November 3, 2014, 10:28 am
Bochinche refers to “gossip”. In this sense, we use it to mention HOLA members or Friends of HOLA who are getting acting, performance or similarly artistic gigs and/or recognition in the media. The names of HOLA members and Friends of HOLA are listed below in boldface. To see what other HOLA members are doing currently, click here.
Luis Galli, shown at right, was profiled in an interview for the Peruvian magazine Lima Gris, where he spoke about his role in the Rocío Llado film Teresa, la amante del libertador. The film also stars HOLA members Ana María Estrada and Nathalie Tolentino. To read the interview (which is in Spanish), click here.
Edvin Ortega booked a role in the NBC series "The Mysteries of Laura".
Mateo Gómez can be seen guest-starring in a recent episode of "Blue Bloods" (CBS).
J.W. Cortes, shown at left, made two return appearances in Brandon Stanton's Humans of New York blog, where he spoke of his recurring role as Detective Álvarez in the critically acclaimed hit Fox series "Gotham". For more information, click here and here.
Roger González will be acting in Claudio Angelini's My Wife in a Chador. Directed by Stephan Morrow, the play will be presented in November at Theater for the New City, located in Manhattan's East Village. For more information, click here.
Joselyn Martínez and Solanyi Rodríguez are the two newest additions to the upcoming, eagerly anticipated webseries "Whatever It Takes" (created, produced, written and directed by Johanna Tolentino). They join Elaine Del Valle, A.B. Lugo, Blanca Camacho and Jay Álvarez in the cast. For more information, click here.
If you are an HOLA member or a Friend of HOLA and want to submit a bochinche item, send us an e-mail. If you live in the New York metropolitan area and want to be an HOLA member, why not join? If you live outside the New York metropolitan area and want to be an HOLA member, you can find out more information on how to do so, by clicking here. If you are not a Friend of HOLA, why not become one?
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November 4, 2014, 11:04 am
Bochinche refers to “gossip”. In this sense, we use it to mention HOLA members or Friends of HOLA who are getting acting, performance or similarly artistic gigs and/or recognition in the media. The names of HOLA members and Friends of HOLA are listed below in boldface. To see what other HOLA members are doing currently, click here.
Olga Merediz, shown at right, was interviewed by Lee Emil Hernández for the ExclusivLee blog, where she spoke about her recurring role on the Netflix series "Orange is the New Black" as well as her role in the upcoming movie comedy Fugly!, where she stars opposite John Leguizamo and Rosie Pérez (co-written and co-produced by Leguizamo and which opens in AMC movie theaters in New York City this Friday). In addition, she will play Rosario Dawson's mom in the highly anticipated feature film comedy Top Five (starring, written and directed by Chris Rock). To read the article, click here.
Solanyi Rodríguez, shown at left, is starring in the short film Skirting The Issues (written by Franc. Reyes, directed by Carlos Berríos and produced by Ulysses Terrero).
Baires Entertainment, after a sold out presentation of the Gabriel Campana play My Way in New York City, will present the show across the Hudson River in Union City, New Jersey. The play, starring Tony Rodríguez, and also starring HOLA members Caridad del Valle, Claudio Weisz and Juan Villarreal, is directed by Rubén Darío Cruz II and will have a performance in November at the Union City Museum/William V. Musto Cultural Center. For more information, click here.
Michael Díaz (also known by his nom de comédieJuan Bago) is back with his latest webisode of his webseries "Ask Bago" (The Flama). Written and directed by Jaime Fernández and Anthony Palmini). Titled "How To Start Your Own Frat", it also features Zahaira Curiel as a guest star. To see the webisode, click here.
If you are an HOLA member or a Friend of HOLA and want to submit a bochinche item, send us an e-mail. If you live in the New York metropolitan area and want to be an HOLA member, why not join? If you live outside the New York metropolitan area and want to be an HOLA member, you can find out more information on how to do so, by clicking here. If you are not a Friend of HOLA, why not become one?
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November 5, 2014, 11:55 am
Bochinche refers to “gossip”. In this sense, we use it to mention HOLA members or Friends of HOLA who are getting acting, performance or similarly artistic gigs and/or recognition in the media. The names of HOLA members and Friends of HOLA are listed below in boldface. To see what other HOLA members are doing currently, click here.
J.W. Cortés, shown at right, was profiled in an article in The Hollywood Reporter, which highlighted the accomplishments of his life and career, which most recently includes a guest-starring stint on the Fox series Gotham. To read the profile, click here.
Teatro SEA is presenting My Superhero, Roberto Clemente. Written by Manuel A. Morán (see below) and Alejandro Zuleta (with translations by Richard Marino, Kristián Otero Morán and Antonio Valle and directed by Morán), this musical will be presented in November as part of Borimix: Puerto Rico Fest 2014 at SEA's namesake theater, located in the Clemente Soto Vélez Cultural and Educational Center (home to HOLA) in Manhattan's Loísaida neighborhood. The production features Jesús E. Martínez, Jorge Castilla, Chris Williams, Miranda Childers, Ann Flanigan, and Alan González in the cast. For more information, click here.
