Full-Length Trailer Released for Escarpeta’s Tornado Thriller “Into the Storm”

Posted on June 29, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Arlen Escarpeta is ready to superstorm his way into a movie theater near you…

Warner Bros. and New Line Cinema have released a full-length trailer for their tornado thriller Into the Storm, starring the 33-year-old Belizean actor.

The film centers on a group of high school students who document the events and aftermath of a devastating tornado in their small town.

Into the Storm is being heralded as one of the more underrated spectaculars on this summer’s release schedule. Clips were shown at Wondercon, and the film, helmed by Avatar VFX supervisor Steven Quale, literally puts the audience in the middle of the film’s small town, Silverton, that’s being beaten up by a series of twisters.

Richard Armitage portrays a single father trying to shield his teenage son from this bad weather day. Matt Walsh plays an obsessed stormchaser who, along with his meteorologist associate (portrayed by Sarah Wayne Callies), cuts through the puddles like butter in their armored Titus vehicle as seen in the trailer.

Escarpeta portrays Daryl in the film, which lands in theaters on August 8.

Martínez-Lázaro’s “Spanish Affair” Becomes the Top-Grossing Spanish Title of All Time

Posted on April 30, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

It’s official… Emilio Martínez-Lázaro is responsible for Spain’s all-time highest-grossing film.

The Spanish director’shit film 8 apellidos vascos (Spanish Affair) has broken Spanish box-office records, becoming the top-grossing Spanish title of all time, outranking The Impossible, with more than $61.5 million in sales and sitting behind only Avatar as the second-best performer in Spain.

Written by Diego San Jose and Borja Cobeaga, the film turns on Rafa, who’s never once thought of leaving his beloved Seville in Spain’s deep south until he meets Amaia, from a village in the Basque Country, in Spain’s deep North. Rafa is willing to perform the impossible to conquer her: leave Seville or pretend to be Basque.

The romantic comedy, starring Karra Elejalde, Clara Lago and Alberto López, has entrenched itself at the No. 1 spot in the weekly box-office rankings for the full seven weeks it’s been in theaters, with more than 7.5 million tickets sold. It’s the only Spanish title ever to stay in the top slot for seven consecutive weeks.

In its seventh weekend, the film produced by Telecinco Cinema and LaZona Films, earned €3.4 million, or €9,700 per screen, accounting for some 44 percent of overall box-office revenue.

The film has led Spain to post its best domestic films’ market share ever, with homegrown fare cornering 27 percent of ticket sales as of April 20, according to Rentrak Spain.

Saldaña Named the New International Face of L’Oréal Paris

Posted on March 30, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Zoë Saldaña is the new face of beauty worldwide…

The 35-year-old half-Dominican/half-Puerto Rican American actress and Star Trek star has signed on as the new international spokesperson of L’Oréal Paris, according to E! News.

“Growing up, I was taught to believe that I am capable to do anything a man can do,” says the Colombiana actress. “This family philosophy has shaped who I am today, and is a conviction that will always accompany me through life.”

“As a L’Oréal Paris spokesperson, being able to say, ‘We’re worth it,’ means so much to me,” she continued. “I want to share that value with women so they can embrace it and execute life with confidence. I am thrilled to join this beauty journey with such an inspirational brand.”

Saldana’s campaign will include print and television ads.

“Zoe astonishes with her audacious style and feline beauty,” says Cyril Chapuy, L’Oréal Paris’ brand global president. “Attached to her values, unafraid to speak her mind, and confident in her own skin, she embodies infallible force and asserted femininity.”

The beauty giant’s roster of celeb spokespersons also includes Blake Lively, Ryan Reynolds, Julianne Moore, Freida Pinto, Eva Longoria and Jane Fonda.

Saldana’s next projects include a television mini-series remake of Rosemary’s Baby, a biopic about singer Nina Simone and the film adaptation of the comic book Guardians of the Galaxy.

In addition, she’s committed to reprise her role in the next three Avatar films.

Alonso to Star in NBC’s Drama Pilot “The Mysteries of Laura”

Posted on February 23, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

It’s a mysterious time for Laz Alonso…

The 39-year-old Afro-Cuban American actor has signed on to co-star opposite Debra Messing in NBC’s drama pilot The Mysteries of Laura.

Directed by McG, from a script written by Jeff Rake, the project is based on the popular Spanish series Los misterios de Laura.

The telelvision project centers on the life and relationships of Laura Diamond (Messing), a female homicide detective who can handle murderous criminals — but not her hell-raising twin children.

Alonso will portray Billy, Laura’s partner in crime.

Alonso’s casting stems from a talent holding deal the network inked with him following his stint on last season’s short-lived drama Deception.

The Mysteries of Laura is being produced by Warner Bros. Television, Greg Berlanti’s Berlanti Productions and Aaron Kaplan’s Kapital Entertainment.

Alonso’s previous credits include Breakout Kings and Avatar.

Saldaña to Star in the Next Three “Avatar” Films

Posted on January 15, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Zoë Saldaña will be a little blue for years to come…

The 33-year-old half-Dominican/half-Puerto Rican American actress and her Avatar co-star Sam Worthington have finalized deals to reprise their characters for the next three installments of the epic sci-fi action film directed, written, co-produced, and co-edited by James Cameron.

The trio of films are being made back-to-back-to-back by Cameron, who last August enlisted Josh Friedman, duo Rick Jaffa and Amanda Silver, and Shane Salerno to help him work on the screenplays.

The first actor who signed on for all three new movies was Stephen Lang, who played mad Marine Colonel Quaritch in the 2009 film.

