Wilmer Valderrama’s Allied Management Group Signs a Slew of Latino Writers

Posted on February 8, 2024 by Tom Castaneda

Wilmer Valderrama is giving up-and-coming Latino writers their big break…

The 44-year-old Venezuelan & Colombian American actor’s Allied Management Group, which he set up with John Pollak, has signed a number of Latino writers to its roster.

The company has signed Luisa Leschin, Raphael Draccon & Carolina Munhóz, The Original Content Society’s Raúl Campos and Felix de Valdivia, and Daniel and Diego Ayala López.

The goal is for Allied to bring these Latino writers to networks, streamers and studios in the U.S English-language market.

Leschin has worked on nearly 500 episodes of television including Netflix’s Gentefied, where she was a co-exec producer on its second season, Max’s Head of the Class, where she was a co-EP and Hulu’s East Los High. She has also worked on series including Everybody Hates Chris and The George Lopez Show.

Draccon and Munhóz are a husband-and-wife writing team who showran The Chosen One and Invisible City for Netflix and have a first-look deal with Warner Bros. Discovery LatAm to work with Max. They have also written comic books for both Marvel and DC

Campos and de Valdivia are brothers, born in Mexico, who run The Original Content Society. They created, wrote, directed and produced the first YouTube Original sitcom in Latin America – Sobrevivi – as well as Spotify’s first original comedy series, El Grupo, and are co-exec producers for the third and fourth seasons of Amazon’s LOL starring Eugenio Derbez. In addition to producing and directing 24 Netflix comedy specials, they have a first look deal with ITV America, where they are developing an international comedy series called Güerita.

Daniel and Diego Ayala López, born in Colombia were behind Amazon series Manes, which was the most-watched series for Amazon Colombia, and Los Billis. They have worked with Colombia’s Caracol and are currently developing a number of projects with U.S. studios and production companies.

“These writers are currently helping to define the future of Latino story telling by creating universal stories that aren’t defined by borders or language, but instead reflect the modern content experience- groundbreaking storytelling that can be consumed by viewers in a global market,” said Pollak and Valderrama. “As the need for fresh stories and unique points of view continue to be the priority for Hollywood, these writers will lead the charge and redefine how premium content is created and Allied Mgmt Group is honored to be working alongside them.”

Colman Domingo Earns Five NAACP Image Awards Nominations

Posted on January 26, 2024 by Tom Castaneda

Colman Domingo is this year’s NAACP Image Awards all-star…

The nominations for the 55th NAACP Image Awards have been announced, with the 54-year-old Belizean-Guatemalan American actor earning five nods.

The awards, which honor the year’s best in Black excellence in the fields of motion pictures, television, music, books and podcasts and are voted on by the public, will be handed out March 16 in a primetime ceremony to air on BET and CBS.

Domingo scored nominations for his lead role playing civil rights icon Bayard Rustin in Netflix’s Rustin and for playing Mister in Warner Bros’ The Color Purple. He also is up for the Image Awards’ marquee prize, Entertainer of the Year.

Domingo is also nominated twice in the Outstanding Ensemble Cast in a Motion Picture category for his work in The Color Purple and Rustin.

Meagan Good has picked up two nods…

The 42-year-old part-Puerto Rican actress is nominated in the Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series category for her work in Harlem. She’s also up for Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series for Buying Back My Daughter.

Ariana DeBose is nominated in the Outstanding Character Voice–Over Performance – Motion Picture category for the 33-year-old half-Puerto Rican Oscar-winning actress and singer’s Wish role.

Zoe Saldaña is nominated for Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series for her work in Special Ops: Lioness; Micheala Jaé Rodriguez is up for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Television Movie, Limited–Series or Dramatic Special for her work in American Horror Story: Delicate; and Scott Mescudi is up for Outstanding Character Voice–Over Performance for Young Love.

Public voting runs through February 24. Winners in non-televised categories will roll out in the week ahead of the March 16 ceremony.

Here are all of this year’s nominees:

ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR
Colman Domingo
Fantasia Barrino
Halle Bailey
Keke Palmer
Usher

MOTION PICTURE

Outstanding Motion Picture
American Fiction (Orion Pictures / Amazon MGM Studios)
Origin (Neon)
Rustin (Netflix)
The Color Purple (Warner Bros. Pictures)
They Cloned Tyrone (Netflix)

Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture
Colman Domingo – “Rustin” (Netflix)
Denzel Washington – “The Equalizer 3” (Sony Pictures Releasing)
Jamie Foxx – “The Burial” (Amazon MGM Studios)
Jeffrey Wright – “American Fiction” (Orion Pictures / Amazon MGM Studios)
John Boyega – “They Cloned Tyrone” (Netflix)

Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture
Aunjanue Ellis–Taylor – “Origin” (Neon)
Fantasia Barrino – “The Color Purple” (Warner Bros. Pictures)
Halle Bailey – “The Little Mermaid” (Walt Disney Pictures)
Teyana Taylor – “A Thousand And One” (Focus Features)
Yara Shahidi – “Sitting in Bars with Cake” (Amazon MGM Studios)

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture
Colman Domingo – “The Color Purple” (Warner Bros. Pictures)
Corey Hawkins – “The Color Purple” (Warner Bros. Pictures)
Glynn Turman – “Rustin” (Netflix)
Jamie Foxx – “They Cloned Tyrone” (Netflix)
Sterling K. Brown – “American Fiction” (Orion Pictures / Amazon MGM Studios)

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture
Danielle Brooks – “The Color Purple” (Warner Bros. Pictures)
Da’Vine Joy Randolph – “The Holdovers” (Focus Features)
Erika Alexander – “American Fiction” (Orion Pictures / Amazon MGM Studios)
Halle Bailey – “The Color Purple” (Warner Bros. Pictures)
Taraji P. Henson – “The Color Purple” (Warner Bros. Pictures)

Outstanding Independent Motion Picture
Back on the Strip (GVN Releasing LLC)
Brother (Vertical Entertainment)
Story Ave (Kino Lorber)
Sweetwater (Briarcliff Entertainment/Universal)
The Angry Black Girl and Her Monster (RLJE Films)

Outstanding International Motion Picture
Anatomy of a Fall (Neon)
Brother (Vertical Entertainment)
Mami Wata (Dekanalog)
Rye Lane (Searchlight Pictures)
Society of the Snow (Netflix)

Outstanding Breakthrough Performance in a Motion Picture
Aaron Pierre – “Brother” (Vertical Entertainment)
Laya DeLeon Hayes – “The Angry Black Girl and Her Monster” (RLJE Films)
Mila Davis–Kent – “Creed III” (Amazon MGM Studios)
Phylicia Pearl Mpasi – “The Color Purple” (Warner Bros. Pictures)
Teyana Taylor – “A Thousand And One” (Focus Features)

Outstanding Ensemble Cast in a Motion Picture
American Fiction (Orion Pictures / Amazon MGM Studios)
Rustin (Netflix)
The Blackening (Lionsgate and MRC)
The Color Purple (Warner Bros. Pictures)
They Cloned Tyrone (Netflix)

