Bobby Cannavale to Receive Artist of Distinction Award at Newport Beach Film Festival

Posted on October 12, 2024 by Tom Castaneda

Bobby Cannavale has earned a special distinction…

The 54-year-old half-Cuban American Emmy-winning actor will be among the honorees at this year’s Newport Beach Film Festival, which runs October 17-24.

Cannavale will be recognized with the Artist of Distinction Award during the festival’s awards brunch on October 20.

Cannavel’s recent credits include Ezra, Old Dads and Under the Boardwalk.

Margaret Qualley, meantime, will receive the Spotlight Award, while Kiernan Shipka will receive the Artist of Distinction Award.

Previously announced honorees include Nicolas Cage, Joan Chen, Colman Domingo, Marianne Jean-Baptiste, Sheryl Lee Ralph, George MacKay, Diane Warren and June Squibb.

The festival will also be celebrating those behind the camera with the just-announced Master of the Frame panel with leading industry cinematographers on October 19. Current participants include Alice Brooks (“Wicked”) and Lawrence Sher (“Joker: Folie à Deux.”)

The luxury lifestyle film festival is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year with a wide selection of international films including buzzy titles like Blitz, Nightbitch and The Piano Lesson.

For Festival passes, tickets, and complete line-up, visit www.NewportBeachFilmFest.com.

Becky G Performs Oscar-Nominated “The Fire Inside” from “Flamin’ Hot” During Oscars

Posted on March 10, 2024 by Tom Castaneda

Becky G brings the fire to the 2024 Oscars…

The 27-year-old Mexican American rapper/singer performed “The Fire Inside,” the Academy Award nominated track from the Eva Longoria-directed film Flamin’ Hot, at Sunday’s Oscars.

Diane Warren penned the inspirational track for the film about Richard Montañez, the Frito-Lay janitor who became an executive after inventing Flamin’ Hot Cheetos.

Ahead of the ceremony at the Dolby Theater, Longoria talked about the excitement her directorial debut getting some recognition at the Academy Awards.

“I have goosebumps. I can’t believe it. I can because Diane Warren wrote the song, so she’s a genius and Becky G is a genius,” Longoria told Laverne Cox on Live from E! red carpet coverage. “Their performance tonight… You will never be more proud to be a Latino and a Chicano, but Becky’s thought and love that she put into this performance tonight is going to blow everybody away. She has some special guest from Inglewood.”

She continued, “We don’t ever get this platform. We, people of color, we don’t really get this stage. We wanted to bring our whole community with us tonight. We wanted to thank everybody for watching the movie [and] making it a success.”

Flamin’ Hot starred Jesse García as Richard Montañez and the cast included Annie González, Emilio Rivera, Vanessa Martínez, Hunter Jones, Dennis Haysbert, Tony Shalhoub, Pepe Serna, Bobby Soto, Jimmy Gonzales, Matt Walsh and Brice Gonzalez.

Becky G performs “The Fire Inside” from Flamin Hot #Oscars pic.twitter.com/6Xtl89Pj8h

— Deadline Hollywood (@DEADLINE) March 11, 2024

Becky G to Perform Oscar-Nominated “The Fire Inside” at This Year’s Academy Awards

Posted on February 28, 2024 by Tom Castaneda

Becky G has a date with Oscar…

The 26-year-old Mexican American singer, rapper and actress will perform at this year’s Academy Awards ceremony.

Becky G will perform “The Fire Inside,” a single with music and lyrics by Diane Warren for the film Flamin’ Hot.

The track is one of this year’s Best Song nominees.

Becky G is among a roster of Oscar performers that includes Jon Batiste, Billie Eilish and Finneas O’Connell, Scott George and the Osage Singers, and Ryan Gosling and Mark Ronson.

They’ll take the stage to perform the trophy hopefuls during the 96th Oscars hosted by Jimmy Kimmel on March 10.

The announcement was made by Oscars executive producer and showrunner Raj Kapoor and EPs Molly McNearney and Katy Mullan.

ABC will air the show live coast-to-coast starting at the new time of 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT.

