As much as we adore and revere the theatrical experience, as theater chains prep to reopen amidst a virus that is spreading rapidly in certain areas of the country, one is far better off staying at home and enjoying films from around the world. There’s no better place to do that than The Criterion Channel, and now they’ve unveiled their July lineup.
Coming to the channel next month are retrospectives dedicated to the stellar early films of Atom Egoyan, works by Miranda July, films featuring Ryuichi Sakamoto scores, Olympic films (including their recent release Tokyo Olympiad), plus Kelly Reichardt’s masterful Certain Women, Med Hondo’s Soleil Ô (coming soon to disc with Scorsese’s next World Cinema Project release), Lizzie Borden’s Born in Flames, Asghar Farhadi’s A Separation, and much more.
See the lineup below and explore more on their platform. One can also see our weekly streaming picks here.
Coming to the channel next month are retrospectives dedicated to the stellar early films of Atom Egoyan, works by Miranda July, films featuring Ryuichi Sakamoto scores, Olympic films (including their recent release Tokyo Olympiad), plus Kelly Reichardt’s masterful Certain Women, Med Hondo’s Soleil Ô (coming soon to disc with Scorsese’s next World Cinema Project release), Lizzie Borden’s Born in Flames, Asghar Farhadi’s A Separation, and much more.
See the lineup below and explore more on their platform. One can also see our weekly streaming picks here.
- 6/26/2020
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
Netflix has gone into production on its latest original movie in Spain, ‘A pesar de todo,’ staring Blanza Suárez, Macarena García, Amaia Salamanca and Belén Cuesta.
Directed by Argentine-born Gabriela Tagliavini the comedy returns Netflix to women character-driven narratives of other productions such as “The Cable Girls,” and links it once more to one of the Spanish production houses which arguably has best explored a woman’s world, Ramón Campos and Teresa Fernández-Valdés’s Bambu Producciones. the producers of “The Cable Girls, “Velvet” and “Velvet Collection.”
The four actresses play sisters embroiled in a mystery case sparked by the last wish of their dead mother. Before dying, the mother (Marisa Paredes) makes a video for each of her daughters which contain a series of revelations about a family secret which will turn their world upside down and set them off on a common journey which will help them rediscover each other and themselves.
Directed by Argentine-born Gabriela Tagliavini the comedy returns Netflix to women character-driven narratives of other productions such as “The Cable Girls,” and links it once more to one of the Spanish production houses which arguably has best explored a woman’s world, Ramón Campos and Teresa Fernández-Valdés’s Bambu Producciones. the producers of “The Cable Girls, “Velvet” and “Velvet Collection.”
The four actresses play sisters embroiled in a mystery case sparked by the last wish of their dead mother. Before dying, the mother (Marisa Paredes) makes a video for each of her daughters which contain a series of revelations about a family secret which will turn their world upside down and set them off on a common journey which will help them rediscover each other and themselves.
- 10/19/2018
- by Jamie Lang and John Hopewell
- Variety Film + TV
Kate Del Castillo is one of Mexico's most important actresses and one of the most recognized faces in Latin America. Her imposing presence, both in person and on stage, her charisma, beauty and her enormous talent and passion for acting has lead her to be one of the rising stars in the Hollywood and Ibero American film and television industries. We have enjoyed her work in the most important series of American television, shows like 'C.S.I, Miami, Dallas', 'Weeds' and her many films include American Visa, Bordertown,Bad Guys, Under the Same Moon, The Black Pimpernel, Julia, Without Men and soon to be released A Miracle of Spanish Harlem.
She has shared credits with actresses such as Tilda Swinton, Kevin Kline, Mary Louise-Parker, Edward James Olmos, Eva Longoria and Christian Slater. It was in 2011 where Kate landed in the leading role 'as Teresa Mendoza' on the critical acclaimed 'La Reina del Sur' aired originally on Telemundo in the U.S. which positioned her at the height of her career.
In 2012 the film-director Jules Stewart choose her as 'Mousey' in K-11 which is also one of Kate's best acting challenges. We had the opportunity to accompany her on a day of shooting in her new movie called 'Visitors' a psychological thriller written and directed by Acan Coen and produced by the Mexican producers Jorge Aragon and Jesus Magaña. In the film, Kate plays Ana an skeptic surgeon who will try to win back her husband Daniel and her little Sebastián from the curse that has befallen them. Visitors is her comeback as the star of Mexican Cinema and a genre that she had not ventured before. Del Castillo's talked with us about this new project set to be released in 2014 and how she continues to strengthen her career.
LatinoBuzz: You said once that you yearned the feeling of the experience of doing something for the first time, now that you are going for the first time into a new movie genre, how do you feel working in this production?
Kate: Very happy, as I said the first time of anything is always a very special feeling. It's the first time that I work in a genre like this. I'm learning so much, I'm surprising myself everyday with the things that are happening, the rhythms, a movie like this has a very different kind of rhythm. I'm very happy and very excited.
LatinoBuzz: What makes this character special to you? What new challenges has it brought to you as an actress?
Kate: For me, the script is always the most important thing. When I read the script, I loved it, I spent nearly two years to consolidate this project, you know cinema sometimes has its delays, but I think it was all worth it, not only because of the story but also because it is a totally different character. Ana is a surgeon, a pragmatic woman, a very logical woman devoted to science, so what makes this character beautiful is that the perfect structure that Ana had starts crumbling as things with no logic started to happen, so when she begins to find logic to what's really happening, her world begins to crumble. That's why I loved this character, the character arc is very beautiful.
LatinoBuzz: How do you feel working with your director Acán Coen?
Kate: Fine, very happy, it's very cool to work with a new director, it's his first film. I like to see that hunger, that urge and that everything that has a new director I learn so much from everyone. I learn, I learn a lot always.
LatinoBuzz: In the thriller genre there's a really thin line between being a thriller movie or becoming a comedy, if the thriller isn't managed well. What should the audience expect from 'Visitants' ?
Kate: I think that happens more often with Horror. Visitants, it's a psychological thriller, so that doesn't happen with us. Visitants is an important production, it is a very well done production, there is a lot of money behind the film, the special and visual effects people are wonderful, the director, the whole team are very professional people who have been working on this for so many years and we are doing something very, very professional, very well done. There is so much talent in Mexico.
LatinoBuzz: What do you think of Mexican Cinema nowadays? What do you think 'Visitants' can contribute to the industry?
Kate: First of all, making a movie of this genre is rarely performed in Mexico, so it seems a very appropriate choice, is a genre that has a lot of spectators, a genre that the audience likes a lot, that sells a lot, it can be a very commercial film and a film that you can take to festivals at the same time too. Mexican cinema it's very vast, it comes in all genders, of all qualities too. We have a huge capacity to go on to compete around the world, festivals and awards around. It is a genre that not everyone dares to enter and that is a dare too. I like challenges, i like that fear you feel for something new and with a new director, I think it's very important to always support new projects.
LatinoBuzz: Every day you open yourself more doors in the Anglo market, What's next? What are your plans?
Kate: There are many plans, there are many plans with my agency, we want to do many things. We are closing projects. There comes something very important this year that I will be able to say later. I'm interested in seeking projects no matter where, no matter if it is in the United States, whether in Chile, whether in Venezuela. Right now I thank God I have a privileged position where I can afford to choose projects, because I also want to forge a serious and respectable career for me, not for others. My job is to create myself a career that I can go to sleep satisfied with what I'm doing.
LatinoBuzz: I must confess that I especially like your work in 'K-11' your character is impeccable. How was working with the director Jules Stewart?
Kate: Jules is an amazing woman who has worked with all the directors you can imagine, the greatest. She has made thousands of movies working like script supervisor. She had already the entire footage of the movie in her head, we shoot it super fast, she was quite sure what she wanted, everything was amazing and I loved Mousey my character, it was one of those opportunities that you get a once in a lifetime and I could not miss this one. These are the characters where you have lots of fun, you get the chance to add them a lot of things and with Jules help, because there's a very thin line too, right? you can also can became a comedy if this type of character isn't managed well. I am very proud of my work, I can not always say the same thing i am very hard on me, i think it was a job very well done between the two, between Jules and I. Jules is a very charming woman to work with, and is an amazing director, a director who knows how to talk to actors, knows how to work the actors, she knows perfect her camera movements, she had already the entire footage of the movie in her head. Incredible.
LatinoBuzz: Do you miss 'La Reina del Sur' and your role as Teresa Mendoza?
Kate: Very much, very much. Teresa Mendoza is a really beautiful character that has so many things and also goes through a lot. There are very few times that life gives you opportunities like this.
LatinoBuzz: Will there be a movie?
Kate: Maybe, maybe.
LatinoBuzz: Is there a favorite director with whom you would like to work in the future?
Kate: There are many directors I would like to work with. There are many. There are some wonderful spanish filmmakers as Alejandro Amenábar. I love the Coen Brothers too.
LatinoBuzz: What films have inspired you in your career as an actress?
Kate: Many! But one film that fascinates me is 'Orlando' because of the work that Tilda Swinton did there, with whom then I had the fortune to work with in the film 'Julia'. Orlando is one of the films that inspires you and makes you wanna say: I want to be an actress
LatinoBuzz: Where do you see yourself ten years from now?
