Rodriguez & Her Fast & Furious Co-Stars to Receive Generation Award at the MTV Movie & TV Awards

Posted on April 29, 2017 by Tom Castaneda

It’s a new generation for Michelle Rodriguez…

The 38-year-old Puerto Rican and Dominican American actress and her fellow Fast & Furious franchise co-stars will receive the Generation Award at this year’s MTV Movie & TV Awards on May 7, marking the first time the award show will give the honor to a film franchise rather than an individual actor.

Fast & Furious star and producer Vin Diesel will accept the award alongside his co-stars Rodriguez, who portrays Letty in the franchise, Tyrese Gibson and Jordan Brewster.

Since 1992, the Generation Award has honored talent with a body of work throughout their career that speaks directly to the MTV audience. Past recipients include Will Smith, Reese Witherspoon, Robert Downey Jr., Mark Wahlberg, Sandra Bullock, Jamie Foxx, Johnny Depp, Ben Stiller, Adam Sandler, Mike Myers, Tom Cruise and Jim Carrey.

MTV will air marathons of the first three Fast & Furious films this weekend. They’ll feature a trivia game hosted by stars Diesel and Chris “Ludacris” Bridges, offering social engagers a chance to win a trip to attend the MTV Movie & TV Awards.

The 2017 MTV Movie & TV Awards will be hosted by actor and comedian Adam Devine, with the telecast airing live on Sunday, May 7, at 8:00 pm EST from the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles.

Brewster to Compete on the Next Installment of “Masterchef Celebrity Showdown”

Posted on October 20, 2016 by Tom Castaneda

Jordana Brewster is ready to put her best apron forward for charity…

The lineup for the next installment of Masterchef Celebrity Showdown has been announced, with the 36-year-old Brazilian-Panamanian actress among those joining the two-hour charity event set to air January 2 at 8:00 pm on Fox.

Brewster, one of the stars of the The Fast and the Furious film franchise, joins a roster that includes Kal Penn, Anthony Anderson and former NFL stars Ronde Barber and Tiki Barber.

The special will also feature the first ever battle royale between Masterchef judges Gordon Ramsay and Christina Tosi, with Ramsay teaming up with Anderson to face off against Tosi and Brewster.

Here are the match-ups for the next Masterchef Celebrity Showdown:

Empire stars Trai Byers and Grace Gealey Byers representing Saving Our Daughters, vs. Nene and Gregg Leakes representing Broadway Cares.

Cheryl Hines cooking for United Cerebral Palsy of Central Florida, vs. Penn cooking for United Nations Relief and Works Agency.

Ronde and Tiki representing Kulture City, vs. Joel Madden and Benji Madden representing MusiCares.

Anderson and Ramsay representing Watts/Willowbrook Boys & Girls Club, vs. Brewster and Tosi competing for No Kid Hungry.

Vergara Among 49 Celebrities Appearing in Orlando Massacre Tribute Video

Posted on July 1, 2016 by Tom Castaneda

Sofia Vergara is urging people to stop the hate…

The 43-year-old Colombian actress and Modern Family star is among the 49 celebrities honoring the 49 victims of the Orlando shooting massacre in a Ryan Murphy-Produced tribute video.

The 18-minute tribute, directed by Murphy and Ned Martel, was released this week by the Human Rights Campaign.

“On June 12, forty-nine innocent people — most of them Latino — were killed at Pulse nightclub in Orlando simply because of who they were,” reads the description of the video on YouTube. “It’s on all of us to keep their memories alive, and to ensure part of their legacy becomes meaningful action to end hate violence.”

The video features a photo of each victim, accompanied by a celebrity recounting that person’s individual story. It was filmed over three days, at Fox Studios in Los Angeles.

“The hate that stole these 49 individuals from all those who loved them has been allowed to flourish in our country for too long,” said Murphy in a statement. “No person is born hating another, and we have an obligation as Americans to stand up against prejudice and bigotry that would incite violence against someone simply for who they are. I am proud to have joined with Ned Martel, my talented colleagues, and the Human Rights Campaign to honor these 49 heroes and stop the hate.”

In addition to Vergara, other Latino celebrities who participated in the video include Lea Michele, Edgar Ramirez, George Lopez, Diego Boneta, Demi Lovato, Kid Cudi, Jordana Brewster and Guillermo Díaz.

Learn more at: http://www.hrc.org/StopTheHate.

Rodriguez & Her “Furious 7” Costars to Receive Special Hollywood Film Award

Posted on October 5, 2015 by Tom Castaneda

Michelle Rodriguez is getting a Furious recognition…

The 37-year-old Puerto Rican and Dominican-American actress and her Furious 7 costars will receive a special honor at this year’s Hollywood Film Awards.

Furious 7, the Universal Pictures sequel that is now the fifth highest-grossing film of all time, will be feted with the Hollywood Blockbuster Award, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

The award will be bestowed on the entire cast, which includes Jordana Brewster, Vin Diesel, Dwayne Johnson and the late Paul Walker.

The ceremony, which will take place at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on November 1, will also honor Amy director Asif Kapadia with the Hollywood Documentary Award for his film about the late Amy Winehouse.

