Horta Developing the Family Drama “The Divine Monster” for Television

Posted on October 24, 2015 by Tom Castaneda

There’s a new monster project in Silvio Horta’s horizon…

The 41-year-old Cuban American writer/producer, best known for adapting the hit Colombian telenovela Yo Soy Betty La Fea into the award-winning ABC series Ugly Betty, has teamed with producer-director Brett Ratner for The Divine Monster.

The twisty family drama is based on the Belgian series of the same name (original title Het Goddelijke Monster).

Written by Horta, The Divine Monster chronicles the fall of the wealthy Vega family of Miami, whose real estate empire is built upon decades of greed, corruption, generally bad behavior and an alarming number of curious deaths.

Horta is executive producing with Ratner.

Warner Bros. Television, where Horta is under an overall deal, is the studio, producing with Horta’s Silent H Productions and Ratner’s RatPac Television.

The project has a script commitment.

Written by Rick D’Hiet based on the novels by Tom Lanoye, the Eyeworks-produced Het Goddelijke Monster aired in 2011.

Carey to Receive Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame

Posted on July 28, 2015 by Tom Castaneda

Mariah Carey is about to twinkle a little brighter in Hollywood…

The 45-year-old half-Venezuelan American singer will receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Wednesday, August 5, according to the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce.

Following the news, Carey took to her Instagram account to share her excitement over the honor and to thank her fans for all their love and support over the years.

“Super excited and feeling so humbled about my star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Thank you so much to the fans for making this happen for me,” she captioned a photo of a mock-up star imprinted with her name.

Next week, Carey will be the 2,556th celebrity to receive a plaque on the walkway. Directors Lee Daniels and Brett Ratner and Epic Records CEO L.A. Reid are expected to speak about the “Without You” songstress during the ceremony.

Throughout her more than 25-year career in the music industry, Mariah — who has four-year-old twins, Moroccan and Monroe, with her estranged husband, Nick Cannon — has released 18 No. 1 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and has won five Grammys.

She’s currently performing in Las Vegas with a residency at Caesars Palace, which began on May 6.

Carey Releases the Music Video for Latest Single “Infinity”

Posted on June 1, 2015 by Tom Castaneda

It’s too infinity and beyond for Mariah Carey…

The 45-year-old half-Venezuelan singer has released the official music video for her latest single, “Infinity.”

Carey, a five-time Grammy winner, shared the clip overnight with a tweet to her 15.5 million followers.

Filmed by Brett Ratner, the video showcases Carey in all her diva glory as she drinks champagne and dabs herself in her very own-branded perfume.

Supermodel Tyson Beckford and Empire actor Jussie Smollett make blink-and-you’ll miss cameos.

“Infinity” is the new single from Carey’s latest album release #1 to Infinity, which was timed to coincide with her residency at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas.

Carey Reveals Track List for Her Greatest Hits Album “#1 To Infinity”

Posted on April 14, 2015 by Tom Castaneda

Mariah Carey will have you feeling emotions and more in the near future…

After releasing the album artwork for Mariah Carey #1 To Infinity, a comprehensive greatest-hits package consisting of all 18 of her Billboard Hot 100 No. 1s, the 45-year-old half-Venezuelan-American singer has confirmed its release date.

Due May 18 on Epic Records/Columbia Records/Sony Legacy, Infinity reunites Carey with Epic chairman-CEO Antonio “L.A.” Reid, who helped spearhead Carey’s mid-2000’s comeback with The Emancipation of Mimi as then-chairman of Island Def Jam Records. In addition to Carey’s 15 Sony No. 1’s and three Universal No. 1’s, the album will include one brand-new selection, title track “Infinity.” The song will premiere globally on April 27 via all digital services, as well as a video directed by Carey’s longtime collaborator Brett Ratner. Carey is also expected to host a kick-off event for her upcoming Caesars Palace residency in Las Vegas on April 27, with more details to be announced shortly.

“I couldn’t be more thrilled to be back together again with Mariah,” says Reid in a statement. “There is really no one who comes close to Mariah as both a songwriter and a singer, and as the world knows, her vocal range is legendary and truly incomparable. Her music is indelibly etched into our culture, and she’s shattered so many chart records that she’s now firmly entrenched in the history books. With a fierce and loyal fan base that covers every corner of the globe, I have no doubt Mariah will do it again.”

Infinity is the first release in a multi-album deal with Epic, which Carey signed earlier this year. Carey will perform all 18 No. 1s for the first time ever as part of her residency at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace, and is expected to pepper fan-favorite album cuts and previously never-performed tracks into each set as well. The first 18 confirmed 2015 performances are May 6, 9, 10, 13, 16, 17, 20, 23, 24; and July 8, 11, 12, 15, 18, 19, 22, 25, 26. Tickets are available at thecolosseum.com or axs.com.

