Manolo Caro Signs First-Look Deal with Onyx Collective

Posted on February 10, 2024 by Tom Castaneda

Manolo Caro has a new first-look deal…

Onyx Collective has signed the 39-year-old Mexican director and The House of Flowers creator and Woo Films’ co-founders Rafael Ley and Maria Jose Cordova to a multiyear first-look deal.

Under the deal, Caro, Ley and Cordova will develop new projects for Onyx Collective.

“Manolo Caro is in a rare class of storytellers who blend heart and humor to reveal the essence of what makes us all human,” said Tara Duncan, president, Onyx Collective. “He is a proven hitmaker, and we’re excited to bring his universal stories to the Hulu audience.”

“Joining the creative voices at Onyx is not only a commitment to my artistic mission but a critical reflection of my own identity,” says Caro. “I want to tell stories through my particular vision and pop lens and create content that allows me to share with the world what my culture is and what has driven me all the way here.”

Caro and Woo Films join an extensive roster of creatives with deals with Onyx including Ryan Coogler, Destin Daniel Cretton, Jason Kim, Joseph Patel, Prentice Penny, Natasha Rothwell, Yara Shahidi and Erika Green Swafford.

Caro’s background spans writing, producing and directing for film and theater.

Among his film credits, which made him the first Mexican director in the top 10 of the Mexican box office for three consecutive years, are titles like Perfectos Desconocidos and La Vida Inmoral de la Pareja Ideal.

His debut feature was a film adaptation of I Don’t Know Whether to Slit My Wrists or Leave Them Long, which he initially wrote and directed for the theater. He followed that up with titles like Elvira I Will Give You My Life But I’m Using It and Tales of an Immoral Couple.

For television, Caro as a Latin American showrunner, was behind the Netflix release The House of Flowers. While under a development deal at Netflix, he created the miniseries Alguien Tiene que Morir and the streamer’s first Spanish-speaking musical series, Sebastián Yatra: Érase una vez.

The first season of his latest release, Sagrada Familia, starring Najwa Nimri and Alba Flores, debuted on Netflix’s top 10 in over 56 countries.

Jessica Alba To Take Part in Creative Artists Agency’s Amplify Summit 2023

Posted on June 25, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Jessica Alba is amplifying her voice…

The 42-year-old half-Mexican American actress and entrepreneur has joined the list of Hollywood speakers and attendees for the Creative Artists Agency’s Amplify Summit 2023.

The invitation-only event kicks off on June 26 in Ojai, Calif., and will convene leading artists, thought-leaders, and executives of color from the industries of entertainment, sports, media, brands and technology.

While there, invitees will have the opportunity to explore business and social justice initiatives, as well as potential collaborations that could “accelerate transformational change in rooms of leadership and popular culture,” according to the event’s organizers.

“CAA Amplify has long utilized CAA’s role as conveners and connectors to create business opportunities for our communities, bringing decision makers together in one room,” CAA’s Natalie Tran, who has been a lead organizer for the summit since its inception. “Now, more than ever, the collective expertise and influence of the CAA Amplify network are essential to drive stronger collaborations in storytelling and partnerships that will help spark change across our industries.”

The complete list of attendees frequently straddle multiple industries and titles, and have notable award nominations and wins.

That includes actors Lupita Nyong’o, Steven Yeun, Xolo Maridueña, Thuso Mbedu, Yara Shahidi and Jillian Mercado; directors Ava DuVernay and Blitz Bazawule; showrunners Quinta Brunson and Sierra Teller Ornelas; recording artists Chloe and Halle Bailey, and Becky G.; comedians Roy Wood Jr. and Ego Nwodim; NBA pro-athletes Dwyane Wade and Chris Paul; author Anand Giridharadas; media personality Tabitha Brown; The Honest Company founder Alba and CEO Carla Vernón; Planned Parenthood president Alexis McGill Johnson; president of the Ford Foundation Darren Walker; and co-founder and CEO of Inflection AI, Mustafa Suleyman, among other leaders.

