Patricia Cardoso Elected to Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ Board of Governors

Posted on June 10, 2024 by Tom Castaneda

Patricia Cardoso is ready to help govern…

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has announced its 2024-25 Board of Governors, with the Colombian filmmaker among those earning a seat.

Cardoso, best known for iconic film Real Women Have Curves, is among the list of new first-time governors.

In 2020, the award-winning filmmaker became the first Latina director to be included in the National Film Registry at the Library of Congress after her groundbreaking film “Real Women Have Curves” was added to the registry.

She was elected to the Directors Branch.

Jennifer Fox, who has produced the past several Governors Awards ceremonies, was elected governor of the Producers Branch.

Leaving the board from those positions are current Directors Branch Governor Susanne Bier and Producers Governor Jennifer Todd.

Other first-timers named today are K.K. Barrett for Production Designers, Chris Tashima for Short Films and Andy Nelson for the Sound Branch. Returning to the board after a hiatus is Lois Burwell from Makeup and Hairstylists branch.

Here are the incumbent governors re-elected to the 2024-25 board:

Rita Wilson, Actors Branch
Kim Taylor-Coleman, Casting Directors Branch
Paul Cameron, Cinematographers Branch
Eduardo Castro, Costume Designers Branch
Jean Tsien, Documentary Branch
Pam Abdy, Executives Branch
Terilyn A. Shropshire, Film Editors Branch
Laura C. Kim, Marketing and Public Relations Branch
Lesley Barber, Music Branch
Brooke Breton, Visual Effects Branch
Howard A. Rodman, Writers Branch

They will join returning governors Wendy Aylsworth, Dion Beebe, Howard Berger, Jason Blum, Rob Bredow, Ruth E. Carter, Megan Colligan, Paul Debevec, Peter Devlin, David I. Dinerstein, Ava DuVernay, Linda Flowers, Charles Fox, DeVon Franklin, Rodrigo García, Richard Gibbs, Donna Gigliotti, Jinko Gotoh, Chris Hegedus, Richard Hicks, Lynette Howell Taylor, Kalina Ivanov, Simon Kilmurry, Ellen Kuras, Marlee Matlin, Hannah Minghella, Daniel Orlandi, Missy Parker, Lou Diamond Phillips, Jason Reitman, Nancy Richardson, Stephen Rivkin, Eric Roth, Dana Stevens, Mark P. Stoeckinger, Marlon West, Janet Yang and Debra Zane.

As a result of this election, the 55-member Board comprises 53% women and 27% belonging to an underrepresented racial or ethnic group.

The Academy has 19 branches, each represented by three governors, except for the recently established Animation Branch, represented by two governors; the recently established Short Films Branch, represented by one governor; and the Production and Technology Branch, represented by one governor. Governors, including the board-appointed governors-at-large, may serve up to two three-year terms (consecutive or non-consecutive), followed by a two-year hiatus, after which eligibility renews for up to two additional three-year terms for a lifetime maximum of 12 years.

Santiago Mitre’s “Argentina, 1985” Sweeps This Year’s Platino Awards

Posted on April 23, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Santiago Mitre has picked up another award…

The 42-year-old Argentine film director and screenwriter’s Argentina, 1985 swept the top prizes for Best Picture on Saturday night at the 2023 Platino Awards.

News of a Kidnapping, created by Andrés Wood and Rodrigo García, is another top award winner.

One highlight of the ceremony, dedicated to films and television shows in the Spanish-speaking world, was Benicio del Toro’s acceptance speech of a honorary Platino in which he reflected on being typecast for many years in Hollywood as a Latino actor.

“If I had to play stereotypes, I tried to find the character’s humanity, a sense of complicity, so that audiences felt what my character felt and whilst they’re watching, don’t forget who I am and where I come from.,” he said. “What’s important is to share more than be divided,” he added.

Del Toro received a standing ovation by an audience made up of some of the best actors in Spain, which hung on his every word.

Directed by Mitre, who broke out to attention with The Student, then conquered Cannes with Paulina, the Academy Award-nominated “Argentina, 1985,” produced by Amazon Studios, Infinity Hill, Mitre’s label Unión de los Rios and star Ricardo Darín’s Kenya Films swept best picture, screenplay (Mitre, Mariano Llinás) actor (Darín), among five awards.

Commissioned by Prime Video in 2020, in the same funding round that included “Iosi, the Repentant Spy,” “News of a Kidnapping” scooped best series, creators (Wood, García), series actress (Cristina Umaña) and supporting actress (Majida Issa).

