Tag Archives: Will Packer

Sheila E. to Be Part of “All-Star Band” for This Year’s Oscars Telecast

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Sheila E. is bringing her talents to the Academy Awards…

The 64-year-old half-Mexican American percussionist, singer, author and actress is among the musicians who’ll perform on the live ABC ceremony on Sunday, March 27 from the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood.

Sheila E

In addition to Sheila E., Oscarcast producers Will Packer and Shayla Cowan say an “all-star band” will feature the show’s music director Adam Blackstone, blink-182 drummer Travis Barker and pianist Robert Glasper. Organizers said an orchestra will also return to the telecast.

DJ D-Nice has also been set to perform during the show, and has been tapped to perform at the Academy’s post-Oscar Governors Ball gala. The Samples, a vocal group led by Jason White, also will appear on the Oscarcast.

There have been no announcements yet from producers about what songs may be performed during the telecast; organizers have been quiet about who might participate from an A-list roster of Original Song nominees that include big names Beyoncé, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Van Morrison and Billie Eilish & Finneas O’Connell and a Diane Warren song performed by Reba McEntire.

The producers said Friday that they will “continue to announce musical guests and performances in the lead-up to the show.”

John Leguizamo to Serve as Presenter at 94th Annual Academy Awards Show

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John Leguizamo has a date with Oscar…

The 61-year-old Colombian actor will serve as a presenter for this year’s Academy Awards show.

John LeguizamoLeguizamo joins a roster of presenters that includes Daniel Kaluuya, Mila Kunis, Lupita Nyong’o, Naomi Scott, Wesley Snipes, John Travolta, Ruth E. Carter, Kevin Costner, Anthony Hopkins, Zoë Kravitz, Lady Gaga, Lily James, Simu Liu, Rami Malek, Rosie Perez, Chris Rock, Uma Thurman and Yuh-Jung Youn.

The Oscars will air live on March 27 on ABC.

Oscarcast producers Will Packer and Shayla Cowan had previously discussed the presenters who’ll form part of the show.

“Movies inspire us, entertain us and unite us across the globe,” Packer said at the time. “That’s the precise goal of the show this year, and we’re thrilled to welcome the first of a stellar lineup joining the Oscars stage to help us celebrate the power of film and honor the year’s best in filmmaking.”

The Power of the Dog leads the field with 12 nominations coming into this month’s Oscar show, and Dune is next with 10.

ABC will air the 94th annual Academy Awards live from Dolby Theatre in Hollywood at 5:00 pm PT/8:00 pm ET and in 200-plus territories around the world.

Rosie Perez Among First Presenters Announced for This Year’s Academy Awards Show

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Rosie Perez has a date with Oscar…

The 57-year-old Puerto Rican Oscar-nominated actress will serve as a presenter at this year’s Academy Awards show.

Rosie PerezOscarcast producers Will Packer and Shayla Cowan announced the first batch of presenters for the 94th Academy Awards that also includes Kevin Costner, Zoë Kravitz, Lady Gaga, Chris Rock and Yuh-Jung Youn.

“Movies inspire us, entertain us and unite us across the globe,” Packer said. “That’s the precise goal of the show this year, and we’re thrilled to welcome the first of a stellar lineup joining the Oscars stage to help us celebrate the power of film and honor the year’s best in filmmaking.”

Yellowstone’s Costner, The Batman’s Kravitz, House of Gucci’s Gaga, Birds of Prey‘s Perez, Fargo’s Rock and Minari‘s Youn make up the first group of announced presenters.

The producers will announce more talent joining the show in the coming weeks.

The show traditionally brings back the previous year’s winners to present Best Actress and Best Actor.

The Power of the Dog leads the field with 10 nominations coming into this month’s Oscar show, and Dune is next with 10.

ABC will air the 94th annual Academy Awards will air live from the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood on Sunday, March 27, 2022 at 5:00 pm PT/8:00 pm ET and in 200-plus territories around the world.

Carmelo Anthony Launches Content Company ‘Creative7’

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Carmelo Anthony is getting creative…

The 36-year-old half-Puerto Rican professional baseball player, a 10-time NBA All-Star, and his longtime business partner Asani Swann have launched Creative7, a multi-platform content company that will develop and produce original, premium content spanning documentaries, scripted television, feature film, animation, podcasts, and more.Carmelo AnthonyAnthony and Swann’s goal? To champion the narratives and voices of the underserved and they are partnering with Will Packer, Plan B Entertainment on a limited narrative series, Hock Films, Shaun Redick and Yvette Yates on Jersey 4, based on a racial profiling case, and more.

