Ana de Armas Has Earned Her First-Ever Oscar Nomination

Posted on January 24, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Ana de Armas is celebrating her first Academy Awards nomination…

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences have revealed the nominations for the 95th Oscars, with the 34-year-old Cuban and Spanish actress earning a nod.

de Armas is nominated in the Actress in a Leading Role category for her starring role in Netflix’s Marilyn Monroe film Blonde.

She is the first the Cuban to be nominated for a leading role at the Oscars. Fellow Cuban actor Andy Garcia was nominated for best supporting actor in 1990.

Guillermo del Toro has picked up a nod in a new category…

The 58-year-old Mexican Oscar-winning filmmaker is nominated in the Animated Feature Film category for Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio.

del Toro previously won Best Picture and Best Direction Oscars for The Shape of Water.

Santiago Mitre, who recently won his first Golden Globe, has earned his first Oscar nod.

The 42-year-old Argentine film director and screenwriter is nominated in the International Feature Film category for directing the Argentine Spanish-language film Argentina, 1985.

Alfonso Cuarón has picked up another Academy Award nod.

The 61-year-old Mexican four-time Oscar winner is up for Live Action Short Film for producing Walt Disney’s Le Pupille.

Cuarón previously won Oscars for Best Director for Gravity and Roma, Best Film Editing for Gravity, and Best Cinematography for Roma. He is the first Mexican filmmaker to win the Best Director award and one of the two persons to have been nominated for Academy Awards in seven different categories

The Academy’s final voting runs March 2-7, with the Oscars set58 for Sunday, March 12 at the Dolby Theater in a ceremony airing live on ABC and hosted by Jimmy Kimmel.

Here’s the full list of 2023 Oscar nominees:

Best Picture

“All Quiet on the Western Front” (Netflix)
A Netflix/Amusement Park Film in co-production with Gunpowder Films in association with Sliding Down Rainbows Entertainment/Anima Pictures Production
Malte Grunert, Producer

“Avatar: The Way of Water” (Walt Disney)
A 20th Century Studios Production
James Cameron and Jon Landau, Producers

“The Banshees of Inisherin” (Searchlight)
A Blueprint Pictures/Film4/TSG Entertainment Production
Graham Broadbent, Pete Czernin and Martin McDonagh, Producers

“Elvis” (Warner Bros.)
A Bazmark Production
Baz Luhrmann, Catherine Martin, Gail Berman, Patrick McCormick and Schuyler Weiss, Producers

“Everything Everywhere All at Once” (A24)
A Hot Dog Hands Production
Daniel Kwan, Daniel Scheinert and Jonathan Wang, Producers

“The Fabelmans” (Universal/Amblin Partners)
An Amblin Partners Production
Kristie Macosko Krieger, Steven Spielberg and Tony Kushner, Producers

“Tár” (Focus Features)
A Standard Film Company/EMJAG Production
Todd Field, Alexandra Milchan and Scott Lambert, Producers

“Top Gun: Maverick” (Paramount)
A Paramount Pictures/Skydance/Jerry Bruckheimer Films Production
Tom Cruise, Christopher McQuarrie, David Ellison and Jerry Bruckheimer, Producers

“Triangle of Sadness” (Neon)
A Plattform Production
Erik Hemmendorff and Philippe Bober, Producers

“Women Talking” (Orion Pictures/United Artists Releasing)
A Plan B Entertainment / hear/say Production
Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner and Frances McDormand, Producers

Actor in a Leading Role

Austin Butler in “Elvis”
(Warner Bros.)

