Liza Colón-Zayas to Appear in OWN’s Coming-of-Age Drama Series “David Makes Man”

Posted on October 27, 2018 by Tom Castaneda

Liza Colón-Zayas is OWNingthe day…

OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network has added ten recurring and guest star cast members to the ensemble of its upcoming coming-of-age drama series David Makes Man, including the Puerto Rican actress and playwright.

From Oscar-winningMoonlight co-writer Tarell Alvin McCraney and Warner Horizon Scripted Television. David Makes Mancenters on David, a 14-year-old prodigy from the projects who is haunted by the death of his closest friend and relied on by his hardworking mother to find a way out of poverty. He must choose between the streets that raised him or the higher education that may offer him a way out.

Set in South Florida, the lyrical drama, inspired by events in McCraney’s own life, explores the inherent trauma sustained in the fight for survival.

In addition to Colon-Zayas, who starred in The Purge: Election Year, other cast additions include Lela Rochon, Trace Lysette, Juanita Jennings, Lindsey Blackwell, Solomon Valdez ([Bi]Polar), Teshi Thomas, and newcomers Nick Creegan, Kimaya Naomi and Logan Rozos.

Colon-Zayas plays Principal Fallow. She runs the magnet school that David, Seren and Marissa attend.

Valdezwill play Willie Derrick, an 11-year-old wanna-be dope dealer.

They join the previously announced series regular ensemble cast that includes Akili McDowell, Phylicia Rashad, Nathaniel Logan McIntyre, Isaiah Johnson, Ade Chike Torbert, Jordan Bolger, Cayden K. Williams, Travis Coles and Alana Arenas, along with guest stars Gillian Williams, Elvis Nolasco, and Ruben Santiago-Hudson.

Angel Manuel Soto to Direct the Dirt-Bike Drama “12 O’clock Boys”

Posted on September 25, 2018 by Tom Castaneda

The clock has struck 12 for Angel Manuel Soto…

The 35-year-old Puerto Rican filmmaker is set to direct the dirt-bike drama, 12 O’clock Boys, starring Teyonah Parris, Jahi Winston and Will Catlett.

Moonlight’s Barry Jenkins wrote the initial draft for the script, while Sherman Payne did the rewrites.

The film is based on the Lotfy Nathan-directed documentary of the same title. It follows Mouse, a young boy who wants nothing more than to be a part of the Midnight Clique, a tough group of Baltimore bike riders who rule the summertime streets. As he navigates the challenges of coming of age in a complicated world, he learns the hard way that the choices you make early on can change your life forever.

Filming will begin next month.

Soto made his feature debut in 2015 with La Granja and recently directed Dinner Party, a VR experience that premiered at the New Frontier section of the Sundance Film Festival in 2018.

Shakira Releases New Fragrance, Dream

Posted on September 18, 2018 by Tom Castaneda

Shakira is feeling scent-sational…

The 41-year-old Colombian superstar is growing her beauty brand, with her new fragrance Dream, a perfume that is, in a nutshell, “a dream come true.”

“With this new launch the artist gives a very personal account of how her dream to make music became a reality,” notes the official Shakira Beauty website. “Dream You Only Live Once is a youthful, addictive essence with which to share Shakira’s experience — and have the courage to turn our hopes and dreams for the future into reality.”

Feminine and filled with personality, the perfume, which comes in a light blue bottle and gold top, has notes of citrus, floral, rose, jasmine, woody, musky and vanilla.

Dream is the fourth perfume Shak has released, in addition to Rock, Love Rock and S by Shakira.

View this post on Instagram

Estamos muy felices de presentarles la nueva fragancia de Shakira, #ShakiraDream! Próximamente les compartiremos el anuncio de televisión! We’re very excited to announce Shak’s brand new fragrance, Dream! Look out for the TV ad very soon! ShakHQ

A post shared by Shakira (@shakira) on Sep 17, 2018 at 9:39am PDT

On Instagram, she also teased fans with the first look of her next fragrance Moonlight, coming in March 2019.

Elvis Nolasco Joins Cast of OWN’s Coming-of-Age Drama Series “David Makes Man”

Posted on August 29, 2018 by Tom Castaneda

Elvis Nolasco is the Man with a plan…

The Dominican actor has joined the ensemble cast of OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network’s upcoming coming-of-age drama series David Makes Man, from Oscar-winning Moonlight co-writer Tarell Alvin McCraney.

David Makes Man centers on David, a 14-year-old prodigy from the projects who is haunted by the death of his closest friend and relied on by his hardworking mother to find a way out of poverty. He must choose between the streets that raised him or the higher education that may offer him a way out. Set in South Florida, the lyrical drama, inspired by events in McCraney’s own life, explores the inherent trauma sustained in the fight for survival.