Joel Pérez, shown at left, recently performed at the 26th Annual Festival of New Musicals, presented by the National Alliance for Musical Theatre (NAMT) in October at New World Stages, located in the theater district of midtown Manhattan. To see photos of him at the event (courtesy of a "photo flash" article in Broadway World), click here. To read the full article, click here.
Flor Bromley will perform in The Pura Belpré Project. The show, written and directed by Manuel A. Morán (see above), will be presented in November by Teatro SEA as part of its Borimix: Puerto Rico Fest 2014 at the Hunts Point Library, located in the Hunts Point neighborhood of the Bronx. For more information, click here.
Alberto Bonilla can be seen guest-starring in episodes of "Last Week Tonight with John Oliver" (HBO) and "Blue Bloods" (CBS).
If you are an HOLA member or a Friend of HOLA and want to submit a bochinche item, send us an e-mail. If you live in the New York metropolitan area and want to be an HOLA member, why not join? If you live outside the New York metropolitan area and want to be an HOLA member, you can find out more information on how to do so, by clicking here. If you are not a Friend of HOLA, why not become one?
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November 5, 2014, 1:37 pm
The International Puerto Rican Heritage Film Festival (IPRHFF)’s mission is to create platforms that allow Latinos and a diverse pool of international influencers in entertainment and educational filmmaking to reach a broader audience. We will develop programs that will allow a spectrum of filmmakers, from emerging artists to film industry veterans, to reach out to audiences throughout New York City. Our goal is to foster a collaborative environment for all artists to explore issues inherent to the heritage of Puerto Rico and to develop their craft with direct input from their target audiences.
HOLA members are well represented at this year's International Puerto Rican Heritage Film Festival. Some of them are listed below.
• The Hardest Love (written and directed by Henry B. Roa) – starring Francisco Ramos
• Leonard Peres (written by Suzanne Andrews Correa and directed by Missy Hernández) – starring Raoul Daniel Luna
• Heysoos (written and directed by Rob Santana) – starring Yvette Quintero
• Dirty Shield (written and directed by Edgardo M. Jiménez, also known as Edgar Jimz) – starring Vivienne Jurado
• Lobo, An Orisha Tale (written and directed by Lina Sarrello) – starring Paola Poucel, Gloria Zelaya and Juan Chaves
• Helen of T-Roy (written by Aureo Iván Cardona and directed by Verónica Caicedo) – starring María Cotto
• Missing Grandma (written and directed by Adel L. Morales) – starring Sonia Manzano
In addition, Priscilla López will receive a Lifetime Achievement Award from the film festival. The 2014 edition of the IPRHFF will occur November 12-16, 2014 at various locations in New York City. For more information (including scheduling and screening sites), click here or here.
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November 6, 2014, 10:48 am
Bochinche refers to “gossip”. In this sense, we use it to mention HOLA members or Friends of HOLA who are getting acting, performance or similarly artistic gigs and/or recognition in the media. The names of HOLA members and Friends of HOLA are listed below in boldface. To see what other HOLA members are doing currently, click here.
J.W. Cortés, shown at right, was profiled in an article in The New York Post, where it spoke on his life and career, including his recurring role as Detective Álvarez in the Fox television series "Gotham". To read the article, click here.
Edvin Ortega will be singing with the boy band Larger Than Life at the Miss Latina Connecticut pageant on Sunday, November 16, 2014 at the Norwalk Concert Hall at Norwalk, Connecticut. For more information, click here.
Robin De Jesús will be one of the performers of Gioia To The World: My Holiday Hell. The holiday concert will be hosted by Michael Gioia and take place on Saturday, December 6, 2014 at 54 Below, located in the theater district of midtown Manhattan. For more information, click here.
Jeannie Sol will be acting and singing in Stirred Crazy, Part 1. Inspired by the life of Richard Pryor, Jr., the play with music is written by Anthony Ruiz and Pryor, Jr., and directed by José A. Esquea. The production will take place in December at the LaGuardia Performing Arts Center (located in the Long Island City neighborhood of Queens) and also stars Khiry Walker, Cori Robinson and Jenelle Simone and will have musical direction by Shawn Keys, sound design by John Wilson and choreography by 2014 HOLA Awards recipient Daniel Soto. For more information, click here.
If you are an HOLA member or a Friend of HOLA and want to submit a bochinche item, send us an e-mail. If you live in the New York metropolitan area and want to be an HOLA member, why not join? If you live outside the New York metropolitan area and want to be an HOLA member, you can find out more information on how to do so, by clicking here. If you are not a Friend of HOLA, why not become one?
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November 7, 2014, 1:09 pm
FUGLY!
A Latino comic's near-death experience forces him to revisit his personal and professional highs and lows. Written by Kathy DeMarco and John Leguizamo (based on Leguizamo's Tony-nominated solo show Ghetto Klown, the film is directed by Alfredo De Villa and stars Leguizamo, Radha Mitchell, Rosie Pérez, Griffin Dunne, Olga Merediz, Yul Vásquez, Ally Sheedy and Tomás Milián.
Now playing at AMC movie theaters in New York City
SUPPORT LATINO WORK.
