Melissa Barrera’s “Your Monster” Making Global Streaming Debut Exclusively on Max

Melissa Barrera’s monster project is headed to Max.

Following its theatrical release via Vertical, the Sundance genre-bender Your Monster, starring the 34-year-old Mexican actress and Tommy Dewey will make its global streaming debut exclusively on Max on Friday, January 24.

Melissa Barrera, Your MonsterThe film will debut on HBO linear at 8:00 p.m. ET on Saturday, January 25.

Marking the feature directorial debut of Caroline Lindy, who adapted the script from her own 2020 short film, Your Monster tells the story of the soft-spoken actor Laura Franco (Barrera), who is dumped by her longtime boyfriend (Edmund Donovan) while recovering from surgery and retreats to her childhood home to recover. With her future looking bleak, insult is added to injury when Laura discovers her ex is staging a musical that she helped him develop. But out of these gut-wrenching life changes emerges a monster (Dewey) with whom she finds a connection, encouraging Laura to follow her dreams, open her heart and fall in love with her inner rage.

Also starring Kayla Foster and Meghann Fahy, the film is produced by Foster, Lindy, Kira Carstensen, Melanie Donkers and Shannon Reilly, and executive produced by Bob Potter, Dewey, Sharon Horgan and Clelia Mountford. Jackson Sinder, Jack Taylor Cox and Alex Peace-Power were co-producers.

Barrera’s previous credits include In The Heights, Scream, Scream VI and Abigail.

Clifton Collins Jr. to Star in Paramount+‘s Limited Series “JonBenét Ramsey”

Clifton Collins Jr. is stepping into the investigation…

The 54-year-old Mexican American actor has been cast in Paramount+‘s limited series JonBenét Ramsey (w/t), which hails from MTV Entertainment Studios and 101 Studios.

Clifton Collins Jr. Collins is among a roster of new cast additions that includes Chris Bauer, Rory Cochrane and Angus K. Caldwell.

Collins Jr. plays Detective Trujillo, a Boulder Colorado police detective who does his job but without exhibiting much initiative. Bauer plays Boulder Police Chief Tom Koby, whose department is the first on the scene after JonBenét was reported kidnapped. Cochrane portrays John Eller, the Detective Division Commander of the Boulder Police Department. Caldwell is Burke Ramsey, the eldest child of John and Patsy Ramsey.

Others in the cast include Melissa McCarthy, Clive Owen, Shea Whigham, Will Patton, Emily Mitchell, Garrett Hedlund, Alison Pill and Owen Teague.

Mitchell has landed the title role of JonBenét, a girl from an affluent family and child beauty queen, with McCarthy and Owen set to portray her parents, Patsy and John.

Executive-produced by Richard LaGravenese ,who serves as showrunner,

JonBenét Ramsey explores the tragic unsolved murder of the six-year-old beauty queen of the same name. The show follows the Ramsey family, before and after the tragedy, as they go through the painful loss of a child, while facing intense public scrutiny caused by a media frenzy that caused this case to captivate an entire nation. At the heart of the series is the story of Patsy and John Ramsey – exploring the unbreakable partnership of these two complex people – as husband and wife, as mother and father – who had committed themselves and their children to building the narrative of a perfect, privileged life, only to have it destroyed one Christmas night in 1996.

Harrison Query and Tommy Wallach sold the project to MTV Entertainment Studios and 101 Studios and serve as writers alongside LaGravenese.

Winning Sundance’s U.S. Dramatic Special Jury Award for his leading turn in Clint Bentley’s drama Jockey, which he also exec produced, Collins Jr. has recently been seen in films including The Bricklayer, Prime Video’s hit rom-com Red, White & Royal Blue and Guillermo del Toro’s Nightmare Alley, among others.

His recent TV credits include Westworld, Veronica Mars, and Ballers.

Up next, he’ll be seen in Apple’s series The Last Frontier, Ari Aster’s contemporary A24 Western Eddington, and Bentley’s Train Dreams.

Coral Peña to Appear on HBO‘s Untitled Brad Ingelsby Task Force Project

It’s task and you shall receive for Coral Peña.

The Dominican actress has landed a recurring role in HBO‘s Untitled Brad Ingelsby Task Force Project (working title).

Coral PeñaPeña is among a roster of new recurring cast members that includes Isaach De BankoléPhoebe Fox and Silvia Dionicio.

De Bankolé will play Father Daniel Georges, the oldest and best friend of lead Mark Ruffalo’s FBI agent Tom, who went to seminary with him. Fox portrays Tom’s biological daughter, Sara, who is deep in grief, with Dionicio as his adopted daughter, grappling with a family tragedy. Peña portrays Meg Coyle, the guidance counselor who works at Emily’s high school.

