April 18, 2006
Dear NALIPsters, friends and supporters;
It’s with great pleasure that I write to you. By now you have all settled back home after the Conference. Or if you were not able to join us, by now you have heard from your friends and colleagues what a great event you missed! With the Conference wrapped, the staff is getting ready for the Latinos Writers Lab™, and beginning to plan for this summer’s Latinos Producers Academy™. And I’m settling into the job of NALIP Board Chair.
I want to thank Frances Negron-Muntaner, the outgoing Chair of the NALIP Board of Directors, for her wonderful leadership during the last three years. Her deep commitment to NALIP’s vision strengthened how the board members and staff work together to create more opportunities and to open more doors for our members.
The NALIP Board also wants to thank for their service to us the following members who left us in 2005: Sonia Gonzalez for her work as Secretary, Alex Rodriguez for his time as Treasurer, and Lorena Hernandez as Vice-Chair. I wish them the best in their endeavors. As they retire, we welcome two new members to our 2006-2008 Board: Los Angeles entertainment attorney Alexis Garcia, who works at Sheppard Mullin, and highly acclaimed playwright Elaine Romero, who is pursuing the prestigious and demanding CBS Television Writing Fellowship.
They join our new 2006 Officers: NALIP-NY president Edwin Pagan was elected vice-chair; “SIR! NO SIR!” Producer Vangie Griego will serve as treasurer; and Palm Pictures’ Jose Martinez stays on as secretary. Universal Pictures’ David Ortiz joins the Executive Committee along with Chair Emeritus Frances Negron, Moctesuma Esparza and Cynthia Lopez as members-at-large. Everyone can be reached via email on the Board pages of our website: www.nalip.org. Let us know what’s on your mind!
Thank you all for joining me as I take on this honor and look with you to an exciting future. NALIP will continue to grow, thrive, and serve our members through excellent programs created by our top-notch staff under the direction of Kathryn Galan and the Board. I look forward to working with them, to hearing from our talented membership and to collaborating with our many generous supporters as we take NALIP to the next level as the premiere organization that serves the professional needs of Latino independent producers, directors, writers and media makers.
Regards,
Beni Matias
NALIP Board Chair
“THE 2006 ALMA AWARDS” FEATURES THE BRIGHTEST STARS
IN FILM, MUSIC AND TELEVISION, MONDAY, JUNE 5, ON ABC
Marc Anthony, Andy Garcia, Michael Douglas, Carlos Mencia, Michael Pena, Jay
Hernandez, Ricardo Antonio Chavira, Maria Conchita Alonso, Lupe Ontiveros, Danny Pino, Sofía Vergara, Adam Rodriguez, Amaury Nolasco, Cristina Saralegui, Sara Ramirez and Wilmer Valderrama Are Among the Honorees, Performers and Presenters
Eva Longoria hosts…
Some of the entertainment industry’s hottest stars from the worlds of film, television and music will appear at “The 2006 ALMA Awards,” airing MONDAY, JUNE 5 (9:30-11:00 p.m., ET/PT), on the ABC Television Network..
On the Awards show, which will tape May 7 at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, the incomparable Longoria will open with an exciting performance alongside Carmen Electra (“Scary Movie 4”), Roselyn Sanchez (“Without a Trace”), Constance Marie (“George Lopez”) and Spain's hottest musical import, Paulina Rubio.
Among the highlights of the 2006 Awards ceremony will be a presentation of the Celia Cruz Award for Excellence in Music to internationally renowned award-winning singer and actor Marc Anthony. The presentation will be hosted by Randy Jackson (“American Idol”). R&B crooner Brian McKnight will perform Anthony’s classic hit, “You Sang to Me,” in English and Spanish.
Also, the Anthony Quinn Award for Excellence in Motion Picture will be presented to Academy Award-nominated actor Andy Garcia. The presentation will be hosted by George Lopez (“George Lopez”). Grammy Award winner and international recording artist Gloria Estefan and her husband, music producer Emilio Estefan, will present Garcia with the award, and Ms. Estefan will perform.
The eclectic mix of performances, spanning the worlds of pop, rock and Latin music in both English and Spanish, include country superstars Big & Rich, Cowboy Troy (“Nashville Star”) and Tex/Mex music legend Emilio.