Here’s the complete Mariah Carey #1 To Infinity Tracklist:
(Includes weeks at No. 1 on Billboard Hot 100)

1. “Vision of Love” (4 weeks, 1990)
2. “Love Takes Time” (3 weeks, 1990)
3. “Someday” (MTV Unplugged version) (2 weeks, 1991)
4. “I Don’t Wanna Cry” (2 weeks, 1991)
5. “Emotions” (3 weeks, 1991)
6. “I’ll Be There” (featuring Trey Lorenz) (2 weeks, 1992)
7. “Dreamlover” (8 weeks, 1993)
8. “Hero” (4 weeks, 1993)
9. “Fantasy” (Bad Boy Fantasy featuring O.D.B.) (8 weeks, 1995)
10. “One Sweet Day” (featuring Boyz II Men) (16 weeks,1995-1996)
11. “Always Be My Baby” (2 weeks, 1996)
12. “Honey” (3 weeks, 1997)
13. “My All” (1 week, 1998)
14. “Heartbreaker” (featuring Jay-Z) (2 weeks, 1999)
15. “Thank God I Found You” (featuring Joe & 98 Degrees) (1 week, 2000)
16. “We Belong Together” (14 weeks, 2005)
17. “Don’t Forget About Us” (2 weeks, 2005)
18. “Touch My Body” (2 weeks, 2008)
19. “Infinity” (2015)

Garcia Cast in CBS’ Hour-Long Pilot “Rush Hour”

Posted on March 9, 2015 by Tom Castaneda

Aimee Garcia is ready, ready, ready to rush…

The 36-year-old Mexican American and Puerto Rican actress, who starred on Showtime’s Dexter, has been cast as the female lead opposite Jon Foo in CBS’ hour-long pilot Rush Hour.

The pilot, written by Bill Lawrence and Blake McCormick and directed by Jon Turteltaub, centers on Lee (Foo), a stoic, by-the-book Hong Kong police officer assigned to a case in Los Angeles, where he’s forced to work with Carter, a cocky black LAPD officer who has no interest in a partner.

Garcia will play Didi Diaz, a sergeant with the LAPD who chose to leave the streets once she became a mom. Didi is Carter’s former partner who knows him better than most people and is not afraid to call him out.

The movies’ director Brett Ratner will executive produce.

Garcia most recently starred in MGM’s Robocop remake.

Puig’s Escape-to-the-United States Story Headed to Hollywood

Posted on April 27, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Yasiel Puig’s escape to America is headed to the big screen…

Brett Ratner and his RatPac Entertainment have acquired the rights to Jesse Katz’ article Escape From Cuba: Yasiel Puig’s Untold Journey to the Dodgers, according to the Hollywood Reporter.

Ratner will produce the film adaptation of the Los Angeles Times article with Beau Flynn via his FlynnPictureCo. banner.

The article, which appeared in the newspaper earlier this, chronicles the 23-year-old Cuban professional baseball outfielder and Los Angeles Dodgers superstar’s repeated attempts to flee his native Cuba.

Puig finally succeeded when a wealthy but shady sponsor arranged for smugglers working for one of Mexico’s murderous drug cartels to pick Puig up in a speedboat and take him to the Yucatan Peninsula. But when his backer allegedly did not immediately pay the agreed-upon fee, the smugglers held Puig captive for almost three weeks.

His trek to America ultimately ended successfully with a lucrative deal with the Major League Baseball team – but the piece also highlighted the dangers other Cubans face when trying to find a better life in the U.S.

Puig played for the Cuban national baseball team in the 2008 World Junior Baseball Championship, winning a bronze medal. He defected from Cuba in 2012, and signed a seven-year, $42 million contract with the Dodgers. He made his MLB debut on June 3, 2013. In 2013, Puig hit .319 in 104 games with 19 home runs, and was selected by Baseball America to its annual All-Rookie team.

Cannavale Starring in “Movie 43”

Posted on January 21, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

He may be reportedly dating actress Rose Byrne, but Bobby Cannavale still has plans for a little speed dating later this month…

The 42-year-old half Cuban actor, nominated for two SAG Awards this year for his recurring roles on HBO’s Boardwalk Empire and Showtime’s Nurse Jackie, will appear in Movie 43, a series of interconnected short films that follow three kids as they search the depths of the Internet to find the most banned movie in the world.

Cannavale appears as Fake Superman in the segment called “Super Hero Speed Dating,” opposite of Uma Thurman as Fake Lois Lane.

The cast of Movie 43 includes Kristen Bell, Halle Berry, Gerard Butler, Josh Duhamel, Richard Gere, Terrence Howard, Hugh Jackman, Emma Stone, Jason Sudeikis, Naomi Watts and Kate Winslet.

The film’s segment directors include Steven Brill, Peter Farrelly, Griffin Dunne and Brett Ratner.

Movie 43 opens January 25.

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