Latin Heat Entertainment - Latinos in Hollywood by Bel Hernandez

Hollywoodâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

Latino Power Shift? The LatPak Rises

Sundance Fails U.S. Latinos

Game Changer?

Highlights

Bel Hernandez Publisher/Editor In Chief

Table of Contents

Elia Esparza Executive Editor CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Julio Martinez Vanessa Erazo Humberto Guida Judi Jordan Mary Chuy CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Anabella Campos, Luis Reyes, Lissette Rivas Graphic Designer Saul Castillo

Latin Heat Media, LLC P.O. Box 27, West Covina, CA 97194 310-464-5290 www.latinheat.com Follow us on Facebook Twitter: @LatinHeatMag

2013 Highlights…………………………Page 5 Hispanicize 2014 Film Showcase……Page 6 Hollywood Misses………………………Page 7 The LatPak Rises………………………..Page 8 Instructions Not Included A Game Changer?............................Page 12 Looking Forward to 2014……………..Page 15 Mid-Season Replacements………….Page 17 HBO’s “Looking”…………...…………..Page 19 Sundance fails U.S. Latinos…………..Page 21

Deadline for April 1st Digital

Latinos in the Digital Frontier Editorial Deadline: March 8th Ads Deadline: March 20th Special Indie producer ad rates Digital – Website – Newsletter ad package rates

Happy New Year! As we begin the New Year Latin Heat reflects back on 2013 and looks forward to what is in store in 2014. We can’t help but feel optimistic! 2013 will be remembered as the year Hollywood’s focus on Latinos and Latino audiences in particular began to shift, as the value of this market is undeniable. Eugenio Derbez’s film Insructions Not Included proved that. Our new contributing editor Vanessa Erazo explores the impact this film has made in the industry. We also take a look back at the “Misses” and the “Highlights” of 2013 that will inform us as we move forward into 2014. We are happy to introduce to you the leaders of the LatPak – a group of Hollywood young talents who are taking matters into their own hands when it comes to their careers. We are thrilled to have Humberto Guida join in helping identify the members of this elite group and shine a light on them. We will continue with three more digital magazines after this one, where we take a more analytical look at trends, projects and events. However, you can always go on our website http://www.latinheat.com for late breaking news and video content. We encourage you to sign up for our mailing list to get both the latest news delivered via our weekly newsletters and quarterly digital magazine. Below is our editorial coverage, we welcome you to submit to be included in our April digital “Latinos and The Digital Frontier”. This issue will be distributed at Hispanicize April 2014 with a over 10,000 in distribution. Lots to cover, and to help us with the coverage of the “business of Latinos in entertainment” we have some very talented journalist on board. In addition to Vanessa Erazo and Humberto Guida joining our editorial team, we also have Judi Jordan, Cris Franco, Luis Reyes, Annabella Campos, and Lissette Rivas on board. And a special thanks to Julio Martinez our TeleVision Contributing Editor for being part of our team for over 15 years!

Bel Hernandez

5 2013 will be remembered as the year things finally began to shift for Latinos in Holllywood

2013 Hightlights

atinos certainly have a ways to go to catch up with the African American community, but the [census] numbers don’t lie and money talks ($1.2 trillion consumer buying power). Most importantly Latinos are embracing these strengths and using it to stake their claim in

Hollywood. As 2014 launches, Latin Heat wanted to take time to look back at some of the events, persons, projects and issues that helped Latinos begin to create the Latino Power Shift from here forward.

Instructions Not Included Demands Attention Eugenio Derbez’s Spanglish film, Instructions Not Included caught the attention of not only Hollywood studios and network execs, but also but the People’s Choice Awards. The film was nominated for best comedy at the audience awards show and is now a red carpet favorite. Derbez, just days after was walking the carpet at the Golden Globes. He is taking meetings, talking deals and divulging info on how he made his film in Mexico for $5 million and translated that into $44 million in the U.S. and $86 million worldwide, while he waits to sign his next deal, and you know it’s coming. Our writer Vanessa Erazo takes a closer look into what this film might mean for the representation of Latinos on U.S. film screens.

El Rey Network Launches As part of its arrangement to acquire a minority interest in NBCUniversal, Comcast Corporation committed to carrying several minority-owned channels. One of those channels was El Rey, an English-language American television channel targeting millennials (AKA U.S. Latinos) with deal in place with Univision. With director/writer Robert Rodriguez at the helm the network officially launched on December 15, 2013 with their first series From Dusk Til Dawn set to premiere on March 11th. Finally a network geared to U.S. Latinos that appears to not be relying on content from Latin America or reboots of old American TV shows, but actually has monies to produce original content. Let’s hope for stellar ratings.

Devious Maids Gets the Last Laugh - Ratings Almost as soon as it was announced, in January of 2012 that ABC had ordered the Devious Maids pilot, (executive produced by Desperate Housewives’ Marc Cherry and Eva Longoria), the social media outrage began. Why Maids – again? Although ABC passed on the project Lifetime picked it up and it finally premiered on June 23, 2013. The maids triumphed as Cherry recounted at the 2014 Television Critics Association press tour: “I have to say I am still a bit surprised by all this,” admits Cherry. “When ABC passed on this show two years back, I would have bet this show would never be made, let alone the success it has had on Lifetime. They bought it a year and a half ago and following its premiere, we became the fastest-growing show in Lifetime’s history. We are No. 1 -- so they tell me – No. 1 with women on Sunday nights in all of cable.” Full Story here. Continued on Page 14

Calixto Chinchilla Leads

2014 Hispanicize Latino Film Showcase coming year will be special. The Hispanicize team and I are working at breakneck speed to build a stronger, more effective and memorable Hispanicize event in 2014.

LH: How has the film portion of Hispanicize evolved?

ispanicize 2014 (www.HispanicizeEvent.com), the nation’s largest gathering of Latino influencers in blogging, journalism, film, marketing, music and tech is now right around the corner April 1-4, 2014. The 5th anniversary edition is expected to bring more than 1,700 attendees and for the third year in a row will feature a Latino Film Showcase directed by Calixto Chinchilla, founder and emeritus executive director of the New York International Latino Film Festival. Latin Heat partners with Hispanicize in presenting the Latino Film showcase for the third year running. We recently interviewed event founder Manny Ruiz and Calixto to learn what’s in store for Latino filmmakers at Hispanicize 2014.

LH: What is Calixto’s role in this edition of Hispanicize? Manny: Having Calixto lead our U.S. Latino Film Showcase is a great privilege because he is the biggest advocate I know for Latino filmmakers and he’s got an incredible track record of pioneering the space of film festivals and Hispanic entertainment in general. We couldn’t be more pleased to work with him because he’s laying down a strong foundation for the evolution of U.S. Latino film at Hispanicize. Calixto: I want everyone to know that this

Calixto: What has evolved is our vision of how to better integrate the film showcase into Hispanicize. We’re pruning the program to strengthen it for the future by taking what worked in last year’s event and enhancing it. As the largest conference for marketers, bloggers, journalists and influentials, we want to create a stronger synergy between what’s great about Hispanicize and tie it with film. We are improving at every level from our panels to music events. So, instead of having just film exclusive forums and possibly limiting the audience, you can expect more multifaceted forums that better connect marketers and brands to the world of film. Manny: One of the biggest things the rest of the Hispanicize event will inject into the film showcase is the synergy Calixto is alluding to. A perfect example of that is our new partnership with the Latino Startup Alliance because we’re going to provide indepth sessions on the business of financing film projects, accessing capital and marketing that if attended by filmmakers will help them tremendously.

