The 45-year-old Cuban American television writer and One Day at a Time co-showrunner will be taking part in ATX Television Festival’s virtual edition, which has been appropriately titled “ATX TV…From The Couch!”
Calderón Kellett will take part in a conversation about Latinx representation on the small screen, alongside Vida creator Tanya Saracho, Pose’s co-creator Steven Canals and Diary of a Future President’s Ilana Peña.
Calderón Kellett, Saracho, Canals and Peña, some of today’s hottest Latinx content creators, will be “Celebrating Authentic Stories,” the title of their panel.
They’ll talk about celebrating and continuing the push for positive Latinx representation, as well as how decision-makers within the industry can amplify Latinx voices.
“ATX TV… from the Couch!” marks the first virtual event for the fest and will include industry-forward panels with showrunners and executives, sneak previews of upcoming series, and virtual events such as television trivia and a music showcase.
The virtual event will take place June 5-7. It will be free to access via ATX’s official YouTube channe l, with the option for viewers to donate to select organizations providing COVID-19 relief regionally and nationally.
In addition to the Latinx panel, the festival’s virtual line-up will include conversations with cast and creatives from Freeform’s The Bold Type, NBC’s hit drama New Amsterdam, and The CW’s mystery-drama Nancy Drew.
The ATX Television Festival will also include a Scrubs reunion with the show’s creator Bill Lawrence, as well as cast members Zach Braff, Donald Faison, Sarah Chalke, John C. McGinley, and Judy Reyes. The cast was previously confirmed for ATX Season 9 in Austin, and rescheduled their in-person reunion for the 2021 festival.
Eighty-six film and television writers have been named finalists for the 2020 HUMANITAS Prize, as announced by HUMANITAS Executive Director Cathleen Young and President Ali LeRoi, with the Spanish animator and screenwriter’s Spanish animated film Klaus making the list.
Klaus, which Pablos wrote and directed, is nominated in the Family Feature Film category.Distributed by Netflix as its first original animated feature, the film was co-written by Zach Lewis and Jim Mahoney. It stars Jason Schwartzman, J. K. Simmons, Rashida Jones and Joan Cusack and serves as a fictional origin story to the myth of Santa Claus.The plot revolves around a postman stationed in a town to the North who befriends a reclusive toy-maker (Klaus).
Steven Canalshas earned his own Humanitas nod…
The queer Afro-Latinx screenwriter and co-creator of FX’s Pose was named a finalist in the Drama Teleplay category for co-writing the Pose episode “In My Heels,” alongside Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuck.
Mario Correa is also being recognized this year…
The Chilean screenwriter and playwright was named a finalist in the Drama Feature Film category for co-writing the screenplay for Dark Waters with Matthew Michael Carnahan; based on the New York Times Magazine article “The Lawyer Who Became DuPont’s Worst Nightmare” by Nathaniel Rich.
The HUMANITAS Prize, now in its 45th year, honors film and television writers whose work inspires compassion, hope, and understanding in the human family.
The finalists are nominated for their work in 10 categories including Comedy Teleplay, Drama Teleplay, Children’s Teleplay, Independent Feature Film, Drama Feature Film, Comedy or Musical Feature Film, Family Feature Film, and Documentary. In addition, this year HUMANITAS has introduced two new categories, Limited Series, TV Movie or Special and Short Film, to reflect the increased significance of those forms in the digital media landscape.
All prize winners will be announced at the 45th Annual HUMANITAS Prize event on Friday, January 24, 2020, at The Beverly Hilton Hotelin Beverly Hills, California.
“As we celebrate four and a half decades of empowering, supporting, and honoring storytellers, HUMANITAS continues to evolve and grow to reflect the world around us,” said LeRoi. “This year we have added two new categories to recognize work in forms that have seen dramatic increases in both popularity and artistic merit in the age of streaming and online viewing.”
Added Young: “As our world faces enormous challenges to the goal of peace and love in the human family, which is at the core of HUMANITAS’s mission, it is extremely inspiring to be able to honor the work of so many talented individuals. Intelligent, insightful and compassionate storytelling remains one of the most powerful weapons against hate and intolerance, and our finalists’ work epitomizes those qualities.”
