Tag Archives: James L. Brook’s

Paz Vega to Star in & Produce Comedy Series “Tacowood” for MGM International Television

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Paz Vega is ready for tacos…

MGM International Television is developing Tacowood, a comedy series headlined and produced by the 44-year-old Spanish actress.

Paz Vega

Based on an original idea by Spanish writer-producer-director Frank Ariza, Tacowoodis a modern-day comedy that follows Guada (Vega), a 40-year-old single mother who spends her days running her family’s taco truck business in the outskirts of Mexico City as she embarks on the journey of a lifetime with her mother and 10-year-old daughter to pursue her dream of becoming a Hollywood actress.

MGM International Television will produce and distribute the project.

“Good ideas married with good talent knows no borders today,” said Diego Piasek, SVP International Development at MGM International Television. “As a first-generation immigrant myself, I’m so proud that MGM is supporting the new voices of our generation.”

Launched last year, MGM International Television is ramping up in key markets like UK, Europe and Australia. One of the division’s main priorities is developing culturally rich programming with Latinx talent both in front of and behind the camera for English- and Spanish-speaking audiences around the world.

“Making a more inclusive cinema, focusing on minorities and fairly representing the society in which we live is a responsibility of everyone who works in this industry,” Vega said. “That is why I feel extremely excited to join MGMand put my voice at the service of this beautiful initiative that will generate great opportunities for the Latin community.”

Vega is known for her starring role opposite Adam Sandlerin the 2004 James L. Brooksfilm Spanglish. She won multiple awards for the Spanish movie Lucía y el sexo,including a breakthrough award at the 2002 Cannes Film Festival. 

Vega also starred opposite Morgan Freemanin indie film 10 Items or Less and opposite Sylvester Stallonein Rambo: Last Blood.On the television side, she played Renata in Netflix’s The OA.

Azcárraga Jean to Receive NATPE’s Tartikoff Legacy Award

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Emilio Azcárraga Jean is being heralded for his impact in the world of television…

The 45-year-old Mexican businessman, the head of Grupo Televisa, has been named one of the recipients of the 11th Annual Brandon Tartikoff Legacy Award.

Emilio Azcárraga Jean

Other honorees include veteran producer James L. Brooks, Lionsgate CEO Jon Feltheimer and NBCUniversal exec Lauren Zalaznick.

“We are honored to celebrate this extraordinary group of talented people who have made such remarkable contributions to the world of media,” said NATPE President & CEO Rod Perth in a statement. “We’ve chosen each of them because they’ve raised the bar of achievement, and are some of the absolute best in their fields of our business.”

The Tartikoff Award is intended to recognize television professionals “who exhibit extraordinary passion, leadership, independence and vision in the process of creating television programming.”

He became the CEO of Grupo Televisa at the age of 29, after the death of his father. He’s widely credited from turning Televisa from a near-bankrupt business into the prosperous company it is today

Azcárraga Jean, ranked as the seventh richest in Mexico with a fortune estimated at $2.3 billion as of March 2011m is also a Board Member of Teléfonos de Mexico, Univision and Banamex.

He’ll receive the award at next year’s NATPE  Television Market and Conference, taking place on January 27-29 at the Fontainebleau Resort in Miami Beach.

Vega to Star in Almodovar’s “Los Amantes Pasajeros”

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Paz Vega is reuniting with noted Spanish filmmaker Pedro Almodovar this summer…

The 36-year-old Spanish actress has joined the cast of Almodovar’s latest film Los Amantes Pasajeros.

Paz Vega

Vega, who was born in Seville and began her acting career in Spain, starred in Almodovar’s Spanish-language film Talk to Her, which won the Oscar for best original screenplay and the a Golden Globe for best foreign-language film.

Los Amantes Pasajeros, which Almodovar also wrote, follows a group of travelers who are placed in life-threatening situation aboard a plane flying to Mexico City. The passengers are defenseless in the face of danger, which provokes colorful confessionals that are their way to put out of mind the possibility they might be about to die.

Vega, who made her U.S. debut in director James L. Brooks’ Spanglish, has starred in several Hollywood  films including The Spirit and the indie 10 Items or Less. She’ll next voice the character of Carmen in Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted, which opens June 8.

Along with Vega, the movie stars Javier Camara (Talk to Her), Cecilia Roth (All About My Mother) and Lola Duenas (Volver). Spanish comedians Carlos Areces, Raul Arevalo and Jose Maria Yazpik are also in the cast.

Agustin Almodovar, the director’s brother, is producing the film. It is expected to shoot in Madrid this summer and will be released in spring 2013.

Vega joined a theater school at age 16 and made her acting debut on Spanish television. Her first big-screen role was in 1999’s Zapping.

The Goya Award-winning actress, who recently replaced Almodovar’s muse Penelope Cruz as the face of L’Oreal in Spain last year, is married to Orson Salazar, with whom she has three children.