Outstanding Animated Motion Picture
Elemental (Pixar Animation Studios)
Lil’ Ruby (Platige)
Spider–Man: Across the Spider–Verse (Sony Pictures Releasing)
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem (Paramount Pictures)
Wish (Walt Disney Animation Studios)

Outstanding Character Voice–Over Performance – Motion Picture
Ariana DeBose – Wish (Walt Disney Animation Studios)
Brian Tyree Henry – Spider–Man: Across the Spider–Verse (Sony Pictures Releasing)
Daniel Kaluuya – Spider–Man: Across the Spider–Verse (Sony Pictures Releasing)
Issa Rae – Spider–Man: Across the Spider–Verse (Sony Pictures Releasing)
Shameik Moore – Spider–Man: Across the Spider–Verse (Sony Pictures Releasing)

Outstanding Short–Form (Live Action)
Flower (Life in Motion/Funbomb)
Gaps (Tribeca Studios)
Lucille (QTGEEK)
Rocky Road on Channel Three (Indeed)
The After (Netflix)

Outstanding Short–Form (Animated)
Blueberry (Ace Animation Studios)
Bridges (OHR Media)
Burning Rubber (Reel Black Studios)
Ego’ Curse (Exhibit Treal Studios)
Lil’ Ruby (Platige)

Outstanding Breakthrough Creative (Motion Picture)
A.V. Rockwell – “A Thousand and One” (Focus Features)
Blitz Bazawule – “The Color Purple” (Warner Bros. Pictures)
Choice Skinner – “A New Life” (Buffalo 8)
Dewayne Perkins – “The Blackening” (Lionsgate and MRC)
Juel Taylor – “They Cloned Tyrone” (Netflix)

Outstanding Youth Performance in a Motion Picture
Aaron Kingsley Adetola – “A Thousand And One” (Focus Features)
Aven Courtnery – “A Thousand And One” (Focus Features)
Calah Lane – “Wonka” (Warner Bros. Pictures)
Lennox Simms – “Origin” (Neon)
Mila Davis–Kent – “Creed III” (Amazon MGM Studios)

Outstanding Cinematography in a Feature Film
Kim Miles, Julia Liu, Clair Popkin – “STILL: A Michael J. Fox Movie” (Apple Original Films)
Eric K. Yue – “A Thousand and One” (Focus Features)
Guy Godfree – “Brother” (Vertical Entertainment)
Ken Seng – “They Cloned Tyrone” (Netflix)
Paul Yee – “Joy Ride” (Lionsgate)

TELEVISION + STREAMING

Outstanding Comedy Series
Abbott Elementary (ABC)
Harlem (Amazon Prime Video)
Survival of the Thickest (Netflix)
The Neighborhood (CBS)
UnPrisoned (Hulu/Onyx)

Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series
Cedric The Entertainer – “The Neighborhood” (CBS)
Delroy Lindo – “UnPrisoned” (Hulu/Onyx)
Dulé Hill – ” The Wonder Years” (ABC)
Mike Epps – “The Upshaws” (Netflix)
Tone Bell – “Survival of the Thickest” (Netflix)

Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series
Kerry Washington – “UnPrisoned” (Hulu/Onyx)
Meagan Good – “Harlem” (Amazon Prime Video)
Michelle Buteau – “Survival of the Thickest” (Netflix)
Quinta Brunson – “Abbott Elementary” (ABC)
Tichina Arnold – “The Neighborhood” (CBS)

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series
Kenan Thompson – “Saturday Night Live” (NBC)
Roy Wood Jr. – “The Daily Show” (Comedy Central)
Tyler Lepley – “Harlem” (Amazon Prime Video)
Tyler James Williams – “Abbott Elementary” (ABC)
William Stanford Davis – “Abbott Elementary” (ABC)

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
Ayo Edebiri – “The Bear” (FX)
Ego Nwodim – “Saturday Night Live” (NBC)
Janelle James – “Abbott Elementary” (ABC)
Sheryl Lee Ralph – “Abbott Elementary” (ABC)
Shoniqua Shandai – “Harlem” (Amazon Prime Video)

Outstanding Drama Series
Bel–Air (Peacock)
Black Cake (Hulu)
Found (NBC)
Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story (Netflix)
Snowfall (FX)

Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series
Damson Idris – “Snowfall” (FX)
Forest Whitaker – “Godfather of Harlem” (MGM+)
Idris Elba – “Hijack” (Apple TV+)
Jabari Banks – “Bel–Air” (Peacock)
Jesse L. Martin – “The Irrational” (NBC)

Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series
Angela Bassett – “9–1–1” (Fox)
India Ria Amarteifio – “Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story” (Netflix)
Octavia Spencer – “Truth Be Told” (Apple TV+)
Queen Latifah – “The Equalizer” (CBS)
Zoe Saldaña – “Special Ops: Lioness” (Paramount+)

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
Adrian Holmes – “Bel–Air” (Peacock)
Amin Joseph – “Snowfall” (FX)
Giancarlo Esposito – “Godfather of Harlem” (MGM+)
LaRoyce Hawkins – “Chicago PD” (NBC)
Wendell Pierce – “Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan” (Amazon Prime Video)

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
Adjoa Andoh – “Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story” (Netflix)
Arsema Thomas – “Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story” (Netflix)
Golda Rosheuvel – “Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story” (Netflix)
Gail Bean – “Snowfall” (FX)
Nicole Beharie – “The Morning Show” (Apple TV+)

Outstanding Television Movie, Limited–Series or Dramatic Special
Black Girl Missing (Lifetime)
First Lady of BMF: The Tonesa Welch Story (BET+)
Heist 88 (Showtime)
Lawmen: Bass Reeves (Paramount+)
Swarm (Amazon Prime Video)

Outstanding Actor in a Television Movie, Limited–Series or Dramatic Special
Brian Tyree Henry – “Class of “09” (FX)
Courtney B. Vance – “Heist 88” (Showtime)
Keith Powers – “The Perfect Find” (Netflix)
Lance Reddick – “The Caine Mutiny Court–Martial” (Showtime)
Samuel L. Jackson – “Secret Invasion” (Disney+)

Outstanding Actress in a Television Movie, Limited–Series or Dramatic Special
Ali Wong – “Beef” (Netflix)
Chlöe Bailey – “Praise This” (Peacock)
Dominique Fishback – “Swarm” (Amazon Prime Video)
Gabrielle Union – “The Perfect Find” (Netflix)
Meagan Good – “Buying Back My Daughter” (Lifetime)

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Television Movie, Limited–Series or Dramatic Special
Carl Anthony Payne II – “Binged to Death” (MTV)
Damon Wayans – “Cinnamon” (Tubi)
Damson Idris – “Swarm” (Amazon Prime Video)
Don Cheadle – “Secret Invasion” (Disney+)
Jharrel Jerome – “Full Circle” (HBO | Max)