The 45th Annual HUMANITAS Prize finalists are:
Drama Teleplay Category THIS IS US “Our Little Island Girl” Written by Eboni Freeman POSE “In My Heels” Written By Ryan Murphy & Brad Falchuck & Steven Canals THE TWILIGHT ZONE “Replay” Written by Selwyn Seyfu Hinds THE HANDMAID’S TALE “Useful” Written by Yahlin Chang; based on the novel by Margaret Atwood
Comedy Teleplay Category SHRILL “Annie” Teleplay by Aidy Bryant & Alexandra Rushfield & Lindy West; based on the book Shrill: Notes From a Loud Woman by Lindy West BLACK-ISH “Black Like Us” Written By Peter Saji ATYPICAL “Road Rage Paige” Written By Robia Rashid VEEP “South Carolina” Written By Alex Gregory & Peter Huyck
Limited Series, TV Movie or Special Category WHEN THEY SEE US “Part 4” Teleplay by Ava DuVernay & Michael Starrbury; story by Ava DuVernay TRUE DETECTIVE “Now Am Found” Written by Nic Pizzolatto CHERNOBYL “Vichnaya Pamyat” Written by Craig Mazin LIVE IN FRONT OF A STUDIO AUDIENCE: NORMAL LEAR’S ALL IN THE FAMILY AND THE JEFFERSONS “All in the Family #406: ‘Henry’s Farewell'” Written by Don Nicholl; “The Jeffersons #101: ‘A Friend in Need'” Teleplay by Don Nicholl, Michael Ross & Bernard West, Barry Harman & Harve Brosten; story by Barry Harman & Harve Brosten
Children’s Teleplay Category THE LOUD HOUSE “Racing Hearts” Written by Kevin Sullivan A SERIES OF UNFORTUNATE EVENTS “The Penultimate Peril, Part 1” Teleplay by Joe Tracz; based on the book by Lemony Snicket ELENA OF AVALOR “Changing of the Guard” Written by Kate Kondell NIKO AND THE SWORD OF LIGHT, SEASON 2: NIKO AND THE AMULET OF POWER “The Automatron” Written by Shaene Siders
Drama Feature Film Category A BEAUTIFUL DAY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD Written by Micah Fitzerman-Blue & Noah Harpster; inspired by the article “Can You Say… Hero?” by Tom Junod A HIDDEN LIFE Written and directed by Terrence Malick; source material: letters between Franz and Fani Jagerstatter taken from Franz Jagerstatter: Letters and Writings from Prison edited by Erna Putz DARK WATERS Screenplay by Mario Correa and Matthew Michael Carnahan; based on the New York Times Magazine article “The Lawyer Who Became DuPont’s Worst Nightmare” by Nathaniel Rich BOMBSHELL Written by Charles Randolph
Comedy or Musical Feature Film Category YESTERDAY Story by Richard Curtis, Jack Barth; Written by Richard Curtis THE FAREWELL Written by Lulu Wang JOJO RABBIT Screenplay by Taika Waititi; Based on the book Caging Skies by Christine Leunens THE LAUNDROMAT Written by Scott Z. Burns; based on the book Secrecy World by Jake Bernstein
Family Feature Film Category THE PEANUT BUTTER FALCON Written by Tyler Nilson & Michael Schwartz FROZEN 2 Story by Jennifer Lee, Chris Buck, Marc E. Smith, Kristen Anderson-Lopez, Robert Lopez; Screenplay by Jennifer Lee TOY STORY 4 Story by John Lasseter, Andrew Stanton, Josh Cooley, Valerie LaPointe, Rashida Jones & Will McCormack, Martin Hynes and Stephany Folsom; Written by Andrew Stanton and Stephany Folsom KLAUS Story by Sergio Pablos; screenplay by Sergio Pablos, Jim Mahoney, Zach Lewis
