Lin-Manuel Miranda Among the High-Profile Guests on Apple’s New Biographical Docuseries “Dear….”

Posted on January 19, 2020 by Tom Castaneda

Lin-Manuel Mirandais a realDear…

The 40-year-old Puerto Rican composer, lyricist, singer, actor, producer, and playwright will appear on Apple’s new biographical docuseries Dear….

Dear…takes an inventive and cinematic approach to biographies of the most iconic figures in society today by using letters written by those whose lives have been changed through their work.

In addition to Miranda, widely known for creating and starring in the the Tony Award-winning Broadway musicals In the Heights and Hamilton, the 10-episode series will profile internationally recognized leaders including Oprah Winfrey, Gloria Steinem, Spike Lee, Yara Shahidi, Stevie Wonder, Aly Raisman, Misty Copeland, Big Bird and more.

The docuseries, inspired by Apple’s “Dear Apple” spots hails from Emmy and Peabody Award-winner RJ Cutler and Matador Content. The series will premiere globally this spring on Apple TV+.

The “Dear Apple” spots feature a mix of Apple Watch users who personally write a letter to thank the tech giant for the watch technology that has helped them live healthier lives. In one spot, a man notes how the watch’s SOS feature helped him call for help when he was injured in a car crash.

Wilson Cruz to Executive Produce Apple’s New LGBTQ-Themed Docuseries “Visible: Out On Television”

Posted on December 18, 2019 by Tom Castaneda

Wilson Cruzis bringing out the visible…

The 45-year-old Puerto Rican actor and gay rights activist will executive produce Apple’s new docuseries Visible: Out On Television to its growing slate of original series on Apple TV+.

The five-part television event shines a spotlight on how the LGBTQ movement shaped television and comes from Emmy-nominated filmmakers Ryan White and Jessica Hargrave.

Visible: Out on Televisioninvestigates the importance of television as a medium that has shaped the American conscience, and how the LGBTQ movement influenced what we watch on TV.

Each hour-long episode will explore themes like invisibility, homophobia, the evolution of the LGBTQ character, and coming out in the television industry.

The docuseries includes archival footage as well as interviews with key players from the movement and the screen.

Visible will feature Janet Mock, Margaret Cho, Asia Kate Dillon, Neil Patrick Harris and Lena Waithe as narrators. It will also include never-before-seen interviews with Ellen DeGeneres, Oprah Winfrey, Anderson Cooper, Billy Porter, Rachel Maddow, Don Lemon, Sara Ramirez, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, among others in the community.

In addition to Cruz, the docuseries will be executive produced by Wanda Sykes.

Visible: Out On Television willdebut on February 14, 2020, exclusively on Apple TV+.

Cruz is known for playing Rickie Vasquez on My So-Called Life, and Angel in the Broadway tour production of Rent. His other credits include Star Trek: Discovery, Noah’s Arc, and Party of Five.

First Trailer Released for Gina Rodriguez’s Animated Holiday Film “The Star”

Posted on July 29, 2017 by Tom Castaneda

Gina Rodriguez’s star is rising this holiday season…

The first trailer has been released for the 32-year-old Puerto Rican actress and Jane the Virgin star’s The Star, an animated holiday film in which the animals run the village.

Steven Yuen stars as Bo, a donkey who yearns for a life beyond his daily grind. When finally he summons the courage to break free, his adventure leads him to make friends with a flockless sheep (Aidy Bryant) and ambitious dove (Keegan-Michael Key). Little do they know, but they and a group of eccentric camels and stable animals are about to become unlikely heroes in the Greatest Story Ever Told.

Directed by Timothy Reckart from Carlos Kotkin’s script, the toon features a diverse, big-name voice cast that also includes Zachary Levi as Joseph and, Rodriguez as Mary.

Christopher Plummer plays the villainous King Herod. The animal characters include Kelly Clarkson, Patricia Heaton, Kristin Chenoweth, Anthony Anderson, Ving Rhames, Gabriel Iglesias.

Meanwhile Tyler Perry, Tracy Morgan and Oprah Winfrey voice the trio of wise-cracking camels.