Colin Farrell in “The Banshees of Inisherin”
(Searchlight)

Brendan Fraser in “The Whale”
(A24)

Paul Mescal in “Aftersun”
(A24)

Bill Nighy in “Living”
(Sony Pictures Classics)

Actress in a Leading Role

Cate Blanchett in “Tár”
(Focus Features)

Ana de Armas in “Blonde”
(Netflix)

Andrea Riseborough in “To Leslie”
(Momentum Pictures)

Michelle Williams in “The Fabelmans”
(Universal/Amblin Partners)

Michelle Yeoh in “Everything Everywhere All at Once”
(A24)

Directing

Martin McDonagh
“The Banshees of Inisherin” (Searchlight)

Daniel Kwan & Daniel Scheinert
“Everything Everywhere All at Once” (A24)

Steven Spielberg
“The Fabelmans” (Universal/Amblin Partners)

Todd Field
“Tár” (Focus Features)

Ruben Östlund
“Triangle of Sadness” (Neon)

Actor in a Supporting Role

Brendan Gleeson in “The Banshees of Inisherin”
(Searchlight)

Brian Tyree Henry in “Causeway”
(Apple)

Judd Hirsch in “The Fabelmans”
(Universal/Amblin Partners)

Barry Keoghan in “The Banshees of Inisherin”
(Searchlight)

Ke Huy Quan in “Everything Everywhere All at Once”
(A24)

Actress in a Supporting Role

Angela Bassett in “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever”
(Walt Disney)

Hong Chau in “The Whale”
(A24)

Kerry Condon in “The Banshees of Inisherin”
(Searchlight)

Jamie Lee Curtis in “Everything Everywhere All at Once”
(A24)

Stephanie Hsu in “Everything Everywhere All at Once”
(A24)

Animated Feature Film

“Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio”
(Netflix)
Guillermo del Toro, Mark Gustafson, Gary Ungar and Alex Bulkley

“Marcel the Shell with Shoes On”
(A24)
Dean Fleischer Camp, Elisabeth Holm, Andrew Goldman, Caroline Kaplan and Paul Mezey

“Puss in Boots: The Last Wish”
(Universal)
Joel Crawford and Mark Swift

“The Sea Beast”
(Netflix)
Chris Williams and Jed Schlanger

“Turning Red” (Walt Disney)
Domee Shi and Lindsey Collins

Documentary Feature Film

“All That Breathes” (Submarine Deluxe and Sideshow in association with HBO Documentary Films)
A Kiterabbit Films and Rise Films in collaboration with HHMI Tangled Bank Studios Production
Shaunak Sen, Aman Mann and Teddy Leifer

“All the Beauty and the Bloodshed” (Neon)
A Participant Production
Laura Poitras, Howard Gertler, John Lyons, Nan Goldin and Yoni Golijov

“Fire of Love” (National Geographic)
A National Geographic Documentary Films/Sandbox Films/Intuitive Pictures & Cottage M Production
Sara Dosa, Shane Boris and Ina Fichman

“A House Made of Splinters”
“A House Made of Splinters” A Final Cut For Real Production
Simon Lereng Wilmont and Monica Hellström

“Navalny” (Warner Bros./CNN Films/HBO Max)
A Fishbowl Films/RaeFilm Studios/Cottage M Production
Daniel Roher, Odessa Rae, Diane Becker, Melanie Miller and Shane Boris

International Feature Film

“All Quiet on the Western Front” (Germany)
A Netflix/Amusement Park Film in co-production with Gunpowder Films in association with Sliding Down Rainbows Entertainment/Anima Pictures Production

“Argentina, 1985” (Argentina)
A La Unión de los Ríos Production

“Close” (Belgium)
A Menuet Production

“EO” (Poland)
A Skopia Film Production

“The Quiet Girl” (Ireland)
An Inscéal Production

Writing (Adapted Screenplay)

“All Quiet on the Western Front” (Netflix)
Screenplay – Edward Berger, Lesley Paterson & Ian Stokell

“Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery” (Netflix)
Written by Rian Johnson

“Living” (Sony Pictures Classics)
Written by Kazuo Ishiguro

“Top Gun: Maverick” (Paramount)
Screenplay by Ehren Kruger and Eric Warren Singer and Christopher McQuarrie Story by Peter Craig and Justin Marks

“Women Talking” (Orion Pictures/United Artists Releasing)
Screenplay by Sarah Polley

Writing (Original Screenplay)

“The Banshees of Inisherin” (Searchlight)
Written by Martin McDonagh

“Everything Everywhere All at Once” (A24)
Written by Daniel Kwan & Daniel Scheinert

