Alvarez to Direct Starz’s Wrestling-Themed Drama Pilot “Heels”

Posted on February 17, 2017 by Tom Castaneda

Kyle Patrick Alvarez is wrestling with a new project.

The 33-year-old Latino filmmaker will direct Heels, an hourlong drama set in the outrageous world of independent professional wrestling.

Kyle Patrick Alvarez

The project, which hails from Paramount Television, has been put on the fast track at Starz, with a potential eight-episode straight-to-series order on the horizon.

Written by Michael Waldron, Heels is the story of two brothers and rivals – one a villain, or “heel,” in the ring, the other a hero, or “face.” Real conflicts play out in fake matches as they war over their late father’s wrestling promotion, vying for national attention in small-town Georgia.

Alvarez’s television credits include directing two episodes of the upcoming Netflix series 13 Reasons Why, which is being executive produced by Selena Gomez.

Alvarez is the winner of the Someone to Watch Award at the 2010 Film Independent Spirit Awards for his work on Easier with Practice.

Armisen to Co-Host This Year’s Spirit Awards with Kristen Bell

Posted on January 15, 2015 by Tom Castaneda

Fred Armisen is feeling the spirit (awards)…

The 48-year-old half-Venezuelan actor and former Saturday Night Live star will co-host the 2015 Film Independent Spirit Awards opposite Kristen Bell.

This year’s Spirit Awards will take place on February 21 on the beach in Santa Monica.

This year’s ceremony will air live for the first time, on IFC at 2:00 pm PT.

Dawson to Announce This Year’s Spirit Award Nominees

Posted on November 12, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Rosario Dawson has the spirit, yes she does…

The 35-year-old Puerto Rican and Afro-Cuban American actress, who has earned critical acclaim for her work in Chris Rock’s Top Five, has been tapped to announce this year’s 2015 Spirit Award nominees, according to Film Independent president Josh Welsh.

The Sin City: A Dame To Kill For star will be joined by Mexican actor Diego Luna, who directed Dawson in his Cesar Chavez biopic Chavez.

They’ll announce the nominees at 10:00 am PT on Tuesday, November 25, at the W Hollywood.

Spirit Award winners will be announced on February 21 under Film Independent’s signature tent on the beach in Santa Monica.

Diaz Cast in HBO’s Drama Series Project “Laughs Unlimited”

Posted on March 18, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Melonie Diaz has plenty of reason to laugh…

The 29-year-old Puerto Rican actress, who earned critical acclaim for Spirit Award-nominated her performance in Fruitvale Station, has landed the lead in HBO‘s Laughs Unlimited (working title).

The drama series, which centers on a war vet’s struggles with post-traumatic stress disorder, has been in the works at HBO for several months.

While it hasn’t been picked up to pilot yet, the network is doing preliminary casting and working on the budget as it does on most scripts it is high on before making a formal pilot order.

Laughs Unlimited hails from Oren Moverman, who has directed Rampart and The Messenger, and Anthony Swofford, best known for writing the book Jarhead.

It centers on Army Reserve medic Billie Crown (Diaz) who, after fifteen months as a combat medic in Afghanistan, discovers that “real life” is just as perilous as war. Duty as a Sacramento cop offers the same dangers and thrills as combat, and repairing relationships with her husband and young daughter is as difficult as saving a comrade after an IED attack. Moverman and Swofford wrote the script

Diaz recently wrapped production on The Cobbler.

Vega and Her “Twenty Feet From Stardom” Co-Stars to Perform at the 2014 Film Independent Spirit Awards

Posted on February 25, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Táta Vega is preparing for a Spirited performance…

The 62-year-old part-Puerto Rican and Dominican American singer, one of the stars of the documentary Twenty Feet From Stardom, will perform at the 2014 Film Independent Spirit Awards.

Vega, Darlene Love, Judith Hill and Merry Clayton are profiled in the Oscar-nominated Radius-TWC doc, which takes a look at the lives of several of the music industry’s greatest backup singers.

Director Morgan Neville’s Twenty Feet From Stardom is nominated for a Spirit Award in the Best Documentary category.

The film also made the cut as one of the five nominees for Best Documentary Feature at the Academy Awards.

Currently the No. 1 documentary on iTunes, the film continues to build momentum as the culmination of awards season approaches.

Vega and the gang’s appearance will be the only musical performance at the ceremony, which will be hosted by Patton Oswalt.

The Spirit Awards will be handed out on March 1, 2014 during a daytime luncheon in Santa Monica and broadcast later that evening at 10 PM on IFC.

As of late 2013, Vega has been touring with Elton John in the United States as “one of the girls” singing backup and counterpoint on his The Diving Board tour.