Aaron Dominguez to Star in Chuck Russell’s Remake of the ’80s Supernatural Horror “Witchboard”

Posted on May 4, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

It’s the witching hour for Aaron Dominguez…

The 28-year-old Latino actor will star in Chuck Russell’s remake of the ’80s supernatural horror Witchboard, which is currently in production in Montreal.

Dominguez is among a roster of new cast additions that includes Madison Iseman, Antonio Desplat and Charlie Tahan, who will all star alongside Jamie Campbell Bower.

The new film watches as recovering drug addict Emily (Iseman), her fiancé Christian (Dominguez) and a group of their friends open an organic café, refurbishing an old carriage house in New Orleans’ French Quarter. A darkness descends over Emily when she discovers an ancient pendulum board, once used to summon spirits, with Christian then seeking help for Emily from occult expert Alexander Babtiste. Babtiste, however, has secrets of his own, knowing the fateful bloodlines that binds them all to the Witchboard. A modern coven of White Witches, a masked ball at Babtiste’s mansion, and the legacy of Naga Soth, the Queen of Witches, are all then part of a dangerous game that puts Emily’s very soul at risk.

Russell is directing from his script co-written by Greg McKay, with the pair set to produce alongside Kade Vu and Bernie Gewissler, in an A-Nation Media production.

Best known for his work on Hulu’s Only Murders in the Building, Dominguez has also appeared on shows like Gossip Girl and SEAL Team. The actor most recently hitting the big screen as part of Elegance Bratton’s acclaimed A24 drama The Inspection has also been seen in films like Roadside’s YA romantic drama Words on Bathroom Walls and Tim Story’s take on Shaft for New Line. Among his other upcoming projects is the Amazon rom-com Sitting in Bars with Cake executive produced by and starring Yara Shahidi.

Aaron Dominguez to Star in Amazon Studio’s “Sitting in Bars with Cake”

Posted on September 22, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Aaron Dominguez is setting the bar…

The 28-year-old Latino actor will star in Amazon Studios’ rom-com Sitting in Bars with Cake.

Dominguez is among a roster of new cast additions that includes Bette Midler, Maia Mitchell, Ron Livingston, Rish Shah and Odessa A’zion.

Rounding out the group, led by previously announced star and EP Yara Shahidi, are Martha Kelly, Adina Porter, Navid Negahban, Simone Recasner, Will Ropp and Charlie Morgan Patton.

Details regarding the characters they will portray are still under wraps.

Sitting in Bars with Cake begins production next month in Los Angeles.

Based on a true story, Sitting in Bars with Cake follows a quiet young woman who is unlucky in love and discovers an unlikely guy magnet when she bakes a cake for her best friend’s birthday and brings it to a bar, only to be swarmed by men. She believes it’s a fluke, but her friend convinces her to commit to a year of baking cakes and bringing them to bars, with the goal of finding true love. The shy young woman’s life subsequently opens up in ways she couldn’t have imagined.

Trish Sie is directing the film from Audrey Shulman’s script adapted from her blog and book of the same name.

Dominguez’s previous credits include Only Murders in the Building, Shaft and Words on Bathroom Walls.

Freeform Renews “Grown-ish,” Starring Francia Raisa, for Fifth Season

Posted on March 9, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Francia Raisa is still grown-ish…

Freeform has renewed Grown-ish, featuring the 33-year-old Honduran and Mexican American actress among the lead cast, for Season 5.

Season 4 of Grown-ish, which currently airs on Freeform, follows Zoey (Yara Shahidi) and her classmates, including Raisa as Ana Torres, on the road to graduation.

Freeform revealed that the fifth season of the Black-ish spinoff series will add Marcus Scribner to join his on-screen sister Shahidi as Andre Johnson Jr. as he embarks on his journey to being “grown.”