“The Fabelmans” (Universal/Amblin Partners)
Written by Steven Spielberg & Tony Kushner

“Tár” (Focus Features)
Written by Todd Field

“Triangle of Sadness” (Neon)
Written by Ruben Östlund

Cinematography

“All Quiet on the Western Front” (Netflix)
James Friend

“Bardo, False Chronicle of a Handful of Truths” (Netflix)
Darius Khondji

“Elvis” (Warner Bros.)
Mandy Walker

“Empire of Light” (Searchlight)
Roger Deakins

“Tár” (Focus Features)
Florian Hoffmeister

Film Editing

“The Banshees of Inisherin” (Searchlight)
Mikkel E.G. Nielsen

“Elvis” (Warner Bros.)
Matt Villa and Jonathan Redmond

“Everything Everywhere All at Once” (A24)
Paul Rogers

“Tár” (Focus Features)
Monika Willi

“Top Gun: Maverick” (Paramount)
Eddie Hamilton

Music (Original Score)

“All Quiet on the Western Front” (Netflix)
Volker Bertelmann

“Babylon” (Paramount)
Justin Hurwitz

“The Banshees of Inisherin” (Searchlight)
Carter Burwell

“Everything Everywhere All at Once” (A24)
Son Lux

“The Fabelmans” (Universal/Amblin Partners)
John Williams

Music (Original Song)

“Applause” from “Tell It like a Woman”
(Samuel Goldwyn Films)
Music and Lyric by Diane Warren

“Hold My Hand” from “Top Gun: Maverick”
(Paramount)
Music and Lyric by Lady Gaga and BloodPop

“Lift Me Up” from “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever”
(Walt Disney)
Music by Tems, Rihanna, Ryan Coogler and Ludwig Goransson Lyric by Tems and Ryan Coogler

“Naatu Naatu” from “RRR”
(Variance Films/Sarigama Cinemas)
Music by M.M. Keeravaani Lyric by Chandrabose

“This Is A Life” from “Everything Everywhere All at Once”
(A24)
Music by Ryan Lott, David Byrne and Mitski Lyric by Ryan Lott and David Byrne

Production Design

“All Quiet on the Western Front”
(Netflix)
Production Design: Christian M. Goldbeck
Set Decoration: Ernestine Hipper

“Avatar: The Way of Water”
(Walt Disney)
Production Design: Dylan Cole and Ben Procter
Set Decorator: Vanessa Cole

“Babylon”
(Paramount)
Production Design: Florencia Martin
Set Decorator: Anthony Carlino

“Elvis”
(Warner Bros.)
Production Design: Catherine Martin, Karen Murphy
Set Decoration: Bev Dunn

“The Fabelmans”
(Universal/Amblin Partners)
Production Design: Rick Carter
Set Decoration: Karen O’Hara

Costume Design

“Babylon” (Paramount)
Mary Zophres

“Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” (Walt Disney)
Ruth Carter

“Elvis” (Warner Bros.)
Catherine Martin

“Everything Everywhere All at Once” (A24)
Shirley Kurata

“Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris” (Focus Features)
Jenny Beavan

Makeup and Hairstyling

“All Quiet on the Western Front” (Netflix)
Heike Merker and Linda Eisenhamerová

“The Batman” (Warner Bros.)
Naomi Donne, Mike Marino and Mike Fontaine

“Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” (Walt Disney)
Camille Friend and Joel Harlow

“Elvis” (Warner Bros.)
Mark Coulier, Jason Baird and Aldo Signoretti

“The Whale” (A24)
Adrien Morot, Judy Chin and Anne Marie Bradley

Live Action Short Film

“An Irish Goodbye” (Network Ireland Television)
A Floodlight Pictures Production
Tom Berkeley and Ross White

“Ivalu”
An M&M Production
Anders Walter and Rebecca Pruzan

“Le Pupille” (Walt Disney)
An Esperanto Filmoj and Tempesta Production
Alice Rohrwacher and Alfonso Cuarón

“Night Ride” (The New Yorker Studios)
A Cylinder Production
Eirik Tveiten and Gaute Lid Larssen

