Gravitas Ventures Acquires North American Rights to Carlos Gomez’s Latest Film “Spiked”

Carlos Gomez’s latest project is getting a spike in attention…

Gravitas Ventures, a Red Arrow Studios company, has acquired North American rights to distribute the 59-year-old Latin America actor’s film Spiked, which hails from writer/director Juan Martinez Vera.

Carlos Gomez

In addition to Gomez, who starred the in the short-lived series The Baker and the Beauty, the film also stars Aidan Quinn, Deirdre Lovejoy, Danay Garcia, Wendy Makkena, Lovensky Jean-Baptiste and Walter Belenky.

Sal Lopez, and Christopher Rich star in this indie feature drama.  

Spiked is a dramatic story rooted in the injustices that immigrant workers experience along the U.S./Mexico border. Principal photography on the indie feature was completed in 2019 on location in and around southern Arizona.

“Anchored by an outstanding performance by Aidan Quinn, Juan’s film integrates issues around immigration, law enforcement, and journalistic integrity into a compelling real-life narrative. We look forward to presenting this timely film to North American audiences,” said Tony Piantedosi, Vice President of Acquisitions at Gravitas Ventures.

The story follows John Wilson, a newspaper publisher in a small U.S./Mexico border town who denounces the abuse of power by local law enforcement. John has been at it for years and has made more than a few enemies and stepped on more than a few toes. Following the killing of an immigrant worker, an incident that the police are unwilling to do anything about, the newspaper publisher and his team take on the plight of the family and of the community to find those responsible and bring them to justice. At every turn, his efforts are thwarted by an uncooperative police chief who seems to have her own agenda. Matters escalate when John succumbs to a mysterious illness that threatens his life and his investigation.

Spiked follows the personal stories of characters along the border and how their lives collide when they attempt to fight for justice,” Martinez Vera said. “I was inspired to write and direct this project after hearing real-life stories of immigrants suffering abuse of power from law enforcement agencies some 20-years ago and incredibly moved by how relevant these stories are today as immigrant families continue to grapple with inhuman and unjust treatment. I’m thrilled that Gravitas will bring this film to audiences in the U.S., while we look toward announcing plans for distribution throughout Latin American and other markets.”

The film will be produced by Per Melita.

On March 26th, Gravitas will launch the film across multiple VOD platforms, including Amazon Prime, Apple iTunes, Vudu, Google Play, Vimeo, Gravitas Movies, and release on SVOD platforms to follow later this year.

First Trailer Released for HBO Max’s “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Reunion” Featuring Tatyana Ali

Tatyana Ali is back in Bel-Air

The first trailer has been released to the 41-year-old half-Afro-Panamanian actress’ upcoming The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Reunion.

Tatyana Ali

Will Smith posted the trailer for the special, which will debut on HBO Max on Thursday, November 19.

A highlight of the trailer features the surprise appearance of actress Janet Hubert, who played the NBC comedy’s original Aunt Viv and has, over the many years since, made her anger over the decision well known.

“I couldn’t celebrate 30 years of Fresh Prince without Janet,” Smith tells the surprised other members of the reunited cast.

In addition to Smith, Ali and Hubert, the unscripted special, shot on the old sitcom set, features Karyn Parsons, Joseph Marcell, Daphne Maxwell Reid, Alfonso Ribeiro as well as recurring co-star DJ Jazzy Jeff. The cast also pays tribute to the late James Avery, who played patriarch Philip. Avery died in 2013.

Taped on the 30th anniversary of the original series premiere date, the special also includes a candid sit-down chat between Smith and Hubert, their first in 27 years.

Produced by Westbrook Media, the reunion will launch exclusively on HBO Max on November 19. HBO Max is the exclusive SVOD home of the full original series library in the US, debuting on the platform when it launched in May. Marcus Raboy directs the special. Raphael Saadiq serves as executive music producer.

Smith also is developing a Fresh Prince drama reboot at Peacock.

Eugenio Derbez & His Clan to Star in the Reality TV Series “De Viaje Con Los Derbez”

Eugenio Derbez is taking the familia on vacation…

The 58-year-old Mexican actor, comedian and filmmakerand his thespian family are the subjects of the under-the-radar reality television series De Viaje Con Los Derbez.

Eugenio Derbez

The unscripted docu-comedy series, about a Derbez family vacation to Morocco, will launch in the U.S. and Puerto Rico on October 18 via Pantaya, Lionsgate and Hemisphere Media Group’s Spanish-language SVOD service, and will stream internationally on Amazon Prime Video.