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Television Movie, Limited–Series or Dramatic Special
Aja Naomi King – “Lessons in Chemistry” (Apple TV+)
CCH Pounder – “Full Circle” (HBO | Max)
Micheala Jaé Rodriguez – “American Horror Story: Delicate” (FX)
Phylicia Rashad – “Heaven Down Here” (Hallmark Movies & Mysteries)
Tisha Campbell – “Every Breath She Takes” (Lifetime)

Outstanding News/Information (Series or Special)
20/20 – Kerry Washington: Thicker Than Water – A Conversation with Robin Roberts (ABC)
The 1619 Project (Hulu)
theGrio with Marc Lamont Hill (theGrio Cable Network)
The Reidout (MSNBC)
Into America (MSNBC)

Outstanding Talk Series
Hart to Heart (Peacock)
Sherri (Syndicated)
Tamron Hall (ABC News/Disney Media Distribution)
The Jennifer Hudson Show (Syndicated)
Turning the Tables with Robin Roberts (Disney+)

Outstanding Reality Program, Reality Competition or Game Show (Series)
America’s Got Talent (NBC)
Barbecue Showdown (Netflix)
Celebrity Family Feud (ABC)
Critter Fixers: Country Vets (Nat Geo Wild)
Wild ‘N Out (VH1)

Outstanding Variety Show (Series or Special)
A Black Lady Sketch Show (HBO | Max)
A Grammy Salute to 50 Years of Hip–Hop (CBS)
Chris Rock: Selective Outrage (Netflix)
My Name is Mo’Nique (Netflix)
Wanda Sykes: I’m An Entertainer (Netflix)

Outstanding Children’s Program
Ada Twist, Scientist (Netflix)
Alma’s Way (PBS Kids)
Craig of the Creek (Cartoon Network)
Gracie’s Corner (YouTube TV)
My Dad The Bounty Hunter (Netflix)

Outstanding Performance by a Youth (Series, Special, Television Movie or Limited–Series)
Alaya High – “That Girl Lay Lay” (Nickelodeon)
Elisha “EJ” Williams – “The Wonder Years” (ABC)
Jalyn Hall – “The Crossover” (Disney+)
Keivonn Woodard – “The Last of Us” (HBO | Max)
Leah Sava Jeffries – “Percy Jackson and the Olympians” (Disney+)

Outstanding Host in a Talk or News/Information (Series or Special) – Individual or Ensemble
Bomani Jones – “Game Theory with Bomani Jones” (HBO | Max)
Joy Reid – “The Reidout” (NBC)
Sherri Shepherd – “Sherri” (Syndicated)
Tamron Hall – “Tamron Hall” (ABC News/Disney Media Distribution)
Whoopi Goldberg, Joy Behar, Sunny Hostin, Sara Haines, Ana Navarro, Alyssa Farah Griffin – “The View” (ABC)

Outstanding Host in a Reality/Reality Competition, Game Show or Variety (Series or Special) – Individual or Ensemble
Anthony Anderson, Cedric The Entertainer – ” Kings of BBQ” (A&E)
DC Young Fly – “Celebrity Squares” (VH1)
Nick Cannon – “The Masked Singer” (Fox)
RuPaul Charles – “RuPaul’s Drag Race” (MTV)
Steve Harvey – “Celebrity Family Feud” (ABC)

Outstanding Guest Performance
Ayo Edebiri – “Abbott Elementary” (ABC)
Garcelle Beauvais – “Survival of the Thickest” (Netflix)
Giancarlo Esposito – “The Mandalorian” (Disney+)
Michael B. Jordan – “Saturday Night Live” (NBC)
Roy Wood, Jr. – “The Daily Show” (Comedy Central)

Outstanding Animated Series
Big Mouth (Netflix)
Gracie’s Corner (YouTube TV)
Marvel’s Spidey & His Amazing Friends (Disney Junior)
The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder (Disney Channel)
Young Love (HBO|Max)

Outstanding Character Voice–Over Performance (Television)
Cree Summer – “Rugrats” (Paramount+)
Issa Rae – “Young Love” (HBO|Max)
Keke Palmer – “The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder” (Disney Channel)
Kyla Pratt – “The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder” (Disney Channel)
Scott Mescudi – “Young Love” (HBO|Max)

Outstanding Performance in a Short Form Series
Jessica Mikayla – Disney Launchpad Season Two (Disney+)
Kevin Hart – Die Hart 2: Die Harter (Roku)
Leslie Jones – After the Cut–The Daily Show (Comedy Central)
Nathalie Emmanuel – Die Hart 2: Die Harter (Roku)
Seth Carr – Disney Launchpad Season Two (Disney+)

Outstanding Short Form Series – Comedy or Drama
After the Cut (Comedy Central)
Die Hart 2: Die Harter (Roku)
Disney Launchpad Season two (Disney+)
Doggyland (YouTube)
I Am Groot (Disney+)

Outstanding Short Form Series or Special – Reality/Nonfiction
Did You Know? (theGrio Cable Network)
I Was A Soul Train Dancer (BET)
Mama Mann’s Kitchen (YouTube TV)
Ritual (PBS)
RuPaul’s Drag Race (MTV)

Outstanding Breakthrough Creative (Television)
Adjani Salmon – “Dreaming Whilst Black” (Showtime)
Kale Futterman – “Ginny & Georgia” (Netflix)
Michelle Buteau – “Survival of the Thickest” (Netflix)
Thara Popoola – “Sex Education” (Netflix)
Troy Hunter – “Sex Education” (Netflix)

RECORDING

Outstanding New Artist
FLO (Uptown Records / Republic Records)
Jordan Ward (Artium/Interscope Records)
Leon Thomas (EZMNY Records/Motown Records)
October London (Death Row Records)
Victoria Monét (RCA Records/Lovett Music)

Outstanding Male Artist
Burna Boy (Atlantic Records)
Chris Brown (RCA Records/Chris Brown Entertainment)
Davido (RCA Records/Sony Music UK)
Jon Batiste (Verve Records)
Usher (Mega/Gamma)

Outstanding Female Artist
Ari Lennox (Dreamville/Interscope Records)
H.E.R. (RCA Records)
Janelle Monáe (Atlantic Records/Bad Boy/Wondaland)
Tems (RCA Records/Since ’93)
Victoria Monét (RCA Records/Lovett Music)

Outstanding Gospel/Christian Album
“All Yours” – Kierra Sheard (RCA Inspiration / Karew Entertainment)
“Father’s Day” – Kirk Franklin (Fo Yo Soul Recordings and RCA Records)
“Impossible” – Pastor Mike, Jr. (Rock City/Black Smoke)
“My Truth” – Jonathan McReynolds (MNRK Music Group)
“The Maverick Way Complete” – Maverick City Music (Insignia & TRIBL Records)

Outstanding International Song
“Amapiano” – Asake feat. Olamide (YBNL Nation / EMPIRE)
“City Boys” – Burna Boy (Atlantic Records)
“Me & U” – Tems (RCA Records/Since ’93)
“People” – Libianca feat. Ayra Starr & Omah Lay (RCA Records/Sony Music UK/5K Records)
“Unavailable” – Davido (RCA Records/Sony Music UK)

