Last month, Amazon released the trailer for G20, which shows Viola Davis flexing more than her acting muscle as she plays the US President who is taken hostage by terrorists at the G20 Summit and the action kicks in when she takes matters into her own hands. ScreenRant now gives us a new look at the movie with these newly released images featuring The Boys‘ Antony Starr as the main villain.
The official plot synopsis reads,
“When the G20 summit comes under siege, U.S. President Danielle Sutton (Academy Award winner Viola Davis) becomes the number one target. After evading capture by the attackers, she must outsmart the enemy to protect her family, defend her country and safeguard world leaders in this action-packed thrill ride.”
Patricia Riggen directs G20 from a script by Caitlin Parrish, Erica Weiss, Logan Miller, and Noah Miller, with a story by Logan Miller and Noah Miller.
The official plot synopsis reads,
“When the G20 summit comes under siege, U.S. President Danielle Sutton (Academy Award winner Viola Davis) becomes the number one target. After evading capture by the attackers, she must outsmart the enemy to protect her family, defend her country and safeguard world leaders in this action-packed thrill ride.”
Patricia Riggen directs G20 from a script by Caitlin Parrish, Erica Weiss, Logan Miller, and Noah Miller, with a story by Logan Miller and Noah Miller.
- 3/7/2025
- by EJ Tangonan
- JoBlo.com
From time to time, sometimes the President gets in on the action themselves as they take matters into their own hands with movies like Independence Day, White House Down and, of course, Air Force One. Additionally, the movie Widows showed that Viola Davis was capable of crossing over into the action genre. Now, the Academy Award-winning actress goes full-on Harrison Ford as a President who takes on a group of terrorists in the new trailer for G20. Prime Video has released the new trailer where Davis goes up against The Boys‘ Antony Starr.
The official plot synopsis reads,
“When the G20 summit comes under siege, U.S. President Danielle Sutton (Academy Award winner Viola Davis) becomes the number one target. After evading capture by the attackers, she must outsmart the enemy to protect her family, defend her country and safeguard world leaders in this action-packed thrill ride.”
Patricia Riggen directs...
The official plot synopsis reads,
“When the G20 summit comes under siege, U.S. President Danielle Sutton (Academy Award winner Viola Davis) becomes the number one target. After evading capture by the attackers, she must outsmart the enemy to protect her family, defend her country and safeguard world leaders in this action-packed thrill ride.”
Patricia Riggen directs...
- 2/12/2025
- by EJ Tangonan
- JoBlo.com
While many of us are used to seeing Viola Davis as Amanda Waller, a ruthless woman craving power and control in the DC Universe, the Academy Award-winning actress is capable of multitudes. Viola Davis constantly reinvents herself to bring powerhouse performances to audiences, and in Patricia Riggen’s upcoming action-thriller G20, she takes a presidential role not to be taken lightly. On Thursday, Prime Video announced an April 10, 2025, release date for G20, alongside other details.
Patricia Riggen directs G20 from a script by Caitlin Parrish, Erica Weiss, Logan Miller, and Noah Miller, with a story by Logan Miller and Noah Miller. According to Prime Video’s official description, G20 follows U.S. President Danielle Sutton (Viola Davis), who becomes the number one target after the G20 summit – an intergovernmental forum comprising 19 sovereign countries, the European Union (EU), and the African Union (Au) – comes under siege. After evading capture by the attackers,...
Patricia Riggen directs G20 from a script by Caitlin Parrish, Erica Weiss, Logan Miller, and Noah Miller, with a story by Logan Miller and Noah Miller. According to Prime Video’s official description, G20 follows U.S. President Danielle Sutton (Viola Davis), who becomes the number one target after the G20 summit – an intergovernmental forum comprising 19 sovereign countries, the European Union (EU), and the African Union (Au) – comes under siege. After evading capture by the attackers,...
- 1/2/2025
- by Steve Seigh
- JoBlo.com
Eva Mendes says the only way that she could be convinced to return to acting is if it’s alongside her husband Ryan Gosling.
It’s been a decade since Mendes stepped away from acting. Her last role was a small part in Gosling’s feature directorial debut Lost River. The actress’ last credit, though, was lending her voice to a 2021 episode of Bluey.
“I was never in love with acting. I don’t mean this in a self-deprecating way, but I wasn’t a great actress. I had my moments when I worked with really great people,” she said in an interview with the U.K.’s Sunday Times.
Mendes says her best work was opposite Gosling in films like Lost River and The Place Beyond the Pines, which is the 2012 film where they first met.
“He gets something out of me that’s never been accessible before,” she said.
It’s been a decade since Mendes stepped away from acting. Her last role was a small part in Gosling’s feature directorial debut Lost River. The actress’ last credit, though, was lending her voice to a 2021 episode of Bluey.
“I was never in love with acting. I don’t mean this in a self-deprecating way, but I wasn’t a great actress. I had my moments when I worked with really great people,” she said in an interview with the U.K.’s Sunday Times.
Mendes says her best work was opposite Gosling in films like Lost River and The Place Beyond the Pines, which is the 2012 film where they first met.
“He gets something out of me that’s never been accessible before,” she said.
- 10/21/2024
- by Lexi Carson
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Eva Mendes admitted in an interview with The Sunday Times that she was “never in love with acting,” so there’s no real urgency to ending her 10-years and counting break from it. The actor has not starred in a feature film since a small supporting role in partner Ryan Gosling‘s 2014 directorial effort “Lost River,” although she lent her voice on a 2021 episode of “Bluey” on ABC Kids.
“I was never in love with acting. I don’t mean this in a self-deprecating way, but I wasn’t a great actress,” Mendes said. “I had my moments when I worked with really great people.”
As far as Mendez sees it, her best acting work came when she was starring opposite Gosling in 2012’s crime drama “The Place Beyond on the Pines” or when he was directing her in “Lost River.” She said: “He gets something out of me that’s never been accessible before.
“I was never in love with acting. I don’t mean this in a self-deprecating way, but I wasn’t a great actress,” Mendes said. “I had my moments when I worked with really great people.”
As far as Mendez sees it, her best acting work came when she was starring opposite Gosling in 2012’s crime drama “The Place Beyond on the Pines” or when he was directing her in “Lost River.” She said: “He gets something out of me that’s never been accessible before.
- 10/21/2024
- by Zack Sharf
- Variety Film + TV
Eva Mendes has garnered immense success in the acting industry, showcasing her versatility in a variety of projects like Ghost Rider, 2 Fast 2 Furious, and Girl in Progress. Apart from acting, she has cemented herself in the fashion and beauty industries. Although her professional career is enough to make noise on its own, she also gained significant limelight due to her relationship with Ryan Gosling.
Ryan Gosling and Eva Mendes in The Place Beyond the Pines | Focus Features
The duo has been together since 2011, sharing two daughters- Esmerelda and Amada. While their strong bond continues to blossom, a past report suggested that the actress reportedly made her ex-boyfriend serve her current beau.
Eva Mendes Reportedly Asked Ex-George Augusto to Take Care of Ryan Gosling’s Dog
Before getting romantically involved with the Barbie star, Eva Mendes dated George Augusto from 2002 to 2011. Even after their split, the duo continued to remain on good terms,...
Ryan Gosling and Eva Mendes in The Place Beyond the Pines | Focus Features
The duo has been together since 2011, sharing two daughters- Esmerelda and Amada. While their strong bond continues to blossom, a past report suggested that the actress reportedly made her ex-boyfriend serve her current beau.
Eva Mendes Reportedly Asked Ex-George Augusto to Take Care of Ryan Gosling’s Dog
Before getting romantically involved with the Barbie star, Eva Mendes dated George Augusto from 2002 to 2011. Even after their split, the duo continued to remain on good terms,...
- 8/5/2024
- by Priya Sharma
- FandomWire
Tubi, Fox’s free streaming service, has announced its list of June titles. The June 2024 slate features new Tubi Originals as well as numerous action, art house, Black cinema, comedy, documentary, drama, horror, kids and family, romance, sci-fi and fantasy, thriller, and Western titles.
As a leading ad-supported video-on-demand service, the company engages diverse audiences through a personalized experience and the world’s largest content library: over 200,000 movies and TV episodes, a growing collection of Tubi Originals, and nearly 250 Fast channels.
You can watch the Tubi June 2024 lineup for free on Android and iOS mobile devices, Amazon Echo Show, Google Nest Hub Max, Comcast Xfinity X1, and Cox Contour.
You can also watch the service on connected television devices such as Amazon Fire TV, Vizio TVs, Sony TVs, Samsung TVs, Roku, Apple TV, Chromecast, Android TV, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and on the Tubi site.
Tubi Originals
Action
Continental...
As a leading ad-supported video-on-demand service, the company engages diverse audiences through a personalized experience and the world’s largest content library: over 200,000 movies and TV episodes, a growing collection of Tubi Originals, and nearly 250 Fast channels.
You can watch the Tubi June 2024 lineup for free on Android and iOS mobile devices, Amazon Echo Show, Google Nest Hub Max, Comcast Xfinity X1, and Cox Contour.
You can also watch the service on connected television devices such as Amazon Fire TV, Vizio TVs, Sony TVs, Samsung TVs, Roku, Apple TV, Chromecast, Android TV, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and on the Tubi site.
Tubi Originals
Action
Continental...
- 5/17/2024
- by Mirko Parlevliet
- Vital Thrills
Eva Mendes has floated a potential end to her near-decade long hiatus from acting. The actor has not starred in a feature film since a small supporting role in partner Ryan Gosling’s 2014’s directorial effort “Lost River,” although she lent her voice to a role on a 2021 episode of “Bluey” on ABC Kids. Mendes appeared on “The View” and said her potential return to acting would have specific requirements.
“I have such a short list of what I will do, with four kids,” Mendes said (via Entertainment Weekly). “I mean, if it was a fun project. But now I won’t do violence, I don’t want to do sexuality, the list is short.”
“The View” co-host Sunny Hostin asked Mendes if she would end her acting break if a “special project” came her way that met all of her requirements, to which the actor answered, “I hope so.
“I have such a short list of what I will do, with four kids,” Mendes said (via Entertainment Weekly). “I mean, if it was a fun project. But now I won’t do violence, I don’t want to do sexuality, the list is short.”
“The View” co-host Sunny Hostin asked Mendes if she would end her acting break if a “special project” came her way that met all of her requirements, to which the actor answered, “I hope so.
- 5/10/2022
- by Zack Sharf
- Variety Film + TV
Coi Leray has enlisted Nicki Minaj for her new single, “Blick Blick.” It’s the rising rapper-singer’s second single of the year following “Anxiety.” Leray’s debut studio album, Trendsetter, is expected to arrive later this year.
“Want a bad bitch like me/Keep on wishing, baby,” Leray confidently raps on the song about knowing your worth and never compromising for less than what you want — whether in the bedroom or beyond. She adds: “Eat the cookie like a Nutter Butter butter/Lick this pussy like just fa la la la.
“Want a bad bitch like me/Keep on wishing, baby,” Leray confidently raps on the song about knowing your worth and never compromising for less than what you want — whether in the bedroom or beyond. She adds: “Eat the cookie like a Nutter Butter butter/Lick this pussy like just fa la la la.
- 3/18/2022
- by Althea Legaspi
- Rollingstone.com
It’s been nearly seven years since Mexican singer Carla Morrison released her last album Amor Supremo, a tender project that won her a Grammy nomination for Best Latin Rock, Urban or Alternative Album. Now, she’s announced that her long-awaited album El Renacimiento will arrive on April 29.
The album is an extension of her gauzy sound and features more pop-driven songs, such as the previously released track “Ansiedad,” “No Me Llames”, “Obra de Arte,” and “Contigo.” In a statement, she said that El Renacimiento is her most personal project yet.
The album is an extension of her gauzy sound and features more pop-driven songs, such as the previously released track “Ansiedad,” “No Me Llames”, “Obra de Arte,” and “Contigo.” In a statement, she said that El Renacimiento is her most personal project yet.
- 3/1/2022
- by Julyssa Lopez
- Rollingstone.com
Snoop Dogg‘s new album The Algorithm is shaping up to be the hottest party in town with a guestlist of featured artists from Def Jam Recordings’ past, present and future. The project arrives Nov. 19.
The 25-track compilation record is stacked with featured artists including Usher, Dave East, Jadakiss, Fabolous, Mary J Blige, Ice Cube, E-40, Wiz Khalifa, and more.
The album also features a collaboration between Snoop, Ice Cube, E-40 and Too Short – also known as the supergroup Mt. Westmore. In a recent interview with Rolling Stone Music Now,...
The 25-track compilation record is stacked with featured artists including Usher, Dave East, Jadakiss, Fabolous, Mary J Blige, Ice Cube, E-40, Wiz Khalifa, and more.
The album also features a collaboration between Snoop, Ice Cube, E-40 and Too Short – also known as the supergroup Mt. Westmore. In a recent interview with Rolling Stone Music Now,...
- 11/15/2021
- by Larisha Paul
- Rollingstone.com
Gugu Mbatha-Raw and Edgar Ramírez have teamed up for romantic drama “Nobody’s Heart,” directed by Isabel Coixet.
WestEnd Films has launched international sales on the film, which will be presented to buyers at the virtual American Film Market this week. CAA Media Finance is representing North American sales.
Set in Lisbon in the 1930s, “Nobody’s Heart” centers on a new widow, Lily, who inherits her husband’s cork factory, and begins to form an unexpected relationship with his enigmatic co-worker, igniting repressed imagination and passion, and discovering unknown truths about both herself and her late husband.
The film, which will begin shooting in January in Portugal, is adapted from bestselling author and screenwriter William Boyd’s short story “Cork,” and is based on the life of celebrated Portuguese poet, Fernando Pessoa. The film is produced by John Fiedler (“Girl in Progress”).
Said Coixet: “This is a fascinating, twisted...
WestEnd Films has launched international sales on the film, which will be presented to buyers at the virtual American Film Market this week. CAA Media Finance is representing North American sales.
