Cuaron to Help Announce This Year’s Oscar Nominations Live

Posted on January 9, 2015 by Tom Castaneda

Alfonso Cuarón has a date with Oscar…

The 53-year-old Mexican filmmaker, who picked up two Oscars for his acclaimed film Gravity last year, will preside over the live announcement of this week’s 87th Academy Award nominations on the morning of Thursday, January 15.

Cuarón will be joined by JJ Abrams, Chris Pine and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences president Cheryl Boone Isaacs for the announcement.

For the first time nomimations in all 24 categories will be unveiled live as part of a format revamp: a two-part live news conference at the Academy’s Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills.

At 5:30 AM PT, Cuarón and Abrams will announce the nominees in the following categories: Animated Feature Film, Documentary Feature, Documentary Short Subject, Film Editing, Original Song, Production Design, Animated Short Film, Live Action Short Film, Sound Editing, Sound Mixing and Visual Effects.

At 5:38 AM PT, Pine and Boone Isaacs will take the stage to unveil the nominations for Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor, Best Supporting Actress, Cinematography, Costume Design, Directing, Foreign Language Film, Makeup and Hairstyling, Original Score, Adapted Screenplay, Original Screenplay and Best Picture.

“Each of the three years we’ve produced the show, we have attempted to refresh elements of the process and the telecast,” said Zadan and Meron in a release today. “This year, we’re honored to start a new tradition that celebrates the contributions of all the nominees by announcing all 24 categories. We’re thrilled that a distinguished actor and two world-class film directors are part of the initial launch.”

Ortiz Cast in Disney’s “The Finest Hours”

Posted on September 27, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

John Ortiz’s finest hour has arrived…

The 46-year-old Puerto Rican actor, director and producer has joined the cast of Disney’s The Finest Hours, which chronicles the massive rescue mission that’s launched when a pair of oil tankers split in two off the coast of Cape Cod in 1952.

Directed by Craig Gillespie, the film stars Chris Pine and Casey Affleck, as well as Keiynan Lonsdale, Michael Raymond James and Rachel Brosnahan

Seen recently in Fox Searchlight’s The Drop, Ortiz will play A.B. Seaman Wallace Quirey.

His recent credits also include Michael Mann’s upcoming feature Blackhat as well as a recurring role on HBO’s Togetherness.

His other film credits include Carlito’s Way, Miami Vice and American Gangster.

Orci In Talks to Write the Next Star Trek Film…

Posted on August 6, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

Roberto Orci will be trekking into familiar territory…

The Mexican-American film and television writer and producer and his business partner Alex Kurtzman are in talks to pen the next Star Trek outing for Paramount Pictures and Skydance Productions.

Orci and Kurtzman co-wrote the previous two installments for director J.J. Abrams, who is in negotiations to produce Star Trek 3 through his Bad Robot production company. Damon Lindelof also shared writing credit on this summer’s Star Trek Into Darkness. Sources say Lindelof will not be back for the third chapter of the rebooted franchise.

Though the project is shrouded in secrecy, much like Star Trek Into Darkness was, reports have surfaced in recent weeks that the studio would tap new writers. Rumors swirled that other young writing teams were being courted for their takes. But Paramount shifted gears recently and is returning to the duo that breathed new life into the moribund franchise. The tricky part was getting Kurtzman and Orci to find a gap in their schedules to write. In addition to their growing TV empire, they have been busy on the film front as part of their two-year first-look deal with Universal Pictures that has them rebooting The Mummy and Van Helsing.

The next Star Trek film is untitled and unscheduled, but Paramount and Skydance are eager to continue the franchise, which will celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2016. Stars Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto and Zoe Saldana are expected to return.

Alba to Star in the Action-Comedy Film “Stretch”

Posted on July 24, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

Jessica Alba is stretching herself for her next role…

The 32-year-old half-Mexican American actress has joined the cast of Universal Pictures and Blumhouse Productions’ action-comedy Stretch.

Alba’s co-stars in the film include Patrick Wilson, Ed Helms, Chris Pine and Brooklyn Decker.

Directed by The Grey’s Joe Carnahan, Stretch follows a limo driver (portrayed by Wilson) on his last shift who picks up a billionaire (Pine) whose freaky special requests get darker as the night rolls on.

The March 21, 2014 release is being produced by Jason Blum as part of his first-look deal with Universal.

Alba recently wrapped work on Film Arcade’s A.C.O.D. and appears in IFC’s Will Ferrell fronted spoof The Spoils Of Babylon. She returns to Robert Rodriguez and Frank Miller’s Sin City franchise next summer in Dimension’s Sin City: A Dame to Kill For.

