Tag Archives: Iraq War

Jorge Diaz to Star in Pilot for HBO Max’s “Head of the Class” Sitcom Reboot

Posted on by
Reply

Jorge Diaz is moving to the head of the class…

The 37-year-old Mexican American actor has joined the cast of HBO Max’s multi-camera comedy pilot Head of the Class, a reboot of the popular 1980s ABC sitcom.

Jorge Diaz

Diaz joins a roster of new additions to the cast that includes Dior Goodjohn, Brandon Severs, Adrian Matthew Escalona and Christa Miller.

They join previously announced Isabella Gomez, Gavin Lewis and Jolie Hoang-Rappaport in the reboot which hails from American Vandal writers Amy Pocha and Seth Cohen, Bill Lawrence and his Doozer Productions; and Warner Bros. Television, which produced the original series.

Written by Pocha and Cohen, based on the original series created by Rich Eustis and Michael Elias, the reimagined Head of the Class revolves around a group of overachieving high school students who meet their greatest challenge — a teacher Alicia Adams (Gomez), who wants them to focus less on grades and more on experiencing life.

Diaz plays Elliot Olsen, a goofy English teacher who loves his job and is genuine to a fault. Goodjohn is Robyn Rook. Stem queen turned Twitch streamer, Robyn’s the defacto leader of the class – though she’d never admit it. Severs will portray Terrell Smith, is a year-round athlete, who is uber-positive and all about team mentality. Escalona is Miles Mendelson, the shy, introverted, overthinking coder, who’d rather spend time with computers than people. Miller recurs as Principal Maris, an intimidating, tough love boss that always puts the students first.

Diaz has appeared on a number of hit comedies including the CW’s Jane The Virgin, NBC’s The Good Place and Netflix’s Arrested Development. He also starred as SPC Israel Garza in Nat Geo’s Critics Choice-nominated Iraq war drama, The Long Road Home. On the film side, Diaz portrayed Hector Estrella in Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones, earning a nomination for an Imagen Foundation Award for his performance.

Escalona was first discovered in 2018, when a video of him singing “She Used To Be Mine” from the Broadway musical Waitress went viral with almost 4 million views and counting. He went on to be invited by Waitress writer and composer Sara Bareilles to make a guest appearance during her tour stop in Pittsburgh, near his home town. Head of the Class is Escalona’s first major TV role.

O’Brien to Present Her Documentary “The War Comes Home – The New Battlefront” in Theaters

Posted on by
Reply

Soledad O’Brien is bring the War to a theater near you…

The 49-year-old half-Cuban American journalist will present her documentary The War Comes Home – The New Battlefront as a one-time event at hundreds of theaters on May 24 through Fathom Events, according to Variety.

Soledad O’Brien

O’Brien’s company Starfish Media produced the documentary, a true story that follows two veterans of the Iraq War on the brink of suicide as they turn to a five-day emotional boot camp for a life-changing recovery — the Save A Warrior program in Malibu operated by veteran Jake Clark.

Following the screening, the theaters will also show a taped discussion led by O’Brien with community leaders, experts on veterans’ affairs and celebrity advocates to talk about how our country is serving – and not serving – veterans as they face the challenges of PTSD, family reintegration and unemployment. It includes exclusive one-on-one interviews with actor-director Peter Berg and army-veteran and actor J.R. Martinez.

The former CNN anchor told Variety that the timing of the event is aimed to take advantage of the Memorial Day observance on May 30. The documentary first aired on CNN in 2014.

“Not to toot my own horn but it is a phenomenal documentary,” O’Brien said. “We as a society don’t think nearly enough about veterans so I’m hoping that this helps open the conversation a little more.”

O’Brien started her own media company, Starfish Media Group, in 2013, after tenures at CNN and NBC News.

Tickets for the documentary can be purchased online beginning Friday at FathomEvents.com or at participating theater box offices.

Cruz Cordova to Star in “Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk”

Posted on by
Reply

Ismael Cruz Cordova has his walking papers…

The 28-year-old Puerto Rican actor has been cast in the upcoming film adaptation of Ben Fountain’s novel Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk.

 Ismael Cruz Cordova

The film follows a unit of decorated Iraq War soldiers who, at the height of the war, survive a bloody battle and come out of it hailed as heroes. Brought back stateside to participate in patriotic events to boost support for the war, they become disillusioned with the military and noncombatant civilians when they learn that despite their service, they’re going to be sent back for another tour.

Directed by Ang Lee from a script by Simon Beaufoy and Jean-Christophe Castelli, the film is being shot using state-of-the-art Sony cameras in native 3D, promising high resolution and an unprecedented frame rate.

Cordova, who gained national attention playing Mando on Sesame Street, joins a cast that includes Arturo Castro, Barney Harris, Beau Knapp, Mason Lee and Brian “Astro” Bradley. In addition, Makenzie Leigh will play Faison, a Texas cheerleader and love interest to main character Billy Flynn. They join actor Joe Alwyn, already cast in the title role.

Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk hits theaters November 11, 2016.

Cruz Cordova’s credits include several appearances on The Good Wife.