics to the small screen…

The 39-year-old Mexican American actress, who hails from the Lone Star State, is set to executive produce the Latino family drama Pair of Aces.

Longoria’s UnbeliEVAble Entertainment and Conde Nast Entertainment will bring to life the project, which has landed at ABC with penalty.

The project is loosely inspired by a 2003 Vogue article that profiled Democratic rising-star twins Julián Castro, mayor of San Antonio, and Joaquin, then-newly elected U.S. congressman.

Created and written by Meredith Lavender and Marcie Ulin (ABC’s Nashville), Pair Of Aces, described as an operatic family drama, revolves around brothers Chris and Alex Reyes, Latino golden boys who are both best friends and rivals. They are rising stars in Texas politics whose destiny is engineered by their manipulative mother Maria. She is determined to turn the Reyes family into the most powerful dynasty modern politics has ever seen.

The drama explores the American dream and the lies, blackmail and manipulation it takes to rise to the top of power in Texas — and perhaps someday D.C.

Universal Television, where UnbeliEVAable Entertainment has a first-look deal, is producing, with UnveliEVAble’s Longoria and Ben Spector executive producing alongside Conde Nast’s Dawn Ostroff and Gina Marcheschi.

Castro Elected to Lead the Freshman Class of U.S. Congress Democrats

Posted on January 7, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

U.S. Representative Joaquín Castro could be considered Congress’ freshman class president…

The 38-year-old Mexican-American Congressman, D-San Antonio, the twin brother of San Antonio Mayor and D emocratic National Convention keynote speaker Julián Castro, was elected by his to serve as president of the freshman class of Democrats in the 113th Congress.

The honor was bestowed upon Castro as freshmen received their committee assignments for the upcoming legislative session.

Both Castro and Representative Pete Gallego, D-Alpine, will serve on the House Armed Services Committee.

Meanwhile, Representative Ruben Hinojosa, D-Mercedes, is the new chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus.

Newly elected Representative Filemon Vela, D-Brownsville, will serve on Agriculture and Homeland Security committees.

Castro Headed to Congress

Posted on November 7, 2012 by Tom Castaneda

Mr. Castro goes to Washington…

Joaquín Castro, the twin brother of San Antonio Mayor and D emocratic National Convention keynote speaker Julián Castro, soundly defeated Republican David Rosa and two third-party candidates on Tuesday night, garnering some 64-percent of the vote.

The 38-year-old Mexican American Harvard-trained attorney and five-term state representative will now represent Texas in the U.S. House of Representatives.

He’ll replace the retiring U.S. Rep. Charlie Gonzalez, D-San Antonio, in District 20. Gonzalez has served since 1999, replacing his father, Henry B. Gonzalez, who held the seat from 1961 to 1999.

“We won this race not only with the support of Democrats but also Republicans and independents,” said Castro.

Castro, considered a rising star of the Democratic Party, is being hailed by political insiders as “the most anticipated Democratic newcomer in Congress come swearing-in time in January.”

The 20th district is about 64 percent Latino and has a majority of Democrat registered voters. (55 percent)

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