Kate: I do not see myself, I never make plans, I never set goals and I never do that kind of stuff I don't like to futurize, I barely know what I will do tomorrow and because there is a working plan here, I've never futurized because life always surprises me with things even better.
LatinoBuzz: Mention in three words how would you like the public to remember you:
Kate: In three words I can hardly tell you, but I would like to be reminded with a career that has a wide range, that they can say they see me at least different in each of my roles.
She has shared credits with actresses such as Tilda Swinton, Kevin Kline, Mary Louise-Parker, Edward James Olmos, Eva Longoria and Christian Slater. It was in 2011 where Kate landed in the leading role 'as Teresa Mendoza' on the critical acclaimed 'La Reina del Sur' aired originally on Telemundo in the U.S. which positioned her at the height of her career.
In 2012 the film-director Jules Stewart choose her as 'Mousey' in K-11 which is also one of Kate's best acting challenges. We had the opportunity to accompany her on a day of shooting in her new movie called 'Visitors' a psychological thriller written and directed by Acan Coen and produced by the Mexican producers Jorge Aragon and Jesus Magaña. In the film, Kate plays Ana an skeptic surgeon who will try to win back her husband Daniel and her little Sebastián from the curse that has befallen them. Visitors is her comeback as the star of Mexican Cinema and a genre that she had not ventured before. Del Castillo's talked with us about this new project set to be released in 2014 and how she continues to strengthen her career.
LatinoBuzz: You said once that you yearned the feeling of the experience of doing something for the first time, now that you are going for the first time into a new movie genre, how do you feel working in this production?
Kate: Very happy, as I said the first time of anything is always a very special feeling. It's the first time that I work in a genre like this. I'm learning so much, I'm surprising myself everyday with the things that are happening, the rhythms, a movie like this has a very different kind of rhythm. I'm very happy and very excited.
LatinoBuzz: What makes this character special to you? What new challenges has it brought to you as an actress?
Kate: For me, the script is always the most important thing. When I read the script, I loved it, I spent nearly two years to consolidate this project, you know cinema sometimes has its delays, but I think it was all worth it, not only because of the story but also because it is a totally different character. Ana is a surgeon, a pragmatic woman, a very logical woman devoted to science, so what makes this character beautiful is that the perfect structure that Ana had starts crumbling as things with no logic started to happen, so when she begins to find logic to what's really happening, her world begins to crumble. That's why I loved this character, the character arc is very beautiful.
LatinoBuzz: How do you feel working with your director Acán Coen?
Kate: Fine, very happy, it's very cool to work with a new director, it's his first film. I like to see that hunger, that urge and that everything that has a new director I learn so much from everyone. I learn, I learn a lot always.
LatinoBuzz: In the thriller genre there's a really thin line between being a thriller movie or becoming a comedy, if the thriller isn't managed well. What should the audience expect from 'Visitants' ?
Kate: I think that happens more often with Horror. Visitants, it's a psychological thriller, so that doesn't happen with us. Visitants is an important production, it is a very well done production, there is a lot of money behind the film, the special and visual effects people are wonderful, the director, the whole team are very professional people who have been working on this for so many years and we are doing something very, very professional, very well done. There is so much talent in Mexico.
LatinoBuzz: What do you think of Mexican Cinema nowadays? What do you think 'Visitants' can contribute to the industry?
Kate: First of all, making a movie of this genre is rarely performed in Mexico, so it seems a very appropriate choice, is a genre that has a lot of spectators, a genre that the audience likes a lot, that sells a lot, it can be a very commercial film and a film that you can take to festivals at the same time too. Mexican cinema it's very vast, it comes in all genders, of all qualities too. We have a huge capacity to go on to compete around the world, festivals and awards around. It is a genre that not everyone dares to enter and that is a dare too. I like challenges, i like that fear you feel for something new and with a new director, I think it's very important to always support new projects.
LatinoBuzz: Every day you open yourself more doors in the Anglo market, What's next? What are your plans?
Kate: There are many plans, there are many plans with my agency, we want to do many things. We are closing projects. There comes something very important this year that I will be able to say later. I'm interested in seeking projects no matter where, no matter if it is in the United States, whether in Chile, whether in Venezuela. Right now I thank God I have a privileged position where I can afford to choose projects, because I also want to forge a serious and respectable career for me, not for others. My job is to create myself a career that I can go to sleep satisfied with what I'm doing.
LatinoBuzz: I must confess that I especially like your work in 'K-11' your character is impeccable. How was working with the director Jules Stewart?
Kate: Jules is an amazing woman who has worked with all the directors you can imagine, the greatest. She has made thousands of movies working like script supervisor. She had already the entire footage of the movie in her head, we shoot it super fast, she was quite sure what she wanted, everything was amazing and I loved Mousey my character, it was one of those opportunities that you get a once in a lifetime and I could not miss this one. These are the characters where you have lots of fun, you get the chance to add them a lot of things and with Jules help, because there's a very thin line too, right? you can also can became a comedy if this type of character isn't managed well. I am very proud of my work, I can not always say the same thing i am very hard on me, i think it was a job very well done between the two, between Jules and I. Jules is a very charming woman to work with, and is an amazing director, a director who knows how to talk to actors, knows how to work the actors, she knows perfect her camera movements, she had already the entire footage of the movie in her head. Incredible.
LatinoBuzz: Do you miss 'La Reina del Sur' and your role as Teresa Mendoza?
Kate: Very much, very much. Teresa Mendoza is a really beautiful character that has so many things and also goes through a lot. There are very few times that life gives you opportunities like this.
LatinoBuzz: Will there be a movie?
Kate: Maybe, maybe.
LatinoBuzz: Is there a favorite director with whom you would like to work in the future?
Kate: There are many directors I would like to work with. There are many. There are some wonderful spanish filmmakers as Alejandro Amenábar. I love the Coen Brothers too.
LatinoBuzz: What films have inspired you in your career as an actress?
Kate: Many! But one film that fascinates me is 'Orlando' because of the work that Tilda Swinton did there, with whom then I had the fortune to work with in the film 'Julia'. Orlando is one of the films that inspires you and makes you wanna say: I want to be an actress
LatinoBuzz: Where do you see yourself ten years from now?
Kate: I do not see myself, I never make plans, I never set goals and I never do that kind of stuff I don't like to futurize, I barely know what I will do tomorrow and because there is a working plan here, I've never futurized because life always surprises me with things even better.
LatinoBuzz: Mention in three words how would you like the public to remember you:
Kate: In three words I can hardly tell you, but I would like to be reminded with a career that has a wide range, that they can say they see me at least different in each of my roles.
- 9/18/2013
- by Renee Ylizaliturri
- Sydney's Buzz
Blu-ray & DVD Release Date: Feb. 26, 2013
Price: DVD $22.98, Blu-ray $24.99
Studio: Anchor Bay
A raven-tressed Sharon Stone means business in Border Run.
Sharon Stone ($5 A Day) and Billy Zane (Titanic) star in the 2013 thriller film Border Run, premiering on DVD and Blu-ray.
Stone, sporting dark hair this time around, is Phoenix television reporter Sofie Talbert, a right-wing journalist who exposes liberal politicians soft on illegal immigration. But when her relief-worker brother (Zane) goes missing in Mexico, Sofie’s own South-of-the-border investigation traps her in a dangerous underworld of migrants, smugglers and cold-blooded murderers. Cancun it ain’t! Using everything she has at her disposal, Sofie does whatever’s necessary to get her brother back!
Directed by Gabriela Tagliavini (Without Men), Border Run (which was originally entitled The Mule) is reportedly inspired by true events, which seems pretty likely based on the headlines that have been coming out of Mexico lately.
There’s...
Price: DVD $22.98, Blu-ray $24.99
Studio: Anchor Bay
A raven-tressed Sharon Stone means business in Border Run.
Sharon Stone ($5 A Day) and Billy Zane (Titanic) star in the 2013 thriller film Border Run, premiering on DVD and Blu-ray.
Stone, sporting dark hair this time around, is Phoenix television reporter Sofie Talbert, a right-wing journalist who exposes liberal politicians soft on illegal immigration. But when her relief-worker brother (Zane) goes missing in Mexico, Sofie’s own South-of-the-border investigation traps her in a dangerous underworld of migrants, smugglers and cold-blooded murderers. Cancun it ain’t! Using everything she has at her disposal, Sofie does whatever’s necessary to get her brother back!
Directed by Gabriela Tagliavini (Without Men), Border Run (which was originally entitled The Mule) is reportedly inspired by true events, which seems pretty likely based on the headlines that have been coming out of Mexico lately.
There’s...
- 12/12/2012
- by Laurence
- Disc Dish
From our Chicana from Chicago, Christine Davila:
I took in a few panels over the weekend down here at L.A. Film Fest that I really appreciated for sparking some provocative dialogue I am eager to continue throughout the Festival. I found it especially interesting how different the U.S. Latino and Black film communities are responding to their storytelling plight in talking about their respective representation in media. Meanwhile the lively Latino panel, which was perhaps the broadest in scope, was eloquent and skillfully led by L.A. Times’ Reed Johnson who brought a high level of articulation in his profesh moderating. As panel junkies know, a good moderator is key to an engaging panel and essential to keep it on point. Here are my takeaways on the three panels:us Latino Film Panel at Laff
The Blackhouse Foundation - The Art and Social Responsibility of Festival Programming – Sponsored by Bet
Moderated by Film Independent’s Lacma film curator and go-to festival moderator, Elvis Mitchell, I was particularly impressed at the messaging clarity and solidarity of the black film community’s efforts and goals for equal representation. The panelists were very tuned-in with monitoring their talent behind and in front of the camera, and in this case stressing the importance of festival curators, which was identified as one of three instrumental factors to enable their films getting out there.
