Thorne Launching a Line of Prom & Quinceañera Dresses

Posted on December 19, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

Here’s your chance to be the Bella of the ball…

Shake It Up star Bella Thorne has announced plans to launch a line of prom and quinceañera dresses called Bella by Sherri Hill.

The 16-year-old half-Cuban American actress/singer is joining forces with her older sister Dani, a fashion stylist, to create the limited-edition line.

The Thorne sisters are working with Sherri Hill, a noted American eveningwear designer whose pieces range from fun dresses to more formal ensembles.

As part of the partnership, Thorne wanted her collection to include quinceañera dresses, which are worn for to celebrate a girl’s 15th birthday in Latin American cultures.

It was actually Thorne’s own quinceañera gown, which was designed by Hill last year, that inspired the collaboration.

“It has been a dream of mine to design dresses, and I felt like I was reliving the magic of my quinceañera all over again!” Bella gushed to teenvogue.com. “The dress Sherri designed for me last year was such a dream come true, and I wanted to find a way to make dreams come true for other girls.”

Thorne’s collection will feature more than 20 dresses and one will resemble the special gown she wore for the big occasion last year.

The Bella by Sherri Hill line will be available in stores next spring.

Anthony-Rodriguez Cast in Fox’s Midseason Drama “Gang Related”

Posted on October 21, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

Philip Anthony-Rodriguez is going undercover…

The Latino actor has landed a recurring role on Fox’s midseason series Gang Related.

The action drama centers on Ryan Lopez (portrayed by Ramon Rodriguez), a gang member sent in to infiltrate the San Francisco Police Department.

Anthony-Rodriguez, best known for portraying Ruben Enriquez in the ABC Family television series The Secret Life of the American Teenager, will play Agent Billy Cabrera, an undercover agent working for the Treasury Department.

His other credits include guest-starring roles on the Disney Channel’s Hannah Montana and Shake It Up, as well as ABC’s Castle.

Thorne Starring Opposite Kyra Sedgwick in the Thriller “Big Sky”

Posted on October 11, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

The (big) sky’s the limit for Bella Thorne…

The 16-year-old half-Cuban American actress and former Shake It Up star has signed on to star opposite Kyra Sedgwick in the thriller Big Sky.

The film is the English language debut of Jorge Michel Grau, who directed the original Spanish language thriller We Are What We Are.

Thorne will portray Hazel while the former The Closer star will play her protective mother Dee.

On their way to a desert facility to help Hazel deal with her paralyzing agoraphobia, the two find themselves attacked by gunmen and the teen has to fight her own demons for the mother-daughter duo to survive.

Production on the film, from an original screenplay by Evan M. Wiener, starts this week in Albuquerque.

It’s the latest project for the Disney Channel star, who is taking on more mature material.

Earlier this year, Thorne joined the cast of Home Invasion and starred in the Adam Sandler–Drew Barrymore comedy The Familymoon (previously called Blended).

She is next set for Disney’s Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day.

Thorne’s Disney Channel Series “Shake It Up” Drawing to an End

Posted on July 27, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

Bella Thorne’s star-making days at the Disney Channel are coming to an end.

The network has announced that its original series Shake It Up, which stars the 15-year-old half-Cuban American actress, will wrap up its run after 78 episodes. The final round of shows will air this summer.

The move to wrap production on Shake It Up while it remains strong – it’s the No. 1 TV series year-to-date in the kids 6-11 and tweens 9-14 demos – is not uncommon of the network, which tends to cap its original series after a set time.

In June, the Disney Channel said it was ending Good Luck Charlie after four seasons, 100 episodes and a hit TV movie.

But Thorne won’t be out of work…

She has a recording deal with Disney’s Hollywood Records, a three-book deal with Random House, and was just cast in the indie thriller Home Invasion.

Additionally Thorne recently completed shooting on the Adam Sandler–Drew Barrymore film Blended.

Thorne to Star in the Thriller Film “Home Invasion”

Posted on July 24, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

Bella Thorne is shaking things up for her next project…

The 15-year-old half-Cuban American actress, the star of the Disney Channel sitcom Shake It Up, has landed one of the lead roles in Home Invasion.

Helmed by rookie feature Director Sean Carter, the thriller centers on a family imprisoned by intruders who play a life-and-death game in which the mysterious rules become clear as the night unfolds.

Thorne, who will be penning a series of Young Adult books, will portray Jamie, a disillusioned teenager intensely guarding a personal secret.

Home Invasion was written by first-time scribe Joseph Dembner.

It’s the latest film role for Thorne, whose Shake It Up is in its third season on the Disney Channel. She recently wrapped a role in the Adam Sandler–Drew Barrymore comedy Blended.

Thorne is nominated for an Imagen Award in the Best Young Actress, Television category. She’s also signed to Disney’s Hollywood Records.

Thorne Starring in Adam Sandler-Drew Barrymore’s “Blended”

Posted on May 5, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

Bella Thorne is about to shake it up with a big screen movie…

The 15-year-old half-Cuban American actress and Disney Channel star has joined the cast of he Adam Sandler–Drew Barrymore comedy Blended.

The Warner Bros. rom-com revolves around a particularly lousy blind date between Sandler and Barrymore — each with their kids from a previous marriage — as they find themselves stuck together in a resort for families.

Despite everything they can do to resist, the attraction grows between them, and their kids benefit from the burgeoning relationship.

Thorne, who recently announced plans to write a Young Adult book series, will play Sandler’s daughter.