#SupportLatinoWork
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November 7, 2014, 1:53 pm
Check out this article in Variety announcing the impending relaunch of the mun2 network (where it will be now called NBC Universo) by clicking here.
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November 9, 2014, 5:35 pm
Bochinche refers to “gossip”. In this sense, we use it to mention HOLA members or Friends of HOLA who are getting acting, performance or similarly artistic gigs and/or recognition in the media. The names of HOLA members and Friends of HOLA are listed below in boldface. To see what other HOLA members are doing currently, click here.
José Sepúlveda, shown at right, was featured in Broadway World, where he was mentioned as a cast member and featured vocalist in the concert version of Vox Pop: A Musical Prophecy. Written and directed by David Dávila, it will be presented on Tuesday, November 18, 2014 at 54 Below, located in the theater district of midtown Manhattan. For more information, click here or here.
Edvin Ortega is filming the film Crow Hill (written and directed by Rubidium Wu).
2014 HOLA Awards recipient Jeannie Sol will be performing in the musical revue for which she received her HOLA Award, Rafael Hernández... Romance. Created and directed by Manuel A. Morán (who also stars), the revue showcases the work of one of the best, most prolific composers in Puerto Rico (and all of Latin America and Spain)– Rafael Hernández. The musical revue will be presented again (due to popular demand) in November at Teatro SEA's Borimix: Puerto Rico Fest 2014 at its eponymous theater located in the Clemente Soto Vélez Cultural and Educational Center (home to HOLA) in Manhattan's Loísaida neighborhood. For more information, click here.
Pablo Andrade and María Fontanals starred opposite Piedad Castaño and Luis Roberto Alvarado in Lorkeando. An evening of the poetry of Federico García Lorca, it was conceived and directed by Alvarado and was presented in November as part of the eARTh Theater Festival/Lorca Al Desnudo II, scheduled to take place in November at the Roy Arias Studios and Theaters complex, located in the theater district of midtown Manhattan. For more information, click here.
Roger González is acting in the short film Television (written and directed by Joseph Dibble), which is currently filming in New York City.
TEBA is presenting José Adolfo Pichardo's Nadís. Directed by Héctor Luis Rivera, the production stars Ángela Artunduaga, Yanet Betances, Emir Cruz, Dilcia De Jesús, J. Edgar Mozoub, Yvette Quintero, Raúl Rivera, Juan Manuel Sanábria and Pedro Vargas. The play will run in December at the Broadway Blackbox Theater, located in Manhattan's Washington Heights neighborhood.
Tony Plana guest-starred in an episode of "Jane The Virgin" (The CW).
If you are an HOLA member or a Friend of HOLA and want to submit a bochinche item, send us an e-mail. If you live in the New York metropolitan area and want to be an HOLA member, why not join? If you live outside the New York metropolitan area and want to be an HOLA member, you can find out more information on how to do so, by clicking here. If you are not a Friend of HOLA, why not become one?
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November 9, 2014, 5:47 pm
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Rosie Pérez, John Leguizamo and
Olga Merediz, the stars of Fugly!,
at the film's NYC premiere. |
Check out Raul A. Reyes' article in NBC News about John Leguizamo and the film he co-wrote and co-produced (and in which he stars), Fugly!, by clicking here.
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November 9, 2014, 5:53 pm
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Jeff Daniels and Sam Waterston in a
scene from "The Newsroom" (HBO). |
Check out R.H. Greene's article in Salon on how hiring minority background actors lets certain TV and movie productions "off the hook" with regards to diversity in casting by clicking here.
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November 9, 2014, 5:58 pm
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November 10, 2014, 11:55 am
Bochinche refers to “gossip”. In this sense, we use it to mention HOLA members or Friends of HOLA who are getting acting, performance or similarly artistic gigs and/or recognition in the media. The names of HOLA members and Friends of HOLA are listed below in boldface. To see what other HOLA members are doing currently, click here.
Emilio Delgado, shown at right, booked a national Sprite commercial and a guest-starring appearance on "House of Cards" (Netflix). He can also be seen (as he has been for the last 40+ years) playing Luis on "Sesame Street" (PBS).
José Yenque, 2014 HOLA Awards recipient Teresa Yenque, 2014 HOLA Awards recipient Pablo Andrade, Patrick Michael Valley and Bárbara Bonilla acted in a benefit staged reading of Barbara Bennion's play Flowers Behind The Mountain. Directed by Howard Lipson, the reading was to benefit Abbott House, an organization that aids Central American children who recently emigrated in the United States. The reading took place in November at the Christ Episcopal Church in Tarrytown, New York.
Vanessa Verduga's webseries "Justice Woman" has been selected as an official selection of NYC Web Fest, the city's first festival for webseries. The festival will take place in November at The Treehouse Theater, located in Manhattan's Chelsea neighborhood. For more information, click here or here.
Michael Díaz (also known by his nom de comédieJuan Bago) has a recurring role on the webseries "Henry: A Web Series" (created and directed by Alain Alfaro). The webseries has been selected as an official selection of NYC Web Fest, the city's first festival for webseries. The festival will take place in November at The Treehouse Theater, located in Manhattan's Chelsea neighborhood. For more information, click here or here.
