Becky G Performs Oscar-Nominated “The Fire Inside” from “Flamin’ Hot” During Oscars

Posted on March 10, 2024 by Tom Castaneda

Becky G brings the fire to the 2024 Oscars…

The 27-year-old Mexican American rapper/singer performed “The Fire Inside,” the Academy Award nominated track from the Eva Longoria-directed film Flamin’ Hot, at Sunday’s Oscars.

Diane Warren penned the inspirational track for the film about Richard Montañez, the Frito-Lay janitor who became an executive after inventing Flamin’ Hot Cheetos.

Ahead of the ceremony at the Dolby Theater, Longoria talked about the excitement her directorial debut getting some recognition at the Academy Awards.

“I have goosebumps. I can’t believe it. I can because Diane Warren wrote the song, so she’s a genius and Becky G is a genius,” Longoria told Laverne Cox on Live from E! red carpet coverage. “Their performance tonight… You will never be more proud to be a Latino and a Chicano, but Becky’s thought and love that she put into this performance tonight is going to blow everybody away. She has some special guest from Inglewood.”

She continued, “We don’t ever get this platform. We, people of color, we don’t really get this stage. We wanted to bring our whole community with us tonight. We wanted to thank everybody for watching the movie [and] making it a success.”

Flamin’ Hot starred Jesse García as Richard Montañez and the cast included Annie González, Emilio Rivera, Vanessa Martínez, Hunter Jones, Dennis Haysbert, Tony Shalhoub, Pepe Serna, Bobby Soto, Jimmy Gonzales, Matt Walsh and Brice Gonzalez.

Becky G performs “The Fire Inside” from Flamin Hot #Oscars pic.twitter.com/6Xtl89Pj8h

— Deadline Hollywood (@DEADLINE) March 11, 2024

Eva Longoria’s “Flamin’ Hot” to Get Special Screening at the White House

Posted on June 14, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Eva Longoria is bringing the Flamin’ heat to the White House.

The 48-year-old Mexican American actress’ directorial debut film Flamin’ Hot, recently released on Hulu and Disney+, will get a special screening at the White House.

President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden will host the screening on the South Lawn of the White House, joined by Longoria, as well as the cast and crew of the film and Latino community leaders.

The film is based on the true story of a Frito-Lay janitor Richard Montañez (portrayed by Jesse Garcia) who tapped into his Mexican-American heritage to invent Flamin’ Hot Cheetos, which became a cultural phenomenon.

Annie Gonzalez, Dennis Haysbert, Emilio Rivera, Tony Shalhoub, Matt Walsh, Pepe Serna, Bobby Soto, Jimmy Gonzales, Brice Gonzalez, Vanessa Martinez, Fabian Alomar, Mario Ponce, Hunter Jones also star in the Searchlight Pictures film, which debuted on the streaming sites on June 9.

The White House hosted a screening last month of the Disney+ series American Born Chinese, and in February for Till. The screenings traditionally have been for projects that are tied to social issues, including diversity and equality.

Longoria has long been active in Democratic politics, having campaigned for Biden in 2020 and spoken at the last three Democratic National Conventions.

First Trailer Released for Jesse Garcia-Starrer “Flamin’ Hot,” Directed by Eva Longoria

Posted on May 10, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Jesse Garcia is ready to spice up the streaming world…

The first trailer has been released for Flamin’ Hot starring the 40-year-old Mexican and Spanish American actor.

“I know I don’t look it, but I got a Ph.D.,” Richard Montañez (Garcia) tells his new supervisor at the Frito-Lay plant. After a doubting “Hmm?” from the boss, he continues, “I’m poor, hungry and determined, sir.”

Replies the button-down manager, “OK, I can see you’re gonna be a weird one.”

Flamin’ Hot, directed by Eva Longoria, is a tale of a janitor who channeled his Mexican-American heritage and upbringing into an idea for Flamin’ Hot Cheetos, which disrupted the food industry and became a pop culture phenomenon.

As Montañez says in the trailer, “I’m the guy who helped bring the world the most popular snack it’s ever seen.”

Layoffs are hitting the PepsiCo snack-food giant because “Frito-Lay isn’t getting enough orders to keep the factory open,” the workers are told. But Montañez has the answer: “It’s a spicy chip. It’s gonna change everything.” Doubts converge among the higher-ups — “Why are we wasting time on this janitor’s crazy idea?” — but he starts to convincing.