Stuart Ford’s AGC Studios and Chile’s Invercine & Wood produce.

It may or may not be a coincidence that both titles, as well as Rodrigo Sorogoyen’s The Beasts, which swept four prizes including best director, talk about how individuals or institutions – the Colombian senator husband of an abduction victim in “News,” Darin’s crusading public prosecutor in “Argentina, 1985,” a French couple in deep Galicia in “The Beasts” – confront violence, whether the institutionalized torture and murder under Argentina’s Junta, endemic drug gang coercion in “News” and wounded machismo in “The Beasts.”

“Thank you to the thousands and thousands of Colombians who, silently, without any show, try to make peace and a country, despite all the obvious difficulties,” said Umana.

“Memory is important. We can’t allow violence to be the innate solution in any part of the world,” said Infinity Hill’s, Axel Kuschevatzky, a producer of “Argentina, 1985.”

In other Awards highlights, Spain’s Laia Costa and Susi Sánchez repeated their Goya plaudits taking best film actress and supporting actress as daughter and mother in “Lullaby.”

FILM

Best Feature
“Argentina, 1985” (Argentina)

Director
Rodrigo Sorogoyen, “The Beasts”

Lead Performance
Laia Costa, “Lullaby”
Ricardo Darín, “Argentina, 1985”

Screenplay
Mariano Llinás, Santiago Mitre, “Argentina, 1985”

First Feature
“1976” (Chile, Argentina)

Best Feature Comedy
“Official Competition,” (Argentina, Spain)

Original Score
Sergio Prudencio, “Utama”

Supporting Role Performance
Susi Sanchez, “Lullaby” (Spain)
Luis Zahera, “The Beasts” (Spain, France)

Animated Feature
“The Eagle and the Jaguar: the Legendary Warriors” (Mexico)

Documentary Best Feature
“El Caso Padilla,” (Cuba, Spain)

Editing
Alberto del Campo, “The Beasts”

Art Direction
Micaela Saiegh, “Argentina, 1985)

Cinematography
Barbara Álvarez, “Utama”

Sound Direction
Aitor Berenguer, Fabiola Ordoyo, Yasmina Praderas, “The Beasts”

Film & Education In Values
“Argentina, 1985” (Argentina, U.S)

HONORARY AWARD
Benicio del Toro

Best Series Or Mini-Series
“News of a Kidnapping” (Colombia, Chile, U.S.)

Best Series Or Mini-Series Creator
Andrés Wood, Rodrigo García, “News of a Kidnapping”

Actor In A Series Or Mini-Series
Guillermo Francella, “The One in Charge”

Actress In A Series Or Mini-Series
Cristina Umaña, “News of a Kidnapping”

Supporting Actor In A Series Or Mini-Series
Alejandro Awada, “Iosi, The Regretful Spy”

Supporting Actress In A Series Or Mini-Series
Majida Issa, “News of a Kidnapping”

Vertical Entertainment Acquires North American Rights to Rodrigo Garcia’s Addiction Drama “Four Good Days”

Posted on March 14, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Good days ahead for Rodrigo Garcia…

Vertical Entertainment has acquired the North American rights to the 61-year-old Colombian television and film director, screenwriter and former cinematographer’s Four Good Days, a drama starring his Albert Nobbs star Glenn Close and Mila Kunis.

The film, which bowed at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival, will now hit theaters April 30 and be available on-demand on May 21.

Based on a true story by Pulitzer Prize-winning Washington Post writer Eli Saslow and adapted by Saslow and Garcia, the film centers on 31-year-old Molly (Kunis) who begs her estranged mother Deb (Close) for save her from the grip of heroin addiction in a poignant and unpredictable chronicle of mother and daughter fighting to regain the love and trust that once held them together. Stephen Root also stars along with a cast that includes Chad Lindberg, Rebecca Field, Joshua Leonard, Michael Hyatt and Sam Hennings.

The film is produced by Jon Avnet, Marina Grasic, Jake Avnet, Jai Khanna and Garcia.

The film is presented by Oakhurst Entertainment, financed by Productivity Media and produced by Garcia’s Indigenous Media.

