Jackie Cruz to Star in the Indie Horror Film “Woozy”

Posted on August 28, 2024 by Tom Castaneda

Jackie Cruz is feelin’ a little woozy…

The 38-year-old Dominican–American actress, singer and former model will star in the forthcoming indie horror film Woozy, the feature debut of writer-director Joey Bicicchi.

Cruz, best known for her work on Orange Is the New Black, is among a roster of new cast additions that includes Penelope Mitchell and Jeff Adler.

Details regarding the roles to be played by the trio haven’t been disclosed yet.

Production on the film is currently underway in New Jersey.

Woozy is a film that tells of unhealthy coping mechanisms and the battle against fears, depression, phobias, and delusions. Dusty (Emile Hirsch) has deliberately structured his life, through meditation, yoga, boxing, nutrition, and hygiene, to create a clean and safe environment. But what happens when Dusty’s flawless system fails? Out comes Woozy, a horrifying apparition who torments Dusty.

Best known for her role as Marisol ‘Flaca’ Gonzales on Netflix’s acclaimed prison-set comedy-drama Orange Is the New Black, Cruz has more recently been seen taking on an arc on NBC’s Good Girls.

Her film credits include A Nice Girl Like You, opposite Lucy Hale; Lansky, opposite Harvey Keitel; Midnight in the Switchgrass, opposite Bruce Willis; and Panama, opposite Mel Gibson, to name a few.

Jackie Cruz Replaces Stephanie Beatriz in the Horror-Thriller “History of Evil”

Posted on May 31, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Jackie Cruz is embracing a new history…

The 35-year-old Dominican-American actress, singer, former model and Orange is The New Black star is replacing Stephanie Beatriz as co-lead in the horror-thriller film History of Evil, which recently wrapped production.

Paul Wesley co-stars in the feature, which was pre-bought by AMC’s genre streamer Shudder for release in North America, the UK, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand.

Beatriz reportedly had to switch out before the film’s early May start due to scheduling conflicts.

Written and directed by Iranian-American filmmaker Bo Mirhosseni, the film is being produced by genre specialists XYZ Films, Under the Shadow outfit Two & Two Pictures and Jake Siegel.

In History Of Evil, a family on the run from a corrupt state takes refuge in a safe house with an evil past — a terrifying last stop on a near-future Underground Railroad.

The film is the first project under a pact between XYZ Films and Two & Two Pictures to make films from first- and second-time genre directors from under-represented demographics.

The pact is set to produce two to three pictures a year initially and was hatched as a result of XYZ Films partnering with Two & Two on Babak Anvari’s Under the Shadow, which went on to win a BAFTA for Outstanding Debut. The companies most recently collaborated on Anvari’s third feature film, I Came By, which is currently in post-production for Netflix.

Cruz is best known for starring in Netflix’s hit series Orange Is The New Black. Her recent features include the Bruce Willis actioner Midnight In The Switchgrass and the thriller Panama with Mel Gibson and Cole Hauser.

Avatar Entertainment Acquires Worldwide Rights to Vadhir Derbez’s Erotic Thriller “SVGS”

Posted on May 19, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Vadhir Derbez’s latest project is going global…

Avatar Entertainment has acquired the worldwide rights to the 31-year-old Mexican actor and Elyfer Torres’s erotic thriller SVGS and is shopping them at the Cannes Market.

The Jorge Xolalpa-written and directed film, pronounced ‘Savages,’ follows a young couple, who on the night of celebrating their anniversary, decide to test the strength of their relationship and push each other to their mental and physical limits. What was supposed to be a romantic night takes a deadly turn.

Derbez recently starred in The Seventh Day alongside Guy Pearce and has in the past year completed shooting for Jesse Johnson’s White Elephant starring Bruce Willis and John Malkovich and “SVGS” and shot a pilot for HBO Max’s unscripted television series From Sloppy to Papi.

Torres was in Telemundo telenovela in Betty en NY and is currently starring in Netflix’s Guerra de Vecinos. She recently wrapped an untitled thriller, produced by Gary and Julie Auerbach.

Xolalpa shot the film, which is his sixth, over six days from within his own home. “I’ve always wanted to do a single-location, one-take film. Although I didn’t come close to that with SVGS, we do open the film with a 20-page single take shot,” he said. “We shot 33 pages on our first day.”

Val Valdez and Sara Seligman produced the film, which comes from Xolalpa’s Mighty Aphrodite Pictures.

Blake Jenner to Star in “Paradise City”

Posted on June 5, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Blake Jenner is heading to Paradise City…

The 28-year-old half-Cuban American actor has joined the cast of the Hawaiian production of Paradise City, which represents John Travolta and Bruce Willis’ first reteaming in a film since 1994’s Pulp Fiction.

Jenner is joined by Stephen Dorff as new additions to the cast.

Willis plays renegade bounty hunter, Ryan Swan, who must carve his way through the Hawaiian crime world to wreak vengeance on the kingpin, played by Travolta, who murdered his father. I’m told the project is billed as being similar to Miami Vice but with bounty hunters instead of cops. Thai actress and model Praya Lundberg also stars.

