Mariah Carey’s Music to Be Featured as Part of Apple Fitness+’s ‘Artist Spotlight’ Workout Series

Posted on March 6, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Ready to get fit with Mariah Carey?

Apple Fitness+ has added the music of the 52-year-old half-Venezuelan Grammy-winning singer to its newly added workouts.

In honor of Women’s History Month, Carey, Miley Cyrus and Shania Twain will be highlighted as part of the program’s Artist Spotlight series, which dedicates an entire set of workouts to a single artist and their discography.

Starting Monday, March 6, Fitness+ users can pedal to the beat of the “Flowers” singer’s music in a cycling workout, return to heart center when it’s a wrap on the Carey-inspired yoga workout and feel like a powerful woman post-strength workout featuring Twain’s tunes.

New workouts will roll out every Monday throughout the month of March.

The Lambily will need to stretch as far and wide as Mimi’s vocal range — which spans across five octaves and goes all the way up to those whistle tones we all try reaching when belting out her 1991 Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 smash “Emotions” — ahead of her cycling, dance, HIIT and yoga workouts.

“You’ve got to make working out fun, do what you love, so it feels like burning energy instead of a job! I hear lots of people like listening to my music in the gym and it makes me so happy – it means it’s energetic and inspirational,” Twain said in a press statement. “That’s why I’m so excited for this Artist Spotlight series on Fitness+. So Giddy Up! And do what makes you happy!”

Other musicians who’ve had sets of Apple Fitness+ workouts dedicated to them include Beyoncé, Taylor Swift, BTS, Billie Eilish, Jennifer Lopez, Pharrell Williams, Ed Sheeran, The Weeknd, ABBA, Prince, Shakira, The Beatles, Nicki Minaj and many more.

According to the Apple Fitness+ website, anyone who purchases a new iPhone, Apple Watch, iPad or Apple TV (and hasn’t previously subscribed to Apple Fitness+) will have free access to Apple Fitness+ for three months before paying $9.99 monthly, or $79.99 annually. New subscribers who already have the aforementioned Apple products can get free access to Apple Fitness+ for one month. Apple Fitness+ can be shared with up to five family members.

Pedro Correa Starring in Coming-of-Age Film “Summer of Violence”

Posted on December 23, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Pedro Correa has summer plans…

The Latino actor will star in Summer of Violence, the first feature written and directed by actress Nicki Micheaux, which has wrapped production.

Correa is starring opposite Kasey Inez, Jahking Guillory and Damon Gupton in the film.

Summer of Violence is a coming-of-age film, emerging from Micheaux’s time with the Sundance Writing Collab, which was shot in Colorado.

The film from Three60 Films follows a young college grad, Naomi (Inez), who turns down law school to pursue poetry, despite her father’s objections. She subsequently struggles to survive in 1993 Denver, after being cut off by her father during a period of violent crime in the city known as the Summer of Violence. Guillory plays Naomi’s artist friend, Frank, with Correa as her boyfriend Richie, and Gupton as her father, Thomas.

Micheaux is producing the pic with her production company partner, Johnny Wimbrey, as well as Efuru Flowers and Sean Riggs.

Correa’s credits include Peter Farrelly’s recent Apple film The Greatest Beer Run Ever with Zac Efron and Russell Crowe and Hulu’s Little Fires Everywhere, among other projects.

Selena Gomez Releases Film Version of Her Documentary’s Title Track “My Mind & Me”

Posted on December 1, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Selena Gomez is offering a look inside her mind…

The 30-year-old Mexican American singer, actress and film producer has shared a film version of her documentary’s accompanying title track My Mind & Me, which features several intimate scenes from the film.

The video kicks off with Gomez sitting down at a grand piano, softly playing the keys to the song. Snaps of her recording the track, in addition to snippets of her traveling, performing live in concert and interacting with friends, fans and family, go in quick succession until the video’s end.