Outstanding Music Video/Visual Album
“Boyfriend” – Usher (Mega/Gamma)
“Cobra” – Megan Thee Stallion (Hot Girl Productions)
“How We Roll” – Ciara (Beauty Marks Entertainment)
“On My Mama” – Victoria Monét (RCA Records/Lovett Music)
“Sensational” – Chris Brown feat. Davido & Lojay (RCA Records/Chris Brown Entertainment)

Outstanding Album
“Clear 2: Soft Life” – Summer Walker (LVRN/Interscope Records)
“For All The Dogs” – Drake (OVO/Republic Records)
“I Told Them…” – Burna Boy (Atlantic Records)
“Jaguar II” – Victoria Monét (RCA Records/Lovett Music)
“The Age of Pleasure” – Janelle Monáe (Atlantic Records/Bad Boy/Wondaland)

Outstanding Soundtrack/Compilation Album
“Creed III: The Soundtrack” – Michael B. Jordan, Ludwig Göransson, Archie Davis, Frank Brim (Dreamville / Interscope Records)
“Godfather of Harlem: Season 3 (Original Series Soundtrack)” – Swizz Beatz & Avery Chambliss (Epic Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment)
“Metro Boomin Presents Spider–Man: Across the Spider–Verse (Soundtrack From and Inspired by the Motion Picture/Deluxe Edition)” – Metro Boomin (Republic Records)
“The Color Purple–Original Motion Picture Soundtrack” – Various Producers (WaterTower Music/Gamma)
“The Little Mermaid Original Motion Picture Soundtrack – Alan Menken, Mike Higham and Lin–Manuel Miranda (Walt Disney Records)

Outstanding Gospel/Christian Song
“All Things” – Kirk Franklin (Fo Yo Soul Recordings and RCA Records)
“All Yours” – Kierra Sheard feat. Anthony Brown (RCA Inspiration / Karew Entertainment)
“In The Room” – Maverick City Music (TRIBL Records)
“It’s Working” – Todd Dulaney (DulaneyLand / MNRK)
“JOY (Unspeakable) – Voices of Fire feat. Pharrell Williams (Columbia Records)

Outstanding Jazz Album
“Brand New Life“ – Brandee Younger (Impulse! Records)
“Melusine “ – Cécile McLorin Salvant (Nonesuch Records)
“Who Are You When No One is Watching?“ – Braxton Cook (Nettwerk Music Group)
“Phoenix“ – Lakecia Benjamin (Whirlwind Recordings)
“Truth Be Told“ – Angie Wells (Cafe Pacific Records)

Outstanding Soul/R&B Song
“Back To Your Place” – October London
“Good Good” – Usher feat. 21 Savage x Summer Walker
“ICU Remix” – Coco Jones feat. Justin Timberlake
“On My Mama” – Victoria Monét
“Lipstick Lover” – Janelle Monáe

Outstanding Hip Hop/Rap Song
“All My Life” – Lil Durk feat. J. Cole (Alamo Records)
“Blue Eyes” – Vic Mensa (Roc Nation Records, LLC)
“Cobra” – Megan Thee Stallion (Atlantic/Warner Bros/Mattel and 10K Projects/Capitol Records)
“Palisades, CA” – Larry June & The Alchemist (The Freeminded Records/ALC/EMPIRE)
“Sittin’ On Top of the World” – Burna Boy & 21 Savage (Atlantic Records)

Outstanding Duo, Group or Collaboration (Traditional)
Ciara feat. Chris Brown – “How We Roll” (Beauty Marks Entertainment
Coco Jones feat. Justin Timberlake – “ICU Remix” (Def Jam Recordings)
Dreamville, Bas & Black Sherif feat. Kel–P – “Creed III: Soundtrack” (Dreamville/Interscope Records)
Karen Clark Sheard, Hezekiah Walker, Kierra Sheard – “God Is Good” (Timeless Music Group/Roc Nation Records, LLC)
Voices of Fire – “Joy (Unspeakable)” (Columbia Records)

Outstanding Duo, Group or Collaboration (Contemporary)
Burna Boy & 21 Savage – “Sittin’ On Top of the World” (Atlantic Records)
Chris Brown feat. Davido & Lojay – “Sensational” (RCA Records/Chris Brown Entertainment)
Lil Durk & J. Cole – “All My Life” (Alamo Records)
Usher, 21 Savage, Summer Walker – “Good Good” (RCA Records/Chris Brown Entertainment)
Victoria Monét feat. Lucky Day – “Smoke” (RCA Records/Lovett Music)

Outstanding Original Score for TV/Film
“American Fiction” – Laura Karpman (Orion Pictures/Amazon MGM Studios)
“Rustin” – Branford Marsalis (Netflix)
“The Color Purple” – Kris Bowers (Warner Bros. Pictures)
“The Other Black Girl” – EmmoLei Sankofa (Hulu)
“Transformers: Rise of the Beasts” – Jongnic Bontemps (Paramount+)

DOCUMENTARY

Outstanding Documentary (Film)
American Symphony (Netflix)
Fast Dreams (99 Ways Entertainment)
Invisible Beauty (Magnolia Pictures)
Little Richard: I Am Everything (Magnolia Pictures)
Stamped from the Beginning (Netflix)

Outstanding Documentary (Television)
American Experience (PBS)
Dear Mama (FX)
High on the Hog: How African American Cuisine Transformed America (Netflix)
Kevin Hart & Chris Rock: Headliners Only (Netflix)
Ladies First: A Story of Women in Hip–Hop (Netflix)

Outstanding Short Form Documentary
Alive in Bronze: Huey P. Newton (MTV Documentary Films)
Birthing a Nation: The Resistance of Mary Gaffney (MTV Documentary Films)
Black Girls Play: The Story of Hand Games (ESPN)
Freshwater (Hip Hop Caucus Think 100% FILMS)
Ifine: Beauty (Dirt–Stained Roses)

WRITING

Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series
Ava Coleman – Abbott Elementary (ABC)
Brittani Nichols – Abbott Elementary (ABC)
Donald Glover, Janine Nabers – Swarm (Amazon Prime Video)
Michelle Buteau – Survival of the Thickest (Netflix)
Norman Vance, Jr. – Saturdays (Disney Channel)

Outstanding Writing in a Drama Series
Carla Banks–Waddles – Bel–Air (Peacock)
Lee Sung Jin – Beef (Netflix)
Marissa Jo Cerar – Black Cake (Hulu)
Nkechi Okoro Carroll – Found (NBC)
Shonda Rhimes – Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story (Netflix)

Outstanding Writing in a Television Movie or Special
Dwayne Johnson–Cochran – Heist 88 (Showtime)
Frank E. Flowers, Tony Rettenmaier, Juel Taylor – Shooting Stars (Peacock)
Marlon Wayans – Marlon Wayans: God Loves Me (HBO | Max)
Sam Jay – Sam Jay: Salute Me or Shoot Me (HBO | Max)
Tina Gordon, Brandon Broussard, Hudson Obayuwana, Jana Savage, Camilla Blackett – Praise This (Peacock)