If you are an HOLA member or a Friend of HOLA and want to submit a bochinche item, send us an e-mail. If you live in the New York metropolitan area and want to be an HOLA member, why not join? If you live outside the New York metropolitan area and want to be an HOLA member, you can find out more information on how to do so, by clicking here. If you are not a Friend of HOLA, why not become one?
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November 12, 2014, 10:50 am
Bochinche refers to “gossip”. In this sense, we use it to mention HOLA members or Friends of HOLA who are getting acting, performance or similarly artistic gigs and/or recognition in the media. The names of HOLA members and Friends of HOLA are listed below in boldface. To see what other HOLA members are doing currently, click here.
J.W. Cortés, shown at right, was profiled in NJ.com, where the blog marked his ascent to his current role as Detective Alvarez in the critically acclaimed hit Fox television series "Gotham". To read the profile, click here.
Caridad de la Luz (also known by her nom de poésie et de musiqueLa Bruja) will be hosting and performing a special edition of Bronx Stories, to be presented on Friday, November 14, 2014 by the Bronx Museum of the Arts (located in the Morrisania section of the Bronx). For more information, click here.
Teatro LATEA is presenting the Carlos País play Días eternos. Directed by 2014 HOLA Awards recipient Beatriz Córdoba, the production will star Mateo Gómez, Nelson Landrieu and Juan Villarreal and be presented in November and December at LATEA's eponymous space located in the Clemente Soto Vélez Cultural and Educational Center (home to HOLA) in Manhattan's Loísaida neighborhood.
Cynthia Bastidas, shown at left, is one of nine playwrights presenting a ten-minute play in the show titled Everybody's Got A Story. Produced by Juggerknot Theatre Company and Write That Now! and curated by Webb Wilcoxen (from the Write That Play! workshop), the plays will be directed by nine directors (including Dominic D'Andrea, Craig muMs Grant, Portia Johnson, Russell G. Jones and Felix Solis). The show of ten-minute plays will take place on Tuesday, November 25, 2014 at the New York Theater Workshop, located in Manhattan's East Village. For more information, click here or here.
Liza Colón-Zayas and Luis Antonio Ramos are currently filming the feature film The Stockroom in New York City (specifically in Manhattan's El Barrio neighborhood). Written, directed and starring Víctor Cruz, the film also stars April Lee Hernández, Tracy Pérez, Jaime Fernández and 2014 HOLA Awards recipient Iván Camilo. For more information, click here.
2014 HOLA Awards recipient Jeannie Sol will be performing in Leopoldo Santiago Lavandero's La plenópera del empache/The Bellyache Opera. Directed by Manuel A. Morán, the show will have performances in December at Teatro SEA's namesake space, located in the Clemente Soto Vélez Cultural and Educational Center (home to HOLA) in Manhattan's Loísaida neighborhood. For more information, click here.
If you are an HOLA member or a Friend of HOLA and want to submit a bochinche item, send us an e-mail. If you live in the New York metropolitan area and want to be an HOLA member, why not join? If you live outside the New York metropolitan area and want to be an HOLA member, you can find out more information on how to do so, by clicking here. If you are not a Friend of HOLA, why not become one?
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November 12, 2014, 7:25 pm
Bochinche refers to “gossip”. In this sense, we use it to mention HOLA members or Friends of HOLA who are getting acting, performance or similarly artistic gigs and/or recognition in the media. The names of HOLA members and Friends of HOLA are listed below in boldface. To see what other HOLA members are doing currently, click here.
José Sepúlveda, shown above left, and SepLo Productions are presenting another Sueño Pop concert, where singers sing the songs of Latin pop music. While the previous concert was subtitled "Crossover", this concert is called "Pulso Latino". In addition to Sepúlveda, Mauricio Pita (see below) and Daniel Anthony Hidalgo, shown above right, (among others) will headline the concert, which will take place on Saturday, November 15, 2014 at Toshi's Living Room and Penthouse, located in Manhattan's Flatiron district. For more information on the concert, click here or here. The concert was also featured in Broadway World. To read that feature, click here.
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Mauricio Pita, shown at right, has been quite busy as of late. In addition to his performing in the latest Sueño Pop concert (see above), he did a national print campaign and TV ad for DirecTV, which is now airing. He will then be acting in an adaptation of William Shakespeare's The Tempest (directed by Benita De Wit, in collaboration with Anne Bogart). The production will be presented in December at Columbia University in the Manhattanville/West Harlem area of Manhattan. At the same time, he will be starring alongside Francisco Fuertes in the Francisco Lupini Basagoiti short film Tú. Yo. Baño. Sexo. Ahora. He will then start rehearsals for the play Los empeños de una casa (House of Desires). Written by Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz and directed by Hugo Medrano, it will run in February and March 2015 at the Gala Hispanic Theater in Washington, District of Columbia.
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Caridad de la Luz (also known by her nom de poésie et de musique La Bruja), shown at left, will be one of the featured performers (along with Christopher Chilo Cajigas and Rich Villar) in The Fall Classic. Produced and directed by Advocate of Wordz, the event will take place on Saturday, November 22, 2014 at the world famous Nuyorican Poets' Café, located in Manhattan's Loísaida neighborhood. For more information (including how to buy tickets), click here, here or here.
