Sofia Carson Teams Up with Diane Warren on “Applause,” Official Single for Female Empowerment Film “Tell It Like a Woman”

Sofia Carson is ready to tell it like a woman…

The 29-year-old Colombian American actress/singer has teamed up with superstar songwriter and 13-time Oscar nominee Diane Warren on “Applause,” the official song for the star-studded female-powered feature Tell It Like A Woman.

Sofia Carson“Applause,”  performed by Carson, will be released later this year as a single through Disney Music Group label Hollywood Records. An accompanying music video was directed by Catherine Hardwicke, starring Carson.

Warren’s song is described as “the defining sound of the film and intended to serve as a hymn for female empowerment.” The filmmakers say they’ll be embarking on an Oscar campaign for the track.

Tell It Like A Woman is comprised of seven segments, making a feature length film. The segments are directed by female directors from different parts of the world, shot in Italy, India, Japan, and the U.S.. Genres include drama, comedy, docudrama and animation.

Tell It Like A Women’s filmmakers and actors include Taraji P. Henson, Jennifer Hudson, Pauletta Washington, Cara Delevingne, Catherine Hardwicke, Margherita Buy, Marcia Gay Harden, Eva Longoria, Leonor Varela, Jacqueline Fernandez, Anne Watanabe and Mipo O.

The intertwining segments comprise: Unspoken, directed by Maria Sole Tognazzi and starring Buy; Lagonegro, directed by Lucia Puenzo and starring Longoria; Elbows Deep, directed by Hardwicke and starring Delevingne, Harden and Jasmine LuvSharing A Ride, directed by Leena Yadav and starring Fernandez and Anjali LamaA Week In My Life, directed by Mipo O and starring Watanabe; and Pepcy & Kim, directed by Henson and starring Hudson and Washington.

The project is the result of a collaboration with We Do It Together, a non-profit film production company that advocates for gender equality, founded by producer Chiara Tilesi. Producers are Tilesi, Andrea Iervolino, Lucas Akoskin and Monika Bacardi.

 

Samuel Goldwyn Films has closed a deal with Italian outfit Iervolino & Lady Bacardi Entertainment to acquire U.S. distribution rights to the project.

Samuel Goldwyn Films plans to release the movie in theaters this winter and says it is lining up an awards campaign.

Eva Longoria to Star in the Anthology Feature “Women’s Stories”

Eva Longoria is telling stories

The 45-year-old Mexican American actress has joined the all-star cast of the anthology feature Women’s Stories, whose segments will be directed by filmmakers including Catherine Hardwicke.

Eva Longoria

Longoria joins a roster of cast additions that includes Cara DelevingneMargherita BuyMarcia Gay Harden, Leonor Varela and Jacqueline Fernandez.

The film will be comprised of six segments directed by female directors from different parts of the world, shot in Italy, India and the U.S. They will range in genre from drama to comedy, docu-drama to animation. The cast will be all female.

The first four segments have been mapped out: Unspoken will be directed by Maria Sole Tognazzi (Me, Myself & Her) and star decorated Italian actress Margherita Buy (My Mother), the seven-time David di Donatello award-winner; Lagonegro will be directed by Lucia Puenzo (La Jauria) and star Desperate Housewives and Overboard actress Longoria; Elbows Deep will be directed by Twilight filmmaker Hardwicke and star model and actress Delevingne (Suicide Squad), Oscar-winner Marcia Gay Harden (Pollock) and Jasmine Luv (Starter Pack); and Sharing A Ride will be directed by Leena Yadav (Three Cards) and feature Bollywood star Jacqueline Fernandez and transgender model Anjali Lama.

Producing are Iervolino Entertainment (Waiting For The Barbarians) and non-profit production company We Do It Together, which campaigns for gender equality.

Chiara Tilesi, founder and President of We Do It Together, said of the project: “At We Do It Together, our mission is to enhance and change the image of women in films and media, from object to subject. We are dedicated to telling stories of women, both in front of and behind the camera. That’s why Women Stories is so important to us – we have brought together female directors, from all over the world, who collaborate and share personal stories from their own point of view. We are telling the stories of these heroines and their aspirations: from health workers to mothers, artists and business women, to name a few. We also want to be inclusive and have as many different perspectives as possible, which is why connecting globally is so important to us. Now more than ever, especially after the latest UN policy brief The Impact of Covid-19 On Women, it has emerged that gender inequality is still a very present reality and, unfortunately, we remain far from a solution. Some of the achievements that were made, are at risk of being erased once again. This is why it is so important for us to continue to tell stories about women, by women, but for everyone. Only together can men and women finally change these paradigms.”

