Emilio Estevez’s “The Public” to Stream on Peacock in September

Posted on August 25, 2020 by Tom Castaneda

Emilio Estevez is going public with his latest project…

Peacock has unveiled a slate of original films that will debut on NBC’s streaming service in September, including the 58-year-old part-Spanish American actor’s latest film The Public.

The film, written, executive produced and directed by Estevez, centers around an act of civil disobedience that turns into a standoff with police when homeless people in Cincinnati take over the public library to seek shelter from the bitter cold.

The film stars Alec Baldwin, Estevez, Jena Malone, Taylor Schilling, Christian Slater, Che “Rhymefest” Smith, Gabrielle Union, Jacob Vargas, Michael K. Williams, and Jeffrey Wright.

The Public will premiere on Peacock on Thursday, September 15.

The film had its world premiere on September 9, 2018, at the Toronto Film Festival. It was theatrically released in the United States on April 5, 2019, by Greenwich Entertainment.

Krystina Alabado Joins Voice Cast of AMC’s Animated Drama Series “Pantheon”

Posted on August 8, 2020 by Tom Castaneda

Krystina Alabado is getting animated…

The 31-year-old half-Mexican American actress, who stars as Gretchen Wieners in the Broadway music Mean Girls, has joined the voice cast of Pantheon, AMC’s first hour-long animated primetime drama series.

Alabado joins a voice cast that includes Daniel Dae Kim, Katie Chang, Ron Livingston, Chris Diamantopoulos, Raza Jaffrey, Scoot McNairy, Anika Noni Rose, Grey Griffin, SungWon Cho, Kevin Durand and Samuel Roukin.

They join previously announced Taylor Schilling, Paul Dano, Rosemarie DeWitt and Aaron Eckhart in the series, which hails from Craig Silverstein and AMC Studios.

Pantheon, which received a two-season order in March, is based on the short stories by Ken Liu about Uploaded Intelligence, or human consciousness uploaded to the cloud.

The innovative series’ visual style is described as a fresh take on graphic realism done in a traditional 2D way, using modern tools.

“Ken’s engaging and thought-provoking short stories pave the way for a deeply gripping series, and I couldn’t ask for a greater group of talented voices to bring these complex characters to life,” said Silverstein.

In its first season, Pantheon focuses on Maddie (Chang), a bullied teen who receives mysterious help from someone online. The stranger is soon revealed to be her recently deceased father, David (Kim), whose consciousness has been uploaded to the Cloud following an experimental destructive brain scan. David is the first of a new kind of being: an “Uploaded Intelligence” or “UI,” but he will not be the last, as a global conspiracy unfolds that threatens to trigger a new kind of world war.

Alabado will voice the character of Hannah.

In addition to starring in the Mean Girls musical, Alabado appeared on television in Tyrant and God Friended Me.

Leyva’s “Orange Is The New Black” to Air on Sony Channel UK

Posted on March 25, 2017 by Tom Castaneda

Selenis Leyva will be serving time across the pond…

Sony Pictures Television Networks has taken UK linear rights to Lionsgate’s Orange Is The New Black, starring the 44-year-old Cuban and Dominican actress.

The series, about engaged Brooklynite Piper Chapman (Taylor Schilling), whose decade-old relationship with drug-runner Alex (Laura Prepon) results in her arrest and year-long detention in a federal penitentiary, will have its broadcast premiere on Sony Channel UK.

Season one of the series will launch with a double bill in the territory every Wednesday from April 19.

“We recognize the demand for premium content that appeals to a broad audience, which is exactly what Orange Is The New Black offers,” said Kate Marsh, SPTN’s Exec VP, Western Europe, International Networks. “It is widely recognized as a must-see series that we’re pleased to make part of our offering on Sony Channel.”

In addition to Leyva, Schilling and Prepon, the series also stars Jackie Cruz, Laura Gómez, Diane Guerrero, Dascha Polanco and Elizabeth Rodriguez.

The cast of Orange Is the New Black has taken home the SAG Award for best ensemble in a comedy series award for the last three years.

Estevez to Direct the Dramedy “the public”

Posted on January 27, 2017 by Tom Castaneda

Emilio Estevez is bringing his next project to the public…

The 54-year-old part-Spanish American actor/filmmaker is set to direct the dramedy the public, which will pull back the curtain on what is really happening inside America’s public libraries.

Christian Slater, Jeffrey Wright and Michael Kenneth Williams will star in the film, which will tell the story about “the last bastion of Democracy in action.”