Here’s the list of the Best Song nominees, songwriters and Oscarcast performers:

“The Fire Inside” from “Flamin’ Hot” – Performed by Becky G
Music and Lyric by Diane Warren

“I’m Just Ken” from “Barbie” – Performed by Ryan Gosling and Mark Ronson
Music and Lyric by Mark Ronson and Andrew Wyatt

“It Never Went Away” from “American Symphony” – Performed by Jon Batiste
Music and Lyric by Jon Batiste and Dan Wilson

“Wahzhazhe (A Song For My People)” from “Killers of the Flower Moon” – Performed by Scott George and the Osage Singers
Music and Lyric by Scott George

“What Was I Made For?” from “Barbie” – Performed by Billie Eilish and Finneas O’Connell
Music and Lyric by Billie Eilish and Finneas O’Connell

Sofia Carson to Perform Oscar-Nominated Track “Applause” at This Year’s Academy Awards

Posted on February 24, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Sofia Carson has a date with Oscar…

The 29-year-old Colombian American actress/singer and Diane Warren will perform “Applause,” the Oscar-nominated Best Song track, at the 95th annual Academy Awards next month.

Warren wrote the music and lyrics for the track from the film Tell It Like a Woman, earning her 14th Best Song Oscar nod since 1988 and sixth in as many years.

She has yet to claim the hardware but did receive a Governors Award from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in November and snagged an Emmy for The Hunting Ground song “Til It Happens to You,” sung by Lady Gaga.

Carson played the Evil Queen’s daughter Evie in Disney’s Descendants and its sequels, and the first film’s soundtrack topped the Billboard 200 chart in 2015.

She released her self-titled debut album in 2022.

She also starred in last year’s Netflix film Purple Hearts and next appears in Jaume Collet-Serra’s Carry On.

“Applause” is competing for the Best Song Oscar against “Hold My Hand” from Top Gun: Maverick, “Lift Me Up” from Black Panther: Wakanda Forever — which Super Bowl halftime star Rihanna will perform at the ceremony — “Naatu Naatu” from RRR and “This Is A Life” from Everything Everywhere All at Once.

The 95th Academy Awards will be handed out on Sunday, March 12, at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood.

Will Sofia Carson Perform at This Year’s Academy Awards Show?

Posted on January 25, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Sofia Carson could have a date with Oscar…

The 29-year-old Colombian American actress/singer may perform at this year’s Academy Awards ceremony.

Carson, whose parents hail from Barranquilla, is the voice of Diane Warren’s “Applause” from the film Tell It Like a Woman, which received an Oscar nomination for best original song.

“We’re going to the Oscars @dianewarren,” Carson wrote in an Instagram post, sharing a sweet video of their reaction to the news.

Beautifully performed by the “Night Falls” singer, “Applause” is a ballad of empowerment and self-love that invites women to pause for a moment and celebrate their achievements.

“Recognize who you are/ Sometimes, I know it’s so hard/ But you shine/ You’re a supernova superstar,” the song says. “Give yourself some applause, you deserve it/ Give yourself some respect ’cause you’ve earned it/ Give yourself some love ’cause you’re worth it, you’re worth it.”

Warren, who now collects her 14th nomination in the category, also competed last year with “Somehow You Do,” from the movie Four Good Days. But the Academy Award went to Billie Eilish and Finneas O’Connell for “No Time to Die,” from the James Bond film of the same name.

This time around, the veteran songwriter — who has yet to win the prize — competes again with some music superstars. The contenders are: “Hold My Hand” from Top Gun: Maverick, co-written by Lady Gaga; “Lift Me Up” from Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” with Rihanna among its composers; “Naatu Naatu” from RRR; and “This Is A Life” from Everything Everywhere All at Once.

The Oscar for best original song goes to the songwriters, not to the performers.

However, it is likely that Carson will take the stage of Hollywood’s Dolby Theater to sing “Applause” live, since it has become tradition that the nominated songs be presented at the ceremony — although the official program has not been announced yet and plans have changed from time to time.

The 95th annual Academy Awards will air live on ABC on March 12 at 8:00 pm ET.

