Domingo Zapata to Direct Film Adaptation of His Semi-Autobigraphical Novel “The Beautiful Dream of Life”

Posted on May 26, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Domingo Zapata is turning his life into art…

The 48-year-old Spanish celebrity artist, writer and fashion designer is set to direct a film adaptation of his 2017 semi-autobiographical novel The Beautiful Dream of Life.

Veteran producers Cary Granat and Ed Jones will produce the feature adaptation.

In an innovative move, the production will feature 18 pieces of original artwork by Zapata that will be sold as Fine Art pieces and NFTs.

Last year, Zapata’s work Mona Lisa Bull Fighter sold for a personal £1 million record at a charity auction in St. Barts, in which Leonardo DiCaprio was reportedly outbid.

Zapata is known for his lavish lifestyle, film star girlfriends and celebrity collectors, such as DiCaprio, Johnny Depp and George Soros.

He travelled to the Cannes Film Festival for the final days of the film festival to help launch the project and also attend the world premiere of Ken Loach’s Palme d’Or contender The Old Oak on Friday evening.

The Beautiful Dream of Life is being represented by Dan Aloni, Deborah McIntosh, Daniel Rak, and Chris Jacquemin at WME.

Granat is best known for producing the Chronicles of Narnia franchise, Scream, Journey to the Center of the Earth, Spy Kids and Scary Movie.

Currently operating under the banner of Santa Monica EMH Media, he was previously a co-founder of Walden Media and before that, president and COO of Miramax Film’s Dimension Division from 1995 to 2000

Set against the backdrop of the contemporary art world, Zapata’s immersive novel The Beautiful Dream of Life revolves around a renowned painter living in a multi-million-dollar penthouse in New York’s Gramercy Park.

Tired of his hedonistic, party lifestyle and the adulation of those who worship him, he escapes into an imaginary world, where he lives side-by-side with his fantasy ideal of the perfect woman.

Originally from Palma de Mallorca, Spain, Zapata maintains studios in New York City, Venice, Paris, and Miami.

Camille Vasquez Joins NBC News as a Legal Analyst

Posted on January 9, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Camille Vasquez is heading to network television…

The 38-year-old Cuban and Colombian American attorney, who rose to international acclaim representing actor Johnny Depp in the defamation case that he brought against his ex-wife Amber Heard, has joined NBC News as a legal analyst.

Vasquez made her first appearance in the role on Today on Monday to offer analysis on Bryan Kohberger’s arrest on charges of stabbing four University of Idaho students.

Vasquez and Benjamin Chew of Brown Rudnick were lead attorneys for Depp, in a case that drew national attention, in part because the daily proceedings over the spring and summer were televised.

Vasquez is partner in her firm’s litigation & arbitration practice group and co-chair of the brand & reputation management group.

Last month, the sides in the case announced a settlement. Heard reportedly would pay $1 million to Depp, and he planned to donate the sum to charities.

Depp was awarded $10 million in compensatory damages and $5 million in punitive damages by jury in the case, although the punitive damages were reduced to $350,000. The jurors also awarded Heard $2 million in her counterclaim.

In a statement announcing the settlement, Heard said that she had “exhausted almost all of my resources” in the litigation.

“I make this decision having lost faith in the American legal system, where my unprotected testimony served as entertainment and social media fodder,” she wrote on Instagram.

Cabello to Perform with Pitbull & J Balvin at the MTV Movie & TV Awards

Posted on April 29, 2017 by Tom Castaneda

Camila Cabello is ready to take the stage…

The 20-year-old Cuban singer and former Fifth Harmony member will join Pitbull and J Balvin as performers for the 2017 MTV Movie & TV Awards on May 7.

The trio will perform their hit collaboration “Hey Ma,” which appears on the soundtrack to The Fate of the Furious.

The Fast & Furious franchise will receive the Generation Award at this year’s event, which, for the first time, will combine kudos for both the big and small screen.

Comedian Adam Devine will host the show live from the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles.

Since 1992, the Generation Award has honored artists for their body of work, with past recipients including Will Smith, Reese Witherspoon, Robert Downey Jr., Mark Wahlberg, Sandra Bullock, Jamie Foxx, Johnny Depp, Ben Stiller, Adam Sandler, Mike Myers, Tom Cruise and Jim Carrey.

