News

While Gina Rodriguez is best known for leading The CW’s Jane the Virgin, she’s also acted in many other films and TV shows.

Rodriguez began her acting career by guest starring on many procedurals, such as Law & Order, The Mentalist, and Rizzoli & Isles. She also had a short stint on the CBS soap opera The Bold and the Beautiful.

Whether Rodriguez directs independent films or romantic comedies, fights bad guys, or voices popular characters in animated classics, she does it with style.

(Nino Muñoz/Disney)

Since she began leading films and TV shows over a decade ago, Rodriguez has rarely been without work. She’s become one of the leading ladies in the United States and owns her production company, often producing her lead roles.

Rodriguez has joined Will Trent Season 3 as Marian Alba, the assistant district attorney. The series returns on Tuesday, January 7, 2025.

We wanted...

Netflix's rom-com Players features a talented cast of established actors who portray lovable and eccentric characters. The film explores the pitfalls of dating and showcases surprising twists within the formulaic rom-com genre. Gina Rodriguez, Damon Wayans Jr., and Tom Ellis deliver strong performances in their respective roles, supported by a dynamic and endearing supporting cast.

Netflix’s rom-com Players includes a small cast of well-established actors who create lovable and zany characters. Players follows Mack, a bubbly sports writer who spends her time creating schemes to convince people to have one-night stands with her. Unfortunately, things go awry when she starts catching real feelings for one of her targets, Adam. Netflix’s Players is a sleazy rom-com that understands the pitfalls of dating.

Players is just the most recent of Netflix’s great rom-coms, and it’s unsurprising considering that the three lead roles include powerhouse actors with strong...

HBO is out with its list of everything new coming to HBO in January, and everything leaving.

Highlights include “The New Pope,” out Jan. 13. Starring Jude Law, it’s a continuation of the 2016 series “The Young Pope.”

There’s also “The Outsider,” out Jan. 12. Based on Stephen King’s bestselling novel, it stars Jason Bateman, Cynthia Erivo and Ben Mendelsohn.

“Avenue 5,” about a luxury space-traveling company, is out Jan. 19, along with season 10 of “Curb Your Enthusiasm.”

Here’s the full list for January:

Jan. 1

American Animals

Casi famoso (Almost Famous) (2019)

Vaca (2018)

Another Stakeout (1993)

Arthur (1981)

Arthur 2: On the Rocks (1988)

Cat People (1982)

College (2008)

Fast Five (Extended Version) (2011)

Filly Brown (2013)

Galaxy of Terror (1981)

Head Office (1986)

The Hitcher (1986)

Judy Moody and the Not Bummer Summer (2011)

Les Misérables (2012)

Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted (2012)

Mr. Holland’s Opus (1996)

Odd Jobs (1986)

The Odd Couple II (1998)

Rock the Kasbah (1991)

The Russia House (1990)

Scary Movie 3 (2003)

Seventh Son (3015)

The Shooting...

“In the Envelope: An Awards Podcast” features intimate interviews with award-winning actors and other creatives. Join host and Awards Editor Jack Smart for a front row seat to the industry’s most exciting awards races, and valuable acting and career advice from contenders! Gina Rodriguez is an actor, producer, and director, best known for her astonishing work as the titular role in The CW’s “Jane the Virgin.” Jennie Snyder Urman’s telenovela-inspired romantic roller coaster won Rodriguez a Golden Globe Award for best actress in a TV comedy in 2014. The series, which just announced its upcoming fifth season will be its last, is one of the only stories on the small screen today featuring a Latina lead. Rodriguez waited patiently for a complex, challenging role that matched her talents, cultivating her own path and identifying exactly what she wants in the entertainment industry. After gaining recognition for her film work in “Filly Brown,...

Looking for some frights to dig into after your Thanksgiving feasts? We have you covered with today's Horror Highlights, which includes release details for Friends Don't Let Friends, the chilling synopsis for 11th Hour Cleaning, and the trailer for the scary short film Balloon.

Friends Don't Let Friends Trailer & Release Details: Press Release: "Gravitas Ventures has acquired Friends Don’t Let Friends for North American release this November. We have a release date of November 28th

Official Synopsis: As a group of friends come together to cover up a murder, they end up stranded deep in the desert, and have to band together to make it out alive. The further they venture into the darkness, the closer they come to discovering that each one of them is more dangerous than anyone had ever realized. It’s only a matter of time before they understand… Four people can keep a secret,...

It was less about 2 1/2 years ago when actor Shemar Moore raised over $630,000 on Indiegogo to help fund his feature film "The Bounce Back," which he stars in and also executive produces. Directed by Youssef Delara ("Filly Brown") and written by Delara and Victor Teran from a story by Staci Robinson, the romantic comedy stars Moore as an author who's marketing a relationship book but hasn't gotten over his own heartbreak. Bill Bellamy co-stars as his friend and manager, and Nadine Velasquez as his love interest. The official synopsis reads: Father, author and relationship expert, Matthew Taylor is on a whirlwind book tour promoting his new best seller,...

Having launched into a life of filmmaking with a seminal Sundance more than two decades back with Clerks (1994), while Park City is sacred grounds for Smith it’s not going to be an automatic invite for the filmmaker. Having visited the fest for Chasing Amy and more recently Red State (he also has producer creds for fest invited 2006’s small town gay bar and 2012’s Filly Brown). Production began all the way in August of 2014 on Yoga Hosers, so when it became a no-show at Tiff (where Tusk premiered) and where Johnny Depp’s Black Mass was in promo mode, the logical conclusion is this family affair might join Canuck film Turbo Kid in back-to-back Midnight section selections. While Tusk was a hard sell, this “sequel” could be a valuable acquisitions title for the predicted section if Depp’s Guy Lapointe character is afforded more time. Could this be a...

Alex Garland's directorial debut Ex Machina will probably make it onto my best movies of 2015 list, and I can't wait to see what he does next. Thankfully, it seems like I won't have to wait very long. He already has a new movie lined up called Annihilation which has Natalie Portman attached to star, and The Wrap reports that Jane the Virgin star Gina Rodriguez is now in talks to join her.