“We are excited to share the impactful message and impeccable performances by Mila Kunis and Glenn Close in Four Good Days with audiences this spring,” said Rich Goldberg, co-president of Vertical Entertainment. “The film, based on a true story, gives audiences a window into the struggle of a mother and daughter trying to rebuild their relationship after a long battle with drug abuse. The conversation around addiction can be complex and difficult for family members to have and we strongly feel that audiences, and most importantly families, will empathize with these characters and possibly even open up the discussion about drug abuse with one another.”

Rodrigo Garcia to Direct the Drama “Four Good Days”

Posted on September 28, 2019 by Tom Castaneda

There are good days in store for Rodrigo Garcia.

The 60-year-old Colombian television and film director is set to direct the drama Four Good Days, about a mother helping her daughter work through four crucial days on the road to recovery from substance abuse.

The film will star Glenn Close, Mila Kunisand Stephen Root.

Launched at this year’s Cannes Film Festival, the project is due to begin shooting next week in Los Angeles.

Root will play the role of Chris, a man worn down by the emotional stress caused by his stepdaughter’s (Kunis) addiction and his wife’s (Close) attempts to save her.

Garcia directs from his own script, co-written by Washington Post 2014 Pulitzer Prize winner Eli Saslow, based on Saslow’s article.

Garcia’s credits include the films Nine Lives, Mother and Child, Albert Nobbs, Last Days in the Desert, as well as the HBO drama series In Treatment.

Aguire to Star in CBS’ Untitled Family Cop Drama Pilot

Posted on February 28, 2017 by Tom Castaneda

Roberto Aguire is joining the police force…

The Mexican actor will star in CBS’ family cop drama pilot from Bull co-creator Paul Attanasio, Blue Bloods executive producer Leonard Goldberg and co-EP/director David Barrett, and executive producer/director Rodrigo Garcia.

The plot of the CBS Television Studios-produced project centers on the multi-generational members of a Mexican-American family with deep roots in San Diego who intertwine personally and professionally due to their powerful careers in law enforcement.

Aguire will play Gustavo “Tavo” Medina, the middle child and undisputed “brain” of the Medina family who is a computer and technology expert with the San Diego Police Department.

Aguire joins David Castaneda in the pilot.

He most recently had a guest arc on Pretty Little Liars and also starred and co-produced the 2012 Chris Colfer film Struck by Lightning.

Castaneda to Star in CBS’ Untitled Family Cop Drama Pilot

Posted on February 27, 2017 by Tom Castaneda

May the force be with David Castaneda.

The Latino actor, who has fielded multiple offers this pilot season, has landed a key series regular role in CBS’ family cop drama pilot from Bull co-creator Paul Attanasio and Blue Bloods executive producer Leonard Goldberg & co-EP/director David Barrett.

The Untitled Paul Attanasio Project centers on the multi-generational members of a Mexican-American family with deep roots in San Diego who intertwine personally and professionally due to their powerful careers in law enforcement.

Castaneda will play Bembe Medina, Chief Medina’s (TBD) son, a cop in Tijuana who works his beat with Yuni (TBD), his twin brother.

Rodrigo Garcia executive produces and directs.

Castaneda is coming off a starring role in feature Sicario. His other credits include a recurring role on Jane the Virgin and a guest role on Blindspot.

Garcia to Direct CBS’ Untitled Mexican American Cop Family Drama Pilot

Posted on January 31, 2017 by Tom Castaneda

Rodrigo Garcia has a new Latino-themed project to work on…

The 57-year-old Colombian television and film director is set to direct CBS’ Mexican American cop family drama pilot.

Written by Homicide creator Paul Attanasio in a return to the cop drama beat, and to directed by Garcia, the untitled drama revolves around the multi-generational members of a Mexican-American family with deep roots in San Diego as they intertwine personally and professionally due to their powerful careers in law enforcement.

CBS had been trying for two years to develop a drama about a multi-generational Latino family of cops in Los Angeles — a West Coast take on Blue Bloods, which is about a multi-generational New York family in law enforcement. Last season, a project known as Protect & Serve was written by Elizabeth Davis Beall. It didn’t go to pilot.

Meanwhile, Attanasio met with the producers with a brand-new take on the general Latino family cop idea, which led to his San Diego-set script that’s now getting a pilot green light.

The new setting has an increased relevance post-elections as San Diego is on the U.S.-Mexico border, where President Donald Trump is planning to build a wall.

Garcia has directed episodes of In Treatment, Big Love, Boomtown, Six Feet Under and The Sopranos.