Set in Lisbon in the 1930s, “Nobody’s Heart” centers on a new widow, Lily, who inherits her husband’s cork factory, and begins to form an unexpected relationship with his enigmatic co-worker, igniting repressed imagination and passion, and discovering unknown truths about both herself and her late husband.
The film, which will begin shooting in January in Portugal, is adapted from bestselling author and screenwriter William Boyd’s short story “Cork,” and is based on the life of celebrated Portuguese poet, Fernando Pessoa. The film is produced by John Fiedler (“Girl in Progress”).
Said Coixet: “This is a fascinating, twisted...
- 11/2/2021
- by Manori Ravindran
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: Cierra Ramirez has joined the cast of indie feature The Re-Education of Molly Singer in a leading role. Ramirez will portray the character of Lindsay, a college student who finds herself caught up in a love triangle.
She joins previously announced cast members Britt Robertson, Ty Simpkin, Nico Santos, Holland Roden, Jaime Pressly, and Wendie Malick.
Robertson stars as the titular Molly, a former college party girl who in her latter professional career as an attorney has just botched her biggest case due to her inability to let go of her hard-partying lifestyle. Rather than firing her, Molly is tasked by her overbearing and controlling boss Brenda (Pressly) to re-enroll at her old alma mater, to befriend her socially awkward son, Elliot (Simpkins), and guide him through an already tumultuous freshman year. Elliot and Ramirez’s Lindsay attend the same school.
Todd Friedman and Kevin Haskin penned the script.
She joins previously announced cast members Britt Robertson, Ty Simpkin, Nico Santos, Holland Roden, Jaime Pressly, and Wendie Malick.
Robertson stars as the titular Molly, a former college party girl who in her latter professional career as an attorney has just botched her biggest case due to her inability to let go of her hard-partying lifestyle. Rather than firing her, Molly is tasked by her overbearing and controlling boss Brenda (Pressly) to re-enroll at her old alma mater, to befriend her socially awkward son, Elliot (Simpkins), and guide him through an already tumultuous freshman year. Elliot and Ramirez’s Lindsay attend the same school.
Todd Friedman and Kevin Haskin penned the script.
- 8/2/2021
- by Rosy Cordero
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Coming off their collaboration on the HBO limited series Mare of Easttown, Julianne Nicholson and Wiip have reteamed for a new series project.
The independent studio has optioned the rights to author Laura Zigman’s bestselling novel Separation Anxiety, to develop as a premium TV series headlined by Nicholson. In addition to starring, Nicholson executive produces with Zigman and wiip’s Paul Lee and Mark Roybal.
Separation Anxiety centers on Judy, who will be played by Nicholson. It is described as an honest and humorous portrait of a wife and mother in limbo, examining the ebb and flow of her most important relationships, her career and ultimately, her self-worth. The novel taps into the insecurities and anxieties that most keep under wraps with a voice that is at once gleefully irreverent and genuinely touching.
“I fell in love with Judy on page one and she drew me in deeper...
The independent studio has optioned the rights to author Laura Zigman’s bestselling novel Separation Anxiety, to develop as a premium TV series headlined by Nicholson. In addition to starring, Nicholson executive produces with Zigman and wiip’s Paul Lee and Mark Roybal.
Separation Anxiety centers on Judy, who will be played by Nicholson. It is described as an honest and humorous portrait of a wife and mother in limbo, examining the ebb and flow of her most important relationships, her career and ultimately, her self-worth. The novel taps into the insecurities and anxieties that most keep under wraps with a voice that is at once gleefully irreverent and genuinely touching.
“I fell in love with Judy on page one and she drew me in deeper...
- 5/5/2021
- by Nellie Andreeva
- Deadline Film + TV
Doctor Strange and Sherlock star Benedict Cumberbatch has shared details of the unique situation he found himself in as the world first got caught in the grip of the Covid-19 pandemic earlier this year. The 44-year-old actor was reportedly in the midst of filming an ad for a new diving watch on a New Zealand island with a population of just 21 people – and apparently got trapped there.
“There are no shops or any kind of logistical support, so it’s a pretty rare breed of person that lives there that’s really in tune with nature. It’s kind of magical and timeless in that way,” explained Cumberbatch of Nz’s Rakino Island, which – as far as we know – is home to no pengwings.
Cumberbatch had initially embraced a job as the face of Jaeger-LeCoultre’s Polaris Mariner Memovox watch under the impression that the company wanted him to do...
“There are no shops or any kind of logistical support, so it’s a pretty rare breed of person that lives there that’s really in tune with nature. It’s kind of magical and timeless in that way,” explained Cumberbatch of Nz’s Rakino Island, which – as far as we know – is home to no pengwings.
Cumberbatch had initially embraced a job as the face of Jaeger-LeCoultre’s Polaris Mariner Memovox watch under the impression that the company wanted him to do...
- 11/30/2020
- by Kirsten Howard
- Den of Geek
Ricky Martin and Carla Morrison performed their sweeping duet “Recuerdo” at the 21st Annual Latin Grammys Thursday night.
The Puerto Rican icon and indie Mexican singer appeared in contrasting black and white silk outfits to passionately croon alongside each other against a captivating, ominous beat. “Recuerdos” is about a lovesick pair who painfully yearn for each other’s embrace. Martin then transitioned to his song “Tiburones,” where children from around the world appeared behind him on visuals to deliver a candid message of unity during troubled times.
The two touching...
The Puerto Rican icon and indie Mexican singer appeared in contrasting black and white silk outfits to passionately croon alongside each other against a captivating, ominous beat. “Recuerdos” is about a lovesick pair who painfully yearn for each other’s embrace. Martin then transitioned to his song “Tiburones,” where children from around the world appeared behind him on visuals to deliver a candid message of unity during troubled times.
The two touching...
- 11/20/2020
- by Isabela Raygoza
- Rollingstone.com
There are only two months left to go in this truly hellish year and relatively new streaming service HBO Max is trying to make the best of them. While most other streamers recover from Halloween and get prepared for Christmas, HBO Max is using November 2020 to fill out its servers.
Things are pretty light not the new original series front this month with only Industry (Nov. 9) and His Dark Materials season 2 (Nov. 16) making a splash. But the streamer has a couple of notable original films to complement them. Between the World and Me, based on the book by Ta-Nehisi Coates, arrives on Nov. 21 and Melissa McCarthy comedy Superintelligence arrives on Nov. 26. That’s not even to mention two intriguing projects that don’t have dates yet: The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Reunion Special and The Mystery of Db Cooper.
Thankfully, the real appeal in November 2020 is all the fresh library...
Things are pretty light not the new original series front this month with only Industry (Nov. 9) and His Dark Materials season 2 (Nov. 16) making a splash. But the streamer has a couple of notable original films to complement them. Between the World and Me, based on the book by Ta-Nehisi Coates, arrives on Nov. 21 and Melissa McCarthy comedy Superintelligence arrives on Nov. 26. That’s not even to mention two intriguing projects that don’t have dates yet: The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Reunion Special and The Mystery of Db Cooper.
Thankfully, the real appeal in November 2020 is all the fresh library...
- 11/1/2020
- by Alec Bojalad
- Den of Geek
We might be stuck indoors this Halloween weekend, but thankfully, the various major streaming services are on hand to keep us occupied with a monumental mountain of new content heading our way over the next few days. As it’s both the end of the month and the beginning of November, the likes of Netflix, Disney Plus, HBO Max, Hulu and Prime Video are adding a mix of seasonal movies and TV shows today and tomorrow, and a whole load of freshly licensed titles on Sunday.
First of all, Netflix is dropping five new originals this Friday, October 30th, including a couple of horrors, like The Day of the Lord and His House. Disney Plus, meanwhile, debuts The Mandalorian‘s season 2 premiere today, along with a new episode of The Right Stuff and Nicolas Cage movie The Sorcerer’s Apprentice. Elsewhere, on the 31st, HBO Max adds last year’s Black Christmas...
First of all, Netflix is dropping five new originals this Friday, October 30th, including a couple of horrors, like The Day of the Lord and His House. Disney Plus, meanwhile, debuts The Mandalorian‘s season 2 premiere today, along with a new episode of The Right Stuff and Nicolas Cage movie The Sorcerer’s Apprentice. Elsewhere, on the 31st, HBO Max adds last year’s Black Christmas...
- 10/30/2020
- by Christian Bone
- We Got This Covered
As we have just about a week left to go of October, let’s take a look at everything that’s due to arrive on HBO Max in November. It’s a big month for the WarnerMedia streaming service, with countless new movies from their legendary library being added and plenty of fresh originals dropping throughout the following weeks. A few upcoming releases have yet to be dated, but otherwise, here’s the full list of what’s coming to HBO Max next month.
Released November Tba
12 Dates Of Christmas, HBO Max Original Series Premiere
Colin Quinn & Friends: A Parking Lot Comedy Show, HBO Max Original Special Premiere
Crazy, Not Insane, Documentary Premiere (HBO)
The Fresh Prince Of Bel Air Reunion Special, HBO Max Original Special Premiere
Full Bloom, HBO Max Original Series Premiere
I Hate Suzie, HBO Max Original Series Premiere
The Mystery Of Db Cooper, Documentary Premiere (HBO)
Sesame Street,...
Released November Tba
12 Dates Of Christmas, HBO Max Original Series Premiere
Colin Quinn & Friends: A Parking Lot Comedy Show, HBO Max Original Special Premiere
Crazy, Not Insane, Documentary Premiere (HBO)
The Fresh Prince Of Bel Air Reunion Special, HBO Max Original Special Premiere
Full Bloom, HBO Max Original Series Premiere
I Hate Suzie, HBO Max Original Series Premiere
The Mystery Of Db Cooper, Documentary Premiere (HBO)
Sesame Street,...
- 10/23/2020
- by Christian Bone
- We Got This Covered
With a new month quickly approaching, it’s time to look ahead and see what’s coming to all your favorite streaming services this November. That’s Netflix, Disney Plus, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video and, of course, HBO Max.
Halloween will soon be behind us and given that Christmas isn’t too far off, we’re beginning to see some holiday titles pop up, with all the major platforms getting into the festive spirit. That’ll continue in December as well, of course, but for November, there’s certainly tons on offer for those looking to start the celebrations early.
There’s a lot of other great stuff on the way, too, though, be it classic films, underrated gems, brand new releases and much more, and you can check out the entire lineup, sorted by date, down below. Ready to dive in?
November 1
Netflix
60 Days In: Season 5
A...
Halloween will soon be behind us and given that Christmas isn’t too far off, we’re beginning to see some holiday titles pop up, with all the major platforms getting into the festive spirit. That’ll continue in December as well, of course, but for November, there’s certainly tons on offer for those looking to start the celebrations early.
There’s a lot of other great stuff on the way, too, though, be it classic films, underrated gems, brand new releases and much more, and you can check out the entire lineup, sorted by date, down below. Ready to dive in?
November 1
Netflix
60 Days In: Season 5
A...
- 10/23/2020
- by Matt Joseph
- We Got This Covered
Could your weekend playlist use a little more seasoning? Rolling Stone Latin selects some of the best new music releases from Latin America, Spain and Portugal. Keep track of the latest in Latin via our playlist on Spotify.
Carla Morrison, “Ansiedad”
Latin Grammy-winning Mexican songstress Carla Morrison goes head to head with her anxiety in her new song, “Ansiedad.” Directed by Colin Solal Cardo, the accompanying visual sees Morrison brave both chaotic squalls and confining spaces, only to eventually find equilibrium in herself. She most recently appeared in Ricky Martin’s 2020 EP,...
Carla Morrison, “Ansiedad”
Latin Grammy-winning Mexican songstress Carla Morrison goes head to head with her anxiety in her new song, “Ansiedad.” Directed by Colin Solal Cardo, the accompanying visual sees Morrison brave both chaotic squalls and confining spaces, only to eventually find equilibrium in herself. She most recently appeared in Ricky Martin’s 2020 EP,...
- 9/25/2020
- by Suzy Exposito
- Rollingstone.com
During his 18 months in the national spotlight, Juice Wrld was consumed by the concept of death, which offered a neat, compact metaphor for his infinite emotional suffering. As he emerged in 2018 as one of pop’s most vital young voices, he described himself in his music as someone circling the drain, trapped in a spiral of anxiety, depression, heartbreak, and drug addiction. Juice’s hypersensitivity bordered on clairvoyance; the way he sensed the nearness of death made his own death, from an accidental oxycodone and codeine overdose last December, less...
- 7/15/2020
- by Danny Schwartz
- Rollingstone.com
Hulu is out with its list of everything new coming and going in March, and the new additions include the three-episode series premiere of “Little Fires Everywhere” starring Kerry Washington and Reese Witherspoon, and the premiere of the Hillary Clinton documentary “Hillary.”
Those two shows premiere March 18 and March 6, respectively. Other highlights include “Into the Dark: Crawlers,” about body-switching aliens and also out on March 6; the complete second season of “Love Island: Australia” coming March 13, and the two-episode series premiere of “Devs” starring Nick Offerman on March 6.
Movies leaving the site on March 31 include “When Harry Met Sally…,” “Precious” and “Big Fish.”
Also Read: Hulu's 'Into the Dark' Sets Body-Switching Aliens Thriller 'Crawlers' as March Movie (Exclusive)
Here’s everything coming and going to and from Hulu in March:
Arriving March 1
Ok K.O, Let’s Be Heroes!: Complete Season 3 (Cartoon Network)
50/50 (2011)
Abduction (2011)
Blue City (1986)
Cantinflas (2014)
Charlotte’s Web...
Those two shows premiere March 18 and March 6, respectively. Other highlights include “Into the Dark: Crawlers,” about body-switching aliens and also out on March 6; the complete second season of “Love Island: Australia” coming March 13, and the two-episode series premiere of “Devs” starring Nick Offerman on March 6.
Movies leaving the site on March 31 include “When Harry Met Sally…,” “Precious” and “Big Fish.”
