Alberto Ferreras’ “B as in Beauty” Being Developed as a Television Series

Posted on April 3, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Alberto Ferreras’ first novel is getting the small screen treatment…

The Spanish/Venezuelan writer and director’s novel B as in Beauty is being developed as a television series from writers Manuel Figueroa and Jordan Heimer after Concord Originals partnered with Marsh Entertainment and Telemundo Streaming Studios.

At this time, no broadcaster is attached.

The bilingual dramedy will follow Bella “B” Zavala, whose personal life, career and relationships are at best a mess. That is until she meets a mysterious and unique woman who offers her a moonlighting job as an emotional companion. Through the unexpected adventures she faces with her eccentric new clients, Bella’s own notions of beauty, love and self-worth will never be the same.

B as in Beauty won the International Latino Book Award for Best English Popular Fiction in 2009. It was also chosen by Siempre Mujer magazine as the Best Novel of the Year after its release.

Figueroa and Heimer previously developed drama series The Three Joaquins at ABC. The duo served as executive story editors on Starz’s Step Up: High Water and developed Eastside at NBC with Ruben Fleisher’s The District and previously staffed on ABC’s Stumptown and Syfy’s Defiance.

Concord Originals is the television and film division of the company that owns music catalogs such as Creedence Clearwater Revival and Otis Redding and musicals from Rodgers & Hammerstein and Tennessee Williams.

“The magic of B as in Beauty is in B’s ability to look inward and redefine her personal power. It’s our hope that this character and the path that she finds herself on will touch hearts all over the world because B’s journey is global in nature,” said Marsh.

“This project represents the culmination of our key objectives – giving existing IP new life in another format and championing filmmakers as they create content for underserved audiences,” said Concord Originals’ Sophia Dilley. “We know Sherry and our friends at Telemundo share this vision, making them the perfect partners to bring Alberto’s whip smart B to life on screen.”

“Telemundo Streaming Studios’ core mission is to tell stories that inspire connection while elevating Hispanic voices and representing them authentically on the screen. We are committed to representing diverse perspectives in front of and behind the camera and are excited to partner with Marsh Entertainment and Concord Originals who share in our values. We are confident audiences will identify with Bella’s universal story about self-love,” added Ponce, SVP and GM of Telemundo Streaming Studios.

Gravitas Ventures Acquires North American Rights to Adrian Martinez’s Feature Directorial Debut Film “iGilbert”

Posted on November 4, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Adrian Martinez’s latest project will be heading to a theater near you…

Gravitas Ventures has acquired the North American rights to iGilbert, the Latino actor’s feature directorial debut film, in which he also stars.

Martinez appears alongside Dascha Polanco (In the Heights, Orange Is the New Black) and Raùl Castillo (Army of the Dead, We the Animals).

The indie distributor will release the drama in theaters and on demand on December 31.

iGilbert centers on Gilbert Gonzalez (Martinez), who feels isolated from the world. He is 39, a virgin, obese and lives with his sarcastic, overprotective mother, who owns the Manhattan brownstone. Fearful of life and people, yet starving for human connection, Gilbert takes photos of women secretly, wherever and whenever he can. Enter Jana (Polanco), a tenant in the building and the source of innumerable fantasies.

Jana is a contradiction – beautiful but haunted by her own insecurities that inhibit her from standing up to her ex-boyfriend Tony (Castillo), an Iraq war vet with PTSD. Gilbert dreams of rescuing her, but doesn’t believe she could ever love him, especially if she knew about all the secret photos. This love triangle becomes a battle for human connection, which is increasingly difficult in our digital and disconnected world.

Martinez produced the film alongside Cynthia Hargrave, also exec producing alongside Jose Rivera.

Martinez’s previous acting credits include Curb Your Enthusiasm, Stumptown, The Blacklist and Gotham.

Netflix Acquires Skydance Television’s Global Spy Adventure Series Starring Monica Barbaro & Arnold Schwarzenegger

Posted on November 11, 2020 by Tom Castaneda

Monica Barbaro is heading to Netflix…

Skydance Television’s hour-long global spy adventure series starring the 30-year-old Latina actress and Arnold Schwarzenegger has landed at Netflix.

