Eva Longoria to Deliver Keynote Address at Mipcom Cannes Next Month

Posted on September 22, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Eva Longoria is preparing for a special keynote address…

The 48-year-old Mexican American actress, director, producer and Desperate Housewives star will deliver a joint keynote at Mipcom Cannes next month.

Alongside Banijay Americas chairman Cris Abrego, the Emmy-nominated Longoria will delve into the latest themes defining the entertainment industry, forecasting how they may shape the future both creatively and commercially.

The keynote will take place in the Grand Auditorium of the Palais des Festivals in Cannes on Monday, October 16 at 4:00 pm local time, as part of Mipcom’s Media Masterminds track.

Longoria and Abrego have been professional collaborators for more than two decades. Their talk will highlight their experiences and insights as industry leaders.

Besides her acting roles, Longoria has run her own production business UnbeliEVAble Entertainment since 2005. The company is behind ABC’s Grand Hotel, NBC’s Telenovela and Netflix’s Emmy Award-nominated documentary Reversing Row, as well as the culinary docuseries Eva Longoria: Searching for Mexico for CNN.

She made her feature directorial debut through Flamin’ Hot, which was released earlier this year through Searchlight Pictures on Disney+ and Hulu, and engages in philanthropic work and activism on issues such as diversity in the media and Latina entrepreneurism.

Abrego, the founder of 51 Minds Entertainment and a key player in the establishment of reality television in the U.S., is one of the most prominent television executives in the Americas and currently leads acquisitions and new business ventures across North and South America for Banijay.

“Mipcom Cannes is one of the industry’s most significant global marketplaces, and it’s an honor to join the conversation as a keynote speaker alongside Cris,” said Longoria. “Our industry is facing tremendous disruption and transformation which can lead to opportunities that can transform and reshape the future of what content looks like. I’m looking forward to discussing how we can drive what’s to come.”

Mipcom will run from October 17-19 in Cannes, France. Several industry keynotes such as Warner Bros Discovery International president Gerhard Zeiler have already been announced.

Univision’s Ilia Calderón to Serve as a Moderator for Next Republican Presidential Debate

Posted on August 30, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Ilia Calderón is reporting for debate duty…

The 51-year-old Colombian Emmy-winning journalist, who currently works as the news anchor for Univision’s national evening newscast, and Fox News Media’s Stuart Varney and Dana Perino will serve as the moderators for the next Republican presidential debate, which is set for September 27 at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, CA.

Fox Business and Univision are the main networks telecasting the debate, which will air between 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. ET, but Fox News also will simulcast the event at the same time, and Fox Nation will livestream it for its subscribers.

Fox News’s coverage of the first GOP debate last week drew 12.8 million viewers on the network and its simulcast on Fox Business.

Plans have not yet been announced for the third presidential debate, but it’s expected to be held in October in Tuscaloosa, AL.

Donald Trump, the front-runner for the nomination, skipped the first debate and is not expected to attend the Reagan Library event, given his past comments about the chairman of the Reagan Foundation, Fred Ryan.

Candidates also have a higher threshold to qualify for the event. They need to have a minimum of 50,000 unique donors, as well as a minimum of 3 percent in two national polls or a combination of three national and state polls.

“Barbie,” Starring America Ferrera, Becomes Highest-Grossing Movie of the Year in North America

Posted on August 24, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

America Ferrera is a box office champ…

Barbie, starring the 39-year-old Honduran American Emmy and Golden Globe-winning actress, is officially the highest-grossing movie of the year in North America.Greta Gerwig’s fantasy-comedy, starring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling, has generated $575.4 million at the domestic box office, overtaking the previous champion, The Super Mario Bros. Movie, which has collected $574 million domestically.

Barbie has grossed $1.3 billion globally and will soon surpass The Super Mario Bros. Movie (with $1.35 billion globally) as the biggest worldwide release of 2023 as well.

Only two Hollywood blockbusters this year have crossed the $1 billion mark and, notably, neither were superhero adventures or sequels in popular franchises.

Barbie started its record-breaking theatrical run in July with the best debut of the year ($162 million) and remained the No. 1 movie for four consecutive weekends. It also landed the biggest opening weekend for a film directed by a woman and became the highest-grossing movie directed solely by a woman.

At this point, Barbie is the 14th-biggest domestic release and 20th-biggest global release of all time.

Barbie also recently surpassed Christopher Nolan’s superhero epic The Dark Knight ($536 million) as the highest-grossing domestic release in Warner Bros. history. It could eventually eclipse 2011’s Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 ($1.34 billion) as the studio’s highest-grossing worldwide release in 100 years.