Zakiyyah Alexander and Black-ish executive producer Courtney Lilly will serve as co-showrunners for Season 5.

The series is produced by ABC Signature.

Raisa is currently starring on another series, Hulu’s How I Met Your Father.

America Ferrera to Appear on Black Lives Matter Co-Founder Patrisse Cullors’ Election Night YouTube Event

Posted on November 3, 2020 by Tom Castaneda

America Ferrera will be spending part of her Election Night on YouTube…

The 36-year-old Honduran American actress will make an appearance on Black Lives Matter co-founder and executive director Patrisse Cullors first live streaming event on YouTube for election night.

Patrisse Cullors + BLMPAC Present: Live From Election Night will stream on Cullors’s YouTube channel starting at 6:00 pm PT / 9:00 pm ET.

Cullors will host the 90-minute event produced by Trap Heals and BLM alongside Richie Reseda CEO of Question Culture. Activists from across the country including Black Lives Matter Los Angeles’s Melina Abdullah and Vice President & Chief Partnership and Equity Officer at MomsRising.org Monifa Bandele will share reflections on this historic election.

In addition to Ferrera, the event will also include appearances from Tracee Ellis Ross, Tessa Thompson, Ramy Youssef, Chelsea Handler, Diane Guerrero, Yara Shahidi, Black Men Build organizer Philip Agnew, California state senator Holly Mitchell and more.

The event will also feature a DJ set from Channel Tres and a meditation sound bowl set with Pulse LA.

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.

Apple TV+ Releases Trailer for Docuseries “Dear…” Featuring Lin-Manuel Miranda

Posted on May 24, 2020 by Tom Castaneda

Lin-Manuel Miranda is a dear…

Apple TV+ has released the trailer for Dear…, the new RJ Cutler-produced 10-episode documentary series that will feature the 40-year-old Puerto Rican Broadway superstar amd the mastermnd behind the Tony Award-winning musicals In The Heights and Hamiltion in one espisode.

Dear…will premiere on the streaming service on Friday, June 5.

Inspired by Apple’s “Dear Apple” advertising spots, Dear… uses letters written by those whose lives have been changed through their work to tell biographical stories of its subjects, who range in Season 1 from Oprah Winfrey and Gloria Steinem to Spike Lee, Miranda, Yara Shahidi, Stevie Wonder, Aly Raisman, Misty Copeland, Big Bird and more.

Jennifer Lopez to Appear as Part of YouTube’s “Dear Class of 2020” Global Virtual Commencement Ceremony

Posted on May 20, 2020 by Tom Castaneda

Jennifer Lopez is ready to motivate this year’s graduates…

YouTube has added several speakers and musical performances to Dear Class of 2020, its global virtual commencement ceremony set for June 6, including the 50-year-old Puerto Rican superstar.

In addition to Lopez, others joining Barack and Michelle Obama, Lady Gaga and more as part of the special event are Beyoncé Knowles-Carter— who will deliver an inspirational message to the graduates — La La Anthony, Andy Cohen, Lana Condor, Misty Copeland,Kevin Durant, FINNEAS, Bill & Melinda Gates, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Demi Lovato, Hasan Minhaj, Janelle Monáe,Antoni Porowski, Billy Porter, Phoebe Robinson, Yara Shahidi, Michael Strahan, Taylor Swift, Ciara & Russell Wilson, the casts of Euphoria and Riverdale, Today’s Jenna Bush Hager and Natalie Morales, and YouTub ecreators Emma Chamberlain, John Green, NikkieTutorials, and Mark Rober.

The multi-hour event premieres on Saturday, June 6 on YouTube. Other speakers and performers include BTS, Alicia Keys, Kelly Rowland, Kerry Washington, Chloe x Halle and Zendaya, among others.

Barack and Michelle Obama each will deliver commencement speeches – as well as a joint heartfelt message – to this year’s high school and college seniors who are missing graduation celebrations due to the coronavirus pandemic. Additionally, Michelle Obama’s Higher Reach Initiative will host a full hour of content to kick off the celebration.