Also Read: Hulu's 'Into the Dark' Sets Body-Switching Aliens Thriller 'Crawlers' as March Movie (Exclusive)
Here’s everything coming and going to and from Hulu in March:
Arriving March 1
Ok K.O, Let’s Be Heroes!: Complete Season 3 (Cartoon Network)
50/50 (2011)
Abduction (2011)
Blue City (1986)
Cantinflas (2014)
Charlotte’s Web...
- 3/1/2020
- by Margeaux Sippell
- The Wrap
Alec Bojalad Feb 18, 2020
We have a list of the new Hulu movies and shows arriving in March 2020.
March sees the beginning of one of TV's more interesting experiment in 2020. Hulu's new releases for March 2020 are highlighted by the launch of the torturously-named "FX on Hulu" in which certain FX shows will premiere exclusively on Hulu.
Yes, when Disney set out up the entertainment industry, it gained more brands than it knew what to do with. And that's how you get stuff like FX on Hulu. The streaming/cable hybrid begins in earnest in March with two series, Alex Garland's sci-fi Devs and the weird Lil Dickey comedy Dave. More FX on Hulu is set to arrive in April as well.
Hulu's only $5.99/month now, grab the deal here!
In addition to FX's offerings, Hulu has some intriguing originals of its own for March 2020. Hillary Clinton docuseries, Hillary, premieres on...
We have a list of the new Hulu movies and shows arriving in March 2020.
March sees the beginning of one of TV's more interesting experiment in 2020. Hulu's new releases for March 2020 are highlighted by the launch of the torturously-named "FX on Hulu" in which certain FX shows will premiere exclusively on Hulu.
Yes, when Disney set out up the entertainment industry, it gained more brands than it knew what to do with. And that's how you get stuff like FX on Hulu. The streaming/cable hybrid begins in earnest in March with two series, Alex Garland's sci-fi Devs and the weird Lil Dickey comedy Dave. More FX on Hulu is set to arrive in April as well.
Hulu's only $5.99/month now, grab the deal here!
In addition to FX's offerings, Hulu has some intriguing originals of its own for March 2020. Hillary Clinton docuseries, Hillary, premieres on...
- 2/18/2020
- Den of Geek
Mexico’s famed “Tres Amigos” have made a name for themselves in Hollywood and beyond, directing their way to a bevy of Oscars. Less well known: the emerging wave of female auteurs from Mexico.
The directors range from Patricia Riggen and Issa Lopez, both busy with Hollywood projects and gaining their own international recognition, to women from indigenous communities, such as María Sojob, a Tzotzil native, and Elizabeth Piña, of Otomí Hñätho descent. The latter two are making their first documentaries. Also part of this wave: Tatiana Huezo and Variety director to watch Alejandra Marquez Abella.
“It’s just marvelous what’s happening now; there are more female directors in features, and even more making short films,” says Maria Novaro, freshly installed head of Mexican Film Institute (Imcine) and who fought against chauvinism early in her directing career. She is best-known for 1991’s uplifting dance drama “Danzon.”
According to the latest findings from Imcine,...
The directors range from Patricia Riggen and Issa Lopez, both busy with Hollywood projects and gaining their own international recognition, to women from indigenous communities, such as María Sojob, a Tzotzil native, and Elizabeth Piña, of Otomí Hñätho descent. The latter two are making their first documentaries. Also part of this wave: Tatiana Huezo and Variety director to watch Alejandra Marquez Abella.
“It’s just marvelous what’s happening now; there are more female directors in features, and even more making short films,” says Maria Novaro, freshly installed head of Mexican Film Institute (Imcine) and who fought against chauvinism early in her directing career. She is best-known for 1991’s uplifting dance drama “Danzon.”
According to the latest findings from Imcine,...
- 3/7/2019
- by Anna Marie de la Fuente
- Variety Film + TV
Hulu’s slate of new titles arriving on the platform in January is here.
The second season of Hulu original “Future Man” will arrive on the service Jan. 11, while the Natalie Portman-Tessa Thompson science fiction film “Annihilation” will be available to stream on Jan. 4. The film is Alex Garland’s follow-up to “Ex Machina” and starred Portman, Thompson and Jennifer Jason Leigh as a group of scientists investigating a strange environmental phenomenon known as “the shimmer.”
Here’s the full list of what’s coming and going in January.
Also Read: Here's What You Can Stream With Your Amazon Prime Membership in January
Available Jan. 1
Atlanta: Complete Season 2 (FX)
The Detectorists: Complete Season 3 (Drg)
Dot.: Complete Season 2B (Universal Kids)
Saints & Sinners: Complete Seasons 1-3 (Bounce TV)
X Company: Complete Seasons 2&3 (Sony)
54 (1998)
10 Years (2011)
2 Days in the Valley (1996)
9 to 5 (1980)
A Charlie Brown Valentine (2002)
A Simple Plan (1998)
A...
The second season of Hulu original “Future Man” will arrive on the service Jan. 11, while the Natalie Portman-Tessa Thompson science fiction film “Annihilation” will be available to stream on Jan. 4. The film is Alex Garland’s follow-up to “Ex Machina” and starred Portman, Thompson and Jennifer Jason Leigh as a group of scientists investigating a strange environmental phenomenon known as “the shimmer.”
Here’s the full list of what’s coming and going in January.
Also Read: Here's What You Can Stream With Your Amazon Prime Membership in January
Available Jan. 1
Atlanta: Complete Season 2 (FX)
The Detectorists: Complete Season 3 (Drg)
Dot.: Complete Season 2B (Universal Kids)
Saints & Sinners: Complete Seasons 1-3 (Bounce TV)
X Company: Complete Seasons 2&3 (Sony)
54 (1998)
10 Years (2011)
2 Days in the Valley (1996)
9 to 5 (1980)
A Charlie Brown Valentine (2002)
A Simple Plan (1998)
A...
- 12/16/2018
- by Tim Baysinger
- The Wrap
Eugenio Derbez continues to make his mark in Hollywood with his latest role in Miracles From Heaven directed by Mexican director Patricia Riggen (The 33, Girl in Progress). In a recent conversation with the native Mexican actor, writer and director, he reveals he went into the role with a misconception of Jennifer Garner. Miracles From Heaven also reunites Derbez with Riggen for the third time, and he explains why she is one of the “most demanding directors” he’s ever worked with.
Read More ...
Read More ...
- 3/18/2016
- by info@cinemovie.tv (Super User)
- CineMovie
Mountains May Depart: Riggen Reenacts Devastating Chilean Mining Collapse
Mexican director Patricia Riggen makes a curious departure with her third feature, The 33, a studio backed reenactment of the infamous Chilean mining collapse projected worldwide by the media. The world watched in eerie anticipation as thirty-three men waited patiently to be excavated from the bowels of the earth, stuck for an astounding sixty-nine days together in a mining shelter reservoir with a space allotted for thirty. It was one of the most notable world news headlines in 2010, and with all of the men eventually brought to safety in mid-October, they also provided inspiration for Halloween group themed costumes everywhere. If such a move was moderately silly (or tactless) at the time, this Hollywood treatment seems equally exploitative as it mines for thrills akin to the glut of disaster themed studio extravaganzas of the 1970s. Riggen seems committed to humanizing these...
Mexican director Patricia Riggen makes a curious departure with her third feature, The 33, a studio backed reenactment of the infamous Chilean mining collapse projected worldwide by the media. The world watched in eerie anticipation as thirty-three men waited patiently to be excavated from the bowels of the earth, stuck for an astounding sixty-nine days together in a mining shelter reservoir with a space allotted for thirty. It was one of the most notable world news headlines in 2010, and with all of the men eventually brought to safety in mid-October, they also provided inspiration for Halloween group themed costumes everywhere. If such a move was moderately silly (or tactless) at the time, this Hollywood treatment seems equally exploitative as it mines for thrills akin to the glut of disaster themed studio extravaganzas of the 1970s. Riggen seems committed to humanizing these...
- 11/13/2015
- by Nicholas Bell
- IONCINEMA.com
Chicago – When a disaster strikes, often the most unlikely people will become the primary responders. This is the premise for “The 33,” a new feature film about the Chilean mining collapse in 2010, which trapped 33 men for 69 days. The film goes deep inside the event, and is directed with due respect by Patricia Riggen.
Ms. Riggen was born in Mexico, and initially studied journalism, until completing her Masters degree in directing and screenwriting at Columbia University in New York City. While in school, she completed two short documentaries, “The Cornfield” (2002) and the film-festival-award-winning “Family Portrait” (2004). Her narrative film debut was the popular “Under the Same Moon” (2007), featuring America Ferrara. She directed “Lemonade Mouth” in 2011 for the Disney Channel, and “Girl in Progress” (2012) before landing the assignment for “The 33.”
Patricia Riggen at the 51st Chicago International Film Fesitval
Photo credit: Joe Arce of Starstruck Foto for HollywoodChicago.com
Patricia Riggen spoke with HollywoodChicago.
Ms. Riggen was born in Mexico, and initially studied journalism, until completing her Masters degree in directing and screenwriting at Columbia University in New York City. While in school, she completed two short documentaries, “The Cornfield” (2002) and the film-festival-award-winning “Family Portrait” (2004). Her narrative film debut was the popular “Under the Same Moon” (2007), featuring America Ferrara. She directed “Lemonade Mouth” in 2011 for the Disney Channel, and “Girl in Progress” (2012) before landing the assignment for “The 33.”
Patricia Riggen at the 51st Chicago International Film Fesitval
Photo credit: Joe Arce of Starstruck Foto for HollywoodChicago.com
Patricia Riggen spoke with HollywoodChicago.
- 11/11/2015
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
The ordeal of 33 men trapped in a Chilean mine in 2010 attracted the world’s media. That story demonstrated the indomitable human spirit in a way this Hollywood film version doesn’t match
Almost as soon as the 33 men trapped in the San José mine in Chile were rescued, the disputes and recriminations over potential film adaptations of their extraordinary ordeal began to surface too; for low-paid men in a normally ignored industry in a marginalised part of the world, unwittingly caught up in a genuinely astonishing feat of derring-do that commandeered the world’s media for weeks, an unthought-of opportunity had opened up.
The disagreements are still rumbling along in the background, even as the film is unveiled: a modestly budgeted Hollywood production, starring Antonio Banderas and Juliette Binoche, with the Mexican-born director of Girl in Progress, Patricia Riggen, behind the camera. While the release of The 33 may not...
Almost as soon as the 33 men trapped in the San José mine in Chile were rescued, the disputes and recriminations over potential film adaptations of their extraordinary ordeal began to surface too; for low-paid men in a normally ignored industry in a marginalised part of the world, unwittingly caught up in a genuinely astonishing feat of derring-do that commandeered the world’s media for weeks, an unthought-of opportunity had opened up.
The disagreements are still rumbling along in the background, even as the film is unveiled: a modestly budgeted Hollywood production, starring Antonio Banderas and Juliette Binoche, with the Mexican-born director of Girl in Progress, Patricia Riggen, behind the camera. While the release of The 33 may not...
- 11/9/2015
- by Andrew Pulver
- The Guardian - Film News
My experience last November at Los Cabos International Film Festival was fabulous! Set up to promote film coproduction and financing among Mexico, U.S., and Canada, the festival allowed all of us to be very close and connected to our peers in the business – international sales agents, writers of all kinds, programmers and filmmakers. There we met the bright new talent, so idealistic and yet so knowledgeable and educated about film in the world. To be able to see films, concentrate on creating business and still have time to mingle -- this is what makes a festival a happy experience.
Among the many people I met there, was Ben Odell, partner at 3Pas Studios, the newly launched production company that he and Mexico’s most beloved and renowned comic star and director, Eugenio Derbez, founded on the strength and success of the $100 million dollar grossing comedy, "Instructions Not Included".
The success of this film also allowed the film’s producer Monica Lozano to establish Alebrije Distribución a new distribution company which will acquire distribution rights for the Latin and North American markets.
Monica has had her hand in 23 productions since her first film, "Amores Perros". Her most recent success was "Instructions Not Included", the Us$ 5.5 million film that became the highest grossing Spanish language film of all time in the U.S., and the second highest grossing film in any language in Mexico.
But to return to Ben and his new company, the subject of this blog: 3Pas in Spanish means three steps, but is also a play on words, something Mexicans like a lot. Tres Pas sounds like tripas, which in English means guts, or tripe. Personally, I too love tripas. Deliciosas!
I Finally met Ben at Los Cabos Film Festival. I say I "finally" met him, because we have so many friends in common and ever since I have been following Latino films and writing my book on Latin America and the film business, I had often heard of Ben as the head of production for Pantelion, U.S.'s only sustained and successful Latino film distributor.
Last September, when Strategic Partners’ Laura Mackenzie in Halifax invited me to moderate a panel on “The Games Maker”, an Argentinean-Canadian-Italian coproduction, Ben’s name was prominent as the one who made the match between Argentina’s Juan Pablo Buscarini and Canada’s Tina Pehme and Kim Roberts.
I always had him pictured as my other friend whose last name is Odell, a slight and wiry, dark haired type. How surprised I was to see this big, handsome blond who exuded warmth and a good-willed wit and storytelling skill. Love at first sight! And I am sure I am not the only one who is smitten with him.
I wish I could convey his spirit, humor and strength as he recounted his life and career(s) to me in the hour we spent together in his new spacious, airy and bright Santa Monica office where Ben Shalom-Martinez was the third person in the new company, manning a phone system not yet working.
I told Ben I had read his mini bio in IMDb, and it made me want to know how he had gotten into the Latino side of the business. I expected him to reveal that, in fact, and in spite of his name, he was Latino.
One year out of college, Ben said, "I worked in editing with the Maysles Brothers. I was a P.A. on the first film John Turturro directed called “Mac”, and I was a reader for Art Linson. And that was my degree in Liberal Arts in Film. I wanted to be a screenwriter but I didn’t feel I had enough life experience. A family friend offered me a job in commercial production in Colombia. It was 1992 and my dad said: “if you love all things Latino, go learn Spanish and become an expert in the Latino market. It’s going to need people that understand it. No one was really talking about its importance then but that piece of advice changed my life. I moved to Colombia to learn Spanish and start what would be a life long journey in all things Latino, from U.S. Latino to Latin America. It’s not a single market but there is a connectivity between all of it.”
