Rio de Janeiro’s Mayor Paes Wants Woody Allen to Film in His City

The 2014 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 Olympic Games may not be the only high-profile “events” to take place in Rio de Janeiro… At least if Eduardo Paes has his way.

The 43-year-old Brazilian politician, the city’s mayor, has told Brazilian newspaper O Globo that he will pay “whatever it takes” to get Woody Allen to shoot there.

Eduardo Paes

Over the past several years, the noted director has crisscrossed the globe, making his movies in the U.S. and Europe. But Paes thinks Allen should come to Latin America for his next effort.

Paes further pledged, “I’ll pay 100% of the production.” He said he’s gone to great lengths to express his desire to Allen, including speaking with his sister, producer Letty Aronson, and getting a message to him via architect Santiago Calatrava.

Rio de Janeiro

Brazil has made headlines recently for uprisings over, among other things, government spending on the upcoming World Cup and Summer Olympics.

But Paes said he would put up with expected criticisms from locals for handing over “the millions” that would be required to film an Allen movie in Rio.

Trailer Released for Vergara’s Comedy Film “Fading Gigolo”

Sofia Vergara will be setting tongues wagging in theaters…

The 41-year-old Colombian actress is starring in the left-field comedy Fading Gigolo, a film that recently saw its trailer released.

Sofia Vergara and Sharon Stone

Written and directed by John Turturro, the film stars Woody Allen as a bookseller-turned-pimp to Turturro’s unlikely Don Juan.

The film was just added to the lineup at next month’s Toronto Film Festival.

Vergara portrays Selima in the film, which also stars Sharon Stone and Vanessa Paradis.

“Blue Jasmine,” Starring Louis C.K., Shines Bright Like a Diamond in Limited Release

Louis C.K. has no reason to feel blue about the box office performance of his latest project…

The 45-year-old Mexican American stars in Woody Allen’s ensemble drama Blue Jasmine, which sparkled like a diamond at the box office this weekend.

Louis C.K. in Blue Jasmine

The film, which co-stars Alec Baldwin, Cate Blanchett and Bobby Cannavale, grossed nearly $603,000 in limited release, outperforming the performance of Allen’s last film Midnight in Paris (a $99,834 debut average in six theaters), which was the director’s best-grossing film to date.

Blue Jasmine, released by Sony Pictures Classics, opened in six theaters, averaging $102,128, placing the film atop the year’s specialty debuts.

“It certainly belies the myth opening,” said SPC’s Michael Barker about debuting against the summer blockbusters like The Wolverine. “When we first screened the film I remember we heard that people said, ‘Why aren’t you waiting until the fall?’ Our response was that a good serious film will be a good breath of fresh air.”

Blue Jasmine edges out Selena Gomez’s Spring Breakers in the averages game so far in 2013.

Louis C.K. portrays Al in the film, which centers on Blanchett’s New York socialite character who moves into her sister’s modest apartment in San Francisco to try to pull herself back together after her life falls apart, including her marriage to wealthy businessman Hal (Baldwin).

Cruz Gives Birth to Second Child with Javier Bardem

Penélope Cruz and husband Javier Bardem will be pulling double duty from now on.

The 39-year-old Spanish actress and the 44-year-old Spanish actor welcomed their second child, a daughter, on Monday.

Penelope Cruz & Javier Bardem

Cruz gave birth at Madrid’s Ruber International hospital just to the north of the city, where Spain’s Crown Princess Letizia gave birth to her two daughters, a hospital source said.

“The couple checked in yesterday and she gave birth yesterday,” the source told AFP without specifying the gender of the baby.

Cruz gave birth to a girl “just a few hours” after Kate Middleton welcomed her little boy in St Mary’s Hospital in London on Monday, according to the online edition of Spanish celebrity magazine Hola!.

The new arrival is the couple’s second child. They are already parents to two-year-old son Leonardo, who was born at Cedars Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles in 2011.

Cruz and Bardem met when they starred opposite each other in Bigas Luna‘s film Jamon, Jamon back in 1992.

In 2008, they were back together on the silver screen in Woody Allen‘s Vicky Cristina Barcelona, for which Cruz won an Academy Award as best supporting actress.

Bardem, nominated for an Oscar in Before Night Falls, won an Academy Award in 2007 for his role in No Country for Old Men.

The couple married in July 2010 at a ceremony in the Bahamas after keeping their romance quiet for years.

Both Bardem and Cruz star in Ridley Scott‘s The Counselor, a high-profile autumn release written by Scott and also featuring Brad Pitt, Cameron Diaz and Michael Fassbender.

Louis C.K. Wins His First Writers Guild Award

Louis C.K. has picked up his first Writers Guild Award

The 45-year-old half-Mexican American actor, stand-up comedian and Emmy-winning writer was named the winner in the comedy series category at Sunday’s 65th Annual Writers Guild Awards ceremony.

Louis C.K.

Louis C.K., who will be starring in Woody Allen’s latest film Blue Jasmine this summer, won the award for penning his critically acclaimed FX series Louie, alongside Pamela Adlon and Vernon Chatman.

