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Jacques Audiard’s “Emilia Pérez” leads the 7th annual Latino Entertainment Film Awards with an impressive 17 nominations, including best picture, director, and four acting nods for Karla Sofía Gascón, Selena Gomez, Adriana Paz and Zoe Saldaña. Denis Villeneuve’s sci-fi sequel “Dune: Part 2” follows with 10.

The Latino Entertainment Journalists Association (Leja), which celebrates the year’s best in film and Latino talent, was also fans of Coralie Fargeat’s “The Substance” and Jon M. Chu’s “Wicked,” which earned nine nominations each. These films join other best picture nominees, including “Anora,” “The Brutalist,” “Conclave,” “I’m Still Here,” “Nickel Boys,” and “Sing Sing.”

“I’m Still Here” from Sony Pictures Classics surprised many with its robust Oscar showing, including a best picture nomination. In addition to recognition for Fernanda Torres in best actress, the Brazilian drama also earned nods for director (Walter Salles), adapted screenplay, cinematography and editing.

Leja also announced...

This article contains spoilers for the Blue Bloods series finale.

Blue Bloods star Tom Selleck candidly reacts to Frank's fate in the show's final episode. After a run of 14 seasons as the central character of Frank Reagan, Selleck and the rest of the cast have officially signed off from the long-running CBS procedural. Despite how the Blue Bloods finale might have seen Frank walk away from his job, especially with how events play out, it ultimately goes in a different direction and arguably more emotional direction to provide a sense of closure.

In a post-finale interview with Variety, Selleck reflected on how Frank didn't quit his job as the NYPD's Commissioner. Even though the Magnum P.I. legend acknowledges that Frank actually hated the job, especially the responsibility and the weight of it, he explains that Frank couldn't quit because it was important for him to carry that responsibility...

SiriusXM’s Deep Tracks (ch. 308) is excited to offer an exclusive first listen to Five tracks from Eric Clapton’s upcoming album, Meanwhile. The songs are “Sam Hall,” “Smile,” “The Call,” “You’ve Changed,” and “Misfortune” (see details below).

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Starting Monday, September 23, Deep Tracks host Early Times will debut a new song each day at 10am Et, continuing through Friday. Check out these premieres on Deep Tracks, available in most cars (Ch. 308) and on the SiriusXM app.

Set for digital release on October 4, Meanwhile features 14 songs, including six brand-new tracks and eight previously released singles.

Meanwhile Tracks Premiering on SiriusXM: 10am Et Monday, September 23: track 4 10am Et Tuesday, September 24: track 5 10am Et Wednesday, September 25: track 9 10am Et Thursday, September 26: track 13 10am Et Friday, September 27: track 14 About Meanwhile

Meanwhile, from Bushbranch/Surfdog Records,...

Image Source: YouTube Channel: Miami Vice; Video: Lieutenant Castillo’s First Appearance | Miami Vice Even though he’s an Academy Award nominee for his work in the movie Stand and Deliver, Edward James Olmos will always be best remembered as the steely-faced Lieutenant Martin Castillo on one of the most iconic TV series of the 1980s, Miami Vice. The role made him a household name and earned him a Primetime Emmy Award, but it almost never happened at all. Speaking at this year’s GalaxyCon Richmond, Olmos told the story about how he turned Miami Vice produced Michael Mann down several times before getting an offer he couldn’t refuse. (Click on the media bar below to hear Edward James Olmos) https://www.hollywoodoutbreak.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Edward_James_Olmos_Miami_Vice_.mp3

Miami Vice is available on DVD and most digital platforms.

The post Why Edward James Olmos Almost...

In the 80s and 90s, an interesting cycle of inspirational teacher movies was being made. You know the type – the film where a big star plays a down-and-out teacher who gets posted in some crime-ridden school, and they manage to turn things around? Often, they were based on true stories, like Stand and Deliver, Dangerous Minds, Lean on Me and a few others. Then, there were the more fanciful, tough-guy teacher movies, like Nick Nolte’s Teachers and James Belushi’s underrated The Principal.

But of all these movies, the most badass, by far, is a little movie called The Substitute starring Tom Berenger.

In it, he plays a mercenary who goes undercover as a substitute teacher to avenge a brutal assault on his girlfriend, a crusading teacher played by Heat’s Diane Venora. While initially only planning on staying long enough to find the teens responsible, he finds himself...

Photo credit: “Shutterstock.AI” ⁤In the iconic inspirational movies of the 1980s, Stand and Deliver stands tall, a testament to the power of education and dedication. ⁤⁤Released in 1988, this biographical drama tells the remarkable story of Jaime Escalante, a passionate high school teacher who defied the odds and taught his struggling students calculus, igniting a love for learning and a sense of purpose. ⁤⁤ With a talented ensemble cast led by Lou Diamond Phillips and Edward James Olmos, the film is a masterclass in inspiration, earning Olmos an Academy Award nomination for his riveting portrayal of Escalante. ⁤ ⁤Decades later, the film’s impact still resonates, with Edward James Olmos revealed at a GalaxyCon Richmond 2024 Panel that it has become a go-to teaching tool for educators worldwide. (Click the media bar below to hear Edward James Olmos) https://www.hollywoodoutbreak.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Edward_James_Olmos_Stand_and_Deleiver_.mp3

The post...

Filming begins for Tales Of The Underworld, an anthology film linked to Lucas & Albert, in Essex. More on the project here.

Featured image: Lucas And Albert, credit: Rights Booster Limited.

Filming is getting underway for Tales Of The Underworld, a new anthology film from Longhurst and Putt Productions.

The film is closely linked with the studio’s previous film, Lucas And Albert, which won Best Feature Film at the 2020 National Film Awards.

Tales Of The Underworld will feature 12 stories that are all interlinked to each other. Filming is taking place next week and at the end of April in Tendring, North Essex.

Darren S Cook, who also helmed Lucas And Albert, is directing the film. The large ensemble cast includes Tony Denham, Michael McKell, Ian Burfield, Kim Taylforth, Sidney Livingstone, Sidney Kean, Cassandra French, Lovelace Akpojaro, Gary Hales, Steve Ward, David Biscoe, Jordan Abrams Susan Regan, Matthew Benham, James Pickering,...