Alejandro Santoni will soon be filming the short Written in Stone (directed by Carlos Baptista) in New York City.
Marlene Forté acted in the film Citizen (written by Moritz Rechenberg, Caroline Chang, Mark McKeown and Kelly Parker, based on a story by Rechenberg; directed by Rechenberg), which is currently in post-production.
If you are an HOLA member or a Friend of HOLA and want to submit a bochinche item, send us an e-mail. If you live in the New York metropolitan area and want to be an HOLA member, why not join? If you live outside the New York metropolitan area and want to be an HOLA member, you can find out more information on how to do so, by clicking here. If you are not a Friend of HOLA, why not become one?
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November 17, 2014, 12:26 pm
Bochinche refers to “gossip”. In this sense, we use it to mention HOLA members or Friends of HOLA who are getting acting, performance or similarly artistic gigs and/or recognition in the media. The names of HOLA members and Friends of HOLA are listed below in boldface. To see what other HOLA members are doing currently, click here.
The film The Hardest Love (written and directed by Henry B. Roa), starring Francisco Ramos, shown at right, won the Audience Award at the International Puerto Rican Heritage Film Festival (IPRHFF), recently concluded in New York City. For more information, click here or here.
Mauricio Pita will be one of the actors in the Third Annual One-Minute Play Festival of Latino Voices. Presented by The One-Minute Play Festival (#1MPF) and INTAR, it will feature over 20 playwrights (including 2014 HOLA Award recipient José Rivera) and be directed by Dominic Antonio D'Andrea, Rebecca Martínez, Cándido Tirado, Alfredo Narciso and Bobby Moreno. The festival will take place in November at INTAR's namesake theater located in the theater district of Manhattan's Hell's Kitchen neighborhood. For more information, click here.
Judy Torres, shown at left, was highlighted in Broadway World, where she is listed as one of the headliners of the Freestyle Extravaganza concert taking place on Saturday, December 6, 2014 at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center, in Newark, New Jersey. She will share the stage with such recording artists as Lisa Lisa, Tone Loc, Coro, Lil Suzy, Black Sheep, Lisette Meléndez, Pretty Poison and Noel. For more information, read here.
Monte Bezell is shooting the pilot "The Ridge" (written and directed by Saro Varjabedian).
Anthony Ruiz is currently filming Daughter of God (written and directed by Gee Malik Linton), a feature film shooting in New York City starring Keanu Reeves, Mira Sorvino, Ana de Armas and Danny Hoch.
If you are an HOLA member or a Friend of HOLA and want to submit a bochinche item, send us an e-mail. If you live in the New York metropolitan area and want to be an HOLA member, why not join? If you live outside the New York metropolitan area and want to be an HOLA member, you can find out more information on how to do so, by clicking here. If you are not a Friend of HOLA, why not become one?
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November 18, 2014, 12:51 pm
The Hispanic Organization of Latin Actors (HOLA)
proudly presents the 2014 edition of the
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Celebrating the works of HOLA members-writers
The 2014 HOLAfestival will be a
special webseries and short film festival
featuring the works of
Alberto Bonilla
Elaine Del Valle
Michael Díaz (also known as Juan Bago)
Anthony Ruiz and Ed Trucco
Vanessa Verduga.
Monday, December 1, 2014 at 7:30pm
Teatro LATEA
Clemente Soto Vélez Cultural and Educational Center
(same building as HOLA)
107 Suffolk Street, Second floor, NYC
F, J, M, Z to Delancey/Essex • M14A, B39 buses
Suggested Admission: $10, $5 for HOLA members
Concessions will be available at Teatro LATEA
Limited seating. Please RSVP.
Call (212) 253-1015 to reserve or to buy tickets.
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November 18, 2014, 3:25 pm
Bochinche refers to “gossip”. In this sense, we use it to mention HOLA members or Friends of HOLA who are getting acting, performance or similarly artistic gigs and/or recognition in the media. The names of HOLA members and Friends of HOLA are listed below in boldface. To see what other HOLA members are doing currently, click here.
Jay Santiago, shown at right, booked a Health and Insurance Planning commercial to be shot in Toronto, Ontario, Canada after the casting director saw his profile on the HOLA online directory and asked him to submit for an audition.
John Leguizamo is workshopping his latest solo show, tentatively titled Latin History For Dummies, at two places in two different cities in two consecutive days. He will first present it at Friday, November 21, 2014 at the Center for the Arts at the College of Staten Island in Staten Island, New York. The following day, Saturday, November 22, 2014, he will present it at the Robert E. Parilla Performing Arts Center at Montgomery College, located in Rockville, Maryland. For more information, click here or here.
Frank Rodríguez, shown at left, booked roles on episodes of "The Following" (Fox) and "Mozart in the Jungle" (Amazon Prime).
Mateo Gómez is currently filming Daughter of God (written and directed by Gee Malik Linton), a feature film shooting in New York City and starring Keanu Reeves, Mira Sorvino, Ana de Armas and Danny Hoch.
