Olga Merediz to Star in A24’s Rom-Com “Eternity”

Posted on June 16, 2024 by Tom Castaneda

Olga Merediz isn’t waiting an eternity to lock in her next project.

The 68-year-old Cuban actress and singer has joined the cast alongside John Early of A24’s Eternity.

The romantic comedy, in which people must decide who they want to spend eternity with, also stars Miles Teller, Elizabeth Olsen, Callum Turner and Da’Vine Joy Randolph.

David Freyne is directing the movie; Pat Cunnane wrote the script, which appeared on the 2022 Black List.

A24 is financing and distributing the rom-com, as well as producing with Star Thrower Entertainment and its founders Trevor White and Tim White. The film is currently in production.

Merediz is best known for originating the role of Abuela Claudia in the Broadway musical In the Heights. She was nominated for a Tony Award for her performance, and she reprised the role in Jon M. Chu’s film adaptation.

Merediz also voiced a role in Disney’s animated musical hit Encanto, and her television credits include Orange Is the New Black and Shades of Blue.

Antonio Jaramillo to Star in Film Adaptation of “Macho!,” Based on Book by Victor Villaseñor

Posted on July 9, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Antonio Jaramillo is a macho! man.

The Mexican actor will star alongside Rudy Youngblood in Verloren Productions’ drama Macho!, based on the book by Victor Villaseñor.

The coming-of-age tale – taking place during the 1960s – centers on Roberto Garcia, who at age 17, already has big dreams of making his fortune, building a family, and gaining the respect of his community. With ambition to burn and a passion to prove his manhood, Roberto takes the dangerous journey north, crossing the Mexican border to pick fruit in the “golden fields” of California. It is said that a good man can make more money there in a week than in an entire year in the mountains of Michoacán, his home. With dreams that overshadow harsh realities, Roberto is unprepared for the jammed boxcars and bolted trucks that carry undervalued migrant workers through the searing desert to long days of harsh labor.

The film will examine the brutality of migrant labor, as well as Cesar Chavez’s efforts to unionize workers, offering vivid portrayal of the immigrant experience through the eyes of a brave young man who bids goodbye to everything he knows to follow his dreams.

Verloren Productions founder Walt Perez adapted the screenplay and will produce alongside Soren Odom, Melanie Tirado, Ralph Esparza and Jaime Peralta.

Renowned music producer A.B. Quintanilla will craft its score, with production kicking off next spring.

Jaramillo’s previous credits include The Wilding, Mayans M.C. and Shades of Blue.

Youngblood is best known for his starring role as Jaguar Paw in Mel Gibson’s Apocalypto.

Paloma Guzman to Recur on Starz’s “Power Book III: Raising Kanan”

Posted on February 25, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Paloma Guzman has (power) booked a new project…

The Latina actress has landed a heavily recurring role in the Starz/Lionsgate Power prequel series, Power Book III: Raising Kanan.

From creator and showrunner Sascha Penn, Power Book III: Raising Kanan takes viewers back to the ’90s and the early years of the now-deceased Kanan Stark, portrayed in Courtney Kemp’s original series by Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson.

Guzman will play Detective Regina Foyle, a veteran NYPD detective with a sensitive yet rugged side. She’s a contradiction in all the best ways.

Power Book III: Raising Kanan is executive produced by Kemp through her company End of Episode and Jackson through his G-Unit Film and Television.

Penn is the creator/showrunner of Raising Kanan. Lionsgate Television produces the series for Starz.

Known for her role as Jacki Molina in Pretty Little Liars, Guzman recently wrapped filming a major recurring role on the upcoming season of Roswell, New Mexico.

Her previous credits include a recurring role on the final season of HBO’s The Deuce, as well as roles on Law & Order: SVU, FBI, Shades of Blue, among others.

Olga Merediz Starring in Dave Franco-Directed Amazon Original Film “Somebody I Used to Know”

Posted on September 29, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Olga Merediz is in the Know…

The 65-year-old Cuban actress/singer, who originated the role of Abuela Claudia in the Broadway musical In the Heights, has been cast in Somebody I Used to Know, the Amazon original film being directed by Dave Franco and starring Alison Brie, Jay Ellis and Kiersey Clemons.