Annihilation is an adaptation of an upcoming book by Jeff VanderMeer, and the story centers on “a four-person expedition into Area X, a territory cutoff from civilization. While there, [a biologist] must deal with a mysterious contamination, disappearing colleagues, a deadly animal and a being known as the Crawler, all while searching for clues regarding her husband’s disappearance.” Portman will play the biologist, who doubles as the film's narrator. The three remaining team members include a surveyor, an anthropologist,...

With Star Wars: The Force Awakens hitting theaters in just over three months, and the first spinoff Rogue One: A Star Wars Story already in production, Disney and LucasFilm are starting the casting process for Star Wars: Episode VIII, which is set for release on May 26, 2017. Last month, Benicio Del Toro confirmed that he is in talks with the studio to portray the villain, but we haven't heard about any other actors being considered for different roles, until now. The Wrap reports that actresses Tatiana Maslany (Orphan Black), Gina Rodriguez (Jane the Virgin) and Olivia Cooke (Me and Earl and the Dying Girl) are considered the top candidates for the female lead role.

Some insiders claim that it is still very early in the casting process, with writer-director Rian Johnson set to meet with many more rising stars for the role. Others, however, claim that the filmmaker is thinning out the field,...

Alec Bojalad Dec 19, 2019

We have the highlights of what's coming and going from HBO Now and HBO Go in January 2020.

A new year will eventually mean a new HBO with the release of HBO Max. But for now HBO Now and HBO Go continue on and are putting their best foot forward with the HBO new releases for January 2020.

Comedy is the name of the game for the HBO originals in January 2020. Larry David returns as Curb Your Enthusiasm season 10 premieres on January 19. Veep creator Armando Iannucci takes his satirical ways to space with Avenue 5 the same night. The New Pope is...sort of a comedy and arrives on January 13. The Stephen King series The Outsider is very much not a comedy but it will come to HBO on January 12 all the same.

The list of movies coming to HBO in January 2020 are surprisingly action-packed as well. John Wick...

While “Jane The Virgin” won Gina Rodriguez her first Golden Globe and is unequivocally her breakout moment, the actress has had brushes with fame before. In 2012, Rodriguez earned raves at the Sundance Film Festival for her lead performance in indie “Filly Brown,” and the actress admits she herself even bought into the hype. “With ‘Filly Brown,’ I thought — it’s Sundance, and I’m going to be this It Girl, I’m going to be like Jennifer Lawrence. I was ready to play a superhero! I’m ready to do this!” Rodriguez told TheWrap. “And it didn’t look like that.

Well, now, here's something you may not have seen coming from director Michael D. Olmos on the heels of his Sundance Grand Jury Prize nominated indie hit Filly Brown: A kid friendly, multicultural superhero film titled The Green Ghost. A "gringo" raised by a Latino family, discovers that they're all superheroes. Now he must fulfill his destiny and fight alongside them, against their powerful enemies.Charlie Clark takes the title role with a host of notable faces throughout, including Danny Trejo, Marko Zaror, Ufc star Cain Velasquez, Kuno Becker and more. Zaror - well know to readers in these parts - also did duty as fight choreographer on the film and you can get a first taste of the results below with the first teaser....

[Read the whole post on twitchfilm.com...]...

Gina Rodriguez has always known she wanted to be a performer – even if she didn't always look the part.

"I was a huge tomboy," the Jane the Virgin star tells People about growing up in Chicago as the youngest of three daughters born to native Puerto Rican parents.

"I remember being 6 years old – I was probably wearing joggers and an oversized T-shirt – and I saw these little girls in sequins outfits smiling and dancing at the Puerto Rican Day parade. I was like, 'I want to be in those little sequin dresses.' "

Rodriguez, now 30, joined a dance troupe and...

Gina Rodriguez has always known she wanted to be a performer - even if she didn't always look the part. "I was a huge tomboy," the Jane the Virgin star tells People about growing up in Chicago as the youngest of three daughters born to native Puerto Rican parents. "I remember being 6 years old - I was probably wearing joggers and an oversized T-shirt - and I saw these little girls in sequins outfits smiling and dancing at the Puerto Rican Day parade. I was like, 'I want to be in those little sequin dresses.' "Rodriguez, now 30, joined a...

Jane the Virgin star Gina Rodriguez is in talks to star alongside Mark Wahlberg in Deepwater Horizon for Lionsgate. If a deal is finalized, The Wrap reveals she will play the female lead, Andrea Fleytas. The project is based on the true story of the 2010 Bp oil rig explosion that killed 11 crew members and resulted in the largest offshore oil spill in U.S. history.

Mark Wahlberg is starring as Mike Williams, an electrician on the oil rig. Gina Rodriguez's Andrea Fleytas was overseeing the oil rig's navigation machinery when she noticed that no one had issued a distress signal. After she tried to contact the Coast Guard, she was reprimanded for her actions. Gina Rodriguez beat out Kristen Stewart for the coveted role.

Peter Berg is directing from a screenplay by Matthew Michael Carnahan, who previously worked with the director on The Kingdom. It isn't known when production may begin,...

Featuring Original Music By Reza Safinia

With Performances By Reza Safinia featuring Nothing But Thieves

(January 27, 2015 – Los Angeles, CA) – Lakeshore Records will release the Enter The Dangerous Mind – Original Motion Picture Soundtrack digitally on February 10, 2015. The album features the film’s original score by Reza Safinia (Filly Brown, Mercy) and the songs “In My Head” (Reza Safinia feat. Nothing But Thieves) and “Broken Soul” (Reza Safinia).

“Good … Continue reading →

Horrornews.net...

The weekend is chalk full of new Specialty releases, though most will likely be low performers in terms of dollars at the box office. Entertainment One is opening Nicolas Cage and Hayden Christensen starrer Outcast with limited runs and will likely find tepid returns at the theatrical box office, though it may shine in the digital/on-demand space where it will also bow this weekend. Documentary Ballet 422 (Magnolia Pictures), meanwhile, has had solid buzz heading into the weekend and should score well in its niche market. Monterey Media is hoping to have traction with stars Wes Bentley, Vincent Piazza and Amber Tamblyn as it opens 3 Nights In The Desert in theaters and on-demand, while Freestyle Releasing is targeting the rom-com crowd for its debut, One Small Hitch. Other Specialty openers this weekend include First Run Features’ doc The Other Man: F.W. de Klerk And The End Of Apartheid In South Africa,...