Michael Díaz (also known by his nom de comédieJuan Bago) will be performing with his sketch comedy troupe Room 28 for a two-evening stint in December at the Julia De Burgos Cultural Center, located in Manhattan's El Barrio neighborhood. For more information, and to buy tickets, click here.
Vanessa Verduga, shown at right, was interviewed for the BlogTalkRadio program "Dollhouse Radio's Reel Talk with DaDirector", where she spoke about "Justice Woman", the webseries she created and in which she produces, writes, directs and stars. To listen to the interview, click here (the interview starts at about 32:00 of the broadcast).
Basílica Bliachas and Ana Verónica Muñoz co-star in Yo, la peor de todas. Written and directed by Francisco Lupini Basagoiti, the short film will be screened at a benefit (to take place in November at The Alchemical Theatre Laboratory in Manhattan's Chelsea neighborhood) for Lupini's upcoming short film Tú. Yo. Baño. Sexo. Ahora. That film will co-star Francisco Fuertes and Mauricio Pita. For more information, click here or here.
If you are an HOLA member or a Friend of HOLA and want to submit a bochinche item, send us an e-mail. If you live in the New York metropolitan area and want to be an HOLA member, why not join? If you live outside the New York metropolitan area and want to be an HOLA member, you can find out more information on how to do so, by clicking here. If you are not a Friend of HOLA, why not become one?
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November 19, 2014, 3:55 pm
Bochinche refers to “gossip”. In this sense, we use it to mention HOLA members or Friends of HOLA who are getting acting, performance or similarly artistic gigs and/or recognition in the media. The names of HOLA members and Friends of HOLA are listed below in boldface. To see what other HOLA members are doing currently, click here.
Luis Galli, shown at right, was profiled in the Peruvian newspaper Radio Programas del Perú (RPP Noticias), where he was interviewed about his life and career, as well as his latest role in the Rocío Lladó feature film Teresa, la amante del libertador (which also stars HOLA members Ana María Estrada and Nathalie Tolentino). To read the article (which is in Spanish), click here.
Luis Carlos de La Lombana booked a role in the Columbia University thesis film Dicky (directed by Matthew Y. Balzer and produced by Chris László) and filmed a television commercial for Independence Blue Cross. For more information on all things de la Lombana, click here.Mónica Delgado booked a voiceover demo for Liberty Mutual.
Gloria Zelaya, shown at left, booked a national commercial for Western Union based on an HOLA referral.
Manny Alfaro, A.B. Lugo and Emilio Delgado booked principal roles in an internet short film for AT&T.
Michael Díaz (also known by his nom de comédieJuan Bago) stars in a Cheerios-branded commercial from the online network The Flama. To see the commercial, click on the video below.
If you are an HOLA member or a Friend of HOLA and want to submit a bochinche item, send us an e-mail. If you live in the New York metropolitan area and want to be an HOLA member, why not join? If you live outside the New York metropolitan area and want to be an HOLA member, you can find out more information on how to do so, by clicking here. If you are not a Friend of HOLA, why not become one?
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November 21, 2014, 2:43 pm
Bochinche refers to “gossip”. In this sense, we use it to mention HOLA members or Friends of HOLA who are getting acting, performance or similarly artistic gigs and/or recognition in the media. The names of HOLA members and Friends of HOLA are listed below in boldface. To see what other HOLA members are doing currently, click here.
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Jason Torres, shown at right, has been quite busy as of late. The Henry B. Roa film The Hardest Love (in which he stars with fellow HOLA members Francisco Ramos and Paola Tonini), is hitting the film festival circuit, where it most recently won the Audience Award at the International Puerto Rican Heritage Festival (IPRHFF) in New York City. In addition, he starred in the short films Psychosis (written and directed by Arnold Pitre), 5 Días (written by Matthew Preston and directed by Nicholas Ortiz), and Are You Ready? (written and directed by Chris Johnson); all three are currently in post-production and will soon hit the film festival circuit. On stage, he most recently acted in The Cruising Monologues, which was written and directed by José Alexy Batista and toured New York City metropolitan area (including Jersey City, New Jersey) between August and October.
Edvin Ortega starred in the horror film short 29 Alexander (written by Brian Meluso and directed by Meluso and Mike Chuney), which will make the film festival rounds. For more information, click here and here.
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Luis Galli, shown at left, was profiled in the Peruvian film blog Noticine, where he was interviewed about his life and career, as well as his latest role in the Rocío Lladó feature film Teresa, la amante del libertador (which also stars HOLA members Ana María Estrada and Nathalie Tolentino). The film recently premiered in Peru. To read the blog (which is in Spanish), click here.
José Yenque starred in the film short The Hard Way (written by Jeff and Mark Jones and directed by David Miller), which just finished filming in Chicago, Illinois.
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Caridad de la Luz (also known by her nom de poésie et de musique La Bruja) received a Citation of Merit from Bronx Borough President Rubén Díaz, Jr. for her artistic achievements. It was presented to her at Don Coquí in the Bronduring Puerto Rican Heritage Month festivities in the Bronx. [Pictured at right (from left to right): Caridad de la Luz (La Bruja); Rubén Díaz, Jr.; de la Luz's grandmother; and de la Luz's mother.]