Ben grew up in Pennsylvania and when he was six years old, neighbors, who had old friends from Colombia, did an exchange of one of their children with a Colombian child. “My father ended up basically adopting that child for the year he lived with our neighbors and from that grew a friendship with this Colombian family.”
When he was 12 years old the whole Colombian family moved to Philadelphia. “I wanted them to adopt me. They were crazy, emotional, passionate, loving. It was a warmth and lust for life I hadn’t really experienced in suburban white America. And then I realized there was a whole country full of them.” At 15 he went with a friend to Colombia and loved it.
His father eventually married someone from that family. So Ben's connection to Colombia, if not to all of Latin America was very organic. Colombia is not part of the "U.S. Latino market" per se, but Colombia and the rest of Latin America share certain characteristics and commonalities — views on life and death, family, spirituality -- that end up working their way into storytelling that are shared throughout the U.S. Latino market and Latin America along with a larger emotional scale in the tone of their storytelling.
Odell lived in Colombia from 1992 to 2000. He also worked as a freelance journalist before becoming a Spanish language television writer and screenwriter there.
When he was in Colombia working in commercials, he met Tom Quinn, a journalist Iiving there for 25 years, working for Time Magazine and running an English language rag called The Colombian Post. In his youth ,Tom had run with the likes of Hunter S. Thompson. He had lots of adventures and lots of stories of those days.
Ben asked Tom what was the most compelling story they could make into a movie that wasn’t about narcotrafficking, and Tom said one word: “Emeralds.” Colombia supplies 60% of the world's emeralds. The mines in the Emerald Zone have strong drug laundering connections as well, as one might guess. The land is leased by the government to the three or four mining companies and they control everything with no supervision by the government.
The society is totally feudal. Workers labor for the companies for 28 days of the month and on the last two days they are allowed to keep whatever they find. Victor Carranza ran everything. He was The Don, violent and scary. A small man, about 5'2". He died in prison worth over a billion dollars.
Ben thought this was a great story to develop into a movie, and so he went back to New York to the contacts he had made including an exec at Tribeca Films. “They all said the same thing, great story but you are not a writer. Go write the script and then we’ll talk.” Ben returned to Colombia to do research.
In the meanwhile he began writing for Colombian TV. He had never written a feature film script, nor did he speak Spanish. He had, however, taken a course in feature film screenwriting with Robert McKee. And he had a girlfriend who was bilingual. He knew about Colombian TV and he saw the potential for legitimizing the story first as a TV show and then making it into a feature later.
Tom Quinn was very well known in Colombia as he was the Time News correspondent there at a moment when the magazine had a lot of power; the drug wars were one of its most consistent cover stories. They pitched it to Rti TV, and structured it like "The Fugitive".
There is a drug, called Burandanga, scientifically known as Scopolamine. It comes from a plant that grows wild in Colombia. The drugged one loses control of his or her will. He once heard a story about a man in a bar who wakes up in jail accused of a murder he can’t remember. This became the basis of the story. The lead goes into the Emerald Zone and drugged by burundanga, he kills one on the wrong side in a war going on there. He wakes up with no recollection and a full on civil war going on around him. He can't get out of the Emerald Zone until he finds the man who drugged him. The title of this series that Tom and he pitched and in 1998 created was "Fuego verde", like the 1954 Hollywood movie, “ Green Fire” starring Grace Kelly and Stewart Grainger.
As a television writer, he eventually created and wrote over 300 hours of Spanish-language narrative television including “Fuego Verde” -- the first-ever action series. It was one of the highest rated series on Colombian television. He also co-wrote the Colombian political satire feature film, “ Golpe de estadio”, which was nominated for Spain's Academy Award, the Goya in 1999, and was Colombia's nomination to the Oscar in 2000. It is still one of the highest grossing Colombian films of all time.
In the film, "Golpe de estadio", (Golpe de Estado means “Coup d'état”but it also could mean “Coup d’ Stadium”), an oil company has set up a camp for geological research in a small village in Colombia that has been named New Texas. It becomes the target of the guerrillas who are constantly clashing with police in the area. The confrontation is put on hold however during the TV transmission of the world Cup qualifiers. The two sides declare a sort of truce so that they can all watch the match between Colombia and Argentina on the only working TV in the town. Colombia wins the game, 5 to 0, (a victory, in real life, infamous in the annals of world cup) and of course the Colombian police and guerrilla find themselves cheering for the same team.
"Golpe" was released in theaters in 1999 while the drug wars and war between the guerrillas and the government were moving into peace talks. It came out during the war, and Ben naively believed it could make tangible impact on the country. Instead they received death threats. It was a very volatile time.
He left Colombia and put together a business plan to make movies for Latino audiences. He was too green and he was way ahead of his time so instead he went to film school at Columbia University.
He went to film school thinking it was only to network and realized he knew nothing about film writing or production. "Going to film school's more valuable if a student already has some experience," Ben says.
"Confess", a feature length film he produced in his second year of film school (2005) was one of his thesis projects. It was made for a couple of hundred thousand dollars. Ali Larter and Melissa Leo starred in it (way before she won the Oscar for Best Supporting Role in “The Fighter”). The movie was about a disgruntled computer hacker of mixed race, who struggles to adjust to life after a jaunt in prison. He takes his anger online forcing confessions out of those who slighted him. Eventually his focus becomes political. “It had all the trappings of a first time filmmaker. But conceptually it was scratching the surface of trends that wouldn’t appear online until years later. This was several years before YouTube took hold, which is a lifetime in human years.”
"For my second film, we had Scorsese as an executive producer. When we started preproduction we quickly discovered that one of our two investors really didn’t have the money. He signed a contract to invest while he was still trying to raise the funds“
At this point in our discussion Ben and I went off on a tangent...Money that falls out at the last minute is such a common story. Do these guys think the money will come just because they have "bet" on it, using the film as collateral?... Do they just want to go for the ride, as far as they can go?... are they sociopaths, liars, gamblers, on drugs or what? I remember when I worked at Ifa (until it became ICM); at the Motion Picture Division's meetings that Mike Medavoy held every week, agents would sometimes report on someone wanting to invest in film, and once Mike said "No. Not him. He has a very bad reputation, and his money is not good. We don't want that kind of money." But young producers know very little about vetting financial prospects.
This digression is only to illustrate the fact that that in this person-to-person business it is important to know who you are dealing with.
But Odell’s luck was going to change. Just a few weeks after the implosion of the film, he got an email from Jim McNamara. NBC had bought McNamara's Telemundo for Us$ 3 billion . McNamara had been CEO of New World, a position once held by Harry Sloan and Jon Feltheimer. Feltheimer went off to Sony TV which had a majority stake in Telemundo. McNamara, who had just been president of Universal TV worldwide, was brought in to run Telemundo
After leaving Telemundo, he went back to Feltheimer, in the early days of building Lionsgate, to discuss his new idea. At the time -- this was 2006 -- there were two Spanish language networks, 600 Spanish language radio stations, 2,000 Spanish language newspapers, and no one was making movies in Spanish. Felt liked it and they made a deal. Panamax was born.
McNamara knew of Odell when he was buying TV series for Telemundo. He bought a lot of the TV shows Odell had written.
Panamax’ made a six picture deal with Lionsgate. Odell became President of Production at Panamax Films and produced many feature films and TV movies both in Spanish and in English for the Hispanic market.
On one of their first scouting trips, Odell and McNamara went to see a play called “Latinologues” written by Rick Najera. In it, there was a Mexican actor named Eugenio Derbez. Derbez was known only for Spanish language TV at the time. He wrote, directed, produced and starred in his own shows for Televisa. These shows also played on Univision in the U.S. and were building a huge fan base in both countries as well as much of the Spanish-speaking world.
Latinologues was made up of multiple monologues from different actors playing roles as Latino archetypes. Derbez did three or four different characters. “When he came on stage,” recalls Odell, “He was electrifying, hilarious, magnetic. And then I met him afterwards. He was the humblest man, quiet, and a bit shy. I realized what an amazing talent he was, he had that ‘it factor’ – when he turned it on, it turned on the room.”
At the time Odell and McNamara were packaging a project called "Under the Same Moon" and suggested Derbez for a role. They flew the director, Patricia Riggen, to N.Y. to meet him. While Lionsgate ended up not financing the project, Derbez stayed in the picture. “Looking back, I think a significant part of why that movie did $20 million in box office between U.S. and Mexico, was Eugenio. He was already a mega star. No one really knew it in the general market because they weren’t paying attention to the success of his shows. Hollywood tends to ignore the Spanish speaking market, but the U.S. is the second biggest Spanish speaking country in the world and Eugenio has built a huge following there.”
Ben also made the art house Spanish language thriller, "Padre Nuestro" in 2007 which won the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance. IFC changed the title to “Sangre de mi Sangre” for its U.S. release. It also played at New Directors/ New Films at Museum of Modern Art in New York in the Spring of 2007, received two Independent Spirit Awards nominations, for Best First Feature (for which Odell was nominated) and Best Screenplay. Odell also produced “Un Cuento Chino” aka “Chinese Take-Out” (a Spanish/ Argentinean co-production), starring Argentina’s most popular actor, Ricardo Darin (“El Secreto de los Ojos”), written and directed by Sebastián Borensztein. In Spanish, referring to a story as a cuento chino is equivalent to calling it a tall tale.
“Chino” was the top grossing Argentinean film of 2011 and one of the highest grossing Argentinean films of all times. In its international release it has broken box office records for Latin American films in both Latin America and Europe. It won the Argentinean Academy Award for best feature and the Goya, the Spanish Academy Award, for Best Latin American Film. It won numerous festivals including the Grand Jury Prize and Audience Award at the Rome Film Festival.
When Odell was developing the script with Borensztein in 2009, he sent the script to Derbez, who immediately expressed interested in remaking it. “I loved the original story and movie,” Derbez said. “There is a heartfelt relationship that develops between these two very different people set around a whimsical, comical and magical world.”
Odell was also an executive producer on the English language 3D family thriller, “ The Games Maker”, starring Joseph Fiennes and Ed Asner. Made as a coproduction with Disney Latin America, the movie was produced in Argentina by Pampa Films and directed by Juan Pablo Buscarini, one of the producers of “Un Cuento Chino”. It was released widely across Latin America in the summer of 2014 and continues its theatrical release around the world.
Several years into Panamax’s deal with Lionsgate, a joint venture was created between Panamax, Televisa and Lionsgate called Pantelion Films. McNamara became chairman of Pantelion and Ben became President of Production.
Under the new deal he produced the 2012 coming of age comedy “Girl in Progress”, directed by “Under the Same Moon” director Patricia Riggen and staring Eva Mendes, Eugenio Derbez, Mathew Modine and Patricia Arquette
His most recent film was the inspirational true story, “Spare Parts”, starring George Lopez, Jamie Lee Curtis and Marisa Tomei which was released in January 2015.
While Eugenio was making his breakout film "Instructions not Included” neither he nor Ben had any idea it would be so big. “Instructions Not Included,” was released in 2013 by Pantelion and grossed $44.5 million, making it the highest-grossing Spanish-language film ever released in the U.S. It grossed another $55 million overseas making it the number one Spanish language movie in the world.
The two realized, this was The One Time In A Career To Capitalize, and they decided to go together, to focus on brand-building, based on Eugenio's popularity and to go beyond his own work, in English and Spanish. Together they formed 3pas Studios which signed a first-look deal with Pantelion in August 2014.
They are in development on many feature films including “Un Cuento Chino”, a remake of the French comedy, “The Valet” and an untitled original script about an aging Latin lover from writers Chris Spain and Jon Zack (“The Perfect Storm”) which Derbez will star in and produce with Ben.
“We are developing multiple projects with an eye to shooting one at the end of 2015,” Odell said.
Meantime, Eugenio Derbez just filmed roles in Warner Brothers’ “Geostorm” with Gerard Butler and Sony Pictures “ Miracles from Heaven” with Jennifer Garner, and Queen Latifah. The latter was directed by Patricia Riggen who directed Derbez in both “Under the Same Moon” and “Girl in Progress”.
Ben is sure that his producing partner will go way beyond his current core Latino market “He is so lovable to watch. He has a magic about him that is undeniable and transcends language and culture.”...
Among the many people I met there, was Ben Odell, partner at 3Pas Studios, the newly launched production company that he and Mexico’s most beloved and renowned comic star and director, Eugenio Derbez, founded on the strength and success of the $100 million dollar grossing comedy, "Instructions Not Included".
The success of this film also allowed the film’s producer Monica Lozano to establish Alebrije Distribución a new distribution company which will acquire distribution rights for the Latin and North American markets.
Monica has had her hand in 23 productions since her first film, "Amores Perros". Her most recent success was "Instructions Not Included", the Us$ 5.5 million film that became the highest grossing Spanish language film of all time in the U.S., and the second highest grossing film in any language in Mexico.
But to return to Ben and his new company, the subject of this blog: 3Pas in Spanish means three steps, but is also a play on words, something Mexicans like a lot. Tres Pas sounds like tripas, which in English means guts, or tripe. Personally, I too love tripas. Deliciosas!
I Finally met Ben at Los Cabos Film Festival. I say I "finally" met him, because we have so many friends in common and ever since I have been following Latino films and writing my book on Latin America and the film business, I had often heard of Ben as the head of production for Pantelion, U.S.'s only sustained and successful Latino film distributor.
Last September, when Strategic Partners’ Laura Mackenzie in Halifax invited me to moderate a panel on “The Games Maker”, an Argentinean-Canadian-Italian coproduction, Ben’s name was prominent as the one who made the match between Argentina’s Juan Pablo Buscarini and Canada’s Tina Pehme and Kim Roberts.