Plaza to Receive Breakthrough Performer of the Year Award at This Year’s CinemaCon

Posted on April 12, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

Aubrey Plaza is about to get her breakthrough…

The Will Rogers Motion Picture Pioneers Foundation has announced that the 28-year-old half-Puerto Rican actress/comedian and Parks and Recreation star will receive the Breakthrough Performer of the Year award at this year’s CinemaCon.

Plaza, who graces the cover of Complex Magazine’s April/May cover, earned kudos for her starring role in the indie film Safety Not Guaranteed. She’ll next star in The To Do List.

The awards dinner will take place April 15-18 at CinemaCon in Las Vegas.

Others to be honored include: Breakthrough Filmmaker of the Year — Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Cinema Icon Award — Morgan Freeman, Male Star of Tomorrow — Armie Hammer, Female Star of Tomorrow — Hailee Steinfeld, Award of Excellence in Acting — Elizabeth Banks, Comedy Duo of the Year — Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson, Lifetime Achievement Award — Harrison Ford, Male Star of the Year — Chris Pine and Female Star of the Year — Melissa McCarthy.

Saldaña to Co-Host Oscar’s Scientific and Technical Awards

Posted on January 18, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

Zoë Saldaña has a date with Oscar…

The 34-year-old half-Puerto Rican & half-Dominican American actress and her Star Trek co-star Chris Pine will co-host the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ Scientific and Technical Awards on Saturday, February 9, at The Beverly Hills Hotel.

Saldaña and Pine – who will be starring in the highly anticipated Star Trek sequel, Star Trek Into Darkness –will present nine awards to 25 individual recipients during the evening’s festivities.

Portions of the Scientific and Technical Awards Presentation, produced this year by David Friendly, will be included in the Oscar telecast.

Academy Awards for outstanding film achievements of 2012 will be presented on Sunday, February 24, at the Dolby Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center, and televised live on ABC.

Saldaña Sheds Tears in the Teaser Trailer for “Star Trek Into Darkness”

Posted on December 6, 2012 by Tom Castaneda

Zoë Saldaña is getting all emotional in the new Star Trek film…

In the just released teaser trailer for Star Trek Into Darkness – the J.J. Abrams-directed sequel to the blockbuster 2009 series reboot – the 34-year-old half-Puerto Rican & half-Dominican American actress sheds a few tears in one of her scenes in the trailer.

Saldaña, reprising her role as Uhura, is spotted with her hands in her face, being held tightly by a distraught Scotty (Simon Pegg). In another, she’s seen looking up at something in the sky.

Getting more attention in the trailer: Benedict Cumberbatch, as The Darkness. The BAFTA and Emmy-nominated Sherlock star looms large and destructive in the teaser. Even though his role is still unclear, Cumberbatch is definitely not a nice guy. And, he’s a major turncoat, taking on Captain Kirk (Chris Pine), Spock (Zachary Quinto) and the rest of the Enterprise.

From the first look, his destruction is mighty, and it more than shatters what he calls their illusion of safety. Get ready for an extra teaser on December 17, for a few more morsels ahead of the first trailer.

Star Trek Into Darkness lands in theaters on May 15, 2013.

Star Trek 2: del Toro Out, Ramirez In?

Posted on December 10, 2011 by Tom Castaneda

Edgar Ramirez received critical acclaim for his playing the infamous terrorist and murderer Carlos the Jackal in the TV miniseries Carlos… And, now he could be playing an out of this world baddie.

With Benicio del Toro no longer interested in starring as the villain in the sequel to the Star Trek reboot and production set to begin soon, J.J. Abrams is working ‘round the clock to cast the important role. And, he’s reportedly set his sights on Ramirez.

The 34-year-old Venezuelan actor is reportedly in talks to play the villain in Star Trek 2. Although Abrams hasn’t confirmed the role, several sources report the villain character in the film will be Khan. Mexican actor Ricardo Montalban played Khan in the classic Star Trek: Wrath of Khan.

Ramirez reportedly tested for the role via Skype this week.

But he isn’t the only Latino that Abrams is considering.

Jordi Mollà is reportedly in the running as well. The 43-year-old Spanish actor has starred in Colombiana, Knight and Day and Bad Boys 2.

Production on the new Star Trek movie is expected to begin on January 15, with Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Zoe Saldana, Karl Urban, Simon Pegg, John Cho and Anton Yelchin expected to return to the cast.

The movie is scheduled to hit theaters nationwide on May 17, 2013.

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