Yesica Levi and Mauricio Pita will be among the actors performing in the Third Annual One-Minute Play Festival of Latino Voices. Presented by The One-Minute Play Festival (#1MPF) and INTAR, it will feature over 20 playwrights (including 2014 HOLA Award recipient José Rivera, Caridad Svich, Kristoffer Díaz, Oliver Mayer, and Edwin Sánchez) and be directed by Dominic Antonio D'Andrea, Rebecca Martínez, Cándido Tirado, Alfredo Narciso and Bobby Moreno. The festival will take place in November at INTAR's namesake theater located in the theater district of Manhattan's Hell's Kitchen neighborhood. For more information, click here.
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Frank Rodríguez, shown at right, will soon be seen in a guest-starring appearance as United States Attorney James Sánchez in the upcoming NBC television series "Odyssey", which is scheduled to air in 2015 as a midseason replacement.
Vanessa Verduga's award-winning webseries "Justice Woman" (in which she produces, writes, directs, and stars) is now an official selection of the 2015 Los Angeles Webseries Festival (LA WebFest), scheduled to take place in April 2015 at the Hilton Los Angeles/Universal City Hotel, in Universal City, California. For more information, click here.
If you are an HOLA member or a Friend of HOLA and you want to submit a bochinche item, send us an e-mail. If you live in the New York metropolitan area and want to be an HOLA member, why not join? If you live outside the New York metropolitan area and want to be an HOLA member, you can find out more information on how to do so, by clicking here. If you are not a Friend of HOLA, why not become one?
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November 24, 2014, 10:57 am
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In this edition, Tío Louie interviews filmmaker Paola Mendoza. The interview took place at the August edition of the Prime Latino Media Salón (presented by Tío Louie, HOLA and United Latino Professionals-New York) on Wednesday, August 20, 2014 at Meridian 23 Bar and Lounge in Manhattan's Chelsea neighborhood.
Paola Mendoza has directed both short and feature length films– Entre nos, Half of Her, Autumn's Eyes and La Toma– that have been embraced by film festivals around the world: Toronto International Film Festival, Berlinale, Tribeca Film Festival, Full Frame, South by Southwest. She has starred in many critically acclaimed films, Sangre de mi sangre (Jury Award, Sundance Film Festival), Entre nos (Honorable Mention, Tribeca Film Festival), and On The Outs (Toronto FIlm Festival). She has recently finished writing her first novel, entitled The Ones Who Don't Stay, which was published by Penguin Books in the summer of 2013.
Tío Louie Reporta
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On the heels of President Obama’s Executive Order on immigration reform we are drawn to highlight and celebrate the work of a lady who graced a
PRIME LATINO MEDIASalón focusing on
Dreamers and feature her compelling short and very persuasive public service announcement,
Broken Tail Lights, starring Cuban-American actress Jamie-Lynn Sigler (Meadow Soprano on "The Sopranos") playing the role of a young undocumented immigrant mother. The plight of
Dreamers begs the question: how can a child brought to the USA without papers who grows up loving this country, like any counterpart born here, risk being deported to a land they know not all because of a lack in legal immigration U.S. status? Meet Colombian-born Paola Mendoza who tackles myriad social issues and confronts them head on using the power of media to get her messages across for social enlightenment and change.
Broken Tail Light
Written & Directed by Paola Mendoza
Starring Jamie-Lynn Sigler, Heaven King and Andrés Munar
And while some people give their two cents (their opinions) on things, I asked for ten cents ("Dime tus $0.10"), adjusted for inflation, after all.
Paola Mendoza
You have worn various hats in your career over the last decade: actor, director, screenwriter. What are you most and foremost? I’m a director. My personality leans to being a director.
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| Paola Mendoza. |
In your successful Spanish-language feature film, Entre nos(Between Us) you were the co-director, co-writer and lead actor. How was it wearing several hats and would you ever do that again? I would never do it again, because it’s hard work. It’s painful and stressful. You are being schizophrenic. Because of juggling the two, the acting side was not enjoyable. Directing is already stressful onto its own, than imagine adding acting to it. I would never do it again nor recommend anyone do it. It was a once in a lifetime experience. I’m glad I did it – but [it's] never to be done again.
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Paola Mendoza in Entre nos
(Between Us). |
Entre nos(Between Us) was an autobiographical tale. How difficult was taking that on or was it therapeutic? As an artist, I dealt with my past all the time. It first was a novel inspired by my family’s story. I don’t necessarily have difficulty doing autobiographical works. I rather like that it gives me a time and a place to grapple with my own personal issues and make them universal. I didn’t start it off consciously as a form of therapy, but over the years it has become that. There’s a piece of that because I’m constantly asking questions about my family, my history and my past – not just scratching the surface. My family’s history, my mom’s and mine are so full of amazing stories. Artists are constantly digging deeper for that truth. We only find that truth when we continue to ask questions. Since I was a little girl I have been attracted to this. Now as an artist I can use this and I am sure I will again.