Outstanding Writing in a Motion Picture
A.V. Rockwell – A Thousand and One (Focus Features)
Cord Jefferson – American Fiction (Orion Pictures / Amazon MGM Studios)
Juel Taylor, Tony Rettenmaier – They Cloned Tyrone (Netflix)
Maggie Betts, Doug Wright – The Burial (Amazon MGM Studios)
Marcus Gardley – The Color Purple (Warner Bros. Pictures)

DIRECTING

Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series
Amy Aniobi – Survival of the Thickest (Netflix)
Donald Glover – Swarm (Amazon Prime Video)
Neema Barnette – Grand Crew (NBC)
Numa Perrier – UnPrisoned (Hulu/Onyx)
Robbie Countryman – The Upshaws (Netflix)

Outstanding Directing in a Drama Series
Alonso Alvarez–Barreda – Snowfall (FX)
Amin Joseph – Snowfall (FX)
Carl Seaton – Godfather of Harlem (MGM+)
Dawn Wilkinson – Power Book II: Ghost (Starz)
Geary McLeod – Power Book II: Ghost (Starz)

Outstanding Directing in a Television Movie or Special
Bryian Keith Montgomery Jr. – Cinnamon (Tubi)
Chris Robinson – Shooting Stars (Peacock)
Keke Palmer – Big Boss (YouTube TV)
Numa Perrier – The Perfect Find (Netflix)
Vivica A. Fox – First Lady of BMF: The Tonesa Welch Story (BET+)

Outstanding Directing in a Motion Picture
Antoine Fuqua – The Equalizer 3 (Sony Pictures)
Ava DuVernay – Origin (Neon)
George C. Wolfe – Rustin (Netflix)
Juel Taylor – They Cloned Tyrone (Netflix)
Michael B. Jordan – Creed III (Amazon / MGM Studios)

Outstanding Directing in a Documentary (Television or Motion Picture)
Allen Hughes – Dear Mama (FX)
Bethann Hardison, Frédéric Tcheng – Invisible Beauty (Magnolia Pictures)
Dave Wooley, David Heilbroner – Dionne Warwick: Don’t Make Me Over (CNN)
Lisa Cortés – Little Richard: I Am Everything (Magnolia Pictures)
Roger Ross Williams – Stamped from the Beginning (Netflix)

LITERARY

Outstanding Literary Work – Fiction
“Everything Is Not Enough” – Lola Akinmade Åkerström (William Morrow)
“Family Lore” – Elizabeth Acevedo (HarperCollins Publisher)
“House of Eve” – Sadeqa Johnson (Simon & Schuster)
“Let Us Descend” – Jesmyn Ward (Scribner)
“The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store” – James McBride (Penguin Random House, Riverhead Books)

Outstanding Literary Work – Nonfiction
“Black AF History: The Un–Whitewashed Story of America” – Michael Harriot (HarperCollins Publisher)
“BLK ART: The Audacious Legacy of Black Artists and Models in Western Art” – Zaria Ware (HarperCollins Publisher)
“Iconic Home: Interiors, Advice, and Stories from 50 Amazing Black Designers ” – Black Interior Designers and June Reese (Abrams Books)
“The Art of Ruth E. Carter” – Ruth E. Carter Foreword by Dani Gurira (Chronicle Books)
“The New Brownies’ Book: A Love Letter to Black Families” – Karida L. Brown, Charly Palmer (Chronicle Books)

Outstanding Literary Work – Debut Author
“And Then He Sang a Lullaby” – Ani Kayode Somtochukwu (Grove Atlantic)
“Coleman Hill: A Novel” – Kim Coleman Foote (Zando / SJP Lit)
“Rootless” – Krystle Zara Appiah (Ballantine Books)
“The Black Joy Project – Kleaver Cruz (Mariner Books)
“The God of Good Looks” – Breanne McIvor (William Morrow)

Outstanding Literary Work – Biography/Autobiography
“Love and Justice: A Story of Triumph on Two Different Courts” – Maya Moore Irons (Andscape Books)
“Lucky Me: A Memoir of Changing the Odds” – Rich Paul (Penguin Random House)
“Nothing Is Missing” – Nicole Walters (Simon & Schuster)
“Our Secret Society: Mollie Moon and the Glamour, Money, and Power Behind the Civil Rights Movement” – Dr. Tanisha C. Ford (Amistad, an imprint of HarperCollins)
“Straight Shooter: A Memoir of Second Chances and First Takes” – Stephen A. Smith (Gallery Books/13A)

Outstanding Literary Work – Instructional
“Badass Vegan: Fuel Your Body, Ph*ck the System, and Live Your Life Right” – John Lewis (Avery)
“Everyday Grand: Soulful Recipes for Celebrating Life’s Big and Small Moments” – Jocelyn Delk Adams, Olga Massov (Clarkson Potter)
“Flower Love: Lush Floral Arrangements for the Heart and Home” – Kristen Griffith–VanderYacht (Clarkson Potter)
“Historically Black Phrases: From “I Ain’t One of Your Lil’ Friends” to “Who All Gon” Be There?”” – Jarett Hill, Tre’vell Anderson (Ten Speed Press)
“Livable Luxe” – Brigette Romanek (Chronicle Books)

Outstanding Literary Work – Poetry
“Above Ground” – Clint Smith (Little, Brown)
“So to Speak” – Terrance Hayes (Penguin Books)
“suddenly we” – Evie Shockley (Wesleyan University Press)
“The Ferguson Report: An Erasure” – Nicole Sealey (Alfred A. Knopf)
“Why Fathers Cry at Night” – Kwame Alexander (Little, Brown)

Outstanding Literary Work – Children
“CROWNED: Magical Folk and Fairy Tales from the Diaspora” – Kahran Bethencourt (St. Martin’s Press)
“How Do You Spell Unfair?: MacNolia Cox and the National Spelling Bee” – Carole Boston Weathorford, Frank Morrison (Candlewick Press)
“I Absolutely, Positively Love My Spots” – Lid’ya C. Rivera, Nina Mata (HarperCollins)
“Is This Love?” – Cedella Marley, Alea Marley (Chronicle Books)
“Like Lava In My Veins” – Derrick Barnes, Shawn Martinbrough (Penguin Random House)

Outstanding Literary Work – Youth/Teens
“Adia Kelbara and the Circle of Shamans” – Isi Hendrix (HarperCollins – Imprint: Balzer + Bray)
“Eb & Flow” – Kelly J. Baptist (Crown Books for Young Readers)
“Everyone’s Thinking It” – Aleema Omotoni (HarperCollins – Imprint: Balzer + Bray)
“Fatima Tate Takes the Cake” – Khadijah VanBrakle (Holiday House)
“Friday I’m in Love” – Camryn Garrett (Knopf Books for Young Readers)

Outstanding Graphic Novel
“Curlfriends: New in Town” – Sharee Miller (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers)
“Ms Davis: A Graphic Biography” – Sybille Titeux de la Croix, Amazing Améziane (Fantagraphics)
“Queenie: Godmother of Harlem” – Aurelie Levy, Elizabeth Colomba (Abrams Books)
“Stamped from the Beginning: A Graphic History of Racist Ideas in America” – Dr. Ibram X Kendi, Joel Christian Gill (Ten Speed Graphic)
“The Talk” – Darrin Bell (Henry Holt & Company)