You might be hearing the whispers, you might be reading the tweets, and they’re all saying, “Who is Gina Rodriguez?” She’s the star of the CW’s first ever Golden Globe-nominated show, Jane the Virgin, and without a doubt, she’s the biggest breakout of the night. The winner of Golden Globe for Best Actress in a TV Comedy or Musical, first-time nominee Rodriguez beat out Lena Dunham (Girls), Edie Falco (Nurse Jackie), Julia Louis-Dreyfus (Veep), and Taylor Schilling (Orange Is the New Black) for the coveted trophy. It’s the first time in history the network ever took home any Golden Globe hardware, and it’s well-deserved by its golden girl.

“Thank you God for making me an artist,” Rodriguez began her speech, before thanking her cast and crew. She continued, “Thank you to my mom and my dad for telling to dream big, and never stop dreaming…...

You might be hearing the whispers, you might be reading the tweets, and they’re all saying, “Who is Gina Rodriguez?” She’s the star of the CW’s first ever Golden Globe-nominated show, Jane the Virgin, and without a doubt, she’s the biggest breakout of the night. The winner of Golden Globe for Best Actress in a TV Comedy or Musical, first-time nominee Rodriguez beat out Lena Dunham (Girls), Edie Falco (Nurse Jackie), Julia Louis-Dreyfus (Veep), and Taylor Schilling (Orange Is the New Black) for the coveted trophy. It’s the first time in history the network ever took home any Golden Globe hardware, and it’s well-deserved by its golden girl.

“Thank you God for making me an artist,” Rodriguez began her speech, before thanking her cast and crew. She continued, “Thank you to my mom and my dad for telling to dream big, and never stop dreaming…...

NUVOtv, the premier English-language destination for Latino entertainment, will debut the official film selections for Nuvo Point of View: The Emerging Latino Filmmakers its showcase on Saturday, November 15 at a screening held in conjunction with the NewFilmmakers Los Angeles (Nfmla) film festival at the At&T Center in Los Angeles.

In addition, the televised special by the same name will include exclusive interviews with the filmmakers and host Gina Rodriguez (Jane the Virgin, "Filly Brown"), and will air on Thursday, December 4 at 8pm Et/Pt. Actor and SAG-aftra Board Member Jon Huertas (Castle, "The Objective") will also lend his support to the premiere event as one of the evening’s program presenters.

“We are extremely proud to present this exciting collection of films that showcase the work of some of the nation’s most talented aspiring Latino writers, directors and producers,” said Lynnette Ramirez, Svp of Programming, NUVOtv. “This programming will give audiences an intimate look at what drives each filmmaker’s creative process.”

Nuvo Point of View: The Emerging Latino Filmmakers was inspired by the creative vision of Jennifer Lopez and Nuyorican Productions to feature the top talented Latino screenwriters, producers and directors and is now presenting its third showcase since debuting in March of this year. Over 900 films have been submitted for the showcase to date and returning film jury members Gregory Nava, Frida Torresblanco and Michael Olmos were heavily involved in the selection process of the final four films.

Features Category:

"Avenues" (88 minutes) tells the story of Saul Sanchez who returns home to the rough Northeast Los Angeles neighborhood of Highland Park, also known as The Avenues, after serving a decade-long prison sentence. His hopes are in connecting with his daughter, whom he has never met. The film is both written and directed by Aaref Rodriguez and was shot in Los Angeles.

Shorts Category:

"Luna" (12 minutes), another Los Angeles production, presents a dramatic storyline with a young girl witnessing the murder of her family by a mysterious killer. Now she must try to survive before the killer finds her. Antonio Perez served as writer, producer and director.

"Meditation" (14 minutes) is the third film shot in Los Angeles and tells the story of a divorce mediation that spirals out of control for a husband, his soon-to-be ex-wife and their court-appointed mediator. The film was written and directed by Francisco Lorite, and produced by Bill Winett and Freddy Rodríguez.

"How You Doin’ Boy?" (4 minutes) is a character-driven hybrid short about the pint-sized elderly Latino “Gran'pa” who leaves a series of humorous unanswered voicemails for his grandson “Davy.” William D. Caballero served as writer, producer and director. The film was shot in New Jersey.

The deadline for submissions for the network’s fourth film showcase, which will air in Q4 of 2015, is July 1, 2015. Go to mynuvotv.com for more info.

About NUVOtv

NUVOtv (www.myNUVOtv.com) is the premier English-language destination for Latino entertainment, embodying the spirit, energy and richness of modern Latino culture. Providing original entertainment and lifestyle programming, NUVOtv is available in more than 32 million homes nationwide with major distribution partners: At&T U-verse, Comcast, Cox, Dish Network, Time Warner Cable and Verizon Fios. The network is widely available in all top Hispanic DMAs and most major U.S. markets including Los Angeles, San Francisco, Miami, Chicago and New York. Iconic superstar and powerhouse entrepreneur, Jennifer Lopez serves as NUVOtv’s Chief Creative Officer collaborating closely with the network on programming strategy, production and marketing.

JuntoBox Films, the collaborative film studio co-chaired by Forest Whitaker, has announced the eight projects and 18 filmmakers that will join its first Feature Film Incubator, which begins today and runs through December 15. As announced back in June, the Incubator is an in-depth story development and production readiness program for narrative feature film projects that can be produced for $2.5 million or less. Of note among the selected films is "Letters from the President," which follows an idealistic young man from Cameroon who struggles to adjust to life in Los Angeles. The film is written by Tony Tambi and directed by Michael D. Olmos ("Filly Brown"). Find...

A version of this story first appeared in the Aug. 29 issue of The Hollywood Reporter magazine. Gina Rodriguez took a stand early in her career. The Nyu Tisch grad (who rapped in 2012's Sundance hit Filly Brown) won't play characters unless they serve as role models for young Latinos. She's now riding strong buzz for The CW family drama Jane the Virgin, the unexpected hit of July's Television Critics Association's summer press tour ahead of its Oct. 13 premiere. Rodriguez is currently featured in THR as The Next Big Thing. How did you develop your career plan? I saw

read more...