Thorne stars on the Disney Channel’s Shake It Up, which is in its third season on the network. She’s also signed to Disney’s Hollywood Records.

Blended is set to open May 23, 2014.

Thorne to Pen “Autumn Falls” Young Adult Book Series

Posted on April 25, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

She’s only a teenager, but Bella Thorne is already becoming the next Latina multi-hyphenate…

The 15-year-old half-Cuban actress and singer has sold Autumn Falls, a Young Adult book series, to Random House Children’s Books, according to the publisher.

The Disney Channel star’s story centers on a 14-year-old girl whose life is transformed after an encounter with magic.

“This book, although mysterious and magical, is inspired by different aspects of my personal life, which I hold very near and dear to my heart,” said Thorne, who is nominated for a Radio Disney Music Award. “I wanted to write a book that teens could relate to, but with a little bit of magic.”

Thorne, who was named to PopDust’s 18 Under 18 list last October, has gained acclaim for playing dancer Cece Jones on the network’s hit series Shake It Up, which is currently in its third season. She also has appeared on Big Love and My Own Worst Enemy.

“TTYLXOX,” her 2012 debut single, sold more than 400,000 copies and appeared on the Billboard 100 chart.

Beverly Horowitz, vice president and publisher of the Delacorte Press Young Readers Group, praised Thorne’s “authentic and passionate voice,” promising that young female readers “will relate to Bella and her characters.”

Elise Allen will join Thorne as co-author.

Ganalon Cast in ABC’s John Leguizamo Comedy Pilot

Posted on February 27, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

Luke Ganalon will soon be sharing screen time with a noted Latino comedian…

The Latino child actor has landed a role on ABC’s still-untitled semi-autobiographical comedy pilot starring John Leguizamo.

Co-created by the Colombian-American actor/comedian and written by Jeff Astrof, the project is based on Leguizamo’s life as a husband, father and fish out of water on New York’s upper West Side as reflected in his one-man shows.

Woven into this world are his privileged wife, his friends from his life back in the Bronx, his mother and grandfather who try to keep him grounded in his Latin roots, and his own kids who he worries are getting a little too spoiled and are losing touch with reality..

Ganalon, who most recently starred as the lead in the movie Bless Me, Ultima, will portray Toby.

Ganalon’s other credits include the film The Man Who Shook the Hand of Vicente Fernandez and guest-starring roles on Grey’s Anatomy, Don’t Trust the B**** in Apt. 23 and Shake It Up!

Ortiz to Compete on the New “Dancing with the Stars” Cycle

Posted on February 26, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

He’s mastered a mean southpaw stance during his sparring career… But Victor Ortiz will now have to learn the ropes in ballroom dancing.

The 26-year-old Mexican American boxer, a former WBC Welterweight Champion, signed up to compete in the 16th cycle of ABC’s Dancing with the Stars. He’ll be one of 11 celebrities, and the sole Latino, competing this season.

Ortiz, known for his aggressive style, two-fisted power and boyish charm, has been paired with new professional dancer Lindsay Arnold.

Along with Ortiz, the new Dancing with the Stars contestants include Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Jacoby Jones, country singers Kellie Pickler and Wynonna Judd, General Hospital star Ingo Rademacher, the Disney Channel’s Shake It Up star Zendaya Coleman, actor/comedian Andy Dick, Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Lisa Vanderpump, Olympians Aly Raisman and Dorothy Hamill and comedian D.L. Hughley.

The 16th season of Dancing with the Stars will premiere on ABC on Monday, March 18.

Here’s a look at the new cast members and the pro they’ve been assigned:

Victor Ortiz and Lindsay Arnold
Kellie Pickler and Derek Hough
Wynonna Judd and Tony Dovolani
Ingo Rademacher and Kym Johnson
Zendaya Coleman and Valentin Chmerkovskiy
Andy Dick and Sharna Burgess
Lisa Vanderpump and Gleb Savchenko
Aly Raisman and Mark Ballas
Dorothy Hamill and Tristan MacManus
D.L. Hughley and Cheryl Burke
Jacoby Jones and Karina Smirnoff

Thorne Named to Pop Dust’s 18 Under 18 List

Posted on October 1, 2012 by Tom Castaneda

She’s already a popular Disney Channel star… And Bella Thorne is quickly becoming the next Selena Gomez.

The 14-year-old part-Cuban-American actress, who currently stars on the cable network’s dance-driven comedy series Shake It Up!, has made Pop Dust’s list of 18 Under 18, which ranks the best underage pop stars.

Thorne, the highest-ranking female and Hispanic celebrity on the list at No. 4, is riding the Shake It Up! train to success. Thorne has won a Young Artist Award for Best Performance in a TV Series (Comedy or Drama) for her portrayal of aspiring dancer Cece Jones. And, she’s starred in the Disney Channel Original Movie Frenemies.

But that’s not all, Thorne has also landed on the Billboard Hot 100 twice, with Shake It up! singles “TTYLXOX” and “Watch Me.”

Meanwhile, American Idol runner-up Jessica Sanchez has cracked the list at No. 8.

The 17-year-old half-Mexican petite singer wowed audiences during her Idol run with performances of songs like Beyonce’s “Sweet Dreams” and Luther Vandross’ “Dance With My Father.”

Even though she didn’t win the AI title, Sanchez did receive unanimous praise from the judges and a record deal with Interscope Records. And, she recently shared her first single, “Fairytale,” with concertgoers.

Click here to see the complete 18 Under 18 list.

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