“My mind and me/ We don’t get along sometimes/ And it gets hard to breathe/ But I wouldn’t change my life/ And all of the crashin’ and burnin’ and breakin’, I know now/ If somebody sees me like this, then they won’t feel alone now/ My mind and me,” Gomez sings on the chorus of the introspective track.

During the red-carpet premiere of the documentary, Gomez revealed that she initially hesitated to release the project on more than one occasion.

“I was going to release this documentary multiple times and it never really felt right,” the star said. “Then the pandemic hit and a lot of people started having conversations around mental health, the isolation, people feeling depressed or anxious — never feeling those feelings before but have now. I just hope that this will carry on to something like a conversation that people will use to help later on.”

The Apple TV+ documentary My Mind & Me is currently available on the streamer.

Bad Bunny Becomes First Latino Artist Named Apple Music’s Artist of the Year

Posted on November 10, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Bad Bunny is the apple of Apple’s eye…

Apple Music has named the 28-year-old Puerto Rican superstar its 2022 Artist of the Year.

It’s the first time since the Apple Music Awards launched in 2019 that a Latin artist has been recognized as AOTY, and the first time only one artist is named for the award.

Bad Bunny — whose Un Verano Sin Ti Album is also Apple Music’s most streamed album this year and the biggest Latin album of all time — is acknowledged for his excellence and influence on global culture in 2022. He now joins previous AOTY honorees including Billie Eilish, Lil Baby, Megan Thee Stallion, Taylor Swift and The Weeknd.

“We’re thrilled to celebrate the achievements of Bad Bunny, whose influence on every corner of culture could not be ignored in 2022,” said Oliver Schusser, Apple’s vice president of Apple Music and Beats, in a statement. “Watching Bad Bunny ascend from an Apple Music Up Next artist in 2018 to our Artist of the Year this year has been nothing short of extraordinary. We congratulate him on his record-breaking year and for continuing to bring Latin music to a massive global audience.”

In addition to becoming Apple Music’s biggest Latin artist of all time by streams worldwide, Bad Bunny’s “Moscow Mule” holds the record for the biggest Latin song of all time by first-day streams worldwide.

He broke the record for most simultaneous entries by a single Latin artist with 22 songs on the Daily Top 100; reached No. 1 on the Daily Top 100 in 34 countries worldwide, more than any other Latin artist; and holds the No. 1, No. 2 and No. 3 Latin albums by first-day streams, just to name a few milestones.

“When I started, I didn’t have a global fan base,” he told Apple Music in an exclusive film. “I’m grateful for everything I’ve accomplished and everything I’ve experienced. The Latin music movement has grown so much. I would never take full credit or say, ‘It’s because of me.’ No, it’s every one of us. A whole generation. Our energy and presence are always felt.”

In celebration, the “Me Porto Bonito” singer curated a “La Fórmula” playlist with tracks from Myke Towers and Rauw Alejandro, among others, and fans can tune in to Apple Music 1, where it’s Bad Bunny Day with exclusive programming, specials, and more.

Anna Garcia to Make Feature Debut in Apple’s 1960s Space Race Film “Project Artemis”

Posted on November 9, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Anna Garcia has found a new Project…

The Latina actress will make her feature film debut with a sizable role alongside Scarlett Johansson and Channing Tatum in Project Artemis, the anticipated 1960s space race film Greg Berlanti is directing for Apple.

While details about her role are being under wraps, her audition was reportedly impressive enough that it helped her secure one of the most coveted jobs in Hollywood, even in competition with a number of offer-only actresses.

Apple acquired Project Artemis for upwards of $100M when the hot package hit the market this past spring, as we told you first.

Specifics regarding the plot of the Apple Original haven’t yet been revealed. But Garcia joins an ensemble that also includes the previously announced Jim Rash and Ray Romano.

Johansson is producing alongside Jonathan Lia and Keenan Flynn of These Pictures, which commissioned and developed the script by Rose Gilroy, as well as Sarah Schechter.