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Share with us how you’re making a difference in the filmmaking community, especially with women, in a special group that you are involved with entitled, Film Fatales? It’s a group started by Leah Meyerhoff. It’s about women directors who get together once a month for a dinner party when we get together and talk about making movies. It’s about what it means to be a director – a female director. The great thing that has happened with the group is that it has gone beyond just being a social group and doing practical things in helping one another. I organize master classes once a quarter and someone from the group teaches the class to the rest of the women. A class that we had was on directing actors and it was given by Deborah Kampmeier who directed Hounddog starring Dakota Fanning and the film Virgin, which has been nominated for two Independent Spirit Awards. She gave a three-hour class with 20 women. We’ve had other classes such as How to do a Kickstarter Campaign and another one on Social Media and Marketing Your Film. They’re incredible classes where we’re teaching each other something vital by passing on tangible skills from the knowledge the group has. We have also created a mixer for women to meet people from the company, Gamechanger Films – a film fund for women directors and that is being organized by Film Fatales. So this social group has become much more than that in actuality becoming something helping women make their movies and become better artists.
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Paola Mendoza and Louis
Perego Moreno (Tío Louie). |
I asked you about juggling life as a filmmaker/TV Producer and a 17-month-old son and you responded, “No one normally asks that of men who juggle a business life and family.” You’re right. But I’m curious what concerted decisions you made in doing both. Gerry Laybourne who launched Nickelodeon as an $8 billion empire once shared with women at a breakfast mentoring meeting that if working makes a woman happy, it makes her a better mom. How are you juggling? It’s a work-in-progress. He’s only 17 months old. I’m not at a hard level yet. I made a very conscious decision early after having the baby that I wasn’t going to feel guilty about working or being an artist. I agree, I am a better mother when I am able to be an artist. If I am not able to do the work that I love, I’m not going to be a good mom. When I go and I work, when I leave the country – which I have left the baby numerous times for film work, I know that A. he’s in great hands with his father, and B. I have to do this in order to be a good mom. At this point in my life, there’s no gray in that space. When I’m there, I’m present for my son. When I’m present with work, I’m present with work. We don’t ask fathers how they balance being a father and a being a businessman or having their career, it’s only asked of moms. I don’t necessarily have a magic answer. I don’t think that there’s one. I’m lucky to have a partner who’s 100% involved in his son’s life. I’m also lucky to have a career that allows my work to be flexible. Sometimes I travel and sometimes I’m home for three months, which is fantastic.
I hear you’re working on a major initiative in Colombia. Is it comprised of several different projects or under one umbrella? It’s one film called A Paso de Mangles (Steps from the Mangroves) and it has a large educational component to it once the film is done. So then we’ll do a whole educational outreach component for women that are survivors of sexual violence in the context of the armed conflict in Colombia. So I’ve been working on the film with Gloria LaMorte for the past two years. She and I have written it together and I am directing it.
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Tell me about your new HBO project in development? I am producing an HBO pilot. It’s a documentary television series that is yet untitled. It’s really exciting. This is the first time I am producing someone else’s work. I normally produce my own work, not that I want to, but because I have to. This is the first time I am producing another director’s work. The reason being is because I’m really excited about the subject matter. It’s about three generations of one Latino family in Washington Heights. It’s a Dominican family. We have the "abuela", the parents are door-to-door salesmen, and the younger generation, who are 30-year-old men who have started their own business – they’re entrepreneurs, who have a technology company that they’re getting off the ground. The documentary series is a celebration of what it means to have this American dream. What it means to have three generations of one Latino family and how culture changes within that family – how language changes within those three generations. It’s a look at a Dominican family where one of the sons went to one of the best business schools in the country. The guy is one of the most intelligent, articulate, risk-takers you can even ever imagine. This is the antithesis to stereotypes – and this is why I am so excited if this show gets picked up that this will be the first show out there of a Latino family in this light – this would be a huge project. It would be on HBO, not HBO Latino. We’re doing Spanish, Spanglish, and we’re doing English. So it’s really this groundbreaking show.
Your $0.10 of advice for directors that they don’t ask that they should know? As directors, a lot of people are focused on the artistic side, rather than what it takes to be a leader. The quality of leadership is essential so that a crew believes in you – whether it is five or 500 people. The type of leader I strive to be is a progressive and compassionate leader, which does not entail running the process as a dictatorship. I firmly believe in forgingcollaborative relationships. And what I find is that it makes you better artistically by collaborating with others.
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Louis E. Perego Moreno (Tío Louie)
An interactive content producer and educator who for the past 33 years has owned Skyline Features, a bilingual (English- and Spanish-language) multimedia and educational production company developing documentaries, television programming and advertising commercials featuring Latinos, Blacks, Women, Urban Youth and LGBT. Produced 70 documentary shorts with 1,500 Latino and Black Youth. Producer/Director/Writer of documentary feature, Latina Confessions (2010) and airing on PBS nationally was co-producer on American Dreams Deferred (2012-2014). Executive Producer of PRIME LATINO MEDIA SALÓN, metro-New York's only monthly gathering of Latino multimedia-makers and actors in which over 60 narrative & documentary filmmakers, programmers, casting agents, digital media producers and actors have been interviewed.
For more information about Paola Mendoza, click here. To see photos of the Prime Latino Media Salón event featuring Ms. Mendoza, click here.
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