Bella Thorne’s “Divinity” to Have International Premiere at Italy’s Taormina Film Festival

Posted on June 12, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Bella Thorne’s latest film is preparing to have its first international showing…

The 25-year-old half-Cuban American actress/singer’s feature Divinity, hailing from Bolivian American director Eddie Alcazar, is set to premiere internationally at the Taormina Film Festival on June 29th in Italy.

Writer and director Alcazar and stars Thorne, Karrueche Tran and Moises Arias will appear at the Teatro Antico for the celebration.

The feature, produced by Steven Soderbergh, was reportedly acquired at Sundance by Utopia and Sumerian for seven figures.

It will also screen in Germany at the Munich Film Festival and in Canada at Fantasia Film Festival this summer.

Divinity is set in an otherworldly human existence where scientist Sterling Pierce (Scott Bakula) is on a quest for immortality, slowly creating the building blocks of a groundbreaking serum named “Divinity.” Jaxxon Pierce (Stephen Dorff), his son, now controls and manufactures his father’s once-benevolent dream.

Society on this barren planet has been entirely perverted by the supremacy of the drug, whose true origins are shrouded in mystery. Two mysterious brothers (Jason Genao and Arias) arrive with a plan to abduct the mogul, and with the help of a seductive woman named Nikita (Tran), they will be set on a path hurtling toward true immortality.

“Divinity is a creative tour-de-force. We are fortunate to be screening the film’s European premiere after its success at Sundance. I look forward to welcoming Eddie Alcazar and the film’s cast to the premiere in Taormina. It will surely be one of the highlights of the Festival this year,” said Barrett Wissman, the Festival’s Executive and Artistic Director.

Prior to his success with Divinity, Alcazar directed The Vandal, executive produced by Darren Aronofsky, which made its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival in 2021. Additionally, he directed the feature-length sci-fi thriller Perfect (2018), executive produced by Soderbergh through his company Brainfeeder Films and produced 2016’s Kuso.

Netflix Releases Trailer for Jason Genao’s YA Comedy Limited Series ” Boo, Bitch”

Posted on June 13, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

It’s a Bitchin’ new project for Jason Genao…

Netflix has released the official trailer for Boo, Bitch, an eight-episode live-action YA comedy limited series starring Lana Condor and the 25-year-old Dominican-American actor and On My Block star.

Hailing from Erin Ehrlich and Lauren Iungerich, the series stars Condor as Erica Vu, a high school senior who’s lived her life safely under the radar. Over the course of one night, she seizes the opportunity to change her narrative and start living an epic life, only to find out the next morning… she’s a motherf*%king ghost.

In addition to Condor and Genao, the cast also includes Zoe Colletti, Mason Versaw, Aparna Brielle and Tenzing Norgay Trainor.

Writers Ehrlich and Iungerich created a new take on an original script optioned from newcomers and co-creators Tim Schauer and Kuba Soltysiak.

Boo, Bitch premieres on July 8 on Netflix.

Bella Thorne to Star in Steven Soderbergh & Eddie Alcazar’s Indie Film “Divinity”

Posted on April 20, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

It’s to Divinity and beyond for Bella Thorne…

The 24-year-old half-Cuban American actress/singer has been cast in the indie film Divinity.Thorne is among the final cast members to be announced for the film, alongside Scott Bakula.

The project is the latest collaboration between Steven Soderbergh and Eddie Alcazar. Cypress Hills’ DJ Muggs will serve as musical composer.

Chris Santos, Danielia Maximillian, Lydia Bielen, and Emily Willis round out the cast.

Previously announced actors leading the project include Stephen Dorff, Jason Genao, Moises Arias, Karrueche Tran, and Mike O’Hearn.

Divinity follows otherworldly brothers (Genao & Arias) that are hellbent on stopping a mogul (Dorff) who is close to unraveling the secrets behind immortality.

The film includes elements of Alcazar’s “Metascope” technique which combines stop motion animation and live-action sequences. The technique was featured in his short film The Vandal, a collaboration with Darren Aronofsky, which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in 2021.

Divinity is targeting completion ahead of the film festival circuit.

Alcazar previously worked with his mentor Soderbergh on his feature debut Perfect, released in 2018, a sci-fi thriller starring Abbie Cornish, Rainey Qualley, Courtney Eaton, and Tao Okamoto.

