Actress Olga Segura to begin directing "The Dinner"

Source by EFE

Mexican actress Olga Segura will begin working on a new film, "The Dinner," starring Cate Blanchett and on which she will be part of the production team.

Segura, who currently plays the role of Edith Phillips in the Telemundo soap opera "Señora Acero," told Efe that, just like acting, she enjoys everything about producing films because it encompasses elements that "as a creative person" she wants to explore.

"When you produce a film, you have to create an entire world so that the actors can do their work," said the actress, who along with her brother Juan Carlos and her friend, actor Hector Jimenez, founded the "Producciones A Ciegas" production company after filming "Cellmates," directed by Jesse Baget. Read More.

John Leguizamo will screen his movie FUGLY in NYC

On November 5th he will screen his movie FUGLY in a NYC theater. Leguizamo will be present greeting guests and for Q & A! Check out his IG post.

We HONOR Hector Elizondo.

Source by EFE

Veteran actor Hector Elizondo was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award for his 50-year career that has included theater, movies and television, by his colleagues in the Hispanic Organization of Latino Actors, or HOLA, during its annual gala in New York.

"Tonight you have touched my heart," Elizondo said, as his fellow actors of all ages, many of them young, rose to their feet and applauded at the Battery Gardens restaurant in Manhattan's Battery Park.
Elizondo, the son of a Basque father and Puerto Rican mother, grew up in the New York neighborhood of Harlem. He recalled that his father taught him to speak two languages but did not allow him to speak a word of English at home.

Before the awards ceremony, Elizondo told EFE that it was "a privilege to be a mentor, to set an example (for young actors), but, I never really tried to be an example. I just live my life and do my job the best I can."

"I don't have a lot of ambition, but I like these young people who have spirit, who have talent," the actor said, whose career has included theater. His performance in "Steambath" won him an Obie prize, which honors the work of actors in off-Broadway productions. He has appeared in many movies, including "Pretty Woman," "Runaway Bride" and "The Princess Diaries," all of which were directed by Gary Marshall.

Elizondo has also been a standout in television series like "Chicago Hope," which won him an Emmy, and "Grey's Anatomy," as well as the current sitcom "Last Man Standing," which airs on ABC.

Latinos In The Movies This Fall

By Natalie Roterman

The fall is always an exciting time for film as most releases involve strong, highly anticipated, award-contending movies. Yes, most of them come out seeking a glorified award season and mark the end of digital character blockbusters for younger audiences. It’s especially exciting for us when the season’s mainstream or indie pics involve Latino actors, directors, producers, etc. Critics are already raving about González Iñarritu’s epic movie “Birdman,” highly anticipating Gael García’s performance in Jon Stewarts directorial debut, “Rosewater,” and looking forward to see more about the beautiful tradition of ‘Día de Muertos’ in Guillermo del Toro’s “Book of Life.”

 

Read more.

Hollywood to Latinas: Shut Up and Get Naked

BY SAMANTHA LEAL 

Thanks, Hollywood. For as many strides as Latinos (and specifically, Latinas) are making on the screen, it seems like not much has changed. A new study has shown that less than 5 percent of actors in top Hollywood films are Hispanic, while Latinas are more likely than any other group of women to appear partially or fully naked on screen. 

Yes, it seems the "sexy" Latina stereotype is alive and well: Latinas represent 37.5 percent of all female nudity (partial or full) on-screen. White women account for 31.9 percent of full or partial nudity, while black women come in at 23.5 percent. And Latinos? They don't fare much better either: they are more likely to be seen in "tight, alluring or revealing" clothing (16.5 percent) than any other group. 

“Hispanics and Latinos are one of the fastest-growing groups in the U.S.,” said Marc Choueiti, one of the authors of the study. “If popular films were the only way to gauge diversity, viewers would be completely unaware of this. Individuals from this group are almost invisible on screen.”

Actress Alma Martinez, most recently seen on FX's The Bridge, told KPCC that the "hot Latina stereotype" has been seen since silent films and continues to this day.

"You’re looking at Lupe Vélez, Carmen Miranda, Salma Hayek," Martinez said. "They’re sexualized Latina women. And they have an accent." But don't mistake her for saying these women don't have talent: "They're excellent," Martinez said. "It’s [the roles] Hollywood gives them.”

Moreover, speaking parts for minorities is, in a word, abysmal. Only about 5 percent of all speaking roles in top movies were Hispanic. In 2010, just 1.5 percent of speaking parts were given to any racial minority. Seriously?

“In reality, we saw no meaningful difference in the representation of characters from underrepresented backgrounds across the six years we studied," said Stacy Smith. Smith is an author and director of the study.

Latinos make up 16.3 percent of the U.S. population and buy 25 percent of all tickets at the box office, yet we are still one of the most underrepresented demographics when it comes to on-screen time and speaking roles. 

Despite what it seems Hollywood wants us to do (be quiet and get naked), we'll keep raising our voice to this issue until it changes. And we'll do so with our clothes on. 

What do you think of these findings? Are you surprised at all? Share in the comments.