Also scheduled to appear on the show as presenters are (in alphabetical order): Maria Conchita Alonso (“Desperate Housewives”), Ricardo Antonio Chavira (“Desperate Housewives”), Academy Award-winning producer and actor Michael Douglas, Jay Hernandez (“World Trade Center,” “Hostel”), Latin comedy genius Cheech Marin, Carlos Mencia (“Mind of Mencia”), Amaury Nolasco (“Prison Break”), Lupe Ontiveros (“Desperate Housewives”), Michael Pena (“Crash”), Danny Pino (“Cold Case,” “The Lost City”), Sara Ramirez (“Monty Python's Spamalot,” “Grey’s Anatomy”), Judy Reyes (“Scrubs”), Adam Rodriguez (“CSI Miami”), Freddy Rodriguez (“Poseidon,” “Six Feet Under”), legendary talk show host Cristina Saralegui, Wilmer Valderrama (“That 70’s Show,” “Yo Momma”) and Sofía Vergara (“Four Brothers”).
The ALMA Awards was created by the National Council of La Raza (NCLR), the largest national Hispanic civil rights and advocacy organization in the U.S., in 1995 as part of NCLR’s strategy to promote fair, accurate and balanced portrayals of Latinos in the media and the enhancement of the Latino image in the entertainment industry. The show was named “ALMA” (Spanish for “spirit” or “soul”) to honor the determined spirit of the Latino community.
Jeff Margolis, Janet Murguia and David Chavez are executive producers of “The 2006 ALMA Awards.” The show is produced by Jeff Margolis Productions. Producers are Eva Longoria, Tisha Fein, Gloria Fujita O’Brien and Mick McCullough. The director is Ron De Moraes.
For further information, please go to www.almaawards.com.
The Writers Guild Foundation Presents-Spring Storytellers with FRANK PIERSON
When: Thursday, April 27 - 7:30 PM
Where: At the Writers Guild Theater, 135 S. Doheny Dr., Beverly Hills
Legendary screenwriter Frank Pierson discusses his Oscar winning career including Cool Hand Luke and Dog Day Afternoon! Followed by cocktails and appetizers sponsored by Chipotle.
SPECIAL OFFER: Get $5 OFF normal ticket prices when you call and mention The Writers Store. **See below for special Writers Store offer.
TICKETS: $25 WGA and FACULTY DISCOUNT TICKETS: $20 STUDENT: $15
GET TICKETS AT www.WGFoundation.org or by calling 323-782-4692 for $5 OFF
ALSO... Come visit the Writers Guild Foundation booth at LA TIMES FESTIVAL OF BOOKS UCLA - Saturday & Sunday, April 29 & 30 BOOTH # 507
Script Signings:
Steve Faber & Bob Fisher sign..... THE WEDDING CRASHERS - Sat 1 pm
Simon Kinberg signs..... MR. & MRS. SMITH - Sat 3 pm
Robin Swicord signs...... MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA - Sun 1 pm
Free ticket give-aways, deep discounts, cold water & more!
Visit www.WGFoundation.org for more info. **The Writers Store, your premier source of essentials for Writers and Filmmakers is offering a 10% discount through the end of the Spring Storytellers Series. Mention this email, or enter the code WGF606 upon checkout at www.writersstore.com to get exclusive savings on all your writing needs.
CALLING ALL FILMMAKERS!!
Festival Internacional de Cine Las Garzas - August 22 to the 27, 2006
The Festival Internacional de Cine Las Garzas is proud to announce our call for submissions for our third annual film festival, celebrated from August 22 - 27, 2006 in the Republic of Panama and our New York City film screenings, called SACA, throughout 2006!!!
We are currently looking for innovative independent and student, narrative, documentary, animated, experimental, video art, shorts and features. We have added a special category this year for submission of music videos and commercial spots.
We would also like to invite all colleges, universities, and other film institutions to submit any student or sample reels your organization may have to present at our festival this year. Please note that the submission fee does not apply for any film from a university or college sample reel.
As part of our festival's mission, to create and facilitate a platform for independent, especially independent Latin American filmmakers to show their work, we have many amazing opportunities for filmmakers that submit their films this year.