If you’re like us here at Reel Action, you probably love martial arts movies. And if you love martial arts movies, chances are, you are a fan of Mark Dacascos. And if you’re a fan of Mark Dacascos, then you probably know the movie, Only the Strong. Only the Strong is the best Jean-Claude Van Damme movie that Van Damme never starred in. In fact, if you look at the director’s filmography, he had a successful collaboration streak with Jcvd that led to Only the Strong. However, the movie actually fares better without him, because it features a star-making turn by the unanimously perceived underrated martial arts actor Mark Dacascos. Add in the teacher-savior plot and an introduction to a unique brand of martial art and you have an incredibly fun way to spend 90 minutes. We talk Only the Strong on this entry of Reel Action.

The...

(Welcome to Tales from the Box Office, our column that examines box office miracles, disasters, and everything in between, as well as what we can learn from them.)

"I read this script and thought, 'This is the best script I've read in God knows how long.'" That's what director Mark Waters told Entertainment Weekly in 2014 about his reaction to reading Tina Fey's script for "Mean Girls." At the time, it was called "Homeschooled" but the title didn't matter. What mattered was what was on the page. Those words on those pages would inspire one of the most successful movies about the high school experience ever made.

"I had been wanting to try to learn how to write a movie. I had been looking for a subject matter for me for a couple of years," Fey, who was then working as the head writer on "Saturday Night Live," told...

Hope Runs High has acquired U.S. rights to Augusto Sandino’s sophomore feature “A Vanishing Fog,” which won the SXSW Zeiss cinematography prize. The film is slated for an early 2024 opening in U.S. theaters. It’s the first feature to be shot in Colombia’s Sumapaz Páramo, the largest ecosystem of its kind in the world.

“In the middle of the staggering and endangered Sumapaz Paramo ecosystem; F, a solitary explorer, strives to protect the mystical and fragile land he inhabits, while caring for his ailing father,” the synopsis reads.

“Augusto Sandino’s incredible blend of playful surrealism and the overwhelming individuality of the environment in which the film is set has stayed with me since my first viewing. I believe his ability to balance visual scale, cinematic playfulness, and true heart make him an artist we should be engaging with frequently,” said Hope Runs High curator Taylor Purdee.

Industry vets Dominic Glynn, Rob Legato, Nancy Richardson, Deborah Scott, Tom Sito and Sharon Smith Holley have accepted invitations to join the Science and Technology Council of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

Visual effects supervisor and VFX branch member Legato won Oscars for Titanic, Hugo and The Jungle Book. His VFX credits also include Apollo 13, The Aviator and Jon Favreau’s The Lion King. He most recently served as VFX supervisor and second unit director on Emancipation.

Costume designers branch member Scott also won an Oscar for her work on Titanic and her additional costume design credits include E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial, Back to the Future, Heat, The Patriot, Minority Report and Avatar: The Way of Water. She was the Costume Designers Guild’s 2023 Career Achievement Award recipient.

Pixar senior scientist Glynn’s work as an imaging and audio specialist helped to launch the world’s first...

It’s officially Filipino Heritage Month and we’re highlighting Filipino celebrities who have shattered boundaries and left an indelible mark in the entertainment industry.

Bruno Mars Bruno Mars — Photo: John Angelillo/Upi/Shutterstock

With over 200 million records sold worldwide, Mars, 37, has become synonymous with the Billboard charts. This trailblazing Filipino artist has revolutionized the entertainment industry with an impressive collection of accolades, including 11 Grammy Awards and multiple Billboard chart-topping hits. As a songwriter, producer and performer, he has hooked audiences with his infectious blend of pop, R&b and funk.

Olivia Rodrigo

Rodrigo, 20, made a meteoric splash onto the music scene in 2021 with the release of her Grammy-winning debut album “Sour”, with her single “Drivers License” giving her the record of youngest artist to score a No. 1 in the UK at the age of 18.

Tia Carrere Tia Carrere — Photo: Image Press Agency/NurPhoto/Shutterstock Image Press Agency/NurPhoto/Shutterstock

Carrrere,...

Edward James Olmos is recalling the harrowing experience of battling throat cancer. The legendary actor spoke about it publicly for the first time with Mando Fresko on the “Mando & Friends” podcast, saying doctors had to aggressively attack the cancer to the point they were unsure what his voice would sound like after it was all said and done.

The 76-year-old actor says he’s thankful to be alive after finishing his last round of radiation on Dec. 20. The “Stand and Deliver” star credits his relentless pursuit of living a healthy lifestyle — with daily exercise and healthy eating — which he says gave him a fighting chance against a cancer that’s cost the lives of many of his friends.

“This would be the first time publicly I’ll be coming out and saying it, but I had throat cancer,” Olmos said. “I just finished getting through it. December 20 was my last radiation.

Academy Award nominee, Emmy winner and groundbreaking Latino actor Edward James Olmos has kept quiet about his battle with throat cancer, but has now come out to inform fans of his struggles and recovery.

Sitting down for an interview on the podcast Mando and Friends, the 76-year-old Edward James Olmos said being diagnosed with cancer allowed him to put his life into perspective. “It was an experience that changed me totally, the understanding of how wonderful this life is. I’ve been through some experiences that have gotten me close to death, but that was really close.”

Fortunately, the actor–perhaps best known for his remarkable performance in 1988’s Stand and Deliver and playing Commander William Adana on 2004-2009’s Battlestar Galactica–won the battle. And now that Edward James Olmos has completed chemotherapy and radiation, he can truly put the energy into recovering from his bout with cancer. He...

Edward James Olmos has spoken out about his battle with throat cancer on Mando Fresko’s podcast, “Mando & Friends.”

The 76-year-old Olmos said he finished chemotherapy and radiation in December.

“I sit here saying now to you, Mando and friends, that one thing that I’m very grateful for was that I was in condition to fight this,” Olmos said. “I was in good condition — and I still am. I swim a mile a day at least, sometimes two miles a day. Every day, seven days a week. And then I row and do weights.”

Still, Olmos said he lost 50 pounds duing treatment, including a lot of muscle mass.

