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…”

Amazon Studios Renews Emeraude Toubia’s “With Love” for Second Season

Posted on April 9, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Emeraude Toubia’s love continues…

Amazon Studios has renewed Gloria Calderón-Kellett‘s romantic comedy series With Love, starring the 33-year-old half-Mexican Canadian actress, for a second season.

Season 1 followed the lives of the Diaz siblings, Lily (Toubia) and Jorge Jr. (Mark Indelicato), across various holidays throughout the year as they search for love.

Along the way, viewers were able to become intimately acquainted with the Diaz’s loved ones, with whom they share their lives — the good and the bad.

The season ends on a cliffhanger: It’s Noche Buena and an engagement is imminent, but which couple will walk down the aisle?

Suspects include Lily and Santiago (Rome Flynn), the least likely of the three couples to be taking their relationship to the next level since they’d only recently reconciled.

Jorge and Henry (Vincent Rodriguez III) could be the in love duo ready to put a ring on it. Although they faced a few bumps in the road, they’ve proven to have a strong bond and are dedicated to each other.

Or could it be Lily and Jorge’s cousin Sol (Isis King), an oncologist who met and fell in love with Miles (Todd Grinnell), a plastic surgeon she works with at a hospital? This pair share a deep love and are giving Jorge and Henry a run for their money at getting that bauble.

The ensemble cast also includes Constance Marie, Benito Martinez, Andre Royo, Pepe Serna and Renée Victor.

All episodes are written and executive produced by Calderón Kellet.

The pilot was directed and executive produced by Meera Menon. With Love is produced by Kellett’s production company, GloNation and Amazon Studios.

Amazon Releases First Trailer for Gloria Calderón Kellett’s Series “With Love,” Starring Emeraude Toubia

Posted on December 4, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Emeraude Toubia is bringing the love…

Amazon has released the first trailer for Gloria Calderón Kellett’s series With Love, starring the 32-year-old half-Mexican American actress.

The 5-episode series, which features multigenerational and multicultural cast of characters, will premiere on Prime Video on December 17.

Season 1 follows the Diaz siblings, Lily (Toubia) and Jorge (Mark Indelicato), who are on a mission to find love and purpose. Lily recently split with her longtime love and is keeping the faith that a special kind of spark awaits her. Plus, she has the support of her Latino family who are determined to find her the perfect match. What could go wrong?

Jorge has seemingly found his person but will he and Henry (Vincent Rodriguez) be able to compromise?

The duo cross paths with seemingly unrelated residents during different holidays throughout the year: Christmas Eve/Nochebuena, New Year’s Eve, Valentine’s Day, the Fourth of July, and Dia de los Muertos.

Costars include Rome Flynn, Desmond Chiam, Isis King, Todd Grinnell, Constance Marie, Benito Martinez, Andre Royo, Renée Victor, and Pepe Serna.

All episodes are written and executive produced by Calderón Kellet. The pilot episode is directed and executive produced by Meera Menon.

With Love is produced by Kellett’s production company, GloNation and Amazon Studios.

Renée Victor to Appear on Gloria Calderón Kellett’s Amazon Series “With Love”

Posted on August 22, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Renée Victor is embracing the love…

The 68-year-old Latina actress will appear in a recurring role alongside veteran character actor Pepe Serna in With Love, Amazon’s one-hour romantic comedy series from Gloria Calderón Kellett, her GloNation Studios and Amazon Studios.

Victor and Serna will appear opposite Emeraude Toubia and Mark Indelicato on the series.

Created and written by Calderón Kellett, With Love follows the Diaz siblings, Lily (Toubia) and Jorge (Indelicato), who are on a mission to find love and purpose. The Diaz siblings cross paths with seemingly unrelated residents during some of the most heightened days of the year — the holidays.

Victor will play Marta Delgado, grandmother to Lily, Jorge and Sol and married to Luis (Serna). She wants to know everything about everybody in the family and while she’s very accepting she is uncompromising about church attendance.

Serna’s Luis Delgado, is Marta’s husband and grandfather to Lily, Jorge and Sol. He’s the founder of the family’s Mexican restaurant, Casa based on his mother’s recipes. Still very attracted to his beautiful wife, Marta.

The series, which falls under One Day at a Time creator Calderón Kellett’s overall deal with Amazon, had been fast-tracked since the pitch stage with the goal to launch it during the 2021 holiday season.

All episodes will be written and executive produced by Calderón Kellet. The pilot will be directed and executive produced by Meera Menon. With Love is produced by Kellett’s production company, GloNation and Amazon Studios.

Known for her role as the wisecracking Lupita in Weeds, Victor also recurs Flo Gutierrez on Netflix’s Dead To Me. She’s also known as the voice of Abuelita in the Oscar-winning animated feature Coco.

Over a nearly 50-year career, Serna’s film credits include Scarface, American Me, Car Wash, The Black Dahlia, Downsizing and The Ballad of Gregorio Cortez, among many others. His recent television work includes guest/recurring roles on Criminal Minds and Kingpin.

Serna Joins Cast of Alexander Payne’s Satire “Downsizing”

Posted on July 4, 2016 by Tom Castaneda

Pepe Serna is downsizing…

The 71-year-old Mexican American veteran character actor and artist has joined the cast of Alexander Payne’s satire Downsizing, joining Matt Damon, Kristen Wiig, Christoph Waltz and Hong Chau, according to Variety.

The Paramount film, currently shooting in Toronto, centers on an Omaha man who joins the throngs of people undergoing a new process that reduces humans to a tiny fraction of their size. Then they move to one of the many communities of small people that are sprouting up around the world.

“It’s the smallest part I’ve ever had, four inches to be exact,” Serna said.

Payne is co-writing the script with Jim Taylor. The duo won an Oscar for best adapted screenplay for Sideways and collaborated on the scripts for Citizen Ruth, Election, Jurassic Park III, About Schmidt and I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry.

Serna is also one of the new members of the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences, announced on Wednesday.

His career dates back nearly 50 years with credits including Scarface, American Me, Car Wash, The Black Dahlia and The Ballad of Gregorio Cortez.

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