The filmmakers will have the opportunity to have their film shown, not only at our film festival in Panama (August 22-27), but also at various film screenings to be presented in New York City (SACA). We have also been invited to present a special selection of films presented at this year's festival at various film festivals throughout Central and South America as well as in Europe!
Las Garzas Network is the official television program of the festival that presents shorts and films from our festival, interviews with directors, and extensive coverage of our festivals, screenings and other events! Submit your films to either or both of our festivals and your work will air on Las Garzas Network!
Las Garzas Network airs every Sunday at 6:30pm on the Manhattan Neighborhood Network (MNN) channel 67 (channel 17 without a cable box) to all residents of Manhattan!!!
SUBMISSION DEADLINES 2006:
MAY 31, 2006 - Submission to both SACA (New York City) and Las Garzas (Panama)
June 30, 2006 - Submission to Las Garzas (Panama) only.
For the official rules and regulations and submission forms click here: Forms our website is up and running, it is the place to find all the information you need on our festivals, screenings, and other upcoming events! Check it out at www.lasgarzas.org. If you have any questions, problems, or would like more information on our screenings, festivals, and other events, please contact me at sgutierrez@lasgarzas.org or at our New York office at 212.861.1328. We are truly looking forward to our festival this year and know that it will be one of our best! We look forward to hearing from you and receiving your films!!!
MNN in Danger! Help Save Public Access Television! Because of MNN, Las Garzas Network, along with many other programs is able to have a venue to create and present our ideas and visions. MNN not only provides residents of Manhattan opportunities to their own programs, but also provides television production facilities, equipment, and even training to help almost any and everyone get their show on the air. And now all of this is in jeopardy! Right now, there are a number of bills before Congress which would allow telecommunications giants to control stations that are now reserved for Public, Educational and Government (PEG) Access channels, with no local access. To learn more, sign a petition, and give the FCC your feedback, click here: http://mnn.org/saveaccess/index2.html.
Come join NALIP Member Sofía Quintero
As she signs and reads from her “chica lit” debut novel…
DIVAS DON’T YIELD
Four Chicas, One Car, TONS of baggage. . .
Date: Tuesday, April 25, 2006
Time: 7:00 PM
Place: Borders Bookstore
8852 Washington Blvd., Pico Rivera
(562) 942-9919
What starts out as a pilgrimage to women’s conference turns into an unexpected journey toward self-awareness for four dynamic, sexy women. Jackie confronts her vulnerability as she falls for a handsome lawyer, while Hazel makes the toughest confession of her life. Lourdes stands up to her conservative mother, and Irena faces her demons. As they make their way from town to town, laughing, fighting, crying, and bonding, they learn more about one another, and themselves, than they ever bargained for–and turn plenty of heads along the way.
“The world of Chica Lit has a brand-new superstar, and her name is Sofia Quintero. I laughed and cried my way through Divas Don't Yield, a superbly-crafted and spectacularly fun novel that deals with lots of issues many of us are afraid - or incapable - of addressing. I came away from this vivid book feeling like I'd been on a road-trip myself. I also felt that I'd made five new friends - the four incredible women in the novel, as well as the author herself. Get this book! I promise you won't want to put it down, and you certainly won't want it to end.” -- Alisa Valdes-Rodriguez, author of Dirty Girls Social Club
ADDITIONAL APPEARENCES w/ Sofia Quintero, author Elisha Miranda!
Hip Hop Fiction Authors come to LA! - JOIN US!
 
NALIP members and New York based authors Sofia Quintero and Elisha Miranda, co-founders of Chica Luna Productions (http://www.chicaluna.com/) which seeks to identify, develop, and support other women of color seeking to make socially conscious entertainment, come to Los Angeles! Next week, April 25-30, the ladies will participate in a variety of events. A complete list of events is included below.
Tuesday, April 25
Borders
8852 Washington Blvd in Pico Rivera, 7pm
Sofia Quintero reads from her book DIVAS DON’T YIELD
Friday, April 28
30th Annual National Hispanic Women’s Conference
Pasadena Convention Center
300 East Green Street in Pasadena
To register call 626.451.0602 or 323.890.9600
Session Two: 10:15-11:15am workshop entitled “From Novels to TV Shows: How to Launch a Creative Writing Career” and author signings at the Hoy booth.