LH: How will you showcase actual films at Hispanicize 2014? Calixto: We’re going to showcase feature films and short films in a more strategic and integrated way. For example, this year, the first day of the event will be a major, event-wide event that will not only be created in partnership with the Miami International Film Festival (MIFF) but will also not compete with any other program or activity at Hispanicize 2014. We had a very successful red carpet opening for Filly Brown with MIFF at Hispanicize 2013 so we know the results will be even greater in 2014 because this will be a focal point event in partnership with MIFF and it will take place at one of Miami’s premier movie theaters. Manny: The bottom line is that whichever film gets that major red carpet film night is going to have a massive splash because we’re guaranteeing massive media and social media coverage for that film and its stars. We have been doing film for three years at Hispanicize and Continued on Page 22

2013 was a great year but not without a few Movies That Failed to Satisfy Machete Kills Loses Way Dave White’s Movie.com review of Robert Rodriguez’s 2010 Machete said it all “…messy, violent, shallow, and tasteless -- and that's precisely the point of one of the summer's most cartoonishly enjoyable films”. The other thing it had going for it was that in the midst of all this campiness it was aspirational and in the end there was triumph. In spite of Danny Trejo’s reprisal of the title role and a cast of Hollywood’s who’s who like Lady Gaga, Mel Gibson, Charlie Sheen and so many more, Machete Kills lost its way and a lot of its audience making 31% less than the first Machete. Still Machete Kills Again…in Space has been announced and features Michelle Rodriguez, Alexa Vega, Leonardo diCaprio, and Justin Bieber the star studded cast might be enough to at least give it a peek.

The Counselor Death by Drugs Not another drug movie with Latino drug kingpins and the drug cartel! The good news? Nine Latinos including Cameron Diaz, Javier Bardem, Penelope Cruz, Rosie Perez and John Leguizamo worked on the film. This film just seemed like a redux of Savages, the 2012 film written and directed by Oliver Stone. The posters of the two films even have the same look. The audience must have thought they’d seen this movie before and just passed. Made for $25 million, the The Counselor only made $16.9 million at the box. office.

2013 TV Shows Misses Un-Lucky 7 (ABC) Seven Lucky lottery ticket holders, one of them a Latino played by Luis Antonio Ramos. This was one unlucky show (or some said it was pretty “dismal”). It was cancelled after just two airings, a TV record. So there went two more Latino roles, Ramos and Alexandra Castillo who played his wife. Lucky 7 has the distinction of being the lowest rated fall drama premiere in ABC history.

NCLR Alma Awards Get Demoted (MSNBC) In 2011 when the NCLR announced the ALMA Awards were moving to NBC, the news only got better when it was announced that for the first time in its 16 year history it was finally going to be aired on a week day, in primetime, and on one of the big networks! So it was a big let down when just two years later NBCUniversal decided that the ALMA Awards, the only nationally televised awards show honoring Latinos in entertainment, no longer merited taking up space on NBC and the show was relegated to MSNBC. How can we continue to believe Paul Telegdy’s (Alternative Programming EVP) comment made in 2011, “As a company, NBCUniversal encourages diversity at every level of the entertainment industry, and serving as the new home for this awards show will help further realize that goal,” when they then turn around two years later and put the ALMA Awards in their “news bin”.

Welcome to The Family & Goodbye (NBC) Aside from George Lopez, which aired on ABC for six seasons, Latino families just don’t seem to stay on the air long enough to get to know them better. Unfortunately NBC’s Welcome to The Family was another victim of the Latino TV family curse. Continued on Page 26

B y B e l H e r n an d e z & H umb er t o Guid a

he LatPak©, a term coined by Latin Heat to identify the bold new crop of fierce Latino talent rising up the Hollywood ranks. They are the actors, directors, producers, and yes even media moguls in the making, who are capitalizing on their celebrity to create a media empire that invites and embraces diversity.

They write their own shows, films or web series, produce it, and if need be, use the web to find their audience – to tell the stories Hollywood has chosen to ignore. They are a new breed of American Latinos – with a strong connection to cultural roots and a solid business savvy. They are not waiting around for Hollywood to give them a role…they are creating their own. The LatPak© represents a generation of American Latinos who grew up assimilated into the American pop cultural lexicon, yet rarely saw themselves in media or realistically portrayed on screen. The lead roles, the lawyers, the astronauts, the heroes, the princesses, hardly ever resembled them. They are about to change that. Technology is their strongest ally. Today’s Latino performers and content creators make the movies they want without Hollywood standing in the way with their tired notions about what to write about and who to cast. Will Hollywood finally take notice? After the success of the limply marketed Instructions Not Included, it would simply be bad business. But things are looking up, that’s for sure. So who exactly make up the LatPak? Well, it’s an ever-growing posse. But here is a succinct who’s who rundown of the up and coming Latino players taking over showbiz.

Line of Duty Directed by: Bryan Ramirez. Produced by: Douglas Spain, Fernando Cano Cast: Jeremy Ray Valdez, Walter Perez, Joseph J. Soria, Douglas Spain.

Sleeping With the Fishes Directed by: Nicole Gomez Fisher Cast: Gina Rodriguez, Ana Ortiz, Pricilla Lopez, Steven Strait

Mario Lopez: One On One Executive Producers: Gil Lopez, Aaron Sanders Talent: Eva Longoria, Mark Sanchez, George Lopez, Gloria Estefan, Edward James Olmos,

Watch Out Hollywood Because Here Comes the LATPak© Gina Rodriguez

Actress/Producer

“Forthright and formidable, a festival ingénue who deserves to be discussed in the same breath as Elizabeth Olsen and Oscar winner Jennifer Lawrence.” Amy Nicholson, L.A. Times on Gina’s performance in Filly Brown

The next big star? The Latina Meryl Streep? (Yeah, we said it!). You are looking at her. She is Gina Rodriguez, and this young lady isn’t just talented, she is smart and outspoken, and she is all heart. A highly trained actress, she attended Columbia University NY- Theatrical Collaboration and then was accepted into NYU. In 2012, Gina was selected as one of Sundance’s “GEN ART’s 7 Fresh Faces”. Her performance in Filly Brown caught the eye of critics, studios and networks, with ABC and ABC studios signing her to a holding deal. She was offered a possible “life changing” TV regular role but turned it down because it was the “usual Hollywood Latina” role, and she was holding out for the role that could “change other persons lives”. FOX offered her that kind of role, a Latina aviator in the pilot Blue Wild, before they cancelled the project. That just encouraged Rodriguez to continue to look for the roles she believes The LatPak List continues on Page 10

Douglas Spain

Mario Lopez

Actor/Producer/Director

Mini-Mogul

“I felt I could be the producer…to help him [Bryan Ramirez] achieve his vision, not have Hollywood alter it, because they will.”

“My creative goals are totally aligned

Douglas Spain’s lead role in Miguel Arteta’s film Star Maps in ’93 would confirm his star potential and earn him a Independent Spirit Award nomination for Best Debut Performance. But another prime role like that one would prove elusive, as Hollywood was not writing or casting Latinos in many lead roles. However, since then he has worked in over 23 TV shows and 45 films including Band of Brothers, Resurrection Blvd., and The Practice. So when Spain was approached to play one of the four Latino leads in Bryan Ramirez’s directorial debut Line of Duty he thought about it, then opted for a smaller role and put his producer hat instead. Having already produced four short films, Spain felt it was time to graduate to features. As producer he not only secured the financing, he played a small part in the film, picked up awards during the film festival run, secured

with NUVOtv’s commitment to deliver culturally relevant programming for the English-speaking Latino audience.”