Vin Diesel and Michelle Rodriguez will accept the Generation Award on behalf of the Fast crew.

The Spanish-language version of “Hey Ma” debuted at No. 5 on Billboard‘s Hot Latin Songs chart dated April 1.

Rodriguez & Her Fast & Furious Co-Stars to Receive Generation Award at the MTV Movie & TV Awards

Posted on April 29, 2017 by Tom Castaneda

It’s a new generation for Michelle Rodriguez…

The 38-year-old Puerto Rican and Dominican American actress and her fellow Fast & Furious franchise co-stars will receive the Generation Award at this year’s MTV Movie & TV Awards on May 7, marking the first time the award show will give the honor to a film franchise rather than an individual actor.

Fast & Furious star and producer Vin Diesel will accept the award alongside his co-stars Rodriguez, who portrays Letty in the franchise, Tyrese Gibson and Jordan Brewster.

Since 1992, the Generation Award has honored talent with a body of work throughout their career that speaks directly to the MTV audience. Past recipients include Will Smith, Reese Witherspoon, Robert Downey Jr., Mark Wahlberg, Sandra Bullock, Jamie Foxx, Johnny Depp, Ben Stiller, Adam Sandler, Mike Myers, Tom Cruise and Jim Carrey.

MTV will air marathons of the first three Fast & Furious films this weekend. They’ll feature a trivia game hosted by stars Diesel and Chris “Ludacris” Bridges, offering social engagers a chance to win a trip to attend the MTV Movie & TV Awards.

The 2017 MTV Movie & TV Awards will be hosted by actor and comedian Adam Devine, with the telecast airing live on Sunday, May 7, at 8:00 pm EST from the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles.

Cruz Attached to Star in Todd Solondz’s New Project “Love Child”

Posted on February 2, 2017 by Tom Castaneda

Penélope Cruz is getting ready for Child’s play…

The 42-year-old Spanish actress is attached to star in Todd Solondz’s new project Love Child.

Cruz would star opposite Edgar Ramírez, who starred in the Roberto Duran boxing biopic Hands of Stone.

Solondz, the man behind Wiener Dog and Welcome To The Dollhouse, writes and directs the project, which is described as a dark and hilarious twist on the classic Oedipal theme.

The story follows 11-year-old Junior, a delusional aspiring Broadway star with an inappropriate obsession with his mother Immaculada. After orchestrating an accident that nearly kills his abusive father, he encourages Nacho, the handsome man living in the family’s guesthouse, to court his mother and become his new dad. But when the two fall in love, Junior becomes so jealous that he is no longer the subject of his mother’s attention that he hatches a plan to frame Nacho for his father’s murder.

The film is currently in pre-production.

Cruz recently joined the cast of Kenneth Branagh’s Murder On The Orient Express, based on Agatha Christie’s beloved murder mystery novel. She’ll join an ensemble cast including Michael Peña, Johnny Depp, Michelle Pfeiffer, Manuel Garcia-Rulfo and Judi Dench. She’s also in Escobar with husband Javier Bardem in a film that examines the love affair between drug lord Pablo Escobar and Colombian journalist Virginia Vallejo.

Ramirez recently starred alongside Emily Blunt in The Girl On The Train, adapted from Paula Hawkins’ bestselling book, and Gold with Matthew McConaughey, the adventure mining story. He’s also got a role in Netflix’s sci-fi pic Bright with Will Smith and Noomi Rapace.

Garcia-Rulfo to Star in “Murder On The Orient Express” Remake

Posted on January 26, 2017 by Tom Castaneda

Manuel Garcia-Rulfo is about to Express himself…

The 35-year-old Mexican actor has been cast in Fox’s Murder On The Orient Express, the remake based on Agatha Christie classic novel to be directed by Kenneth Branagh.

Garcia-Rulfo, who will portray Marquez, joins an all-star cast that includes Johnny Depp, Michelle Pfeiffer, Daisy Ridley, Judi Dench, Penelope Cruz, Michael Peña, Josh Gad and Leslie Odom Jr. as well as Branagh.