“The Red Suitcase”
A Cynefilms Production
Cyrus Neshvad

Documentary Short Film

“The Elephant Whisperers” (Netflix)
A Netflix Documentary/Sikhya Entertainment Production
Kartiki Gonsalves and Guneet Monga

“Haulout” (The New Yorker Studios)
An Albireo Films Production
Evgenia Arbugaeva and Maxim Arbugaev

“How Do You Measure a Year?”
A Jay Rosenblatt Films Production
Jay Rosenblatt

“The Martha Mitchell Effect” (Netflix)
An Outspoken Films Production
Anne Alvergue and Beth Levison

“Stranger at the Gate” (The New Yorker Studios)
A Smartypants Pictures Production
Joshua Seftel and Conall Jones

Animated Short Film

“The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse” (BBC and Apple Original Films)
A NoneMore and Bad Robot Production
Charlie Mackesy and Matthew Freud

“The Flying Sailor”
A National Film Board of Canada Production
Amanda Forbis and Wendy Tilby

“Ice Merchants”
A COLA Animation Production
João Gonzalez and Bruno Caetano

“My Year of Dicks”
An FX, Wonder Killer and Cat’s Pajamas Production
Sara Gunnarsdóttir and Pamela Ribon

“An Ostrich Told Me the World Is Fake and I Think I Believe It”
A Griffith Film School Production
Lachlan Pendragon

Sound

“All Quiet on the Western Front” (Netflix)
Viktor Prášil, Frank Kruse, Markus Stemler, Lars Ginzel and Stefan Korte

“Avatar: The Way of Water” (Walt Disney)
Julian Howarth, Gwendolyn Yates Whittle, Dick Bernstein, Christopher Boyes, Gary Summers and Michael Hedges

“The Batman” (Warner Bros.)
Stuart Wilson, William Files, Douglas Murray and Andy Nelson

“Elvis” (Warner Bros.)
David Lee, Wayne Pashley, Andy Nelson and Michael Keller

“Top Gun: Maverick” (Paramount)
Mark Weingarten, James H. Mather, Al Nelson, Chris Burdon and Mark Taylor

Visual Effects

“All Quiet on the Western Front” (Netflix)
Frank Petzold, Viktor Müller, Markus Frank and Kamil Jafar

“Avatar: The Way of Water” (Walt Disney)
Joe Letteri, Richard Baneham, Eric Saindon and Daniel Barrett

“The Batman” (Warner Bros.)
Dan Lemmon, Russell Earl, Anders Langlands and Dominic Tuohy

“Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” (Walt Disney)
Geoffrey Baumann, Craig Hammack, R. Christopher White and Dan Sudick

“Top Gun: Maverick” (Paramount)
Ryan Tudhope, Seth Hill, Bryan Litson and Scott R. Fisher

Dan Hernandez to Co-Pen Film Featuring Disney’s Iconic Dragon Figment

Posted on September 28, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

It’s no figment of Dan Hernandez’s imagination…

The 38-year-old Latino film and television writer and producer will co-write Disney’s upcoming film featuring its iconic small purple dragon Figment alongside Benji Samit.

Figment serves as the mascot of Epcot’s Imagination Pavilion in Orlando.

The feature hails from Seth Rogen’s Point Grey.

Figment was created by Walt Disney Imagineers Tony Baxter and Steve Kirk, among other collaborators, in 1983, the same year it made its debut in the Epcot ride Journey Into Imagination. Figment is the embodiment of the imagining process— a figment of your imagination.

Although one of Disney’s more obscure characters, Figment has a devoted fanbase that has ensured his role at the park is never diminished. Various attempts to remove the ride or decrease his presence have been met with loud protests.

Today, he is the star of the latest version of the ride Journey Into Imagination with Figment.

The feature will not be Figment’s first time on the big screen, however.

He made cameo appearances in 2015’s Inside Out and 2019’s Toy Story 4.

The writing team of Hernandez and Samit penned 2019’s Pokémon Detective Pikachu and 2021’s The Addams Family 2 and developed the upcoming Hulu animated series Koala Man, premiering in 2023.

Other notable credits include Apple’s Central Park, The Tick for Amazon and the One Day at a Time reboot.

