One of my favorite time of the year is the holiday season. I love Christmas for many reasons, especially my grandkids and grandnephews. We always find time to watch our old and new favorite Christmas …
After two decades as one of the most beloved and enduring musicals on the stage, Wicked makes its long-awaited journey to the big screen as a spectacular, generation-defining cinematic event this holiday season. Synopsis: Wicked, …
In recognition of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, here’s an impactful new film Another Love Story, now available for streaming on TUBI. This timely film sheds light on the emotional and psychological journey of domestic abuse survivors …
My #1 grandson and I screened the new #TwistersMovie last night. And it was a long overdue date, too. The film was much better than we expected. It had its excitements that kept you on …
Tony nominated filmmaker Ben DeJesus whose built a reputable career working on television projects, documentaries, branded and digital content, spent some time with Mabel Aragon discussing his latest project, Raúl Juliá: The World’s a Stage,which received an Emmy nomination as part of PBS’ American Masters.
“I was always aware of Raul Juliá and the amazing career he had as a Puerto Rican on Broadway, and as someone who was aspiring to something similar, there was him and John Leguizamo that I really looked up to and idolized.”
Ben also talks about his work as co-founder of NGL Studios, joined by his partners John Leguizamo and David Chitel.
Hollywood trailblazer Rafael J. Rivera-Viruet, known in the industry as Ralph Rivera, is a movie financier, executive and author originally from Puerto Rico. His book Dream Chaser–The Business of Showbiz was nominated by the 22nd International Latino Books Awards, the largest Latino cultural awards in the United States.
“This particular award makes me so humble because I’m almost 80 years old, you know, and I’m still fulfilling my dreams.”
He shared with Mabel Aragon his passion for the industry and desire for Latinos to have more opportunities in the development and creative process.
“Follow your dream, go with confidence and you will get there, and you will make changes.”
The annual Hispanicize Summit will be held virtually this year. Mabel Aragon spoke to NGL Collective Founder and CEO David Chitel and event hosts Jessica Flores and Enrique Sapene, who provided a sneak peek of some of the surprises viewers can expect from this celebration.
“We’re going to have amazing dialogue and discussions and really talk about issues that are impacting the Latinx community today, which is so important; and the fact that anybody is able to just tune in and get all this wisdom and knowledge, I think is amazing,” says Jessica Flores.
David Chitel adds, “It’s a message of unity and empowerment for the Latino community.”
List of Speakers: Aaron Walton, Alicia Menendez, Anaid Quijada, Andrekza, Anilu Vazquez-Ubarri, Anne Vasquez, Aymee Nuviola, Bamby Salcedo, Ben Lopez, Byron Salas, Carlos Ponce, Claudia Romo Edelman, Cristela Alonzo, Dash Harris Machado, DJ Chava, Eddie Olmos, Ellen Ochoa, Father Agustino Torres, Henry R. Muñoz III, Jack Rico, Jessica Alba, Jessica Molina, Jessie Woolley-Wilson, John Henry, John Leguizamo, Julian Castro, Julissa Calderon, Kim Guerra, Laith Ashley, Marcee Martinez, Mariah Angeliq, Mario Lopez, Mario X. Carrasco, Melissa Fumero, Mexican Gueys, Mike Madrid, Monica Ramirez, Natasha Alexis Martinez, Mayra Macias, Oliver familia (Andrea, Manny, Patricia and Guac), Oscar de la Hoya, Petition, RaqC, Rebecca Antonia Rodriguez, Victor Ramos, Xolo Maridueña, Yarel Ramos, and Yvette Peña.
Hispanicize takes place October 15 from 9A – 2P PST/ 12P – 5P EST. Tune in by visiting Hispanicize.
Behind the scenes of the new romantic comedy In Other Words, screened at 2020 New York Latino Film Festival.
Award-winning television and film content creators, filmmakers Patrick Perez Vidauri and Cristina Nava, along with actors Bryan McClure and Natasha Esca spoke to Mabel Aragon about their new romantic comedy In Other Words, which was screened on opening night of the 2020 New York Latino Film Festival.
“This is a love letter to Mexico and to Valle de Guadalupe because it [the story] just wrote itself,” says Cristina Nava.