Paradise City is produced by Corey Large, who also stars in the movie and co-wrote with Ed John Drake. BondIt Media Capital is financing with Large’s 308 Enterprises producing. Saban is handling domestic distribution with The Exchange overseeing foreign sales.

Jenner’s previous credits include What/If, Glee and The Edge of Seventeen.

Morrone to Star in Eli Roth’s Action Crime Film “Death Wish”

Posted on October 24, 2016 by Tom Castaneda

Camila Morrone has a death wish…

The Argentine model and actress has been cast in Eli Roth’s action crime film Death Wish.

Morrone will star opposite Beau Knapp, Bruce Willis, Vincent D’Onofrio, Elisabeth Shue, Dean Norris, Mike Epps, Kimberly Elise and Ronnie Gene Blevins in MGM’s remake of the 1974 Charles Bronson film.

The film centers on Paul Kersey (Willis), whose life is destroyed by a violent crime against his wife and daughter. Frustrated that the bad guys were not brought to justice for the nefarious act inflicted on his family, he starts hunting for the perpetrators himself.

The screenplay was written by Dean Georgaris and Roth, from an original draft by Joe Carnahan.

Filming is underway in Montreal.

Morrone, who has appeared on the cover of Vogue, made her acting debut in James Franco‘s film Bukowski.

Ortiz Joins the Cast of Voltage Pictures’ Untitled Detective Comedy Starring Bruce Willis

Posted on July 16, 2015 by Tom Castaneda

Victor Ortiz has landed his next movie role…

The 28-year-old Mexican American actor and former boxer has joined the cast of Voltage Pictures’ untitled detective comedy starring Bruce Willis.

Ortize rounds out a cast that includes Tyga, Ken Davitian, David Arquette, John Goodman, Jason Momoa, Famke Janssen, Stephanie Sigman, Thomas Middleditch, Adrian Martinez, Kal Penn and Adam Goldberg.

Production began last month in Venice Beach on the film, which stars Willis as a down but not out L.A. private investigator whose professional and personal worlds collide after his loving pet Buddy is stolen by a notorious gang. A series of bizarre circumstances find him doing the gang’s bidding, while being chased by two vengeful Samoan brothers, a loan shark’s goons, and a few other shady characters.

Mark and Robb Cullen, who also wrote the Willis-starring movie Cop Out, are directing the film.

Ortiz, a former WBC Welterweight champion and Dancing with the Stars competitor, has starred opposite Antonio Banderas in The Expendables 3 and Jake Gyllenhaal in Southpaw.

Syfy Releases Trailer for Acevedo’s Sci-Fi Series “12 Monkeys”

Posted on July 17, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Kirk Acevedo is monkeying around…

Syfy has released the trailer for 12 Monkeys, starring the 42-year-old Puerto Rican-Chinese American actor.

Acevedo portrays Ramse in the television spinoff of Terry Gilliam’s sci-fil film of the same name, which starred Bruce Willis, Madeleine Stowe and Brad Pitt.

The premise of the film: In a future world devastated by disease, a convict is sent back in time to gather information about the man-made virus that wiped out most of the human population on the planet

In addition to Acevedo, the series also stars Aaron Stanford, Amanda Schull and Noah Bean.

12 Monkeys is set to debut in January.

New Trailer Released for “Sin City: A Dame to Kill For,” Featuring Alba Back as Nancy Callahan

Posted on June 11, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

It’s been nearly 10 years since Jessica Alba first set tongues wagging in Sin City… And, apparently she has not lost her sexy moves.

Dimension Films has released a new trailer for Robert Rodriguez’s and Frank Miller’s Sin City: A Dame To Kill For, featuring the 33-year-old half-Mexican American actress reprising her head-turning role as exotic dancer Nancy Callahan, which earned her an MTV Movie Award for “Sexiest Performance.”

In the trailer, Alba appears back on the bar, shaking her groove thing the same way she did in 2005. But there are also snippets of her smashing her face against a back-stage mirror and more, leaving audiences intrigued.

The ultra-violent action crime thriller and sequel to the 2005 cult classic – adapted from Miller’s neo-noir graphic novels – weaves two Sin City stories together into one hard-boiled narrative pitting the city’s thugs, lowlifes and femme fatales against each other, with a cast that includes Alba, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Josh Brolin, Eva Green, Mickey Rourke, Bruce Willis, Rosario Dawson, Juno Temple, Jaime King, Jamie Chung, Dennis Haysbert and more.

Sin City: A Dame to Kill For will hit theaters on August 22.

First Trailer Release for Alba’s “Sin City: A Dame to Kill For”

Posted on March 8, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Jessica Alba’s back in the Sin City sequel… And, she’s ready to set hearts aflutter all over again, as evidenced in the just-released trailer for the film.