Peña to Star in the Heist Thriller “Triple Nine”

Posted on February 6, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Michael Peña is heading back to the force…

The 36-year-old Mexican American actor, who earned a Spirit Award nomination for his performance in the police drama End of Watch, will star in the heist thriller Triple Nine.

Directed by John Hillcoat, the drama centers on a crew of dirty cops that is blackmailed by the Russian mob to execute a virtually impossible heist. The only way to pull it off is to manufacture a 999, police code for “officer down.” Their plan is turned upside down when the unsuspecting rookie officer they set up to die foils the attack, triggering a breakneck, action-packed finale filled with double-crosses, greed and revenge.

In addition to Peña, the film’s all-star cast includes Fruitvale Station’s Michael B. Jordan, Breaking Bad’s Aaron Paul, Warm Bodies’ Teresa Palmer and Gal Gadot, 12 Years A Slave‘s Chiwetel Ejiofor, Casey Affleck and Kate Winslet.

Open Road Films, which just completed a deal to pre-buy domestic distribution rights on Triple Nine, plans to release the film in 2015.

Isaac Earns First-Ever Golden Globe Award Nomination

Posted on December 12, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

Oscar Isaac may be seeing gold in the near future…

The 33-year-old Guatemalan and Cuban American actor has earned the first Golden Globe award nomination of his career from the Hollywood Foreign Press Association during Thursday’s early morning nomination announcement.

Isaac is up for Best Actor in a Motion Picture, Musical or Comedy for his critically acclaimed role in Inside Llewyn Davis.

In the film, directed by Joel and Ethan Coen, Isaac stars as the film’s title character, Llewyn Davis, a singer-songwriter who navigates New York’s folk music scene in the 1960s.

It’s the latest nod this awards season for Isaac…

He previously earned a Spirit Award nomination for his performance in Inside Llewyn Davis, as well as a Gotham Independent Film Awards nod.

But Isaac isn’t the only Latino earning the first nomination of his career.

Rush star Daniel Brühl, who earned his first SAG Award earlier this week, is nominated for Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture for his portrayal of racing legend Niki Lauda in Ron Howard‘s Formula One drama Rush.

Helena Bonham Carter has earned her sixth Golden Globe nomination. The 46-year-old part-Spanish actress is up for Best Actress in a Mini-Series or TV Movie for her role in the BBC biopic Burton and Taylor.

Alfonso Cuarón, one of Entertainment Weekly’s Entertainers of the Year, received a nomination for Best Director for helming the blockbuster hit film Gravity.

In the music category, Robert Lopez and his wife and writing partner Kristen Anderson Lopez have been nominated for Best Original Song – Motion Picture to penning “Let It Go,” the power ballad from Disney’s latest animated film Frozen. The song is performed by Idina Menzel during the film and Demi Lovato in the closing credits.

Last but certainly not least, Sofia Vergara has earned her fourth consecutive Golden Globe nomination for her laughtastic role on ABC’s Modern Family.

The Golden Globes awards show will be held on January 12 in Beverly Hills. NBC will air the Golden Globes Awards live with Tina Fey and Amy Poehler returning for the second year in a row as hosts.

Here’s a look at the Golden Globe categories featuring Latino nominees:

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE – COMEDY OR MUSICAL
Christian Bale, American Hustle
Bruce Dern, Nebraska
Leonardo DiCaprio, The Wolf of Wall Street
Oscar Isaac, Inside Llewyn Davis
Joaquin Phoenix, Her

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A MOTION PICTURE
Barkhad Abdi, Captain Phillips
Daniel Bruhl, Rush
Bradley Cooper, American Hustle
Michael Fassbender, 12 Years A Slave
Jared Leto, Dallas Buyers Club

BEST DIRECTOR – MOTION PICTURE
 Alfonso Cuaron, Gravity
Paul Greengrass, Captain Phillips
Steve McQueen, 12 Years A Slave
Alexander Payne, Nebraska
David O. Russell, American Hustle

BEST ORIGINAL SONG – MOTION PICTURE
“Atlas”, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire Music by: Chris Martin, Guy Berryman, Jonny Buckland, Will Champion Lyrics by: Chris Martin, Guy Berryman, Jonny Buckland, Will Champion
“Let It Go”, Frozen Music by: Kristen Anderson Lopez, Robert Lopez Lyrics by: Kristen Anderson Lopez, Robert Lopez
“Ordinary Love”, Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom Music by: Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton, Larry Mullen, Jr., Brian Burton Lyrics by: Bono
“Please Mr Kennedy”, Inside Llewyn Davis Music by: Ed Rush, George Cromarty, T Bone Burnett, Justin Timberlake, Joel Coen, Ethan Coen Lyrics by: Ed Rush, George Cromarty, T Bone Burnett, Justin Timberlake, Joel Coen, Ethan Coen
“Sweeter Than Fiction”, One Chance Music by: Taylor Swift, Jack Antonoff Lyrics by: Taylor Swift, Jack Antonoff