Mario Lopez is a mini-mogul and the “Latino Ryan Seacrest” -- by his own design. After appearing as A.J. Slater for over five seasons on Saved by the Bell and as Greg Louganis in the TV film Breaking the Surface: The Greg Louganis Story; on Showtime’s Resurrection Blvd., Pacific Blue and George Lopez, what he wanted was to focus on hosting gigs and producing thereby building his mini –empire. After appearing on Broadway as Zach in a revival of the musical A Chorus Line, he landed his current hosting gig on Extra. He also hosts America’s Best Dance Crew and MTV’s Top Pop Group, and the X-Factor. He is New York Times bestselling author for his health and fitness books and has his own nationally syndicated radio show ON With Mario Lopez on Premiere Radio. The LatPak List ontinues on Page 10

The LatPak List Continued From Page 9

Gina Rodriguez will redefine the perceptions of Latinas. Her roles as the lead in Nicole Gomez Fisher’s Sleeping With the Fishes, does just that. At romantic comedy, where she plays a struggling Jewish/Latina widow dealing with body image issues. Producing is another role Rodriguez is taking on in 2014. She will be producing a short film and a feature this year under her I Can and I Will Production company, through those films she hopes will redefine the U.S. Latino image. She also recently partnered with NUVOTV Network to become the Face of the NuPoint Film Showcase. Upcoming projects: Film: Sleeping With the Fishes (Festival Circuit), Asher, starring alongside Danny Glover; Marching Banda for Cima Productions

Douglas Spain theatrical distribution and a DVD release. This is undoubtedly the beginning of a very promising producing career for Doug. Current Projects: He is currently working with writer/director James Helsing on the short Mondus Operandi, a modern day “Jack the Ripper” . He is also developing a project which he will both star in and produce, but keeping under wraps for now.

Mario Lopez In 2013 Lopez received the Outstanding Media Entrepreneur Impact Award from the National Hispanic Media Coalition. In 2014 he continues his partnership with NUVO TV on his Mario Lopez: One-On-One interview show, where he interviews high profile Latino celebrities and dignataries Upcoming Projects: Host: Continues on Extra, X Factor. Film: documentary Champs; Voice: Zeus in The Dog Who Saved Easter

Aimee Garcia – Actress “Education equals choices. I have been blessed with the choice to be anything I ever wanted to be, and I truly owe my happiness to my family and education.”

Aimee Garcia, like many of the LatPakers highlighted here is a college graduate. She graduated from Northwestern University with a triple major in economics, journalism and French. A Chicago native Garcia joined Young People's Company, whose alumni include John Cusack, Joan Cusack, Jeremy Piven, and Aidan Quinn. While still at Northwestern legendary TV writer Norman Lear hand picked her to headline his TV pilot The Chavez Family which became part of her twoyear contract with Paramount TV. Garcia’s talent soon landed her a recurring role on Gregory Nava’s 2002 TV series American Family before landing her first series regular role in Peter Murietta’s Greetings From Tucson. Since then Aimee’s TVQ just keeps rising. She has gone on to do six more series regular roles on almost every TV network: the WB’s All About the Andersons, George Lopez and Off the Map for ABC; Trauma for NBC; Vegas on CBS; and the final three seasons of Showtime’s mega hit Dexter where she played a nanny working herself through college. In film, Garcia had the rare opportunity to be on a very short list of Latinas, headlining a feature in Carmen Marron’s 2011 Go For it! With over 20 feature films to her credit, her role as an MIT graduate and a scientist with training in robotics, biology, engineering, and computerbrain interface in the 2014 highly anticipated RoboCob, will be another milestone in her already impressive career. However, Aimee is already setting her sights on a Lara Croft kind of role in a Tomb Raider-type movie. The sky is the limit for Garcia! Upcoming: Film: Robocop

Bryan Ramirez Writer/Director/Editor “Your vision is your vision. You have to be able to tell your story the way you want to tell it. It has to look and feel the way you want it to.”

In 2013 we were introduced to director Bryan Ramirez’s talents by way of his directorial debut feature Mission Park released on DVD as Line of Duty, and we liked what we saw. Born and raised in San Antonio, TX, quiet, but always creative, even at a young age he showed an interest in filmmaking and devoted all of his time to writing and creating movies. He attended Sail Film School in Orlando, FL on a full scholarship and graduated with honors with a degree in Motion Picture Production. He cut his teeth editing working on noted documentarian Hector Galan’s Los Lonely LatPak List Continues on Page 25

Selena Gomez Actress/Producer/Singer & Songwriter “I don't know if I would've had the opportunity to be on Wizards of Waverly Place if it weren't for my heritage.”

She is an actress, singer and songwriter with a net worth of $10 million accumulated in Wizards of Waverly Place and many film and television roles in addition to her singing/songwriting career. She has released multiple Gold certified albums, and garnered three Platinum singles. Named after singer Selena, the late Tejano singer, Selena Gomez has lived up to her name and then some. Born in Grand Prairie, Texas, Selena began her career at age seven in Barney and Friends. She made her film debut in Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over, and would go on to win numerous awards and accolades as Alex Russo in Disney’s Wizards of Waverly Place, as well as star in various Disney films. In 2008, at 16 years old she launched her production company, July Moon Productions, partnering with XYZ Films to option materials, hire writers, and create star vehicles for herself. That same year she launched her musical career recording three songs for the soundtrack for her film Another Cinderella Story. She has her own fashion line, and last year launched her new perfume. She is also a spokesperson for Boren Milk and State Farm Insurance, and at 17 became the youngest UNICEF ambassador ever. We could go on and on about Selena’s impressive resume, but you get the picture. This glamorous and talented singer/actress is one of today’s hottest Latina performers. And the best is assuredly yet to come. Current Projects: Film: Behaving Badly; Getaway with Ethan Hawke & Jon Voight; Rudderless out Jan. 14.

Wilmer Valderrama Actor/Director/Producer "[I'm] putting my hands in a little bit of everything right now, ... It's really exciting to stay so busy."

Wilmer Valderrama caught the world’s attention at 18 when he was cast as “Fez” in FOX’s That 70’s Show just four years after moving back to the U.S. from Venezuela. Since then he has gone on to star in several films, both independent and studio films such as Larry Crowne, Fast Food Nation directed andThe Dry Land starring alongside America Ferrera. Since 2005 he has been the voice of ABC Handy Mandy. But it’s his social consciousness that lead to producing. He is involved with Voto Latino, an organization that encourages political participation amongst Latinos. He began producing PSAs for them and branched out to producing eco PSAs and short films via his WV Enterprises shingle. Last year Valderrama’s work garnered him an ALMA Award for Outstanding Social Activism. Valderrama launched his own men's fashion label called "Calavena" and in 2012 released his song The Way I Fiesta, performed by his alter ego Eduardo Fresco. He also collaborated with Puerto Rican reggaeton duo Wisin &

Jeremy Ray Valdez Actor/Producer Photographer “We got our seed money through Kickstarter! We raised over $50,000 in thirty days because people believe in the DREAM Act and in immigration reform.”