Broad Green Pictures to Distribute García’s “Last Days in the Desert”

Posted on September 9, 2015 by Tom Castaneda

Rodrigo García’s latest project hasn’t seen its last days…

Broad Green Pictures has agreed to a deal to distribute the 56-year-old Colombian filmmaker and screenwriter’s drama Last Days in the Desert.

García’s project stars Ewan McGregor, who portrays both Jesus and the Devil in the film that highlights the work of Oscar-winning cinematographer Emmanuel Lubezki.

Tye Sheridan, Ciarán Hinds and Ayelet Zure co-star in Last Days, which follows Jesus in an imagined chapter from his 40 days of fasting and praying in the desert. On his way out of the wilderness, he struggles with the Devil over the fate of an ordinary family in crisis, setting for himself a dramatic test with distinctly human conflicts.

Last Days In The Desert premiered at this year’s Sundance Film Festival.

The deal puts the film on the 2016 release slate in a partnership with Tugg and specialty marketing agency Different Drummer that will put the movie in non-theatrical spaces in local markets.

It’s the first collaboration between Broad Green — coming off the recent successful bow of its Robert Redford–Nick Nolte film A Walk In The Woods — and Tugg, after the former announced an investment in the crowdsourcing cinema-on-demand platform last year.

García’s previous projects include the films Mother and Child, Nine Lives, Albert Nobbs, and the television series In Treatment.

Lopez’s Revenge Drama “Lila & Eve” to Debut at the Sundance Film Festival

Posted on December 9, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Jennifer Lopez apparently agrees with the saying, “Revenge is a dish best served cold.”

The 45-year-old Puerto Rican actress/singer and American Idol judge will be making an appearance at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival.

Lopez’s latest film Lila & Eve, co-starring How To Get Away With Murder’s Viola Davis, will make its out of competition debut next month at the Utah-based festival.

The dramatic film centers on two distraught mothers, whose children were gunned down in a drive-by, as they team up to avenge their deaths after local authorities fail to take action.

Other films with Latino talent to be shown at next month’s Sundance Film Festival include Colombian director Rodrigo Garcia’s Last Days in the Desert and Colombian actor John Leguizamo’s Experimenter.

Here’s a closer look at the new additions to the Sundance Film Festival lineup featuring Latino talent:

PREMIERES

A showcase of world premieres of some of the most highly anticipated narrative films of the coming year.

Experimenter / U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Michael Almereyda) — Experimenter is based on the true story of famed social psychologist Stanley Milgram, who in 1961 conducted a series of radical behavior experiments that tested ordinary humans’ willingness to obey authority by using electric shock. We follow Milgram from meeting his wife through his controversial experiments that sparked public outcry. Cast: Peter Sarsgaard, Winona Ryder, Jim Gaffigan, Kellan Lutz, Taryn Manning, John Leguizamo.

Last Days in the Desert / U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Rodrigo Garcia) — Ewan McGregor is Jesus — and the Devil — in an imagined chapter from his 40 days of fasting and praying in the desert. On his way out of the wilderness, Jesus struggles with the Devil over the fate of a family in crisis, setting himself up for a dramatic test. Cast: Ewan McGregor, Ciarán Hinds, Ayelet Zurer, Tye Sheridan.

Lila & Eve / U.S.A. (Director: Charles Stone III, Screenwriter: Patrick Gilfillan) — Lila, a grief-stricken mother reeling from her son’s murder, attends a support group where she meets Eve, who urges her to take matters into her own hands to track down her son’s killers. They soon embark on a journey of revenge, but also recovery. Cast: Viola Davis, Jennifer Lopez, Shea Whigham, Julius Tennon, Ron Caldwell, Aml Ameen.

Consuelos Returning for Season Two of YouTube’s “Blue” Series This Week

Posted on March 14, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

Mark Consuelos will be feelin’ Blue this week…

The 41-year-old half-Mexican American actor, who was just cast in the Liam Neeson-starrer A Walk Among Tombstones, returns to YouTube’s WIGS channel on Friday.

Consuelos is back for the second season of Blue, the channel’s hit online series starring Julia Stiles as a single mother trying to protect her son from the consequences of her secret career as an upscale escort.

Written and directed by Rodrigo Garcia, Blue also features Holly Robinson Peete, Uriah Shelton, Kathleen Quinlan, Carla Gallo and Jacob Vargas.

The series, which will feature 26 all-new episodes, will premiere this Friday, March 15. New episodes will air every Friday through April 5th.

The season two trailer for Blue, as well as all episodes from season one, can be viewed now at www.youtube.com/wigs.

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