“There were times in the months of treatment that the body gives up. And I didn’t want to take my food through my stomach,” Olmos said. “They had to get 2,500 calories into my body every day. That was ridiculous, that was so hard.

For the first time, Edward James Olmos is detailing his difficult battle with throat cancer. The 76-year-old “Battlestar Galactica” star and founder of the Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival shared his recent experience in an interview with Mando Fresko on his podcast “Mando & Friends.”

Olmos received his last round of chemotherapy and radiation treatment in December and is now focusing on recovery. “I sit here saying now to you, Mando and friends, that one thing that I’m very grateful for was that I was in condition to fight this,” Olmos said. “I was in good condition — and I still am. I swim a mile a day at least, sometimes two miles a day. Every day, seven days a week. And then I row and do weights.”

Olmos said his bout with cancer caused him to lose more than 50 pounds, including a large amount of his muscle mass.

“There...

Edward James Olmos, his son Michael Olmos and Morris Ruskin’s MoJo Global Arts have pacted with Ecuador’s 2bLatam to make an English-language premium TV version of the YouTube phenomenon, “Mortal Glitch.” This is the first project in English for the Ecuadorian company as it seeks to expand its global reach.

To date, “Mortal Glitch” has been the only fiction series produced in Latin America for YouTube Premium. The web series has notched up to 37 million views, with 13.3 million views in Mexico, 5.1 million views in Colombia and 4.1 million views in Argentina.

Produced by 2bLatam’s production arm 2bOriginals, the web series was written and directed by Christian Moya, a partner at 2bLatam and co-founder of 2bLatam’s Enchufe.tv, the leading Spanish-language comedy channel.

“I never thought that ‘Mortal Glitch’ would have an international audience or, at least, generate curiosity among foreign producers who recognized its potential,” he said,...

If the 14th annual TCM Classic Film Festival had an official focus, it was on the 100th anniversary of Warner Bros., from the opening night premiere selection of a restoration of “Rio Bravo” to a celebration of the 50th anniversary of “The Exorcist.” Almost equal in emphasis, though, by virtue of the guests brought in, was a celebration of the ingenues-turned-leading-ladies of the 1960s, who now represent the elder guard of a Hollywood golden age — Angie Dickinson, Ann-Margret and Shirley Jones.

Dickinson had the highest profile of any star at the festival, being the belle of the ball at the Thursday screening of “Rio Bravo” in the big house at the Tcl Chinese Theatres, where most of the screenings were held. But there was just as much outpouring of affection for Ann-Margret, who turned up for a Q&a (and birthday cake) following “Bye Bye Birdie” on Saturday, and Jones,...

Sundance 2023: ‘Radical’ directed by Christopher ZallaChristopher Zalla returns to Sundance (‘Padre Nuestro’, U.S. Dramatic Grand Jury Prize 2007) thanks to one of Hollywood’s most innovative producers, Ben Odell and Eugenio Derbez, the top star of Mexico. Their company 3Pas has consistenly created entertainment for the Latinx community in new ways and now this powerfully inspiring story about a teacher deserves to be put to the test to see how it stands with a public along side with education classics as ‘Blackboard Jungle’, ‘Goodbye Mr. Chipps’, ‘Dead Poets’ Society’ and ‘To Sir With Love’. And yes, ‘Stand and Deliver’ as well, Edward James Olmos’ breakthrough and best film.

Director Christopher Zalla. Courtesy of Sundance Institute, photo by Erynne Dowe

With Mr. Zalla in Sundance is Mexican Superstar Eugenio Derbez, who appeared at Sundance in 2021 as Bernardo in Sian Heder’s Coda, top prize winner at Sundance and winner of three Oscars including Best Picture. InCoda he played an inspirational high school music teacher, and in Radical he is again such a teacher.

Every student in K -12 should be given the opportunity to see this film on the educational non-theatrical circuit as well as theatrical and streaming platforms. This is the film that will inspire children to become teachers like Sergio Juarez as played with all his heart by Eugenio Derbez, Mexico’s top comedian and movie star. The discovery of the joy of learning for the children on Matamorros, Mexico, a place where kids live in a world where they can’t be kids, was based upon a true story.

Eugenio Derbez — Co-Founder, 3Pas Studio — Lead Actor & Producer, Radical speaking at Illuminative’s Indigenous House, courtesy of the social justice organization IllumiNative, a Native woman-led racial and social justice organization dedicated to challenging the narrative about Native peoples:

“I started as a comedian in television. When I made the transition to cinema, I always tried to bring joy into each of my movies. Even though it’s drama, it’s part of our brand. I have a production company called Tripas Studios. Tripas means guts, so when you do everything with your guts, you can make all the decisions with your guts. When we are looking for a project, we always look for the three H’s: Humanity, Humor, and Heart. We need at least two of these elements to be in the movie. But I always need to put in some humor. Even though ‘Radical’ is a drama and a really sad and true story, you’re going to laugh a couple of times because humor makes everything easy. When you show me drama and a true story, I put in a little bit of joy, so you can digest the information much better.”

Eugenio Derbez at the Illuinative panel. Photo Credit: INDÍGENA for IllumiNative

[When asked what he wanted viewers to take away from Radical] “I want to celebrate education. I think education is the base for future generations. I feel that right now education, not just in my country, but worldwide, has been the same for the last 200 years. The same kind of structure, it’s twisted, we’re teaching kids to obey, sit down, shut up, do this, do that, memorize this. We’re teaching them to obey, we’re teaching them to memorize and we need to teach them how to learn.”

Radical shines a light on the incredible potential children can manifest when an innovative teacher empowers them to think for themselves. The Wired article by Joshua Davis (also a producer here) explains it is based on the life of teacher Sergio Juárez Correa, who with his students was the subject of a 2013 Wired magazine cover story titled A Radical Way of Unleashing a Generation of Geniuses. The article details Juárez’ rather incredible story as an unorthodox teacher in a poor Mexican border town called Matamoros. It is a forgotten poor city with little hope for its kids, particularly in the elementary school, where he uses a teaching method he stumbled upon seeing a Ted Talks video in which the students lead the curriculum in learning what they want to learn, not what officials dictate through testing and other methods.