Independent Feature Film Category END OF SENTENCE by Michael Armbruster HOTEL MUMBAI by John Collee & Anthony Maras BRITTANY RUNS A MARATHON Written and directed by Paul Downs Colaizzo THE BANKER Story by David Lewis Smith & Stan Younger and Brad Caleb Kane; screenplay by Niceole Levy & George Nolfi and David Lewis Smith & Stan Younger
Short Film Category VARIABLES Written by Sabina Vajraca PURL Written by Kristen Lester THE CHARGE FOR THE SUN Story by Terence Nance; screenplay by Eugene Ramos KITBULL Written by Rosana Sullivan
Documentary Category TORN APART: SEPARATED AT THE BORDER Directed by Ellen Goosenberg Kent ERNIE & JOE: CRISIS COPS Directed by Jenifer McShane, SEA OF SHADOWS Directed by Richard Ladkani; THIS IS FOOTBALL “Redemption” Directed by James Erskine, Written by John Carlin
The David and Lynn Angell College Comedy Fellowship Eliana Pipes (Boston University) FAUXRICUA Nick Madson (Boston University) DOWN AND OUT Sheridan Watson (USC) LADY LAZARUS
The Carol Mendelsohn College Drama Fellowship James Bentley (UCLA) THE PIRATES OF FELLOWSHIP, MAINE King Lu (Columbia) FROM JUNE TO JULY Jennifer Frazin (USC) CHOSEN PEOPLE
New Voices Winners Robert Axelrod, TUCKED Christina Brosman, SACRIFICIAL Jeanine Daniels, CONVOLUTED John Doble, THE AMEN SISTERHOOD Obiageli Odimegwu, THE SHOW Roniel Tessler, BLUE MOON
For more information, visit the HUMANITAS Prize at www.humanitasprize.org.
This year’s Imagen Awards were doled out over the weekend, with the 28-year-old half-Puerto Rican actress taking home one of the night’s awards.
Rodriguez was named Best Actress – Television for her role as Blanca Rodriguez-Evangelista on the FX groundbreaking television drama Pose, which was named Best Primetime Program – Drama alongside CBS’ Magnum P.I.
Pose, created by Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk and Afro-Latino television writer/producer Steven Canals, features the largest cast of transgender actors to be starring as series regulars in a scripted show. In addition to Rodriguez, the series also stars 23-year-old Dominican actor Angel Bismark Curiel.
Anthony Ramos won the Best Actor – Feature Film prize for his role in Monsters and Men, which was named Best Feature Film, while Isabela Moner was namedBest Actress – Feature Film for her role inInstant Family.
Jon Seda was named Best Actor – Television for his role in Chicago P.D., while Wilmer Valderrama was named Best Supporting Actor – Television for his role on NCIS.
Rita Moreno was named Best Supporting Actress – Television for One Day at a Time, while Anthony Gonzalez was named Best Young Actor – Television for HBO’s Icebox.
Held at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel, the Imagen Awards were established in 1985 from a suggestion by veteran television producer Norman Lear to encourage and recognize the positive portrayals of Latinos in media. The winners were judged and selected in 18 categories by an independent panel of entertainment industry executives and Latinx community leaders.
The Imagen Foundation also honored Chairman of Endemol Shine Americasand CEO of Endemol Shine North America’s Cris Abregowith the prestigious Imagen President’s Awardand Luisa Leschinwith the Norman Lear Writer’s Award.
The complete list of winners can be read below.
