Roadside Attractions/FilmNation Acquires North American Rights to Hayek’s “Beatriz at Dinner”

Posted on January 28, 2017 by Tom Castaneda

Salma Hayek is bringing dinner to North American audiences…

Roadside Attractions and FilmNation Entertainment have acquired the North American rights to Miguel Arteta’s Beatriz at Dinner, starring the 50-year-old Mexican actress.

The film, written by Mike White, centers on an immigrant from a poor town in Mexico. Hayek’s title character, Beatriz, has drawn on her innate kindness to build a career as a health practitioner. Doug Strutt (John Lithgow) is a cutthroat, self-satisfied billionaire. When these two opposites meet at a dinner party, their worlds collide and neither will be the same.

Roadside Attractions and FilmNation also acquired distribution rights for the film in Australia and New Zealand.

The film premiered on January 23 at the Eccles Theatre in Park City, Utah during the Sundance Film Festival.

Freeform Gives Series Order to Thorne’s “Famous In Love”

Posted on April 9, 2016 by Tom Castaneda

There’s more Love in Bella Thorne’s future…

Freeform has given a series order to Famous In Love, starring the 18-year-old half-Cuban American actress/singer.

Based on Rebecca Serle’s romantic novel, the drama pilot centers on Paige (Thorne), an ordinary college student who gets her big break after auditioning for the starring role in a Hollywood blockbuster. She must learn how to navigate her new star-studded life and undeniable chemistry with her two co-leads while discovering the highs and lows that come with being the new It Girl in town.

The series pickup comes a year after the project was bought for fast-track development by Freeform (then ABC Family). It was ordered to pilot in October.

Written by Serle and I. Marlene King, executive producer/co-showrunner of Freeform’s flagship drama series Pretty Little Liars, Famous In Love also stars Carter Jenkins, Jesse Henderson, Keith Powers, Niki Koss, Georgie Flores, Perrey Reeves, Pepi Sonuga and Mark Valley.

King, Miguel Arteta, who directed the pilot, and Dan Farah are executive producers, and Serle is co-executive producer.

Famous In Love joins Freeform drama pilots Guilt and Beyond, which were picked up to series in November.

Thorne, who has a television history with Disney having starred on the Disney Channel series Shake It Up, is a fan of Serle’s book, calling it “a must-read for anyone curious about life and love behind the scenes” in a quote featured on the book cover.

Flores to Star Opposite Bella Thorne in ABC Family’s Drama Pilot “Famous in Love”

Posted on November 25, 2015 by Tom Castaneda

Georgie Flores is ready for a little fame…

The Mexican American actress has joined the cast of the ABC Family drama pilot Famous In Love.

The project, based on Rebecca Serle’s romantic novel, was written by Serle and I. Marlene King, executive producer/co-showrunner of ABC Family’s flagship drama series Pretty Little Liars.

Famous In Love centers on Paige (Bella Thorne), an ordinary college student who gets her big break after auditioning for the starring role in a Hollywood blockbuster. She must now navigate her new star-studded life and undeniable chemistry with her two co-leads while uncovering the truth about what happened to a famous missing pop star.

Flores will play Cassandra, Paige’s roommate and close friend, who is straight-forward and a good friend.

Miguel Arteta is set to direct the pilot, which he will executive produce alongside King and Dan Farah.

Serle co-executive produces the drama from Warner Horizon Television.

Flores’ credits include appearances on CSI: NY, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation and Big Time Rush.

Arteta to Direct Elle Fanning in “All The Bright Places”

Posted on July 28, 2015 by Tom Castaneda

Things are looking bright for Miguel Arteta…

The 49-year-old Puerto Rican filmmaker is set to direct the film adaptation of the Jennifer Niven Young Adult novel All The Bright Places.

From the Demarest Media and The Mazur/Kaplan Company, the film will star Elle Fanning.

Scripted by Niven, the film centers on a young girl (Fanning) who learns to live from a boy who intends to die. Random House Children’s Books/Knope Books For Young Readers published the book earlier this year and it is on the bestseller list.

Arteta, who received the Independent Spirit John Cassavetes Award for the 2000 independent film Chuck & Buck, most recently directed Alexander and The Terrible, Horrible, No Good Very Bad Day.

His credits include Cedar Rapids and Youth In Revolt.

Disney Releases Official Trailer for “Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day,” Starring Thorne

Posted on May 10, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Bella Thorne will be having a very bad day in October…

Disney has released the official trailer for Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day, featuring the16-year-old half-Cuban American actress and former Disney Channel star.

The film adaptation of Judith Viorst’s book of the same name centers on 11-year-old Alexander (portrayed by Ed Oxenbould). Just when Alexander starts having the worst day of his life, he discovers all of his family members (Steve Carell, Jennifer Garner, Dylan Minnette and Kerris Dorsey) are having bad days of their own.

Thorne portrays Celia, the girlfriend of Alexander’s older brother.

The film, which was directed by Miguel Arteta, also stars Megan Mullally and Jennifer Coolidge.

Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day will open in theaters on October 10.

Arteta May Direct “Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day”

Posted on March 14, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

Miguel Arteta could be working with Disney next…

The 48-year-old Puerto Rican filmmaker, who directed the pilot for CW’s The Carrie Diaries, is in talks with Disney to replace Lisa Cholodenko as the director of its live-action adaptation of Judith Viorst’s children’s book Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day.

Alexander is the key character, and he starts a wretched day with the realization that the gum he fell asleep chewing is now hopelessly tangled in his hair. Things get worse from there, to the point he threatens to chuck it all and move to Australia.

Cholodenko, who wrote the script, stepped out as director of the project last month.

Disney has Steve Carell attached to play Alexander’s dad.

Production will begin in the fall.

Arteta’s big screen credits include Cedar Rapids and Youth In Revolt.

Arteta to Direct Bravo’s “Rita” Drama Pilot

Posted on March 1, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

Miguel Arteta has landed his pilot project…

Following his success at the helm of the CW‘s The Carrie Diaries pilot, The 48-year-old Puerto Rican filmmaker has been tapped to direct Bravo’s hour-long pilot Rita.

The family drama, starring Anna Gunn, Colin Salmon and Robbie Kay, centers on Rita (Gunn), a sharp, candid private-school teacher who struggles to raise her three teenage children while dealing with the absurd bureaucracy and domineering parents at her school.

The project was written by Krista Vernoff.

Arteta is best known for directing the indie film Chuck & Buck, which earned him the Independent Spirit Award’s John Cassavetes Award. His resume includes directing television projects like Homicide: Life on the Street, The Office, Ugly Betty and American Horror Story.

Arteta to Direct CW’s Carrie Diaries Pilot

Posted on February 6, 2012 by Tom Castaneda

Miguel Arteta is about to experience a little sex and the city…

The Puerto Rican filmmaker has signed on to direct and executive produce the CW’s Carrie Diaries pilot.

Based on Candace Bushnell’s book, Carrie Diaries is the prequel to Bushnell’s Sex and the City—which spawned HBO’s iconic comedy series starring Sarah Jessica Parker as the book’s heroine Carrie Bradshaw and subsequent films.

Carrie Diaries chronicles Carrie’s coming of age in the 1980s, when she asks her first questions about love, sex, friendship and family while exploring the worlds of high school and Manhattan.

Arteta, who rose to fame after directing The Good Girl and Chuck & Buck, most recently helmed the film Cedar Rapids. He also directed the Thanksgiving episode of Fox’s new breakout hit series New Girl, which introduced recurring guest star Justin Long; as well as episodes of Enlightened and American Horror Story.

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