The company has quietly produced and is currently producing a number of previously-announced projects as well, including Blood Brothers, a limited series in partnership with A+E Studios, Executive Producer Charles Murray, and Narrative Film Group that examines the friendship between two of the most dynamic and iconic figures in history: Muhammad Ali and Malcolm X; “Un Sueño Real”, a recently launched docuseries with HBO España, Exile Content Studio, and Newtral that gives an inside look at the women’s Real Madrid soccer team; and Universe, an IDA Award-winning documentary about Miles Davis’ protégé, Wallace Roney, who recently passed but lives on through his inspiring journey to uphold his mentor’s legacy and record The Universe Compositions.

“In addition to collaborating with legendary filmmakers and paramount creative minds in the industry, we are excited to also be working with and championing emerging talent who are positioned to be the next great generation of filmmakers,” said Swann. “At the core, our goal is to amplify unheard voices and groundbreaking stories that push the envelope and will leave a profound impact. As a Black woman, I am proud to co-found a company like Creative 7 that celebrates diversity and inclusion and will strive to push representation in this industry forward.”

Josh Segarra to Star in NBC’s Comedy Pilot “Night School”

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Josh Segarra is heading to night school…

The 33-year-old Puerto Rican actor will star as the male lead opposite Shanola Hampton in NBC’s multi-camera comedy pilot Night School, based on the hit 2018 Universal movie. 

Josh Segarra

The project hails from Marlonco-creator Christopher Moynihanand the film’s star-producer Kevin Hart, producer Will Packerand director Malcolm D. Lee.

Segarra was tapped for Night School as he just became available when Netflix canceled the RuPaul-starring dramedy series AJ and the Queen after one season.

Penned by Moynihan and directed by Phill Lewis, NBC’s Night School revolves around a unique mix of adults at a night school GEDprep class who unexpectedly bond over their shared experience and find themselves helping one another both inside and outside of the classroom.

Segarra will play Teddy Walker, a charming salesman. The role was played by Hart in the movie. Hampton plays the teacher, Carrie Dawes, portrayed by Tiffany Haddishin the film.

In addition to Hampton, Segarra joins previously cast Ian Gomez, Collette Wolfe, James Earland Joe Massingill.

This marks Segarra’s return to NBC and Universal Televisionafter recurring on the network and studio’s drama series Chicago P.D. several years ago. The Orange Is the New Blackalum has been recurring on CW’s Arrow as Adrian Chase/Prometheus; on Comedy Central’s The Other Two as Lance, Brooke’s simple-minded ex-boyfriend; and on Fox’s holiday event series The Moodys. 

Focus Features to Adapt Amber Garza’s Novel “When I Was Young” into a Film

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Amber Garza’s words will be coming to life on the big screen…

Focus Features and Will Packer Productions are developing When I Was You, a feature adaptation based on the forthcoming book from the Latina author.

Amber Garza

Described as a female-driven thriller, When I Was You centers on Kelly Medina, whose obsession starts on an ordinary fall morning when she gets a call from her son’s pediatrician. It’s a cruel mistake; her son left for college a year ago. The receptionist quickly apologizes: another Kelly Medina, who’s half her age, is a new patient.

For days, Kelly can’t stop thinking about the woman who shares her name, lives in her same town, has a baby, and her whole life ahead of her. When Kelly just happens to bump into the single mother outside that pediatrician’s office, it’s simple curiosity getting the better of her. When they become friends, Kelly can’t help but find a renewed sense of purpose taking care of this young woman and her adorable baby boy. And when one Kelly disappears, well, the other one may know why.

The book is slated for release, via MIRA, in August 2020. Will Packer and James Lopezwill produce the film project under the Will Packer Productions banner.

Garza’s works include The Girl Frozen in Time, The Last Time I Saw Her, and the Prowl trilogy.

Longoria Producing Comedy Project “Bonita & Mechelle” for NBC

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Eva Longoria is expanding her presence at the Peacock Network…

The 40-year-old Mexican American actress, producer, director, activist and businesswoman has partnered with Will Packer – known for producing movies featuring African American characters –for Bonita & Mechelle, a multi-camera comedy for NBC.

Eva Longoria

The project centers on two women, one Hispanic and one African American. The women find themselves living together while conquering the ups and downs of single life and parenting.

Written by Kriss Turner Towner, Bonita & Mechelle hails from Will Packer Prods. and Longoria’s UnbeliEVAble Entertainment.

Universal Television, where both companies are under deals, is the studio. Towner executive produces with Packer and UnbeliEVAble’s Longoria and Ben Spector.

Longoria is producing two series with Latino protagonists, Devious Maids, which was just renewed for a fourth season, and NBC’s upcoming Hot & Bothered, in which she stars.

In addition to Bonita & Mechelle, UnbeliEVAble Entertainment has a comedy penned by Hot and Bothered writer-producer Rob Sudduth set at NBC, as well as projects in development at HBO Films and NBC International.