PODCAST

Outstanding News and Information Podcast
SundayCivics (LJW Community Strategies)
Going Wild with Dr. Rae Wynn–Grant (PBS Nature)
Holding Court with Eboni K. Williams (Uppity Productions)
Into America with Trymaine Lee (MSNBC)
The Assignment with Audie Cornish (CNN Audio)

Outstanding Lifestyle/Self–Help Podcast
Black Money Tree (Texas Black Expo Inc)
Chile, Please (HONEY CHILE Entertainment)
Is This Going To Cause An Argument (Seven14Seven Media)
The Laverne Cox Show (Shondaland Audio + iHeartMedia)
The Light (Audible)

Outstanding Society and Culture Podcast
Higher Learning with Van Lathan and Rachel Lindsay (The Ringer)
Jill Scott Presents: J.ill the Podcast (iHeart Media)
More Than That with Gia Peppers (Dentsu)
The 85 South Show with Karlous Miller, DC Young Fly and Chico Bean (The Black Effect Podcast Network)
The Bakari Sellers Podcast (The Ringer)

Outstanding Arts and Entertainment Podcast
All the Smoke (Paramount)
Baby, This is Keke Palmer (Wondery)
Being Black: The 80s (TheGrio)
Here’s The Thing (Family Affair Media and Entertainment)
Nightcap with Unc and Ocho (The Volume)

Outstanding Scripted Series Podcast
Crimson Hearts Collide (Hallmark Media and AYR Media)
Small Victories (WGC Productions)
TwentyOne 21: A Black AF Scripted Audio Comedy (TwentyOne 21 Podcast)
Whose Amazing Life? (Wondery)
Yes We Cannabis (Audible)

Outstanding Podcast – Limited Series/Short Form
I Am Story (AFSCME)
Official Ignorance: The Death in Custody Podcast (Hip Hop Caucus)
Reclaimed: the Forgotten League (ABC Audio)
The Greatest Day: The Epic Story Behind Hip–Hop’s Most Iconic Photograph (Audible)
Wakanda Forever: The Official black Panther Podcast (Proximity Media and Marvel Entertainment)

COSTUME DESIGN, MAKE–UP & HAIRSTYLING

Outstanding Costume Design (Television or Film)
Charlese Antoinette Jones – Air (Amazon/MGM Studios)
Dierdra Elizabeth Govan – I’m A Virgo (Amazon/MGM Studios)
Toni–Leslie James, Josh Quinn – Rustin (Netflix)
Francine Jamison–Tanchuck – The Color Purple (Warner Bros. Pictures)
Marci Rodgers, Richard Gross, Paul A. Simmons Jr. – Shooting Stars (Peacock)

Outstanding Make–up (Television or Film)
Cole Patterson, Fabiola Mercado – Bel–Air (Peacock)
Miho Suzuki – Lessons in Chemistry (Apple TV+)
Beverly Jo Pryor, Eric Pagdin, Quintessence Patterson – Rustin (Netflix)
Carol Rasheed, Saisha Beecham, Ngozi Olandu Young, Manny Davila, Milene Melendez – The Color Purple (Warner Bros. Pictures)
Denise Pugh–Ruiz – UnPrisoned (Hulu/Onyx)

Outstanding Hairstyling (Television or Film)
Shavonne Brown – A Black Lady Sketch Show (HBO | Max)
Carla Joi Farmer – Air (Amazon MGM Studios)
Elizabeth Robinson – Creed III (Amazon MGM Studios)
Melissa “Missy” Forney, Sterfon Demings – A Black Lady Sketch Show (HBO | Max)
Lawrence Davis, Tym Wallace, Andrea Mona Bowen, Angela Renae Dyson, Jorge Benitez Villalobos – The Color Purple (Warner Bros. Pictures)

STUNT

Outstanding Stunt Ensemble (TV or Film)
Creed III (Amazon/MGM Studios)
The Continental: From the World of John Wick (Peacock)
They Cloned Tyrone (Netflix)
Titans (The CW)
Warrior (HBO| Max)

OUTSTANDING SOCIAL MEDIA PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR
Angel Laketa Moore
Druski
Keith Lee
Lynae Vanee
Terrell Grice

Gaz Alazraki & Colleagues Launch New Production Company Maquina Vega

Posted on January 25, 2024 by Tom Castaneda

Gaz Alazraki has launched a new production company…

The 41-year-old Mexican director has partnered with Alisa Tager, Mark Alazraki and Moises Chiver create Maquina Vega, a new production company with offices in Los Angeles and Mexico City, which will provide a pipeline between the English and Spanish-speaking worlds.

Working with creators across countries and genres, the company will produce films and television series in both English and Spanish, bolstering emerging talents from Mexico and Latin America, while looking to increase the production of high-quality entertainment for Spanish-speaking audiences worldwide.

The Alazrakis come to Maquina Vega after launching Alazraki Entertainment in 2013 with the release of Gaz’s mega-hit Nosotros Los Nobles, a dark comedy which upon its theatrical debut became the highest grossing homegrown film ever released in Mexico. Following that up was Club de Cuervos, Netflix’s first Spanish-language original series, centered on football club Cuervos FC. Co-created, executive produced and directed by Alazraki, the show ran for four seasons and remarkably also led to the creation of a real soccer team in Pique’s King’s League Americas.

Gaz is coming off success with his Father of the Bride reimagining for Warner Bros and Plan B, which in 2022 drew HBO Max’s biggest-ever audience for a streaming-only film. Based in L.A., he serves as Lead Creative and Director of Maquina Vega and will continue to focus going forward on building his writing and directing slate in film and television.

Joining the company after serving as President of Anonymous Content Studios, Tager will also serve in that capacity at Maquina Vega, overseeing operations for both offices. Tager’s experience in the U.S., Latin America, Europe and Africa, coupled with her fluency in English and Spanish, give her a unique skillset to build the production company.

A producer on Nobles and Club de Cuervos, Chiver will become Head of Production and Film Finance, overseeing the company’s internal production, third-party production services, and production financing from Mexico City.

Currently directing and exec producing the first season of Bienvenidos a la Familia for Netflix, the Mexico City-based Mark Alazraki will continue to oversee the company’s development and first looks, while building his slate as writer, director, and producer.

Also on board at the new company, as Head of Distribution and Finance, is Vicente García Cors, the former CFO of Twentieth Century Fox Mexico, who will grow Maquina Vega’s distribution division, working to release Mexican and international movies across Mexico and LatAm. Adrian Ituarte will serve as VP of Production, with Valeria de León as Director of Development.

Said Gaz Alazraki in a statement on the formation of Maquina Vega, “I’ve dreamt for many years about ways to create a home for my projects while also creating a destination for all the talented people we admire and would love to work with. I am incredibly excited to have Alisa as our partner who can lead us to achieve this opportunity and create this home.”