Saturday-Sunday, April 29-30, 2006
Los Angeles Times Festival of Books
UCLA Main Campus- Free
Author signings at the Hoy booth
Alisa Valdes-Rodriguez, author of the bestselling The Dirty Girls Social Club and the upcoming novel Make Him Look Good (April 18, 2006/St. Martin’s), says: “I laughed and cried my way through DIVAS DON’T YIELD, a superbly-crafted and spectacularly fun novel that deals with lots of issues that many of us are afraid—or incapable—of addressing Welcome to the Chica Lit club, girlfriend. I’m glad you came.”
Film & Video Call for Entries
Call for Works by Film & Video Artists from Southern Mexico
Elias Levin, co-director of the GEOGRAFÍAS SUAVES Film & Video Festival, is currently curating an exhibition that has to do with migration to the United States and is looking for young media-makers, video artists, video graffitists, documentarists, or including those who might have an interesting registro of the recent immigration protests, especially those who are from southern Mexico or whose families are from here (this is a curatorial restriction imposed by the museum that is funding most of the exhibition).
The exhibition is titled "Caudal del Sur". It will have video-installation art, as well as several mono-canal projection/exhibition spaces, each of which will have a curated muestra. There will also be a curated retrospective of Geografías Suaves (videos from southern Mexico). The first exhibition space will be the MACO (Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Oaxaca), and we expect the exhibit to tour to the DF and to Yucatán as well.
Byrt Wammack GEOGRAFÍAS SUAVES / TV_TURIX Mérida, Yucatán, México www.yoochel.org
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| Winners of NALIP and SiTV's non-scripted TV series idea award, Latin Lover
Latin Lovers
by Santiago Tapia and Jessica Curtright
At the recent NALIP CONFERENCE 7 as part of the LATINO MEDIA MARKET, SiTV sponsored a search for Non-Scripted TV Series Ideas. Searching for talent from newcomers in the industry, the winner was LATIN LOVER created by Santiago Tapia and Jessica Curtright of Adams House Productions (www.AdamsHouseProductions.com). The reality dating game show where a Gringo guy or gal who is dissatisfied in their relationship to another Gringo is set up on a date with a genuine Latin Lover – Will they “Stay Gringo” or “Go Latin.” The treatment was optioned for development and may become part of SiTV’s Unacceptable Behavior. Adams House Productions was also in attendance at the Latino Media Market meeting with execs for their feature thriller REDBONES. As young producers transitioning into film, and already getting ready to work with such talents as James Garner and Eliza Dushku, it was in their words an “amazing” experience, this is their story:
Being newcomers to NALIP, Jessica and I were excited about our first NALIP CONFERENCE and the LATINO MEDIA MARKET. A year ago we didn’t even know what NALIP was. NALIP stands for the National Association of Latino Independent Producers. It is a young organization founded only 7 years ago, but in those short 7 years NALIP has impacted the way networks, cable channels, and production companies see Latinos today. Jessica and I first heard the word “NALIP” as a new chapter was being formed in Boston, our hometown (Go Red Sox!), under the leadership of documentarian Maria Agui Carter (Iguana Films).
Right away NALIP’s vision was made clear to us at that first meeting – to make the Latino voice heard in the entertainment industry - and we jumped on the bandwagon. As young feature film producers we could relate as Jessica and I have a vision of having Massachusetts heard in the entertainment industry. That’s what a huge part of our company, Adams House Productions, is all about, bringing feature film and TV production to our hometown. Being two years old, Adams House started as a commercial production company but six months ago we transitioned into feature films and TV - after all who doesn’t want to be in pictures, right? Our goal is to become the premiere feature film and TV Production Company in Boston. Since then we have been acquiring great material from all over and feel we have the best scripts in town. Plus we are not just stuck to Boston as we have projects set in LA, NYC, and Miami. As an independent production company, we are looking for scripts from first-time writers to WGA writers and the genre doesn’t matter to us as much as how good the script is. One of our many projects is REDBONES and that’s what brought us to the Conference.