Shari Frilot, Senior Programmer, Sundance Film Festival: There was much (due) love and props given to Frilot for her ardent and tireless championing of films of color at Sundance. She pointed out how after Lee Daniel’s breakout hit, Precious which premiered at 2009 Sundance and went on to win a couple Academy Awards, the next couple years it was the black films that were the first to be sold off the mountain including the dazzling lesbian coming of age film, Pariah. She questioned why this achievement was not picked up or lauded in the mainstream media. Its indeed curious and perhaps a telling point on the cultural gatekeeper front – (shortage of black critics and journalists?) Having witnessed Shari’s highly charged and articulate arguing for gloriously imperfect, fresh and raw films I respect how she truly changes the way the film programming conversation takes place by discussing films’ drive, potential and power. I aspire to “bring it” like she does in my own programming career. Acknowledging the personal efforts she puts in to make the festival seem accessible to filmmakers of color who may not bother putting Sundance on their radar, the idea of doing a black college tour came up.
Ava DuVernay, filmmaker (Middle of Nowhere) and founder of Affrm: DuVernay’s emotion for the topic at hand along with her experience from her publicist days and current roles as filmmaker and distributor made her a stirring contributor to the conversation. Ava thanked L.A. Film Festival Director Stephanie Allain for programming Middle of Nowhere as a gala screening which elevates her film with a high profile slot within the festival. A packed house at Wednesday’s gala screening will be quite significant to the black filmmaking community given the massive 800 seat theater and checking the L.A. Film Fest website its at Rush which will make for an exciting milestone! The winner of the Best Director Award at Sundance Film Festival shared her personal observations like being stunned to see empty seats at the black film screenings at Sundance which is unheard of in the notoriously hard-to-get tickets Festival. She mentioned that while she is frequently featured on Shadow and Act, the African Diaspora blog on the Indiewire network, she has never been on Indiewire’s main page. DuVernay expressed her desire to see more films that move and operate beyond ‘black bodies’.
There was mention of films touted as successful black films when they happen to be by non-black filmmakers. I can’t help but think the room was thinking about Gimme the Loot written and directed by Adam Leon and Beasts of the Southern Wild written and directed by Benh Zeitlin. Both films have been praised and celebrated for their poignant storytelling and vivid portrayal of their black protagonists’ lifestyles – and the filmmakers happen to be white Jewish New Yorkers. And both films were quickly picked up for distribution at their respective festival premieres. I have to admit that if we are talking about presenting positive representation in films my belief is that individually, these two films offer a lot as far as image conversion for eschewing mis-representation by avoiding stereotypes about black folks. There’s nobody smoking crack or perpetuating violent crime in Gimme the Loot, and in Beasts the poetic punch of self-sufficient little Hushpuppy in the die-hard persevering displaced fictional community that alludes to the forgotten 9th Ward post-Katrina, shows a triumph of spirit against the government and society’s response efforts following the devastating natural catastrophe in the dominantly affected marginalized population.
Bradford Young, cinematographer (Middle of Nowhere, Pariah, Restless City): A Howard University alumus, the in-demand cinematographer more gently echoed Ava’s sentiment about the limited accessibility and representation of black filmmakers but I feel he gave a bit more benefit of the doubt to black films by non-black filmmakers by his eloquent word of choice to weigh the debate; “Intention”. The way he talks about his own cinematic approach is greatly influenced by the intention of the story and point of view. A NY Times article recently featured the cinematographer and made note of his full frame and close up shots in Middle of Nowhere. Indeed the luscious and texture he brings to shooting skincolor sticks out in my mind having seen it at Sundance. Bradford is one cool cat with lots of soul. All panelists agreed and were especially thankful for his eyes.
Roya Rastegar, Ph.D, Festival Programmer: Inventive cinematography, curation by more females and people of color and innovative distribution were three ways Rastegar outlined to help minority filmmakers distinguish their work and get seen by the public. I would love to get my hands on her dissertation, History of Consciousness (here’s a taste) in which she investigates the role of festivals in shaping marginalized culture. Armed with such interesting facts on the history of film festivals, (did you know Stalin created the first film festival?) Rastegar added a lot of context to the origins and current state of film festivals. She also shared the behind the scenes conversations of film programmers when talking about films of color and the rueful tendency to dismiss these films because they aren’t so called ‘good enough’. She made no hesitation in pointing out that Tribeca Film Festival did not have one single black film in competition this year.
U.S. Latino Cinema: Welcome to the Bi-Literate Future - Presented by San Antonio Film Commission and Afci (Association of Film Commissions International)
I had the privilege of participating on this panel which was prefaced by a Univision spot highlighting their new campaign efforts of reaching a bi-lingual audience. In it, an old woman recalls being prevented from speaking her language as a child in school and then we cut to today’s young U.S. Latino man who flips from Spanish to English talking about his liking alternative band, The Strokes as much as Spanish-language pop rock band, Juanes.
What it was about: Our Latino population in the U.S. is now more than ever embracing a bi-lingual, or more importantly, a bi-literate culture. Will films reflect the changing demographic of the U.S. as a bi-literate (a Spanish and English language culture) be commercially successful and be able to find an audience? And perhaps more importantly, will the studio system be able to adapt to the successful strategies many in the independent world are using to create commercially viable content?
Douglas Spain (Star Maps, Walkout, Band of Brothers) is used to wearing multiple hats and so acted as both panelist and moderator. Spain offered up his experience as an actor/producer/director as a gay latino filmmaker who has successfully worked in independent film and studio and television mediums. His quest for staying true to himself with the roles and films he is making rang resonant to all.
Ralph Lopez, San Antonio filmmaker: The producer of Wolf which premiered at this year’s SXSW talked about his aim is to create and tell stories that transcend color. Like his provocative film about the complexities faced by the victim of a bishop’s inappropriate behavior, his collaborations with director black filmmaker Ya Ke Smith comes first and foremost from a place of telling moving stories.
Gabriela Tagliavini, filmmaker (Ladies Night, Without Men, The Mule: Having had big success with Spanish language film Ladies Night in 2006, Gabriela switched languages and directed Eva Longoria in the English language film,Without Men which sold to many international territories given Longoria’s international brand name. With her upcoming film, The Mule she is looking to take advantage of the crime action genre and star Sharon Stone to offer real commentary on immigration and the dangerous toll of the U.S. Mexico border.
Luis Reyes, historian and author of the comprehensive book, Hispanics in Hollywood: The old school gent on our panel made some slightly more conventional suggestions on how to make a successful bi-literate film like “know your audience” and attaching a well known actor to your film so you can market it.
I added my two cents and in retrospect I think my thoughts coincided with Rastegar’s in the proactive vein of here’s what we can-do positive approach of encouraging budding filmmakers to utilize genre (horror and gay U.S. Latino films stand out from the stack and are sought after by festival programs). I also asked my fellow panelists if they found the U.S. Latino filmmaking community as fragmented as I see it. Unlike Black or Lgbt film organizations I feel the U.S. Latino community has much more work in becoming inclusive within our distinct bi-lingual backgrounds in order to successfully empower and advocate for our films. Organizations like Nalip and Laliff were mentioned in answer. But in my opinion and with all respect, I find Nalip a bit cliquesh and lacking a younger pulse and generation of organizers, and Laliff is too inconsistent to make fundamental cultural change. Although we touched on the question of the challenges our community faces working in Spanish versus English I’m not sure we fully stayed on point in attempting to answer the ambitious subject and interesting talking points raised. But the audience seemed more the type of wanting basic advice on how to break into filmmaking so most questions and conversations was directed to the filmmakers on the panels and in that regard it was a successful exchange.
Café Latino presented by HBO and supported by University of Guadalajara Foundation
Made evident by the participating film clips that were shown before the panel there is much genre and story diversity in the Latino films at L.A. Film Fest this year. I’m especially happy the Festival recognizes the growing influence of the Mexican documentary by having selected Reportero by Bernardo Ruiz, Caniculaby Jose Alvarez and Drought by Evererdo Gonzalez. The panel was ostensibly about the Festival’s Latin American filmmakers and how they explore their roles as storytellers in an increasingly global world. With such a high number of panelists and so many interesting topics broached however, it left one wanting more time to engage with the personable talents onstage.
Reed Johnson encouraged the panelists to chime in at will which Alejandro Brugues, director of Cuban Zombie film, Juan of the Dead took full advantage of to defend big hollywood films like The Avengers, which Gonzalez initially brought up if only to point out the David and Goliath challenge filmmakers in Mexico face having to compete for screens against these big money backed blockbusters. Brugues set himself apart from the group by defending his love for the blockbuster which inspired him to direct films. Unlike his peers’ ‘artful’ films he considers his film strictly for public entertainment (he joked that his film is actually a documentary). Yet at the same time he admits he took advantage of the Zombie genre a la Romero to infuse it with his personal observations of contemporary Cuban society – which he would not have been able to shoot in Cuba otherwise.