Jeremy Ray Valdez hails from New Mexico. Coming to Los Angeles he landed his first TV role on Family Law, and went on to guest star on some of TV top shows like ER, Veronica Mars, Medical Investigation, American Family 24, CSI: NY, The Shield, CSI: Miami, and others. In 2006 he starred in HBO's critically acclaimed TV movie Walkout, directed by Edward James Olmos about Chicanos demanding their civil rights in education. Another film with a cause was La Mission in which he played Benjamin Bratt’s gay son. Premiering at Sundance both Valdez and Bratt received an Imagen Award for Best Supporting actor and Best Actor in a feature film. Valdez understands that movies can influence change, with that in mind he stars and produced the indie film Dreamer about an All-American college graduate on his LatPak List Continues on Page 26

Despite being virtually unknown to American Audiences

By Vanessa Erazo Â

12 Â

…and Hollywood studio executives, Mexican actor Eugenio Derbez shattered box office records in the United States and Mexico in late 2013 with Instructions Not Included (No se aceptan devoluciones) a film he wrote, directed, and starred in. In the movie Derbez plays a ladies' man who lives in Acapulco, Mexico. One day a knock on his door drastically changes the course of his previously unattached life. An old fling shows up with a baby in her arms; she's his daughter. The mother disappears leaving the baby behind with the eternal bachelor. In an attempt to track down her mother, he takes his daughter to Los Angeles despite not speaking a word of English. Then, she shows up out of the blue threatening to take the daughter he has raised for six years away from him. With an extensive career in film, telenovelas, sitcoms, sketch-comedy and other television programs such as Al Derecho y al Derbez, XHDRBZ, Vecinos, Derbez en cuando, and La

was spent on marketing the movie which cost about the same to produce. Distributed by Pantelion Films, a venture between Lionsgate and Mexican media giant Televisa, and bolstered by Derbez's star power Instructions went on to earn $44.5 million making it the highestgrossing Spanish-language film ever in the U.S., topping Guillermo del Toro's Pan's Labyrinth and the adaptation of Laura Esquivel's popular novel Like Water for Chocolate. Competing against such films as Woody Allen's Blue Jasmine and critical darling 12 Years a Slave, Derbez's feature directing debut was able to beat all specialty movies that opened in limited release, ending 2013 as the highest grossing indie film of the year. This bears repeating, a Mexican guy most Americans had never heard of made a movie in Spanish and beat Woody Allen at the box office. That my friends is cinematic history.

“Instructions went on to earn $44.5 million making it the highest-grossing Spanish-language film ever in the U.S.” familia P. luche the comedic actor is extremely popular in Mexico. His large following put him at the center of U.S. promotions for the film. Derbez was a constant on morning and evening talk shows on Univision the week before its release, traveling to five cities all in major U.S. Hispanic markets. In hopes of targeting families, the marketing strategy also included outdoor media, radio, and promotional tie-ins with Jarritos soda. In total, about $5 million

The family-centered comedy not only struck a nerve with Latino immigrants in the United States, in Mexico Instructions Not Included surpassed El crimen del padre Amaro and Nosotros los Nobles in ticket sales making it the most successful Mexican film in history. The chart-busting film took Hollywood by surprise and likely sent studios scrambling in search of the next Latino hit, but the lasting effect on the industry has yet to be seen. Will big studios see Latino films as less of a risk then they did before? Derbez thinks so. In an interview with Maria Hinojosa of NPR's Latino USA he told her, "I think there is a huge market that nobody has taken care of and now finally this movie, Instructions, is taking care of this market. Now I think things are going to change. I hope so because now they know there is an audience that can bring a lot of money to the Hollywood industry." For Pantelion, life after Instructions Not Included hasn't changed much. The specialty distributor continues with its mission to, "produce and acquire movies that speak directly to acculturated and Spanish-dominant Hispanics alike." A few weeks after Instructions Not Included opened, the distributor released another family-friendly bilingual comedy Pulling Strings. Not a homerun like its predecessor, it made $5.8 million after playing more than 400 theaters for seven weeks. Even with a major hit on their hands capturing the most loyal filmwatching audience in the United States (statistics show that Latinos Continued o page 20

Continued from Page 7

Unprecedented Development Deals For Latinos For over a decade, about the only development deal any Latino had at a network or studio was Edward James Olmos’ deal at ABC/Disney. He has had that deal for over ten years and has developed four projects but none have been greenlighted. We are hoping that is not the case with the development deals signed by the following: Lionsgate’s Pantelion and South Shore signed deals in the latter part of 2013 with George Lopez, Wilmer Valderrama, and Zoe Saldana. Each celebrities’ deal give them the opportunity to develop, star and produce films through their Pantelion Films venture and to produce scripted and reality TV projects through South Shore.

It’s the writing that keep audiences tuning in every week and the talented cast headlined by Demian Bichir, as a Mexican homicide detective and Diane Kruger as an El Paso Detective thrown together find the serial killer. The Bridge was the #1 new scripted cable series launch of the summer in 2013 in Adults 18-49 demographic. Before the last episode of The Bridge FX had already ordered a second season. In addition to Bichir and Kruger returning Latino actors include: Ramon Franco, Emily Rios, Alejandro Patino, and Diana-Maria Riva.

Kennedy Awards Honor Two Latinos In 2013 Carlos Santana and opera singer Martina Arroyo received the great honor of being recognized with a Kennedy Award. Not since 2002 had a Latino been recognized by the Kennedy Awards and Latinos made it known in 2010 that it was time they take a look at the Latino talent they had been overlooking for far too long.

Louie CK Signs With FX Comedian/writer and producer Louie CK signed an overall production deal with FX in December 2013 Louie C.K., of the FX comedy Louie will develop, create, executive produce and direct any of the shows developed. Full story here.

Mario Lopez Signs With NUVO TV NUVOtv network entered into an overall development deal with actor and television personality Mario Lopez in November of last year. NUVOtv ordered a second season of Mario Lopez One-onOne, and greenlit a sizzling new series, Salsa in the City (working title). Mario Lopez will also develop three new series projects for NUVOtv. Lopez’s development efforts for NUVOtv are exclusive in regards to Latino-oriented programming in English. Full story here

The Bridge Crosses New Border Terrain

The Bridge is not just one of FX’s biggest 2013 TV hit show, it tackles issues that normally get seen in the news and then forgotten about. The Bridge not only delves into the hot button issues of immigration, it is also about serial killers, human trafficking and drug cartels, on both sides of the border.

The campaign to bring this oversight to their attention was begun by several Latino organizations with Felix Sanchez, Chairman and Co-founder of the National Hispanic Foundation for the Arts took the ball and carried it all the way to this year, when the Kennedy Awards honored Santana and Arroyo. Helping the Kennedy Awards to be more representative of the face of America is always a good thing. Honored along with Santana and Arroyo were Shirley McLaine, Billy Joel, and Herbie Hancock.

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Seth MacFarlane’s Bordertown

Cesar Chavez:

Tackling the Mexican Border

An American Hero

It is safe to say that Latinos have now gotten the full attention of Hollywood when one of 2014’s most anticipated TV shows about Latinos is Seth MacFarlane’s (Family Guy) animated Bordertown. When it premieres in the fall on FOX it will be the first Latino themed primetime animated TV series in history. The show will be executive produced and run my Family Guy executive producer Mark Hentemann. Bordertown, set near the Mexican border centers on the intertwining daily lives of neighbors; a Border Patrol agent, who feels threatened by the cultural changes transforming his neighborhood, and his next door neighbor Ernesto, a Mexican immigrant, father of four and proud to be making it in America. Hentemann has been developing Bordertown for over six years. Seeing that Latinos over index as the number one audience for the The Simpsons he knew this was a market he wanted to capture. He also understands that a show like Bordertown would benefit with Latino who know the issues, so he reached out to two of the highest profile Mexican American writers who have made immigration a cornerstone of their satire through their writings and cartoons. Both Gustavo Arellano, (OC Weekly editor and columnist of Ask A Mexican) and Lalo Alcaraz creator of the nationally syndicated comic strip La Cucaracha are on board as consultants with Alcaraz also on the writing staff.