Gerwig, the Oscar-nominated director of Lady Bird and Little Women, co-wrote the screenplay with her partner Noah Baumbach. The cotton candy-colored blockbuster follows the popular doll as she leaves behind the seemingly perfect world of Barbie Land to discover the highs and lows of life in the real world. The cast also includes Issa Rae, Will Ferrell, Kate McKinnon, Simu Liu and Michael Cera.

Pedro Pascal Awarded Gold Derby TV Awards’ Performer of the Year Prize

Posted on August 17, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

It’s the Golden hour for Pedro Pascal…

The 48-year-old Chilean actor has claimed the Performer of the Year award, the most coveted prize, at this year’s Gold Derby TV Awards.

That award honors a performer for their overall impact throughout the television season; Pascal’s one-two punch of The Last of Us and Saturday Night Live (for which we also awarded the Best Comedy Guest Actor prize, not to mention his Emmy-nominated narration for the nature program Patagonia helped him secure that prize for the first time, bringing his career total to four Gold Derby TV Awards.

He previously won Best Drama Guest Actor and Best Drama Guest Actor of the Decade (2010-2019) for his stint on Game of Thrones.

More than 1,400 registered Gold Derby users voted worldwide to decide the winners of the 20th annual Gold Derby TV Awards, which honor the best achievements in television and streaming programs from June 2022 through May 2023.

Here’s a look at the complete list of winners:

DRAMA SERIES:
“Succession”

DRAMA ACTRESS:
Sarah Snook, “Succession”

DRAMA ACTOR:
Kieran Culkin, “Succession”

DRAMA SUPPORTING ACTRESS:
Rhea Seehorn, “Better Call Saul”

DRAMA SUPPORTING ACTOR:
Matthew Macfadyen, “Succession”

DRAMA GUEST ACTRESS:
Harriet Walter, “Succession”

DRAMA GUEST ACTOR:
Nick Offerman, “The Last of Us”

DRAMA EPISODE:
“Succession” – “Connor’s Wedding”
Writer: Jesse Armstrong
Director: Mark Mylod

COMEDY SERIES:
“The Bear”

COMEDY ACTRESS:
Quinta Brunson, “Abbott Elementary”

COMEDY ACTOR:
Jeremy Allen White, “The Bear”

COMEDY SUPPORTING ACTRESS:
Ayo Edebiri, “The Bear”

COMEDY SUPPORTING ACTOR:
Anthony Carrigan, “Barry”

COMEDY GUEST ACTRESS:
Taraji P. Henson, “Abbott Elementary”

COMEDY GUEST ACTOR:
Pedro Pascal, “Saturday Night Live”

COMEDY EPISODE:
“The Bear” – “Review”
Writer: Joanna Calo
Director: Christopher Storer

LIMITED SERIES:
“Beef”

TV MOVIE:
“Weird: The Al Yankovic Story”

LIMITED/MOVIE ACTRESS:
Ali Wong, “Beef”

LIMITED/MOVIE ACTOR:
Steven Yeun, “Beef”

LIMITED/MOVIE SUPPORTING ACTRESS:
Niecy Nash-Betts, “Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story”

LIMITED/MOVIE SUPPORTING ACTOR:
Paul Walter Hauser, “Black Bird”

VARIETY SCRIPTED SERIES:
“Saturday Night Live”

VARIETY TALK SERIES:
“The Problem with Jon Stewart”

COMPETITION PROGRAM:
“RuPaul’s Drag Race”

REALITY HOST:
RuPaul Charles, “RuPaul’s Drag Race”

ANIMATED PROGRAM:
“Harley Quinn”

PERFORMER OF THE YEAR:
Pedro Pascal

BREAKTHROUGH PERFORMER OF THE YEAR:
Ayo Edebiri

ENSEMBLE OF THE YEAR:
“Succession”

David Noriega Joins NBC News & MSNBC as Los Angeles-Based Correspondent

Posted on August 15, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

David Noriega has a new base…

The Colombian American journalist and broadcast news correspondent has joined NBC News and MSNBC as a correspondent based in Los Angeles.

Noriega previously worked at Vice News, where he covered criminal justice, organized extremism and labor issues, as well as migration across North and South America, North Africa and Europe.

Betsy Korona, senior vice president of editorial newsgathering, wrote in a memo to staffers that Noriega “has reported nationally and internationally on a wide-range of stories including asylum seekers at the U.S.-Mexico border, mass shootings in America, the fentanyl crisis, teachers’ strikes in Los Angeles and Denver, Brazil’s election upheaval, and the demobilization of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia.”

Noriega also hosted and was co-director of the digital series Border to Border, which looked at the international borders on three continents.

He previously was a national reporter at BuzzFeed News.

He received Emmy nominations for his coverage of Central American migration, the Venezuelan political crisis and the assassination of environmentalists in Colombia.