I always had him pictured as my other friend whose last name is Odell, a slight and wiry, dark haired type. How surprised I was to see this big, handsome blond who exuded warmth and a good-willed wit and storytelling skill. Love at first sight! And I am sure I am not the only one who is smitten with him.
I wish I could convey his spirit, humor and strength as he recounted his life and career(s) to me in the hour we spent together in his new spacious, airy and bright Santa Monica office where Ben Shalom-Martinez was the third person in the new company, manning a phone system not yet working.
I told Ben I had read his mini bio in IMDb, and it made me want to know how he had gotten into the Latino side of the business. I expected him to reveal that, in fact, and in spite of his name, he was Latino.
One year out of college, Ben said, "I worked in editing with the Maysles Brothers. I was a P.A. on the first film John Turturro directed called “Mac”, and I was a reader for Art Linson. And that was my degree in Liberal Arts in Film. I wanted to be a screenwriter but I didn’t feel I had enough life experience. A family friend offered me a job in commercial production in Colombia. It was 1992 and my dad said: “if you love all things Latino, go learn Spanish and become an expert in the Latino market. It’s going to need people that understand it. No one was really talking about its importance then but that piece of advice changed my life. I moved to Colombia to learn Spanish and start what would be a life long journey in all things Latino, from U.S. Latino to Latin America. It’s not a single market but there is a connectivity between all of it.”
Ben grew up in Pennsylvania and when he was six years old, neighbors, who had old friends from Colombia, did an exchange of one of their children with a Colombian child. “My father ended up basically adopting that child for the year he lived with our neighbors and from that grew a friendship with this Colombian family.”
When he was 12 years old the whole Colombian family moved to Philadelphia. “I wanted them to adopt me. They were crazy, emotional, passionate, loving. It was a warmth and lust for life I hadn’t really experienced in suburban white America. And then I realized there was a whole country full of them.” At 15 he went with a friend to Colombia and loved it.
His father eventually married someone from that family. So Ben's connection to Colombia, if not to all of Latin America was very organic. Colombia is not part of the "U.S. Latino market" per se, but Colombia and the rest of Latin America share certain characteristics and commonalities — views on life and death, family, spirituality -- that end up working their way into storytelling that are shared throughout the U.S. Latino market and Latin America along with a larger emotional scale in the tone of their storytelling.
Odell lived in Colombia from 1992 to 2000. He also worked as a freelance journalist before becoming a Spanish language television writer and screenwriter there.
When he was in Colombia working in commercials, he met Tom Quinn, a journalist Iiving there for 25 years, working for Time Magazine and running an English language rag called The Colombian Post. In his youth ,Tom had run with the likes of Hunter S. Thompson. He had lots of adventures and lots of stories of those days.
Ben asked Tom what was the most compelling story they could make into a movie that wasn’t about narcotrafficking, and Tom said one word: “Emeralds.” Colombia supplies 60% of the world's emeralds. The mines in the Emerald Zone have strong drug laundering connections as well, as one might guess. The land is leased by the government to the three or four mining companies and they control everything with no supervision by the government.
The society is totally feudal. Workers labor for the companies for 28 days of the month and on the last two days they are allowed to keep whatever they find. Victor Carranza ran everything. He was The Don, violent and scary. A small man, about 5'2". He died in prison worth over a billion dollars.
Ben thought this was a great story to develop into a movie, and so he went back to New York to the contacts he had made including an exec at Tribeca Films. “They all said the same thing, great story but you are not a writer. Go write the script and then we’ll talk.” Ben returned to Colombia to do research.
In the meanwhile he began writing for Colombian TV. He had never written a feature film script, nor did he speak Spanish. He had, however, taken a course in feature film screenwriting with Robert McKee. And he had a girlfriend who was bilingual. He knew about Colombian TV and he saw the potential for legitimizing the story first as a TV show and then making it into a feature later.
Tom Quinn was very well known in Colombia as he was the Time News correspondent there at a moment when the magazine had a lot of power; the drug wars were one of its most consistent cover stories. They pitched it to Rti TV, and structured it like "The Fugitive".
There is a drug, called Burandanga, scientifically known as Scopolamine. It comes from a plant that grows wild in Colombia. The drugged one loses control of his or her will. He once heard a story about a man in a bar who wakes up in jail accused of a murder he can’t remember. This became the basis of the story. The lead goes into the Emerald Zone and drugged by burundanga, he kills one on the wrong side in a war going on there. He wakes up with no recollection and a full on civil war going on around him. He can't get out of the Emerald Zone until he finds the man who drugged him. The title of this series that Tom and he pitched and in 1998 created was "Fuego verde", like the 1954 Hollywood movie, “ Green Fire” starring Grace Kelly and Stewart Grainger.
As a television writer, he eventually created and wrote over 300 hours of Spanish-language narrative television including “Fuego Verde” -- the first-ever action series. It was one of the highest rated series on Colombian television. He also co-wrote the Colombian political satire feature film, “ Golpe de estadio”, which was nominated for Spain's Academy Award, the Goya in 1999, and was Colombia's nomination to the Oscar in 2000. It is still one of the highest grossing Colombian films of all time.
In the film, "Golpe de estadio", (Golpe de Estado means “Coup d'état”but it also could mean “Coup d’ Stadium”), an oil company has set up a camp for geological research in a small village in Colombia that has been named New Texas. It becomes the target of the guerrillas who are constantly clashing with police in the area. The confrontation is put on hold however during the TV transmission of the world Cup qualifiers. The two sides declare a sort of truce so that they can all watch the match between Colombia and Argentina on the only working TV in the town. Colombia wins the game, 5 to 0, (a victory, in real life, infamous in the annals of world cup) and of course the Colombian police and guerrilla find themselves cheering for the same team.
"Golpe" was released in theaters in 1999 while the drug wars and war between the guerrillas and the government were moving into peace talks. It came out during the war, and Ben naively believed it could make tangible impact on the country. Instead they received death threats. It was a very volatile time.
He left Colombia and put together a business plan to make movies for Latino audiences. He was too green and he was way ahead of his time so instead he went to film school at Columbia University.
He went to film school thinking it was only to network and realized he knew nothing about film writing or production. "Going to film school's more valuable if a student already has some experience," Ben says.
"Confess", a feature length film he produced in his second year of film school (2005) was one of his thesis projects. It was made for a couple of hundred thousand dollars. Ali Larter and Melissa Leo starred in it (way before she won the Oscar for Best Supporting Role in “The Fighter”). The movie was about a disgruntled computer hacker of mixed race, who struggles to adjust to life after a jaunt in prison. He takes his anger online forcing confessions out of those who slighted him. Eventually his focus becomes political. “It had all the trappings of a first time filmmaker. But conceptually it was scratching the surface of trends that wouldn’t appear online until years later. This was several years before YouTube took hold, which is a lifetime in human years.”
"For my second film, we had Scorsese as an executive producer. When we started preproduction we quickly discovered that one of our two investors really didn’t have the money. He signed a contract to invest while he was still trying to raise the funds“
At this point in our discussion Ben and I went off on a tangent...Money that falls out at the last minute is such a common story. Do these guys think the money will come just because they have "bet" on it, using the film as collateral?... Do they just want to go for the ride, as far as they can go?... are they sociopaths, liars, gamblers, on drugs or what? I remember when I worked at Ifa (until it became ICM); at the Motion Picture Division's meetings that Mike Medavoy held every week, agents would sometimes report on someone wanting to invest in film, and once Mike said "No. Not him. He has a very bad reputation, and his money is not good. We don't want that kind of money." But young producers know very little about vetting financial prospects.
This digression is only to illustrate the fact that that in this person-to-person business it is important to know who you are dealing with.
But Odell’s luck was going to change. Just a few weeks after the implosion of the film, he got an email from Jim McNamara. NBC had bought McNamara's Telemundo for Us$ 3 billion . McNamara had been CEO of New World, a position once held by Harry Sloan and Jon Feltheimer. Feltheimer went off to Sony TV which had a majority stake in Telemundo. McNamara, who had just been president of Universal TV worldwide, was brought in to run Telemundo
After leaving Telemundo, he went back to Feltheimer, in the early days of building Lionsgate, to discuss his new idea. At the time -- this was 2006 -- there were two Spanish language networks, 600 Spanish language radio stations, 2,000 Spanish language newspapers, and no one was making movies in Spanish. Felt liked it and they made a deal. Panamax was born.
McNamara knew of Odell when he was buying TV series for Telemundo. He bought a lot of the TV shows Odell had written.
Panamax’ made a six picture deal with Lionsgate. Odell became President of Production at Panamax Films and produced many feature films and TV movies both in Spanish and in English for the Hispanic market.
On one of their first scouting trips, Odell and McNamara went to see a play called “Latinologues” written by Rick Najera. In it, there was a Mexican actor named Eugenio Derbez. Derbez was known only for Spanish language TV at the time. He wrote, directed, produced and starred in his own shows for Televisa. These shows also played on Univision in the U.S. and were building a huge fan base in both countries as well as much of the Spanish-speaking world.
Latinologues was made up of multiple monologues from different actors playing roles as Latino archetypes. Derbez did three or four different characters. “When he came on stage,” recalls Odell, “He was electrifying, hilarious, magnetic. And then I met him afterwards. He was the humblest man, quiet, and a bit shy. I realized what an amazing talent he was, he had that ‘it factor’ – when he turned it on, it turned on the room.”
At the time Odell and McNamara were packaging a project called "Under the Same Moon" and suggested Derbez for a role. They flew the director, Patricia Riggen, to N.Y. to meet him. While Lionsgate ended up not financing the project, Derbez stayed in the picture. “Looking back, I think a significant part of why that movie did $20 million in box office between U.S. and Mexico, was Eugenio. He was already a mega star. No one really knew it in the general market because they weren’t paying attention to the success of his shows. Hollywood tends to ignore the Spanish speaking market, but the U.S. is the second biggest Spanish speaking country in the world and Eugenio has built a huge following there.”
Ben also made the art house Spanish language thriller, "Padre Nuestro" in 2007 which won the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance. IFC changed the title to “Sangre de mi Sangre” for its U.S. release. It also played at New Directors/ New Films at Museum of Modern Art in New York in the Spring of 2007, received two Independent Spirit Awards nominations, for Best First Feature (for which Odell was nominated) and Best Screenplay. Odell also produced “Un Cuento Chino” aka “Chinese Take-Out” (a Spanish/ Argentinean co-production), starring Argentina’s most popular actor, Ricardo Darin (“El Secreto de los Ojos”), written and directed by Sebastián Borensztein. In Spanish, referring to a story as a cuento chino is equivalent to calling it a tall tale.
“Chino” was the top grossing Argentinean film of 2011 and one of the highest grossing Argentinean films of all times. In its international release it has broken box office records for Latin American films in both Latin America and Europe. It won the Argentinean Academy Award for best feature and the Goya, the Spanish Academy Award, for Best Latin American Film. It won numerous festivals including the Grand Jury Prize and Audience Award at the Rome Film Festival.
When Odell was developing the script with Borensztein in 2009, he sent the script to Derbez, who immediately expressed interested in remaking it. “I loved the original story and movie,” Derbez said. “There is a heartfelt relationship that develops between these two very different people set around a whimsical, comical and magical world.”
Odell was also an executive producer on the English language 3D family thriller, “ The Games Maker”, starring Joseph Fiennes and Ed Asner. Made as a coproduction with Disney Latin America, the movie was produced in Argentina by Pampa Films and directed by Juan Pablo Buscarini, one of the producers of “Un Cuento Chino”. It was released widely across Latin America in the summer of 2014 and continues its theatrical release around the world.
Several years into Panamax’s deal with Lionsgate, a joint venture was created between Panamax, Televisa and Lionsgate called Pantelion Films. McNamara became chairman of Pantelion and Ben became President of Production.
Under the new deal he produced the 2012 coming of age comedy “Girl in Progress”, directed by “Under the Same Moon” director Patricia Riggen and staring Eva Mendes, Eugenio Derbez, Mathew Modine and Patricia Arquette
His most recent film was the inspirational true story, “Spare Parts”, starring George Lopez, Jamie Lee Curtis and Marisa Tomei which was released in January 2015.
While Eugenio was making his breakout film "Instructions not Included” neither he nor Ben had any idea it would be so big. “Instructions Not Included,” was released in 2013 by Pantelion and grossed $44.5 million, making it the highest-grossing Spanish-language film ever released in the U.S. It grossed another $55 million overseas making it the number one Spanish language movie in the world.
The two realized, this was The One Time In A Career To Capitalize, and they decided to go together, to focus on brand-building, based on Eugenio's popularity and to go beyond his own work, in English and Spanish. Together they formed 3pas Studios which signed a first-look deal with Pantelion in August 2014.
They are in development on many feature films including “Un Cuento Chino”, a remake of the French comedy, “The Valet” and an untitled original script about an aging Latin lover from writers Chris Spain and Jon Zack (“The Perfect Storm”) which Derbez will star in and produce with Ben.
“We are developing multiple projects with an eye to shooting one at the end of 2015,” Odell said.
Meantime, Eugenio Derbez just filmed roles in Warner Brothers’ “Geostorm” with Gerard Butler and Sony Pictures “ Miracles from Heaven” with Jennifer Garner, and Queen Latifah. The latter was directed by Patricia Riggen who directed Derbez in both “Under the Same Moon” and “Girl in Progress”.
Ben is sure that his producing partner will go way beyond his current core Latino market “He is so lovable to watch. He has a magic about him that is undeniable and transcends language and culture.”...
- 8/5/2015
- by Sydney Levine
- Sydney's Buzz
Do you remember where you were back in 2010, when you heard the chilling tale of the 33 Chilean miners who were trapped underground? Now, that story is being retold in The 33, a new movie from Warner Bros. Pictures and Alcon Entertainment. They have debuted the first trailer and a new poster, which take us directly back to those harrowing moments. And their triumphant return to safety.