The project will reportedly now head into development with a script-to-series commitment.

Created by Nick Santora, the series, marking Schwarzenegger’s first major foray into scripted television, is described as a global spy adventure with a father (Schwarzenegger) and daughter (Barbaro) at the center of the story.

Santora is executive producing the untitled series as part of his overall deal with Skydance Television.

Schwarzenegger executive produces the new series along with Skydance’s David Ellison, Dana Goldberg and Bill Bost; Carolyn Harris will oversee the project for the company.

The project was developed internally at Skydance TV and the independent studio cast the two leads before taking it out to the streaming marketplace.

The series extends Skydance TV’s relationship with Netflix where the company produces long-running hit comedy Grace and Frankie and also produced Altered Carbon.

Barbaro will next appear on film in Top Gun: Maverick.

Her previous credits include appearances on Stumptown, Splitting Up Together, The Good Cop, Lethal Weapon and Unreal.

Adrian Martinez Signs with Innovative Artists

Posted on October 25, 2020 by Tom Castaneda

Adrian Martinez is getting innovative…

The 48-year-old Latino actor has signed with Innovative Artists.

Martinez was most recently a series regular on ABC’s Stumptown.

His other television credits include heavy recurring roles on CBS All Access’ No Activity and NBC’s The Blacklist: Redemption.

In film, Martinez will soon be seen in Disney+’s Lady and the Tramp, in Jamie Babbit’s The Stand-In opposite Drew Barrymore, and in Jordan Galland’s Leave Not One Alive opposite Bella Thorne.

He’s also had a major leading role in the feature film Focus starring Will Smith and Margot Robbie.

Martinez continues to be repped by Vault Entertainment and Sarna & Associates.

Monica Barbaro to Star Opposite Arnold Schwarzenegger in Global Spy Adventure Series

Posted on October 7, 2020 by Tom Castaneda

Monica Barbaro is joining a Terminator on the spy beat…

The 30-year-old Latina actress has been cast as the co-lead alongside Arnold Schwarzenegger in a global spy adventure series, which is in the works at Skydance Television.

Created by Nick Santora, the series features a father (Schwarzenegger) and daughter (Barbaro) at the center of the story.

Barbaro was approached for the series on the heels of her starring turn as Phoenix, the sole female fighter pilot, in the upcoming Top Gun sequel, which Skydance co-produces with Paramount. It’s slated for a theatrical release in July 2021.

Schwarzenegger’s involvement in the show also stems from his existing relationship with Skydance on the feature side, having starred in Terminator Genisys and Terminator: Dark Fate for the studio.

Santora is developing and executive producing the untitled series as part of his overall deal with Skydance Television. He also serves as executive producer/showrunner of the studio’s upcoming Jack Reacher drama for Amazon.

Schwarzenegger executive produces the new series along with Skydance’s David Ellison, Dana Goldberg and Bill Bost; Carolyn Harris will oversee the project for the company.

Barbaro’s television series credits include major roles on Stumptown, Splitting Up Together, The Good Cop, UnREAL and Chicago P.D./Chicago Justice.

Monica Barbaro Signs with United Talent Agency (UTA)

Posted on February 25, 2020 by Tom Castaneda

Monica Barbaro has new representation…

The 29-year-old part-Mexican American actress has signed with United Talent Agency (UTA).

Barbaro will appear as ‘Phoenix,’ the sole female fighter pilot, in the upcoming Paramount/Skydance–Tom Cruisesequel Top Gun: Maverick set for release on June 26.

Barbaro recently appeared in ABC’s Stumptownand reprised her recurring role in Splitting Up Together for the same network.

Additionally, Barbaro starred in the Netflix series The Good Cop opposite Josh Groban and Tony Danza. She’s best known for her role as Yael on the second season of Lifetime’s critically acclaimed series UnREAL.

She continues to be represented by Main Title Entertainmentand Meyer & Downs.

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