Meanwhile Arturo Pons who was born in Mexico but has lived and worked in Spain for the past ten years described his conception for his surreal satire, The Compass is Carried by the Dead Man not necessarily about immigration but a visual canvas with which to paint the total disorientation that confronts Mexico. Ruiz talked about seeing himself as a ‘translator’ or vessel to tell stories. Alvarez talked about how he does not think of his audience as he makes his films however he does aspire to showcase Mexico Profundo in showing the vast and vibrant indigenous artistry and folklore and deliberately resisting the the media’s monopolized perpetuation of the drug violence and corruption. Lastly, Dominga Sotomayor, the 27 year old director of Thursday till Sunday whose next film Tarde Para Morir was selected to the first ever Sundance Mahindra Screenwriters Lab, added that like Mexico, in Chile there is a growing number of filmmakers but no real venues to find their audience.
L.A. Film Festival is going on through Sunday and a bunch of added screenings have been slotted. Check out film guide and buy tickets here.
I took in a few panels over the weekend down here at L.A. Film Fest that I really appreciated for sparking some provocative dialogue I am eager to continue throughout the Festival. I found it especially interesting how different the U.S. Latino and Black film communities are responding to their storytelling plight in talking about their respective representation in media. Meanwhile the lively Latino panel, which was perhaps the broadest in scope, was eloquent and skillfully led by L.A. Times’ Reed Johnson who brought a high level of articulation in his profesh moderating. As panel junkies know, a good moderator is key to an engaging panel and essential to keep it on point. Here are my takeaways on the three panels:us Latino Film Panel at Laff
The Blackhouse Foundation - The Art and Social Responsibility of Festival Programming – Sponsored by Bet
Moderated by Film Independent’s Lacma film curator and go-to festival moderator, Elvis Mitchell, I was particularly impressed at the messaging clarity and solidarity of the black film community’s efforts and goals for equal representation. The panelists were very tuned-in with monitoring their talent behind and in front of the camera, and in this case stressing the importance of festival curators, which was identified as one of three instrumental factors to enable their films getting out there.
Shari Frilot, Senior Programmer, Sundance Film Festival: There was much (due) love and props given to Frilot for her ardent and tireless championing of films of color at Sundance. She pointed out how after Lee Daniel’s breakout hit, Precious which premiered at 2009 Sundance and went on to win a couple Academy Awards, the next couple years it was the black films that were the first to be sold off the mountain including the dazzling lesbian coming of age film, Pariah. She questioned why this achievement was not picked up or lauded in the mainstream media. Its indeed curious and perhaps a telling point on the cultural gatekeeper front – (shortage of black critics and journalists?) Having witnessed Shari’s highly charged and articulate arguing for gloriously imperfect, fresh and raw films I respect how she truly changes the way the film programming conversation takes place by discussing films’ drive, potential and power. I aspire to “bring it” like she does in my own programming career. Acknowledging the personal efforts she puts in to make the festival seem accessible to filmmakers of color who may not bother putting Sundance on their radar, the idea of doing a black college tour came up.
Ava DuVernay, filmmaker (Middle of Nowhere) and founder of Affrm: DuVernay’s emotion for the topic at hand along with her experience from her publicist days and current roles as filmmaker and distributor made her a stirring contributor to the conversation. Ava thanked L.A. Film Festival Director Stephanie Allain for programming Middle of Nowhere as a gala screening which elevates her film with a high profile slot within the festival. A packed house at Wednesday’s gala screening will be quite significant to the black filmmaking community given the massive 800 seat theater and checking the L.A. Film Fest website its at Rush which will make for an exciting milestone! The winner of the Best Director Award at Sundance Film Festival shared her personal observations like being stunned to see empty seats at the black film screenings at Sundance which is unheard of in the notoriously hard-to-get tickets Festival. She mentioned that while she is frequently featured on Shadow and Act, the African Diaspora blog on the Indiewire network, she has never been on Indiewire’s main page. DuVernay expressed her desire to see more films that move and operate beyond ‘black bodies’.
There was mention of films touted as successful black films when they happen to be by non-black filmmakers. I can’t help but think the room was thinking about Gimme the Loot written and directed by Adam Leon and Beasts of the Southern Wild written and directed by Benh Zeitlin. Both films have been praised and celebrated for their poignant storytelling and vivid portrayal of their black protagonists’ lifestyles – and the filmmakers happen to be white Jewish New Yorkers. And both films were quickly picked up for distribution at their respective festival premieres. I have to admit that if we are talking about presenting positive representation in films my belief is that individually, these two films offer a lot as far as image conversion for eschewing mis-representation by avoiding stereotypes about black folks. There’s nobody smoking crack or perpetuating violent crime in Gimme the Loot, and in Beasts the poetic punch of self-sufficient little Hushpuppy in the die-hard persevering displaced fictional community that alludes to the forgotten 9th Ward post-Katrina, shows a triumph of spirit against the government and society’s response efforts following the devastating natural catastrophe in the dominantly affected marginalized population.
Bradford Young, cinematographer (Middle of Nowhere, Pariah, Restless City): A Howard University alumus, the in-demand cinematographer more gently echoed Ava’s sentiment about the limited accessibility and representation of black filmmakers but I feel he gave a bit more benefit of the doubt to black films by non-black filmmakers by his eloquent word of choice to weigh the debate; “Intention”. The way he talks about his own cinematic approach is greatly influenced by the intention of the story and point of view. A NY Times article recently featured the cinematographer and made note of his full frame and close up shots in Middle of Nowhere. Indeed the luscious and texture he brings to shooting skincolor sticks out in my mind having seen it at Sundance. Bradford is one cool cat with lots of soul. All panelists agreed and were especially thankful for his eyes.
Roya Rastegar, Ph.D, Festival Programmer: Inventive cinematography, curation by more females and people of color and innovative distribution were three ways Rastegar outlined to help minority filmmakers distinguish their work and get seen by the public. I would love to get my hands on her dissertation, History of Consciousness (here’s a taste) in which she investigates the role of festivals in shaping marginalized culture. Armed with such interesting facts on the history of film festivals, (did you know Stalin created the first film festival?) Rastegar added a lot of context to the origins and current state of film festivals. She also shared the behind the scenes conversations of film programmers when talking about films of color and the rueful tendency to dismiss these films because they aren’t so called ‘good enough’. She made no hesitation in pointing out that Tribeca Film Festival did not have one single black film in competition this year.
U.S. Latino Cinema: Welcome to the Bi-Literate Future - Presented by San Antonio Film Commission and Afci (Association of Film Commissions International)
I had the privilege of participating on this panel which was prefaced by a Univision spot highlighting their new campaign efforts of reaching a bi-lingual audience. In it, an old woman recalls being prevented from speaking her language as a child in school and then we cut to today’s young U.S. Latino man who flips from Spanish to English talking about his liking alternative band, The Strokes as much as Spanish-language pop rock band, Juanes.
What it was about: Our Latino population in the U.S. is now more than ever embracing a bi-lingual, or more importantly, a bi-literate culture. Will films reflect the changing demographic of the U.S. as a bi-literate (a Spanish and English language culture) be commercially successful and be able to find an audience? And perhaps more importantly, will the studio system be able to adapt to the successful strategies many in the independent world are using to create commercially viable content?
Douglas Spain (Star Maps, Walkout, Band of Brothers) is used to wearing multiple hats and so acted as both panelist and moderator. Spain offered up his experience as an actor/producer/director as a gay latino filmmaker who has successfully worked in independent film and studio and television mediums. His quest for staying true to himself with the roles and films he is making rang resonant to all.
Ralph Lopez, San Antonio filmmaker: The producer of Wolf which premiered at this year’s SXSW talked about his aim is to create and tell stories that transcend color. Like his provocative film about the complexities faced by the victim of a bishop’s inappropriate behavior, his collaborations with director black filmmaker Ya Ke Smith comes first and foremost from a place of telling moving stories.
Gabriela Tagliavini, filmmaker (Ladies Night, Without Men, The Mule: Having had big success with Spanish language film Ladies Night in 2006, Gabriela switched languages and directed Eva Longoria in the English language film,Without Men which sold to many international territories given Longoria’s international brand name. With her upcoming film, The Mule she is looking to take advantage of the crime action genre and star Sharon Stone to offer real commentary on immigration and the dangerous toll of the U.S. Mexico border.
Luis Reyes, historian and author of the comprehensive book, Hispanics in Hollywood: The old school gent on our panel made some slightly more conventional suggestions on how to make a successful bi-literate film like “know your audience” and attaching a well known actor to your film so you can market it.
I added my two cents and in retrospect I think my thoughts coincided with Rastegar’s in the proactive vein of here’s what we can-do positive approach of encouraging budding filmmakers to utilize genre (horror and gay U.S. Latino films stand out from the stack and are sought after by festival programs). I also asked my fellow panelists if they found the U.S. Latino filmmaking community as fragmented as I see it. Unlike Black or Lgbt film organizations I feel the U.S. Latino community has much more work in becoming inclusive within our distinct bi-lingual backgrounds in order to successfully empower and advocate for our films. Organizations like Nalip and Laliff were mentioned in answer. But in my opinion and with all respect, I find Nalip a bit cliquesh and lacking a younger pulse and generation of organizers, and Laliff is too inconsistent to make fundamental cultural change. Although we touched on the question of the challenges our community faces working in Spanish versus English I’m not sure we fully stayed on point in attempting to answer the ambitious subject and interesting talking points raised. But the audience seemed more the type of wanting basic advice on how to break into filmmaking so most questions and conversations was directed to the filmmakers on the panels and in that regard it was a successful exchange.