Eugenio Derbez conducting a class on the solar system. Courtesy o Sundance Institut

After establishing the To Sir, with Love nature of this school and who the kids in the sixth-grade class are, we meet Sergio. He has turned over all the desks in his classroom and tries to convince the incredulous students to come aboard these “lifeboats” in the make-believe ocean for the kind of off-the-wall lesson they have never encountered before.

As we learn to know the students: Paloma (the nascent shining star Jennifer Trejo), who aspires to be a rocket scientist (That is true and her story is more incredible), Nico, Lupe and others surrounded by cartel culture and bullies, their fates take shape.

Derbez never has been better than in this film, one that’s for sale and, if there is any justice, will be picked up immediately by a distributor looking for a feel-good true story with real potential to make a difference. It co-stars Daniel Haddad, Jennifer Trejo, Mia Fernanda Solis and Danilo Guardiola.

Radical was produced by 3Pas Studios (Derbez’s label run by Benjamin Odell), in association with Epic Magazine and The Lift, and financed by TelevisaUnivision/ViX.

The film is seeking worldwide distribution in all territories, save Mexico. Andrew Herwitz of The Film Sales Company is representing the film.

Eugenio Derbez. Courtesy of Sundance Institute photo by Mateo Londono

“Three Steps” says Ben Odell, co-founder of 3Pas (as in 3Pas, Tripas or tripe, or Guts as Eugenio decribes them), when explaining to me the meanng of the pun. 3Pas in Spanish means three steps, but is also a play on words, something Mexicans like a lot. Personally, I too love tripas y menudo. Delicioso!

Ben and Tripas also won the 2007 Grand Jury Prize Winner at Sundance with the art house Spanish language thriller, Padre Nuestro. IFC changed the title to Sangre de mi sangre for its U.S. release. It also played at New Directors/ New Films at Museum of Modern Art in New York in the Spring of 2007, received two Independent Spirit Awards nominations, for Best First Feature (for which Odell was nominated) and Best Screenplay.

Ben is sure that his producing partner Eugene will go way beyond his current core Latinx market “He is so lovable to watch. He has a magic about him that is undeniable and transcends language and culture.”

When Ben and Eugenio decided to go together they knew it was The-One-Time-In-a-Career-To-Capitalize moment. It happened while Eugenio was making his breakout film Instructions not Included. They formed 3Pas to focus on brand-building based upon Eugenio’s popularity. They planned to go beyond his own work, in English and Spanish. 3Pas Studios signed a first-look deal with Pantelion in August 2014. Neither Eugenio nor Ben had any idea Instructions not Included would be so big. It was released in 2013 by Pantelion and grossed $44.5 million, making it the highest-grossing Spanish-language film ever released in the U.S. It grossed another $55 million overseas making it the number one Spanish language movie in the world.

Before I met Ben, I always pictured him as my other friend whose last name is Odell, a slight and wiry, dark haired type. How surprised I was to see this big, handsome blond who exuded warmth and a good-willed wit and storytelling skill. Love at first sight! And I am sure I am not the only one who is smitten with him. I wish I could convey his spirit, humor and strength as he recounted his life and career(s) to me in the hour we spent together in his new spacious, airy and bright Santa Monica office where Ben Shalom-Martinez was the third person in the new company, manning a phone system not yet working.

I told Ben I had read his mini bio in IMDb, and it made me want to know how he had gotten into the Latinx side of the business. I expected him to reveal that, in fact, and in spite of his name, he was Latino.

One year out of college, Ben said,

“I worked in editing with the Maysles Brothers. I was a P.A. on the first film John Turturro directed called “Mac”, and I was a reader for Art Linson. And that was my degree in Liberal Arts in Film. I wanted to be a screenwriter but I didn’t feel I had enough life experience. A family friend offered me a job in commercial production in Colombia. It was 1992 and my dad said: “if you love all things Latino, go learn Spanish and become an expert in the Latino market. It’s going to need people that understand it. No one was really talking about its importance then but that piece of advice changed my life. I moved to Colombia to learn Spanish and start what would be a life long journey in all things Latino, from U.S. Latino to Latin America. It’s not a single market but there is a connectivity between all of it.”

Ben grew up in Pennsylvania and when he was six years old, neighbors, who had old friends from Colombia, did an exchange of one of their children with a Colombian child. “My father ended up basically adopting that child for the year he lived with our neighbors and from that grew a friendship with this Colombian family.”

When he was 12 years old the whole Colombian family moved to Philadelphia. “I wanted them to adopt me. They were crazy, emotional, passionate, loving. It was a warmth and lust for life I hadn’t really experienced in suburban white America. And then I realized there was a whole country full of them.” At 15 he went with a friend to Colombia and loved it.

His father eventually married someone from that family. So Ben’s connection to Colombia, if not to all of Latin America was very organic. Colombia is not part of the “U.S. Latino market” per se, but Colombia and the rest of Latin America share certain characteristics and commonalities — views on life and death, family, spirituality — that end up working their way into storytelling that are shared throughout the U.S. Latino market and Latin America along with a larger emotional scale in the tone of their storytelling.

Odell lived in Colombia from 1992 to 2000. He also worked as a freelance journalist before becoming a Spanish language television writer and screenwriter there.

When he was in Colombia working in commercials, he met Tom Quinn, a journalist Iiving there for 25 years, working for Time Magazine and running an English language rag called The Colombian Post. In his youth, Tom had run with the likes of Hunter S. Thompson. He had lots of adventures and lots of stories of those days.

Ben asked Tom what was the most compelling story they could make into a movie that wasn’t about narcotrafficking, and Tom said one word: “Emeralds.” Colombia supplies 60% of the world’s emeralds. The mines in the Emerald Zone have strong drug laundering connections as well, as one might guess. The land is leased by the government to the three or four mining companies and they control everything with no supervision by the government.

Ben thought this was a great story to develop into a movie, and so he went back to New York to the contacts he had made including an exec at Tribeca Films. “They all said the same thing, great story but you are not a writer. Go write the script and then we’ll talk.” Ben returned to Colombia to do research.

In the meanwhile he began writing for Colombian TV. He had never written a feature film script, nor did he speak Spanish. He had, however, taken a course in feature film screenwriting with Robert McKee. And he had a girlfriend who was bilingual. He knew about Colombian TV and he saw the potential for legitimizing the story first as a TV show and then making it into a feature later.