Garcia is a relative newcomer who most recently wrapped a role on Showtime’s Party Down reboot, having recently appeared on HBO Max’s Emmy-winning series Hacks and FX’s long-running comedy, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia. She’s a graduate of the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre who still performs regularly at the well-known comedy venue, and also proved a standout as part of the CBS Comedy Showcase for 2022.

Garcia hosts her own live variety show, Scrambled Eggs, at the Elysian Theater and has also appeared on the viral improv show Make Some Noise for College Humor’s subscription media service, Dropout.

Salvador Chacón to Appear on Season 4 of Apple’s Series “For All Mankind”

Posted on October 28, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Salvador Chacón’s latest project is out of this world.

The 38-year-old Mexican-American actor, producer and director has joined the cast of Apple’s For All Mankind for Season 4 in a recurring role.

Chacon will portray Gerardo, one of Miles’ (Toby Kebbell) bunkmates on Mars.

For All Mankind explores what would have happened if the global space race had never ended. The series presents an aspirational world where NASA astronauts, engineers, and their families find themselves in the center of extraordinary events seen through the prism of an alternate history timeline — a world in which the USSR beats the US to the moon.

Season 3 of the alternate reality series took viewers to a new decade, moving into the early ’90s with a high-octane race to a new planetary frontier: Mars. The Red Planet became the new front in the Space Race not only for the US and the Soviet Union but also an unexpected new entrant with a lot to prove and even more at stake. The characters found themselves going head-to-head as their ambitions for Mars come into conflict and their loyalties tested, creating a pressure cooker that built to a climactic conclusion.

Daniel Stern, Tyler Rushing, Maria Mashkova and Dimiter Marinov were previously announced Season 4 cast.

Ronald D. Moore created the series along with series showrunners Ben Nedivi and Matt Wolpert.

Sony Pictures Television is the studio behind the series.

Chacón is best known for his work in FX’s Mayans M.C. in the role of Pablo, Adelita’s (Carla Baratta) right-hand man in the show’s first three seasons.

His additional television credits include appearances on ABC’s Black-ish and Showtime’s The Chi.

Pablo Larraín to Direct Angelina Jolie in Biopic About Opera Legend Maria Callas

Posted on October 21, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Pablo Larraín has lined up his next biopic…

The 46-year-old Chilean filmmaker will direct Maria, a biopic about the life of American-born Greek soprano Maria Callas as his next feature, and he’s locked in Academy Award-winner Angelina Jolie in the starring role.

Based on true accounts, the film will tell the tumultuous, beautiful and tragic story of the world’s greatest opera singer, relived and reimagined during her final days in 1970s Paris.

The film was written by Oscar-nominee Steven Knight, who wrote Larraín’s Princess Diana biopic Spencer. The filmmaker’s brother and creative partner Juan de Dios Larraín will produce for Fabula Pictures, alongside Lorenzo Mieli for The Apartment Pictures, a Fremantle Company, and Jonas Dornbach for Komlizen Film.

“Having the chance to combine my two most deep and personal passions, cinema and opera, has been a long-awaited dream,” said Larraín. “To do this with Angelina, a supremely brave and curious artist, is a fascinating opportunity. A true gift.”

“I take very seriously the responsibility to Maria’s life and legacy. I will give all I can to meet the challenge,” added Jolie. “Pablo Larraín is a director I have long admired. To be allowed the chance to tell more of Maria’s story with him, and with a script by Steven Knight, is a dream.”

Larraín is best known for features including Spencer, starring Kristen Stewart as Princess Diana, and Jackie, which had Natalie Portman portraying Jackie Kennedy.

He also directed and executive produced the Apple series Liseys’ Story, based on the Stephen King novel. Other notable directorial credits include Ema, Neruda, The Club and No.

Apple Releases Trailer for Selena Gomez’s New Documentary “Selena Gomez: My Mind & Me”

Posted on October 10, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Selena Gomez is opening up about her mental health struggles…

The 30-year-old Mexican American actress/singer and Only Murders in the Building star addresses her struggles in the upcoming Apple Original Films documentary Selena Gomez: My Mind & Me.