Synopsis: A tech whiz named True finally lands an investor for his matchmaking app. When True matches with a beautiful woman who doesn’t speak English, he travels to Mexico to prove his algorithm isn’t dysfunctional. To get the girl and close the deal of a lifetime, he must find a way to overcome the language barrier–and his own fears and insecurities.
Released in September On Digital and On Demand and airing on HBO Latino in February 2021, the film also features former SNL alum Chris Kattan, Edy Ganem, Renee Victor, and Enrique Castillo.
DC FanDome has been expanded into two global events—the first on August 22–DC FanDome: Hall of Heroes, and a second on-demand experience in DC FanDome: Explore the Multiverse on September 12, where fans can create and curate their own adventure. And–fans can now teleport their FanDome experience as both will be accessible across all mobile platforms (in addition to desktop).
DC FanDome: Hall of Heroes: On Saturday, August 22, at 10:00A PDT, fans will be transported into the DC FanDome: Hall of Heroes, an epic world designed personally by Jim Lee featuring special programming, panels and exclusive reveals from a wide variety of films, TV series, games, comics and more.
The superpowered eight-hour show will be available for fans around the world to watch exclusively 3x in the 24-hour period.
DC FanDome: Explore the Multiverse: On Saturday, September 12, at 10:00am PDT, fans will be able to create their own timeline! The great thing about this event is that it will be on demand, giving you the ability to curate your own unique experience via our Official DC FanDome Online Scheduler Tool.
A lot of the content you were super excited to see from our multiple islands will now be housed here, and will be available for you to watch throughout the 24-hour period.
Fans can now choose their own adventure and will have more time to immerse themselves in all the hours of curated programming—at their own pace and on their own schedule.
This also allows us to provide the best user experience, and will now not only be available on your desktop computer but across all mobile devices.
DC Kids FanDome will also launch on Saturday, September 12, at its own kid-friendly companion site at DCKidsFanDome.com.
Murder in the Woodspasses my “three jump” test. It’s really your classic cabin-in-the-woods horror flick. Fun to watch with your friends or that one person you can cling to while watching. Like the writer de León said, “It’s not Shakespeare. It’s a fun film to have a good laugh and be scared a bit.” There are some solid performances by the cast and of course you have el veterano, Danny Trejo in the mix.
Danny Trejo
I got a chance to chat with Chelsea Rendon, Soledad St. Hilaire, and Yelyna de León. We didn’t talk much about the movie because we didn’t want to give any spoilers but I think they are fun interviews that you’ll enjoy. So watch below.
Kade Wise, Chelsea Rendon, Jeanette Samano and Jordan Diambrini
Synopsis: Murder in the Woodsis centered on a group of college friends who plan a getaway to celebrate a birthday party at an isolated cabin in the woods. Against his grandmother’s (Soledad St. Hilaire) demands, Jesse (José Julián), a loner-type, decides to go on the trip with his friends. He is immediately smitten with Fernanda (Jeanette Samano), a sweet girl from Chicago whom he hasn’t seen in years.
From REZINATE Entertainment and Yel Productions, the award-winning (lots of film fests) slasher film MURDER IN THE WOODScomes to drive-ins and theaters nationwide on August 14, 2020, with a Digital and Video on Demand release slated for September 18, 2020. Directed and produced by Mexican filmmaker Luis Iga Garza (The Call) and written and produced by Yelyna De León (Will and Grace, A Better Life), the frightening thriller stars an exclusively multicultural cast in non-stereotypical roles, including Catherine Toribio, Kade Wise, Jordan Diambrini, Kurt Caceres, Max Chavarria, and Rolando Molina.
Cast members and producers of the Telenovela style series Sangre Negra spoke to Mabel Aragon about the vision for the show, their camaraderie off set, and the future of this cross-generational saga that follows the Santos Family as they struggle between good and evil.
“Expect some amazing stuff…it’s going to blow your socks off, says Inga Madison, Executive Producer.
Viewers can enjoy the first episode of Sangre Negra on Amazon Prime. The series will air on El Rey Network in the fall.
Now, sit back and enjoy as this cast of characters reveal their personalities on and off screen.
In part one, executive producers Inga Madison and Karriem Madison, along with cast members Antonio McKay, Ricardo Herranz, Danny Arroyo, and Stoney Jackson, share with us the value of creating prominent roles for Latino and minority actors In Hollywood. Stay tuned for part two. Find out how well these actors know each other when they play a behind the scenes trivia game.