Tom Quinn was very well known in Colombia as he was the Time News correspondent there at a moment when the magazine had a lot of power; the drug wars were one of its most consistent cover stories. They pitched it to Rti TV, and structured it like The Fugitive.

There is a drug, called burandanga, scientifically known as Scopolamine. It comes from a plant that grows wild in Colombia. The drugged one loses control of his or her will. Ben once heard a story about a man in a bar who wakes up in jail accused of a murder he can’t remember. This became the basis of the story. The lead goes into the Emerald Zone and drugged by burundanga, he kills one on the wrong side in a war going on there. He wakes up with no recollection and a full on civil war going on around him. He can’t get out of the Emerald Zone until he finds the man who drugged him. The title of this series that Tom and he pitched and in 1998 created was Fuego verde, like the 1954 Hollywood movie, Green Fire starring Grace Kelly and Stewart Grainger.

As a television writer, he eventually created and wrote over 300 hours of Spanish-language narrative television including Fuego Verde — the first-ever action series. It was one of the highest rated series on Colombian television. He also co-wrote the Colombian political satire feature film, Golpe de estadio, which was nominated for Spain’s Academy Award, the Goya in 1999, and was Colombia’s nomination to the Oscar in 2000. It is still one of the highest grossing Colombian films of all time.

In the film, Golpe de estadio, (Golpe de Estado means “Coup d’état”but it also could mean “Coup de Stadium”), an oil company has set up a camp for geological research in a small village in Colombia that has been named New Texas. It becomes the target of the guerrillas who are constantly clashing with police in the area. The confrontation is put on hold however during the TV transmission of the world Cup qualifiers.

For more about this and Ben, read my blog from several years ago here.

In summary, Tripas has created a feel-good story that has great potential to make a difference and is available for distribution.

EducationMexicoFilm FestivalsInternational FilmFemale Empowerment...

Every few years there comes another drama that focuses on a teacher facing seemingly insurmountable odds with a group of students who are challenging to teach. Typically, these movies, such as "To Sir, with Love" starring Sidney Poitier, "Stand and Deliver" with Edward James Olmos, "Lean on Me" led by Morgan Freeman, or "Dangerous Minds" with Michelle Pfeiffer, take place in urban settings where the school is overridden with crime and drugs, resulting in students who have no respect for authority and no interest in learning. Of course, that all changes when each film's respective teacher offers up some kind of revelatory lesson that sparks the interest of the young minds who maybe just need an opportunity to leave their rough upbringing behind. 

The new Sundance-selected drama "Radical," written and directed by Christopher Zalla and starring Eugenio Derbez, is one of those movies, but there's something a bit different about...

On the JoBlo Movies YouTube channel, we will post one full movie every day of the week, allowing viewers to watch them free of charge. Today’s Free Movie of the Day is the mystery thriller Never Forget, starring the great Lou Diamond Phillips. You can watch it over on the YouTube channel linked above or just watch it in the embed at the top of this article.

Directed by Leo Scherman from a screenplay by Kevin Hennelly and Mark Steinberg, Never Forget has the following synopsis: A man (Phillips) who wakes up with amnesia also finds his supposed friend has accused him of murder.

Phillips is joined in the cast by Kris Holden-Ried, Sarah Manninen, Jonathan Whittaker, Jimmy Byron, and Janet Morin.

Phillips’ acting career stretches back almost forty years now, with some of his 150+ screen credits including Bull, Blue Bloods, NCIS: New Orleans, Criminal Minds, Longmire, Brooklyn Nine-Nine,...

Throughout the 1990s, Tom Hanks was a constant at the Academy Awards, winning two Best Actor awards back-to-back for “Philadelphia” (1993) and “Forrest Gump” (1994), followed a few years later by his nomination for “Saving Private Ryan.” When he became the frontrunner to win again in 2001 for “Cast Away,” Hanks appeared to be on track to become the male Meryl Streep at the Oscars, getting nominated every few years, but then nearly two decades passed until he received his sixth Oscar nom for “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood.”

And now we’re entering a unique awards season for Hanks in that he’s a major part of two awards-friendly movies and yet might be overlooked for both performances. The first is “Elvis,” for which the lead Austin Butler is a contender to win the Best Actor Oscar, and the second is “A Man Called Otto,” which went into wide release this month,...

Editor’s note: This review was originally published at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival. Participant and Pantelion Films releases the film in theaters on Friday, November 3.

The figure of the selfless teacher with an idealist mindset about education has abundant onscreen representation. Of these, Edward James Olmos’ lively, Oscar-nominated portrayal of Jaime Escalante, who taught math to marginalized teens at James A. Garfield High School in East Los Angeles, in “Stand and Deliver,” serves as quintessential example of these admirable paladins of knowledge in American popular culture.

In the well-intentioned drama “Radical,” Eugenio Derbez boasts similar, if more subdued charisma as unorthodox elementary teacher Sergio Chavez. This crowd-pleaser based on a remarkable true story documented in a Wired article by Joshua Davis (also a producer here), marks the Sundance return of director Christopher Zalla, whose 2007 debut “Padre Nuestro” won the top jury prize in the U.S. Dramatic competition.

The role...

The last time Mexican superstar Eugenio Derbez had a film at Sundance was just in 2021. The movie was Coda, and it not only swept all the top prizes at the fest that year, it went on to win three Oscars including Best Picture. He had a supporting role in that film as an inspirational high school music teacher, and now in Radical, which just had its world premiere at Sundance on opening night at the Eccles Theatre, he essays another inspirational teacher. This time it’s a true story and one in which he plays the lead role of Sergio Juarez.

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Juarez (full name Sergio Juarez...

Exclusive: Maia Reficco (Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin), Edward James Olmos (Mayans M.C.) and Austin North (Outer Banks) have signed on to star alongside Kj Apa and Eric Dane in the motorcycle racing film One Fast Move, from Gulfstream Pictures and Luber Roklin Entertainment, which is in production in Georgia.