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
Helena Bonham Carter, Burton & Taylor
Rebecca Ferguson, The White Queen,
Jessica Lange, American Horror Story: Coven
Helen Mirren, Phil Spector
Elisabeth Moss, Top of the Lake

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A SERIES, MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
Jacqueline Bisset, Dancing On The Edge
Janet McTeer, White Queen
Hayden Panettiere, Nashville
Monica Potter, Parenthood
Sofia Vergara, Modern Family

Isaacs Earns Spirit Award Nomination for His Role in “Inside Llewyn Davis”

Posted on November 26, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

Oscar Isaacs’ awards season is off to a great start…

The 33-year-old Guatemalan and Cuban actor has earned a Spirit Award nomination for his critically acclaimed role in Inside Llewyn Davis, which was nominated for Best Feature.

Isaacs is up for Best Male Lead against Nebraska’s Bruce Dern, 12 Years a Slave’s Chiwetel Ejiofor, Fruitvale Station’s Michael B Jordan, Dallas Buyers Club’s Matthew McConaughey and All is Lost’s Robert Redford.

Melonie Diaz has earned a nod for Best Supporting Female for her role in Fruitvale Station.

Film Independent’s 29th Spirit Awards will be held on March 1 in Santa Monica with Patton Oswalt hosting.

Here’s the full list of 2014 nominees:

BEST FEATURE
12 Years A Slave
All Is Lost
Frances Ha
Inside Llewyn Davis
Nebraska

BEST DIRECTOR
Shane Carruth, Upstream Color
J.C. Chandor, All Is Lost
Steve McQueen, 12 Years A Slave
Jeff Nichols, Mud
Alexander Payne, Nebraska

BEST FEMALE LEAD
Cate Blanchett, Blue Jasmine
Julie Delpy, Before Midnight
Gaby Hoffmann, Crystal Fairy
Brie Larson, Short Term 12
Shailene Woodley, The Spectacular Now

BEST MALE LEAD
Bruce Dern, Nebraska
Chiwetel Ejiofor, 12 Years A Slave
Oscar Isaac, Inside Llewyn Davis
Michael B Jordan, Fruitvale Station
Matthew McConaughey, Dallas Buyers Club
Robert Redford, All Is Lost

BEST SCREENPLAY
Woody Allen, Blue Jasmine
Julie Delpy, Ethan Hawke & Richard Linklater, Before Midnight
Nicole Holofcener, Enough Said
Scott Neustadter & Michael H. Weber, The Spectacular Now
John Ridley, 12 Years A Slave

BEST SUPPORTING FEMALE
Melonie Diaz, Fruitvale Station
Sally Hawkins, Blue Jasmine
Lupita Nyong’o, 12 Years a Slave
Yolonda Ross, Go For Sisters
June Squibb, Nebraska

BEST SUPPORTING MALE
Michael Fassbender, 12 Years a Slave
Will Forte, Nebraska
James Gandolfini, Enough Said
Jared Leto, Dallas Buyers Club
Keith Stanfield, Short Term 12

BEST FIRST SCREENPLAY
Lake Bell, In A World
Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Don Jon
Bob Nelson, Nebraska
Jill Soloway, Afternoon Delight
Mike Starrbury, The Inevitable Defeat of Mister and Pete

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Sean Bobbitt, 12 Years A Slave
Benoit Debie, Spring Breakers
Bruno Delbonnel, Inside Llewyn Davis
Frank G. Demarco, All Is Lost
Matthias Grunsky, Computer Chess

BEST EDITING
Shane Carruth & David Lowery, Upstream Color
Jem Cohen & Marc Vives, Museum Hours
Frank G. Demarco,
All Is Lost
Matthias Grunsky, Computer Chess
Nat Sanders, Short Term 12

BEST DOCUMENTARY
20 Feet From Stardom, Director/Producer: Morgan Neville, Producers: Gil Friesen & Caitrin Rogers
After Tiller, Directors/Producers: Martha Shane & Lana Wilson Gideon’s Army, Director/Producer: Dawn Porter, Producer: Julie Goldman
The Act of Killing, Director/Producer: Joshua Oppenheimer, Producers: Joram Ten Brink, Christine Cynn, Anne Köhncke, Signe Byrge Sørensen, Michael Uwemedimo
The Square, Director: Jehane Noujaim, Producer: Karim Amer