Others previously cast in the crime drama from the creator of Mare of Easttown include Tom Pelphrey as Robbie; Emilia Jones as Maeve; Thuso Mbedu as Aleah; Raúl Castillo as Cliff; Jamie McShane as Perry; Sam Keeley as Jayson; Fabien Frankel as Anthony; Alison Oliver as Lizzie; Owen Teague as Peaches; Dominic Colón as Deric “Breaker”; Levieva as Eryn; Raphael Sbarge as Police Chief Dorsey; Mickey Sumner as Shelley Driscoll; Brian Goodman as Vincent Hawkes; Elvis Nolasco as Freddy Frias; and Colin Bates as Shane McReynolds.

Based on Ingelsby’s original idea, the show is set in the working-class suburbs outside of Philadelphia, where Ruffalo’s Tom heads a Task Force to put an end to a string of drug-house robberies led by an unsuspecting family man. Ingelsby is writing the show and exec producing alongside Jeremiah Zagar and Salli Richardson-Whitfield (who also direct), Ruffalo, Paul Lee and Mark Roybal for wiip, and David Crockett. Nicole Jordan-Webber and Public Record’s Jeremy Yaches serve as co-executive producers.

Dionicio is an up-and-comer who has so far guest starred on shows like FBI: Most WantedChicago P.D.New Amsterdam, and Wu-Tang: An American Saga.

One of the stars of Apple’s astronaut drama For All Mankind, Peña’s also recurred on NBC’s The Enemy Within and 24: Legacy. Previously seen in films like Story Ave, Chemical Hearts, and The Post, she’ll next appear in Josh Margolin’s Sundance action comedy Thelma starring June Squibb, which is out via Magnolia Pictures on June 21.

Bella Thorne to Make Feature Directorial Debut with “Color Your Hurt”

Bella Thorne has a new directive

The 26-year-old half-Cuban American actress/singer will make her feature directorial debut with Color Your Hurt, the true story of a young gay man growing up in the Bible Belt.

Bella ThorneThorne has started the casting process on the project, which is based on her original screenplay and a short film she has made called Unsettled, which is in post-production.

Filming is being lined up for the Midwest and Italy in spring of this year.

The Midnight Sun and Babysitter actress made Unsettled in June 2023 (around the same time her short film Paint Her Red debuted at the Taormina Film Festival) with producers Jen Gatien and Eddie Alcazar. It was edited by Ron Dulin with additional editing from Alfonso Gonçalves.

Gatien will produce Color Your Hurt along with David Lipper and Robert A. Daly Jr. of Latigo Films, Dani Druz and Mark Emms, with Adam Sigal and actor CG Lewis serving as executive producers.

Previously, Thorne worked with Sigal, Druz and Lipper and Daly on The Tower, currently in post-production, Gatien on Midnight Sun, and Alcazar on Divinity, which debuted at the Sundance Film Festival last year.

Color Your Hurt is not just a screenplay; it’s one of the most inspiring projects I’ve ever penned. As I step into my new role as a movie director, it symbolizes the beginning of a truly impactful and exhilarating chapter in my career. I could not be more honored to tell a true story that has moments I deeply connect with,” said Thorne.

“Bella is remarkably talented, and Bob Daly and I want to support her vision in what is a very important story that needs to be told,” added Lipper.

Thorne, who has also released music, in 2019 directed adult short film Her & Him.

Rudy Valdez Agrees to Overall Unscripted Deal with Imagine Documentaries

Rudy Valdez has a new unscripted partner…

The Latino documentary filmmaker has agreed to an overall unscripted deal with Imagine Documentaries.

Rudy ValdezAs part of the agreement, Valdez will develop, direct and executive produce new nonfiction projects for the studio through his Bluff Road Films banner.

The two-time Emmy Award-winning filmmaker started his career as a camera operator on the Peabody Award-winning, Sundance series Brick City and went on to direct his passion project on HBO’s The Sentence.

Shot and directed by Valdez over the course of a decade, this feature documentary tells the very personal story of his sister’s plight in the criminal justice system, while tackling subjects like mandatory minimums and sentencing reform.

“It has been wonderful to work with Sara Bernstein, Justin Wilkes, and the entire Imagine Documentaries team through the years,” said Valdez. “They have entrusted me with telling a variety of stories and have always supported my vision and approach. This new partnership will allow us to continue to create inspiring projects together and for me to expand, not only in the stories that I am able to tell, but also in my efforts to create a platform that fosters new voices. Along with this new deal, I’m excited to announce the launch of my production company, Bluff Road Films. Steered by an intimate storytelling approach, my team and I will aim to amplify unheard voices. Having the support of Imagine as we ramp up our efforts and take on new projects is invaluable.”

His most recent projects include Sony Pictures Classic’s Carlos and Choir on Disney+.