Talking to roomful of execs, Montañez says, “If we knew there was a product out there for us, we’d say, ‘Take all our money, cabrones!” A mini-montage later, he admits, “I got a little ‘hood there at the end, but…”

Al Madrigal to Star in the New Feature “Drugstone June”

Posted on December 6, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Al Madrigal is headed to the drugstone…

The 51-year-old half-Mexican American comedian, writer, actor and producer has joined the cast of Drugstone June, a new feature from Utopia, All Things Comedy and Shout! Studios.

Madrigal is part of a cast of notable comedic talents that includes Esther Povitsky, Bobby Lee, Beverly D’Angelo, James Remar, Brandon Wardell, Danny Griffin, Patricia “Ms. Pat” Williams, Miranda Cosgrove, Haley Joel Osment, Matt Walsh, Jackie Sandler, Nick Rutherford, Jon “Dumbfoundead” Park, Trevor Wallace, Bhad Bhabie, Steph Tolev, Jon Gabrus and Bill Burr.

The film, directed by Nicholaus Goossen, follows a self-involved young woman who decides to solve the robbery of a local pharmacy while struggling to get over her ex-boyfriend.

Goossen is directing from his and Povitsky’s script.

“The team on this film has been stellar. We’re all big Esther Povitsky fans and it’s her time to lead a feature film,” said Utopia’s founder. “With Nicholaus Goossen at the helm, her collaborator on the comedy special HOT FOR MY NAME, the two have established a fresh, unique and standout comedic style. Mix that in with this star-studded ensemble, and it’s exciting to think of what’s to come for the film!”

Vertical Entertainment Acquires U.S. Rights to Eva Longoria’s Comedy “Unplugging”

Posted on December 1, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Eva Longoria will be unplugging next spring…

Vertical Entertainment has acquired the U.S. rights to the comedy Unplugging, starring the 46-year-old Mexican American actress and former Desperate Housewives star, with plans to release it in theaters nationwide next spring.

The film also stars Matt Walsh, Lea Thompson, Keith David and Nicole Byer.

In the feature directorial debut of veteran film editor Debra Neil-Fisher, husband and wife Dan (Walsh) and Jeanine (Longoria) plan a weekend getaway of “digital detox” without kids, phones, or social media. They need—or think they need—only clean fresh air and alone time together to rekindle their romance. But once they forego GPS to guide them and disconnect from the internet, can they reconnect their own internal servers to spark their marriage?

Johnny Pemberton, Al Madrigal, Joel Kim Booster, and Nancy Friedrich round out the cast of the film, scripted by Walsh and Brad Morris.

Longoria executive produced the film.

“I couldn’t have asked for a better time in the director’s chair than with this marvelous cast captained by Eva and Matt, and our dedicated crew,” said Neil-Fisher. “Vertical is the perfect partner to bring Unplugging to audiences next spring.”

“Unplugging unites great talents in front of and behind the camera,” said Vertical Entertainment Partner Rich Goldberg, “and Debra’s storied skills as editor translate to a keen directorial eye for comedy.”

“Having previously partnered on many successful releases (Four Good Days, Buckley’s Chance) we know our friends at Vertical are the perfect distributor to bring the hilarious Unplugging to US audiences,” added Santor, who serves as Productivity Media’s CEO. “Eva and Matt are at the top of their game in this whip-smart, comedic look at relationships in the digital age, and we’re sure audiences will love it just as much as we loved making it.”

Camila Mendes to Star in the Netflix Original Film “Windfall”

Posted on April 9, 2019 by Tom Castaneda

Camila Mendes has received a windfall…

The 24-year-old Brazilian American actress and Riverdale star has been tapped to topline the Netflix original film, Windfall, which will be directed by Michael Scott.

Mendes stars as Katie, a young woman who abandons her medical profession dreams in order to support her husband’s ambitions.

Written by David Golden, the plot centers around a young couple, Katie and Adam, struggling to make a successful life for themselves. After finally landing in the right place at the right time, the couple find themselves in the middle of a criminal investigation.

Filming is slated to commence this month.

Mendes, who can currently be seen as Veronica Lodge on third season of Riverdale(which was renewed for a Season 4), also stars in another Netflix film, The Perfect Date, alongside Noah Centineo, Laura Marano, and Matt Walsh. It will hit the streaming site this Friday.

Trailer Released for Sanz’s Comedy “A Better You”

Posted on February 1, 2015 by Tom Castaneda

Horatio Sanz isn’t afraid to pull the “I don’t speak English” card… Well, at least the character he plays in his latest film.

The trailer has been released for Matt Walsh’s second directorial comedy A Better You, which features the 45-year-old Chilean actor and former Saturday Night Live cast member.