In 2010, the eyes of the world turned to Chile, where 33 miners had been buried alive by the catastrophic explosion and collapse of a 100-year-old gold and copper mine. Over the next 69 days, an international team worked night and day in a desperate attempt to rescue the trapped men as their families and friends, as well as millions of people globally, waited and watched anxiously for any sign of hope. But 200 stories beneath the surface, in the suffocating heat and with tensions rising, provisions-and time-were quickly running out.
In 2010, the eyes of the world turned to Chile, where 33 miners had been buried alive by the catastrophic explosion and collapse of a 100-year-old gold and copper mine. Over the next 69 days, an international team worked night and day in a desperate attempt to rescue the trapped men as their families and friends, as well as millions of people globally, waited and watched anxiously for any sign of hope. But 200 stories beneath the surface, in the suffocating heat and with tensions rising, provisions-and time-were quickly running out.
- 7/29/2015
- by MovieWeb
- MovieWeb
In 2010, the entire world’s attention was on the plight of a group of thirty three Chilean miners who were trapped in an 100 year old mine as an international team worked tirelessly to get them out. Now, these intense and trying sixty nine days are coming to the big screen with the Patricia Riggen (Girl in Progress) directed The 33. The generic pop song aside (anyone else see the irony of using a song with the lyrics ‘I’m giving up on you’ as the soundtrack to one of the greatest rescues of recent years?) , our first look at The 33 shows a lot of promise, with a solid cast, including Antonio Banderas, Bob Gunton, Juliette Binoche, Gabriel Byrne, and James Brolin, and a story that not only focuses on the personal lives of those trapped in the mine and the people they’ve left alone up above, but delves...
- 7/29/2015
- by noreply@blogger.com (Tom White)
- www.themoviebit.com
.Fast & Furious 7 cinematographer Stephen Windon will make his directorial debut on DragonSlate.s motorcycle action-thriller Full Throttle, produced by Andrew Mason and set to shoot in the first quarter of 2016. Mason, executive producer of The Matrix trilogy and producer on Russell Crowe.s The Water Diviner, will lead the Full Throttle production team.
DragonSlate Media CEO LeonTan will also serve as a producer, while Sukee Chew, Andrew Ooi, Harriet Spalding and Robert Lundberg will executive produce. Full Throttle follows a motorcycle racer who, after a career-ending crash during a race in Singapore, plies his skills as a courier in Kuala Lumpur. After his girlfriend is abducted, he is forced to crisscross the city against the clock, avoiding capture by relentless authorities while being blackmailed to perform escalating acts of crime by a twisted criminal mastermind. Windon is an Emmy-nominated cinematographer whose 35 years of working behind the movie camera include numerous international accolades and awards.
DragonSlate Media CEO LeonTan will also serve as a producer, while Sukee Chew, Andrew Ooi, Harriet Spalding and Robert Lundberg will executive produce. Full Throttle follows a motorcycle racer who, after a career-ending crash during a race in Singapore, plies his skills as a courier in Kuala Lumpur. After his girlfriend is abducted, he is forced to crisscross the city against the clock, avoiding capture by relentless authorities while being blackmailed to perform escalating acts of crime by a twisted criminal mastermind. Windon is an Emmy-nominated cinematographer whose 35 years of working behind the movie camera include numerous international accolades and awards.
- 4/30/2015
- by Staff writer
- IF.com.au
I am happy to see more people vocalize demand for Latina representation onscreen and the resurging interest in solving this messed up disparity issue (Thank you Gina Rodriguez Golden Globes acceptance speech ). However, the representation issue I find ten times more urgent to address is the anguishing miniscule percentage of Latina Content Creators in film and television.
I give you 5 bomb Latina Directors who are are at the helm of brand new feature films coming out this year, women who are striking through the hostile mass media industry to escape the rule of homogeneity (white male perspective). Now that is something to celebrate. It’s not surprising that three of these are documentaries. The percentage of women directed films in documentaries is higher than in fiction. Now I can’t say with total certainty these 2 Latina directed U.S. fiction feature length films are the only ones out there this year…actually yes I can…..until someone reaches out to correct me ….and I really do hope to be corrected because only two???????
"Los 33"
Director : Patricia Riggen
Writers : Mikko Alanne, Michael John Bell, Craig Borten, Jose Rivera
Producers : Robert Katz, Edward McGurn, Mike Medavoy
Cinematographer : Checco Varese
Music : James Horner
U.S. Distributor : Tba
Cast : Rodrigo Santoro, Antonio Banderas, Cote de Pablo, James Brolin, Juliette Binoche, Gabriel Byrne, Lou Diamond Phillips, Kate del Castillo, Tenoch Huerta
Social Media: @The33Pelicula
Logline: Based on the incredible real-life story of the 33 survivors of a copper-gold mine in Chile that collapsed and trapping them 700 meters underground for 69 days until their rescue.
Add Riggen to the exclusive ranks of women who fought for and have proved they got the chops to direct big action, Hollywood type genre movies like Katheryn Bigelow, Mimi Leder. The trailer for Los 33 that dropped last week reveals an epic dramatization of the intensely emotional struggle to survive the Chilean mine disaster. The English language film carries a sweeping score by none other than James Horner (and naturally you can hear Violetta Parra’s classic song, Gracias Por La Vida). Add to that a big hero performance by Antonio Banderas who leads an ensemble cast of well known international actors (including hottie Mexican star of Güeros, Tenoch Huerta!!). Riggen, who was born in Guadalajara but moved to the states after graduating Columbia’s film school in NY, made a splash with her 2007 film, Under the Same Moon starring a back-then-virtually-unknown-in-the-u.S. Eugenio Derbez, and Kate del Castillo. The film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival then was picked up by Pantelion, the studio she later worked with on the Eva Mendes starrer Girl in Progress.
Domestic distribution and release stateside is yet to be confirmed. Meanwhile Twentieth Century Fox will be releasing the film in Chile in August, marking the fifth anniversary of the incident, before rolling out the film throughout Latin America including Mexico. For an in-depth account of Los 33, check out current best-seller, “Deep Down Dark: The Untold Stories of 33 Men Buried in a Chilean Mine and the Miracle That Set Them Free” by Hector Tobar.
"Endgame"
Director: Carmen Marron
Writers : Hector Salinas, Carmen Marron
Producers : Sandra Avila, Carmen Marron
Executive Producers : Hector Salinas, Betty Sullivan
Associate Producer : Bonnie Emerson
Cinematographer: Francisco Bulgarelli
Music: Brian Standefer
Cinematographer: Francisco Bulgarelli
U.S. Distributor : Tba
Cast : Rico Rodriguez, Efren Ramirez, Justina Machado, Jon Gries
Social Media: @GoForIt_Carmen
Facebook
Logline: Shot in Brownsville and inspired by true events, Endgame is a coming-of-age story about a young boy who joins the school chess team, and with the help of his coach, embarks on a journey of self-discovery, team spirit and the importance of family.
Another talented genre director (and fellow Chicana from Chicago, Heyyy) whose tenacity and talent make her primed to be our Latina Ava Duvernay success story (of course that depends on whether the public (and gatekeepers) support her to make the change to the system to demand her spot in the national mainstream). I wrote about Carmen’s tireless spirit before , mentioning her first film which she shot, wrote, directed and produced in Chicago called Go For It (which incidentally was Gina Rodriguez’s first feature role). Her latest film is Endgame starring the precocious Manny from Modern Family, Rico Rodriguez, and Efren Ramirez from cult classic Napoleon Dynamite, Endgame is one of those irresistible competition, underdog, against-all-odds stories. Ramirez portrays the galvanizing Brownsville public elementary school teacher and chess afficionado, J.J. Guajardo, who in 1989, upon seeing his 6th grade class take an interest in his chess board, began to teach them on the regular. The class excelled and entered regional competitions, going on to enter and win state championships against schools with far more resources. Echoing the positives of disrupting a broke educational status quo with simply offering access to advanced mental cognition building tools, the film echoes another real life story and seminal Chicano film, Stand & Deliver. Big difference; that movie was not directed by a Latino/a.
The film is world premiering at the Dallas International Film Festival April 12 &13. Distribution is yet to be confirmed for theatrical/VOD but stay tuned via the Facebook page.
"No Mas Bebes"
Director: Renee Tajima-Peña
Producers : Virginia Espino
Associate Producer : Kate Trumbull-Valle
Executive Producers : Julie Parker Benello, Wendy Ettinger, Judith Helfland, Sally Jo Fiefer and Sandra Pedlow
U.S. Distributor : Itvs/Latino Public Broadcasting
Cinematographer: Claudio Rocha
Music: Bronwen Jones, additional music by Quetzal
Cast : Antonia Hernandez, Gloria Molina, Dolores Madrigal, Jovita Rivera, Consuelo Hermosillo
Social Media: Facebook
Logline : An investigation of the sterilization of Mexican-American women at Los Angeles County-usc Medical Center during the 1960s and 70s
Sadly, there is an appalling history in the United States of laws and policies authorizing sterilizations of poor women without their knowledge or consent for the “benefit of society”; Buck v. Bell (low-income white women in Virginia), Relf v. Weinberger (young African-American women in Alabama), and female inmates in California. This film focuses on the case of Latinas of Mexican origin in California in Madrigal v. Quilligan . Shedding light on this horrific human rights violation, the film includes interviews with women who suffered this terrible ordeal and locked the memory away, along with former medical staff and the incredible lawyer who filed this suit forty years ago, Antonia Hernandez. A long-time coming, supremely valuable and eye opening contextualization of the Chicano rights movement from the late 60s/70s as well as the current reproductive justice movement.
So kind of cheating here, Renee is not Latina per se, but a sister in the struggle to document the Latino community. Her producer is Latina, Virginia Espino, La born-and-raised historian, plus I really want to rally support for this film because it is one of those Latina stories that really needed to be told and remembered this year which marks the 40th anniversary of the lawsuit (June 19). It is ready to be unveiled and seen by as wide an audience as possible. Stay tuned to hear when the film will have its world premiere before its broadcast in the Fall on Voces, Latino Public Broadcasting’s arts and culture series on PBS.
"Now en Español"
Director: Andrea Meller
Producers : Aaron Woolf, Andrea Meller
Music: Camara Kambon
Cinematographer: Charlie Gruet
U.S. Distributor : PBS/Latino Public Broadcasting
Cast : Marabina Jaimes, Marcela Bordes, Gabriela Lopetegui, Ivette Gonzalez, Natasha Perez
Social Media: @NowenEspanol, website
Logline: Follows the trials and triumphs of the small group of Latina actresses who dub “Desperate Housewives” into Spanish.
Currently hitting the festival circuit in such reputable festivals as Santa Barbara, Chicago Latino Film Festival, CineFestival, ahead of its showing on PBS Voces, "Now en Español" is such an effective and distinct balance of humor, seriousness and insider look by Chilean-American Andrea Meller.
Profiling Marcela Bordes, Ivette Gonzalez, Marabina Jaimes, Gabriela Lopetegui and Natasha Perez, the film is quite plainspoken and sympathetic about the struggle of the actor in Hollywood. Like the comedy fiction film (also directed by a woman!) "In a World," by Lake Bell, the film offers a rare behind the scenes and insight into the voice acting industry. Few actors make make careers out of this, others pick it up for income, but in the end it is a highly distinct skill to dub millions of shows. It’s really fascinating perspective on the representation of Latinas onscreen and off. What I love most about this film on top of it being an important tool for dialogue and change, is that the filmmaker injects a whimsy tone (apropos Wisteria Lane) which makes sparking this conversation and call to action so much more effective. You have no reason to miss this as it premieres on Friday, April 24, 2015, 10:00-11:00 p.m. (check local listings) as part of Voces, Latino Public Broadcasting’s arts and culture series on PBS. To get a taste of the ladies’ charm and humor check out the trailer:
"Ovarian Psycos"
Director: Kate Trumbull-lavalle & Joanna Sokolowski
Producers :Kate Trumbull-lavalle & Joanna Sokolowski
U.S. Distributor : Itvs (broadcast)
Cinematographer: Michael Raines
Music: Jimmy Lavalle
Cast : Ovarian Psycos Cycle Brigade
Social Media: Facebook
Logline: Follows the story of an all woman of color bicycle brigade, the Ovarian Psycos Cycle Brigade. Based in Boyle Heights, a neighborhood in Eastside Los Angeles, the Ova’s are a collective of unapologetic, politicized, young Latina women who host monthly bike rides every full moon for women and women-identified riders.
Ever since I interviewed Kate during her film’s Kickstarter , I’ve been madly anticipating this, so I’m pleased to scoop that it will be ready late Fall thanks to Itvs coming in with finishing funds. Protegees of esteemed film ladies like Renee Tajima Peña and B. Ruby Rich, the ladies have spent more than two years riding with the Ovas for this documentary. Says Joanna, “There are lots of bike groups in La, but what’s unique about the Ova’s is each ride has a sociopolitical theme and ends with a group discussion. They dialogue about everything from violence against women to the gentrification of Boyle Heights”.
The Ova’s s leadership is run by the collective who work “To Serve, not to Self Serve. Credited as founder is activist and music artist, Xela de la X who formed this rad collective in 2011 with the mission to cycle for the purpose of healing, reclaim neighborhoods, and create safer streets for women on the Eastside. Currently being edited the film should be ready for the Fall if not early next year.
In case you are wondering Trumbull-lavalle is two generations apart from family in Northern Mexico. Which I only add as proof that last names and color of skin are not indicators for knowing whether someone identifies as Latino/a or not.
Which leads me to reiterate, I really hope these 5 are not the only Latina directors with films coming out this year. Calling out an A.P.B. to Latina directors with a feature length film (fiction especially) in production or post, holler at your girl...
I give you 5 bomb Latina Directors who are are at the helm of brand new feature films coming out this year, women who are striking through the hostile mass media industry to escape the rule of homogeneity (white male perspective). Now that is something to celebrate. It’s not surprising that three of these are documentaries. The percentage of women directed films in documentaries is higher than in fiction. Now I can’t say with total certainty these 2 Latina directed U.S. fiction feature length films are the only ones out there this year…actually yes I can…..until someone reaches out to correct me ….and I really do hope to be corrected because only two???????