Back in 2012, a small indie film called "Filly Brown" premiered at the Sundance Film Festival. Instantly it was a breakout hit. In Park City, on the internet, in trade publications, and on blogs people could not stop talking about the talented newcomer Gina Rodriguez. Her dazzling performance in "Filly Brown" as a tough, young rapper from East Los Angeles put her and the film, directed by Youssef Delara and Michael D. Olmos, on the map.

Rodriguez, who is Puerto Rican, was immediately courted by film studios and TV networks and soon after the fest signed a holding deal with ABC. She was presented various roles but turned them down. While promoting her new show Jane the Virgin during the Television Critics Association summer press tour in Beverly Hills this past weekend she was asked about her choice of roles. Her responses, in addition to being incisive and incredibly intelligent, made us want to be her Bff. Keep an eye on this talented Latina, very big things are to come.

On why she turned down Devious Maids

When I was presented with Devious Maids after Sundance, after I did a film at Sundance and I had an ABC holding deal, I found it limiting that that was the one that was available to me. I found it limiting for the stories that Latinos have. For the stories that Americans have, I feel like there’s a perception that people have about Latinos in America specifically — somebody growing up in Chicago, English being my first language, Spanish being my second — that we are perceived a very certain way.

On the perception of Latinos in America

Our stories have been told, and they’re not unmoralistic [sic], you know, being a maid is fantastic. You know, I have many family members that have fed many of their families on doing that job, but there are other stories that need to be told. And I think that the media is a venue and an avenue to educate and teach our next generation. And, sadly, right now the perception they have of Latinos in America are very specific to maid, landscape, pregnant teen.

On why she became an actor

I didn’t become an artist to be a millionaire. I didn’t become an actor to wear Louis Vuitton. I have to give this dress back when we’re done. I became an actor to change the way I grew up. The way I grew up, I never saw myself on screen.

On how she chooses her roles

So every role that I’ve chosen has been ones that I think are going to push forward the idea of my culture, of women, of beauty, my idea of liberating young girls, of feeling that they have to look at a specific beauty type. And I wasn’t going to let my introduction to the world be one of a story that I think has been told many times

On whey she said yes to Jane the Virgin

I wanted it to be a story that was going to liberate young girls and say, ‘Wow, there we are too, and we’re the doctors, and we’re the teachers, and we’re the writers, and we’re the lawyers, and I can do that too. And I don’t have to be a perfect size zero. I can be a perfect size me.’ And that’s what I live. So Jane, I waited for her patiently. And now she’s here. And thank you for being here with us. Because this is a dream come true to me.

Jane the Virgin premieres this fall on the CW. Check out the trailer here.

[In case you've Forgotten, and as I will continue to mention each and every one of these posts that I do: This is *not* a review. Pilots change. Sometimes a lot. Often for the better. Sometimes for the worse. But they change. Actual reviews will be coming in September and perhaps October (and maybe midseason in some cases). This is, however, a brief gut reaction to not-for-air pilots. I know some people will be all "These are reviews." If you've read me, you've read my reviews and you know this isn't what they look like.] Show: "Jane the Virgin" (The CW) The Pitch: "Remember 'Ugly Betty'? That may not have been a hit for long, but it was surely a hit. Why hasn't anybody tried that again?" Quick Response: Sure, it's reductive to compare "Jane the Virgin" to "Ugly Betty," but TV only occasionally offers semi-comedic adaptations of telenovelas fronted by young, relatively unknown Latina actresses. And "Jane the Virgin" is, honestly, quite a bit like "Ugly Betty," only it's funnier and less disingenuous in that it lacks the spectacle of trying to make us pretend that America Ferrera is awkward and unattractive through ponchos and fake braces. "Ugly Betty" earned Ferrera an Emmy and it would have set her up for long-term stardom were it not for Hollywood being what it is. If "Jane the Virgin" doesn't do the same for star Gina Rodriguez, it's mostly because Emmy voters don't know who or what a "CW" is.

It was less than a year ago that actor Shemar Moore raised over $630,000 on Indiegogo to help fund his feature film "The Bounce Back," which he stars in and also executive produces. Directed by Youssef Delara ("Filly Brown") and written by Delara and Victor Teran from a story by Staci Robinson, the romantic comedy stars Moore as an author who's marketing a relationship book but hasn't gotten over his own heartbreak. Bill Bellamy co-stars as his friend and manager, and Nadine Velasquez as love interest. As "Bounce Back" recently wrapped production in Los Angeles, Shadow And Act spoke with Moore and Bellamy about the movie and what other projects they have coming up, including a...

Rose Leslie (Game of Thrones), Justin Bartha (The Hangover) and Gina Rodriguez (Filly Brown) have joined Ray Liotta in the indie drama Sticky Notes.

The story follows a young backup dancer (Rose Leslie) who returns home to Florida to care for her estranged, cancer-stricken father (Ray Liotta). No details were given for Justin Bartha and Gina Rodriguez's characters.

Screenwriter Amanda Harlib makes her directorial debut, with Gina Rodriguez and Joe Jenckes producing under their Mustard & Co. banner. Production is currently under way in New Orleans.

Rose Leslie is best known for playing Ygritte in HBO's Game of Thrones, and she also recently appeared in Honeymoon, which debuted at the South By Southwest Film Festival. Justin Bartha most recently starred in Cbgb, and Gina Rodriguez will next be seen in The CW series Jane the Virgin.

Rose Leslie, Justin Bartha and Gina Rodriguez have been cast in Sticky Notes.

They will join Ray Liotta in the indie drama, which is the directorial debut of screenwriter Amanda Harlib, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

The film centres around a backing dancer (Leslie) who returns home to Florida to care for her estranged father (Liotta) after he is diagnosed with terminal cancer.

Leslie is best known for her role as Ygritte in Game of Thrones, and also featured in Downton Abbey.

Bartha played Doug in The Hangover trilogy and also starred in The New Normal.

Rodriguez starred in Filly Brown and will feature in the upcoming television show Jane the Virgin.

Sticky Notes is yet to set a release date.

Game of Thrones actress Rose Leslie, The Hangover's Justin Bartha and Filly Brown actress Gina Rodriguez are joining Ray Liotta in indie Sticky Notes, the directorial debut of screenwriter Amanda Harlib. The film, currently shooting in New Orleans, centers on a backup dancer (Leslie) who returns home to Florida to help care for her estranged father, Jack (Liotta), after he's diagnosed with cancer. Photos: 'Game of Thrones': 20 Game-Changing Quotes The project is produced by Katie Mustard and Joe Jenckes under the Mustard & Co. banner. Harlib most recently adapted the novel Sorta Like a Rockstar by Silver Linings

read more...