Café Latino presented by HBO and supported by University of Guadalajara Foundation
Made evident by the participating film clips that were shown before the panel there is much genre and story diversity in the Latino films at L.A. Film Fest this year. I’m especially happy the Festival recognizes the growing influence of the Mexican documentary by having selected Reportero by Bernardo Ruiz, Caniculaby Jose Alvarez and Drought by Evererdo Gonzalez. The panel was ostensibly about the Festival’s Latin American filmmakers and how they explore their roles as storytellers in an increasingly global world. With such a high number of panelists and so many interesting topics broached however, it left one wanting more time to engage with the personable talents onstage.
Reed Johnson encouraged the panelists to chime in at will which Alejandro Brugues, director of Cuban Zombie film, Juan of the Dead took full advantage of to defend big hollywood films like The Avengers, which Gonzalez initially brought up if only to point out the David and Goliath challenge filmmakers in Mexico face having to compete for screens against these big money backed blockbusters. Brugues set himself apart from the group by defending his love for the blockbuster which inspired him to direct films. Unlike his peers’ ‘artful’ films he considers his film strictly for public entertainment (he joked that his film is actually a documentary). Yet at the same time he admits he took advantage of the Zombie genre a la Romero to infuse it with his personal observations of contemporary Cuban society – which he would not have been able to shoot in Cuba otherwise.
Meanwhile Arturo Pons who was born in Mexico but has lived and worked in Spain for the past ten years described his conception for his surreal satire, The Compass is Carried by the Dead Man not necessarily about immigration but a visual canvas with which to paint the total disorientation that confronts Mexico. Ruiz talked about seeing himself as a ‘translator’ or vessel to tell stories. Alvarez talked about how he does not think of his audience as he makes his films however he does aspire to showcase Mexico Profundo in showing the vast and vibrant indigenous artistry and folklore and deliberately resisting the the media’s monopolized perpetuation of the drug violence and corruption. Lastly, Dominga Sotomayor, the 27 year old director of Thursday till Sunday whose next film Tarde Para Morir was selected to the first ever Sundance Mahindra Screenwriters Lab, added that like Mexico, in Chile there is a growing number of filmmakers but no real venues to find their audience.
L.A. Film Festival is going on through Sunday and a bunch of added screenings have been slotted. Check out film guide and buy tickets here.
- 6/20/2012
- by Christine Davila
- Sydney's Buzz
Paul Walker is in talks to star in the American adaptation of District B 13, which will also star David Belle, from the original French movie. I'm hoping that Walker spends a lot of the movie shirtless, learning parkour.
You can create your own Pop Up Video and share it with your friends.
Spain has censored all of Eva Longoria's lesbian scenes from Without Men, about a town where all the men are forcibly conscripted into a guerilla army and the women make do.
Today in incredibly unnecessary sequel news, work has begun on a Dumb & Dumber sequel starring Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels, with the Farrelly brothers directing.
Lance Bass is reportedly planning to produce the play Hollywood Whores, with Kirstie Alley playing the pimp. I'm unclear from the write-ups if the whores are male or female, or a mixture of both.
PETA is suing Sea World for violating the 13th Amendment,...
You can create your own Pop Up Video and share it with your friends.
Spain has censored all of Eva Longoria's lesbian scenes from Without Men, about a town where all the men are forcibly conscripted into a guerilla army and the women make do.
Today in incredibly unnecessary sequel news, work has begun on a Dumb & Dumber sequel starring Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels, with the Farrelly brothers directing.
Lance Bass is reportedly planning to produce the play Hollywood Whores, with Kirstie Alley playing the pimp. I'm unclear from the write-ups if the whores are male or female, or a mixture of both.
PETA is suing Sea World for violating the 13th Amendment,...
- 10/27/2011
- by Ed Kennedy
- The Backlot
The film 'Without Men' continues to spur talk as its main star Eva Longoria plays a woman who is left in charge of a small village in Latin America after all its men are forcibly recruited by a band of guerillas. All the women are left to fend for themselves without knowing what to do. However, they quickly adapt and take over roles typically assigned to the men.
There is, of course, a sexual void, filled rather exceptionally in a steamy scene between Longoria and Kate Del Castillo, a famous Mexican actress whose sexual ambivalence has left people everywhere wondering, 'is she?'...
There is, of course, a sexual void, filled rather exceptionally in a steamy scene between Longoria and Kate Del Castillo, a famous Mexican actress whose sexual ambivalence has left people everywhere wondering, 'is she?'...
- 10/25/2011
- by AOLLatino.com
- Huffington Post
No Lesbians for Spain: Eva Longoria may be attracted to the same sex in her upcoming movie Without Men (she's pictured above, kissing Kate Del Castillo), but her lesbian love scenes will be excised from the theatrical release in Spain, according to a film festival director. Christian Slater also stars; there is no indication that he has any same-sex love scenes. (The Hollywood Reporter) One More Thing: As we’ve mentioned, a Steve Jobs movie was in the works within days after the Apple visionary died. Now Aaron Sorkin (The Social Network, Moneyball) is being courted to write the script. (Los Angeles Times) Say Goodbye to Home Video, Harry Potter: Warner Bros. will be pulling all physical copies of the Harry Potter movies out of stores on December 29, which...
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- 10/25/2011
- by Peter Martin
- Movies.com
London, Sept 06: Actress Eva Longoria has shot a series of same-sex love scenes with fellow co-star Kate Del Castillo for her new flick.
The 'Desperate Housewives' beauty is seen locking lips with Castillo in the comedy flick 'Without Men'.
The brunette duo then step it up a gear as Castillo passionately pecks at her onscreen love interest's bare chest.
Longoria is then seen arching her head back in appreciation before the pair take matters into the bedroom, sending pulses racing as they writhe around under the sheets.
In the film, which is an adaptation of the novel 'Tales of the.
The 'Desperate Housewives' beauty is seen locking lips with Castillo in the comedy flick 'Without Men'.
The brunette duo then step it up a gear as Castillo passionately pecks at her onscreen love interest's bare chest.
Longoria is then seen arching her head back in appreciation before the pair take matters into the bedroom, sending pulses racing as they writhe around under the sheets.
In the film, which is an adaptation of the novel 'Tales of the.
- 10/6/2011
- by Lohit Reddy
- RealBollywood.com
It's the role that launched her star, but with the show coming to a close, Eva Longoria is very ready to move out of her life as a Housewife.
Variety reports on four new projects that Longoria will take on after she wraps the final season of "Desperate Housewives," including a number of edgy roles -- which, perhaps unsurprisingly given the show's subject matter, tackle domestic dystopia.
Longoria, to start, will feature in the indie drama "Long Time Gone," as the woman with whom Meg Ryan's husband cheats with and eventually leaves her for. Then, she'll do another indie film, this time in "Who Gets The Dog," a flick about a couple breaking up and fighting over custody over their dog.
The actress just starred in the small indie "Without Men," about a Latin American village that sees all of its men forcibly recruited by guerilla forces and taken away,...
Variety reports on four new projects that Longoria will take on after she wraps the final season of "Desperate Housewives," including a number of edgy roles -- which, perhaps unsurprisingly given the show's subject matter, tackle domestic dystopia.
Longoria, to start, will feature in the indie drama "Long Time Gone," as the woman with whom Meg Ryan's husband cheats with and eventually leaves her for. Then, she'll do another indie film, this time in "Who Gets The Dog," a flick about a couple breaking up and fighting over custody over their dog.
The actress just starred in the small indie "Without Men," about a Latin American village that sees all of its men forcibly recruited by guerilla forces and taken away,...
- 8/27/2011
- by Jordan Zakarin
- Huffington Post
Los Angeles, July 29 (Ians/Efe) The interest sparked by a lesbian scene featuring Eva Longoria and Mexican actress Kate del Castillo has marked the Us debut of the comedy 'Without Men'.
In the film, Longoria distances herself from her well-known character in 'Desperate Housewives' to play the part of a strong-willed widow who winds up becoming the mayor of her town when leftist guerrillas kidnap all the men.
It is a situation that the female residents of the remote town overcome, however, forging a new type of utopian society and the.
In the film, Longoria distances herself from her well-known character in 'Desperate Housewives' to play the part of a strong-willed widow who winds up becoming the mayor of her town when leftist guerrillas kidnap all the men.
It is a situation that the female residents of the remote town overcome, however, forging a new type of utopian society and the.
- 7/29/2011
- by Smith Cox
- RealBollywood.com
Eva Longoria and Eduardo Cruz held hands as they headed to Villa Blanca in Beverly Hills yesterday. The couple were out again after celebrating Eva's latest film, Without Men, on Sunday night as part of the Latino International Film Festival. They followed up the screening with a dinner alongside friends and colleagues at Eva's Hollywood hot spot Beso but were one on one for their lunch date. Eva and Eduardo have been inseparable this Summer and just recently returned from a vacation in Europe, where they enjoyed the London nightlife and caught up with Eduardo's sister Penelope Cruz and her husband, Javier Bardem, in Spain. Penelope is now at work in Rome shooting Woody Allen's Bop Decameron, joining a cast that also includes Alec Baldwin, Ellen Page, and Jesse Eisenberg. View Slideshow ›...