Andrea Iervolino, President and founder of Iervolino Entertainment, added: “It gives me tremendous pride to collaborate with such an astounding ensemble, and to help deliver a message larger than the film itself. It’s important for us that this be done on a global scale, which is why we’re shooting, very carefully and safely, in Italy, India and the US.”

The project was initially announced five years ago in different form as Together Now.

Varela to Star in the Ice Age Epic “The Solutrean”

It’s back to the “ice age, baby” for Leonor Varela

The 43-year-old Chilean actress has landed a supporting role in Studio 8’s ice age epic The Solutrean from director Albert Hughes.

Leonor Varela

Inspired by the controversial “solutrean hypothesis,” which advances the idea that Stone Age Europeans might have been among the earliest settlers of the Americas, the coming-of-age tale of survival is set 20,000 years ago.

It follows a young boy injured during a hunting expedition and left for dead who must use his skills, intuition and force of will to make it back home. Along the way, he befriends a wolf, who becomes his close companion.

Varela is playing the shaman of the boy’s tribe; described as wise, powerful and compelling, she performs religious rituals of protection, healing and thanksgiving.

Varela most recently appeared in Paramount PicturesCaptive, opposite Kate Mara, David Oyelowo and Michael Kenneth Williams.

Her other credits include Ride opposite Helen Hunt and Luke Wilson, a seven-episode arc on TNT’s Dallasand Odd Thomas with Anton Yelchin and Willem Dafoe. She also appeared in Blade II and The Tailor of Panama.

Varela Starring in the Thriller “Captive”

Leonor Varela will be holding audiences captive with her latest performance soon…

The 40-year-old Chilean actress and model has signed on to star in Captive.

Leonor Varela

The Jerry Jameson-directed thriller, written by Brian Bird and Reinhard Denke, is based on a well-known true story.

While Ashley Smith, a single mom, struggles to overcome her drug addiction to regain custody of her daughter, she’s taken hostage by an escaped, quadruple murderer. Her only defenses: faith in God, a love for her daughter, and the book A Purpose Driven Life, parts of which she reads aloud to her captor during the harrowing ordeal. This leads to a surprising epiphany for both Ashley and the convict.

Varela, who appeared in the first season of TNT’s Dallas reboot, joins a cast that includes David Oyelowo, Kate Mara and Mimi Rogers.

Her other credits include television appearances on Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D, Human Target and Arrested Development.

Varela Gives Birth to First Child…

Her character may have met her demise on Dallas… But Leonor Varela has already lined up a new role: mother.

The 39-year-old Chilean actress/model gave birth to her first child with producer Lucas Akoskin, the new mom announced via Twitter on Tuesday.

Leonor Varela

Matteo V. Akoskin is finally in our arms!” writes Varela, keeping any additional details under wraps.

Confirming the pregnancy in July, Varela and Akoskin were elated to be starting a family together.

“The couple are over the moon,” her rep told People magazine at the time.

Varela Expecting Her First Child

Leonor Varela is preparing for the most challenging role of her life: Mother.

The 39-year-old Chilean actress/model is pregnant with her first child, according to People magazine.

Leonor Varela

Varela—who portrays con artist Veronica Martinez on TNT‘s Dallas reboot, which was picked up for a second season recently—is expecting her child with producer Lucas Akoskin, who is currently working on Words with Gods.

“The couple [is] over the moon,” Varela’s rep tells the magazine.

Varela’s previous credits include Blade II and Cleopatra.

Varela Cast in CW’s Drama Futuristic Pilot “The Selection”

Leonor Varela could soon be getting the royal treatment on television…

The 39-year-old Chilean actress has been cast in the CW’s drama pilot The Selection, which has been compared to The Hunger Games.

Leonor Varela

Based on the upcoming series of books by Kiera Cass, The Selection is described as an epic romance set 300 years in the future. It centers on America Singer (Aimee Teegarden), a poor young woman who is chosen by lottery to participate in a competition to marry Prince Maxon (Ethan Peck) and become the next queen of a war-torn nation at a crossroads.

Varela, who has appeared on Arrested Development and Human Target, will play Maxon’s mother, Queen Amberly.

The bilingual actress and telenovela star just wrapped a six-episode arc on TNT’s upcoming Dallas reboot, which will premiere this summer.