“Accidentally artificially inseminated” sounds more like the hook of a Saturday Night Live sketch than the premise of an upcoming CW series. For doubters, the network has released an extended trailer for the upcoming dramedy Jane the Virgin, which tries to sell the show a little more strongly than simply saying, “trust us.”

Based on the popular Venezuelan telenovela Juana la Virgen, the U.S. version of Jane stars Gina Rodriguez (Filly Brown) as a hard-working, devout Latina who is kind of hoping her boyfriend proposes — though she’s a little worried he’ll get down on one knee so...

Indomina Media International and Pantelion Films have teamed up for the second time after 2012’s Filly Brown to co-finance and distribute internationally a group of predominantly Spanish-language films.

The multi-title deal provides for the Dominican-based production branch of Indomina Media International to finance up to four films a year with wide commercial appeal and guaranteed international distribution.

Pantelion, which just launched an international sales division, will acquire worldwide distribution rights to all the films. Pantelion will distribute in the Us and Videocine, Televisa’s film arm, will handle Mexico. Pantelion is the joint venture between Lionsgate and Grupo Televisa.

Financing comes through Indomina’s new fund designed to develop and produce Dominican films targeted at international audiences. The fund’s advisory board includes Dominican director-producer Juan Basanta and Wme Global’s Alexis Garcia.

The first of two projects already in production is Cómplices, about a philanderer who takes his heartbroken nephew with him on a sexy beach...

The CW’s new fall schedule is here. You’ll notice it looks a lot like the current one. Most shows are staying where they are, with some exceptions to accommodate new titles and a couple returning favorites getting pushed to midseason.

The first big addition is The Flash, starring Grant Gustin as the fastest man alive, which will air Tuesdays at 8 p.m. The Arrow spin-off will lead into the 10th season of Supernatural. The Flash is taking the spot of The Originals, which is shifting to Monday nights (an evening where its repeats have already gotten some exposure). On Mondays,...

Golden Harvest

When your life comes to an end, how much money do you think you’ll make the year after you die? That might seem an odd question – pointless, one would think, not just because you wouldn’t be alive to have the money but you also wouldn’t have done anything to earn it.

Well, that works slightly differently for celebrities. If they’re still successful when they pop their clogs, they can still earn an astonishing amount of money while doing nothing other than slowly decomposing due to marketing deals, record sales and the auctioning off of their prized possessions.

And it’s not just recently-dead actors or musicians either; there are celebrities who’ve been dead over 40 years who are still cleaning up, and that’s either a testament to their talents and keen business savvy or just to the unstoppable modern consumer mindset.

Thanks to info from Forbes,...

With Jenny from the block and her Nuyorican Productions outfit taking over the reins at NUVOtv (formerly Si TV) with a keen interest in the production and the creative direction of the English language show aimed at Latinos. NUVOtv recognized the neglect in support that the beyond bonkers, burgeoning American Latino film scene was experiencing, especially given the voids left behind recently by a few Latino film festivals.

This was an urgent cause for them. So in response, NUVOtv launched “Nu Point of View", a show to discover and showcase emerging talento. Judged by wonder woman Frida Torresblanco (Pan’s Labyrinth), Filly Brown filmmaker Michael D. Olmos and the incomparable Gregory Nava (basically every dope Latino film from the last 30 years). To present the show, Nuvo’ naturally went for the much hyped about Gina Rodriguez, a chi-town chica who after a stint in New York’s Nyu took her talents to La and has seen her smile grow wider with every new opportunity. After becoming the darling of Sundance with Olmos’ Filly Brown, she quickly followed up with a few TV spots and the indie Sleeping with the Fishes, she recently landed the lead in CW’s Jane the Virgin. This presenting gig with the NUVOtv family couldn’t be a more suited role for her.

LatinoBuzz: How did you feel when NUVOtv approached you with this idea and what did you feel you could bring to the table for these filmmakers?

Gina: When I sat down with NUVOtv and they told me about their idea for a televised film festival I was thrilled. Their ability to expose Latino talent to the world is a gift to our community so I was all in. I was discovered because of a Latino indie film. I was exposed to my dreams because someone took a risk on me and participating in a project that does just that, is where my heart feels the most joy (outside of acting :)). I believe I can be a contribution by being a living example of what we want to promote – responsible artists who have the desire to contribute positively to the image of Latinos in Hollywood.

LatinoBuzz: What do you hope Latino filmmakers get out of this show?

Gina: I hope that the show encourages quality art and the drive to create our own stories. And I'm not referring to "Latino" stories I'm referring to "our" stories, our human stories told from a new perspective. This festival inspires the American Latino, who has a dual identity, the chance to express that in an outlet that can reach millions. Once Latinos understand the power and resource of this outlet we will strive to put out our best work to take positive advantage of this amazing opportunity.

LatinoBuzz: Meeting all these superdope indie Latinos, does it ever make you lean towards being behind the camera at all?

Gina: My ambition is to motivate, inspire, encourage and embody my dreams and the dreams of others. I want to do that in all realms of the entertainment industry, whether that be productions of my own with my company ‘I Can and I Will Productions’, or discovering new talents that I can share my resources with. I will fight to continue to bring equality in opportunities to all races that are in need, including my fellow superdope Latino artists!

LatinoBuzz: Was there any particular story about a filmmaker’s hustle you loved most?

Gina: I have been drawn to all the stories of these incredibly talented filmmakers. I can say I was particularly drawn to Steven Krimmel, creator of the short film ‘Disconnection’. He’s half Latino and still struggles to connect to two cultures and be accepted in both, yet his art is from the voice of a human and that is how he connects. Oddly enough in his film ‘Disconnection’, all I could do was relate and I thought that was pretty badass.

For more info on screening times and submission requirements or how you can be the next Latino filmmaker showcased on “Nu Point Of View” visit: Here

And love Gina at https://www.facebook.com/HereIsGina

Written by Juan Caceres . LatinoBuzz is a weekly feature on SydneysBuzz that highlights Latino indie talent and upcoming trends in Latino film with the specific objective of presenting a broad range of Latino voices. Follow [At]LatinoBuzz on Twitter and Facebook .

