UCP Extends Overall Development Deal with Tanya Saracho

Posted on January 22, 2024 by Tom Castaneda

Tanya Saracho is getting an extension…

UCP, a division of Universal Studio Group, has extended an overall development deal with the Latina Mexican-American actress, playwright, dramaturge and screenwriter.

She will develop and produce original projects for broadcast, cable and streaming platforms under the agreement.

Saracho is currently in development on several projects including the series The Wild Wild, inspired by the lives of Annie Oakley, America’s most famous sharpshooter, and the renowned trick-rider Señorita Rosalie, who were both stars of the famed Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show.

She’ll serve as co-creator and executive producer of the project along with Jenniffer Gomez, with Jamie Babbit attached to direct and executive produce.

“It’s a pleasure and honor working with Tanya and her company, Ojalá. Their creative brilliance and entrepreneurial approach to producing and writing is so rare, and we are thrilled to continue our partnership,” said Beatrice Springborn, President, UCP and Universal International Studios, in a statement to Deadline.

“I am grateful to continue my relationship with UCP and be able to keep crafting the stories that matter most to me – brown, queer narratives which are still missing from the landscape and are so important to tell, and which UCP has proven a commitment to nurturing,” shared Saracho.

Saracho most recently served as creator, showrunner and executive producer of the critically acclaimed series Vida on Starz. The show featured all Latine writers and directors, including Saracho, who made her TV directorial debut. Vida won the GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Comedy Series and was also honored by the National Hispanic Media Coalition with the 2019 Impact Award.

Additionally, the series won the Audience Award at the 2018 SXSW Film Festival and made its Season 2 premiere as an Official Selection of the 2019 Tribeca Film Festival.

She was the recipient of the Norman Lear Writers Award at the Imagen Awards in 2021 and was honored by the LGBTQ California Legislative Caucus as their 2020 Pride Month Honoree. She received the Rising Star Award at the Outfest Legacy Awards and was awarded the New Voice Award by Final Draft.

Saracho co-founded the Untitled Latinx Project, whose mission is to increase Latine representation in television through content created by Latine writers, along with co-founding the Writers Access Support Staff Training Program to help increase representation and opportunities for underrepresented communities.

In addition, Saracho launched the Ojalá Ignition Lab in 2021, aimed to nurture, amplify and empower intersectional Latine voices.

Ice Spice & Dunkin’ Donuts Tease Upcoming Collaboration

Posted on September 11, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Donut count out Ice Spice’s sweet business prowess!

The 23-year-old half-Dominican American rap sensation and Dunkin’ Donuts have a collaboration of princess proportions in the works.

Over the weekend, Ice Spice tantalized fans with a sugary post on X, with her tweet reading, “america runs on MUNCHKINS.” The photo displayed a puffy munchkin wearing a diamond necklace Princess chain, illustrating the newly minted collaboration between the two parties.

Dunkin’ doubled down on Instagram and shared a post with the same photo, but with a different caption, playing off the name of the “Princess Diana” rapper. “Putting the ice in pumpkin spice,” said the Instagram caption. Both parties further tantalized customers by teasing the date September 13.

This isn’t the first time this year that the donut and coffee chain has worked with a musician.

In February, Jennifer Lopez made a surprise cameo in husband Ben Affleck’s ad for Dunkin’ that aired during the Super Bowl.

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2023 has proven to be a banner year for Ice Spice, as she’s netted four songs in the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100, including collaborations with Taylor Swift and Nicki Minaj. Spice’s torrid streak earned her the Billboard R&B / Hip-Hop Rookie of the Year award in August.

“I have put in so much hard work, and it means a lot to be recognized for it and have more than just plaques to show for it,” she told Billboard at the time. “I hope to push the genre forward in whatever ways I can, but I know I’ll have a huge impact on the youngins coming up now.”

Last week, Spice continued to stockpile her wins when she received the inaugural BMI Impact Award at the 2023 R&B/Hip-Hop Awards.

Ice Spice Receives BMI Impact Award at This Year’s BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards

Posted on September 7, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Ice Spice is making an impact…

The 23-year-old half-Dominican American rap sensation has been awarded the BMI Impact Award from Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI), during its 2023 R&B/Hip-Hop Awards held at LIV Nightclub Miami Beach.Ice Spice’s is the first time the Impact Award was given in the ceremony’s 23-year history.

The Bronx-based rapper/songwriter was recognized for her groundbreaking artistry, creative vision and impact on the future of music.

As one of the year’s biggest breakout stars, Ice Spice first exploded onto social media with her viral single “Munch.”

In just two years, she has had four Hot 100 Top 10 hits, and collaborated with the likes of Pink Pantheress, Nicki Minaj & Aqua and Taylor Swift, to name a few.

Ice Spice also has the most top-five singles on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart so far in 2023 and already collected numerous industry accolades.

The private event was hosted by BMI President & CEO Mike O’Neill and BMI Vice President, Creative, Atlanta, Catherine Brewton.

To see a complete list of winners, visit bmi.com/randbhiphop2023.

John Leguizamo to Receive Impact Award at This Year’s Miami Film Festival

Posted on February 25, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

John Leguizamo is being honored for his impact…

The 62-year-old Colombian actor, comedian and film producer will receive the Miami Film Festival‘s Impact Award on March 11.

Leguizamo’s new MSNBC series Leguizamo Does America will screen ahead of the award presentation. The festival’s upcoming 40th edition runs from March 3-12.

Leguizamo has more than 75 film, theater and television credits, including Romeo + Juliet, Moulin Rouge!, Summer of Sam and as the voice of Bruno on Encanto. Most recently, he co-starred in Mark Mylod’s film The Menu.

