Plaza to Voice a Character on Nickelodeon’s “The Legend of Korra”

Posted on July 11, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

Aubrey Plaza has landed a legendary role…

The 29-year-old half-Puerto Rican actress has signed on to voice a character on Nickelodeon’s animated action-adventure series The Legend of Korra, according to Entertainment Weekly.

During Book 2’s upcoming episodes, Plaza will play Eska, one of Korra’s Waterbending cousins, and whose twin brother, Desna, will be voiced by Joan of Arcadia‘s Aaron Himelstein.

Plaza, who portrays April Ludgate on NBC’s Parks and Recreation, joins a growing list of guest stars, including Lisa Edelstein, James Remar, John Michael Higgins and Adrian LaTourelle.

Book 2 —technically the second half of season one — picks up six months after Book 1 ended with Korra triumphing over Amon and the Equalists. Now she faces an even greater threat “as the physical and spirit worlds collide.”

Consisting of 14 episodes, Book 2 will debut later this year.

The show’s main cast and executive producers will appear at a Comic-Con panel in San Diego on July 19.

Redband Trailer Released for Plaza’s “The To Do List”

Posted on June 4, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

Prepare to see a different side of Aubrey Plaza in CBS Films’ The To Do List.

The redband trailer has arrived for the 28-year-old half-Puerto Rican actress and Parks and Recreation star’s latest film, complete with raunchy jokes and sight gags.

In the film, Plaza’s character Brandy was her class valedictorian but managed to finish high school with her virginity intact. One raucous graduation party later, she decides to remedy the situation before starting college in the fall.

Watch for Brandy stumbling over her unfamiliarity with certain terms of, er, endearment.

Director Maggie Carey’s 1993-set comedy boasts the tagline, “From straight A’s to her first F.”

The film, which co-stars Bill Hader, Alia Shawkar and Johnny Simmons, opens July 26.

Bichir’s New FX Series “The Bridge” Named to the Most Exciting New Series List

Posted on June 4, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

Demián Bichir’s new FX series hasn’t debuted yet, but it’s already earning awards…

The 49-year-old Mexican actor’s The Bridge has been named to on the Critics’ Choice Television Awards’ The Most Exciting New Series list.

The Bridge, which will debut on Wednesday, July 10, explores the high tensions on the U.S.-Mexico border.

When an American judge known for her anti-immigration views is found dead on the bridge connecting El Paso and Juarez, Sonya Cross (portrayed by Diane Kruger) from the El Paso Police Department must work with her Mexican counterpart from Chihuahua State Police, Marco Ruiz (Bichir), to catch a serial killer operating on both sides of the border.

The Bridge joins the Showtime dramas Ray Donovan and Masters Of Sex, CBS’ summer series Under the Dome, ABC’s drama Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and the NBC comedy The Michael J. Fox Show on the list.

The most exciting new series recipients are voted based on pilots and early episodes, if available.

The ceremony is slated for June 10 at The Beverly Hilton. It will be webcast live at 8:00 pm PT on UStream.

Celebrity presenters include Malin Akerman, Angela Bassett, Miranda Cosgrove, Hugh Dancy, Cat Deeley, Maria Menounos, Elisabeth Moss, Aubrey Plaza, Emmy Rossum, Jimmy Smits, Eric Stonestreet and Sam Trammell.

Disney/Pixar Releases Final “Monsters University” Trailer Featuring Molina & Plaza

Posted on May 31, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

It’s time for a little higher education for Alfred Molina and Aubrey Plaza…

Disney and Pixar have released the final trailer for Monsters University, which features the 60-year-old Spanish actor and the 28-year-old half-Puerto Rican actress as part of incoming class of 2013.

The prequel to Monsters, Inc. focuses on Mike (Billy Crystal) and Sulley (John Goodman) as they study to become “scarers.”

Along with Molina, Plaza, Crystal and Goodman, the voice cast Steve Buscemi, Helen Mirren, Dave Foley, Sean P. Hayes, Charlie Day, Nathan Fillion, John Krasinski and Bonnie Hunt.

Directed by Dan Scanlon, Monsters University opens nationwide on June 21.

Plaza’s “The To-Do List” Opening Three Weeks Earlier

Posted on May 9, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

Aubrey Plaza’s latest film is coming out sooner than originally planned…

CBS Films has upped the domestic release date for the 28-year-old half-Puerto Rican actress’ next movie The To-Do List some three weeks earlier.

Plaza’s comedy, which centers on an awkward overachiever who tries to make up for her sexual underachieving in high school before she heads to college, has been moved up from August 16 to July 26.

Instead of facing off against Universal’s action-comedy sequel Kick-Ass 2, it will now serve as counterprogramming to Fox’s highly anticipated film The Wolverine.

Along with Plaza, writer-director Maggie Carey’s film also stars Johnny Simmons, Bill Hader, Alia Shawkat, Rachel Bilson, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Andy Samberg and Connie Britton.

Plaza to Receive Breakthrough Performer of the Year Award at This Year’s CinemaCon

Posted on April 12, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

Aubrey Plaza is about to get her breakthrough…

The Will Rogers Motion Picture Pioneers Foundation has announced that the 28-year-old half-Puerto Rican actress/comedian and Parks and Recreation star will receive the Breakthrough Performer of the Year award at this year’s CinemaCon.

Plaza, who graces the cover of Complex Magazine’s April/May cover, earned kudos for her starring role in the indie film Safety Not Guaranteed. She’ll next star in The To Do List.

The awards dinner will take place April 15-18 at CinemaCon in Las Vegas.