Disney Offers First Look at Rachel Zegler’s Highly Anticipated “Snow White” Film

Posted on September 11, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Rachel Zegler is bracing for a snow storm of attention…

Disney has released a first look at its live-action Snow White remake, starring the 21-year-old half-Colombian American actress/singer and West Side Story star and Gal Gadot.

Directed by Marc Webb, Snow White is based on Walt Disney’s 1937 classic Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, which was itself based on the 19th century fairy tale from the Brothers Grimm.

It was Disney’s inaugural animated feature and foundational to the Disney empire.

Zegler said it was “an honor” to bring the classic back to life “for modern age.” She said that, for her character, the film is about “Finding a sense of agency so she can be a just ruler and wonderful queen.”

Gadot observed that playing the evil queen was “very different than what I had done before. I am used to playing the other end of where the heart should be.”

The Wonder Woman actress called the Queen an “iconic villain” and said “getting under her skin was so delightful.”

She called the character “so not me” but stretching herself to find her was delightful.

The story follows a princess who is rescued by seven dwarf miners who make Snow White part of their household after she’s exiled into a dangerous forest by her wicked stepmother.

The new Snow White film will feature original songs from Benj Pasek and Justin Paul. Greta Gerwig and Erin Cressida Wilson handled the screenplay adaptation.

Zegler is portraying Snow White, with Gadot as the Evil Queen, and Tony winner Andrew Burnap set as the new male lead character, Jonathan.

Production kicked off in the UK this spring.

Disney’s Snow White, starring Rachel Zegler and Gal Gadot, releasing 2024. #D23Expo pic.twitter.com/UkAVXQq5Kb

— Walt Disney Studios (@DisneyStudios) September 9, 2022

Lin-Manuel Miranda’s “Encanto” Soundtrack Reaches Fifth Week at No. 1 on Billboard 200

Posted on February 13, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

It’s an enchanting five for Lin-Manuel Miranda…

Walt Disney Records’ Encanto soundtrack, containing eight original songs written by the 42-year-old Puerto Rican Tony Award-winning star and produced by Mike Elizondo, spends its fifth nonconsecutive week at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 albums chart, becoming the soundtrack with the most weeks atop the chart since Disney’s own Frozen ruled for 13 nonconsecutive weeks in 2014.

With their totals at No. 1 (so far), Frozen and Encanto boast the most, and second-most, weeks at No. 1, respectively, among soundtracks in the 21st century.

Encanto earned 110,000 equivalent album units in the U.S. in the week ending February 10 (down 2%), according to MRC Data.

Of Encanto’s 110,000 equivalent album units earned, SEA units comprise 91,000 (down 3%, equaling 134.82 million on-demand official streams of the set’s songs), album sales comprise 17,000 (up 5%) and TEA units comprise 2,000 (down 28%).

Encanto continues to be powered largely by streaming activity for its songs, including its five top 40-charting hits on the Billboard Hot 100: “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” (which spent its second week atop the February 12-dated chart), “Surface Pressure,” “The Family Madrigal,” “What Else Can I Do?” and the Academy Award-nominated “Dos Oruguitas.”

Notably, Encanto is one of only six soundtracks to spend at least five weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 in the last 30 years. Before Encanto, there was Frozen (13 weeks, 2014), Titanic (16, 1998), Waiting to Exhale (five, 1996), The Lion King (10, 1994-95) and the Whitney Houston-led The Bodyguard (20, 1992-93). (Before that, the last soundtrack with at least five weeks at No. 1 was Prince’s Batman in 1989, with six weeks at No. 1.) The soundtrack — and overall album — with the most weeks at No. 1 is West Side Story, with 54 weeks atop the list in 1962-63.

The Billboard 200 chart ranks the most popular albums of the week in the U.S. based on multi-metric consumption as measured in equivalent album units, compiled by MRC Data. Units comprise album sales, track equivalent albums (TEA) and streaming equivalent albums (SEA). Each unit equals one album sale, or 10 individual tracks sold from an album, or 3,750 ad-supported or 1,250 paid/subscription on-demand official audio and video streams generated by songs from an album.

