Carter to Portray the Fairy Godmother in Disney’s Live-Action Version of “Cinderella”

Posted on June 20, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

Helena Bonham Carter is about to make one princess’ wish come true…

The 46-year-old part-Spanish actress’ has landed the high profile role of the fairy godmother in Disney’s live-action version of Cinderella.

Kenneth Branagh is directing the film project, which sees Lily James in the title role, Cate Blanchett as the wicked stepmother and Game of Thrones‘ Richard Madden as the prince.

Sophie McShera (Downton Abbey) and Holliday Granger (The Borgias) are set to play the stepsisters.

The fairy godmother will be getting more screen time in this version than in Disney’s classic animated movie, with the character disguised as an old beggar who watches over Cinderella before revealing herself as the magical being she truly is.

Cinderella will be shot this fall in London.

Bonham Carter previously played the Red Queen in another Disney film, 2010’s Alice in Wonderland. She also appears in the studio’s big summer tentpole, The Lone Ranger, which reunites her with Johnny Depp, whom she starred with in Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street.

Hayek’s “Girl Rising” Documentary Headed to Regal Cinemas

Posted on April 5, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

Richard E. Robbins’ documentary Girl Rising featuring narration by Salma Hayek and Selena Gomez is headed to the big screen.

The film, about nine girls in different developing countries who dream of attending school, has been picked up by Regal Cinemas for a weeklong engagement.

Narrated by Hayek, Gomez, Cate Blanchett, Priyanka Chopra, Anne Hathaway, Alicia Keys, Chloe Moretz, Liam Neeson, Frieda Pinto, Meryl Streep and Kerry Washington, the documentary will begin showing April 19 in 150 theaters.

Girl Rising will also continue to be showcased in cities nationwide via Gathr, a new demand-based theatrical-distribution platform in which fans are committed to buying enough movie tickets to secure a screening.

“Regal recognizes the intense interest by American moviegoers demanding that this film be seen in their local communities,” stated Amy Miles, CEO of Regal Entertainment Group. “This movie is making an emotional impact on many of our patrons, me included. The stories from these extraordinary girls in nine different countries are accompanied by narration from an A-list of entertainers.”

A portion of ticket sales will go to the 10×10 Fund for Girls Education, a global campaign to educate and empower girls.

Girl Rising is produced by The Documentary Group and Paul Allen’s Vulcan Productions.

CNN Films has global TV distribution rights and plans to air it soon.

Louis C.K.’s “Blue Jasmine” Opening in LA & New York This July

Posted on February 9, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

Louis C.K. will have a Blue summer…

The 45-year-old half-Mexican American actor, comedian and Emmy-winning writer and director is starring in Woody Allen’s Blue Jasmine, which will debut in New York and Los Angeles on July 26.

Sony Pictures Classics describes Blue Jasmine as “the story of the final stages of an acute crisis and a life of a fashionable New York housewife.”

Along with Louis C.K., in his first feature film since 2009’s The Invention of Lying, the film stars Cate Blanchett, Alec Baldwin, Bobby Cannavale, Peter Sarsgaard and Andrew Dice Clay.

The film was shot in New York City and San Francisco last year.

Hayek Joins Hollywood’s Bright Stars for “Girl Rising” Documentary

Posted on January 24, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

Salma Hayek has joined forces with some of Hollywood’s brightest luminaries for a campaign aimed at educating and empowering underprivileged girls.

The 46-year-old Mexican actress has joined Kerry Washington, Selena Gomez, Cate Blanchett, Anne Hathaway, Alicia Keys, Chloe Grace Moretz, Liam Neeson, Freida Pinto and Meryl Streep for a unique project entitled Girl Rising.

The celebrity-narrated documentary, which debuted at the Sundance Film Festival, spotlights the impact access to education could have on the lives of young girls in developing countries — and their local economies.

The film, which follows nine girls in places like India, Peru, Haiti, Ethiopia and Cambodia, is directed by Oscar nominee Richard E. Robbins and is part of 10×10, a global campaign to educate and empower underprivileged girls. Currently, there are 66 million girls who are not in school.