Bryana Salaz to Star in Netflix’s “On My Block” Spinoff, “Freeridge”

Posted on October 8, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Bryana Salaz is part of the Core Four…

The 24-year-old Latina actress/singer has been cast in Netflix’s On My Block spinoff, YA comedy series Freeridge.

Salaz, who starred on Team Kaylie, is part of the core cast that includes Keyla Monterroso Mejia (Curb Your Enthusiasm Season 11, Growing Fangs), Ciara Riley Wilson (LA’s Finest, Kim Possible) and Shiv Pai (Iron Fist, Uncut Gems).

The spinoff hails from On My Block co-creators Lauren Iungerich, Eddie Gonzalez and Jeremy Haft, On My Block writer Jamie Uyeshiro and Jamie Dooner.

In the spinoff, the stories of Freeridge continue, following a new crew of friends who may
or may not have unleashed a deadly curse kicking off an unforgettable adventure.

The fourth and final season of On My Block premiered October 4 on Netflix. Salaz, Mejia, Wilson and Pai appear in the series finale as a segue to the upcoming spinoff.

Uyeshiro, Gonzalez and Haft will serve as co-creators, co-showrunners and executive producers of Freeridge. Iungerich and Dooner are co-creators and executive producers.

Sierra Capri, Jason Genao, Brett Gray, Diego Tinoco, Jessica Marie Garcia and Julio Macias star in On My Block, a coming-of-age comedy about four bright and street-savvy friends navigating their way through the triumph, pain and the newness of high school set in the rough inner city.

Salaz appeared on the seventh season of NBC’s The Voice as part of Gwen Stefani‘s team.

Netflix Renews Jason Genao’s “On My Block” for Fourth & Final Season

Posted on January 31, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

It’s one last trip around the block for Jason Genao…

Netflix has renewed On My Block, starring the 24-year-old Dominican American actor, for a fourth and final season.

The series will return with 10 episodes with stars Genao, Sierra Capri, Brett Gray, Diego Tinoco, Jessica Marie Garcia and Julio Macias back alongside co-creator Lauren Iungerich.

The series is a coming-of-age comedy about four bright and street-savvy friends navigating their way through the triumph, pain and the newness of high school set in the rough inner city.

Its third season, which consisted of eight episodes, premiered in March 2020.

Iungerich remains showrunner and executive producer, the renewal coming after she signed a multiyear overall deal with the streamer last year to develop new projects. She’ll exec produce alongside co-creators Eddie Gonzalez and Jeremy Haft. Jamie Dooner has been upped to executive producer.

It brings an end to the show, which was named by the streamer as its No. 1 most binged show in 2018, beating the likes of Making a Murderer, 13 Reasons Why and The Haunting of Hill House.

Jason Genao to Star in the Vietnam War Thriller “Ambush”

Posted on September 4, 2020 by Tom Castaneda

Jason Genao is getting ambushed…

The 24-year-old Dominican American actor and On My Block star has been cast in the Vietnam War action thriller Ambush, starring Aaron Echkart.

Genao joins a roster of new cast additions that includes Cody Christian and Dermot Mulroney. The film will be directed by Mark Earl Burman, who co-wrote the screenplay with Michael McClung.

Ambush, based on a true story, follows a group of elite commandos, led by Captain Drummond (Eckhart), tasked with collecting classified information that can change the fate of the war. On the edge of the jungle, the team is attacked by an overwhelming invisible force of the enemy army and must follow it into the complex labyrinth of Cu Chi tunnels, with the enemy and traps at every turn.

Principal photography is now set to begin in the fall in Colombia amid compliance with COVID-19 health guidelines.

Saban Films has acquired the North American rights to Ambush, with a release plan currently in the works.

Genao previously starred in Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine film Logan.

Julio Macias Upped to Series Regular on Netflix’s “On My Block”

Posted on August 10, 2019 by Tom Castaneda

Julio Maciaswill be spending more time on the Block…

The Mexican American actor, who has recurred for the past two seasons of On My Block as Oscar “Spooky” Diaz, has been promoted to series regular for the upcoming third season of the Netflix series.

Macias’ Oscar Diaz is a gang leader in the Santos Gang. He has appeared in 13 episodes since season 1.