Both projects are produced by Imagine Entertainment and will premiere at the 2023 Tribeca Festival.

Carlos, the definitive feature documentary of Carlos Santana, follows the artist’s lifelong journey from 14-year-old street musician to 10-time Grammy winning global sensation.

Choir is a six-part docuseries, following the Detroit Youth Choir after their star turn on America’s Got Talent.

“As longtime collaborators of the extraordinary Rudy Valdez, Imagine is thrilled to formalize our unique creative partnership with Rudy and further bolster his prolific documentary impact,” said Bernstein, president of Imagine Documentaries.

Alejandra Vasquez Signs with William Morris Endeavor (WME)

Alejandra Vasquez has new representation…

The Mexican-American filmmaker and Sam Osborn, the directors behind the Sundance Film Festival-bound feature documentary Going Varsity in Mariachi, have signed with William Morris Endeavor (WME).

Alejandra VasquezMarking Vasquez’s feature directorial debut and Osborn’s sophomore feature, the film makes its world premiere in U.S. Documentary Competition on January 22.

It’s set in the competitive world of high school mariachi, where the musicians from the South Texas borderlands reign supreme. Under the guidance of Coach Abel Acuña, the teenage captains of Edinburg North High School’s acclaimed team must turn a shoestring budget and diverse crew of inexperienced musicians into state champions.

The film is produced by James Lawler and Julia Pontecorvo of Osmosis Films and Luis A. Miranda, Jr. for Embeleco Unlimited. Impact Partners and Embeleco Unlimited co-financed with Fifth Season, which is also handling worldwide sales.

Vasquez is a director and producer raised in rural Texas who, with Osborn, directed the short Folk Frontera, which was awarded the Jury Prize for Texas Short Film at SXSW 2022 and premiered on PBS’ The Latino Experience. She also helmed the short When It’s Good, It’s Good, co-produced with Latino Public Broadcasting.

The up-and-comer cut her teeth on the producing side as part of the teams behind the award-winning features Matangi/Maya/M.IA. (2018) and Us Kids (2020) and is set to co-produce an upcoming feature from Sundance and SXSW prize winner Nanfu Wang.

Hulu Orders Drama Pilot for TV Adaptation of Xochitl Gonzalez’s “Olga Dies Dreaming”

Xochitl Gonzalez is die-dreaming…

Hulu has given an official pilot order to Olga Dies Dreaming, a one-hour drama based on the forthcoming novel by the Latina writer.

Xochitl Gonzalez

In anticipation of the official green light for the project from Gonzalez, Emmy-nominated and Sundance-winning filmmaker Alfonso Gomez-Rejon and 20th Century Television , the pilot has already has been casting.

Written by Gonzalez and to be directed by Gomez-Rejon, Olga Dies Dreaming is the story of a Nuyorican brother and sister from a gentrifying Sunset Park, Brooklyn, reckoning with the absent, politically radical mother and their glittering careers among New York City’s elite in the wake of Hurricane Maria.

Olga Dies Dreaming

Gomez-Rejon partnered with Gonzalez after reading her novel in manuscript form. Together, they developed the series from the ground up and will executive produce the pilot. 20th Television is the studio.

Gonzalez is an MFA candidate in fiction at the University of Iowa Writers’ Workshop, where she is an Iowa Arts Fellow and the recipient of the Michener Copernicus Award for Fiction. She was the winner of the 2019 Disquiet Literary Prize and her work has been published by Vogue, The Cut, Ninth Letter and Joyland magazine. Her debut novel, Olga Dies Dreaming was sold to Flatiron Books after a 10-way auction and will publish in January.

Prior to beginning her MFA, Gonzalez was an entrepreneur and strategic consultant for nearly 15 years.

Gomez-Rejon directed the award-winning Sundance film Me and Earl and the Dying Girl and The Current War: Director’s Cut among others. He most recently served as executive producer and director on Hunters

Angel Manuel Soto to Direct New Paramount “Transformers” Feature

Angel Manuel Soto is ready for a transformation

There’s a new Transformers feature is in the works at Paramount, according to Deadline, with the 38-year-old Puerto Rican filmmaker set to direct the project.

Angel Manuel Soto

The new film is said to be separate from the studio’s main Transformer franchise, which includes the five installments directed by Michael Bay, as well as the Bumblebee spin-off.

Soto, who made a splash with his Sundance and HBO Max drama Charm City King, will direct the standalone film based on the popular Hasbro brand.

Marco Ramirez, the former showrunner and co-creator of the Netflix Marvel series The Defenders, will pen the screenplay.  The film is in the early stage of development and no details on the plot were made available at this time.