In the action-adventure pic from writer-director Kelly Blatz, a dishonorably discharged soldier (Apa) seeks out his estranged father (Dane) to help him pursue his dream of becoming a professional motorcycle racer. While training, he meets a small-town, aspiring singer (Reficco) and a motorcycle shop owner (Olmos) who begin to break down the walls his father’s absence had built up.

Details as to North’s role haven’t been disclosed. But Gulfstream Pictures is providing full financing for the film, with Mike Karz and Bill Bindley producing for the company, in association with Matt Luber and Lena Roklin of Luber Roklin Entertainment.

Click here to read the full article.

Cinematographer Tom Richmond, whose résumé included work on such films as Stand and Deliver, Killing Zoe, Little Odessa, Slums of Beverly Hills and Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist, has died. He was 72.

Richmond died Friday in New York City, Anthony Jannelli, head of cinematography at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, told The Hollywood Reporter (Richmond also taught at NYU). The cause of death was not immediately available.

Richmond, who was the director of photography on nearly four dozen features, also shot Keenan Ivory Wayans’ I’m Gonna Git You Sucka (1988), Scott Silver’s Johns (1996), Rob Zombie’s House of 1,000 Corpses (2003) and Todd Solondz’s Palindromes (2004).

He won the best cinematography prize at Sundance in 2006 for his work on Right at Your Door, a drama about a terrorist attack involving chemical bombs.

He received Spirit Award nominations for Stand & Deliver...

Eric Clapton, who last summer declared that he reserved the right to cancel performances at venues where audience members were required to show proof of Covid vaccination, has indeed canceled two shows, but for another reason: Clapton just tested positive for the coronavirus.

The announcement of the show cancelations in Zurich and Milan was made on Clapton’s official Facebook page last night.

“Eric Clapton is unfortunately suffering from Covid having tested positive shortly after the second concert at the Royal Albert Hall,” the post reads. He has been told by his medical advisors that if he were to resume traveling and performing too soon, it could substantially delay his full recovery. Eric is also anxious to avoid passing on any infection to any of his band, crew, Promoters, their staff and of course the fans.”

The performance in Zurich was scheduled for today, May 17, with Milan initially set for...

He’s an acclaimed actor and director, but Paddy Considine’s first and enduring passion is music – and on his band’s new album he’s confronting the ghosts of his childhood

Were you to pass a small house on an estate in Burton upon Trent some time in the early 80s, you may have seen a young boy standing at the top right-hand window, singing and dancing with all he had. “I’d put Adam and the Ants on a record player,” remembers Paddy Considine, “and perform Stand and Deliver.” Occasionally, someone passing would look up and acknowledge him. “That’s all I wanted. Some sort of validation. I wanted to be seen.” Considine smiles. “I wasn’t a showoff – it sounds contradictory, but I just wanted to be seen, you know.” Years later, he would become an acclaimed actor, but music is where it all started.

Considine’s band,...

Aquarius Films has optioned the film development and production rights to Abdul Karim Hekmat’s acclaimed article “True Love in Nauru,” and aims to produce it as feature film “Paradise.”

“Paradise” is the powerful true story of two men who meet and fall in love in an Australian offshore detention center. Their relationship becomes a life-affirming source of strength as they take on institutional indifference and overcome hopelessness, finally making their way to freedom.

Hekmat’s original article was published in The Monthly, an Australian political and society magazine. Hekmat, who resides in Australia, arrived as a refugee from Afghanistan and spent five months in detention will co-write the screenplay with Roger Monk.

“Paradise” will be co-directed by Rhys Graham and Phoenix Raei, an Australian actor-director of Persian descent. Rae, who will be making his feature directorial debut, has recent performance credits including Netflix series “The Night Agent,” Netflix mini-series “Clickbait,...

Seth Willenson, a producer and longtime marketing, finance and distribution executive, died peacefully at his home in Los Angeles after a long bout with heart disease, according to a representative for the family. He was 74.

Willeson first started his 52-year career in 1970 when he became the second hire at New Line Cinema. It was there where he pioneered a theatrical marketing concept of the 1970’s, the Midnight Movie – using the 1936 anti-cannabis propaganda film “Reefer Madness” – a practice that continued for more than a decade with movies such as “Pink Flamingos,” “Sympathy for the Devil” and “The Rocky Horror Picture Show.”

Willenson would return to New Line Cinema 20 years later after his first stint at the studio as president of Telecommunications & Planning. Willenson would subsequently serve as producer/executive producer on numerous indie films, most notably Allison Anders’ award-winning “Gas Food Lodging” and the Chuck Norris-starrer “Top Dog.”

Willenson would...

Seth Willenson, the influential marketing executive and producer of films and home video, died March 18 in Los Angeles, a rep confirmed to Variety. According to their statement, Willenson died from heart disease. He was 74.

Willenson began his career in 1970, as an early hire at the then-young New Line Cinema. He was responsible for one of the company’s earliest successes, by promoting the 1936 anti-cannabis propaganda film “Reefer Madness” as a “midnight movie” to college campuses. As a result of his work, the film became a cult classic, and he would later be responsible for the marketing of other “midnight movies” that New Line distributed, including “Pink Flamingos,” “Sympathy for the Devil” and “The Rocky Horror Picture Show.” After leaving the company in 1973, he would return over 20 years later to become the president of telecommunications and planning in 1988.

In between, Willenson worked as a senior vice president at Films Inc., then...

Punta del Este in Uruguay is set to become a beacon for the arts and a key tourist destination with the inauguration of the coastal resort town’s first contemporary art museum, the stunning Museo Arte Contemporaneo Atchugarry (MacA), on January 8.

The launch of an arts film festival, Arca, running Jan. 9-14, underscores the museum’s mandate to serve all the arts. Perched on the grounds of the Pablo Atchugarry Foundation, the 75,000 sq. ft. museum designed by architect Carlos Ott overlooks a 62-acre sculpture park and expansive grounds that include a heliport, forests and an outdoor amphitheater. Entrance is completely free of charge.

“When we set up the Pablo Atchugarry Foundation 15 years ago, we conceived it as a meeting place of all the arts with the public. Today we can say that musicians, dancers, writers and visual artists will have passed through here,” said Uruguayan sculptor Pablo Atchugarry whose foundation...