Stephanie Beatriz & Her “Encanto” Cast Members Could Earn Their First No.1 on the U.K. Singles Charts

Posted on January 17, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Stephanie Beatriz and several of her fellow Encanto cast members could soon be chart-toppers across the pond…

The 40-year-old Colombian-Bolivian Argentine actress, Carolina Gaitán, Diane Guerrero, Adassa, Rhenzy Feliz and Mauro Castillo’s song from the hit animated Disney film, “We Don’t Talk About Bruno,” is on track to become the next No. 1 single in the U.K.

Based on 48 hours of sales and streaming activity, the Walt Disney track is in the pole position for the chart crown.

“We Don’t Talk About Bruno” leads the Official Chart Update, which ranks the most popular singles after the first weekend in the cycle, and would be the first-ever U.K. leader for each of the cast members credited on the track.

As “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” lifts 3-1 on the chart blast, Gayle’s “Abcdefu” (Atlantic) is set to slip from the summit, 1-2, with Adele’s former leader “Easy On Me” (Columbia) down 2-3.

According to the OCC, two more songs from the Encanto soundtrack are set for the U.K. Top 20.

“Surface Pressure” by Jessica Darrow could lift to a new peak of No. 6, and “The Family Madrigal” is poised to crack the Top 20 for the first time, at No. 19.

The Top 20 will be revealed when the Official U.K. Singles Chart is published late Friday, local time.

Tom Llamas to Serve as Primetime Anchor for NBC News Now Live-Streaming Service

Posted on April 26, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Life is but a stream(ing news service) for Tom Llamas…

The 41-year-old Cuban American broadcast journalist, a popular former ABC News anchor, has joined NBC News as a primetime anchor for its NBC News Now live-streaming service.

Llamas will work as a senior national correspondent and will also contribute reporting to the network’s flagship shows and breaking news and special events coverage.

The launch of his new show marks the first evening newscast for NBC News Now, which will face off against, among other competitors, a similar program anchored by Linsey Davis that is already running at ABC News — and which recently expanded its hours. He will start May 3.

“Tom brings with him more than two decades of experience tenaciously covering the news across multiple platforms and for many different audiences,” said Noah Oppenheim, president of NBC News, in a prepared statement. “Our viewers expect us to bring them smart and trustworthy journalism, wherever they are, and we’re thrilled that Tom will be bringing his expertise and passion to NBC News, NBC News Now and beyond.”

Llamas had been working as a senior anchor at ABC News, leading its weekend World News Tonight broadcast and working as its chief national affairs correspondent. He also served as a breaking-news anchor for ABC News Live, that company’s live-streaming service. In January, however, he abruptly left the Walt Disney-backed news division, and the identity of his next employer had been one of the news industry’s worst-kept secrets.

Llamas began his reporting career with NBC News in 2000, serving first with the specials unit at NBC News and then as a political campaign reporter for MSNBC. He also worked at NBC Owned Stations as an investigative reporter and anchor at WNBC in New York and as a reporter for WTVJ in Miami.

His new assignment illustrates the new focus traditional TV-news outlets are placing on streaming video. NBC News launched NBC News Now in May of 2019 and in recent months has started to expand the live hours it offers as well as the personnel assigned to them.

Carlos López Estrada Co-Directing Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Feature “Raya and the Last Dragon”

Posted on August 28, 2020 by Tom Castaneda

There’s a bright raya of light for Carlos López Estrada.

The 31-year-old Mexican-American music video, commercial and film director will co-direct Walt Disney Animation Studios’ animated feature Raya and the Last Dragon, starring Kelly Marie Tran as titular heroine.

Raya and the Last Dragon is set in the fantasy kingdom of Kumandra and follows a warrior who teams up with a crew of misfits in her quest to find the Last Dragon and bring light and unity back to their world. Tran is part of the voice cast that includes Awkawafina, who plays a dragon in human form named Sisu.

Lopez Estrada will co-direct the film with Don Hall, Paul Briggs and John Ripa.

Playwright Qui Nguyen serves as a co-writer with Adele Lim on the project.