Release Date: March 28, 2014 Director: Diego Luna Writer: Keir Pearson Cast: Michael Pena, Rosario Dawson, America Ferrera, Jacob Vargas, Yancey Arias, John Malkovich Producers: Pablo Cruz, Gael Garcia Bernal, Diego Luna, John Malkovich, Keir Pearson, Larry Mell, Lianne Halfon Production Co: Canana Films (MX); Mr. Mudd (US); Participant Media (US); Imagenation Abu Dhabi FZ (AE)

Hands of Stones

Hentemann recently told Adrian Carasquillo of BuzzFeed.com “I pulled Lalo from outside the TV writing community because I could see he’s tackling these same issues. He’s coming at it from a Latino point of view and I’m coming at it from a white point of view.” Although there are five “Mexican American/Chicano” writers on the show, only Alcaraz has “revealed” himself and has already taken on the negative social media buzz about the show, asking on his blog, pocho.com “Where did they see any episodes of Bordertown? We haven’t even written the pinche show yet!”

Continued Page 26

A biopic of the civil-rights activist and labor organizer Cesar Chavez and the movement he gave his life for. This film has been long in the making. In 1994 Luis Valdez wrote a screenplay on Cesar Chavez’s life, but the funding never came through. Keir Pearson (Hotel Rowanda) was finally able to secure the rights for the film from the Ceasr Chavez Foundation, with the funding coming from mostly Mexico.

Synopsis: Based on the life of legendary Roberto Duran and his equally legendary trainer Ray Arcel and how they change each other’s lives Release Date: 2014 Writer/Director: Jonathan Jakubowicz Cast: Edgar Ramirez, Robert DeNiro, Ruben Blades, Continued on Page 20

2014 Mid-Season TV Shows

ith the beginning of the year comes the Awards season and the time when the television networks begin airing mid-season replacements, the space left by the fall shows that were canceled or put on hiatus.

This year, the shows premiering midseason look promising with a nice showing of Latino talent we can look forward to seeing on TV this Spring. Let’s hope some of them have staying power.

From Dusk Till Dawn: The Series

Believe Network: NBC Premieres: March 10 10pm Airs: Sun., March 16th at 9pm Synopsis: The series centers on a young girl with an extraordinary ability and a man sprung from prison who has been tasked with protecting her from the evil elements that hunt her power. Latino Factor: Alfonso Cuaron is creator and executive producer. He also directed the pilot episode. The Last Word: Director Alfonso Cuaron’s Golden Globe win for Gravity could boost interest in the NBC high profile midseason drama. Will the high concept, and TV producer pedigree be enough to make it a hit? The audience will determine that. Co-created and executive produced Cuaron, J.J. Abrams, Bryan Burk and with director Jonas Pate as executive producer/showrunner.

Network: El Rey Premieres: March 11, 9.8/C Airs: TBD Synopsis: A complete retelling of the original story featured in his and Quentin Tarantino’s 1996 movie of the same name. A Texas Ranger is in hot pursuit of the infamous Gecko brothers. Latino Factor: Executive producer/Showrunner Carlos Coto, Robert Rodriguez; Asso. Producer Alfonso Delgado; Directors Robert Rodriguez, Joe Menendez, Eduardo Sanchez. Writers: Diego Gutierrez; Marcel Rodriguez. DP: Eduardo Enrique Mayen; Actors: Wilmer Valderrama as a Pastor, Jesse Garcia as a Texas Ranger, Eiza González as Santánico Pandemonium

Gang Related Network: FOX Premiere: May 20, 2014 Airs: TBD Synopsis: Gritty new actiondrama about a rising star in L.A.’s elite Gang Task Force. What is not kown is that this cop had pledged allegiance to a different band of

Chicago P.D. Network: NBC Premiered: January 8, 2014 Airs: Wednesday, 10/9 CT Synopsis: Det. Antonio Dawson (Jon Seda), Chicago P.D. is a spin-off of the popular Chicago Fire. Chicago Jon Seda P.D. is a police drama about the men and women of the Chicago Police Department’s elite Intelligence Unit. Latino Factor: Jon Seda, America Olivo The Last Word: Jon Seda has a long list of TV credits and a great track record with them staying on air, a good luck charm to the shows he is in. Let’s hope it works on Chicago Fire.

Ramon Rodriguez

brothers a powerful Latino gang.

Latino Factor: Ramon Rodriguez (Battle Los Angeles, The Wire) is the lead character. Jay Hernandez plays Daniel Acosta, son of the Latino drug dealer; also Luis Moncada, Carlos Gomez, Emilio Rivera. The Last Word: There are a lot of roles for Latinos, however it is another TV show about Latino gangs and Continued on Page 25

Joseph Julian Soria Actor Joseph Julian “J.J.” Soria is proving he possesses the talent, energy and experience to bring memorable characters to life on screen. He continues in his role as Private First Class Hector Cruz on Lifetime's top rated series, Army Wives. And although often cast as the bad boy, Soria has proven to have the chops to conquer any role, including comedic characters. He turned heads as 'MC Wyatt' at the Filly Brown premieres at Sundance, his fourth time there. This year he is back at Sundance in CampXray. Other Sundance outing include All She Can, High School, and Hamlet 2.

“That last scene. You don’t get many opportunities to do stuff like that, especially being latino”.

Soria on what attracted him to do Line of Duty.

Soria’s powerful performance in the Bryan Ramirez Line of Duty was a true revelation of his dramatic capabilities. With a resume that includes guest spots on many of today's notable television shows including Dexter, The Shield, CSI: Miami, Sons of Anarchy, The Closer, Bones and Southland, this is one very busy young actor. We’d say to watch out for him, but odds are you will run into him on screen no matter what. Current Projects: Super Fast, a Fast Furious spoof. TV: The Night Shift. Film: 10 Cent Pistol; An Angel’s Story and Finding Albie Finch

Jessie Garcia Actor/Producer “Everything works out as it should. Put out the right intentions, be a nice person, don't panic and great things will come your way.”

Behind the scenes, Jesse Garcia is one of those performers who industry insiders view as an “actor’s actor.” Born in Rawlins, Wyoming Jesse broke out in a memorable role at in the award winning indie Quinceañiera at Sundance for which he also received an ALMA Award. In addition to regular television roles on shows such as Sons of Anarchy, the TV film for HBO, Walk Out and Terminator: The Sarah Conner Chronicles, he has been in over thirty films including The Avengers, Saint John of Las Vegas, Bedrooms, Under the Same Moon. He also did a year run on Broadway in the Pee Wee Herman Show. Late 2013 he was cast as a Texas Ranger in the El Rey Network TV series From Dusk Till Dawn set to premiere on March 11th. As a producer Garcia’s first producing outing was the short American Identity in which he also played the lead character. It went on to open the Short Film Competition at the Cannes Film Festival. Latino stars are playing an increasing part in bringing awareness to all kinds of important causes, from voting to education. Garcia can now be also added to the socially concious list. He and a group of other Latino stars recently released Sold, a film that focuses on the plight of human trafficking. He also produced the DBAC, PSA campaign with fellow LatPakers. In 2013 he made his directorial debut and produced The Price We Pay about a scarred soldier coming home. Current Projects: TV: Robert Rodriguez’s From Dusk Till Dawn Film: Locker 13, Chargin’ a film in development

Nicholas Gonzalez

Actor/Producer

Talented and a Stanford University grad, Nicholas Gonzalez hails form San Antonio, Texas. He also studied three years in England at Oxford University. While in college he discovered acting and moved to L.A. to pursue a professional career as an actor. Soon he was working on ABC’s Dharma and Greg, NBC’s One World and many of the popular TV shows. In 2000 he landed the lead role on Dennis Leoni’s Resurrection Blvd., the first Latino drama on TV (Showtime). Since 2002 he has guest starred over 26 TV shows, three as a series regular roles and is currently on a recurring role on Sleepy Hollow. His film credits include Spun, Anacondas: The Hunt For the Blood Orchid and Richard Montoya’s (Culture Clash) Water & Power about twin brothers (Without a Trace’s Enrique Murciano plays the other twin) raised on the streets of Los Angeles, who rise through political and LAPD ranks and become entangled in the complex . Water & Power premieres in 2014 Current Projects: TV: Sleepy Hollow. Films: The Zone (Purge 2); Sympathy Said The Shark.