Time is running out to stream films like “Lincoln,” “The Fisher King” and “He Got Game” on HBO Max. Below is the complete list of everything leaving HBO and HBO Max in January 2022, which includes some classic “Planet of the Apes” films, Ben Affleck’s Oscar-winning “Argo” and 1988’s “Married to the Mob,” among others. Most of these titles leave the streaming service on Jan. 31, but departing HBO and HBO Max on Jan. 20 is a behind-the-scenes look at Guillermo del Toro’s new film “Nightmare Alley,” which is exclusively in theaters now.

If you’re looking for noteworthy titles to add to your watchlist before they depart, “Lincoln” is one of Steven Spielberg’s best, “Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy” is a handsome and nail-biting spy thriller and “The Fisher King” is a great two-hander with Jeff Bridges and Robin Williams.

Check out the full list of what’s leaving HBO Max in January 2022 below.

Eric Clapton teamed up with anti-vaxxer Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to bemoan Covid-19 mandates and Rolling Stone’s scathing articles about him in his first interview in a while — outside of statements posted to Telegram.

Posted last week on Kennedy’s The Defender site, the interview features Clapton talking about how the last few years have been a “buzzsaw” for him, both from a commercial standpoint as well as personally.

“Over the last year, there’s been a lot of disappearing, a lot of dust around with people moving away quite quickly,...

Eric Clapton’s friends and collaborators discuss the rock legend’s anti-lockdown stance — and defend him against allegations of racism — in a new report.

Following a string of anti-vaccine and anti-lockdown tracks, Rolling Stone detailed Clapton’s descent from just speaking about his vaccine skepticism to actually bankrolling it.

Clapton’s associates are similarly perplexed by his recent stance, with many labeling Clapton as largely apolitical. “He’s the anti-Bono,” Clapton’s former label manager Bill Oakes told the Washington Post. “He is the epitome of someone who is there for the music,...

This year’s seventh edition of the Ibero-American Platino Awards (Premios Platinos) will honor Mexican actor, director, producer and festival organizer Diego Luna with the Platino Award of Honor. An itinerant award show by design, this year’s Platinos will be held on Oct. 3 in Madrid.

At just 41 years old, Luna will be the youngest recipient of the career achievement honor, joining previous winners Miguel Rafael Martos Sánchez, often simply referred to as Raphael, one of Spain’s most iconic entertainers of the 20th century; Adriana Barraza, the Oscar nominated Spanish-English-language crossover star of Alejandro Iñárritu’s “Babel” and “Amores Perros”; Oscar and three time Primetime Emmy nominee Edward James Olmos (“Stand and Deliver”); Oscar nominee Antonio Banderas (“Pain and Glory”); and Primetime Emmy (“The Burning Season”) and Bafta (“Dona Flor e Seus Dois Maridos”) nominee Sonia Braga.

A child actor who excelled from an early age, Luna’s first...

In what appears to be his latest salvo against Covid-19 vaccinations and the lockdown, Eric Clapton has surprise-released a new single, “This Has Gotta Stop,” with an accompanying animated video that also addresses climate change disaster.

A bluesy shuffle, “This Has Gotta Stop” appears to reference some of the medical issues that Clapton said he experienced after receiving an AstraZeneca vaccination earlier this year with what he claimed were “disastrous” results: “My hands and feet were either frozen, numb or burning,” he wrote at the time. As he sings in “This Has Gotta Stop,...

One year after “Sound of Metal” made a significant impact at the Oscars, Sian Heder’s “Coda” shows itself as an outstanding example for representation in the disability community, and could be one of the heartwarming family films of the year that finds its way to Academy attention.

Distributed by Apple TV Plus, which bought the film at the Sundance Film Festival for a record-breaking $25 million, “Coda” is bowing in theaters and on the streaming platform. Following excellent reception and feedback at an official Academy screening last week, and a hearty 96% score on Rotten Tomatoes, Apple could have one of its strongest awards contenders to date. Last year the streamer nabbed its first two nominations, for “Wolfwalkers” in animated feature and “Greyhound” in sound. With Heder’s feature, along with Joel Coen’s “The Tragedy of Macbeth” and Todd Haynes’ documentary “The Velvet Underground,” Apple could have its best shot at major recognition yet.

Back when WarnerMedia (which technically no longer exists in the same form) announced that it would be premiering its entire slate of 2021 films on HBO Max, this is the kind of month they likely had in mind. For HBO Max’s list of new releases in August 2021 is highlighted by an honest-to-goodness blockbuster.

The Suicide Squad is set to premiere Aug. 5 on HBO Max. This film featuring some of DC Comics’ most curious villains borrows its name, format, and many of its characters from the David Ayers-directed 2016 film Suicide Squad. This time around, the rogues gallery is directing by James Gunn (Guardians of the Galaxy) and his colorful disposition. In addition to The Suicide Squad, August sees the arrival of the Hugh Jackman-starring Reminiscence on Aug. 20.

Read more Movies The Suicide Squad First Reactions Are In By John Saavedra Movies How The Suicide Squad is Different from Guardians of the Galaxy...

HBO Max will arguably debut its biggest Warner Bros. release yet on August 5, when James Gunn’s take on “The Suicide Squad” makes its day-and-date premiere on the streaming platform (the comic book blockbuster is also coming out in theaters nationwide).

But beyond “The Suicide Squad,” film fans will find a copious amount of features on HBO Max in August 2021, including a new Hugh Jackman movie, plus classic ‘90s favorites like “Basic Instinct,” “The Birdcage,” “The Fugitive,” “Deep Cover,” “Malcolm X,” and “The Shawshank Redemption.”

Ahead, every new movie and series coming to HBO Max in August 2021, plus the top titles leaving the service before September 1.

New on HBO Max in August 2021

August 1

2 Days in the Valley, 1996 (HBO)

9/11: Fifteen Years Later, 2016

A Mighty Wind, 2003 (HBO)

A Walk Among the Tombstones, 2014 (HBO)

The Accidental Spy, 2002 (HBO)

The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl, 2005 (HBO)

Americano, 2017 (HBO)

Anna to the Infinite Power,...

Eric Clapton says he reserves “the right” to cancel performances at venues where proof of Covid vaccination is required of audience members, a largely hypothetical stance that nonetheless puts the guitarist’s anti-vax sentiments on full display.