The 32-year-old half-Mexican American actress first caused tongues to wag when she starred as exotic dancer Nancy Callahan in Sin City. The performance even earned her an MTV Movie Award for Sexiest Performance.

Nine years later, Alba is back in the follow-up film Sin City: A Dame to Kill For. And, if the just-released trailer is any indication, she could win another MTV Movie Award.

The film, directed by Robert Rodriguez and Frank Miller, is primarily based on the second neo-noir graphic novel in the Sin City series by Miller.

In addition to Alba, the film also sees the return of original cast members Rosario Dawson, Jaime King, Powers Boothe, Mickey Rourke and Bruce Willis.

Newcomers to the sequel include Eva Green, Josh Brolin, Jamie Chung, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Christopher Meloni, Lady Gaga and Jeremy Piven.

Dimension Films will release the film on August 22, 2014.

Peña Earns a Spirit Award Nomination

Posted on November 30, 2012 by Tom Castaneda

Michael Peña has the spirit…

The 36-year-old Mexican American actor has received a Spirit Award nomination in the Best Supporting Male category for his work in the police drama End of Watch.

Peña, who portrays Los Angeles police officer Mike Zavala in the film, will face off against Magic Mike’s Matthew McConaughey, Middle of Nowhere’s David Oyelowo, Seven Psychopaths’ Sam Rockwell and Moonrise Kingdom’s Bruce Willis.

Meanwhile, Aurora Guerrero has been nominated for the John Cassavetes Award, which is given to a picture made for under $500,000. The Mexican American filmmaker earned the nod for writing and directing the film Mosquita y Mari.

Nominees for the Spirit Awards are determined by its “independence” based on guidelines that include uniqueness of vision, original and provocative subject matter and they must be made for budgets up to $20 millions.

Winners of the 2013 Spirit Awards will be announced on February 23, during the annual awards luncheon taking place in a tent on the beach in Santa Monica.

The ceremony will be broadcast at 10:00 pm ET on IFC.

Here’s a complete look at the 2013 Spirit Award nominees:

Best Feature

Beasts of the Southern Wild
Bernie
Keep the Lights On
Moonrise Kingdom
Silver Linings Playbook

Best Director

Wes Anderson – Moonrise Kingdom
David O. Russell – Silver Linings Playbook
Julia Loktev- The Loneliest Planet
Ira Sachs – Keep the Lights On
Benh Zeitlin – Beasts of the Southern Wild

Best Screenplay

Wes Anderson – Moonrise Kingdom
David O. Russell – Silver Linings Playbook
Ira Sachs – Keep the Lights On
Zoe Kazan – Ruby Sparks
Martin McDonagh – Seven Psychopaths

Best First Feature

Fill the Void
Gimme the Loot
Safety Not Guaranteed
Sound of My Voice
The Perks of Being a Wallflower

Best First Screenplay

Rama Burshtein – Fill the Void
Derek Connolly – Safety Not Guaranteed
Christopher Ford – Robot & Frank
Rashida Jones & Will McCormack – Celeste and Jesse Forever
Jonathan Lisecki – Gayby

John Cassavetes Award (given to best picture made for under $500K)

Breakfast with Curtis
Middle of Nowhere
Mosquita y Mari
Starlet
The Color Wheel

Best Female Lead

Linda Cardinelli – Return
Emayatzy Corinealdi – Middle of Nowhere
Jennifer Lawrence – Silver Linings Playbook
Quvenzhane Wallis – Beasts of the Southern Wild
Mary Elizabeth Winstead – Smashed

Best Male Lead

Jack Black – Bernie
Bradley Cooper – Silver Linings Playbook
John Hawkes – The Sessions
Matthew McConaughey – Killer Joe
Wendell Pierce – Four
Thure Lindhardt – Keep the Lights On

Best Supporting Female

Rosemarie DeWitt – Your Sister’s Sister
Ann Dowd – Compliance
Helen Hunt – The Sessions
Brit Marling – Sound of My Voice
Lorraine Toussant – Middle of Nowhere

Best Supporting Male

Matthew McConaughey – Magic Mike
David Oyelowo – Middle of Nowhere
Michael Pena – End of Watch
Sam Rockwell – Seven Psychopaths
Bruce Willis – Moonrise Kingdom

Best Cinematography

Yoni Brook – Valley of Saints
Lol Crawley – Here
Ben Richardson – Beasts of the Southern Wild
Roman Vasyanov – End of Watch
Robert Yeoman – Moonrise Kingdom

Best Documentary

How to Survive a Plague
Marina Abramovic: The Artist Is Present
The Central Park Five
The Invisible War
The Waiting Room

Best International Film

Amour
Once Upon a Time in Anatolia
Rust and Bone
Sister
War Witch

Piaget ProduPcers Award

Nobody Walks
Prince Avalanche
Stones in the Sun

Someone to Watch Award

Pincus
Gimme the Loot
Electrick Children

Truer Than Fiction Award

Leviathan
The Waiting Room
Only the Young

Robert Altman Award

Starlet

Hispanically Yours

Celebrating the Latino Influence

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