Continued on Page 25

Frankie J. Alvarez & Raul Castillo in HBO’s Gay Series “Looking”

he debut 30-minute HBO comedy/drama series, Looking, focuses on the contemporary gay man experience, highlighting the lives of three close friends living in San Francisco. During HBO’s unveiling of the series at this winter’s gathering of the members of the Television Critics Association (TCA), the producers are asked to compare this series to Showtime’s popular Queer as Folk (20002005). Looking’s creator Michael Lannon explains, “It’s different. It’s a different period, obviously. But I think it's very different tonally. The concerns are different. Both series are about gay people but that’s where the similarities end.”

Raul Castillo

Another area where the similarities between the two series are different is the presence of two

Latino characters as series regulars. Looking premieres January 19 (10:30-11pm), starring Jonathan Groff (Patrick), Frankie J. Alvarez (Agustin), Murray Bartlett (Dom) and Raul Castillo (Richie), directed by executive producer Andrew Haigh. Given Latino society’s historically arch conservatism in its views of homosexuality, it is natural to inquire of Alvarez and Castillo whether this issue will be explored in the series and have they had any reactions from their own families about their participation in the show.

By Julio Martinez Mid-Season Replacement

Frankie J. Alvarez

Castillo chuckles and relates, “I was just home for the holidays. I grew up in a small town in south Texas called McCowan, and none of my male cousins would even talk to me about the show; but all my girl cousins brought it up and were curious about it and were asking questions. I think Michael and Andrew were really smart about how they approached race on the show, and it felt really refreshing. It’s not about race but it was there.” “It’s not a topic that we’ve tackled with my character Agustin, but I think it’s definitely forthcoming,” says Alvarez. “I know for me – coming from an all-boy Jesuit prep school for seven years in Miami – that was a really tough environment for some of my gay friends who lived in the closet, who I did theater with. I grew up around it, and I’m sure Agustin grew up around it. I think there’s a certain sense of rebellion in being who he is and being proud of that.”

Alvarez, who recurred on NBC’s Smash, received an MFA in acting from Juilliard School of Drama and has worked principally in live theater. Castillo appeared in the independent festures Cold Weather (2010) and My Best Day (2012). He is a member of LAByrinth Theater Company in New York. Looking is executive produced by Andrew Haigh and Sarah Condon; co-executive producers, Michael Lannan and Allan Heinberg; producer, Kat Landsberg; consulting producers, John Hoffman and Jill Soloway.

Looking Forward Continued from Page 15

Producers: Jonathan Jakubowicz, Claudine Jadubowicz, Ben Silverman, Eduardo Carlos Garcia de Paredes, Robin Duran, Max A. Keller, Bill Johnson. Production Co: Witch’s Rock Entertainment (US); La Piedra Films (PA)

Aztec Warrior

Synopsis: Comedy: A lucha libre wrestler called the Warrior goes up against his rival El Diablo, played by Mexican comedian Eugenio Derbez .

Release Date: Director: Scott Sanders Writer: Diego O’Brien (Screenplay), Javier Chapa (Story) Cast: Luis Guzman, Nadine Velazquez, Eugenio Derbez, Terry Crews Producers: Javier Chapa, Don Handfield, Ben Odell, Sergio Aguero Production Co: Grupo Televisa (MX); Lionsgate(US); Pantelion Films (US)

Sleeping with the Fishes Synopsis: A Latina/Jewish woman's journey of self-discovery, and recovery, in spite of having to deal with her zany family. Release Date: n/a Writer/Director: Nicole Gomez Fisher Cast: Gina Rodriguez, Ana Ortiz, Producers: Courtney Andrialis Production Co: n/a

Endgame Synopsis: Drama: The story of José, 11 years old who joins the school chess team and with the help of his coach embarks on a journey of self-discovery. Loosely based on the Brownsville, TX chess champs featured on Real Sports with Bryant Gumble Release Date: N/A Writer/Director: Carmen Marron Writer: Hector Salinas Cast: Rico Rodriguez, Producers: Sandra Avila, Carmen Marron Production Co: Avila Entertainment

To advertise in our next Digital Magazine out on April 1st distributed at Hispanicize 2014

E-mail: ads@latinheat.com or call 310.464.5290 Ext. 812

Instructions Not Included Continued from Page 13

purchase 25% of all movie tickets) may remain elusive for Pantelion. Latinos, like other moviegoers, mostly watch mainstream Hollywood blockbusters. There is no magic formula to successfully selling Latinos on watching Latino films but Instructions Not Included may have gotten close. What packed the theaters with a majority Latino of audiences was a Spanishlanguage family-friendly comedy with the mass appeal of a Mexican talent like Derbez who has a major following. Time will tell if other big studios will catch on and greenlight more Latino projects. After all, this isn't the first occurrence of Hollywood courting a Latino audience. There was a time in the eighties known as the “Hispanic Hollywood” when major studios distributed films like the smash hit La Bamba ($45 million), Born in East L.A. ($17 million), and Stand and Deliver ($14 million). For the first time they created bilingual marketing campaigns and even circulated film prints that were subtitled or dubbed in Spanish. At the turn of the millennium, Latino and Latin American movies again experienced a golden era in the States. Films like Frida, Once Upon a Time in Mexico, Y tu mama tambien, El crimen del padre Amaro, and City of God earned multiple Oscar nominations and millions at the box office. Despite the success of these films a Latino box office slump quickly followed. The monetary success of Latino-themed films has its ups and downs. Whenever there is a breakout hit, the doors seem to open wider for Latino filmmakers but inevitably they quickly shut again. What remains constant is the Latino movie-going audience's appetite for entertaining films of all types. The bottom-line is that studios will happily produce Latino films as long as they are profitable. For Derbez though things are looking up. He's received countless offers for future projects and is reviewing several scripts. In an interview with the Associated Press he said, "There are many people who want to meet with me right now." Let's hope it stays that way.