The Emmy winner is next set to star alongside Toni Collette in Prime Video’s The Power.

Following his MFF Impact award, Leguizamo will premiere his directorial debut, Critical Thinking, at the 2023 SXSW Film Festival. In addition to his Emmy award, Leguizamo has received a Drama Desk award and a special Tony award for his one-man show, Latin History for Morons.

Leguizamo Does America follows the actor as he travels from San Juan, Puerto Rico to East Los Angeles while making a few surprising stops along the way. In addition to celebrating and honoring Latino history, culture and food, Leguizamo will speak with Latino actors, the Latino immigrants who transformed the city of Chicago, as well as the indigenous people of Puerto Rico. Leguizamo Does America will premiere on MSNBC on April 16 at 10 p.m.

In addition to Leguizamo, the Miami Film Festival will honor Nicolas Cage with the Variety Legend & Groundbreaker Award, Diego Luna with the Variety Virtuoso Award and Nicholas Britell with Art of Light Composer Award, presented by Alacran Group.

The complete Miami Film Festival program is available at miamifilmfestival.com.

Lana Parrilla to Star Opposite J.Lo in Netflix’s AI Drama “Atlas”

Posted on September 27, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Lana Parrilla is heading out of this world…

The 45-year-old half-Puerto Rican actress will star opposite Jennifer Lopez in Netflix’s AI drama Atlas, directed by Brad Peyton.

Parrilla joins Simu Liu, Sterling K. Brown and Abraham Popoola in the film penned by Aron Eli Coleite and Leo Sardarian.

In Atlas, an intelligence analyst gets stranded on a distant planet and must learn to fight inside a military-grade mech suit in order to survive.

Parrilla played Regina Mills, aka The Evil Queen, for 156 episodes on ABC’s hit series Once Upon a Time. Her work on the show earned her the NHMC Impact Award; an ALMA Award for Outstanding TV Actress; a Teen Choice Award for Choice TV Actress: Fantasy / Sci-Fi; and, as voted by fans, TV Guide’s Best Villain twice.

She recently starred on Marc Cherry’s Paramount+ series Why Women Kill, a role for which she received a Gracie Award for Best Supporting Actress in Comedy. She also starred alongside Bobby Soto, Shia LaBeouf and George Lopez in David Ayer’s indie thriller The Tax Collector.

Prior to that, Parrilla was a series regular on ABC’s sitcom Spin City, Graham Yost’s Boomtown, 24, Swingtown, and on Jerry Bruckheimer’s medical drama Miami Medical.

In addition to her on-screen work, Parrilla stepped behind the camera and went on to direct one of the final episodes of Once Upon a Time. She also executive produced the documentary Split at the Root, which premiered this year at SXSW.

Cardi B Named Billboard’s “Woman of the Year”

Posted on November 19, 2020 by Tom Castaneda

Cardi B is WAP-ping up the year with a bang…

The 28-year-old half-Dominican American rap superstar has been named the 2020 Woman of the Year by Billboard.

Cardi B, who continues to thrive with her Billboard Hot 100 chart-topper “WAP,” a brand-new already-sold-out Reebok collection and her political activism, will be presented the award during Billboard‘s Women in Music event on December 10.

The 15th annual event will go virtual this year due to the coronavirus pandemic and will stream live here starting at 8:00 pm ET. The ceremony will be hosted by Teyana Taylor.

Jennifer Lopez will be honored with this year’s prestigious Icon Award for her impact on the music industry and the greater artistic community, joining previous recipients Alanis Morissette, Cyndi Lauper, Mary J. Blige, Shania Twain and Aretha Franklin.

Following the success of her sophomore album, Future Nostalgia, Dua Lipa will receive the Powerhouse Award, given to an act whose music dominated streaming, sales and radio this year.

Dolly Parton is 2020’s Hitmaker Award recipient. The honor recognizes a songwriter whose compositions have significantly impacted culture.

Chloe x Halle will receive the Rising Star Award, and Jessie Reyez will be honored with the American Express Impact Award.

Brianna Agyemang and Jamila Thomas, the trailblazing minds behind #TheShowMustBePaused movement following the murder of George Floyd, will be honored with the 2020 Executive of the Year Award.

Rosalia to Receive the Rising Star Award at Billboard’s Women in Music Event

Posted on December 4, 2019 by Tom Castaneda

There’s no denying Rosalia’s status as a rising star…

With Billboard‘s 14th annual Women in Music event just weeks away, the 26-year-old Spanish singer/songwriter, a big Latin Grammy winner this year, among the artists being celebrated for their contributions to female empowerment.

Rosalía, nominated for a Best New Artist Grammy this year, will receive the Rising Star Award after changing the sound of today’s mainstream music with her fresh flamenco-influenced pop.

She joins newly announced honorees Alicia Keys, who will receive the Impact Award, and Megan Thee Stallion, this year’s Powerhouse Award honoree.

“Women in Music is a celebration of artists and executives who are changing the world through their work. We are excited to honor Alicia Keys, Rosalía and Megan thee Stallion, whose singular visions and voices are shifting our culture while inspiring fans to stay true to themselves,” said Hannah Karp, Billboard’s editorial director.

The trio will join previously announced honorees Taylor Swift, Billie Eilish, Alanis Morissette,Nicki Minaj, Brandi Carlile and Roc Nation chief operating officer Desiree Perezat the 2019 Women in Music event, presented by YouTube Musicand hosted by last year’s Rising Star honoree Hayley Kiyoko.

The event and red carpet pre-show will stream live from the Hollywood Palladium on December 12 at YouTube.com/Billboard starting at 9 p.m. ET.

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