The CW has found its lead for its much-buzzed about pilot, “Jane the Virgin,” from “Emily Owens M.D.” executive producer Jennie Snyder Urman. Gina Rodriguez will star as the title character on “Jane,” which is adapted from a successful Venezuelan telenovela. Rodriguez, who starred in film “Filly Brown,” studied drama at New York University. Her other television credits include daytime soap opera “Bold and the Beautiful,” TNT’s “Rizzoli and Isles,” Lifetime’s “Army Wives” and NBC’s “Law & Order,” among others. Also read: CW Orders 3 New Pilots From ‘Veronica Mars,’ ‘Sleepy Hollow,’ and ‘Emily Owens M.D.’ Producers From CBS Television Studios,...

Filly Brown star Gina Rodriguez is set to topline the CW‘s drama pilot Jane The Virgin, in keeping with the project’s Latin roots. Based on the successful Venezuelan telenovela Juana la Virgen, Jane The Virgin, from CBS Studios, centers on Jane (Rodriguez), a hardworking religious girl who, due to a series of outrageous events, is accidentally artificially inseminated. Jennie Snyder Urman wrote the adaptation and is executive producing with Electus’ Ben Silverman as well as Gary Pearl and Jorge Granier. Brad Silberling, who directed the pilot for CW/CBS Studios drama Reign last season, has been tapped to direct. Last year, Rodriguez was cast in Fox drama pilot Wild Blue and had a talent holding deal with ABC the previous season. She is with Apa, Intellectual Artists and Jackoway Tyerman.

The CW's Jane the Virgin has found its female lead. Filly Brown star Gina Rodriguez has been cast in the title role of the one-hour drama pilot from Emily Owens, M.D. creator Jennie Snyder Urman, The Hollywood Reporter has learned. Adapted from a Venezuelan telenovela, Jane the Virgin takes place after the surprising and unforeseen events that cause Jane (Rodriguez), a hard-working, religious young Latina woman to be accidentally artificially inseminated. Story: TV Pilots 2014: The Complete Guide Urman will executive produce the CBS Television Studios entry alongside Electus' Ben Silverman, Gary Pearl and Jorge Granier. Jane

read more...

The fifth film in the found footage franchise, Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones takes its arc of supernatural shenanigans to Oxnard, CA, where teens Jesse (Andrew Jacobs), Hector (Jorge Diaz), and Marisol (Gabrielle Walsh) encounter strange forces in their apartment complex. It is written and directed by Christopher Landon, who previously wrote Disturbia and three Paranormal Activity movies.

The film stands as the acting debut of Jacobs, who can also be seen performing as a street dancer in Los Angeles. Diaz has acted previously, having appeared in films like Filly Brown, TV shows like “True Blood,” “Boston Public,” and video games “Grand Theft Auto V” and “Dead Rising 3.”

Speaking with the guys a week after the film opened, we talked about not putting the camera down, the demand for more Hispanic characters in movies, what Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones has to say about Martin Scorsese’s recent words, and more.

Actors Jorge Diaz, Gabrielle Walsh, Andrew Jacobs sit down with CineMovie to talk about joining the Parananormal Activity movie franchise and the reaction to the film on Twitter with its controversial ending.

The fourth installment of the highly successful horror franchise centers on new characters living in the barrio and black magic. Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones has already earned over $40 million for a film reportedly made for $5 million.

As usual, unknown actors head the cast of unsuspecting victims of an evil spirit. Newcomers Jorge Diaz (East La High, Filly Brown), Gabrielle Walsh and Andrew Jacobs got the chance of a lifetime starring in an internationally famous franchise. In the found footage format, Jesse (Jacobs) experiences some paranormal activities within his own body after his neighbor dies

Read more...

As the leading presenter of Latin American Cinema in the U.S. Cinema Tropical advocates for the Latino filmmaking community and honors their achievements. Cinema Tropical Awards now in its fourth edition have announced this year's nominees

The winners of the 4th Annual Cinema Tropical Awards will be announced at a special event at The New York Times Company headquarters in New York City in late January, 2014.

The nominees for this year’s Cinema Tropical Awards were selected by a nine-member jury panel from a list of Latin American and U.S. Latino feature films of a minimum of 60 minutes in length that were premiered between April 1, 2012 and March 31, 2013 (January 1, 2012 and March 31, 2013, for U.S. Latino productions). The list was culled by a nominating committee composed of 17 film professionals from Latin America, the U.S., Canada, and Europe.

The Cinema Tropical Awards are presented in partnership with Voces, Latino Heritage Network of The New York Times Company. Media Sponsors: LatAm Cinema and Remezcla. Special thanks to Mario Díaz, Andrea Betanzos, and Tatiana García.

Best Feature Film

- Gloria (Sebastián Lelio, Chile/Spain, 2013)

- No (Pablo Larraín, Chile/USA/France/Mexico, 2012)

- Post Tenebras Lux (Carlos Reygadas, Mexico/France/Germany/Netherlands, 2012)

- Tanta Agua | So Much Water (Ana Guevara and Leticia Jorge, Uruguay/Germany/Mexico, 2013)

- VIolA (Matías Piñeiro, Argentina, 2012)

Best Director, Feature Film

- Sebastián Silva, Crystal Fairy (Chile, 2013)

- Pablo Larraín, No (Chile/USA/France/Mexico, 2012)

- Carlos Reygadas, Post Tenebras Lux (Mexico/ France/ Germany/ Netherlands, 2012)

-Ana Guevara and Leticia Jorge, Tanta Agua | So Much Water

(Uruguay/ Germany/ Mexico, 2013)

- Matías Piñeiro, Viola (Argentina, 2012)

Best Documentary Film

- El Alcalde | The Mayor (Emiliano Altuna, Carlos F. Rossini, Diego Osorno, Mexico, 2012)

- La Chica Del Sur | The Girl from the South (José Luis García, Argentina, 2012)

- La Gente Del RÍO | The River People (Martín Benchimol and Pablo Aparo, Argentina, 2012)

- El Huaso (Carlo Guillermo Proto, Chile/Canada, 2012)