Merediz is among a list of cast newcomers that includes Julie Hagerty, Haley Joel Osment, Amy Sedaris, Danny Pudi, Zoe Chao, Evan Jonigkeit, Ayden Mayeri and Kelvin Yu.

With the cast filled out, production is underway in Oregon on the romantic comedy co-penned by Franco and Brie.

The film hails from Temple Hill Entertainment and Black Bear Pictures and marks a reteam of Franco, Brie and Black Bear after last year’s horror pic The Rental, directed by Franco and starring Brie.

Somebody I Used to Know centers on Ally (Brie), a workaholic who on a trip to her hometown spends a night reminiscing with her ex-boyfriend Sean (Ellis), which makes her start to question everything about the choices she’s made and the person she’s become. And things only get more confusing when she meets Cassidy (Clemons), a younger woman who reminds her of the person she used to be.

The film is expected to debut exclusively on Prime Video worldwide next year.

Merediz’s other credits include appearances on Shades of Blue and Netflix‘s Orange Is the New Black.

Leslie Silva to Star in ABC Civil Rights-Themed Limited Series “Women of the Movement”

Posted on April 15, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Leslie Silva is on the move(ment)…

The 52-year-old Afro-Latina actress has been cast in ABC’s limited series Women of the Movement, which hails from creator-writer Marissa Jo Cerar and a producing team that includes Jay-Z, Will Smith and Aaron Kaplan.

Silva, who will portray Ruby Hurley, joins a cast that includes Chris Butler as Rayfield Mooty, Alex Désert as Dr. Howard, Miles Fowler as Simeon Booker, Tongayi Chirisa as Medgar Evers, Jason Turner as James Hicks, and Daniel Abeles as Chet Packton.

Inspired by the book Emmett Till: The Murder That Shocked the World and Propelled the Civil Rights Movement by Devery S. Anderson, the six-episode limited series is set in 1955. It centers on Mamie Till-Mobley (Adrienne Warren), who risks her life to find justice after her son Emmett (Cedric Joe) is brutally murdered in the Jim Crow South. Unwilling to let Emmett’s murder disappear from the headlines, Mamie chooses to bear her pain on the world stage, emerging as an activist for justice and igniting the Civil Rights movement as we know it today.

Glynn Turman, Chris Coy, Julia McDermott, Carter Jenkins, Tonya Pinkins and Ray Fisher co-star.

Silva’s Ruby Hurley was a famed NAACP activist and leader in the Civil Rights Movement. A lady badass among men, Ruby was fiercely committed to getting justice for Emmett Till.

Silva’s television and film credits include NBC’s Shades of Blue, CW’s In The Dark, Showtime’s Odyssey 5, the Hulu limited series The Looming Tower and the independent film Reversion.

On stage, she starred in the Signature Theatre’s production of Chicago, directed by Joseph Chaikin and Sam Shepard, as well as The Master Builder directed by André Gregory.

Juani Feliz Lands Recurring Role on Amazon’s Comedy Series “Harlem”

Posted on March 3, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Juani Feliz is heading to Harlem…

The Dominican actress has landed a recurring role on Amazon’s Harlem, the comedy series from Tracy Oliver, Amy Poehler’s Paper Kite Productions and Universal Television.

Feliz joins a roster of new cast additions that include Andrea Martin, Robert Ri’chard, Kate Rockwell and Sullivan Jones.

They’ll join previously announced Whoopi Goldberg and Jasmine Guy, who also recur.

Created, written and executive produced by Oliver, Harlem, formerly the Untitled Tracy Oliver Project, is a single-camera comedy following the lives of four black women, friends from their college days at NYU, as they navigate sex, relationships and chasing their dreams.

Feliz is Isabela, a local politician on track to beating AOC’s record as the youngest member of U.S. Congress and a new friend of Quinn’s.