Tager noted that her decision to join forces with the Alazarakis and Chiver was “the culmination of so many things” she’s set out to do, “working with the most exciting international creators and companies, from development through production and distribution.” She added that she’s “confident that our combined reach and experience will position us to grow our footprint in the US and across the Spanish-speaking world. This is a unique opportunity to build something truly international with a global reach.”

Currently, Maquina Vega has first-look deals with Animal Politico, a prestigious online investigative newspaper out of Mexico, and Algarabia, a general interest magazine spotlighting short stories. The company also has a development deal with Editorial Planeta, the world’s largest Spanish-language publisher, and is building an online magazine to amplify new journalistic voices and generate new IP.

In addition to Bienvenidos a la Familia, current projects for the company include Club Perfecto, from writer-director Ricardo Castro and producer Jonathan Davis, which is in post at ViX; documentary Billy Meier, which is in production with Miguel Leon directing and Julio Rojas as writer-EP; an adaptation of Daniel Coronel’s novel Los Niños del Amazonas, in development with Candle Media’s Exile; and Bodas, from creator Erik Zuckerman, which is in development at ViX.

First Trailer Released for George Miller’s “Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga,” Starring Anya Taylor-Joy

Posted on December 4, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Anya Taylor-Joy is bringing the fury…

The first official trailer has been released for Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, starring the 27-year-old Argentine American Golden Globe-winning actress.

“Whatever you do, whatever it takes — promise me you’ll find your way home.” This is what “the darkest of angels is told,” begins the trailer for the film, the prequel to 2015’s Fury Road and part of George Miller’s Mad Max universe.

Taylor-Joy and Chris Hemsworth star in the film that returns to the iconic dystopian world launched 45 years ago with the low-budget/high-octane Mel Gibson-led Mad Max.

Oscar winner and six-time nominee Miller is back at the helm for the action fest he co-wrote with Nico Lathouris.

Here’s your logline: As the world fell, young Furiosa (Taylor-Joy) is snatched from the Green Place of Many Mothers and falls into the hands of a great Biker Horde led by the Warlord Dementus. Sweeping through the Wasteland, they come across the Citadel presided over by The Immortan Joe. While the two Tyrants war for dominance, Furiosa must survive many trials as she puts together the means to find her way home.

Alyla Browne and Tom Burke also star in the film.

Among the Fury Road Oscar winners returning for this trip are production designer Colin Gibson, editor Margaret Sixel, sound mixer Ben Osmo, costume designer Jenny Beavan and makeup designer Lesley Vanderwalt.

Warner Bros opens the film from Village Roadshow Pictures on May 24 stateside, with its overseas rollout starting two days earlier. Furious also will rev up in IMAX theaters.

Warner Bros. & Legendary Move Up Release Date of Javier Bardem’s “Dune: Part Two” to March 1

Posted on November 19, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Javier Bardem has been given his March-ing orders for his highly-anticipated film.

Warner Bros. and Legendary have moved up the release of Denis Villenueve’s Dune: Part Two, starring the 54-year-old Spanish Oscar-winning actor.

The second half of the space epic will now open nationwide on March 1.

The new date is two weeks earlier than the March 15 date Warner Bros. set in August when it moved Dune: Part Two out of 2023 amid the Hollywood strikes. The sequel was originally set to open on November 3.

Dune: Part Two is the second chapter in Villeneuve’s adaptation of Frank Herbert’s seminal science-fiction novel.

The first film opened simultaneously in theaters and on Max (then known as HBO Max) in November 2021 and grossed $402 million at the worldwide box office. It also earned 10 Academy Award nominations, including best picture, and won the Oscars for original score, sound, film editing, cinematography, production design and visual effects.

In addition to Bardem, Villeneuve’s original Dune cast members Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Rebecca Ferguson, Josh Brolin, Dave Bautista, Stellan Skarsgård and Charlotte Rampling are all back for the second chapter.

Newcomers to the franchise include Christopher Walken, Austin Butler, Florence Pugh and Léa Seydoux.

“I just I loved the first film so much,” Butler previously told Variety about stepping into Villeneuve’s world. “It was this cinematic masterpiece, so the idea of getting to be a part of that world is just incredibly exciting and Denis is one of my favorite filmmakers and just an amazing human being. He’s so kind and I’m a fan of every one of those actors in the film, so I I felt really honored.”

In a recent interview with Empire, Villeneuve shared his hopes for a third installment in the sci-fi epic film series, saying, “If I succeed in making a trilogy, that would be the dream.”

On his Dune: Part Three progress, Villeneuve teased, “I will say, there are words on paper.” The project would be based on Dune Messiah, the direct sequel to Dune author Frank Herbert’s 1965 original novel.

The official Dune: Part Two synopsis from Warner Bros. and Legendary reads: “This follow-up film will explore the mythic journey of Paul Atreides as he unites with Chani and the Fremen while on a warpath of revenge against the conspirators who destroyed his family. Facing a choice between the love of his life and the fate of the known universe, he endeavors to prevent a terrible future only he can foresee.”

Ana Nogueira to Pen “Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow” for Warner Bros. & DC Studios

Posted on November 14, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Ana Nogueira is a (super)girl on a mission…

The 38-year-old Latina actress, playwright and screenwriter has been tapped to write Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow for Warner Bros. and DC Studios.

The project is a standalone film that will follow Kara Zor-El, the cousin of Superman. The film is still in early development and no director is attached at this time.

While plot details for the film are still vague, the original comic follows Supergirl as she gets caught up in a young alien girl’s quest for revenge.

The film is a big part of DC Studio Co-Chiefs James Gunn and Peter Safran’s grand plan to re-launch the DC universe starting with Superman Legacy that Gunn is writing and directing with David Corenswet and Rachel Brosnahan starring. Production for that film will begin next year.

Nogueira, the actress turned playwright, most recently penned her Off-Broadway play Which Way To The Stage, which debuted in 2022. On the film side she is adapting the novel Mothers, Lock Up Your Daughters for 21 Laps Entertainment.

America Ferrara to Receive Groundbreaker Award at Critics Choice Association’s Celebration of Cinema & Television: Honoring Black, Latino and AAPI Achievements

Posted on November 13, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

America Ferrara is receiving a special Critics Choice honor…

The 39-year-old Honduran American Golden Globe– and Emmy-winning actress is among the honorees for the Critics Choice Association’s Celebration of Cinema & Television: Honoring Black, Latino and AAPI Achievements.

Hosted by Nicco Annan, the event is slated for December 4 at the Fairmont Century Plaza.

Unlike last year, when the CCA held separate ceremonies for Black, Latino and AAPI Achievements, this year, because of the strikes, the CCA is presenting a one-time-only combination show, featuring more than 20 honorees who created some of this year’s most acclaimed films and television shows.

“For the last few years, the CCA has hosted individual Celebrations of Black, Latino and AAPI Cinema & Television. CCA will return to individual shows in 2024, but doing this special celebration allows us to continue the CCA’s tradition of supporting inclusion and creativity in our industry,” said CCA CEO Joey Berlin. “I am extremely proud to recognize this diverse group of honorees together on this one special night.”