Others to be honored include: Breakthrough Filmmaker of the Year — Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Cinema Icon Award — Morgan Freeman, Male Star of Tomorrow — Armie Hammer, Female Star of Tomorrow — Hailee Steinfeld, Award of Excellence in Acting — Elizabeth Banks, Comedy Duo of the Year — Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson, Lifetime Achievement Award — Harrison Ford, Male Star of the Year — Chris Pine and Female Star of the Year — Melissa McCarthy.

Plaza: Complex Magazine’s April/May Cover Girl

Posted on March 23, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

There’s no denying Aubrey Plaza is a complex woman… But she’s also a silly (string) girl, too.

The 28-year-old half-Puerto Rican actress/comedian graces the cover of Complex magazine’s April/May issue, complete with colorful silly string and a headline that proclaims her a “Funny Girl.”

Here’s what the Parks and Recreation actress had to say in the magazine:

On wanting to be an actress: “I always knew what I wanted to do. I wanted to be both a comedian and an actor. I got really into Saturday Night Live. I became obsessed with the idea of being on that show. I started doing improv. I always had a goal. It was always me saying, ‘I know what I want to do and I want to do it now!’”

On what she’s learned from Parks and Recreation: “It’s taught me everything. The biggest thing is gaining experience from doing it every day, so getting to work on the show for so many years has been the best thing for me. And it’s nice that the character I play on that show is pretty close to home. It feels like a part of me, something I’ve created. When I do movies or other projects I can say I want to do something different.”

On her character in The To Do List: “Yeah, The To Do List is gonna be fun because I’m not sarcastic, depressed, or weird in it. I’m a type-A, almost obnoxious kind of girl. I wanted to do something where I’m not the weirdo who’s in the back of the classroom for a change. I want to be the girl who’s in the front of the classroom raising her hand.”

The April/May issue of Complex is out on newsstands now.

Isaac’s Original Song for “10 Years” Gets Oscar Buzz

Posted on January 3, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

He’s made an impression on Hollywood with his striking good looks and acting abilities… But Oscar Isaac’s recent project could have music industry executives taking note.

The 32-year-old Guatemalan-born actor recently starred in 10 Years, the Jamie Linden-directed high school reunion ensemble film with Channing Tatum, Rosario Dawson, Jenna Dewan-Tatum, Aubrey Plaza and several others.

Isaac, best known for his roles in The Bourne Legacy, Drive and W.E., plays a famous musician who returns home for his high school reunion and gets into some serious shenanigans with old friends. But it’s his performance of the original song he actually wrote for the film that’s drawing a lot of attention, including some Oscar buzz for Best Original Song.

“Once I got the role, the producers were sending me different possibilities for songs. But I’ve been playing and writing music my whole life, and thought that I would love to take on the challenge of creating a song that we can use for the movie,” says Isaac. “So I wrote a song called ‘Never Had,’ and he loved it, and I ended up performing the song live in the movie.”

10 Years was released on DVD last month.

Meanwhile, Isaac will soon appear on the big screen in the Coen Brothers-directed ‘60s folk music film Inside Llewyn Davis.

Parrilla to Receive NHMC Impact Award

Posted on December 26, 2012 by Tom Castaneda

She may portray the Evil Queen on ABC’s Once Upon a Time, but Lana Parrilla is still a force to be reckoned with… And now she’s being recognized for her impact…

The 35-year-old half Puerto Rican actress will be one of this year’s honorees at the 16th annual Impact Awards ceremony on February 22, 2013 at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel.

Sponsored by the National Hispanic Media Coalition (NHMC), the Impact Awards recognize outstanding contributions to the positive portrayal of Latinos in media.

Along with recognizing Parrilla, the NHMC will honor Suits’ Gina Torres and Homeland’s Morena Baccarin at the ceremony on February 22, 2013 at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel.

Last year’s honorees included the Dog Whisper Cesar Millan, A Beautiful Life’s Chris Weitz, Private Practice’s Benjamin Bratt, Parks and Recreation’s Aubrey Plaza, Napoleon Dynamite’s Efren Ramirez, and Fast & Furious’ Michelle Rodriguez.

The NHMC is a non-partisan, non-profit media advocacy and civil rights organization that has been the leader in the mission to educate and influence media corporations on the importance of including U.S. Latinos at all levels of employment; professional development programs; and challenges media that carelessly exploit negative Latino stereotypes.

Alba & Fellow Stars Appear in PSA Demanding an End to Gun Violence

Posted on December 26, 2012 by Tom Castaneda

Jessica Alba is demanding a plan to bring an end to gun violence in this country…

The 31-year-old half-Mexican American actress appears in a public service announcement aimed at encouraging Americans to “Demand a Plan to End Gun Violence.”

Released on the same day as the National Rifle Association conference and a week after the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, which claimed the lives of 20 children and six educators, the video gone viral on YouTube.

Along with Alba, the nearly minute and a half long video by the Mayors Against Illegal Guns Coalition features of number of Hollywood celebrities, including Latina luminaries Cameron Diaz, Selena Gomez and Aubrey Plaza, as a call on Americans to demand the government make changes to end gun violence.

The video is sponsored by Demand a Plan, which is urging President Obama and Congress to pass “common sense legislation.”

Since its release, the clip has garnered more than four million views and over 31,000 likes.

“Demand A Plan to End Gun Violence” is just the latest video published by the organization. Its YouTube profile also features videos of shooting survivors and family members of victims from Virginia Tech, Tucson, Columbine and the Oak Creek temple shooting.

Demand a Plan is urging government to make a change in gun control that can “prevent future tragedies,” its website states. This legislation would require background checks for guns sold, ban assault weapons and high-capacity magazines and make gun trafficking a federal crime.

“It’s time. Join more than 800 mayors and 800,000 grassroots supporters to demand that President Obama and Congress step forward with a plan to end gun violence,” its website states. It also encourages visitors to sign a petition to send to Washington.

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