- El Otro DÍA | The Other Day (Ignacio Agüero, Chile, 2012)

Best Director, Documentary Film

- José Luis García, La Chica Del Sur | The Girl from the South (Argentina, 2012)

- Priscilla Padilla, La Eterna Noche De Las Doce Lunas | The Eternal Night of the Twelve Moons (Colombia, 2013)

- Martín Benchimol, Pablo Aparo, La Gente Del RÍO | The River People (Argentina, 2012)

- Mercedes Moncada, Palabras MÁGICAS (Para Romper Un Encantamiento) | Magic Words (Breaking a Spell) (Mexico/Guatemala, 2012)

- Ignacio Agüero, El Otro DÍA | The Other Day (Chile, 2012)

Best First Film

- Carne De Perro | Dog Flesh (Fernando Guzzoni, Chile/France/Germany, 2012)

- El Limpiador | The Cleaner (Adrián Saba, Peru, 2012)

- Melaza | Molasses (Carlos Díaz Lechuga, Cuba/France/Panama, 2012)

- Tanta Agua | So Much Water (Ana Guevara and Leticia Jorge, Uruguay/Germany/Mexico, 2013)

- Los Salvajes | The Wild Ones (Alejandro Fadel, Argentina, 2012)

Best U.S. Latino Film

- American Promise (Joe Brewster and Michèle Stephenson, USA, 2013)

- Filly Brown (Youssef Delara and Michael D. Olmos, USA, 2012)

- Mosquita Y Mari (Aurora Guerrero, USA, 2012)

- Reportero (Bernardo Ruiz, USA, 2012)

- Wonder Women! The Untold Story Of American Superheroines (Kristy Guevara-Flanagan, USA, 2012)

2013 Jury:

Chris Allen, founder and director, UnionDocs; Melissa Anderson, film critic, Artforum; Beth Janson, executive director, Tribeca Film Institute; Daniel Loría, overseas editor, BoxOffice; Mike Maggiore, programmer, Film Forum; Paco de Onís, filmmaker; Anita Reher, executive director, Robert Flaherty Film Seminar; Julia Solomonoff, filmmaker; Maria-Christina Villaseñor, film curator and writer.

2013 Nominating Committee:

Cecilia Barrionuevo, programmer, Mar del Plata Film Festival, Argentina; Raúl Camargo, programmer, Valdivia Film Festival, Chile; John Campos Gómez, director, Transcinema Film Festival, Peru; Inti Cordera, director, DocsDF Film Festival, Mexico; Christine Davila, programmer, Sundance, Los Angeles Film Festival, Ambulante USA; Eugenio del Bosque, director, Cine Las Américas, USA; Raciel del Toro, Cinergia, Costa Rica; Vanessa Erazo, film programmer and journalist, indieWIRE/LatinoBuzz, Remezcla, USA; Lisa Franek, programmer, San Diego Latino Film Festival, USA; Robert A. Gomez, film journalist, Cinemathon, Venezuela; Jaie Laplante, director, Miami Film Festival, USA; Agustín Mango, film journalist, Hollywood Reporter, Argentina; Jim Mendiola, programmer, CineFestival, San Antonio, USA; Luis Ortiz, director, Latino Public Broadcasting, USA; Rafael Sampaio, programmer, Sao Paulo Latin American Film Festival, Brazil; Eva Sangiorgi, programmer, Ficunam, Mexico; Gerwin Tamsma, programmer, Rotterdam Film Festival, Netherlands.

Belle

The 2014 Athena Film Festival has unveiled its lineup of narrative, documentary and short films.

The New York Premiere of Belle, starring Gugu Mbatha-Raw and directed by Amma Asante, is the Athena Film Festival’s Opening Film, screening on Thursday evening. Decoding Annie Parker, starring Helen Hunt and Samantha Morton and directed by Steven Bernstein, is the festival’s Centerpiece Film, and will be screened on Friday evening. Geraldine Ferraro: Paving The Way, directed by her daughter, Donna Zaccaro, is the festival’s Closing Film, screening on Sunday evening.

The festival honors extraordinary women in the film industry and showcases films that address women’s leadership in real life and the fictional world. Now in its fourth year, the festival runs from Thursday, February 6 through Sunday, February 9 on the Barnard College campus in Morningside Heights. Artemis Rising Foundation is the Founding Sponsor of the Festival.

The Book Thief

Among...

Pantelion Films, the feted joint venture between Lionsgate and Mexico’s Grupo Televisa, has signed a multi-picture agreement with Dominican Republic-based Indomina Media to co-finance and distribute films.

The pact is focused on the next two years yet is in fact open-ended and calls for the production of up to three films a year.

Several projects are in development with Indomina, which over the last year has reconfigured operations to move away from distribution and focus on production, utilising its recently opened Pinewood Indomina Studios in the Dominican Republic.

Pantelion will distribute the films in the Us and its partners will distribute in Latin America, with additional international rights to be sold at a later date.

Pantelion’s Sandra Condito and Indomina Media International vice-president Stacey Stanley will oversee the projects for the studio. The companies most recently collaborated on 2012 release Filly Brown (pictured).

“We’re pleased to extend our partnership with Indomina, which has emerged...

Monday marks exactly one year since singer Jenni Rivera was tragically killed in a plane crash in Mexico. She may be gone, but those who knew her best (and loved her dearly) are making sure "La Diva de la Banda" is not forgotten. A new Jenni Rivera album was released Dec. 3, featuring songs from her last concert in Monterrey, Mexico, and her eldest daughter, Janney "Chiquis" Rivera, will play Jenni in a new movie being made about the singer. On the anniversary of her death, Jenni's celeb friends, co-stars and producers are also sharing their favorite memories of Jenni exclusively with People.

Last year, actress Gina Rodriguez won over audiences with her riveting performance in Filly Brown as a promising hip-hop rapper alongside Jenni Rivera, Edward James Olmos and Lou Diamond Phillips. Soon after the release of the film, The Hollywood Reporter named Rodriguez "the next big thing" and one of the "top 35 Latinos under 35." Her next big-screen project, Sleeping with the Fishes, which recently screened at the Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival, is still making its way through the film circuit in hopes of finding distribution. We caught up with the actress to talk about life after Filly Brown, her insecurities, physical comedy and her biggest learning lesson to date. Here are some highlights: Life after Filly Brown: "Filly Brown...