Order of actors in the Zoom boxes.
Left to Right: Top (viewers’ perspective): Inga Madison and Karriem Madison, Mabel Aragon, Danny Arroyo
Left to Right: Bottom: Antonio McKay and Stoney Jackson (appear together in part 1) and Ricardo Herranz
Chairman Fred Hampton (Daniel Kaluuya) was 21 years old when he was assassinated by the FBI, who coerced a petty criminal named William O’Neal (LaKeith Stanfield) to help them silence him and the Black Panther Party. But they could not kill Fred Hampton’s legacy and, 50 years later, his words still echo…louder than ever.
I am a revolutionary!
In 1968, a young, charismatic activist named Fred Hampton became Chairman of the Illinois chapter of the Black Panther Party, who were fighting for freedom, the power to determine the destiny of the Black community, and an end to police brutality and the slaughter of Black people.
Chairman Fred was inspiring a generation to rise up and not back down to oppression, which put him directly in the line of fire of the government, the FBI and the Chicago Police. But to destroy the revolution, they had to do it from both the outside…and the inside. Facing prison, William O’Neal is offered a deal by the FBI: if he will infiltrate the Black Panthers and provide intel on Hampton, he will walk free. O’Neal takes the deal.
(Center front-back) LaKEITH STANFIELD as William O’Neal and DANIEL KALUUYA as Chairman Fred Hampton in Warner Bros. Pictures’ JUDAS AND THE BLACK MESSIAH, a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo by Glen Wilson
Now a comrade in arms in the Black Panther Party, O’Neal lives in fear that his treachery will be discovered even as he rises in the ranks. But as Hampton’s fiery message draws him in, O’Neal cannot escape the deadly trajectory of his ultimate betrayal.
Though his life was cut short, Fred Hampton’s impact has continued to reverberate.
Judas and the Black Messiah is directed by Shaka King, marking his studio feature film directorial debut.
The ensemble cast also includes Algee Smith (The Hate U Give, Detroit), Darrell Britt-Gibson (Just Mercy, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri), Dominique Thorne (If Beale Street Could Talk), Amari Cheatom (Roman J. Israel, Esq., Django Unchained), Caleb Eberhardt (“The Post”), and Lil Rel Howery (Get Out).
Charlie Heaton as Sam Guthrie, Anya Taylor-Joy as Illyana Rasputin, Blu Hunt as Danielle Moonstar, Henry Zaga as Roberto da Costa and Maisie Williams as Rahne Sinclair in 20th Century Studios’ The New Mutants. Photo courtesy of 20th Century Studios.
A special ComicCon@Home panel featuring writer/director Josh Boone and the stars of The New Mutants, including: Maisie Williams, Anya Taylor-Joy, Charlie Heaton, Alice Braga, Blu Hunt, and Henry Zaga. Moderated by Ira Madison III, will debut on July 23, 2020. Panel can be viewed via Comic Con’s YouTube channel. In the meantime, check out this special look at the original horror thriller.
Danny Arroyo spoke to Mabel Aragon about his latest acting projects and his thoughts about how Latinos are portrayed on screen.
“Even when I write today, unless it’s for a specific role, I want to be able to show us in a light where anybody can play that role. It doesn’t matter what race or nationality.”
Born in the Bronx, actor Danny Arroyo is making strides on the big screen with films, including The Last Smile, which led to his Best Actor award at the Silicon Valley Film Festival. He wrote, produced and directed the short film Bite, the winner of 6 awards at various film festivals. This Latino actor, who is also of French descent, also starred and produced the cop drama thriller Branded and the romantic comedy Switched at Love. He takes pride in stirring up emotion for the audience, as he does with the character Christian Santos in the series Sangre Negra, a cross-generational drama that’s been described as Dallas meets the Sopranos, captivating viewers with family deception, power and intrigue.
Now, sit back and enjoy as he shares his experiences working in the industry, and what he’s taken away from all of his projects.
In part one, this multifaceted actor talks about what’s compelled him to work in front of the camera as well as behind the scenes as a writer, producer and director for a few of his films. Stay tuned for part two. Find out what few may know about his love for quotes and comic books; and how much does he know about his favorite superheroes?
DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE are COMING TOGETHER…Watch at home with your BEST BUBS again and again and again!
Add The Highest-Grossing R-Rated Film of All-Time to Your Marvel Studios Movie Collection when it arrives on Digital on October 1 and on 4K Ultra HD™, Blu-ray™ and DVD on October 22.
Experience all the laughs with hours of all-new exclusive bonus content including a gag reel, deleted scenes, filmmaker commentary and all-new featurettes!
Cast Ryan Reynolds (Wade Wilson/Deadpool), Hugh Jackman (Logan/Wolverine), Emma Corrin (Cassandra Nova), Matthew Macfadyen (Mr. Paradox), and Dafne Keen (Laura / X-23).
° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° Veep: The Complete Series. All 65 episodes from the 17-Time Emmy® Award winning series will be available to purchase on Blu-ray October 22.
Warner Bros. Discovery Home Entertainment will be releasing the complete series. Get ready to binge on all 65 episodes (seven seasons) from HBO’s Emmy® award-winning original series, along with all the previously released special features. The political comedy series follows United States Vice President Salina Meyer (Julia Louis Dreyfus) and her incompetent team as they attempt to secure a legacy, but often instead become bogged down in day-to-day political games. Pre-order your copy today. Also starring Anna Chlumsky, Tony Hale, Reid Scott, Timothy Simons, Matt Walsh, Sufe Bradshaw, Kevin Dunn, Gary Cole, Sam Richardson, Sarah Sutherland, and Clea DuVall. The series was created by Armando Iannucci.
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The West Wing: The Complete Series for the first time ever on Blu-ray, in celebration of the 25th anniversary of the critically acclaimed series. Get ready to binge all 156 episodes from NBC/WBTV’sEmmy® Award-winning original series.
The brilliant political drama, following an extraordinarily intimate look at an American President and the inner workings of the White House, will be available to own on Blu-ray on October 1.
Widely considered one of the best series of all time, The West Wing remains a landmark achievement in television, earning 26 Emmys, including four for Outstanding Drama Series. With its sharp writing and memorable ensemble cast, the show continues to inspire audiences with its intimate look at the triumphs, sacrifices and inner politics of the White House.
Created by Aaron Sorkin who executive produced with Thomas Schlamme, and John Wells, The West Wing stars Rob Lowe, Dulé Hill, Allison Janney, Janel Moloney, Richard Schiff, John Spencer, Bradley Whitford, and Martin Sheen. The series was produced by John Wells Productions in association with Warner Bros. Television.
The Complete Series Includes all 156 episodes from all seven seasons on 28 discs, plus over 20 commentaries, behind the scenes featurettes, unaired scenes, gag reels and more.
° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° HBO’s The Gilded Age: The Complete Second Season to DVD on October 1, 2024. The Gilded Age season 2 was recently nominated for six Emmy® Awards including Outstanding Drama Series. Indulge in all 8 episodes from the second season of the historical drama that won fans over with its charming cast and compelling storylines plus over 20 pieces of bonus content including never-before-released featurettes.
The Gilded Age season 2 cast includes Carrie Coon, Christine Baranski, Cynthia Nixon, Morgan Spector, Louisa Jacobson, Denée Benton, Ben Ahlers, Michael Cerveris, Kelley Curran, Taissa Farmiga, and more.
The American Gilded Age was a period of significant economic change, conflict between old and new systems, and fortunes made and lost.
° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° FRIENDS: The Complete Series in 4K Ultra HD for the first time on September 24.
This ultimate collector’s set features ALL 10 seasons from one of television’s most popular sitcoms completely remastered–plus all new bonus content!
Pre-order your copy now.
From Warner Bros. Television, FRIENDS follows the lives and loves of a close-knit group of friends living in New York City: siblings Ross (David Schwimmer) and Monica Geller (Courteney Cox), along with friends Chandler Bing (Matthew Perry), Phoebe Buffay (Lisa Kudrow), Joey Tribbiani (Matt LeBlanc) and Rachel Green (Jennifer Aniston).
FRIENDS marks its 30th anniversary this year, the beloved TV series continues to hold an enduring place in popular culture and hearts worldwide.
Favorite Shot of the Day
Podcast
You can also listen to any episode of all of the podcast at thebradmunson.com