His character dies in the first film, but Cameron will be resurrecting him somehow.

Other plot details are being kept under wraps on Pandora, although The Hollywood Reporter has learned that Jake Sully and Neytiri, the characters played by Worthington and Saldana, respectively, have kids.

Said Cameron: “Jake Sully is a rare combination of passion, strength, street smarts and soul, which requires a lot from an actor. Sam brought to the role a combination of sensitivity, vulnerability and strength. Zoe captured every aspect of the character I envisioned, bringing to Neytiri a mix of delicacy, fierceness and incredible physicality. I am beyond pleased they’ll be returning with us to Pandora.”

Cameron and Jon Landau will produce through their Lightstorm Entertainment banner.

The first sequel is scheduled to hit theaters in December 2016, with the second to follow in December 2017 and the third a year later.

Saldaña to Star in NBC’s “Rosemary’s Baby” Miniseries

Posted on January 9, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

There’s something seriously wrong with Zoë Saldaña baby…

No, no! The 33-year-old half-Dominican/half-Puerto Rican American actress isn’t expecting. But she has landed the lead role in a new adaptation of a classic thriller.

The Avatar and Star Trek star has been cast in NBC’s four-hour miniseries Rosemary’s Baby, an adaptation of the 1967 best-selling suspense novel by Ira Levin.

The miniseries centers on Rosemary (Saldana), a young wife and would-be mother who, with her husband, moves into a Paris apartment that has a darkly storied past. After finally getting pregnant, she becomes increasingly suspicious that both her husband and their mysterious neighbors have ulterior motives about the future of her child.

Mia Farrow famously played the role in Roman Polanski’s 1968 feature film adaptation.

“Zoe has proven that she is one of our most gifted actresses, and we think she has the perfect combination of spirit and gravitas to take on the title role from Ira Levin’s infamous novel,” said NBC’s head of longform Quinn Taylor. “With Zoe leading the cast under the direction of Agnieszka Holland, this reimagined event miniseries is off to a great start.”

Holland is directing the project from a script by Scott Abbott.

Production is set to begin shortly in Paris.

Saldaña recently appeared in the Christian Bale drama Out Of The Furnace, and her upcoming projects include Marvel’s Guardians Of The Galaxy and Blood Ties.

Rosemary’s Baby is the first miniseries greenlighted by NBC as part of its renewed push in the longform arena. It was followed shortly by an order for The Bible sequel A.D.

Exclusive Media Acquires International Rights to Quílez’s “Out of the Dark,” Starring Julia Stiles

Posted on November 6, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

Lluís Quílez’s feature film directorial debut could reach a worldwide audience.

Exclusive Media has nabbed the international rights to the 34-year-old Spanish director’s supernatural thriller Out of the Dark.

Written by Carriers scribes David Pastor and Alex Pastor, the film is currently in post-production and eyed for release in 2014.

Starring Julia Stiles and Scott Speedman, the film centers on a couple and their daughter who move to Colombia to take over a family manufacturing plant, only to realize their new home is haunted.

Exclusive Media is repping and selling worldwide rights to the film, which was partly financed by Participant Media.

Quílez’s previous credits include the short films Yanindara, Avatar and El siguiente.

Saldaña Inks Deal with Lionsgate’s Pantelion Films

Posted on August 24, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

Zoë Saldaña could be producing more Latino projects in the near future…

The 35-year-old Puerto Rican/Dominican-American has inked a deal with Lionsgate, the independent film and television distribution company, to develop further content for the Hispanic market.

Lionsgate’s Pantelion Films studio will start producing film and television projects with Saldaña Productions, a company run by Zoe and her sister Cisely, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

“We look forward to a fruitful and productive relationship with Pantelion,” the Avatar star said in a statement.

Pantelion Films, the first major Latino-focused Hollywood studio, was launched in 2010 in partnership with Mexico’s Grupo Televisa. Two years later it teamed up with Televisa to create English-language TV content with Latina flair.

Last December, Saldaña’s production company teamed up with producers Jane Startz and Aida Bernal to option Joy Castro’s mystery thriller Hell or High Water.

Hernandez: Hollywood’s Go-To Special Effects Guru

Posted on April 3, 2012 by Tom Castaneda

He may not be a household name, but you’ve most likely seen Tulio Hernandez’s work on the big screen.

The 50-year-old Venezuelan-born special effects guru has been part of some of Hollywood’s biggest blockbusters, including Avatar, Spider-Man 2, X-Men Origins: Wolverine and Night at the Museum.

Hernandez came to the United States in 1978 from his native Maracaibo with plans to attend college and ultimately graduated with a degree in tourism and hospitality. But it was a fateful encounter with a friend that launched his special effects career.

“In 1988, a friend wanted to open a vegetarian restaurant,” he recounts. “He asked me to help him, but this friend was also making a movie and seeing them work I felt as if someone had hit me on the head and I said: this is what I want to do.”

Eleven years later, he realized he’d most definitely made the right decision.

“But what marked my path was the film Komodo, in 1999, when I saw my name on the credits and felt I had made the right decisions in my life,” Hernandez said in an interview with Efe.

Hernandez, whose other projects include Skyline, Knight and Day and Fast & Furious, says credits his Latino background for his exceptional work.

“My vision of reality is quite particular. I always see it with visual effects, I look at the environment and think how to put it on the computer,” Hernandez said, “Being Venezuelan, the Latin touch is in everything I do.”

Hispanically Yours

Celebrating the Latino Influence

Tag Archives: Avatar