"Los 33"
Director : Patricia Riggen
Writers : Mikko Alanne, Michael John Bell, Craig Borten, Jose Rivera
Producers : Robert Katz, Edward McGurn, Mike Medavoy
Cinematographer : Checco Varese
Music : James Horner
U.S. Distributor : Tba
Cast : Rodrigo Santoro, Antonio Banderas, Cote de Pablo, James Brolin, Juliette Binoche, Gabriel Byrne, Lou Diamond Phillips, Kate del Castillo, Tenoch Huerta
Social Media: @The33Pelicula
Logline: Based on the incredible real-life story of the 33 survivors of a copper-gold mine in Chile that collapsed and trapping them 700 meters underground for 69 days until their rescue.
Add Riggen to the exclusive ranks of women who fought for and have proved they got the chops to direct big action, Hollywood type genre movies like Katheryn Bigelow, Mimi Leder. The trailer for Los 33 that dropped last week reveals an epic dramatization of the intensely emotional struggle to survive the Chilean mine disaster. The English language film carries a sweeping score by none other than James Horner (and naturally you can hear Violetta Parra’s classic song, Gracias Por La Vida). Add to that a big hero performance by Antonio Banderas who leads an ensemble cast of well known international actors (including hottie Mexican star of Güeros, Tenoch Huerta!!). Riggen, who was born in Guadalajara but moved to the states after graduating Columbia’s film school in NY, made a splash with her 2007 film, Under the Same Moon starring a back-then-virtually-unknown-in-the-u.S. Eugenio Derbez, and Kate del Castillo. The film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival then was picked up by Pantelion, the studio she later worked with on the Eva Mendes starrer Girl in Progress.
Domestic distribution and release stateside is yet to be confirmed. Meanwhile Twentieth Century Fox will be releasing the film in Chile in August, marking the fifth anniversary of the incident, before rolling out the film throughout Latin America including Mexico. For an in-depth account of Los 33, check out current best-seller, “Deep Down Dark: The Untold Stories of 33 Men Buried in a Chilean Mine and the Miracle That Set Them Free” by Hector Tobar.
"Endgame"
Director: Carmen Marron
Writers : Hector Salinas, Carmen Marron
Producers : Sandra Avila, Carmen Marron
Executive Producers : Hector Salinas, Betty Sullivan
Associate Producer : Bonnie Emerson
Cinematographer: Francisco Bulgarelli
Music: Brian Standefer
Cinematographer: Francisco Bulgarelli
U.S. Distributor : Tba
Cast : Rico Rodriguez, Efren Ramirez, Justina Machado, Jon Gries
Social Media: @GoForIt_Carmen
Logline: Shot in Brownsville and inspired by true events, Endgame is a coming-of-age story about a young boy who joins the school chess team, and with the help of his coach, embarks on a journey of self-discovery, team spirit and the importance of family.
Another talented genre director (and fellow Chicana from Chicago, Heyyy) whose tenacity and talent make her primed to be our Latina Ava Duvernay success story (of course that depends on whether the public (and gatekeepers) support her to make the change to the system to demand her spot in the national mainstream). I wrote about Carmen’s tireless spirit before , mentioning her first film which she shot, wrote, directed and produced in Chicago called Go For It (which incidentally was Gina Rodriguez’s first feature role). Her latest film is Endgame starring the precocious Manny from Modern Family, Rico Rodriguez, and Efren Ramirez from cult classic Napoleon Dynamite, Endgame is one of those irresistible competition, underdog, against-all-odds stories. Ramirez portrays the galvanizing Brownsville public elementary school teacher and chess afficionado, J.J. Guajardo, who in 1989, upon seeing his 6th grade class take an interest in his chess board, began to teach them on the regular. The class excelled and entered regional competitions, going on to enter and win state championships against schools with far more resources. Echoing the positives of disrupting a broke educational status quo with simply offering access to advanced mental cognition building tools, the film echoes another real life story and seminal Chicano film, Stand & Deliver. Big difference; that movie was not directed by a Latino/a.
The film is world premiering at the Dallas International Film Festival April 12 &13. Distribution is yet to be confirmed for theatrical/VOD but stay tuned via the Facebook page.
"No Mas Bebes"
Director: Renee Tajima-Peña
Producers : Virginia Espino
Associate Producer : Kate Trumbull-Valle
Executive Producers : Julie Parker Benello, Wendy Ettinger, Judith Helfland, Sally Jo Fiefer and Sandra Pedlow
U.S. Distributor : Itvs/Latino Public Broadcasting
Cinematographer: Claudio Rocha
Music: Bronwen Jones, additional music by Quetzal
Cast : Antonia Hernandez, Gloria Molina, Dolores Madrigal, Jovita Rivera, Consuelo Hermosillo
Social Media: Facebook
Logline : An investigation of the sterilization of Mexican-American women at Los Angeles County-usc Medical Center during the 1960s and 70s
Sadly, there is an appalling history in the United States of laws and policies authorizing sterilizations of poor women without their knowledge or consent for the “benefit of society”; Buck v. Bell (low-income white women in Virginia), Relf v. Weinberger (young African-American women in Alabama), and female inmates in California. This film focuses on the case of Latinas of Mexican origin in California in Madrigal v. Quilligan . Shedding light on this horrific human rights violation, the film includes interviews with women who suffered this terrible ordeal and locked the memory away, along with former medical staff and the incredible lawyer who filed this suit forty years ago, Antonia Hernandez. A long-time coming, supremely valuable and eye opening contextualization of the Chicano rights movement from the late 60s/70s as well as the current reproductive justice movement.
So kind of cheating here, Renee is not Latina per se, but a sister in the struggle to document the Latino community. Her producer is Latina, Virginia Espino, La born-and-raised historian, plus I really want to rally support for this film because it is one of those Latina stories that really needed to be told and remembered this year which marks the 40th anniversary of the lawsuit (June 19). It is ready to be unveiled and seen by as wide an audience as possible. Stay tuned to hear when the film will have its world premiere before its broadcast in the Fall on Voces, Latino Public Broadcasting’s arts and culture series on PBS.
"Now en Español"
Director: Andrea Meller
Producers : Aaron Woolf, Andrea Meller
Music: Camara Kambon
Cinematographer: Charlie Gruet
U.S. Distributor : PBS/Latino Public Broadcasting
Cast : Marabina Jaimes, Marcela Bordes, Gabriela Lopetegui, Ivette Gonzalez, Natasha Perez
Social Media: @NowenEspanol, website
Logline: Follows the trials and triumphs of the small group of Latina actresses who dub “Desperate Housewives” into Spanish.
Currently hitting the festival circuit in such reputable festivals as Santa Barbara, Chicago Latino Film Festival, CineFestival, ahead of its showing on PBS Voces, "Now en Español" is such an effective and distinct balance of humor, seriousness and insider look by Chilean-American Andrea Meller.
Profiling Marcela Bordes, Ivette Gonzalez, Marabina Jaimes, Gabriela Lopetegui and Natasha Perez, the film is quite plainspoken and sympathetic about the struggle of the actor in Hollywood. Like the comedy fiction film (also directed by a woman!) "In a World," by Lake Bell, the film offers a rare behind the scenes and insight into the voice acting industry. Few actors make make careers out of this, others pick it up for income, but in the end it is a highly distinct skill to dub millions of shows. It’s really fascinating perspective on the representation of Latinas onscreen and off. What I love most about this film on top of it being an important tool for dialogue and change, is that the filmmaker injects a whimsy tone (apropos Wisteria Lane) which makes sparking this conversation and call to action so much more effective. You have no reason to miss this as it premieres on Friday, April 24, 2015, 10:00-11:00 p.m. (check local listings) as part of Voces, Latino Public Broadcasting’s arts and culture series on PBS. To get a taste of the ladies’ charm and humor check out the trailer:
"Ovarian Psycos"
Director: Kate Trumbull-lavalle & Joanna Sokolowski
Producers :Kate Trumbull-lavalle & Joanna Sokolowski
U.S. Distributor : Itvs (broadcast)
Cinematographer: Michael Raines
Music: Jimmy Lavalle
Cast : Ovarian Psycos Cycle Brigade
Social Media: Facebook
Logline: Follows the story of an all woman of color bicycle brigade, the Ovarian Psycos Cycle Brigade. Based in Boyle Heights, a neighborhood in Eastside Los Angeles, the Ova’s are a collective of unapologetic, politicized, young Latina women who host monthly bike rides every full moon for women and women-identified riders.
Ever since I interviewed Kate during her film’s Kickstarter , I’ve been madly anticipating this, so I’m pleased to scoop that it will be ready late Fall thanks to Itvs coming in with finishing funds. Protegees of esteemed film ladies like Renee Tajima Peña and B. Ruby Rich, the ladies have spent more than two years riding with the Ovas for this documentary. Says Joanna, “There are lots of bike groups in La, but what’s unique about the Ova’s is each ride has a sociopolitical theme and ends with a group discussion. They dialogue about everything from violence against women to the gentrification of Boyle Heights”.
The Ova’s s leadership is run by the collective who work “To Serve, not to Self Serve. Credited as founder is activist and music artist, Xela de la X who formed this rad collective in 2011 with the mission to cycle for the purpose of healing, reclaim neighborhoods, and create safer streets for women on the Eastside. Currently being edited the film should be ready for the Fall if not early next year.
In case you are wondering Trumbull-lavalle is two generations apart from family in Northern Mexico. Which I only add as proof that last names and color of skin are not indicators for knowing whether someone identifies as Latino/a or not.
Which leads me to reiterate, I really hope these 5 are not the only Latina directors with films coming out this year. Calling out an A.P.B. to Latina directors with a feature length film (fiction especially) in production or post, holler at your girl...
- 4/15/2015
- by Christine Davila
- Sydney's Buzz
Today we have the first trailer for "The 33," which is about a group of trapped Chilean miners and stars Antonio Banderas, Rodrigo Santoro, James Brolin, Gabriel Byrne, and Lou Diamond Phillips. Plot: The story revolves around a 2010 accident, which left thirty three Chilean miners stuck 2,200 feet underground for sixty nine days as rescuers worked on innovative drilling techniques to get them out. The new movie is directed by Patricia Riggen (Girl in Progress, Under the Same Moon). It's set to hit theaters in Chile on August 6th. A Us release date has yet to be set. Trailer:...
- 4/1/2015
- WorstPreviews.com
Mexican actor, director, writer and producer Eugenio Derbez, the star of Pantelion Films' breakout hit Instructions Not Included, the highest-grossing Spanish-language film ever released in the U.S., has signed an exclusive first-look deal with Pantelion Films, the collaboration between next generation global content leader Lionsgate (NYSE: Lgf) and Mexican media corporation Grupo Televisa, the parties announced today. Derbez, through his newly-launched 3Pas ('tripas") Studios production company, a partnership with former Pantelion President of Production Benjamin Odell, will focus on Spanish and English-language films targeted at Latino and crossover audiences in the Us.
Pantelion Films CEO Paul Presburger said:
"We are thrilled to take our longstanding relationship with Eugenio to the next level. He is a true auteur in every sense of the word, and he has an amazing ability to tap into the shared passions of Latino and American audiences. Teaming up with such an enormous talent cements...
Pantelion Films CEO Paul Presburger said:
"We are thrilled to take our longstanding relationship with Eugenio to the next level. He is a true auteur in every sense of the word, and he has an amazing ability to tap into the shared passions of Latino and American audiences. Teaming up with such an enormous talent cements...
- 9/5/2014
- by Kellvin Chavez
- LRMonline.com
Eugenio Derbez, writer, director and star of hit Spanish-language comedy Instructions Not Included, has signed an exclusive first-look deal with Lionsgate/Grupo Televisa’s Pantelion Films, staying in business with the label that released his record-setting Spanish-language pic last year. The pact was made via Derbez’s newly launched 3PasStudios, a partnership with former Pantelion president of production Benjamin Odell. 3Pas will focus on Spanish- and English-language films targeted at Latino and crossover audiences in the U.S.
Instructions Not Included became the highest-grossing Spanish-language film ever released in the U.S. when it opened last year. Pantelion also is behind biopic Cantinflas which has pulled in $3.6M since it opened last weekend in 382 theaters.
Derbez’s credits include Under The Same Moon, also among the highest-grossing Spanish language films released in the U.S. He and Odell first worked together on Sangre de Mi Sangre in 2006, starring Derbez, which...
Instructions Not Included became the highest-grossing Spanish-language film ever released in the U.S. when it opened last year. Pantelion also is behind biopic Cantinflas which has pulled in $3.6M since it opened last weekend in 382 theaters.
Derbez’s credits include Under The Same Moon, also among the highest-grossing Spanish language films released in the U.S. He and Odell first worked together on Sangre de Mi Sangre in 2006, starring Derbez, which...
- 9/5/2014
- by The Deadline Team
- Deadline
Following the first clip and trailer released earlier this month, Lifetime has debuted the first five minutes of their new TV movie The Unauthorized Saved by the Bell Story, before its premiere on Monday, September 1 at 9 Pm Et.
The movie starts off in the year 1990, as the Saved by the Bell cast gets ready for their first public appearance, unaware if their show is actually a hit or not in these pre-Internet times. There is even a nod to Zack Morris' infamous "time out" bit, before this extended clip goes back to 1988, which reveals that the show originally centered on the teachers of Bayside High. Take a look at the first scenes from The Unauthorized Saved by the Bell Story before the TV movie debuts on Labor Day.
With casting by the original Saved by the Bell series' casting director, Robin Lippin (Lizzie McGuire), Dylan Everett (Degrassi: The Next Generation...