His work has won awards from The New York Press Club, The National Association of Hispanic Journalists and The French-American Foundation.

Aubrey Plaza to Make Stage Debut in Off Broadway Revival of “Danny and the Deep Blue Sea”

Posted on July 26, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Aubrey Plaza is preparing to make her stage debut…

The 39-year-old half-Puerto Rican Emmy-nominated actress, comedian and producer will star opposite Christopher Abbott in an Off Broadway revival of John Patrick Shanley’s 1984 classic Danny and the Deep Blue Sea this fall, with a producing team that includes Sam Rockwell.

The revival will begin previews on Monday, October 20, at the Lucille Lortel Theatre, with an opening night set for Monday, November 13.

The 10-week limited engagement will be directed by Jeff Ward, in his stage directorial debut.

Rockwell said in a statement, “My life and career have been profoundly impacted by Off-Broadway theater – like John Malkovich and Gary Sinise in True West at the Cherry Lane; Stanley Tucci in Scapin at Classic Stage Company; Phil Hoffman and Justin Theroux in Shopping and F*cking at New York Theatre Workshop; and Blasted with Reed Birney and Marin Ireland at Soho Rep, to name a few. I really do believe it’s the beating heart of this city. I couldn’t be prouder to be downtown at the Lucille Lortel with this vital play.”

Rockwell will be producing via his and Mark Berger’s Play Hooky Productions, along with Seaview, Sue Wagner, and John Johnson, by special arrangement with the Lucille Lortel Theatre.

The original production of Danny and the Deep Blue Sea premiered Off Broadway at Circle in the Square Theatre Downtown in 1984 starring June Stein and John Turturro (who won an Obie Award for his performance).

The official synopsis: Have you ever been caught in an earthquake? A chance meeting. A dive bar. Some encounters are so dangerous and so beautiful, they redefine the meaning of love. Follow two desperate people in the Bronx, Danny and Roberta, as they walk the line between destruction and transcendence.

Danny and the Deep Blue Sea will feature scenic design by Scott Pask, lighting design by John Torres, costume design by Arianne Phillips, sound design by Kate Marvin, and movement by Bobbi Jene Smith and Or Schraiber.

Plaza is best known for her breakthrough role on Parks and Recreation and, more recently, The White Lotus.

MSNBC Renews John Leguizamo’s Docuseries “Leguizamo Does America” for Second Season

Posted on June 27, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

John Leguizamo’s documented travels will continue…

The 62-year-old actor, comedian and producer’s docuseries Leguizamo Does America has been renewed for a second season on MSNBC.

Season 2 of the travelogue-style show, produced by NBC News Studios, will take Leguizamo to a new selection of cities (exact locations will be revealed later).

Season 1 of the series created and hosted by Leguizamo followed the Emmy and Tony winner as he visited “five major U.S. cities and one territory – New York City, Miami, Washington D.C., Chicago, Los Angeles and Puerto Rico – to showcase and explore each of their thriving Latino communities first hand.”

The format, featuring the host’s “characteristic edge, energy and wit,” captures Leguizamo interacting with celebrity guests (season 1 included comedian George Lopez and filmmaker Robert Rodriguez), along with “fascinating local heroes, young actors, community leaders, and more.”

The series is built around Leguizamo’s longstanding advocacy and celebration of Latin culture.

“I’m so excited for the opportunity to go deeper into America and keep exploring Latin excellence and go to the source of our happiness!” said Leguizamo, whose roots are in Puerto Rico and Colombia. “More Latin legends dinners, more eating and laughter!”

Rashida Jones, president of MSNBC, said in a statement, “The team behind Leguizamo Does America created an illuminating series that is as savvy and clever as it is savory and colorful – told through the lens of one of the most iconic voices of the Latino community. This show proves once again that there is an audience for diverse stories, and we are so excited MSNBC is its home for another season.”

“It’s been such an honor and pleasure to create, develop and produce this series with a partner as talented, brilliant and passionate as John Leguizamo,” said Liz Cole, president of NBC News Studios. “We’re especially proud to help put a spotlight on the Latino community’s rich culture and significant contributions to this country, working with a predominantly Latino editorial and production staff. We had an exciting first season with MSNBC Films, and we’re thrilled to collaborate with them again on season 2.”

The announcement comes during a busy week for Leguizamo. He is a featured speaker at the Aspen Ideas Festival in Colorado this week, where he is set to participate in a panel discussion today titled Investing in Next-Gen Innovators. Tomorrow, he participates in two more panels — Flipping the Script on the Digital Divide and Leaders Inspiring America.

Rudy Valdez Agrees to Overall Unscripted Deal with Imagine Documentaries

Posted on June 17, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Rudy Valdez has a new unscripted partner…

The Latino documentary filmmaker has agreed to an overall unscripted deal with Imagine Documentaries.