Having researched in the depths of the Los Angeles Public Library, Estevez said that libraries across the country have become a safe haven for the homeless.

“When I was doing research on the film Bobby, I spent a lot of time in the Los Angeles Public Library looking through microfiche for intel, so I saw this happening,” said Estevez, who wrote, is directing and also co-starring in the public.

“Then I read a Los Angeles Times article that was written by a former librarian about how the libraries have become de facto homeless shelters and how librarians had become social workers,” he added. “So on a daily basis, they would have to call emergency services about people who collapsed or had an overdose or diabetic comas … it’s the last bastion of democracy in action. I was so moved by the article and what I saw, having spent so much time at the public library, I decided to start researching for a new movie — the public.”

The film centers on a standoff with police and library officials during a brutal, life-threatening cold snap. Staging an Occupy-style sit-in, library patrons — many of whom are homeless and mentally ill — turn the Cincinnati Public Library into an impromptu shelter for one night. Drawing from the current political climate, the film strives to give equal voice to both sides as it examines the question of who will care for those who are unable to care for themselves.

After the critically acclaimed Bobby, the public also has become a nice ensemble film with Alec Baldwin, Taylor Schilling, Jena Malone, Gabrielle Union and Che “Rhymefest” Smith also in the cast.

“I haven’t done a film in a library for over 30 years, so I’m going back to it,” Estevez, who starred in The Breakfast Club said with a laugh. “But I think that the issues we’re dealing with in our story really shows both sides of the debate and the ongoing discussion about corporate personhood vs. the public. It’s something that I wanted to do in a film — show it from the inside out.” Very timely, considering what the national discussion in our nation has become.

Leyva & Her “Orange Is the New Black” Co-Stars Sing “Twelve Days of Christmas”

Posted on December 25, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Selenis Leyva’s is spreading holiday (prison) cheer…

The 42-year-old Cuban actress and some of her fellow Orange Is the New Black co-stars are celebrating the season with a special video.

Leyva, who was upped to series regular on Netflix’s hit series in May, and her costars sing a parody of “The Twelve Days of Christmas” in the clip.

Piper Chapman (portrayed by Taylor Schilling) kicks off the Litchfield-themed tune with “On my first day at Litchfield, my bunk mate gave to me….”

Meanwhile, Leyva, as her character Gloria Mendoza, offers up two yogurt cups. A line fit for the chef!

Rodriguez Earns First-Ever Golden Globe Nomination

Posted on December 12, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Gina Rodriguez is a globe-al sensation…

The 30-year-old Puerto Rican actress has earned her first-ever Golden Globe nomination.

Rodriguez picked up the nod from the Hollywood Foreign Press Association in the Best Actress in a TV Series, Musical or Comedy category for her breakout starring-role on the CW’s Jane the Virgin.

She’s up against Girls’ Lena Dunham, Nurse Jackie’s Edie Falco, Veep’s Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Orange Is the New Black’s Taylor Schilling.

Additionally, Rodriguez’s Jane the Virgin, which made the American Film Institute’s list of the best televisions shows of the year, was nominated in the Best TV Series, Musical or Comedy category.

But Rodriguez isn’t the only Hispanic Golden Globe nominee…

Louis C.K. has picked up his second career nomination from the Hollywood Foreign Press Association.

The 47-year-old Mexican American received the nod in the Best Actor in a TV Series, Musical or Comedy category for his starring role in FX’s He’s up against House of Lies’ Don Cheadle, Derek’s Ricky Gervais, Shameless’ William H. Macy and Transparent’s Jeffrey Tambor.

In the motion picture categories, Alejandro González Iñárritu has earned two individual nominations for his dark comedy Birdman.

The Mexican filmmaker is up for Best Director – Motion Picture, as well as Best Screenplay – Motion Picture for co-penning the script for Birdman with Nicolás Giacobone, Alexander Dinelaris and Armando Bo.

In addition, González Iñárritu’s Birdman is nominated for Best Motion Picture, Musical or Comedy.

Antonio Sanchez, meantime, has picked up his first-ever Golden Globe nomination.

The 43-year-old Mexican jazz drummer and multiple Grammy winner has been nominated in the Best Original Score – Motion Picture category for his work on Birdman.

Sanchez’s drumming serves as the main musical ingredient in Iñarritu’s film. His work has already won the Sound Stars Award for best Film Score at the 2014 Venice Film Festival and won the Hollywood Music in Media Awards prize for best original film score.