“As filmmakers, Don and Carlos bring a combination of animation know-how and emotional storytelling to Raya and the Last Dragon, bringing our fantasy adventure to surprising, original, and dynamic heights,” said Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Chief Creative Officer Jennifer Lee. “They both saw the potential for this film and had a strong vision for the story, especially for our lead character, played by the wonderfully talented Kelly Marie Tran. And no small feat, directors Don and Carlos, writers Qui and Adele, and the entire crew of 400 Disney Animation artists are making this film together, while separated and working from home.”

Raya and the Last Dragon is set to debut on March 12, 2021.

Lopez Estrada, who earned a Latin Grammy in the Best Short Form Music Video category for directing Jesse & Joy’s “Me Voy” music video, previously directed Blindspotting.

Lionel Messi: The World’s Highest Paid Latino Celebrity

Posted on June 7, 2020 by Tom Castaneda

Lionel Messi isn’t just making goals… He’s makin’ some serious bank…

Forbes magazine has released its list of the world’s highest-paid celebrities, with the 32-year-old Argentine professional footballer coming in at No. 5 with $104 million, making his the highest-paid Latino celebrity in the world.

Messi has been awarded both FIFA‘s Player of the Year and the European Golden Shoe for top scorer on the continent a record six times. His 438 goals, including 36 hat tricks for Barcelona, is a club and La Liga record.

Neymarcomes in at No. 7…

The 28-year-old Brazilian professional footballer, who plays as a forward for Ligue 1 club Paris Saint-Germain and the Brazil national team, had reported earnings of $95.5 million.

Jennifer Lopez is the highest-paid Latina celebrity on Forbes’ list.

The 50-year-old Puerto Rican superstar,one of the more popular celebrities when it comes to endorsements, had earnings of $47.5 million. She has deals with Versace, DSW, Quay sunglasses and her own fragrances.

The multi-hyphenate also produced and starred in the 2019 film Hustlers.

Lin-Manuel Miranda has made Forbes’ list for the first time…

The 40-year-old Puerto Rican Broadway star had reported earnings of $45.5 million.

The Hamilton creator and star added to his haul from the Broadway hit in February when Walt Disney paid $75 million for the rights to air the filmed version of his Founding Father musical.

Other Latino/a celebrities making the list include Howie Dorough (along with his fellow Backstreet Boys), Sofia Vergara, Robert Trujillo (along with his fellow Metallica band mates), Rafael Nadal and Canelo Alvarez.

Here’s a look at the Latino/as making this year’s list:

No. 5 Lionel Messi, $104 million
No. 7 Neymar, $95.5 million
No. 56 Jennifer Lopez, $47.5 million
No. 62 Lin-Manuel Miranda, $45.5 million
No. 64 Backstreet Boys, $45 million
No. 71 Sofia Vergara, $43 million
No. 78 Metallica, $40.5 million
No. 80 Rafael Nadal, $40 million
No. 91 Canelo Alvarez, $37 million

Lin-Manuel Miranda Receives Saturn Awards Nomination for “Mary Poppins Returns”

Posted on July 16, 2019 by Tom Castaneda

It’s an out of the world honor for Lin-Manuel Miranda…

The 39-year-old Puerto Rican actor, composer/lyricist and Broadway legend has earned his first-ever Saturn Awards nomination.

Miranda earned the nod for in the Best Supporting Actor in a Film category for his acclaimed role in Disney’s Mary Poppins Returns.

Last year, Miranda earned his first-ever Golden Globesnomination in an acting category his the same role.

Wilson Cruzhas also picked up his first Satellite Awards nomination…

The 45-year-old Puerto Rican actor is nominated in the Best Supporting Actor in Streaming Presentation category for his role in CBS All Access’ Star Trek: Discovery.

The Saturn Awards prides itself in honoring genre entertainment since 1973 when it was started by the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Films, who will retool the fan-favorite awards show by moving it from June to September 13.

Because of that change, the eligibility window for this year’s nominations is based on a 16-month eligibility period from March 1, 2018 to July 7, 2019, rather than the usual 12 months.