Gloria Estefan Among All-Star Singers Appearing on New Single “Gonna Be You”

Posted on January 5, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Gloria Estefan is teaming up with fellow icons for a special single…

The 65-year-old Cuban Grammy-winning singer/songwriter is joining voices with Dolly Parton, Belinda Carlisle, Cyndi Lauper and Debbie Harry for the new single “Gonna Be You.”

The Diane Warren-penned track will be released on January 20 in advance of the upcoming Paramount Pictures road trip comedy 80 For Brady.

“When I wrote ‘Gonna Be You’ for 80 FOR BRADY, I wanted to write a song that celebrated these women’s deep friendship,” said Warren in a statement. “Since 80 was in the title I got a crazy idea, why not get some of the most iconic singers from the 80s, who are still amazing and always will be, to all sing it?!!!! Everyone I approached said yes and was just as excited as me!! I’m honored to have Dolly Parton, Belinda Carlisle, Cyndi Lauper, Gloria Estefan and Debbie Harry on this song!! ‘Gonna Be You’ is that song you want to sing along to with all your good friends!!!”

The anthem will accompany the film starring an equally star-studded cast of Oscar winners and nominees led by Lily Tomlin, Jane Fonda, Rita Moreno and Sally Field that was inspired by the true story of four best friends who take a trip to the 2017 Super Bowl to see their hero QB Tom Brady play in the big game; the movie will hit screens on February 3.

Sofia Carson Teams Up with Diane Warren on “Applause,” Official Single for Female Empowerment Film “Tell It Like a Woman”

Posted on July 9, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Sofia Carson is ready to tell it like a woman…

The 29-year-old Colombian American actress/singer has teamed up with superstar songwriter and 13-time Oscar nominee Diane Warren on “Applause,” the official song for the star-studded female-powered feature Tell It Like A Woman.

“Applause,” performed by Carson, will be released later this year as a single through Disney Music Group label Hollywood Records. An accompanying music video was directed by Catherine Hardwicke, starring Carson.

Warren’s song is described as “the defining sound of the film and intended to serve as a hymn for female empowerment.” The filmmakers say they’ll be embarking on an Oscar campaign for the track.

Tell It Like A Woman is comprised of seven segments, making a feature length film. The segments are directed by female directors from different parts of the world, shot in Italy, India, Japan, and the U.S.. Genres include drama, comedy, docudrama and animation.

Tell It Like A Women’s filmmakers and actors include Taraji P. Henson, Jennifer Hudson, Pauletta Washington, Cara Delevingne, Catherine Hardwicke, Margherita Buy, Marcia Gay Harden, Eva Longoria, Leonor Varela, Jacqueline Fernandez, Anne Watanabe and Mipo O.

The intertwining segments comprise: Unspoken, directed by Maria Sole Tognazzi and starring Buy; Lagonegro, directed by Lucia Puenzo and starring Longoria; Elbows Deep, directed by Hardwicke and starring Delevingne, Harden and Jasmine Luv; Sharing A Ride, directed by Leena Yadav and starring Fernandez and Anjali Lama; A Week In My Life, directed by Mipo O and starring Watanabe; and Pepcy & Kim, directed by Henson and starring Hudson and Washington.

The project is the result of a collaboration with We Do It Together, a non-profit film production company that advocates for gender equality, founded by producer Chiara Tilesi. Producers are Tilesi, Andrea Iervolino, Lucas Akoskin and Monika Bacardi.

Samuel Goldwyn Films has closed a deal with Italian outfit Iervolino & Lady Bacardi Entertainment to acquire U.S. distribution rights to the project.

Samuel Goldwyn Films plans to release the movie in theaters this winter and says it is lining up an awards campaign.

Cristela Alonzo to Take Part in “America’s Changemakers” Event to Kick Off Five Nights of Presidential Inauguration Festivities

Posted on January 15, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Cristela Alonzo is preparing for a presidential presentation…

The Biden/Harris Presidential Inaugural Committee announced additional programming in advance of the inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris on January 20, with the 42-year-old Mexican American comedian/actress taking part in the festivities.

The theme of the now five consecutive nights of events is “America United.”

On Saturday, January 16, Alonzo will take part in America United: An Inauguration Welcome Event Celebrating America’s Changemakers.