Apple released the first trailer for the documentary.

“How do I learn how to breathe my own breath again?” Gomez asks during the clip from the film, which chronicles the actor’s years-long journey through such health issues as lupus and bipolar disorder.

Directed and produced by Alek Keshishian, the trailer was released on World Mental Health Day, in support of global mental health education and awareness.

Apple describes the doc like his: “After years in the limelight, Selena Gomez achieves unimaginable stardom. But just as she reaches a new peak, an unexpected turn pulls her into darkness. This uniquely raw and intimate documentary spans her six-year journey into a new light.”

Gomez has sold more than 210 million singles worldwide and amassed over 45 billion global streams of her music.

This year, she received a Grammy nomination for her first all-Spanish EP and an Emmy nomination as a producer for Only Murders in the Building, in which she stars opposite Steve Martin and Martin Short.

This new documentary marks the second project for Apple with producers Lighthouse Management + Media and Interscope Films following their collaboration on the Emmy Award-nominated documentary Billie Eilish: The World’s a Little Blurry.

Apple to Release Season Three of “Echo,” Featuring Juan Pablo Raba, in November

Posted on October 2, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

There are more echoes in Juan Pablo Raba’s future…

Apple has announced the premiere date of Echo 3, the 10-episode action-thriller from Mark Boal that features the 45-year-old Colombian film, television and telenovela actor among the cast.

Starring Luke Evans and Michiel Huisman alongside Jessica Ann Collins, the series will premiere with the first three episodes of season three on Wednesday, November 23, followed by one new episode weekly every Friday through January 13, 2023.

The action series, filmed in Colombia with English and Spanish dialogue, follows Amber Chesborough (Collins), a young scientist who is the emotional heart of a small American family. When she goes missing along the Colombia-Venezuela border, her brother, Bambi (Evans), and her husband, Prince (Huisman) – two men with deep military experience and complicated pasts – struggle to find her against the backdrop of a secret war.

In addition to Raba, additional cast includes Martina Gusman as Violetta, a prominent political columnist, James Udom, Maria Del Rosario, Alejandro Furth and special guest star Bradley Whitford.

The show’s narrative is based on the series When Heroes Fly, created by Omri Givon, and inspired by the novel by Amir Gutfreund.

Echo 3 is produced for Apple TV+ by Keshet Studios, the US production arm of Keshet International. Boal serves as showrunner and director.

Pablo Trapero directed four episodes, including the pilot, and serves as an executive producer.

Dan Hernandez to Co-Pen Film Featuring Disney’s Iconic Dragon Figment

Posted on September 28, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

It’s no figment of Dan Hernandez’s imagination…

The 38-year-old Latino film and television writer and producer will co-write Disney’s upcoming film featuring its iconic small purple dragon Figment alongside Benji Samit.

Figment serves as the mascot of Epcot’s Imagination Pavilion in Orlando.

The feature hails from Seth Rogen’s Point Grey.

Figment was created by Walt Disney Imagineers Tony Baxter and Steve Kirk, among other collaborators, in 1983, the same year it made its debut in the Epcot ride Journey Into Imagination. Figment is the embodiment of the imagining process— a figment of your imagination.

Although one of Disney’s more obscure characters, Figment has a devoted fanbase that has ensured his role at the park is never diminished. Various attempts to remove the ride or decrease his presence have been met with loud protests.

Today, he is the star of the latest version of the ride Journey Into Imagination with Figment.

The feature will not be Figment’s first time on the big screen, however.

He made cameo appearances in 2015’s Inside Out and 2019’s Toy Story 4.

The writing team of Hernandez and Samit penned 2019’s Pokémon Detective Pikachu and 2021’s The Addams Family 2 and developed the upcoming Hulu animated series Koala Man, premiering in 2023.

Other notable credits include Apple’s Central Park, The Tick for Amazon and the One Day at a Time reboot.

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