Read More

Read Comments...

There was a lot of hope for Filly Brown when it premiered at Sundance in 2012. The film about an up-and-coming Latino hip-hop artist starred Jenni Rivera, the Mexican American music superstar who tragically died in a plane crash late last year. When it was picked up by Pantelion, a film distributor backed by Lionsgate, many in the Latino community buzzed that if the film performed well, it would lead to studios focusing more on the Latino market. Now, six months after a modestly successful limited release, the producers and distributors of Filly Brown have been hit

read more...

The first feature from writer/director Nicole Gomez Fisher “Sleeping with the Fishes’, staring Gina Rodriguez, is a Latino comedy which captures one girl’s journey of self-discovery and the dynamics of her zany family. With it’s fair share of “ay dios mio” and “oy vey” moments, the film comes to life with colorful characters and one liners that can only be found in a Latino Jewish home in Brooklyn.

Gina how has life changed since ‘Filly Brown’ came out?

Gina Rodriguez: It’s interesting because the struggle doesn’t end you just kind of fight a different fight and you have to keep trying. You’re only as good as you’re next job and hopefully I make my family and my friends proud.

Gina when it comes to taking on new projects do you try to find something different?

Gina Rodriguez: Well first I look for an amazing script.

Last Friday night saw a celebration of the biggest names in the Latino Hollywood being honored for achievement in television, film, music and activism. “Because we’re on MSNBC we gotta talk a little politics, right?” quipped host Mario Lopez as he kicked off the Alma Awards co-presenting with executive producer Eva Longoria in the first time the award show has been broadcast live in its 13 years (we could have gotten more than an hour of airtime!)

This year saw a change in format and honorees were selected for their contributions across the spectrum of Latino arts and included director Robert Rodriguez (recipient of the Anthony Quinn Award for Industry Excellence) and the cast of Filly Brown , which was recognized for “Special Achievement in Film.”

Latino cast members of Dexter– actors Lauren Vélez, David Zayas and Aimee Garcia — were also honored for “Special Achievement in Television.” And in a new honor presented at this years event – the “Outstanding Commitment to Cause and Community” award was deservingly given both to legend Carlos Santana and to actress Rosario Dawson who was recognized for her work with the Lower East Side Girls Club and Voto Latino . LatinoBuzz homie Jessica Molina was on the red carpet and we have pics. Thanks to Laura Sixtos for the pictures! Felicidades to everyone and be sure to check out past LatinoBuzz interviews with some of the red carpet stars!

Read our interview with Edward James Olmos Here

Read our interview with Gina Rodriguez Here

Read our interview with Jorge Diaz (Main Picture) Here

Written by Vanessa Erazo . LatinoBuzz is a weekly feature on SydneysBuzz that highlights Latino indie talent and upcoming trends in Latino film with the specific objective of presenting a broad range of Latino voices. Follow @LatinoBuzz on Twitter and Facebook .

It's been over a year since casting director Tracy "Twinkie" Byrd spoke with Shadow & Act about her career and projects, which at the time included work on Sparkle, Woman Thou Art Loosed: On The 7th Day, and Sundance feature Filly Brown. Since then we've seen a few more of her projects come to light - Being Mary Jane which aired on Bet, the well received Fruitvale Station, and Black Nativity, the highly anticipated next feature from director Kasi Lemmons, which comes to theaters in November. So there's been plenty to catch up on, and Ms. Byrd made time check in with S&A about her current work and what she's up to in the future. Shadow&Act: Fruitvale Station has been...

Check out the new teaser trailer and poster for the upcoming award-winning indie action-thriller Mission Park starring Jeremy Ray Valdez, Will Rothhaar, Walter Perez, Joseph Julian Soria, Vivica A. Fox and Sean Patrick Flanery.

In Mission Park, the ambitions of four childhood friends land them on opposite sides of the law. Rookie FBI agents Bobby (Valdez) and Julian (Rothhaar) must go undercover and face their hidden pasts in an attempt to bring down their best friends’ (Perez, Soria) criminal organization.

The film was written and directed by Bryan Ramirez, produced by Independent Spirit Award nominee Douglas Spain (Star Maps, HBO’s Band of Brothers), co-produced by David J. Phillips (Life Happens, Green Guys), and executive produced by national real estate mogul and former star of A&E’s ‘Flip This House’ Armando Montelongo. Spain and Phillips both have featured acting roles in the film as well. Mission Park is the...

Check out what's new to rent and own this week on the various streaming services such as cable On Demand, Amazon, iTunes, Vudu, and, of course, Netflix. Cable On Demand: Same-day-as-disc releases, older titles and pretheatrical exclusives for rent, priced from $3-$10, in 24- or 48-hour periods G.I. Joe: Retaliation (action; Dwayne Johnson, Channing Tatum, Bruce Willis; also available in 3D; rated PG-13) Emperor (drama; Tommy Lee Jones, Matthew Fox; available now two weeks before disc; rated PG-13) Filly Brown (drama; Gina Rodriguez, Jenni Rivera; rated R) Passion (Brian De Palma-directed thriller; Rachel McAdams, Noomi Rapace; available 8/1 before theatrical release; rated R) Touchy Feely (drama; Rosemarie DeWitt, Ellen Page; available 8/1 before theatrical release...

Read More...

Moviefone's Top DVD of the Week

"Black Rock"

What's It About? Co-written, directed by, and starring Katie Aselton, "Black Rock" follows three friends on a trip to a remote island. Initially setting out to dig up a time capsule they buried as kids the girls end up fighting for their lives once they meet a group of dangerous ex-soldiers.

Why We're In: Co-written by Aselton's husband Mark Duplass ("Safety Not Guaranteed"), "Black Rock" is a noteworthy survival thriller in the vein of 1972's "Deliverance." Along with Aselton, co-stars Lake Bell and Kate Bosworth give great performances in this film with gripping tension.

Moviefone's Top Blu-ray of the Week

"The Devil's Backbone" Criterion Collection

What's It About? With 2001's "The Devil's Backbone," writer-director Guillermo del Toro declared himself a true master of contemporary horror. Set at the end of the Spanish Civil War, the story follows 12-year-old Carlos (Fernando Tielve) who...