“Graduation is a tradition that students and families look forward to and with the current state of the world, YouTube is lending some inspiration in the form of a virtual commencement,” said Susanne Daniels, Global Head of Content for YouTube. “We hope bringing together noteworthy, influential speakers along with performances from some of their favorite artists will provide encouragement for the students who have worked so hard to get here.”

In “Dear Class of 2020,” people from around the world will join the class of 2020 as a singular community to celebrate their resilience, and the endless possibilities of their future, says YouTube.

“The festival-style line up combines classic commencement day themes with a diverse array of entertainment that will capture all of the emotions of graduation including pride, hope, optimism, and camaraderie.”

YouTube is working in partnership with Higher Reach, Born This Way Foundation, Malala Fund, TODAY, and Ideas United to showcase student stories and feature graduates around the world, including a crowd-sourced commencement speech. The special will be produced by Done + Dusted.

“Dear Class of 2020” can be streamed on the YouTube Originals channel and the Learn@Home site.

The full schedule of commencement events is available on the Learn@Home site.

Bad Bunny to Take Part in LeBron James’ “Graduate Together: America Honors the High School Class of 2020” Special

Posted on May 8, 2020 by Tom Castaneda

Bad Bunnyis celebrating the Class of 2020…

The LeBron James Family Foundation announced that it’s paying tribute to the class of 2020 with a one-hour multimedia event called Graduate Together: America Honors the High School Class of 2020, with the 26-year-old Puerto Rican reggaeton and Latin trap singer joining the roster of participating artists.

James’ virtual graduation party for this year’s graduation class, who’s seen their school year cancelled because of the coronavirus, will take place on Saturday, May 16 at 8:00 pm ET simultaneously on NBC, ABC, CBS, and Fox— as well as on the streaming platforms Complex Networks, Facebook app, Instagram, People TV, Snapchat, TikTok and YouTube.

In addition to Bad Bunny, the lineup includes Kane Brown, Lana Condor, David Dobrik, Dolan Twins, Karol G, Liza Koshy, Maren Morris, National Teacher of the Year Rodney Robinson, Olivia Wilde, Zendaya, Charli D’Amelio, Dixie D’Amelio, Chika, YBN Cordae, Loren Gray, H.E.R., the Jonas Brothers, Brandan Bmike Odums, Ben Platt, Henry Platt, Jonah Platt, Megan Rapinoe, Yara Shahidi, Lena Waithe, Pharrell Williams, Malala Yousafzaiand many more.

Working with the XQ Instituteand The Entertainment Industry Foundation, the show will allow the companies to honor the more than three million high school seniors who’ll miss out on the annual rite of passage due to the national shutdown caused by the COVID-19pandemic.

“We learned early on in our work with students and families in Akron that education is so much more than academics,” said James in a statement.

“It’s about a shared experience, a journey we’re all on together—students, parents, educators, community members, and everyone around them. With that not being possible right now, we’ve been working to find ways to help families get through this really difficult time. These students have worked incredibly hard for this and there’s no way we can let that go unrecognized. While this won’t be the graduation experience they were supposed to get, we hope we can still give them something special because they deserve it.”

The commercial-free show will be curated by high school students and educators from across the country, with support from the American Federation of Teachers, highlighted by a collection of commencement addresses, celebrity performances and inspirational vignettes.

Students, educators, and families are encouraged to submit their videos and photos online for consideration to be included in the telecast using #GraduateTogether. Artist JR is also inviting seniors to share their portraits for a national virtual yearbook celebrating the entire Class of 2020.

Local TV stations will feature custom breakaways to celebrate the achievements of high school students in their communities.

Graduate Together: America Honors the High School Class of 2020will be broadcast commercial-free on May 16 at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT on ABC, CBS, FOX, and NBC.

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