Tag Archives: University of Texas

David Blue Garcia Signs with Verve Talent and Literary Agency

Posted on by
Reply

David Blue Garcia has some verve…

The Latino filmmaker has signed with the Verve Talent and Literary Agency for representation.

David Blue Garcia

Garcia, an Emmy-winning director and DP, just took over directing Legendary’s Texas Chainsaw Massacrefilm. Garcia was set for the film after the original directors quit the project over creative differences right around the first week of shooting. The film shut down for a week for Garcia to get his bearings, and he started from scratch.

After graduating from the University of Texas Film School, Garcia made his debut on Tejano, a taut action adventure about a young Texan’s desperate deal with a cartel. The film, which drew on his personal experience and showcased the rich Latinx culture of South Texas, had its world premiere in 2018 where it took home the Audience Award at the Dallas International Film Festival. In 2020, HBO acquired the TV rights to the film and is currently streaming it on various platforms.

Cuellar Named the Minnesota Twins’ Bullpen Coach

Posted on by
Reply

Bobby Cuellar is heading to the Minnesota Twins’ bullpen…

The 60-year-old Mexican American former professional player has been hired as the bullpen coach to assist the team’s manager Ron Gardenhire, the team announced Monday.

Bobby Cuellar

The Twins earlier let go of Gardenhire’s long-time bullpen coach Rick Stelmaszek, a reaction to a second straight season of close to 100 losses.

Cuellar, who was born in Alice, Texas, served in the minor leagues as the pitching coach for the Rochester Red Wings for last four years, his second stint in that role. He was previously New Britain‘s manager in 2008 and the bullpen coach for the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2006 and 2007. Before that, he spent four seasons as the Twins’ Triple-A pitching coach. In 2002, he was credited with helping a young Johan Santana develop the trademark changeup he used to become a two-time AL Cy Young Award winner.

Cuellar also is fluent in Spanish, fulfilling the Twins’ desire to add a coach who could better communicate with their players born in Latin countries.

“He’s got a lot of knowledge, a lot of familiarity, and he knows Gardy and (Anderson) well,” said Twins’ general manager Terry Ryan. “Chemistry is important on every major league staff.”

Cuellar played briefly with the Texas Rangers in 1977 as a relief pitcher. He’s a graduate of the University of Texas.

Vasquez Named Best Young Filmmaker at Austin Film Festival

Posted on by
Reply

Nicco Vasquez may be the next coming of Robert Rodriguez…

The 18-year-old Latino filmmaker, a San Antonio native, picked up the Best Young Filmmaker award at the Austin Film Festival for his short film Crumbs.

Nicco Vasquez

It was one of 16 finalists in the festival’s Young Filmmakers Program Competition, which received entries from filmmakers ages 13 to 18 around the world.

In the five-minute film, written by Keith Limon, a little girl buries her pet bird after it dies, but an apparently homeless boy digs it up and eats it for dinner.

Crumbs

“It’s a very unexpected ending,” says the Vasquez of the short film, which he made as a student at San Antonio’s Harlandale High School. “A lot of people freak out. I like darkness and grittiness in storytelling and filmmaking.”

Vasquez is currently attending Northwest Vista College and plans to major in digital video and cinema production.

Meanwhile, Latina filmmaker Chelsea Hernandez’s See The Dirt was the winner in the festival’s Documentary Short category. The Austin-native and University of Texas graduate directed the film with Erik Mauck.

Lovato Begins Filming on “The X Factor”

Posted on by
Reply

It’s been a busy week for Demi Lovato… Along with making her first official The X Factor walk, she’s also taken part in the first of the talent show’s auditions…

The 19-year-old part-Mexican American singer/actress, who has signed on as a new judge on Fox’s reality singing competition, appears in the show’s first promo.

Demi Lovato

The clip, which debuted during the American Idol finale on Wednesday, features Lovato and her fellow rookie judge Britney Spears, as well as head judge Simon Cowell saying “What was I thinking?” about hiring the girls.

On Thursday, The X Factor‘s first day of auditions was the talk of the Twitterverse for a good portion of the day. Along with leaked audio of Lovato and Spears offering clashing commentary to an aspiring singer, grainy cell phone photos and video of the panel at work surfaced throughout the day.

In addition, Fox has released the first official photo of the season 2 judges, with Spears seated snugly next to Simon Cowell‘s right and Lovato to L.A. Reid‘s left.

The X Factor Season 2 Panel with Demi Lovato and Britney Spears

According to reports from inside Austin’s Frank Erwin Center on the University of Texas campus, the “Give Your Heart a Break” songstress exhibited plenty of spunk for her first day on the job.