This year’s honorees include:

Emmy Award-winning actor and producer Edward James Olmos who will receive the Icon Award for his incredible career including Zoot Suit, Selena, Stand and Deliver, Blade Runner, Miami Vice and most recently FX’s Mayans M.C.

Emmy Award-winning actress, producer and advocate Sheryl Lee Ralph will receive the Career Achievement Award for her extensive work in film & television with over 100 credits including ABC’s Abbott Elementary as well as Instant Mom, Ray Donovan, Moesha, Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit, Mistress, The Distinguished Gentlemen and To Sleep with Anger.

The Comedy Trailblazer Award will be bestowed upon comedian and actor Ken Jeong, whose notable credits include The Masked Singer, The Afterparty, Community, Crazy Rich Asians, I Can See Your Voice and The Hangover franchise.

Emmy Award-winning actor Jeffrey Wright will be honored with the Visionary Award for his performance in Orion Pictures/Amazon MGM Studios’ American Fiction.

Emmy- and SAG Award-winning actress America Ferrara will accept the Groundbreaker Award for her performances in Warner Bros.’ Barbie and Sony Pictures/Black Bear Pictures’ Dumb Money.

Oscar-nominated Charles D. King will receive the Producer Award for his most recent work on Netflix’s They Cloned Tyrone.

Award-winning director, producer, actress and advocate Eva Longoria will be recognized with the Breakthrough Director Award (Film) for her feature directorial debut, Searchlight Pictures’ Flamin’ Hot.

Greta Lee will receive the Actress Award (Film) for her performance in A24’s film Past Lives, while Colman Domingo will be recognized with the Actor Award (Film) for his performance in Netflix’s Rustin.

The Ensemble Award will be awarded to Taraji P. Henson, Danielle Brooks, Fantasia Barrino, H.E.R., Halle Bailey, Phylicia Pearl Mpasi, Domingo and Corey Hawkins for their performances in Warner Bros.’ The Color Purple.

Actress Da’Vine Joy Randolph will be honored with the Supporting Actress Award (Film) for her performance in Focus Features’ The Holdovers.

Emmy-nominated narrative filmmaker and documentarian Allen Hughes will be celebrated with the Documentary Series Award for his work directing FX’s Dear Mama.

Oscar-nominated filmmaker and playwright Kemp Powers will be honored with the Animation Award for his directorial work on Sony Pictures’ film Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse.

Animator and filmmaker Makoto Shinkai will accept the International Animation Award for Crunchyroll/Sony Pictures’ film Suzume.

Actor and producer Damson Idris will receive the Actor Award (TV) for his performance in FX’s Snowfall.

Current Emmy-nominated actress and comedian Jessica Williams will be recognized with the Supporting Actress Award (TV) for her performance in Apple TV+’s Shrinking.

Actor Oscar Montoya will be honored with the Supporting Actor Award (TV) for his performance in Starz’s Minx.

Breakthrough Performance Awards will be bestowed upon Teyana Taylor for her performance in Focus Features’ A Thousand and One, Emmy-nominee Camila Morrone for her performance in Prime Video’s Daisy Jones & The Six, and Charles Melton for his performance in Netflix’s May December.

Current multiple Emmy-nominated director and writer Lee Sung Jin will be honored with the Breakthrough Director Award (TV) for his work on Netflix’s series Beef.

Receiving the Rising Star Awards will be Xolo Mariduena for his performance in Warner Bros.’ The Blue Beetle, and current Emmy nominee Keivonn Woodard for his performance in HBO’s The Last of Us.

Warner Bros. Pictures’ “Blue Beetle,” Starring Xolo Maridueña, to Begin Streaming on Max Next Week

Posted on November 11, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Xolo Maridueña is feelin’ blue to Max.

Warner Bros. Pictures’ Blue Beetle, starring the 22-year-old Mexican, Cuban & Ecuadorian American actor, will make its streaming debut on Max next Friday, November 17.

The film, directed by Ángel Manuel Soto, stars Maridueña in the title role, as well as his alter ego, Jaime Reyes.

In the film recent college grad Reyes returns home full of aspirations for his future, only to find that home is not quite as he left it. As he searches to find his purpose in the world, fate intervenes when Jaime unexpectedly finds himself in possession of an ancient relic of alien biotechnology: the Scarab.

When the Scarab suddenly chooses Jaime to be its symbiotic host, he is bestowed with an incredible suit of armor capable of extraordinary and unpredictable powers, forever changing his destiny as he becomes the Blue Beetle.

Soto directs from a screenplay by Gareth Dunnet-Alcocer, based on characters from DC. John Rickard and Zev Foreman are producing, with Walter Hamada, Galen Vaisman and Garrett Grant serving as executive producers.

Lindsay Mendez Starring in Ryan Murphy’s FX Anthology Series “American Sports Story”

Posted on November 4, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Lindsay Mendez is getting in the game…

The 40-year-old Mexican American Broadway singer/actress has been cast as a series regular alongside Josh Andrés Rivera and Patrick Schwarzenegger in Ryan Murphy’s FX anthology American Sports Story.

American Sports Story, a new extension of Murphy’s “American Story” franchise, is a scripted anthological limited series focusing on a prominent event involving a sports figure and re-examines it through the prism of today’s world, telling that story from multiple perspectives.

The first installment, written by Stu Zicherman, is based on the podcast Gladiator: Aaron Hernandez and Football Inc. from the Boston Globe and Wondery.

It charts the rise and fall of NFL superstar Aaron Hernandez, played by Rivera, and explores the connections of the disparate strands of his identity, his family, his career, his suicide, and their legacy in sports and American culture. Schwarzenegger portrays Hernandez’s friend, former college teammate and fellow former NFL star Tim Tebow.

Mendez plays Tanya Singleton, Aaron’s cousin and favorite relative who becomes his de-facto mother.

Mendez, a Tony Award winner for Carousel, is currently back on Broadway top-lining the praised revival of Stephen Sondheim’s Merrily We Roll along opposite Daniel Radcliffe and Jonathan Groff.

She most recently was a series regular on the Warner Bros. series All Rise for CBS and then OWN.

Noah Centineo Signs with William Morris Endeavor (WME)

Posted on September 18, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Noah Centineo has new representation…

The 27-year-old part-Puerto Rican actor has signed with William Morris Endeavor (WME) for representation.

Most recently, Centineo starred in and served as Executive Producer of the Netflix series The Recruit, which returns for a second season next year.

Centineo will also be featured in A24’s Dream Scenario, which made its debut to rave reviews at the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival.

This year, Centineo launched production company Arkhum Productions alongside Head of Production Enzo Marc focusing on comedy and drama projects with an emphasis on social commentary. The Greatest Disaster in Cinema History will mark one of their first projects, with Centineo set to star.

In 2022, Centineo played Atom Smasher in Black Adam from the Warner Bros. DC Universe.

Centineo rose to fame in the popular Netflix trilogy To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before, for which he won an MTV Movie & TV Award for Best Breakthrough Performance.

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Celebrating the Latino Influence

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