Angelique Cabral to Star in ABC’s Comedy Pilot “Maggie”

Posted on April 6, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Angelique Cabral lands new project…

The 42-year-old part-Mexican American actress will star opposite Rebecca Rittenhouse in the ABC comedy pilot Maggie, based on Tim Curcio’s short film.

Cabral joins a roster of new series regular cast additions that includes half-Honduran American actress Chloe Bridges, Nichole Sakura and Kerri Kenney.

The project hails from Maggie Mull, daughter of actor Martin Mull, and Justin Adler. 20th Television produces. Natalia Anderson has been tapped to direct the pilot.

In addition to Rittenhouse, Sakura, Cabral, Bridges and Kenney join previously announced series regulars David Del Rio, Chris Elliott, Ray Ford and Leonardo Nam.

Written by Mull and Adler and directed by Anderson, the single-camera comedy follows a young woman (Rittenhouse) who tries to cope with life while coming to terms with her abilities as a psychic. She can see everyone’s future, but her present is a mess.

Sakura plays Louise, Maggie’s best friend since childhood. She is funny, single and ready to mingle, all the time. But make no mistake, Louise gets knocked down repeatedly and somehow she will always get right back up with an even better attitude, full of hope and belief that her life is going to somehow work out.

Cabral will play Amy, Ben’s (Del Rio) older sister. She’s basically the world’s most uptight hippie. A vegan baker who is all about ethical living and sustainable cooking, Amy’s found herself more caught up in the social media pressures of being a food Instagram star promoting that idea than actually helping the world.

Bridges will portray Jessie, Ben’s (Del Rio) girlfriend and Maggie’s (Rittenhouse) neighbor in the duplex. She’s friendly without seeming inauthentic, full of natural kindness and warmth.

Cabral’s credits include the series regular role of Colleen on the CBS’ comedy series Life In Pieces, the female lead on the Fox comedy series Enlisted, co-starring in the Amazon animated series Undone, co-starring in the indie film Band Aid, and recurring on Grace and Frankie for Netflix.

Bridges is best known for her role of Donna LaDonna in the CW’s The Carrie Diaries and her role as Sydney Driscoll in Pretty Little Liars. She most recently appeared in the recurring roles of Paloma on ABC’s Schooled, Tessa on the CW’s Charmed, and Roxy on Netflix’s Insatiable.

Mj Rodriguez to Appear in HBO’s “Between the World and Me,” an Adaptation of the Apollo Theater Show Based on Ta-Nehisi Coates’ Novel

Posted on August 27, 2020 by Tom Castaneda

It’s a whole new World for Mj Rodriguez.

The 29-year-old half-Puerto Rican actress/singer has been cast in Between the World and Me, HBO’s adaptation of the stage show based on Ta-Nehisi Coates’ New York Times bestseller.

Rodriguez joins a lineup of cast additions that includes Jharrel Jerome, Marc Bamuthi Joseph, Janet Mock, Jason Moran, Wendell Pierce, Kendrick Sampson, Yara Shahidi and Michelle Wilson.

They join previously announced cast members Angela Bassett, Alicia Garza, Joe Morton, Phylicia Rashad, Tariq “Black Thought” Trotter, Courtney B. Vance, Pauletta Washington, Susan Kelechi Watson and Oprah Winfrey.

Originally adapted and staged by the Apollo Theater in 2018, the special will combine elements of that production, including readings from Coates’ book, and will again be directed by award-winning director and Apollo Theater executive producer Kamilah Forbes.

It will also incorporate documentary footage from the actors’ home life, archival footage and animation.

The book, first published in 2015 by One World, is written as a letter to Coates’ teenage son and recounts the author’s experiences growing up in Baltimore’s inner city and his growing fear of daily violence against the Black community. The narrative explores Coates’ notion that American society structurally supports white supremacy.

The special, which is currently in production under COVID-19 guidelines, debuts this fall on HBO and will also be available to stream on HBO Max.

Rodriguez rose to acclaim on FX’s series Pose. Her other credits include television appearances on Luke Cage, The Carrie Diaries and Nurse Jackie.

In November 2019, Rodriguez landed a contract with Olay Body, becoming the first Latina trans woman to enter a partnership with the company.

New Line Cinema Acquires Rights to Gomez-Rejon’s Will Smith-Starrer “Collateral Beauty”

Posted on September 8, 2015 by Tom Castaneda

Life’s a beauty for Alfonso Gomez-Rejon…

New Line Cinema has acquired worldwide rights on the Latino filmmaker’s upcoming project Collateral Beauty.

In the Gomez-Rejon’s film, Will Smith stars as a New York advertising executive who experiences a personal tragedy and the subsequent unconventional plan from his colleagues to break him out of his depression.

Overbrook Entertainment is coming aboard to co-produce the project alongside Anonymous Content, PalmStar Media and Likely Story.

Written by Allan Loeb, the project will be directed by Gomez-Rejon (Me And Earl And The Dying Girl).

PalmStar and Likely Story paid $2.25 million for the script.

Principal photography is expected to begin in October.

Gomez-Rejon’s previously directed the film The Town That Dreaded Sundown, as well as episodes for Red Band Society, The Carrie Diaries, American Horror Story and Glee.

Falcão Among the Industry Professionals Speaking at This Year’s RioMarket

Posted on September 25, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Renato Falcão is ready to talk shop…

The Brazilian filmmaker, a noted cinematographer, producer and director, is among the industry professionals set to speak at RioMarket, the biggest event of the Latin American audiovisual industry hosted by the Rio de Janeiro International Film Festival.

Falcão, best known as the cinematographer on the blockbuster hit animated films Rio, Ice Age: Continental Drift, Epic and Rio 2, has been invited to discuss the current state of the business at the event, which kicked off on Wednesday.