The event will “celebrate America, reflect and honor our history, and highlight the incredible diversity of the nation” and kick off the five days of programming.

In addition to Alonzo, the roster of participants includes Whoopi Goldberg, actor Nik Dodani, musician Darren Criss, Representative Grace Meng, Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms and the Resistance Revival Choir will participate. The Welcome Event will feature a special performance by Adrian Quesada and his Grammy-nominated Black Pumas. It’ll stream live from 7:00-8:30 pm ET at bideninaugural.org and on Presidential Inaugural Committee social media pages.

Also announced is United We Serve: A Celebration of the National MLK Day of Service on Monday, January 18. According to the news release, thousands of volunteers across the country will participate in the National Day of Service, which will then be celebrated by entertainers and inspiring speakers like Aloe Blacc, Rev. Dr. Bernice King, Martin Luther King III, Chesca, Rep. Sharice Davids, Rosario Dawson, Andra Day, Yo-Yo Ma, Rev. Al Sharpton, Sean Patrick Thomas, Diane Warren, Lynn Whitfield and Bebe Winans. The event will stream live from 8:00-9:00 pm ET at bideninaugural.org and on the inaugural committee’s social media pages.

Other events include the Memorial and Nationwide Tribute to Remember and Honor the Lives Lost to Covid-19 on Tuesday the 19th. At 5:30 pm ET, a D.C. ceremony will feature a lighting around the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. The inaugural committee has invited cities and towns around the country to join in illuminating buildings and ringing church bells.

Inauguration Day events include President-elect Biden and Vice President-elect Harris laying wreaths at Arlington National Cemetery with former Presidents Barack Obama, George W. Bush and Bill Clinton and the former First Ladies in attendance.

Tom Hanks will host the primetime Celebrating America special that will culminate the inauguration of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris.

Along with appearances from the 46th POTUS and 49th VPOTUS, the Ricky Kirshner and Glenn Weiss-produced 90-minute show will feature “The Star-Spangled Banner” courtesy of Lady Gaga; a “musical performance” by Jennifer Lopez, the details of which were not disclosed; and performances from Justin Timberlake, Demi Lovato, Ant Clemons and longtime Democrat supporter Jon Bon Jovi.

Celebrating America will air on multiple networks. Starting at 8:30 pm ET, the unity-aiming special will be carried by ABC, NBC, CBS, MSNBC and CNN. Additionally, the Weiss-directed show will be seen on Amazon Prime Video, Microsoft Bing, NewsNOW from Fox, and AT&T DIRECTV and U-verse, as well as the Presidential Inaugural Committee’s social media feeds.

Gael García Bernal to Perform at This Year’s Oscars

Posted on February 23, 2018 by Tom Castaneda

Gael García Bernal has a date with Oscar…

The 39-year-old Mexican actor/filmmaker will perform at this year’s Academy Awards, according to the show’s producers.

Garcia Bernal will be among the artists tackling this year’s Oscar nominated songs.

Garcia Bernal will be joined by Natalia LaFourcade and Miguel to sing “Remember Me” from Disney/Pixar’s Coco; with music and lyrics by Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez.

Garcia Bernal voiced the character of deceased songwriter Héctor Rivera in the animated film, and his character wrote the song.

Other performers include Mary J. Blige, Andra Day, Keala Settle, Sufjan Stevens and Common.

Blige will perform “Mighty River.” Blige performed the song for Mudbound, and she’s nominated in the Best Supporting Actress category. Blige wrote the Oscar-nominated song with Raphael Saadiq and Taura Stinson.

Common and Andra Day will perform his Oscar-nominated song “Stand Up For Something” from Marshall, his collaboration with Diane Warren.

Settle will perform the Oscar-nominated song “This is Me” from The Greatest Showman.

Stevens will perform his Oscar-nominated song “Mystery of Love,” written for Call Me by Your Name.

“We’re excited to have these talented artists showcase the powerful contribution music makes to film making,” said De Luca and Todd. “It’s a privilege to welcome them to the 90th Oscars stage.”

The Jimmy Kimmel-hosted show is set for Sunday, March 4.

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