As part of the reorganization, the show also will move to the Avalon Theatrein Los Angeles. A first-time streaming partner will be announced shortly in order to increase the global reach of the show as well.

Here’s a look at the Latino nominees:

Best Supporting Actor in a Film:
Josh Brolin Avengers: Infinity War (Marvel / Walt Disney Studios)
John Lithgow Pet Sematary (Paramount)
Lin-Manuel Miranda Mary Poppins Returns (Walt Disney Studios)
Lewis Pullman Bad Times at The El Royale (20th Century Fox)
Jeremy Renner Avengers: Endgame (Marvel / Walt Disney Studios)
Will Smith Aladdin (Walt Disney Studios)
Steven Yeun Burning (Well Go USA)

Best Supporting Actor in Streaming Presentation:
Wilson Cruz Star Trek: Discovery (CBS All Access)
Michiel Huisman The Haunting of Hill House (Netflix)
Timothy Hutton The Haunting of Hill House (Netflix)
Doug Jones Star Trek: Discovery (CBS All Access)
Ethan Peck Star Trek: Discovery (CBS All Access)
Maxwell Jenkins Lost in Space (Netflix)
Michael Sheen Good Omens (Amazon)

Jenni Rivera’s Family Releases New Single by the Late Singer “Aparentemente Bien” to Commemorate Her 50th Birthday

Posted on July 3, 2019 by Tom Castaneda

Jenni Rivera’s family is commemorating her 50th birthday in a special way…

The Riveras havedebuted a new emotional ballad recorded at the prime of the late singer’s career before she died in a plane crash in 2012.

“Aparentemente Bien” is about a broken heart and shows an emotional side of the regional Mexican star who is heard having a heart-rending moment during the recording of the song.

“I was surprised she was crying,” says Jenni’s sister Rosie Rivera. “To allow herself to be so vulnerable. I think it’s an empowering song and she was living in the moment.”

The song was discovered by sibling Juan Riveraon a hard drive, among several others, about three years ago after his sister died. “It was like a puzzle,” says Rosie, referring to the discovery of the songs. “To hear Jenni’s voice with a new song is a spectacular feeling.”

The Rivera family decided to wait for the right moment before releasing the track, which will be followed by others in a span of about a year before a new album debuts, Rosie said. The new music is part of several projects that were recently announced, including a biopic, among other projects.

“We weren’t sure about releasing this music three years ago,” Rosie said. “We weren’t sure if the world was ready, if the kids were ready. We feel everyone is getting a better place and is ready for her 50th birthday (July 2), the golden year. We want to give her the best.”

The new song was written by “Despacito” co-writer Erica Enderand Alejandro Lerner. Ender met Rivera in 2009 at a Miami after party following the Billboard Latin Music Awardsand both talked about music and working together. Ender sent Rivera music for consideration.

“I didn’t hear anything from Jenni,” Ender tells Billboard. “When I recently heard the song I thought it was Jenni’s daughter singing. When her family told me it was actually Jenni it was so emotional. The lyrics of the song also relate to how people feel about her loss.”

Rosie calls this new chapter part of a “takeover year” as a gift to fans who will see and hear different sides of the singer with many surprises along the way. Marlon Villardirected the “Aparentemente Bien” video, which features a substantial cast, including the Rivera family, actors portraying real moments from the Long Beach, Calif.-born singer’s life and stories that fans have lived as well and continue sharing with the Riveras.

Villar conceived and directed Ricardo Arjona‘s first-ever animated music video “El Cielo a Mi Favor” in 2018. The new Rivera music video has aWalt Disneytouch featuring Villar’s vibrant style.

The filmmakers of the new video also traveled to Iturbide, Mexico, where Rivera died. This week’s launch includes a new Jenni Rivera makeup line and a day after Fourth of July, Rivera’s image and new music will be part of a Times Squarebillboard for the day through aSpotifycampaign. The digital music platform will also celebrate Rivera’s birthday with a video series going live on July 2.

“This is a way to feel my daughter again,” said Rivera’s mother Doña Rosa. “She’ll continue singing and we are happy about that, but it’s also bittersweet because I won’t get to see her. But I feel her in my heart.”

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