Feliz was a series regular on the ABC pilot, Until the Wedding. She has also recurred on CBS’ Blue Bloods and NBC’s Shades of Blue.

On the film side, her credits include the thriller Canal Street, The Purge: Election Year, The Polka King and indie feature Quiet In My Town.

Antonio Jaramillo to Appear on Season Four of FX’s “Snowfall”

Posted on November 19, 2020 by Tom Castaneda

Antonio Jaramillo is bracing for some heavy snowfall…

The Mexican actor and Mayans M.C. alum has landed a recurring role on the upcoming fourth season of FX’s Snowfall..

Created by John Singleton, Eric Amadio and Dave Andron, the drama series revolves around the start of the cocaine epidemic in Los Angeles.

Jaramillo will play Chief Oscar Fuentes, the new Tijuana Police chief who is bold, ambitious, connected, smart and dangerous. He’s willing to let Teddy and Gustavo continue to go about their business in Mexico, but only if they make it worth his while.

Best known for his role as Riz Arisa on Mayans M.C., Jaramillo’s previous credits include appearances on NBC’s Shades of Blue, TNT’s Dallas and Universal Pictures’ Savages.

He was recently cast opposite Octavia Spencer in Amazon’s Invasion.

Antonio Jaramillo Books Recurring Role on CBS’ Military Drama Series “SEAL Team”

Posted on November 14, 2018 by Tom Castaneda

Antonio Jaramillo has SEAL-ed a new deal…

The Mexican actor has landed a recurring role on CBS’ military drama series SEAL Team.

Jaramillo will portray Lazo, Doza’s fierce Lieutenant, and the only person Doza trusts. A former Mexican Special Forces officer, Lazo is a highly dangerous man; he’s violent but meticulous, with impeccable instincts.

SEAL Team follows the professional and personal lives of the most elite unit of Navy SEALs as they train, plan and execute the most dangerous missions that our country can ask of them. David Boreanaz, Max Thieriot, Neil Brown Jr., AJ Buckley,Toni Trucks and Jessica Paré star.

Jaramillo co-stars as Michael ‘Riz’ Ariza in Kurt Sutter’s Sons of Anarchy spinoff Mayans M.C. His other recent TV credits include Wisdom of the Crowd, Lucifer, Dallas and a recurring role on Shades of Blue.

Selena Gomez: The Queen of Social Media

Posted on February 4, 2018 by Tom Castaneda

Selena Gomez is officially the Queen of Social Media…

The 25-year-old Mexican singer/actress tops Deadline.com’s Top 25 Social Media Star Power Chart, which ranks the top stars across the big three social media platforms of Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Deadline partnered with RelishMIX to pull together the stats for the chart.

Gomez, with a social media universe (SMU) of 250M, ranked No. 1, having added 53 million followers/fans in the last year.

Gomez is the top star in Instagram with 132.9 million, and she has 61.8 followers on Facebook and 56.2 million followers on Twitter.

Meanwhile, Jennifer Lopez rose up two notches to No. 6 on the overall list.

The actress/singer has been busy with Shades of Blue returning on NBC, World of Dance and the romantic comedy feature Second Act.

Lopez has 71.9 million followers on Instagram, 44.9 million followers on Facebook and 76.4 million followers on Twitter.

Lopez Shares Video with Skrillex Dancing to Their New Collaboration

Posted on April 1, 2017 by Tom Castaneda

Jennifer Lopez is showing she’s got some mad Skrillz on her next single…

The 47-year-old Puerto Rican singer/actress and upcoming World of Dance judge is partnering with Skrillex on a dancetastic collaboration.

In a video posted on J. Lo’s Instagram account, La Lopez and the music producer looking super friendly while bouncing around to a super hyphy, Latin-inspired beat. Lopez even sings along to the hook, which sounds like the Shades of Blue star singing.

Playing around in the studio w @skrillex @poobear #US

A post shared by Jennifer Lopez (@jlo) on Mar 31, 2017 at 7:07am PDT

No word if this will be Lopez’s next summer smash.

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