The film from Sony Pictures Animation and Affirm Films in association with Walden Media features a new title song by Mariah Carey, and the trailer sports a contemporary take on Stevie Wonder’s yuletide classic “That’s What Christmas Means to Me.”

Columbia Pictures will release The Star on November 10.

HBO Releases Trailer for Santiago-Hudson’s Telepic “The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks”

Posted on March 16, 2017 by Tom Castaneda

It’s a first look at Ruben Santiago-Hudson’s Immortal project…

HBO has released a first look at its upcoming telepic The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, starring the 60-year-old half-Puerto Rican actor and featuring Oprah Winfrey in a rare starring turn.

It’s the true story of the African-American woman whose cells were used to create the first immortal human cell line after many other such efforts failed — and without her permission or knowledge.

Told through the eyes of Henrietta Lacks’ daughter, Deborah (Winfrey), the HBO Films project chronicles her search, with the help of journalist Rebecca Skloot (Rose Byrne), to learn about the mother she never knew and understand how the unauthorized harvesting of Lacks’ cancerous cells in 1951 led to unprecedented breakthroughs that changed the face of medicine forever. When the sheepishly smiling writer tells Deborah that she wants to pen a book about her mom’s experience, Deborah looks her up and down, then says, “Hope I don’t regret this.”

In addition to Winfrey, Byrne and Santiago-Hudson, the telepic also stars Renée Elise Goldsberry, Rocky Carroll, Kyanna Simone Simpson, Courtney B. Vance, Leslie Uggams, Reg E. Cathey, Reed Birney and Melvin Van Peebles.

The film hails from writer-director George C. Wolfe, based on Skloot’s 2010 book.

It premieres at 8:00 pm ET on April 22 on HBO.

Rodriguez Joins Voice Cast of Sony Pictures Animation’s “The Star”

Posted on January 19, 2017 by Tom Castaneda

Gina Rodriguez is wishing on a Star…

The 32-year-old Puerto Rican actress has joined the A-list voice cast of Sony Pictures Animation’s The Star.

The story follows a small but brave donkey named Bo (Steven Yeun) who yearns for a life beyond his daily grind at the village mill. As the logline states: “One day he finds the courage to break free, and finally goes on the adventure of his dreams. On his journey, he teams up with Ruth, a lovable sheep who has lost her flock and Dave, a dove with lofty aspirations. Along with three wisecracking camels and some eccentric stable animals, Bo and his new friends follow the Star and become accidental heroes in the greatest story ever told – the first Christmas.”

In addition to Yeun and Rodriguez, the Golden Globe-winning star of the CW’s Jane the Virgin who will voice Mary in the film, the star-studded voice cast includes Oprah Winfrey, Tyler Perry, Tracy Moran, Kris Kristofferson, Kristin Chenoweth, Kelly Clarkson, Gabriel Iglesias, Ving Rhames and Christopher Plummer who will voice King Herod.

Directed by Oscar-nominated writer-director Timothy Reckart, the family-friendly film will be released wide on November 10.

The screenplay was written by Carlos Kotkin from a story by Kotkin and Simon Moore.

Santiago-Hudson to Star in HBO Films’ “The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks”

Posted on August 15, 2016 by Tom Castaneda

Ruben Santiago-Hudson is preparing for a new Life…

The 59-year-old half-Puerto Rican actor has joined the cast of HBO Films’ The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, starring Oprah Winfrey.

The telepic tells the true story of Henrietta Lacks (Renée Elise Goldsberry), an African-American woman whose cells were used to create the first immortal human cell line. Told through the eyes of her daughter, Deborah Lacks (Winfrey), the film chronicles her search to learn about the mother she never knew and to understand how the unauthorized harvesting of Lacks’ cancerous cells in 1951 led to unprecedented medical breakthroughs, changing countless lives and the face of medicine forever.

It’s a story of medical arrogance and triumph, race, poverty and deep friendship between the unlikeliest of people.

Santiago-Hudson will portray Dr. Pattillo, a doctor and professor of gynecology who facilitated Rebecca’s (Rose Byrne) communication with the Lacks family.

George C. Wolfe is writer-director of Harpo Films’ The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, which is exec produced by Winfrey.