And a host of other accolades will be celebrate extraordinary work in crafts and technical categories.

This year’s Hollywood Film Awards will not be televised, unlike last year’s, which aired on CBS. Nevertheless, Dick Clark Productions, which became a key investor in the event in 2013, will continue to produce it.

“The Hollywood Film Awards is an incredible brand, previewing some of the biggest movies and stars of the year, while launching the award season,” says Allen Shapiro, CEO of DCP.

The recipients of the event’s many other awards will be announced in the coming days and weeks.

Brewster to Star in ABC’s Anthology Crime Drama Series “Secrets & Lies”

Posted on August 2, 2015 by Tom Castaneda

Jordana Brewster has secrets & lies to share…

The 35-year-old Brazilian-Panamanian actress has joined the cast of ABC’s anthology crime drama series Secrets & Lies for its upcoming second season.

Season 2 picks up with detective Andrea Cornell (Juliette Lewis) investigating a new crime, the murder of Eric Warner’s (Michael Ealy) wife.

Brewster will play Kate Warner, an accomplished attorney who runs the compliance department for the Warner family-owned private equity firm.

Terry O’Quinn also stars.

Secrets & Lies, from ABC Studios, was developed for American television by Barbie Kligman based on the original Australian series.

Brewster, who had a recurring role in the NBC TV series Chuck, last appeared on television on TNT’s Dallas.

Brewster to Promote “Furious 7” on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” This Week

Posted on March 31, 2015 by Tom Castaneda

Jordana Brewster is bringing the Furious to late night…

The 34-year-old Brazilian-American actress will be appearing on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon to promote her highly anticipated new film Furious 7.

Brewster will make her appearance this week, on Friday, April 3, the same day the film opens in theaters nationwide.

Brewster’s breakthrough role came in 2001’s The Fast and the Furious, which launched the action film franchise. She reprises her role as as Mia Toretto in Furious 7.

Universal Releases Three-Minute Trailer for Rodriguez’s “Furious 7”

Posted on February 5, 2015 by Tom Castaneda

Michelle Rodriguez is ready to take crazy “to a whole new level”…

Universal Pictures has released a new three-minute trailer for Furious 7, starring the 36-year-old Puerto Rican and Dominican American actress.

“I don’t have friends — I got family,” asserts Vin Diesel in the high-octane trailer.

In addition to Rodriguez and Vin Diesel, the film also stars the late Paul Walker, Dwayne Johnson, Jordana Brewster, Tyrese Gibson, Chris “Ludacris” Bridges, Elsa Pataky, Lucas Black, Djimon Hounsou, Tony Jaa, Ronda Rousey and Romeo Santos.

Meanwhile, Jason Statham makes his debut as the film’s villain, who is keen on getting revenge.

Fast & Furious 7 will be released in theaters on April 10, 2015.

Saban Films Acquires U.S. Rights to Brewster’s “American Heist”

Posted on September 13, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Jordana Brewster’s latest film will most certainly make its way to American theaters…

Saban Films has acquired the U.S. distribution rights to American Heist, the bank robbery actioner that stars the 34-year-old Panamanian actress and Dallas star.

American Heist centers on two brothers, both with troubled pasts, who find themselves in the middle of one last bank job.

In addition to Brewster, who portrays Emily in the film, American Heist also stars Hayden Christensen, Adrien Brody, Tory Kittles and Aliaune “Akon” Thiam.

The deal followed its premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival.

Universal Pictures to Release Rodriguez’s “Fast & Furious 7” Next April

Posted on July 3, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Michelle Rodriguez will be getting fast and furious next Easter…

Universal Pictures has moved up the release date of Fast & Furious 7, starring the 35-year-old Puerto Rican and Dominican American actress, ahead to Easter weekend.

The franchise sequel originally had an April 10 release date, but Fast & Furious 7 is now set to hit theaters on April 3.

The move gives the film an extra weekend of play before the April 17 debut of Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2.

James Wan is directing this latest installment of the blockbuster series, which again stars Vin Diesel, Paul Walker — in his last film — Dwayne Johnson, Jordana Brewster and others, including franchise rookies Jason Statham, Djimon Hounsou and Kurt Russell.

Rodriguez is set to reprise her role as Leticia “Letty” Ortiz, a role that earned her Fandango Cine’s Latino Performance of the Year at the Premios Tu Mundo in 2013.

Santos to Star Opposite Michelle Rodriguez in “Fast & Furious 7”

Posted on May 26, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Romeo Santos is making a furious acting debut…

The 32-year-old Dominican and Puerto Rican singer-songwriter and former lead singer of the Bachata group Aventura has joined the cast of Universal Pictures’ Fast & Furious 7.

Santos, a chart-topping, Grammy-nominated musician, was joined onstage at his sold-out Staples Center concert in Los Angeles by Fast & Furious franchise star Vin Diesel, who made the announcement to the singer’s fans.

Santos’ role in the James Wan-directed sequel hasn’t been revealed yet.

But he will be joining Jason Statham, Kurt Russell and more newcomers alongside series returners Vin Diesel, Dwayne Johnson, Michelle Rodriguez, Jordana Brewster, Tyrese Gibson, Ludacris, Lucas Black and the late Paul Walker.