- 7/26/2011
- by Lindsay Miller
- Popsugar.com
The Desperate Housewives star frequently chooses to emphasize her dark brown eyes and lush lashes with heavy liner and mascara. Do you think she went overboard this time?
Eva Longoria is all about the eyes at the screening of Without Men. Are you digging her very intense look or do you think someone needs to confiscate her mascara?
Not long ago, we questioned the actress’s childhood makeup habits (read: melting crayons for lipstick), but she also mentioned the two things she could not live without. “Mascara is very important,” Eva told InStyle. “If I were on a desert island, I would have to have mascara and lip balm.”
Well, that much is certainly clear, but this may be a time where less is more! If you’re brave enough to try a look this intense, pile on dark black eyeliner and lots of mascara! Try Dior Diorshow Mascara in Black.
Eva Longoria is all about the eyes at the screening of Without Men. Are you digging her very intense look or do you think someone needs to confiscate her mascara?
Not long ago, we questioned the actress’s childhood makeup habits (read: melting crayons for lipstick), but she also mentioned the two things she could not live without. “Mascara is very important,” Eva told InStyle. “If I were on a desert island, I would have to have mascara and lip balm.”
Well, that much is certainly clear, but this may be a time where less is more! If you’re brave enough to try a look this intense, pile on dark black eyeliner and lots of mascara! Try Dior Diorshow Mascara in Black.
- 7/25/2011
- by HL
- HollywoodLife
Girl power is replaced by soft-lens lesbian sex scenes in this retrogressive adaptation of James Cañón's acclaimed novel
As hard as atrocities such as Sex and the City 2 and Confessions of a Shopaholic have tried, there are still a handful of female roles out there that don't reduce an entire gender to a shrieking vision of dildo-waving and consumerism. You just need to look at James Cañón's book Tales From the Town of Widows for proof.
The story of a small Colombian village left stranded when all its men are abducted by a guerilla army, the novel has been praised for its starkly realistic portrayal of women who are forced to create and maintain a new society without relying on outdated masculine ideals. And now it has been turned into a film, titled Without Men. Can this adaptation strike the same gutsy note for feminism as Tales From the Town of Widows?...
As hard as atrocities such as Sex and the City 2 and Confessions of a Shopaholic have tried, there are still a handful of female roles out there that don't reduce an entire gender to a shrieking vision of dildo-waving and consumerism. You just need to look at James Cañón's book Tales From the Town of Widows for proof.
The story of a small Colombian village left stranded when all its men are abducted by a guerilla army, the novel has been praised for its starkly realistic portrayal of women who are forced to create and maintain a new society without relying on outdated masculine ideals. And now it has been turned into a film, titled Without Men. Can this adaptation strike the same gutsy note for feminism as Tales From the Town of Widows?...
- 7/20/2011
- by Stuart Heritage
- The Guardian - Film News
Well, until Christian Slater shows up to ruin things, anyway. Before that, it’s apparently good times and lesbian sex fantasies and getting taken advantage of by the town’s horny priest. Hey, it’s a comedy. A goofball, silly comedy. But did I mention there’s apparently lots of lesbian sex involving Eva Longoria? Or at least, the trailer seems to promise that. Without Men is a comedy about the women of a small and remote Latin American mountain village that’s forever altered the day all of its men are recruited to go fight in the country’s civil war. Left to fend for themselves, the women of the town, led by Rosalba (Eva Longoria), slowly emerge from their supporting roles as wives and daughters to become unwitting founders of a remarkable new society: an all female utopia. When the men, led by an American reporter (Christian Slater...
- 7/18/2011
- by Nix
- Beyond Hollywood
Eva Longoria has filmed a series of saucy same-sex love scenes for her new film, Without Men, which sees her cavorting with actress Kate Del Castillo.
The Desperate Housewives star plays a woman who is put in charge of a Latin American village when the local men are all recruited by a group of guerilla revolutionaries.
Her character embarks on a fling with another woman, and director Gabriela Tagliavini reveals both Longoria and del Castillo were initially worried about the love scenes.
She tells Fox News, "It was a little difficult as the two girls are both straight so they were very nervous and laughed a lot. But I think that just made it even lovelier. (Female audiences) don't want to watch porn, so it was all very sensual, both are very beautiful women aside from being incredibly funny... Eva is more sexy here than in Desperate Housewives. She was a total trooper and she just went for it, it all looked very real."...
The Desperate Housewives star plays a woman who is put in charge of a Latin American village when the local men are all recruited by a group of guerilla revolutionaries.
Her character embarks on a fling with another woman, and director Gabriela Tagliavini reveals both Longoria and del Castillo were initially worried about the love scenes.
She tells Fox News, "It was a little difficult as the two girls are both straight so they were very nervous and laughed a lot. But I think that just made it even lovelier. (Female audiences) don't want to watch porn, so it was all very sensual, both are very beautiful women aside from being incredibly funny... Eva is more sexy here than in Desperate Housewives. She was a total trooper and she just went for it, it all looked very real."...
- 7/18/2011
- WENN
The Desperate Housewives actress is turning to women in ‘Without Men!’ Watch for yourself!
The preview for the Without Men is now available, and Eva Longoria, 36, plays a lesbian! The movie is a comedy about a Latin American town that contains only women! Since all of the men — outside of their priest — are gone, the women must fulfill unconventional roles in order to survive.
In the clip, Eva is the new leader of the women. She wields a gun and even gets physical with another lady! Gabriela Tagliavini, the director of the film, told Fox News that filming the lesbian scene was not easy!
“It was a little difficult as the two girls are both straight, so they were very nervous and laughed a lot,” Gabriela said.
See the action for yourself below!
Click here to view the embedded video.
View Poll –Josh DeMilta
More Eva Longoria news here!
Get Eva’s $34 red carpet dress!
The preview for the Without Men is now available, and Eva Longoria, 36, plays a lesbian! The movie is a comedy about a Latin American town that contains only women! Since all of the men — outside of their priest — are gone, the women must fulfill unconventional roles in order to survive.
In the clip, Eva is the new leader of the women. She wields a gun and even gets physical with another lady! Gabriela Tagliavini, the director of the film, told Fox News that filming the lesbian scene was not easy!
“It was a little difficult as the two girls are both straight, so they were very nervous and laughed a lot,” Gabriela said.
See the action for yourself below!
Click here to view the embedded video.
View Poll –Josh DeMilta
More Eva Longoria news here!
Get Eva’s $34 red carpet dress!
- 7/18/2011
- by Kirstin Benson
- HollywoodLife
Because it seems virtually impossible to write about anything this weekend without bringing Harry Potter into it, let's get it over with. The wizard is set to smash nearly every opening weekend record: $43.5 million for midnight screenings, and $92.1 million in the first day. It's put a stake in the heart of that sparkling vampire on those records, and looks to clip the wings of The Dark Knight, which grossed merely $158 million in its opening weekend. Potter is on track to rake in $187 million.
In a truly odd ruling issued minutes after the court closed for the weekend, the Ninth Circuit split the difference on Don't Ask, Don't Tell, reinstating the stay that keeps the law on the books, but barring the military from investigating or separating soldiers under the law. I really can't imagine how much uncertainty this creates for people who just want to serve their country.
But in San Diego,...
In a truly odd ruling issued minutes after the court closed for the weekend, the Ninth Circuit split the difference on Don't Ask, Don't Tell, reinstating the stay that keeps the law on the books, but barring the military from investigating or separating soldiers under the law. I really can't imagine how much uncertainty this creates for people who just want to serve their country.
But in San Diego,...
- 7/17/2011
- by Ed Kennedy
- The Backlot
HollywoodNews.com: Eva Longoria gets it on with Spanish actress, Kate Del Castillo, in her new indie movie, ‘Without Men’. Christian Slater also stars in the film as an American Journalist. The film hits theaters July 29th, and is an adaptation based on James Cannon’s book, ‘Tales From the Town of Widows’.
In the film, “Eva plays a strong-willed woman who is forced to take charge of her Latin-American village, after all of its men are forced to join the guerrilla revolutionaries,” according to Ok magazine. Director Gabriela Tagliavini said, “It was a little difficult as the two girls are both straight so they were very nervous and laughed a lot, but I think that just made it even lovelier.”
What do you think about Eva’s steamy new role?
Image by PRPhotos
Follow Hollywood News on Twitter for up-to-date news information.
Hollywood News, Hollywood Awards, Awards, Movies, News,...
In the film, “Eva plays a strong-willed woman who is forced to take charge of her Latin-American village, after all of its men are forced to join the guerrilla revolutionaries,” according to Ok magazine. Director Gabriela Tagliavini said, “It was a little difficult as the two girls are both straight so they were very nervous and laughed a lot, but I think that just made it even lovelier.”
What do you think about Eva’s steamy new role?
Image by PRPhotos
Follow Hollywood News on Twitter for up-to-date news information.