The Guillermo del Toro-produced The Book of Life has received a nod in the Best Animated Feature category. The Day of the Dead-themed film is up against Big Hero 6, The Boxtrolls, How to Train Your Dragon 2 and The Lego Movie.

The 72nd Golden Globe Awards will be held on January 11 with Tina Fey and Amy Poehler returning as the show’s hosts.

Here’s a look at the categories with Latino/a nominees:

MOTION PICTURES

Best Comedy
“Birdman,” produced by Alejandro González Iñárritu
“The Grand Budapest Hotel”
“Into the Woods”
“Pride”
“St. Vincent”

Best Director
Wes Anderson, “The Grand Budapest Hotel”
Ava Duvernay, “Selma”
David Fincher, “Gone Girl”
Alejandro González Iñárritu, “Birdman”
Richard Linklater, “Boyhood”

Best Screenplay
Wes Anderson, “The Grand Budapest Hotel”
Gillian Flynn, “Gone Girl”
Alejandro González Iñárritu, Nicolás Giacobone, Alexander Dinelaris, and Armando Bo, “Birdman”
Richard Linklater, “Boyhood”
Graham Moore, “The Imitation Game”

Best Animated Feature
“Big Hero 6”
“The Book of Life,” produced by Guillermo del Toro
“The Boxtrolls”
“How to Train Your Dragon 2”
“The Lego Movie”

Best Score
“The Imitation Game”
“The Theory of Everything”
“Gone Girl”
“Birdman,” composed by Antonio Sanchez
“Interstellar”

TELEVISION

Best TV Comedy or Musical
“Girls”
“Jane the Virgin”
“Orange Is the New Black”
“Silicon Valley”
“Transparent”

Best Actress in a TV Comedy
Lena Dunham, “Girls”
Edie Falco, “Nurse Jackie”
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, “Veep”
Gina Rodriguez, “Jane the Virgin”
Taylor Schilling, “Orange Is the New Black”

Best Actor in a TV Comedy
Louis CK, “Louie”
Don Cheadle, “House of Lies”
Ricky Gervais, “Derek”
William H. Macy, “Shameless”
Jeffrey Tambor, “Transparent”

Blacc to Serve as a Presenter at This Year’s American Music Awards

Posted on November 11, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Aloe Blacc is set to make a statement at this year’s American Music Awards.

The 35-year-old Panamanian American singer has been added to the list of presenters set to take the stage at the upcoming AMAs.

Blacc joins Orange Is the New Black stars Taylor Schilling and Uzo Aduba, along with reality siblings Kendall and Kylie Jenner, as the latest additions.

Elizabeth Banks, Jamie Foxx, Julianne Hough, Jessie J, Heidi Klum, Olivia Munn and Emmy Rossum also are set to present at the fan-voted awards show, which will air live on ABC starting at 8:00 pm ET on Sunday, November 23, from the Nokia Theater L.A. Live.

As previously announced, the show will feature performances by 5 Seconds of Summer, Iggy Azalea, Mary J. Blige, Garth Brooks, Charli XCX, Fergie, Selena Gomez, Imagine Dragons, Lorde, One Direction, Sam Smith, Taylor Swift and Pitbull.

Pitbull will also serve as the event’s host. Voting is currently ongoing.

Leyva Promoted to Series Regular on Netflix’s “Orange is the New Black”

Posted on May 5, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Forget red! Selenis Leyva is seeing orange…

The 41-year-old Cuban-Dominican American actress has been promoted to series regular on Netflix’s hit prison comedy Orange Is The New Black, which was recently picked up for a third season well-before its second-season premiere.

Leyva plays the quick-witted and sharp-tongued Gloria Mendoza in the series, which also stars Taylor Schilling, Jason Biggs, Laura Prepon and Kate Mulgrew.

“Gloria is sassy, there’s a fierceness about her and you know that eyebrow, when it goes up, you know she means business,” Leyva told Huffington Post in an interview. “And that’s like my thing [laughs]. When I’m a little bit upset, my eyebrow goes up and that is a trait that my beautiful mother passed down to me [laughs]. We always knew in the house ‘mommy’s upset, her eyebrow just went up.’”

Selenis, who has appeared on Law & Order: Criminal Intent and Girls, will next be seen opposite Bill Murray, Melissa McCarthy and Naomi Watts in the feature film Saint Vincent de Van Nuys.

Season 2 of Orange Is The New Black premieres on Netflix on June 6 with all 13 episodes available at launch.

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