Sanz appears as Hugo in the film, which follows Dr. Ron (Brian Huskey), a Hollywood quack hypnotherapist.

The only thing worse than Dr. Ron’s methods are his disrespectful patients who loiter around the neighborhood as seen in this clip.

The film, which was co-written by Huskey and Walsh, made its world premiere at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival.

Joe Lo Truglio, Erinn Hayes, Rob Huebel, Morgan Walsh, Natasha Leggero, Reid Scott and Mo Gaffney also star.

Armisen to Present at This Year’s Creative Arts Emmy Awards

Posted on August 10, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Fred Armisen is about to get creative…

The 47-year-old half-Venezuelan American actor and former Saturday Night Live star, who received his first-ever Emmy nomination in an acting category this year, will be among the presenters at the 2014 Creative Arts Emmy Awards on August 16, according to the show’s executive producer Spike Jones Jr.

Armisen, who earneda best supporting actor in a comedy nod for Portlandia, the IFC series filmed and set in Portland, joins a list of presenters that includes Jane Lynch, Morgan Freeman, Tony Goldwyn, Heidi Klum and much of the nominated cast of Orange Is the New Black.

Other presenters include Patrick Adams (Suits), Vince Gilligan (Breaking Bad), Tony Goldwyn (Scandal), Judy Greer (Archer), Jonathan Groff (The Normal Heart), Tim Gunn (Project Runway), Tony Hale (Veep), Allison Janney (Mom; Masters of Sex), Keegan Michael Key (Key and Peele), Natasha Lyonne (Orange Is the New Black), Joe Manganiello (True Blood), Joel McHale (The Soup; Community), Aisha Tyler (Archer), Matt Walsh (Veep), Matt Weiner (Mad Men) and Bellamy Young (Scandal).

This year’s awards show will take place a week and a day before the Primetime Emmy Awards. An edited version of the show will be broadcast on the FXM cable network.

The entire show will be streamed on Emmys.com from noon to 3 p.m. on Monday Aug. 25, just before the Primetime Emmy Awards.

Rodriguez to Appear on Discovery Channel’s “Shark After Dark”

Posted on August 9, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Robert Rodriguez is shark bait…

The 46-year-old Mexican American filmmaker has been added to the list of guest for this year’s Shark After Dark, Discovery Channel’s live Shark Week late-night talk show.

Rodriguez joins a list of guests that includes Ashley Tisdale, Matt Walsh, Chelsea Handler, Jake Johnson, Damon Wayans Jr., Danny Trejo and Stone Cold Steve Austin.

This year’s crop of guests aren’t necessarily names with obvious shark connections, but some of the guests, including Tisdale, are rabid Shark Week fans, according to producers who trolled Twitter to find obsessive fans.

Tom Green is reprising his character, Blurb, the alien shark cousin of Bob The Shark, who once again will be played by Craig Ferguson’s CBS late night warm-up act, Bob Oschack. Bob The Shark was introduced during last year’s Shark Week and gained 33.7K Twitter followers.

Returning host Josh Wolf will lead viewers through an hour-long celebration of all things shark-related. The late-night show plays an important role in Discovery Channel’s Shark Week interactivity campaign. During the program viewers can ask questions of/make comments about guests, including the shark experts who’ll be the first guest each night, commenting on that night’s shark-show lead-in.

Researcher/shark ecologist Paul Clerkin for instance, who’s a post grad at the Moss Landing Marine Laboratories, which runs the Pacific Shark Research Center and participates in a program run through the center to help save deep sea sharks brought up as catch by-product.

Shark Week launches on August 10.

Full-Length Trailer Released for Escarpeta’s Tornado Thriller “Into the Storm”

Posted on June 29, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Arlen Escarpeta is ready to superstorm his way into a movie theater near you…

Warner Bros. and New Line Cinema have released a full-length trailer for their tornado thriller Into the Storm, starring the 33-year-old Belizean actor.

The film centers on a group of high school students who document the events and aftermath of a devastating tornado in their small town.

Into the Storm is being heralded as one of the more underrated spectaculars on this summer’s release schedule. Clips were shown at Wondercon, and the film, helmed by Avatar VFX supervisor Steven Quale, literally puts the audience in the middle of the film’s small town, Silverton, that’s being beaten up by a series of twisters.

Richard Armitage portrays a single father trying to shield his teenage son from this bad weather day. Matt Walsh plays an obsessed stormchaser who, along with his meteorologist associate (portrayed by Sarah Wayne Callies), cuts through the puddles like butter in their armored Titus vehicle as seen in the trailer.

Escarpeta portrays Daryl in the film, which lands in theaters on August 8.

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