U.S. American Latino Films

Missing At 2014 Sundance Film Fest

By Van essa E r azo

very January film critics, cinephiles, movie studio executives, filmmakers, and celebrities descend on Park City, Utah for a celebration of independent filmmaking. Since the eighties the Sundance Film Festival has served as the premiere showcase of indie films in the United States. The festival acting as a springboard, launched the careers of Alexander Payne, Quentin Tarantino, Sofia Coppola, and David O. Russell. As a champion of movies made outside of the Hollywood studio system the festival also nurtures diverse stories from filmmakers of all walks of life. Latino participation at Sundance waxes and wanes from year to year. With the festival gearing up for its 2014 edition in a few days, the confirmed film slate shows little love to Latino projects. Of the 118 feature-length films showing at this year's Sundance only five are Latino. That's about 4% of the total. Of those five films only one is a story centered on Latinos in the United States, the rest are Latin American. Premiering at this year's Sundance the documentary Cesar's Last Fast, directed by Richard Ray Perez and Lorena Parlee, recounts labor leader Cesar Chavez's spiritual choice to fast for 36 days back in the eighties. It's one to look forward to, absolutely, but that's all she wrote for American Latinos at Sundance in 2014. This past year's edition of Sundance, 2013, was even worse for American Latinos. Though boasting strong entries from Latin America (particularly Chile) like the Oscar-nominated Gael Garcia Bernal vehicle NO, Sebastian Silva's drug-fueled odyssey Crystal Fairy starring Michael Cera, and Alicia Scherson's dark and moody Chilean/Italian coproduction Il Futuro, there were zero feature-length films about the American Latino experience. Zero. It's depressing to think that for the last two years American Latino film directors have been a tiny blip on the Sundance radar. For now, let's ignore this sad fact and go back to the good old days of 2012, when Latinos were burning up at Sundance. Cesar’s Last Fast sole U.S. filmmaker project at Sundance

More than a hundred films play the prestigious fest every year, all vying for the buzz that will propel them to a big sale and a promise of distribution. In 2012, two of the breakouts were Latino: Filly Brown and Mosquita y Mari. In Park City, on the internet, in trade publications, and on blogs people could not stop talking about the talented newcomer Gina Rodriguez. Her dazzling performance in Filly Brown as a tough, young rapper from East Los Angeles put her and the film, directed by Youssef Delara and Michael D. Olmos, on the map. Its all-star supporting cast with the likes of Edward James Olmos, Lou Diamond Phillips, and Jenny Rivera didn't hurt either. Two months after its world premiere at Sundance, Indomina snatched up worldwide rights to the American Latino indie flick. Continued on Page 24

Hispanicize Latino Film Showcase ontinued from Page 6

we’ve taken to heart on how to vastly improve everything about how our media and social media machine can work in favor of our filmmakers.

LH: Outside of the red carpet night, what else are you doing with feature films and short films? Calixto: We’re finalizing how many other feature films will be part of this year’s event but what I can tell you is that we will have fewer feature film slots in order to better focus resources and media on those films. In terms of short films by Latino filmmakers, we will be giving them prominent space inside the event hotel with a dedicated theater room to see the films selected in a looping fashion all four days of the event. We’re going to curate the shorts for a total run time of approximately 2 hours but attendees will be able to come and go as they please. Manny: We are passionate about film because this is my true personal passion so for all of you filmmakers who are reading this story just know that Hispanicize 2014, and Hispanicize the social media platform in general – is deeply committed to helping you be successful. We’re no fools and it’s not because we’re purely altruistic about doing this either. We know that if we can help you be successful, we will be successful as we ourselves delve more into film.

LH: What will be the focus of the film panels this year? Calixto: We’ll be announcing these soon but one can expect forums – film and others - that better connect the worlds of marketing, finance and brands. For example, we will delve into the use of social media for crowd funding and marketing of films specifically. We will also explore how to tap into influential bloggers to build effective word of mouth strategies that best reach Latino film audiences. As Latinos are the largest segment of moviegoers in the country, more marketers are looking for ways to integrate their brands in film, as well as share information on reaching this elusive audience. Manny: Every single day of this intense four-day event will have something to offer filmmakers in terms of content that helps them drive the business and marketing side of their artistic endeavors. We believe the artistic part is important and we will address parts of that but Hispanicize is about helping Latino filmmakers connecting the business, marketing and digital dots because we can do that with excellence.

LH: How will you provide more mareketing and visibility muscle to the films and filmmakers at the event?

platform is about. A filmmaker can expect a premier platform that not only speaks to them as filmmakers but also connects them with influencers from various sectors from social media, brands, music, journalists, and film. What Hispanicize creates is a unique networking opportunity that filmmakers typically won’t find at a film festival. Manny: To add to what Calixto said, we are the largest and only multi-industry gathering of Latino content creators. Period. That is a huge advantage the Hispanicize event and something we will tenaciously build on. Beyond that, we have a lot more experience in learning how to create visibility for our filmmakers by leveraging the power of our media and social media partnerships and alliances. One of the most important tools, for example, that we created in time for Hispanicize 2014 is the launch of Hispanicize Wire (www.HispanicizeWire.com). Hispanicize Wire is an incredible press release, multimedia and social media distribution platform that is extremely affordable and that we believe all filmmakers trying to reach U.S. Hispanics will use to promote their projects. Hispanicize Wire itself is configured for this and will be widely used at the event and beyond it because it was created with Latino filmmakers in mind.

LH: Is there anything filmmakers can do to get their films in your radar for Hispanicize 2014? Calixto: The great news is that we’re not charging for any submissions this year. If anyone has a film project that they want to submit for consideration, feature or short, they can email me at calixto@hispanicizeevent.com. Please include a private link to your project, a trailer as well as a synopsis. We’re looking at films from now through January 31st and will be announcing our film slate by early to mid February. We have a strong prefence for films that are produced, directed or acted by U.S. Latino filmmakers, which is our niche focus. Manny: Any film that is selected, be they a feature or short film, will be heavily publicized starting with our Hispanicize Wire platform and continuing with specific entertainment and film media we are guaranteeing in 2014 will be at the event for this. Obviously not everyone will garner the same attention as others but we think the eco system we’ve developed will be much stronger from the insights and experience we’ve had in doing film at Hispanicize for three years.

Calixto: That’s a big part of what the Hispanicize event

c Also, despite a lack of big name stars, Aurora Guerrero's feature debut Mosquita y Mari made a big splash that year too. The sensitive, bold, and thoughtful portrait of two teenage Chicanas whose budding friendship begins to slowly become something beyond just friends was picked up for distribution by Wolfe Releasing.

Sundance Fails Continuted from Page 21

However, Sundance does not always translate into box office dollars. Mosquita y Mari had a very small release, only playing one arthouse theater in New York City. Its total box office receipts equaled $8,600. On the other hand, Filly Brown in its widest release played 259 theaters and no doubt bolstered by its stars and the untimely death of Jenny Rivera, raked in $2.8 million in six weeks. Even prior to the sensations of 2012, a few Latino films throughout the years were able to cash in on their big break at Sundance. In 2002, the coming of age tale Real Women Have Curves debuted at Sundance and introduced America Ferrera, an unknown actress at the time, to the masses. It received several accolades at the fest including the Audience Award and Special Jury Prizes for acting for both America Ferrera and the late Lupe Ontiveros. Budget: $3 million (estimate) Distributed by HBO Films it earned $5.8 million, playing in 163 theaters for 30 weeks theaters.

Quinceañera, the 2006 film about two cousins that become estranged from their families, one for becoming pregnant (Emily Rios) and the other for his homosexuality (Jesse Garcia). It went on to win Sundance’s Grand Jury Prize and the Audience Award. Budget: $400,000 (Estimate) Disirbution by Sony Pictures Classics, grossing $1,692,693 domestically & $2,522,l787 worldwide.

La Misma Luna (2008), penned by Lijiah Villalobos and directed by Patricia Cardozo, one of the biggest Latino box office successes to come out of Sundance. It introduced Kate del Castillo and Eugenio Derbez to American audiences. The immigration-themed drama struck a nerve with overseas audiences and went on to earn another $10 million in the foreign market. Budget: $500,000 Distributed by Fox Searchlight/Weinstein Co. in 454 theaters, 17 weeks & made $12.5 million domestically.