On My Block, from Awkward creator Lauren Iungerich, Eddie Gonzalezand Jeremy Haft, is a coming-of-age comedy about bright and street-savvy friends navigating their way through the triumph, pain and the newness of high school in LA’s South Central neighborhood.

During the first two seasons, we learned that before Oscar joined the gang, he was an intelligent student who was planning to attend college and culinary school. Instead of following his dream, Oscar decided to stay in Freeridge to look after his younger brother Cesar and keep him safe in their gang-ridden neighborhood.

Sierra Capri, Jason Genao, Brett Gray, Diego Tinoco and Jessica Marie Garcia will reprise their roles in Season 3.

Macia’s previous credits include appearances on Jane the Virgin and S.W.A.T.

Jason Genao & His “On My Block” Castmates Complete Salary Renegotiation Talks with Netflix

Posted on July 31, 2019 by Tom Castaneda

Jason Genaois back on the Block…

Netflixhas posted a video with the cast of On My Block, including the 23-year-old Dominican American actor, marking the start of production on Season 3 of the coming-of-age comedy.

In addition to Genoa, the video features the series’ other leads Sierra Capri, Brett Grayand Diego Tinoco.

On My Block, from Awkward creator Lauren Iungerich, Eddie Gonzalezand Jeremy Haft, is a coming-of-age comedy about bright and street-savvy friends navigating their way through the triumph, pain and the newness of high school in LA’s South Central neighborhood. The series’ writers have been working since April, churning out scripts for the upcoming third season.

The quartet had been embroiled in salary renegotiation talks with Netflix. The negotiations had stretched well into July, with the impasse threatening to impact the start of production.

As was the case of 13 Reasons Why last summer,it got down to the wire, but Deadline.com reports the core cast has successfully completed salary renegotiations, scoring significant salary increases.

Genoa, Capri, Gray and Tinoco, who each made $20,000 an episode in the first two seasons, went into the negotiations with an opening salvo of $250,000 an episode. Netflix countered with an offer for $40,000 an episode, leading to a $225,000 an episode response from the actors’ camp.

The actors all reportedly got substantial raises, tripling or more their previous paychecks.

No official word from Netflix on the exact amount.

Netflix Renews Jason Genao’s “On My Block” for a Third Season

Posted on April 30, 2019 by Tom Castaneda

Jason Genaoisn’t leaving the block…

Netflix has ordered a third season of high school comedy series On My Block, starring the 22-year-old Dominican American actor.

The announcement, which the show shared via Twitter, comes one month after the show’s Season 2 premiere.

Production on Season 3 of the series, which hails from Awkward creator Lauren Iungerich, Eddie Gonzalezand Jeremy Haft, will begin this year in Los Angeles.

Co-created and executive produced by Iungerich, Gonzalez & Haft, On My Block is a coming-of-age comedy about bright and street-savvy friends navigating their way through the triumph, pain and the newness of high school in LA’s South Central neighborhood.

Genao, who previously starred on Netflix’s The Get Down, Sierra Capri, Brett Gray, Diego Tinoco and Jessica Marie Garcia will reprise their roles in Season 3.

https://twitter.com/OnMyBlock/status/1122986415770537984

Additional casting news will be announced at a later date.

Jessica Marie Garcia Upped to Series Regular for Season 2 of Netflix’s “On My Block”

Posted on October 3, 2018 by Tom Castaneda

Jessica Marie Garcia will be spending more time on the block…

The Latina actress has been upped to series regular for the upcoming second season of Netflix’s On My Block, the coming-of-age comedy co-created and executive produced by Lauren Iungerich, Eddie Gonzalez and Jeremy Haft.

The series was renewed in April.

In Season 1 of the series, about a group of bright and street-savvy friends navigating their way through the triumph, pain and the newness of high school in LA’s South Central, Garcia recurred as Jasmine. She is confident, full of enthusiasm and swagger and never afraid to share her opinion. She embraces who she is and likes the skin she’s in.

Diego Tinoco, Sierra Capri, Jason Genao, Brett Gray and Ronnie Hawk also star.

On My Blockpremiered on March 16.

Garcia’s television credits include Disney Channel’s Liv and Maddie and Hulu’s all-female sketch comedy show Betch. She also starred alongside Danny Trejoand Lou Diamond Phillips in 2017’s film Avenge the Crows.

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