As part of the agreement, Valdez will develop, direct and executive produce new nonfiction projects for the studio through his Bluff Road Films banner.

The two-time Emmy Award-winning filmmaker started his career as a camera operator on the Peabody Award-winning, Sundance series Brick City and went on to direct his passion project on HBO’s The Sentence.

Shot and directed by Valdez over the course of a decade, this feature documentary tells the very personal story of his sister’s plight in the criminal justice system, while tackling subjects like mandatory minimums and sentencing reform.

“It has been wonderful to work with Sara Bernstein, Justin Wilkes, and the entire Imagine Documentaries team through the years,” said Valdez. “They have entrusted me with telling a variety of stories and have always supported my vision and approach. This new partnership will allow us to continue to create inspiring projects together and for me to expand, not only in the stories that I am able to tell, but also in my efforts to create a platform that fosters new voices. Along with this new deal, I’m excited to announce the launch of my production company, Bluff Road Films. Steered by an intimate storytelling approach, my team and I will aim to amplify unheard voices. Having the support of Imagine as we ramp up our efforts and take on new projects is invaluable.”

His most recent projects include Sony Pictures Classic’s Carlos and Choir on Disney+.

Both projects are produced by Imagine Entertainment and will premiere at the 2023 Tribeca Festival.

Carlos, the definitive feature documentary of Carlos Santana, follows the artist’s lifelong journey from 14-year-old street musician to 10-time Grammy winning global sensation.

Choir is a six-part docuseries, following the Detroit Youth Choir after their star turn on America’s Got Talent.

“As longtime collaborators of the extraordinary Rudy Valdez, Imagine is thrilled to formalize our unique creative partnership with Rudy and further bolster his prolific documentary impact,” said Bernstein, president of Imagine Documentaries.

AMC Releases Trailer for Colman Domingo’s Travel Series “You Are Here”

Posted on June 14, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Colman Domingo is here for it all…

AMC has released the official trailer for the 53-year-old Belizean-Guatemalan American actor and social justice activist’s upcoming travel series You Are Here.

Domingo, an Emmy and Tony Award winner, appears as host on the show, sharing personal and national stories as he takes viewers through four American cities: Savannah, Philadelphia, New York and Chicago.

The first two episodes premiere on June 19 at 7 p.m. ET.

Domingo is an award-winning actor, writer and director.

The Euphoria star has directed episodes of Fear of the Walking Dead and starred in the 2021 film Candyman.

You Are Here is produced by Domingo’s Edith Production and ZeroPointZero, and it was created in partnership with Johnnie Walker.

Pedro Vasconcelos to Direct “Land of Shadows” Series About Romance of Two 17th Century Soldiers

Posted on May 10, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Pedro Vasconcelos is soldiering forward with a story of forbidden love…

The 49-year-old Brazilian director and television actor will direct the Portuguese-Brazilian drama series Land of Shadows about the romance of two 17th Century soldiers, which is currently in development.

Land of Shadows will follow their blossoming but forbidden love during the 17th Century, when Brazil was a colony of the Kingdom of Portugal.

It’s based on No País das Sombras, a novel from Emmy winner and telenovela writer Aguinaldo Silva, who is supervising the text adaptation and will be executive producer.

Luiz Felipe Petruccelli is the writer of Land of Shadows and Diosual Entertainment the producer.

The show’s set in Olinda, a Brazilian village, during the Captaincy of Pernambuco in 1604 and 1605, and reveals how the soldiers’ equality puts them in opposition to Portugal’s Holy Office of the Inquisition. Side plots will include the persecution of New Christians, abuses against women and the romance between the wife of a sugar cane plantation lord and one of his slaves.

Approximately 70% of the production will take place in Portugal, which is beginning to emerge as a drama producing territory to watch. The show will have a large Brazilian and Portuguese cast but be shot completely in English.

Production is expected to begin early next year, though no streamer or network is attached at this stage.

“We endeavored to envelop the love between our protagonists in a lyrical setting that would awaken the same level of empathy in the audience as would any other story starring a heterosexual couple,” said Guto Colunga, who is the show’s general producer.

“We want the viewers to feel more than the virility we associate with Ennis Del Mar and Jack Twist in Brokeback Mountain in our two Portuguese soldiers, we want them to experience the beauty, purity and intensity that is so clear in Romeo and Juliet’s romance.”

Colunga is CEO and founder of Brazilian producer Diosual Entertainment, which comprises film division Diosual Pictures Studios and Diosual Television Studios. The company is focused on Brazilian projects with international appeal.

Vasconcelos won an International Emmy for Brazilian net Globo’s 2014-15 series Império, which was also from Silva.

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