Fred Armisen won the WGA Award in the Comedy/Variety Series category. The 46-year-old half-Venezuelan actor and former Saturday Night Live star took home the prize for penning his IFC series Portlandia, along with fellow writers Carrie Brownstein, Karey Dornetto, Jonathan Krisel and Bill Oakley.

PBSMarcela Gaviria won the WGA Award in the Documentary – Current Events category. The Colombia-born journalist and filmmaker earned the award for penning Frontline’s “Money, Power and Wall Street: Episode One” documentary with Martin Smith.

The Writers Guild Awards, presented by the Writers Guild of America, honor outstanding achievement in writing in film, television, radio, new media, and other awards categories.

Cruz Confirms Her Second Pregnancy…

It’s official… Penelope Cruz has confirmed her second pregnancy…

The news about the 38-year-old Spanish actress and her husband Javier Bardem expecting another child broke earlier this month. But Cruz’s publicist, Javier Giner, made it official this week.
Penelope Cruz & Javier Bardem
Cruz’s publicist says the To Rome with Love actress was “extremely happy and very excited” about the baby news. But Giner refused to give further details about the pregnancy, including the due date.

Cruz and Bardem are already the proud parents to 2-year-old Leonardo.

The power couple began dating after meeting on the set of Woody Allen‘s 2007 movie Vicky Cristina Barcelona, the film that earned Cruz an Oscar. They wed in July 2010 at ceremony at a friend’s home in the Bahamas. Six months later, in January 2011, Leonardo was born at Los Angeles’ Cedars Sinai Hospital.

Cruz shared her story with the press about being a mother, “From the first second, you feel so much love.” She added, “It is a revolutionary experience. That’s the best way I can describe it. It transforms you completely, in a second. Nature is very wise and gives you nine months to prepare, but in that moment, when you see that face, you are transformed forever.”

Louis C.K.’s “Blue Jasmine” Opening in LA & New York This July

Louis C.K. will have a Blue summer…

The 45-year-old half-Mexican American actor, comedian and Emmy-winning writer and director is starring in Woody Allen’s Blue Jasmine, which will debut in New York and Los Angeles on July 26.

Louis C.K.

Sony Pictures Classics describes Blue Jasmine as “the story of the final stages of an acute crisis and a life of a fashionable New York housewife.”

Along with Louis C.K., in his first feature film since 2009’s The Invention of Lying, the film stars Cate Blanchett, Alec Baldwin, Bobby Cannavale, Peter Sarsgaard and Andrew Dice Clay.

The film was shot in New York City and San Francisco last year.

Louis C.K. In Talks to Star in David O. Russell’s Next Film

He’s the king of comedy… And, now Louis C.K. is thisclose to partnering with one of Hollywood’s hottest directors…

The 45-year-old half-Mexican American actor/comedian, who recently starred in Woody Allen‘s upcoming comedy Blue Jasmine, is in talks to take on a key role in David O. Russell‘s next project, an untitled film formerly dubbed American Bullshit.

Louis C.K.

The period drama, which has Christian Bale, Bradley Cooper, Jeremy Renner and Amy Adams attached to star, begins production next month.

Penned by The International’s Eric Singer, the film centers on con artist Mel Weinberg, who worked with the FBI in a far-reaching corruption case that stretched from Atlantic City to Washington, D.C. Louis C.K. will portray an FBI agent.

The film is tentatively set for release in late 2013. Columbia Pictures will handle U.S. distribution.

Louis C.K., who took home multiple Emmys in September for his work on FX’s Louie, is up for best performance by an actor in a TV series musical or comedy for the hit series at this weekend’s Golden Globes.

Vergara Dons Black Lingerie on the Set of “Fading Gigolo”

Sofia Vergara isn’t afraid to bust out on the set of her next project…

The 40-year-old Colombian actress has been caught in the act of wearing oh-so-revealing black lingerie on the set of her new film with Sharon Stone, Fading Gigolo.

Sofia Vergara in Fading Gigolo

Vergara, who recently stripped down for artist Domingo Zapata, demonstrates that her ample assets are certainly age-defying as she portrays a wealthy woman, bored in her marriage.

According to the U.K.’s Daily Mail, she engages in a three-way relationship with Stone’s character, a dermatologist, and a male escort played by John Turturro. Playing cash-strapped bookstore owner-turned pimp to Turturro in the film is Woody Allen.

The comedy, which also stars Liev Schreiber, Vanessa Paradis and Jill Scott, is slated for release in 2013.

Vergara to Star in Fading Gigolo

Sofia Vergara has landed a pimped up role…

The 40-year-old Colombian actress and Modern Family star, who allegedly got engaged to boyfriend Nick Loeb last week, will reportedly star in Fading Gigolo, according to Deadline.com.

Sofia Vergara

Written and directed by actor John Turturro, the film revolves around a book store owner with a money-making scheme who convinces his friend (played by Turturro) that a fortune can be made by becoming a professional gigolo.

In addition to Vergara and Turturro, the film stars  Woody Allen, Sharon Stone, Vanessa Paradis and Liev Schreiber.

No word yet on what role Vergara will play in the movie.

In addition to Fading Gigolo, Vergara has signed on to star in two other high-profile projects: The Smurfs sequel and Machete Kills with Jessica Alba and Danny Trejo.

Filming on Fading Gigolo is expected to begin in October.