Hollywood News, Hollywood Awards, Awards, Movies, News,...
- 7/17/2011
- by Gina Bertuzzi
- Hollywoodnews.com
London, July 16: 'Desperate Housewife' star Eva Longoria will be seen in a 'sensual' lesbian love scene with her-co-star Kate del Castillo in her forthcoming movie, 'Without Men.'
In the film, which is an adaptation of the novel Tales of the Town of Widows by James Canon, the 36-year-old actress plays a lady in charge of a Latin American village after it loses all of its men.
After the male occupants are forcibly recruited by a group of guerrilla revolutionaries, the ladies are.
In the film, which is an adaptation of the novel Tales of the Town of Widows by James Canon, the 36-year-old actress plays a lady in charge of a Latin American village after it loses all of its men.
After the male occupants are forcibly recruited by a group of guerrilla revolutionaries, the ladies are.
- 7/16/2011
- by Ketali Mehta
- RealBollywood.com
The 15th annual Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival (Laliff) will be hosting an exciting roster of films with over 76 titles from all over Latin America and the U.S. The 9-day event begins on Sunday, July 17 and ends Monday, July 25 at the Egyptian Theater in Hollywood highlighting 42 feature films (29 narrative and 13 documentaries) and 34 short films from 14 different countries. But it’s Without Men and Cowboys & Aliens that have fans itching to purchase their tickets. Eva Longoria and Christian Slater will co-star alongside Kate del Castillo, Maria Conchita Alonso, Paul Rodriguez, Judy Reyes and Oscar Nunez in Without Men, a comedy about women living in a remote Latin American town forced to pick up the pieces and remake their world when all the town's...
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- 7/16/2011
- by Movies.com
- Movies.com - Celebrity Gossip
The 15th annual Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival (Laliff) will be hosting an exciting roster of films with over 76 titles from all over Latin America and the U.S. The 9-day event begins on Sunday, July 17 and ends Monday, July 25 at the Egyptian Theater in Hollywood highlighting 42 feature films (29 narrative and 13 documentaries) and 34 short films from 14 different countries. But it’s Without Men and Cowboys & Aliens that have fans itching to purchase their tickets. Eva Longoria and Christian Slater will co-star alongside Kate del Castillo, Maria Conchita Alonso, Paul Rodriguez, Judy Reyes and Oscar Nunez in Without Men, a comedy about women living in a remote Latin American town forced to pick up the pieces and remake their world when all the town's...
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- 7/16/2011
- by Movies.com
- Movies.com
The 15th annual Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival (Laliff) will be hosting an exciting roster of films with over 76 titles from all over Latin America and the U.S. The 9-day event begins on Sunday, July 17 and ends Monday, July 25 at the Egyptian Theater in Hollywood highlighting 42 feature films (29 narrative and 13 documentaries) and 34 short films from 14 different countries. But it’s Without Men and Cowboys & Aliens that have fans itching to purchase their tickets. Eva Longoria and Christian Slater will co-star alongside Kate del Castillo, Maria Conchita Alonso, Paul Rodriguez, Judy Reyes and Oscar Nunez in Without Men, a comedy about women living in a remote Latin American town forced to pick up the pieces and remake their world when all the town's...
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- 7/16/2011
- by Movies.com
- Movies.com - Celebrity Gossip
The 15th annual Los Angeles Latino International Festival (Laliff) will be hosting an exciting roster of films with over 76 titles from all over Latin America and the U.S. The 9-day event begins on Sunday, July 17 and ends Monday, July 25 at the Egyptian Theater in Hollywood highlighting 42 feature films (29 narrative and 13 documentaries) and 34 short films from 14 different countries. But it’s Without Men and Cowboys & Aliens that have fans itching to purchase their tickets. Eva Longoria and Christian Slater will co-star alongside Kate del Castillo, Maria Conchita Alonso, Paul Rodriguez, Judy Reyes and Oscar Nunez in Without Men, a comedy about women living in a remote Latin American town forced to pick up the pieces and remake their world when all the town's men...
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- 7/16/2011
- by Movies.com
- Movies.com
Today we have a restricted trailer for the upcoming comedy "Without Men," starring Eva Longoria, Christian Slater, Paul Rodriguez and Oscar Nunez ("The Office"). Check it out below. In the movie, Longoria plays the mayor of a Latin American village that loses all of its men when they are recruited against their will by guerilla revolutionaries. Nunez plays the only man in town, a priest. Slater plays an American journalist. Director Gabriela Tagliavini spoke about shooting a scene in which Longoria and Kate del Castillo had to kiss. "It was a little difficult as the two girls are both straight so they were very nervous and laughed a lot," she explained. "But I think that just made it even lovelier. [Female audiences] don't want to watch porn, so it was all very sensual." "Without Men" is based on James Cannon's bestselling book "Tales From the Town of Widows" and is set to...
- 7/15/2011
- WorstPreviews.com
There is nothing desperate about these housewives.
Eva Longoria stars in the indie comedy, "Without Men," as the de facto lady in charge of a Latin American village that loses all of its men when they are forcibly recruited by a bunch of guerilla revolutionaries. It looks like a largely fun film about women taking over the various unsavory roles that men fill in everyday society, with "The Office" star Oscar Nunez, as a priest, the only hombre in town.
Eventually, American journalist Christian Slater comes to town and seems to spark a romance with Longoria's character, but before that, any and all sexual interplay is strictly a ladies-only affair.
Which means Longoria some lesbian moments -- with co-star Kate del Castillo.
“It was a little difficult as the two girls are both straight so they were very nervous and laughed a lot,” the film's director, Gabriela Tagliavini, told Fox News.
Eva Longoria stars in the indie comedy, "Without Men," as the de facto lady in charge of a Latin American village that loses all of its men when they are forcibly recruited by a bunch of guerilla revolutionaries. It looks like a largely fun film about women taking over the various unsavory roles that men fill in everyday society, with "The Office" star Oscar Nunez, as a priest, the only hombre in town.
Eventually, American journalist Christian Slater comes to town and seems to spark a romance with Longoria's character, but before that, any and all sexual interplay is strictly a ladies-only affair.
Which means Longoria some lesbian moments -- with co-star Kate del Castillo.
“It was a little difficult as the two girls are both straight so they were very nervous and laughed a lot,” the film's director, Gabriela Tagliavini, told Fox News.
- 7/15/2011
- by Jordan Zakarin
- Huffington Post
In the new indie comedy "Without Men," Eva Longoria plays Rosalba, who lives in a remote town where all the men have been recruited by communist guerrillas. The actress is involved in a seductive love scene with co-star Kate del Castillo.
The film's director, Gabriela Tagliavini, told Fox News, "It was a little difficult as the two girls are both straight, so they were very nervous and laughed a lot. But I think that just made it even lovelier.
The film's director, Gabriela Tagliavini, told Fox News, "It was a little difficult as the two girls are both straight, so they were very nervous and laughed a lot. But I think that just made it even lovelier.
- 7/15/2011
- Extra
Eva Longoria and rumored beau Eduardo Cruz have yet to confirm that they are indeed a muy caliente couple. Nevertheless, it sounds like these two were hanging out before the Desperate Housewives star and ex-hubby Tony Parker called it quits... Maria Conchita Alonso tells us she actually got to meet Penélope Cruz's baby bro while she and Longoria were filming their upcoming flick Without Men. "He was there a few times," Alonso told us at the Outfest Opening Night Gala premiere of Gun Hill Road in Los Angeles. "I mean, she was still married but as a friend... He's a nice kid." Romance rumors aside, Without Men's Judy Reyes says Longoria totally brought the funny while...
- 7/12/2011
- E! Online
Composer Carlo Siliotto has recently scored his first English language feature film in several years. The comedy Without Men starring Eva Longoria, Christian Slater, Kate del Castillo and Oscar Nunez centers on a group of women of a small, remote Latin American mountain village that’s forever altered the day all of its men are recruited to go fight in the country’s civil war. The movie is based on James Canon’s Tales From the Town of Widows: A Novel and written for the screen and directed by Gabriela Tagliavini. The music for the film was recorded earlier this year in Bulgaria. Siliotto is best known internationally for his music for the 2004 comic book adaptation The Punisher and his Golden Globe-nominated score for Nomad: The Warrior. Maya Entertainment has picked up domestic rights for Without Men and is planning a theatrical release later this year.
- 7/3/2011
- by filmmusicreporter
- Film Music Reporter
It's been a good month for Eva Longoria. After a tumultuous winter filled with divorce-fueled gossip, Longoria's April has included the release of her new cookbook and a significant raise in her long awaited new "Desperate Housewives" contract. Now, she can add a new movie to the list.
Longoria has been cast in "The Baytown Disco," a comedy film about a gorgeous woman who convinces three less-than-intelligent redneck brothers to rescue her son from what she calls an abusive ex-husband. The Wrap, who broke the news of her casting, says there's been no official word on which role she'll take on, but a strong assumption can be made that she'll be playing the mistress in alleged distress.
Billy Bob Thornton has also signed up for the Barry Battles-written and directed film.
"The Baytown Disco" will be the third film in Longoria's return to movies; the upcoming Cristiada, about the Mexican Cristeros War,...