Clapton’s statement today was made in response to British Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s announcement that vaccine passes will be required to enter nightclubs and other venues. Clapton’s next UK concert, at the moment, is nearly a year away, when he’s scheduled to play London’s Royal Albert Hall on May 7.

“Following the Pm’s announcement on Monday the 19th of July 2021,” Clapton said via Telegram, “I feel honour bound to make an announcement of my own: I wish to say that I will not perform on any stage where there is a discriminated audience present. Unless there is provision made for all people to attend, I reserve the right to cancel the show.

Eric Clapton said he will not perform at any venues that require attendees to prove that they’ve been vaccinated against Covid-19.

Clapton issued his statement in response to Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s announcement on Monday, July 19th, that vaccine passes would be required to enter nightclubs and venues. Clapton’s statement was shared via the Telegram account of film producer and architect Robin Monotti, who has also been skeptical of the Covid-19 vaccine and expressed other doubts about the U.K. government’s response to the pandemic. (Clapton...

Eric Clapton is returning to the road in September for an eight-city run of North American shows. It kicks off September 13th at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas, and wraps up September 26th at the Seminole Hard Rock in Hollywood, Florida. According to a press release, these will be his only North American dates for the year. Tickets go on sale this Friday on Ticketmaster.com, and will also be available on Vivid Seats.

His band will include guitarist Doyle Bramhall II, organist Paul Carrack, bassist Nathan East, drummers Sonny Emory and Steve Gadd,...

Eric Clapton detailed his “disastrous” health experience after receiving the Covid-19 vaccine and blamed “the propaganda” for overstating the safety of the vaccine in a letter the guitarist shared with an architect/anti-lockdown activist.

Clapton previously shared his thoughts on the Covid-19 shutdown when he appeared on Van Morrison’s anti-lockdown song “Stand and Deliver” in December 2020; two months later, in February, Clapton received his first of two AstraZeneca vaccinations, he wrote in his letter to Robin Monotti Graziadei, who shared the letter on his Telegram with the guitarist’s permission.

Exclusive: Lou Diamond Phillips has rounded out the ensemble of Amblin Partners’ family comedy, Easter Sunday, which is based on the stand-up comedy and life experiences of comedy star Jo Koy and is set around a family gathering to celebrate Easter Sunday. Also joining the previously announced Eva Noblezada Brandon Wardell and Tia Carrere, are Lydia Gaston, Rodney To, Melody Butiu, Joey Guila and Elena Juatco.

“Starting production on Easter Sunday is the culmination of a lifetime of dreaming and decades of hard work,” said. Koy. “It’s especially meaningful that we’ve been able to assemble such an incredible group of diverse and talented filmmakers and comedians to bring this slice of Filipino culture to the world.”

Phillips will play a fictionalized version of himself in the film

Jay Chandrasekhar will direct with Ken Cheng penning the script. Rideback’s Dan Lin and Jonathan Eirich will produce. Koy, Cheng,...

Video Version of this Article Photo/Video: Los Angeles Movies/Sony Pictures Releasing/Hollywood Insider YouTube Channel Introduction Los Angeles has been synonymous with moviemaking ever since the inception of Hollywood. Most of the big studios have their roots in the city, and many still operate in the area or in greater Los Angeles. And while many films cover a range of stories set in other places, there are still many that focus on the city of Los Angeles itself. Los Angeles sprawls over thirty thousand square miles and has a diversity of cultures and neighborhoods. These different areas are the backyard of Hollywood. It would make sense for there to be several films made in the backyard. Related article: The Complete List of 2021 Oscar Nominations – Celebrations, Surprises & Snubs | The Show Must Go On Related article: April Movies Release Schedule: The Most Accurate List of Every Movie Coming Out in...

Updated, 2:30 Pm: A federal judge has approved a settlement in a wrongful death suit filed by the mother of an ER actress who was fatally shot by police who’d been sent to her South Pasadena home in 2018 to conduct a wellness check, court papers show. Read details of the case below.

South Pasadena City Attorney Theresa Highsmith said the parties agreed to a $450,000 settlement, most of which will come from the city’s litigation risk pool. The case has been permanently dismissed.

“Any loss of life is tragic,” South Pasadena Mayor Diana Mahmud said in a prepared statement regarding the settlement.

Previously, February 20, 2019: Attorneys representing the mother of former ER Actress Vanessa Marquez have filed a wrongful death claim against the City of South Pasadena. Marquez, who recurred as nurse Wendy Goldman on early seasons of the 1990s hit medical drama, was fatally shot by police in South Pasadena on Aug.

Van Morrison is planning to launch a legal challenge against regulations that prohibit live music in indoor venues in Northern Ireland due to Covid-19 safety concerns.

Sarah Symington, an attorney at the firm John J. Rice and Co. Solicitors, which is representing Morrison, confirmed that the singer initiated legal action on January 12th. He filed a “pre-action protocol letter” with the Department of Health “challenging the blanket ban on live music [and] giving them 21 days to respond.”

A pre-action protocol letter isn’t an official filing document, but rather provides both...

Song : Stand and Deliver

Artist : Eric Clapton, Van Morrison

Check out Song Lyrics of "Stand And Deliver" by Eric Clapton

Stand and deliver

You let them put the fear on you

Stand and deliver

But not a word you heard was true

But if there's nothing you can say

There may be nothing you can do

Do you wanna be a free man

Or do you wanna be a slave?

Do you wanna be a free man

Or do you wanna be a slave?

Do you wanna wear these chains

Until you're lying in the grave?

I don't wanna be a pauper

And I don't wanna be a prince

I don't wanna be a pauper

And I don't wanna be a prince

I just wanna do my job

Playing the blues for my friends

Magna Carta, Bill of Rights

The constitution, what's it worth?

You know they're gonna grind us down,...

Legendary rock musicians Eric Clapton and Van Morrison are under fire for teaming up on an anti-covid lockdown song, titled “Stand and Deliver”. The blues-inspired track was written by Morrison in support of his Save Live Music campaign, and the song is performed by Clapton, and debuted online on Friday. Proceeds from the song will go to Morrison’s Lockdown...