The half-hour Spanish-language episodes will see a camera crew follow the Derbez family on the surprise vacation, offering a behind-the-scenes look at their adventures and escapades.

It will mark the first time the entire family of performers, who reach nearly 70M followers on social media, will be seen together on television.

The star-studded family consists of Derbez’s wife/actress Alessandra Rosaldo, their daughter Aitana, Derbez’s older actor sons Vadhir and José Eduardo and actress daughter Aislinn Derbez (La Casa de Las Flores) with her husband Mauricio Ochmann (Ya Veremos) and their daughter Kailani.

The series is produced in association withLionsgate by Derbez and Ben Odell’s 3Pas Studios as well as Katy Wallin and Stephanie Bloch Chambers’ Wallin Chambers Entertainment, who both have TV deals with Lionsgate. 3Pas Studios also has a first look deal with Lionsgate’s Pantelion Films.

Derbez, Odell, Wallin and Bloch Chambers will serve as executive producers. 

“I’m thrilled to be working with our Lionsgate friends in bringing my reality series to Pantaya and Amazon Prime Video,” said Derbez, who is best known for box office hits Instructions Not IncludedHow To Be A Latin Lover and the remake of Overboard, as well as a string of popular Spanish-language TV series.

He continued, “When they learned that I was planning to take my entire family on a surprise trip to Morocco, they had the crazy idea of documenting our adventures. We have always tried to keep our personal lives private so we were all really nervous about doing this but I think our audience will love it. They will finally know that we are just as crazy and dysfunctional as any family!”

“Eugenio has delivered a string of box office hits for Pantelion Films, and we couldn’t be more excited to have the creative mastermind behind them helming our first original unscripted television series,” said Pantaya and Pantelion Films CEO Paul Presburger.

De Viaje Con Los Derbez is the perfect example of the synergies we aim to create across the company and our focus on empowering talent to tell their stories through different mediums,” added Lionsgate SVP and Head of Unscripted Programming Alice Dickens-Koblin.

Cesar Millan to Launch Pet-Centric SVOD Service & Linear Network “Cesar’s Pet Planet”

Cesar Millan is creating a whole new world…

The 49-year-old Mexican-American dog behaviorist and The Dog Whisperer star is launching a pet-centric SVOD service and linear network.

Cesar Millan

Millan, who has also starred in Cesar Millan’s Dog Nation and Cesar 911, is launching Cesar’s Pet Planet. The service will consist of original content and library titles spanning entertainment formats, films, training show and pet health series.

It’ll initially launch next year in Latin America via Digital Media Distribution’s SVOD and linear platforms. It is a tie up between Millan, DMD and Mucho Mas, the LA-based media company that focuses on programming for the Latino market.

“I am a committed animal and pet lover, and as a Latino, I understand firsthand, the commitment and esteem the community and culture holds for its pet friends and family members,” stated Millan. “The opportunity to join with Mucho Mas and DMD in this endeavor is an opportunity I know will resonate with the global Latino community and provide entertainment, informational and training content, and support for the marketplace. I am looking forward to launching the network with my partners and to creating exciting new and original programming.”

“The idea to form the network comes from the simple fact that the Latin American community has among the world’s highest levels of pet ownership—approximately 80% of Latino homes have a domestic animal,” said Mucho Mas Partners, Simon Wise and Javier Chapa. “Very simply, we are meeting the market’s needs and requests not only for inspirational and instructional content, but for original and classic scripted films and shows that share the world’s passion for home pets.”

“DMD is delighted to be partnering with Cesar Millan and Mucho Mas to create this innovative entertainment service. Latin America is experiencing rapid growth in innovative TV services and this network will appeal to key multiple demographics there and across the world,” added Daniel Sandelson, Chief Commercial Officer of DMD.

Netflix Acquires International Streaming Rights to Rodriguez’s “Jane the Virgin”

Gina Rodriguez is bringing her Virgin tales to Netflix

The on-demand Internet streaming media company has acquired the international subscription streaming rights to The CW’s Jane The Virgin, starring the 31-year-old Puerto Rican actress, in more than50 countries around the world.

Gina Rodriguez in Jane the Virgin

That is in addition to the domestic SVOD rights to the CBS Television Studios series, which Netflix already owns in a separate deal with CBS Television Studios and Warner Bros. Television for previous seasons of the CW series.

Rodriguez stars as Jane Villanueva in The CW comedy-drama series, for which she won a Golden Globe Award.

Season Two of the series is set to debut on October 12, 2015.