The Latino film that received the biggest boom following its Sundance premiere and propelled its director to a fullfledged career in Hollywood is Robert Rodriguez's 1993 El Mariachi. The Spanish-language action film was shot in a Mexican border town and spawned two sequels starring Antonio Banderas Desperado and Once Upon a Time in Mexico. The 3 film franchise collectively grossed more than $80 million domestically. Budget: $7,000 Released by Columbia Pictures earning $2 million domestically.

For American indie films, screening at Sundance remains the ultimate seal of approval. Though it doesn't guarantee high box office numbers it certainly has the power to launch the careers of new directors and actors. Still with only about six U.S. Latino film “hits” coming out of Sundance over a course of twenty years, one wonders why U.S. American filmmakers seem to be overlooked. Let's hope in the years to come the powerhouse festival will be as inclusive to American Latino stories as it has been to Latin American ones.

Editor’s Note: For the purpose of this article we chose to focus on U.S. Latino filmmakers. However, wedo want to congratulate the four Latin American films that are showing this year at Sundance: Marmato (Colombia); el Cerrajero (Argentina); To Kill a Man (Chile/France); and Living Stars (Argentina). We would also like to give a shout out to the Latinos (that we know of) cast in films screening at Sundance: Selena Gomez in Rudderless; Shiloh Fernandez in The Voice; Joseph J. Soria in Camp X-Ray; Zoe Saldana in Indefinitely Polar Bear.

25 The LatPak List continued from page

Bryan Ramirez Boy’s: Cotton Fields and Crossroads. He went on to work for the local ABC affiliate producing commercials and promos; then began producing for Armando Montelongo, star of the hit TV show Flip this House for whom he would produce the infomercial that would help Armando establish a multi-milliondollar enterprise. When shopping his Line of Duty script in Hollywood, he said they loved it -- however hated first time directors and weren’t going go for Latinos in the leads. So when they offered six-figure deal for the script Ramirez walked away. Instead Montelongo, who believed in Ramirez, stepped in as the sole investor allowing him to make the movie he wanted to make returning to San Antonio to shoot the movie he envisioned, with Latino leads and his first feature length directorial. Bryan Ramirez has truly made his mark as one of the Next Generation of directors and the Latin Heat’s LatPak List. Upcoming Projects: Film: For Jane, a psychological thriller; Sanitarium (co-directing with Bryan Ortiz & Kerry Valderrama) Starring Malcolm McDowell, Lou Diamond Phillips, Robert Englund & fellow Latpaker

Nominate someone to the LatPak list

Walter Perez Actor/Producer Walter Perez is the guy that has it all going on. Acting chops, looks and he is a college grad from Cal State University Fullerton where he got his B.A. in criminal justice. He has been acting since high school where he started doing commercials and graduated to guest stars in top shows such as The Closer, CSI: Miami, Cold Case, NCIS: Los Angeles and In Plain Sight. He is best known for his role in the 2009 redux of the musical film Fame. He worked on HBO’s Walkout and co-starred alongside Dermot Mulroney and Diane Kruger in the film Run for Your Life. He played a Shield Pilot in The Avengers. In last year’s Line of Duty, Walter showed a sinister side playing a good guy turned cold blooded killer. He is branching out into producing serving as associate producer as well as actor in the indie film Road to Juarez and more recently served as producer on the film The Park Bench currently in post-production. Upcoming Projects: Film: The Park Bench

Email us at: submissions @latinheat.com Requirements: Must have at least 1 starring or costarring role in a film and at least three guest starring roles on TV

Mid-Season

Continued from Page 25

drug dealers. The network execs tend to believe they know more about what shows appeal to young TV viewers. However, the Latino is becoming increasingly vocal about the kind of shows they are tired of seeing and Latino gangs and drug dealers are among the NO list. This show will have to make it past the social media deluge of negativity about this kind of show, just the name is enough to start the social onslaught. Chris Morgan Productions, Skeeter Rosenbaum Productions, Imagine Entertainment and 20th Century Fox Television. Created and written by Chris Morgan. Executive-produced by Morgan, Scott Rosenbaum, Brian

Kevin Alejandro Actor/Producer TV loves Kevin! With over 45 TV roles he is everyone’s favorite good-looking Latino dude. He was recently seen as Detective Arroyo on CBS’s Golden Boy but he has a has a long list of fans from his cop days on Southland and night job as a male witch in True Blood. He’s been in almost all the top shows on television including Weeds, Drop Dead Diva, and Sons of Anarchy. He is on everyone’s list: Voted #7 in Entertainment Weekly's "15 Smartest, Sexiest Crime-fighters of '09: the Men" on EW.com. In 2011 People Magazine named him to their Hottest Heartthrobs List. In 2010 he won an Imagen Award for his role in Southland. He was recently cast in the new series Arrow where he plays Brother Blood. And he is in the development stages of a webseries. Upcoming Projects: TV: Arrow; Film; MedeasTruck Stop.

Continued from Page 7 Continued from Page 11

Welcome to The Family & Goodbye Cont’d

Wilmer Valderrama Yandel and Colombian singer Fanny Lu. In the fall of 2013 he signed a deal with Lionsgate and Televisa to develop his own film and TV projects. He was also as cast as one of the leads in the film Castro’s Daughter; and landed a series regular role as the “criminal mastermind” in Robert Rodriguez’s El Rey TV series From Dusk Til Dawn . Current projects: Film: Castro’s Daughter TV: From Dusk Til Dawn, To whom it May Concern, School Dance

Jeremy Ray Valdez way to achieving the American Dream when he is outed as undocumented. It recently screened to much praise at the White House and at Harvard and UCLA. This past year Valdez and fellow LatPakers Walter Perez and JJ Soria all starred in Line of Duty. Valdez is also a passionate (and gifted) photographer. He loves photographing his actor friends and recently shot Marque Richardson (Dear white people) for the Sundance Film festival and his fellow LatPakers. His photography is as impressive as his acting talent. Check it out http://www.cypherphotostudios.com/ Upcoming Projects: Film: Bad Asses with Danny Trejo in; H.O.M.E, three stories told through an immigrant perspective.

It started out promising with four Latinos on the series: Ricardo Antonio Chavira, Justina Machado, Fabrizio Guido and Joey Haro were the Hernandez family. A story about the clash of cultures involving two American families brought together by the couple formed by Junior, the valedictorian son of a Latino family, and Molly, the less academic daughter of an Anglo family who was pregnant. Unfortunately the audience was not very responsive. After only three episodes NBC pulled the series. The family however does survive on STAR World India and on Hulu for those of you who would like to meet the Latino family that was…for three episodes.

Tequila Sisters It looked promising from the promos: “Tequila Sisters spotlights the Marin family, a wild and spirited multigenerational Hispanic family living a life of luxury in Southern California thanks to the father’s successful tequila business.” A chance to show a different side of Latinos – successful blond and blue eyed. But when the series premiered on the TV Guide Network on Dec. 10th what we got was a reality show more vapid than The Kardasians. With Nielsen ratings of 0.04 it seems the audience has given up Tequila Sisters. However the network continues to air it. Maybe hoping audiences The Kardasians who have lost 40% of their audiece might come over tho their show.

Bordertown

Continued from Page

Alcaraz also recently told Latino Rebels in an interview “It’s going to be funny, political and social satire. I want people to appreciate that there is still political messages behind it and I just hope people can look a little deeper. This is a big step up on how Hollywood see of Latinos! Although, Alcaraz embraces the opportunity to work on Bordertown he is looking looking down the road, “I hope to have my own cartoon show one day, and this is a pretty good way to help me get closer to that goal,” he said.

Photo: Angela Ortiz

FOX has ordered thirteen episodes schduled to begin airing in the 2014/15 TV season.