Garcia-Rulfo, who made his first major American film with Bless Me, Ultima, last starred in Antoine Fuqua’s The Magnificent Seven. He also recently completed shooting on Soldado.

His other credits include appearance in the film Cake and in the television series From Dusk till Dawn: The Series.

Cruz to Star in “Murder on the Orient Express” Remake

Posted on November 12, 2016 by Tom Castaneda

Penelope Cruz has to Orient herself with a new project…

The 42-year-old Spanish actress is set to star in the Murder on the Orient Express remake.

Cruz joins a powerful ensemble cast that includes Johnny Depp, Michelle Pfeiffer, Daisy Ridley, Michael Pena, Judi Dench and Josh Gad along with Kenneth Branagh, who is starring as detective Hercule Poirot and also directing the film.

Based on the beloved 1934 Agatha Christie novel, the mystery begins after an American businessman is murdered aboard the train and the investigator tries to solve the murder, finding out eventually that 13 people all had something to do with the murder victim.

Cruz is currently shooting Escobar with husband Javier Bardem in the movie that examines the love affair between the drug lord Pablo Escobar and Colombian journalist Virginia Vallejo.

Peña Starring in “Murder On The Orient Express” Remake

Posted on October 21, 2016 by Tom Castaneda

Michael Peña is taking the rails…

The 40-year-old Mexican American actor has signed on to star in Murder On The Orient Express, the 20th Century Fox remake of the Agatha Christie classic that’s being directed by Kenneth Branagh.

Peña joins a cast that includes Josh Gad, Johnny Depp, Daisy Ridley, Michelle Pfeiffer, Judi Dench and Branagh as famed detective Hercule Poirot.

The film is expected to begin production in November.

Blade Runner 2 scribe Michael Green adapted from Christie’s novel.

Bardem In Talks to Portray Frankenstein

Posted on July 12, 2016 by Tom Castaneda

Javier Bardem is thisclose to taking on a monster role…

The 47-year-old Spanish actor, is in ntalks to join Universal’s big-time roster for the studio’s planned classic monsters universe movies.

Bardem, best known for his Oscar-winning role in No Country for Old Men, would portray Frankenstein.

He would join a list that already includes Tom Cruise and Russell Crowe in The Mummy and Johnny Depp as the Invisible Man. The latest news comes amid persistent rumors that Dwayne Johnson is being eyed to play Wolf Man.

It’s unclear how they would incorporate the Frankenstein creature into the interconnected slate being overseen by Alex Kurtzman and Chris Morgan, and it’s not set yet that a stand-alone movie would be a part of the deal.

At the moment, Universal has dated three movies: The Mummy, directed by Kurtzman, has a June 9 release set, and yet-to-be-announced titles are set for April 13, 2018, and February 15, 2019.

Trailer Released for Bonham Carter’s “Alice Through The Looking Glass”

Posted on November 6, 2015 by Tom Castaneda

Helena Bonham Carter is a glass act…

The first full trailer for Alice Through The Looking Glass – the sequel to Disney’s 2010 blockbuster Alice In Wonderland – has been released, featuring the 49-year-old part-Spanish actress reprising her role as Iracebeth of Crims, the Red Queen.

For the original film, Bonham Carter’s head was digitally increased to three times its original size on screen.

Along with Bonham Carter, Alice Through The Looking Glass returns most of the cast — among them Johnny Depp, Anne Hathaway, Mia Wasikowska and the voices of Stephen Fry, Alan Rickman and Michael Sheen — and screenwriter Linda Wolverton but not original director Tim Burton (he’s a producer on this one, with Muppets helmer James Bobin taking over).

Among the newcomers is Sacha Baron Cohen, who portrays a major cog in this new story based on Lewis Carroll’s original: he plays Time, who is part-human, part-clock (and has borrowed some outfits from Brüno’s closet apparently). When Alice returns to a much different Wonderland, she must go on a quest to borrow the Chronosphere, a metallic globe inside the Grand Clock’s chamber. This sends her into the past, where she comes across friends and enemies at different points in their lives, and a race to save Depp’s Hatter (looking quite put out here) before time runs out.

The 3D pic has a May 27, 2016 release date.

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