OWN Gives Lozada’s “Livin’ Lozada” Additional Eight-Episode Order

Posted on January 25, 2016 by Tom Castaneda

There’s more Evelyn Lozada heading your way…

OWN has ordered eight additional episodes of freshman docuseries Livin’ Lozada, starring the 40-year-old Puerto Rican reality television star.

The series has been a strong ratings performer for Oprah Winfrey’s cable network.

Livin’ Lozada, which debuted on July 11, was the highest-rated freshman season ever for an OWN docuseries among women 18-49.

In addition, the recent finale of Livin’ Lozada (0.86) on August 29 ranked as one of the top two unscripted season finales in OWN history among women 25-54.

Livin’ Lozada follows the lives of the Basketball Wives star, and her 22-year-old daughter Shanice. The series returns this spring with a new setting. Now that baseball season has ended, Evelyn and her fiancé, LA Dodgers star Carl Crawford, leave the glitz of Hollywood for their offseason home in Arizona.

Hayek to Be Feted at Variety’s Power of Women Luncheon

Posted on September 27, 2015 by Tom Castaneda

Salma Hayek has the power…

The 49-year-old Mexican actress and film producer will be honored at Variety’s Power of Women as a Lifetime Impact Honoree at an October 9 luncheon that celebrates the entertainment industry’s most philanthropic and inspiring women.

Hayek will be feted alongside other honorees Anna Kendrick, Gwyneth Paltrow, Oprah Winfrey and Susan Wojcicki at the event, which will be held at the Beverly Wilshire Four Seasons will celebrate the entertainment industry’s most philanthropic and inspiring women.

“The women we are honoring this year are the perfect embodiment of the Power of Women initiative,” said Michelle Sobrino-Stearns, Variety’s publisher. “We salute Salma Hayek Pinault, Anna Kendrick, Gwyneth Paltrow, Oprah Winfrey and YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki for their incredible philanthropic work and their personal commitment to fostering change. We look forward to collaborating once more with our dynamic partner Lifetime who has been a real force alongside Variety in championing the efforts of our esteemed honorees.”

Hayek is being recognized for her humanitarian efforts with Chime for Change.

Variety’s Power of Women event is tied to its annual Women’s Impact Report, which profiles the women making the most significant impact on the entertainment industry. Each of the honorees will be featured on the cover of Variety’s Women’s Impact issue on October 6.

Pope Francis: The Most Admired Living Latino in the World

Posted on January 1, 2015 by Tom Castaneda

Pope Francis is the most admired Latino in the world…

The 78-year-old Argentine pontiff of the Catholic Church appears on Gallup’s poll of the most admired living men and women on the planet.

Pope Francis, who was born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, comes in at No. 2 on the list of the most admired living men with 6% of the count, behind President Barack Obama with 19%.

Following the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI in February 2013, a papal conclave elected Bergoglio as his successor in March of that year.

Throughout his public life, both as an individual and a religious leader, Pope Francis has been heralded for his humility, his concern for the poor and his commitment to dialogue as a way to build bridges between people of all backgrounds, beliefs and faiths.

Pope Francis is the only Hispanic person to appear on either list.

Former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, meanwhile takes the top spot on the list of admired living women for the 13th year in a row. Oprah Winfrey ranks second.

Fifth Harmony Performs During the MTV Video Music Awards Pre-Show

Posted on August 25, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Ally Brooke Hernandez, Camila Cabello and Lauren Jauregui aren’t afraid to play boss at the MTV Video Music Awards…

The Latina singers and their fellow Fifth Harmony members pumped up the crowd on the red carpet before the MTV VMAs kicked off inside the Forum on Sunday night.

The Simon Cowell-created girl group, finalists on Fox’s The X Factor, dressed in black-and-white outfits and stomped all over the outdoor stage, red carpet and fan bleachers during their performance of “BO$$,” their Michelle Obama– and Oprah Winfrey-hailing single off their upcoming Reflection album.

Fifth Harmony is nominated for the MTV Artist to Watch award. It’s the group’s first-ever MTV Video Music Award nomination.

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Celebrating the Latino Influence

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