We arrived at the Hyatt Regency in Long Beach California where we were greeted by my favorite NALIPster (that’s what we call ourselves by the way) Kathryn Galan, the Executive Director of NALIP. I first met Kathryn when I had been invited to participate as a director a few months ago to another of NALIP’s signature programs, the NALIP PRODUCERS ACADEMY, which is the Latino version of the Sundance Film Lab. Kathryn was so supportive to us (and everyone in the program) and we’ve kept in touch ever since. Jessica and I were excited as we were not only coming to our first conference but had also been invited as one of eight narrative feature projects to participate in the LATINO MEDIA MARKET. Whereas the Conference provides a forum for Latino and Latina executives, funders, film, television and documentary makers to meet and address the professional needs of Latino independent producers, writers, directors, and performers, the LATINO MEDIA MARKET is like eight minute dating between filmmakers and studio executives. This opportunity opened a lot of doors for us to pitch our feature scripts and TV pilots to executives all in one fell swoop. Also it opened doors to agents and managers and made us realize that perhaps we do need to seek representation. Finally, besides our feature and TV scripts we were also at the LATINO MEDIA MARKET for a treatment we had written for SiTV for a non-scripted TV series, which Jessica will tell you about…
Santiago and I have written many treatments for dramas, cartoons, and reality TV shows and we had written one called LATIN LOVER, a reality dating game show where a Gringo guy or gal who is dissatisfied in their relationship to another Gringo is set up on a date with a genuine Latin Lover – Will they “Stay Gringo” or “Go Latin” was our tagline. It ended up being invited as one of the finalists of the SiTV sponsored search at the LATINO MEDIA MARKET. And the SiTV folks are great! I can’t say enough about them. Especially Dolly Romero, Sr. Manager of Development, who has been most enthusiastic and supportive. It was also a pleasure to meet Edward Leon (VP of production) and Marlen Landin, and recently to have been communicating with Sharmalee Lall, VP of Business Affairs who has been very nice. We are very proud to be connected with such an excellent cable network as SiTV.
But of course while the LATINO MEDIA MARKET was taking place, the NALIP Conference 7 – Latino Lens: Naked Truth – was going on around us. It was a huge gathering sponsored by HBO, Variety, and The National Latino Media Council with some big highlights. For example, the first night at the opening reception we heard Lucinda Martinez-Desir, Director Strategic Partnerships for HBO, speak about Latino programming and then everyone saw the premiere screening with Edward James Olmos of his feature WALKOUT made by HBO Films. Off to such a great start the Conference continued with morning roundtable breakfasts with industry professionals including producers, studio reps, agents, casting directors, etc. Each day was full of Panels in all areas of film and TV by established Hollywood execs, directors, screenwriters, and more, of which Santiago and I raced to many in-between the Market. And of course there were the Keynote speeches by Charlie Koones, President and Publisher of Variety and Pancho Mansfield, Executive Vice President, Original Programming of SPIKE TV. In between it was all about making friends and networking.
It all culminated with the Gala Awards dinner. The Outstanding Achievement Award went to Moctesuma Esparza (The Milagro Beanfield War, Gettysburg, Selena, Gods and Generals), and David Valdes (The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford, The Green Mile, Unforgiven) received the Lifetime Achievement in Producing Award. And of course, they announced at the very end the winner of the SiTV search for non-scripted TV shows which ended up being, to our surprise, LATIN LOVER. We can’t wait to be working with Dolly Romero and SiTV. Our next surprise came when we won the Loteria, it was a $2500.00 prize from Showbiz software - all conference attendees had a chance to win. It was the first year NALIP had a Loteria. We came out one of the big winners of the night.
As first year conference goers and first year members of the new Boston chapter, NALIP has been really motivating for young beginners like us. It meant a lot for us at our first NALIP conference to find out that there is access for Latinos in this industry. It was encouraging that the speakers and most everyone else at the conference, was open to and encouraged networking, forming relationships and creating opportunities for entrance into the industry. We want to thank Kathryn Galan who has been so helpful and a guiding force. Also Octavio Marin, Mateo Nagassi, Erick Garcia, and everyone else at NALIP! REDBONES and LATIN LOVER is only the beginning for us as we have a slate of projects. See you NALIPsters next year. Ciao.
Check us out at www.AdamsHouseProductions.com.
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