BEST INT’L FILM
A Touch of Sin (China)
Blue is the Warmest Color (France)
Gloria (Chile)
The Great Beauty (Italy)
The Hunt (Denmark)

BEST FIRST FEATURE
Blue Caprice, Director/Producer: Alexandre Moors; Producers: Kim Jackson, Brian O’Carroll, Isen Robbins, Will Rowbotham, Ron Simons, Aimee Schoof, Stephen Tedeschi
Concussion, Director: Stacie Passon, Producer: Rose Troche Fruitvale Station, Director: Ryan Coogler; Producers: Nina Yang Bongiovi, Forest Whitaker
Una Noche, Director/Producer: Lucy Mulloy, Producers: Sandy Pérez Aguila, Maite Artieda, Daniel Mulloy, Yunior Santiago
Wadjda, Director: Haifaa Al Mansour, Producers: Gerhard Meixner, Roman Paul

JOHN CASSAVETES AWARD (best feature made for under $500,000)
Computer Chess, Writer/Director: Andrew Bujalski, Producers: Houston King & Alex Lipschultz
Crystal Fairy, Writer/Director: Sebastiàn Silva, Producers: Juan de Dios Larraín & Pablo Larraín
Museum Hours, Writer/Director: Jem Cohen, Producers: Paolo Calamita & Gabriele Kranzelbinder
Pit Stop, Writer/Director: Yen Tan, Writer: David Lowery, Producers: Jonathan Duffy, James M. Johnston, Eric Steele, Kelly Williams
This is Martin Bonner, Writer/Director: Chad Hartigan, Producer: Cherie Saulter

17th ANNUAL PIAGET PRODUCERS AWARD
Toby Halbrooks & James M. Johnston
Jacob Jaffke
Andrea Roa
Frederick Thornton

20th ANNUAL SOMEONE TO WATCH AWARD
My Sister’s Quinceañera, Director: Aaron Douglas Johnston Newlyweeds, Director: Shaka King
The Foxy Merkins, Director: Madeline Olnek

19th ANNUAL STELLA ARTOIS TRUER THAN FICTION AWARD
Kalyanee Mam, A River Changes Course
Jason Osder, Let the Fire Burn
Stephanie Spray & Pacho Velez, Manakamana

ROBERT ALTMAN AWARD
Mud, Director: Jeff Nichols, Casting Director: Francine Maisler, Ensemble Cast: Joe Don Baker, Jacob Lofland, Matthew McConaughey, Ray McKinnon, Sarah Paulson, Michael Shannon, Sam Shepard, Tye Sheridan, Paul Sparks, Bonnie Sturdivant, Reese Witherspoon

Peña to Star in the Demonic Thriller “The Vatican Tapes”

Posted on June 28, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

Michael Peña is headed to the priesthood…

The 37-year-old Mexican American actor has joined the cast of Lakeshore Entertainment and Lionsgate’s The Vatican Tapes.

Peña, who earned a Spirit Award nomination for his performance in the police drama End of Watch, will portray Father Lozano in the demonic thriller directed by Mark Neveldine.

Filming is expected to begin next month with Djimon Hounsou, Dougray Scott, Kathleen Robertson, Peter Andersson, John Patrick Amedori, Alex Sparrow and Olivia Dudley part of the cast.

Dudley plays a twentysomething who seems to cause death and destruction to those around her. Peña’s character is the local priest who first tries to help.

It’s the latest project for Peña, who will next appear in DreamWorks Animation’s Turbo.

He recently signed on to star in David O. Russell’s next film alongside Christian Bale, Bradley Cooper, Amy Adams, Jeremy Renner and Jennifer Lawrence.

Hayek Named 2013 Spirit Awards Honorary Co-Chair

Posted on January 6, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

Salma Hayek is preparing to display her independent spirit…

The 46-year-old Mexican actress has been named an honorary co-chair for this year’s Spirit Awards by Film Independent.

Hayek will share the honor with Bourne Legacy star Jeremy Renner.

Film Independent bestows the honor on those who exemplify outstanding artistic achievement and embody the organization’s mission to nurture and support independent filmmaking.

Hayek and Renner will attend the Spirit Awards Nominee Brunch on Saturday, January 12 at BOA restaurant in West Hollywood where they will announce Film Independent’s grant winners for 2013.

The 28th Film Independent Spirit Awards will be handed out at a daytime luncheon in a tent on the beach in Santa Monica on Saturday, February 23 with the premiere broadcast airing later that evening at 10:00 pm ET on IFC.

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