The movie starts off in the year 1990, as the Saved by the Bell cast gets ready for their first public appearance, unaware if their show is actually a hit or not in these pre-Internet times. There is even a nod to Zack Morris' infamous "time out" bit, before this extended clip goes back to 1988, which reveals that the show originally centered on the teachers of Bayside High. Take a look at the first scenes from The Unauthorized Saved by the Bell Story before the TV movie debuts on Labor Day.
With casting by the original Saved by the Bell series' casting director, Robin Lippin (Lizzie McGuire), Dylan Everett (Degrassi: The Next Generation...
- 8/23/2014
- by MovieWeb
- MovieWeb
Following the first clip released earlier this month, Lifetime has debuted the first trailer for their upcoming TV movie The Unauthorized Saved by the Bell Story, which airs Monday, September 1 at 9 Pm Et on Lifetime.
While Saved by the Bell became a big hit, and made stars out of cast members Mark-Paul Gosselaar, Mario López, Dustin Diamond, Lark Voorhies, Elizabeth Berkley and Tiffani Thiessen, this TV movie explores all of the turmoil behind-the-scenes between these young actors. Check out the latest footage before tuning in on Labor Day.
With casting by the original Saved by the Bell series' casting director, Robin Lippin (Lizzie McGuire), Dylan Everett (Degrassi: The Next Generation) is set to play Mark-Paul Gosselaar in the role of mischievous ringleader "Zack Morris." Sam Kindseth (Shameless) is Dustin Diamond, everyone's favorite geek and loveable sidekick "Screech." Julian Works (Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones, Modern Family) fills the shoes...
While Saved by the Bell became a big hit, and made stars out of cast members Mark-Paul Gosselaar, Mario López, Dustin Diamond, Lark Voorhies, Elizabeth Berkley and Tiffani Thiessen, this TV movie explores all of the turmoil behind-the-scenes between these young actors. Check out the latest footage before tuning in on Labor Day.
With casting by the original Saved by the Bell series' casting director, Robin Lippin (Lizzie McGuire), Dylan Everett (Degrassi: The Next Generation) is set to play Mark-Paul Gosselaar in the role of mischievous ringleader "Zack Morris." Sam Kindseth (Shameless) is Dustin Diamond, everyone's favorite geek and loveable sidekick "Screech." Julian Works (Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones, Modern Family) fills the shoes...
- 8/18/2014
- by MovieWeb
- MovieWeb
Director Tim Story’s Think Like A Man Too opens in theaters this weekend on June 20. The film is the follow-up to the hit ensemble comedy Think Like A Man and reunites the original cast, including Kevin Hart, Michael Ealy, Jerry Ferrara, Regina Hall, Gabrielle Union and Taraji P. Henson.
Story teamed up again with composer Christopher Lennertz for the film’s score.
He first made a splash with his breakout score for Alvin And The Chipmunks, which has grossed over $360 million worldwide. Since then he’s proven his steadfast talent with films like the star-studded Horrible Bosses, and Universal’s box office smash Ride Along.
Lennertz’s other recent scores include the hit comedy Identity Thief and the critically acclaimed drama Thanks For Sharing with Mark Ruffalo & Gwyneth Paltrow.
While his knack for comedy is undeniable in films like Think Like A Man, he’s also contributed his unique...
Story teamed up again with composer Christopher Lennertz for the film’s score.
He first made a splash with his breakout score for Alvin And The Chipmunks, which has grossed over $360 million worldwide. Since then he’s proven his steadfast talent with films like the star-studded Horrible Bosses, and Universal’s box office smash Ride Along.
Lennertz’s other recent scores include the hit comedy Identity Thief and the critically acclaimed drama Thanks For Sharing with Mark Ruffalo & Gwyneth Paltrow.
While his knack for comedy is undeniable in films like Think Like A Man, he’s also contributed his unique...
- 6/17/2014
- by Michelle McCue
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
The 33
Director: Patricia Riggen
Writers: Mikko Alanne, Michael John Bell, Craig Borten, Jose Rivera
Producers: Robert Katz, Edward McGurn, Mike Medavoy
U.S. Distributor: Rights Available
Cast: Rodrigo Santoro, Antonio Banderas, Cote de Pablo, James Brolin, Juliette Binoche, Gabriel Byrne, Lou Diamond Phillips, Naomi Scott, Bob Gunton, Kate del Castillo
The gamble with depicting true-event miraculous survival stories is that it either becomes an ensemble, survival film (here we’re thinking a la Frank Marshall’s Alive replacing snow with cramped spaces or it abides to bold visceral and atmospheric choices a la 127 Hours. Coming off a major flop with Girl in Progress, Patricia Riggen is likely not stuck with a Hollywoodize the Chilean event mandate, and if Juliette Binoche onboard with a breathing a sign of relief.
Gist: Based on the real-life event, when a gold and copper mine collapses, it traps 33 miners underground for 69 days.
Release Date:...
Director: Patricia Riggen
Writers: Mikko Alanne, Michael John Bell, Craig Borten, Jose Rivera
Producers: Robert Katz, Edward McGurn, Mike Medavoy
U.S. Distributor: Rights Available
Cast: Rodrigo Santoro, Antonio Banderas, Cote de Pablo, James Brolin, Juliette Binoche, Gabriel Byrne, Lou Diamond Phillips, Naomi Scott, Bob Gunton, Kate del Castillo
The gamble with depicting true-event miraculous survival stories is that it either becomes an ensemble, survival film (here we’re thinking a la Frank Marshall’s Alive replacing snow with cramped spaces or it abides to bold visceral and atmospheric choices a la 127 Hours. Coming off a major flop with Girl in Progress, Patricia Riggen is likely not stuck with a Hollywoodize the Chilean event mandate, and if Juliette Binoche onboard with a breathing a sign of relief.
Gist: Based on the real-life event, when a gold and copper mine collapses, it traps 33 miners underground for 69 days.
Release Date:...
- 2/6/2014
- by Eric Lavallee
- IONCINEMA.com
Let the talk of Hollywood “white-washing” history continue. Irish thesp, Gabriel Byrne, has signed on to play Chilean engineer, André Sougarret, in The 33. The film will chronicle the miraculous rescue of 33 miners in Chile, who became trapped when a mine they were working on caved in on them. They spent over two months below ground, with little to no hope of surviving. Sougarret is the man credited with masterminding the efforts that would eventually see all the men come out safely, 69 days after their ordeal began.
Casting like this could bring the film under fire from the same folks that were upset about how Maria Belon and Quique Alvarez became Maria and Henry when their harrowing tale of survival during the 2004 tsunami in Thailand was made into a film, so that Naomi Watts and Ewan McGregor could play them. The 33 will also star French actress Juliette Binoche, Antonio Banderas,...
Casting like this could bring the film under fire from the same folks that were upset about how Maria Belon and Quique Alvarez became Maria and Henry when their harrowing tale of survival during the 2004 tsunami in Thailand was made into a film, so that Naomi Watts and Ewan McGregor could play them. The 33 will also star French actress Juliette Binoche, Antonio Banderas,...
- 1/28/2014
- by Mario-Francisco Robles
- LRMonline.com
• Breaking Bad and Friday Night Lights alum Jesse Plemons is the latest name to emerge in the Star Wars: Episode VII casting rumor mill. According to The Wrap, Plemons is flying to Los Angeles to audition for director J.J. Abrams for the highly secretive Disney/Lucasfilm project, which is scheduled for a Dec. 18, 2015, release. Franchise originals Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, and Mark Hamill are all expected to return, but the cast still remains a mystery. Other recent rumors have included Chiwetel Ejiofor, Benedict Cumberbatch, and Sullivan Stapleton. [The Wrap]
• NCIS vet Code De Pablo has joined The 33, which tells the tale...
• NCIS vet Code De Pablo has joined The 33, which tells the tale...
- 1/10/2014
- by Lindsey Bahr
- EW - Inside Movies
• Two-time Oscar winner Jessica Lange will join Mark Wahlberg and Brie Larson in Paramount’s remake of The Gambler. The American Horror Story star will play the wealthy mother of Wahlberg’s character, who is struggling with debt. The 64-year-old actress can be seen next in the thriller In Secret, with Oscar Isaac and Elizabeth Olsen (out Feb. 21). [Deadline]
• Helena Bonham Carter is in talks to star alongside Carey Mulligan (Inside Llewyn Davis) in Suffragette, about the early days of grassroots campaigning for women’s civic rights. Sarah Gavron (Brick Lane) is set to direct. [Variety]
• Rodrigo Santoro (Love Actually) will co-star in The 33,...
• Helena Bonham Carter is in talks to star alongside Carey Mulligan (Inside Llewyn Davis) in Suffragette, about the early days of grassroots campaigning for women’s civic rights. Sarah Gavron (Brick Lane) is set to direct. [Variety]
• Rodrigo Santoro (Love Actually) will co-star in The 33,...
- 12/21/2013
- by Lindsey Bahr
- EW - Inside Movies
With a strong marketing effort*and a boost from 3D ticket pricing*Gravity blasted off to a fantastic $55.8 million this weekend. Meanwhile, Runner Runner couldn't find its footing, and overall business wound up down 13 percent from the same weekend last year.At 3,575 locations, Gravity's $55.8 million debut is a new opening weekend record for the month of October ahead of 2011's Paranormal Activity 3 ($52.6 million). It's also the highest start ever for stars Sandra Bullock and George Clooney ahead of The Heat and Batman and Robin, respectively. Recognizing that Gravity had huge commercial potential, Warner Bros. rolled out a blockbuster-level marketing effort in the past month. Advertisements played up the movie's unique setting and stunning visuals, and also positioned it as a thrilling, action-packed adventure. Leading up to the release, Warner Bros. started emphasizing the movie's critical reception, which was nothing short of fantastic (it currently has a 98 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes). Also,...
- 10/6/2013
- by Ray Subers <mail@boxofficemojo.com>
- Box Office Mojo
With an aggressive marketing campaign and stellar reviews, Alfonso Cuaron's Gravity is poised to easily take first place this weekend. The real question at this point is how high it can go, though it's hard to imagine an original Fall release debuting above $40 million or so. Runner Runner also opens this weekend, though it's unlikely that the Justin Timberlake/Ben Affleck thriller puts much of a dent in Gravity's grosses.Opening at 3,575 locations, Gravity stars Sandra Bullock and George Clooney as two astronauts who are stranded in orbit after their shuttle is destroyed. Advertisements for the movie put the astronauts in all kinds of precarious situations, which has nicely showcased the movie's stunning visuals and intense, high-stakes thrills. As of late, commercials have also emphasized the movie's reviews, which are nothing short of fantastic (it currently has a 98 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes). If there's any complaint to be made about the marketing,...
- 10/4/2013
- by Ray Subers <mail@boxofficemojo.com>
- Box Office Mojo
Exclusive: Todd Hoffman, who at ICM Partners built a strong business repping writers as well as intellectual property storehouses like The New York Times, 60 Minutes and New York magazine, has launched the management/production company Storied Media Group. Hoffman, who left ICM over the summer after a long run there, brings with him a stable of writer clients that include Emmy-winning Breaking Bad creator Vince Gilligan, Nebraska co-writer Bob Nelson, Moneyball‘s Stan Chervin, playwright-writer-director Stephen Belber (Management), Girl In Progress scribe Hiram Martinez and Ad Jeffrey Lynch. He also brings with him the above-mentioned publications as well as 60 Minutes Sports, Public Radio International, The McClatchy Company and Say Media. The idea behind the latter is to make outlets like Nyt, 60 Minutes and New York magazine’s partners in option deals that are made for content originated by the publications. I’ve always found Hoffman to be one of the smarter guys in this niche.
- 9/24/2013
- by MIKE FLEMING JR
- Deadline
Mexico City — English speakers need subtitles to understand the movie and probably Google to know where they've seen the star, if at all.
But a movie featuring a Mexican actor whose shows have been a TV staple in Mexico for years has taken Hollywood by surprise.
The movie "Instructions Not Included," with Eugenio Derbez as actor, director and one of the writers, turned in the biggest Spanish-language opening ever over the Labor Day holiday weekend in the U.S., according to studio estimates Monday.
It took in $10 million and ranked fifth at the box office, competing with blockbusters such as "The Butler" and Disney animation "Planes" that were shown in 10 times more theaters.
"Latinos are becoming more and more the population. In a way, you can count on them to be an anchor audience," said Charles Ramirez Berg, media studies professor at the University of Texas and author of "Latino Images in Film.
But a movie featuring a Mexican actor whose shows have been a TV staple in Mexico for years has taken Hollywood by surprise.
The movie "Instructions Not Included," with Eugenio Derbez as actor, director and one of the writers, turned in the biggest Spanish-language opening ever over the Labor Day holiday weekend in the U.S., according to studio estimates Monday.
It took in $10 million and ranked fifth at the box office, competing with blockbusters such as "The Butler" and Disney animation "Planes" that were shown in 10 times more theaters.
"Latinos are becoming more and more the population. In a way, you can count on them to be an anchor audience," said Charles Ramirez Berg, media studies professor at the University of Texas and author of "Latino Images in Film.
- 9/3/2013
- by AP
- Huffington Post
Few (if any) box office analysts accurately predicted this weekend's top five movies, since one of them was a film few pundits had ever heard of: a Mexican dramedy called "Instructions Not Included," starring Mexican comic actor Eugenio Derbez. It opened on just 347 screens, but by Sunday, it had earned an estimated $7.5 million, good for fifth place. (It was projected to earn $9.3 million by the end of the Labor Day four-day weekend.) It averaged a robust $21,614 per theater, more than any other film this weekend, and more than three times as much as any of the wide-release films currently in multiplexes.
How did a film not on any pundit's radar become such an instant box office hit? The answers suggest that there's a large, untapped, Spanish-speaking movie audience in America, hidden from view by an industry blind spot. Here are some of the factors behind the success of "Instructions":...
How did a film not on any pundit's radar become such an instant box office hit? The answers suggest that there's a large, untapped, Spanish-speaking movie audience in America, hidden from view by an industry blind spot. Here are some of the factors behind the success of "Instructions":...
- 9/2/2013
- by Gary Susman
- Moviefone
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