Rita Moreno to Take Part in This Year’s Sundance Film Festival Semi-Virtual Edition

Rita Moreno is ready to rock Sundance…

The 2021 Sundance Film Festival has announced a schedule of the talks and events to be presented on the Sundance platform, with the 89-year-old Puerto Rican actress, dancer and singer set to participate.

Rita Moreno

The festival, which runs from January 28 to February 3, opted for a semi-virtual option in lieu of its traditional exhibition in Park City, UT. Among the guests taking part in this year’s virtual “Cinema Cafe” talks are Moreno, Questlove, Robin Wright and others.

Moreno will be joined by beloved Sesame Street alum Sonia Manzano for a little café talk on Saturday, January 30 from 10:30-11:15 am.

The EGOT (Emmy, Grammy, Oscars & Tony Awards) winner will also take part in the Conjuring the Collective: Womxn at Sundance Speakeasy later that night, from 8:00 – 9:00 pm.

The virtual speakeasy will feature performances from an array of talented women from the Festival and beyond, honoring a multiplicity of perspectives through our myths and stories, dance, art, music, and culture.

In addition to Moreno, guests include poet Apiorkor, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and Artistic Director Emerita Judith Jamison (Ailey), actor Marlee Matlin and director Siân Heder.

The following is the roster of scheduled events. All talks and events are free to view, and all times are U.S. Mountain time.

2021 Sundance Film
Festival Opening Night Welcome
Thursday, January 28,
5:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.

The Sundance Dailies
#SundanceDailies
Friday, January 29–Tuesday, February 2,
9:00 a.m.–9:30 a.m.

2021 Cinema Café guests:

Shaka King & Ahmir
“Questlove” Thompson
Friday, January 29, 10:30-11:15 a.m.

Sonia Manzano & Rita Moreno
Saturday, January 30, 10:30-11:15 a.m.

Rebecca Hall & Robin Wright
Sunday, January 31, 10:30-11:15 a.m.

Tyson Brown, Patti Harrison & Emilia Jones
Monday, February 1, 10:30-11:15am

The Big Conversation
#SundanceBigConversation
Friday, January 29-Monday, February 1,
1-2 p.m., individual slots TBA
The Big Conversation tackles science, art, culture, and the movements that are fueling the imaginations of today’s independent artists. A compelling selection of speakers discuss topics centered on the themes of this year’s program and explore broader trends in art and culture around the world. In considering how
artists — through their practice and their work — make meaning of the world, we’re reminded that it’s the big conversation that connects us to the big ideas. The topics are “Barbed Wire Kisses Redux,” “Come Together” and “The Past In the Present: A Personal Journey through Race, History and Filmmaking.”

Power of Story
Timing TBA
The Sundance Film Festival’s Power of Story looks to deepen public engagement with storytelling, delve into cinema culture, and celebrate artists whose work propels the form and reinvents storytelling as we know it.

Power of Story: Speculative Fiction Is the Place
Black speculative fiction and historiography, Afrofuturism, and utopian/dystopian visions speak to an enduring, evolving, and vibrant storytelling sensibility.

Conjuring the Collective: Womxn at Sundance Speakeasy
Saturday, January 30, 8-9 p.m.
A virtual speakeasy featuring performances from an array of talented women from the Festival and beyond, honoring a multiplicity of perspectives through our myths and stories, dance, art, music, and culture. Guests include: poet Apiorkor, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and Artistic Director Emerita Judith Jamison (Ailey), actor Marlee Matlin and director Siân Heder (CODA), actor Rita Moreno (Rita Moreno: Just A Girl Who Decided to Go For It), actor SOKO (Mayday, The Blazing World), and more TBA.

Awards Night
Tuesday, February 2, 6 p.m.
Free and open to all, the event will be live-streamed on our online screening platform.

It’s a Wrap
Wednesday, February 3, 9-9:30 a.m.
Festival director Tabitha Jackson leads a ceremonial end to this all-new Sundance experience by bringing audiences together for one last moment together in the virtual space.

La La Anthony to Executive Produce the Horror Comedy “Juju”

La La Anthony is dealing with some bad Juju

The 39-year-old Puerto Rican television personality, actress and entrepreneur has teamed up with Issa Rae for Juju.

La La Anthony

Anthony and Rae will executive produce the upcoming horror comedy for Universal Pictures, according to Deadline.com.

The project will be based on an original concept by Angelica Nwandu, founder of Instagram-based info hub The Shade Room and a Sundance fellow, who will write the script.

Juju will be the studio feature directorial debut for Thembi Banks, a Sundance alum who has been a director on Rae’s Insecure and Frankie Shaw’s SMILF.

Anthony to prominence as an MTV VJ on Total Request Live. She hosted several VH1 reality television reunion shows, including Flavor of Love and I Love New York.

 

Her acting credits include You Got Served, Think Like a Man and Starz’s Power series.