With a renewed format — dividing its TV and film focuses in separate stints — the RioMarket program includes over 40 discussion panels and seven workshops, gathering more than 200 experts in production, costume design, sound, animation, marketing and other areas.

Other international guests and lecturers this year will be costume designer Janie Bryant (Mad Men), screenwriter Marc Halsey (The Carrie Diaries) and producer Andrew Meyer, among many others in a heavy contingent of Hollywood producers and sales agents looking for the latest Latin American productions.

Brazil’s growing television industry is demanding more local content, as networks need to meet the percentages of locally produced shows that became mandatory by law two years ago. Also, President Dilma Rousseff announced earlier this year a funding package of $540 million to be poured into production, distribution and exhibition. Most of these film projects and formats will be offered to co-producers, sales agents and distributors through RioMarket sections Rio Screenings, One-to-One meetings and FilmShow.

Trailer Released for Gomez-Rejon’s Horror Meta-Remake “The Town That Dreaded Sundown”

Posted on September 11, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

It’s a dreaded time for Alfonso Gomez-Rejon is

MGM has released the first trailer for the Latino film and television director’s horror meta-remake The Town That Dreaded Sundown, which hails from producers Jason Blum and Ryan Murphy.

Following the events of the low-budget 1976 slasher from Charles B. Pierce, The Town That Dreaded Sundown picks up decades after the Phantom Killer terrorized rural Texarkana when the murders start again and a teenager (Californication’s Addison Timlin) finds herself in the killer’s sights.

It’s Gomez-Rejon’s first time directing a feature.

Written by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, the film will have its first public screening this month at Austin’s Fantastic Fest before MGM’s Orion Pictures releases it in October.

Gomez-Rejon, who was nominated for an Emmy for Outstanding Directing For a Miniseries for American Horror Story: Coven, has directed several episodes of Glee and American Horror Story. He also directed an episode of The Carrie Diaries and the pilot for Red Band Society.

Bridges Joins the Cast of the CW’s “Pretty Little Liars”

Posted on April 5, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Chloe Bridges is one pretty little liar…

The 22-year-old half-Honduran American actress has booked a recurring role on the ABC Family drama Pretty Little Liars, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Bridges, who co-starred in The CW‘s The Carrie Diaries as Donna Ladonna, will portray Sydney Driscoll, the newest member of the swim team, who befriends Emily (Shay Mitchell).

She’ll appear in multiple episodes of Pretty Little Liar‘s upcoming fifth run, first in the third episode of the season.

Bridges, who was a series regular on both seasons of The Carrie Diaries — the fate of which remains on the bubble at The CW — has appeared in features Mantervention, Queen Freak and Nightlight, and as a series regular on ABC‘s short-lived Freddie Prinze, Jr.-starrer Freddie.

Her television credits include episodes of New Girl, Suburgatory, 90210 and George Lopez.

Pretty Little Liars returns for its fifth season on June 10.

Arteta’s “Alexander And The Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day” Finds Its Lead Actor

Posted on June 24, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

Miguel Arteta has found his leading lad…

Disney has cast Ed Oxenbould to portray the title character in the film adaptation of the children’s book Alexander And The Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day.

The young actor will join Steve Carell and Jennifer Garner in the film, which will be directed by the 48-year-old Puerto Rican filmmaker.

The film will be an adaptation of Judith Viorst’s popular book that parents read to their kids over and over.

The film, which will be released in theaters on October 10, 2014, follows young Alexander through the mishaps of a terrible day for his family after he wishes they all would experience the same troubles he does.

Oxenbould was picked after a lengthy search.

Arteta’s credits include helming the CW’s The Carrie Diaries, as well as the films Cedar Rapids and Youth In Revolt.

Rodriguez Cast in Fox’s “Wild Blue” Drama Pilot

Posted on March 18, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

Gina Rodriguez is headed into the wild blue (yonder)…

The Puerto Rican actress has been cast as the female lead in Fox’s Navy drama pilot Wild Blue, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

The project, which has been described as a mix between ER, The West Wing and Top Gun, centers on the men and women working aboard a U.S. aircraft carrier. Equipped with a 500-foot landing strip, a nuclear reactor and 6,000 military personnel on board, the drama takes a closer look at stressful lives of the Navy’s elite.

Rodriguez, who was recently cast in the film Marching Banda, will portray Pilar “Maytag” Robles, an overachiever seemingly born to be a Naval open aviator. She’s described as athletic and graceful but by no means a pushover who is smart, driven and unafraid to fight for what she believes is right and fair.

Rodriguez, who starred opposite the late Jenni Rivera in Filly Brown, has previously appeared in Army Wives, Happy Endings and The Mentalist.

She joins a cast that includes Battle: Los Angeles’ Will Rotthaar, The Carrie Diaries’ Josh Salatin, Alano Miller and Damages’ Mykelti Williamson.

Arteta to Direct Bravo’s “Rita” Drama Pilot

Posted on March 1, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

Miguel Arteta has landed his pilot project…

Following his success at the helm of the CW‘s The Carrie Diaries pilot, The 48-year-old Puerto Rican filmmaker has been tapped to direct Bravo’s hour-long pilot Rita.

The family drama, starring Anna Gunn, Colin Salmon and Robbie Kay, centers on Rita (Gunn), a sharp, candid private-school teacher who struggles to raise her three teenage children while dealing with the absurd bureaucracy and domineering parents at her school.

The project was written by Krista Vernoff.

Arteta is best known for directing the indie film Chuck & Buck, which earned him the Independent Spirit Award’s John Cassavetes Award. His resume includes directing television projects like Homicide: Life on the Street, The Office, Ugly Betty and American Horror Story.

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