Best Feature Film Monsters and Men (NEON/Moviepass Films)
Best Director Reinaldo Marcus Green, Monsters and Men (NEON/Moviepass Films)
Best Actor – Feature Film Anthony Ramos, Monsters and Men (NEON/Moviepass Films)
Best Actress – Feature Film Isabela Moner, Instant Family (Paramount Pictures)
Best Primetime Program – Drama (TIE) Magnum P.I. (CBS; CBS Television Studios, Universal Television, Perfect Storm Entertainment, Davis Entertainment, 101st Street Productions) Pose (FX Networks; Fox 21 Television Studios and FX Productions)
Best Primetime Program – Comedy One Day at a Time (Netflix; Sony Pictures Television for Netflix)
Best Primetime Program – Specials, Movies & Limited Series Icebox (HBO; HBO Films in association with Gracie Films and Endeavor Content)
Best Actor – Television Jon Seda, Chicago P.D. (NBC; Wolf Entertainment in association with Universal Television)
Best Actress – Television Mj Rodriguez, Pose (FX Networks; Fox 21 Television Studios and FX Productions)
Best Supporting Actor – Television Wilmer Valderrama, NCIS (CBS; CBS Television Studios)
Best Supporting Actress – Television Rita Moreno, One Day at a Time (Netflix; Sony Pictures Television for Netflix)
Best Young Actor – Television Anthony Gonzalez, Icebox (HBO; HBO Films in association with Gracie Films and Endeavor Content)
Best Variety or Reality Show Hip-Hop Houdini (Fuse; 7Beyond)
Best Children’s Programming The Loud House (Nickelodeon)
Best Documentary – Great Performances John Leguizamo’s Road to Broadway (PBS; NGL Studios & Diamante Content Production in association with THIRTEEN PRODUCTIONS LLC for WNET & Latino Public Broadcasting)
Best Informational Program Breaking Big (PBS; Ozy Media)
Best Short-Form Non-Fiction Program SC Featured – A Dreamer’s Path (ESPN Deportes)
MJ Rodriguez will still continue to strike a pose…
Days before the penultimate episode ofPoseis set to air on FX, the network has renewed the Ryan Murphy-produced series, starring the 27-year-old Latina actress and singer, for a second season.
“Ryan Murphy has once again revolutionized television with Pose, an incredibly engaging story of creativity, courage, compassion, love and family at a pivotal time in our culture,” says FX CEO John Landgraf of the June 3-debuting show about the NYC trans community in the ’80s.
In 2017, Rodriguez was cast in the leading role of Blanca Rodriguez-Evangelista on Pose following a six month casting search. The show made history for casting five leading transgender actresses in regular roles, the largest cast of series regular transgender actors in a scripted series as of 2018.
Rodriguez’s Blanca is a young woman who forms her own “house”—the House of Evangelista—after receiving a positive diagnosis for HIV, and becomes a surrogate mother to several abandoned queer youth of color. Described as a breakout, starring role, her performance has been praised by critics.
The series also stars Domique Jackson, Angelica Ross, Billy Porter, Evan Peters, Indya Moore and Angel Bismark Curiel.
Now heading to Netflix in a $300 million deal announced in February, Murphy himself has called Pose “the highlight of my career.”
“As television critics have universally acknowledged, there is simply nothing like Pose on TV, so effortlessly excelling on every creative level and earning a place in television history for its infectiously inclusive spirit,” the FX boss added. “We are honored to partner with our producers Ryan, Brad Falchuk, Steven Canals, Nina Jacobson,Brad Simpson, Steven Canals, Alexis MartinWoodall and Sherry Marsh, and the incredible cast and crew to continue this groundbreaking journey that is Pose.”
Pose‘s second set of moves, so to speak, will hit the small screen in 2019, according to FX.
Fox 21 Television Studios and FX Productions produce the first eight-episode season and will be back for Season 2.
MJ Rodriguez is ready to strike a pose this summer…
FX has revealed the premiere date for Pose, the dance musical series starring the Latina transgender actress.
Hailing from creators Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk and Steven Canals, the series will premiere at 9:00 pm ET on Sunday, June 3.
Pose explores the juxtaposition of several segments of life and society in 1980s New York: the ball culture world, the rise of the luxury Donald Trump-era universe and the downtown social and literary scene.
New Jersey couple Stan (Evan Peters) and Patty (Kate Mara) get sucked into the glamour and intrigue of the scene. James Van Der Beek plays Peters’ financial kingpin boss Matt.
The history-making Pose features the largest transgender series regular cast, including Rodriguez, as well as the largest LGBTQ cast ever for a scripted series.
The trans actors were cast after a six-month nationwide search led by casting director Alexa Fogel. In addition to Rodriguez, they include Indya Moore, Dominique Jackson, Hailie Sahar and Angelica Ross. All will be playing transgender characters.
The series also co-stars Tony Award winner Billy Porter and newcomers Ryan Jamaal Swain and Dyllon Burnside.
Murphy directed the first two of the eight-episode freshman season produced by Fox 21 Television Studios and FX Productions.