Longoria has been cast in "The Baytown Disco," a comedy film about a gorgeous woman who convinces three less-than-intelligent redneck brothers to rescue her son from what she calls an abusive ex-husband. The Wrap, who broke the news of her casting, says there's been no official word on which role she'll take on, but a strong assumption can be made that she'll be playing the mistress in alleged distress.
Billy Bob Thornton has also signed up for the Barry Battles-written and directed film.
"The Baytown Disco" will be the third film in Longoria's return to movies; the upcoming Cristiada, about the Mexican Cristeros War,...
- 4/18/2011
- by Jordan Zakarin
- Huffington Post
Just days before Eva Longoria's divorce from San Antonio Spurs player Tony Parker became final in January, she spoke frankly with Allure magazine about just how difficult the split is on her. "Every time I talk about it, I want to cry. It's been hard. Very hard," Longoria, 36, says in the April cover story. "I'm just trying to get through it as gracefully as possible without any drama." As she begins to move on, Longoria has found a new beau (Eduardo Cruz) and says she leans on her Desperate Housewives costars. "Some people collect plates and stamps and coins.
- 3/15/2011
- by Joseph Barracato
- PEOPLE.com
Actress Yvette Yates will dominate the screen in her upcoming role as the sexy dominatrix sorority girl Sloan, in the feature film Sorority Party Massacre, written by Chris W. Freeman.
The film also stars television actor Ed O’Ross, C. Thomas Howell (The Hitcher), Leslie Easterbrook (The Devil’s Rejects), Richard Moll (House), Ron Jeremy, Eve Mauro and Tom Downey.
In her role in the film, Yates plays one of five sorority sisters competing for the Fawnskin Grant, aptly named after one of the sister’s mother. Although Sloan (Yates) is sexy and sultry, she also is a dominatrix and fixes up cars. Winning the grant would give them the second highest post in the national conference of sisterhood. But while stationed at an isolated cove, the sorority girls find themselves being watched by a killer and when a body emerges from the lake, suspects literally crawl out of the hills.
The film also stars television actor Ed O’Ross, C. Thomas Howell (The Hitcher), Leslie Easterbrook (The Devil’s Rejects), Richard Moll (House), Ron Jeremy, Eve Mauro and Tom Downey.
In her role in the film, Yates plays one of five sorority sisters competing for the Fawnskin Grant, aptly named after one of the sister’s mother. Although Sloan (Yates) is sexy and sultry, she also is a dominatrix and fixes up cars. Winning the grant would give them the second highest post in the national conference of sisterhood. But while stationed at an isolated cove, the sorority girls find themselves being watched by a killer and when a body emerges from the lake, suspects literally crawl out of the hills.
- 2/25/2011
- by Allan Ford
- Filmofilia
Maya Entertainment announced Thursday that it has closed an international sales deal for its Eva Longoria comedy "Without Men." Longoria, Christian Slater and Oscar Nunez star in the movie about what happens in a small Latin American village after all of its men leave to fight in the country's civil war. The women create a utopia, and when the men return, a clash of the sexes ensues. Territories that closed deals during Berlin include: Argentina (Flash Star), Australia (E1), Brazil (Flash Star), Canada (Vvs), China (Time Antaeus), Cis (Volga Film), Greece (Hollywood...
- 2/17/2011
- by Joshua L. Weinstein
- The Wrap
Mike Rollo has just started a new series on old theaters in Saskatchewan. I’m very excited about this, especially based on his first profile of the Majestic Theatre in Biggar, Saskatchewan. Also starting a new blogging series is animator Patrick Smith of Scribble Junkies. He’s teaching “Animation 101″ online and, again, has an excellent first post about sacks of flour. (Sounds like I’m joking, but I’m not.) Plus, one excellent and one horrendous Bakshi movie poster. Smith’s blogging partner Bill Plympton has a horrifying story of when self-distribution goes awry. (At least it all worked out in the end.) P.S. Words of advice: When starting a filmmaking competition, be sure to remember that your email is working. Dolphins, space whales and Stan Vanderbeek, oh my! Andrea Grover on the collision of science, sea creatures, space and the universe. Film Studies for Free has compiled a...
- 9/19/2010
- by Mike Everleth
- Underground Film Journal
Perhaps best known for his recurring role on Weeds, Guillermo Diaz also played a key part on Mercy and has guest-starred on Royal Pains and Criminal Minds, among other shows.
The actor will come aboard new ABC series No Ordinary Family - watch a preview Here! - this fall as a detective and talks about the character in an exclusive interview with TV Fanatic. We thank him for his time...
Talk about your role on No Ordinary Family.
I play detective Luis Cordero. He's a kind of a stressed out, overworked guy; a bad attitude type. He also works closely in the station with Jim Powell (Michael Chiklis). We just finished shooting my first episode, which is the show's fourth.
Were you familiar with any of your co-stars' work before landing this part, such as The Shield (Chiklis) or Dexter (Julie Benz)?
I actually worked with Chiklis years ago on...
The actor will come aboard new ABC series No Ordinary Family - watch a preview Here! - this fall as a detective and talks about the character in an exclusive interview with TV Fanatic. We thank him for his time...
Talk about your role on No Ordinary Family.
I play detective Luis Cordero. He's a kind of a stressed out, overworked guy; a bad attitude type. He also works closely in the station with Jim Powell (Michael Chiklis). We just finished shooting my first episode, which is the show's fourth.
Were you familiar with any of your co-stars' work before landing this part, such as The Shield (Chiklis) or Dexter (Julie Benz)?
I actually worked with Chiklis years ago on...
- 8/24/2010
- by matt@iscribelimited.com (M.L. House)
- TVfanatic
Mumbai: Award-winning actress Yvette Yates is making her mark in Hollywood in a new comedy titled Without Men, a battle of the sexes film based on the international bestseller Tales From the Town of Widows by James Canon. The cast for this independent film also stars Eva Longoria Parker, Maria Conchita Alonso, Judy Reyes, Kate Del Castillo, Monica Huarte, Oscar Nunez and Christian Slater among others. Written by Gabriela Tagliavini, the film is set in a remote Latin American jungle (filmed in Santa Barbara) where Longoria Parker's character leads a group of women to fend for themselves ...
- 7/14/2010
- BusinessofCinema
Hollywoodnews.com: Eva Longoria Parker is producing a new reality show that will spotlight the inner-working of her L.A.-based restaurant Beso.
The “Desperate Housewives” actress says “It will follow the employees that work at my restaurant. I’m not in it that much. I’m married and old now,” she joked.
Digital Spy followed the story.
Similar to Latina actress Selma Hayeck, Parker has found that she loves producing.
“I love the business aspect of it,” she said. “We have so many beautiful stories in the Latin community that I think should be told, and I really would like to focus on trying to bring some of those stories to light now.”
Digital Spy reports that Parker is being sued by two of Beso’s former managers.
Currently, Parker is filming the indie comedy “Without Men.”
Awards News, Breaking News, Entertainment News, Movie News, Music News, Hollywood News...
The “Desperate Housewives” actress says “It will follow the employees that work at my restaurant. I’m not in it that much. I’m married and old now,” she joked.
Digital Spy followed the story.
Similar to Latina actress Selma Hayeck, Parker has found that she loves producing.
“I love the business aspect of it,” she said. “We have so many beautiful stories in the Latin community that I think should be told, and I really would like to focus on trying to bring some of those stories to light now.”
Digital Spy reports that Parker is being sued by two of Beso’s former managers.
Currently, Parker is filming the indie comedy “Without Men.”
Awards News, Breaking News, Entertainment News, Movie News, Music News, Hollywood News...
- 6/27/2010
- by HollywoodNews.com
- Hollywoodnews.com
Eva Longoria Parker has revealed that her restaurant will be the focus of a new reality TV show. The Desperate Housewives actress, who is currently in California filming her new indie comedy Without Men, told CNN about her production company's latest project. The VH1 show will be based on her Hollywood restaurant Beso but the 35-year-old said that she won't appear in it. "It will follow the employees that work at my restaurant. I'm not in it that much. I'm married (more)...
- 6/25/2010
- by By Ryan Love
- Digital Spy
Eva Longoria and husband Tony Parker are going to start trying for a baby "soon". The "Desperate Housewives" actress and the basketball star, who married in July 2007, are keen to start a family together and the sportsman says it will happen in the near future.
"We're thinking about it. Pretty soon. She's got one more year with 'Desperate Housewives', so we'll see what happens," Tony replied when asked whether they ready for a baby. "She'd be a great mom. I'd be great. I love kids."
As Eva is one of four girls, Tony says he'll leave it up to his 35-year-old spouse as to how many children they have. He told Us Weekly magazine, "We'll see. It depends on her. I don't care if it's a boy or a girl. I would love to have both."
However, the couple won't be conceiving in the next few weeks as...
"We're thinking about it. Pretty soon. She's got one more year with 'Desperate Housewives', so we'll see what happens," Tony replied when asked whether they ready for a baby. "She'd be a great mom. I'd be great. I love kids."
As Eva is one of four girls, Tony says he'll leave it up to his 35-year-old spouse as to how many children they have. He told Us Weekly magazine, "We'll see. It depends on her. I don't care if it's a boy or a girl. I would love to have both."
However, the couple won't be conceiving in the next few weeks as...
- 6/17/2010
- by celebrity-mania.com
- Celebrity Mania
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