“Many women around the world continue to struggle for equality in education,” Hayek said in a statement. “I hope Girl Rising raises the visibility on a global level for this fundamental issue.”

Girl Rising, which is still in post-production, will premiere on March 7 in New York and Los Angeles via CNN Films.

In addition, with the help of Gathr, a company that crowd-sources film distribution, Girl Rising could literally hit a theater near you. The process is simple: After registering with Gathr, moviegoers can request a screening of Girl Rising at a local theater. If enough people purchase advance tickets, the screening will take place. Click here for more details.

“I’m proud to be part of a film that brings stories about real-life heroines around the world to movie-going audiences,” Washington said in a statement. “Their examples of strength and perseverance, against all odds, have the power to change the world.”

Diaz & Garcia Among the Latinos in Paramount’s Anniversary Photo

Posted on June 13, 2012 by Tom Castaneda

Paramount Pictures is celebrating its 100th anniversary in a picture-perfect way, with help from five of the studio’s biggest Latino luminaries, including Cameron Diaz and Andy Garcia…

The third-oldest existing movie studio in the world released a star-studded commemorative photo through Vanity Fair magazine. In all, the picture features 116 of the biggest names in the movie industry who’ve worked with one of Hollywood’s most iconic studios.

In the image, A-list actors like Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt pose together on a giant stairway alongside noted producers, directors and executives like Steven Spielberg, Martin Scorsese and J.J. Abrams.

“It was more than thrilling… and incredibly nostalgic… to be part of that extraordinary gathering of actors who had worked for Paramount, as I had,” said actress Ali McGraw, who can be spotted standing in the middle of photo with her Love Story costar Ryan O’Neal.

Here’s a look at the five Latinos featured in the image:

Cameron Diaz
The 39-year-old half-Cuban American actress, who may be writing her first book soon, starred in the following Paramount Pictures projects: The Shrek series and Vanilla Sky.

Andy Garcia
The 56-year-old Cuban American actor received an Academy Award nomination for his performance as Vincent Santino Corleone (a.k.a. Vincent Mancini) in one of the studio’s biggest hits, The Godfather Part III.

Zoë Saldaña
The 33-year-old half-Dominican/half-Puerto Rican American actress will be reprising her role as Uhura in the upcoming sequel to Paramount’s hugely successful Star Trek reboot.

Alejandro González Iñárritu
The 48-year-old Mexican filmmaker, the first Mexican director to be nominated for the Academy Award for Best Director, directed Paramount’s award-winning ensemble film Babel, which starred Gael García Bernal, Pitt, Cate Blanchett.

Antonio Banderas
The 51-year-old Spanish actor, who appears in the picture next to his wife Melanie Griffith, not only starred opposite Diaz in Paramount’s Shrek sequels, but he also starred in the Shrek prequel/spin-off Puss In Boots.

The epic picture is featured in the July issue of Vanity Fair.

Louis C.K. to Star in Woody Allen’s Next Film Project…

Posted on June 4, 2012 by Tom Castaneda

Louis C.K. will be returning to the big screen in a big way…

The 44-year-old half-Mexican American actor/comedian, who last acted on film in 2009’s The Invention of Lying, has been added to the all-star cast of Woody Allen’s latest untitled film.

Louis C.K.—who recently nabbed four Comedy Central Comedy Awards—will join previously announced roster of A-list actors Bobby Cannavale, Cate Blanchett and Alec Baldwin. The rest of the cast includes Andrew Dice Clay, Michael Emerson, Sally Hawkins and Peter Sarsgaard.

Allen’s new film will be shot in New York and San Francisco this summer. This marks the noted director’s second time directing in San Francisco — his directorial debut, 1969’s Take the Money and Run, was also set there.

Allen recently won an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay for Midnight In Paris. His upcoming film, To Rome With Love—starring Penelope Cruz—will hit theaters on June 22.

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