In addition to Nolasco, who starred in ABC’s anthology series American Crime, cast additions include Alana Arenas, (L.A. Confidential, Chicago P.D.), while Gillian Williams (The Girlfriend Experience), Ruben Santiago-Hudson (The Quad, Billions) and Randy Gonzalez (Bloodline) are set for recurring roles.

They join previously announced cast Phylicia Rashad, Akili McDowell, Nathaniel Logan McIntyre, Isaiah Johnson, Ade Chike Torbert, Jordan Bolger, Cayden K. Williams and Travis Coles.

Directors joining the hour-long drama for Season 1 include Michael Francis Williams, Kiel Adrian Scott, Daina Reid and Cheryl Dunye.

The series, currently in production in Orlando, Florida, is set for a 2019 premiere on OWN.

Arenas will play Gloria, David’s young, hardworking, single mother who wants better for her children. A now-sober, former drug user, she worries that social services might take her sons away.

Williams will recur as Jessica Kelly, David’s former music teacher who is the mother of his best friend, Seren. Santiago-Hudson is Dr. Bree, a clinical psychiatrist who challenges David to examine the trauma of his past and his hopes for the future. Nolasco will play Tio-Teo, the uncle to David’s strained acquaintance, Raynan. He aims to expand his illegal prescription med operation . . . no matter what the cost. Gonzalez is Mr. Lopez, a teacher of remedial math who believes in David more than David believes in himself.

David Makes Man is produced by Page Fright and Outlier Productions in association with Warner Horizon Scripted Television.

Pedro Pascal to Star in Barry Jenkins’ New Film “If Beale Street Could Talk”

Posted on December 5, 2017 by Tom Castaneda

Pedro Pascal is hitting the street…

The 42-year-old Chilean actor has been cast in If Beale Street Could Talk, director Barry Jenkins’ follow-up to his Oscar Best Picture winner Moonlight.

KiKi Layne stars in the film, which is based on the James Baldwin novel along with Stephan James, Colman Domingo, Brian Tyree Henry and Regina King.

Layne plays Tish, a newly engaged Harlem woman who races against the clock to prove her lover’s innocence while carrying their first child to term.

Jenkins adapted the book and is producing via his Pastel label with Annapurna Pictures and Plan B.

Pascal, who starred as Oberyn Martell on HBO’s Game of Thrones, was most recently on the big screen in Kingsman: The Golden Circle.

He’ll next appear in Sony Pictures’ The Equalizer 2.

Mendonca Filho Named to Variety’s “10 Directors to Watch” List

Posted on December 29, 2016 by Tom Castaneda

Keep your eyes on Kleber Mendonca Filho…

The Brazilian film director, screenwriter and producer will be honored as one of Variety’s 10 Directors to Watch during the Palm Springs Film Festival in January.The full list, which spans the creative landscape and puts a spotlight on a mixture of independent and studio filmmakers, includes Moonlight director Barry Jenkins.

Mendonca Filho is being recognized for helming the Brazilian–French drama Aquarius, starring Sonia Braga as Clara, a retired music writer and the last resident of Aquarius building, who refuses to sell her apartment to a construction company that intends to replace it with a new edifice.

The film was selected to compete for the Palme d’Or at the 2016 Cannes Film Festival.

“One of the most exciting things for me about the festival is being able to host Variety’s 10 Directors to Watch brunch,” said Michael Lerman, the festival’s Artistic Director. “Not only is it a fantastic event, but it also nicely compliments our festival program with selections from our Talking Pictures and Awards Buzz sections, as well as the director of our opening night film The Sense of an Ending, Ritesh Batra. It’s an exciting list this year!”

Here’s the complete list:

Maren Ade, (“Toni Erdmann”)
Ritesh Batra, (“The Sense of an Ending”)
Otto Bell, (“The Eagle Huntress”)
Julia Ducournau, (“Raw”)
Geremy Jasper, (“Patti Cake$”)
Barry Jenkins, (“Moonlight”)
Emmett and Brendan Malloy, (“The Tribes of Palos Verdes”)
Kleber Mendonca Filho, (“Aquarius”)
William Oldroyd, (“Lady Macbeth”)
David Sandberg, (“Lights Out”)

Previous 10 Directors to Watch include Ben Affleck (Gone Baby Gone), Ava DuVernay (Selma) and Christopher Nolan (Memento).

The list debuted in 1996 and the annual event moved to the Palm Springs International Film Festival in January 2011.

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