FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   The National Association of Latino Independent Producers’ Eighth Annual Conference Presented by HBO® and The National Latino Media Council Examines the Potential of the Mobile Revolution for Latino Filmmakers 
John Singleton hosts sneak peak screening of his new film Illegal Tender, State Street Pictures’ Bob Teitel gives lunch key note and Latino 96.3 morning show host Joey Medina MC’s awards gala. Los Angeles, CA (March 5, 2007) The National Association of Latino Independent Producers (NALIP) examines how to increase the opportunities for US-born Latinos’ stories through the new mobile platforms at their 8th Annual NALIP Conference, Media on the Move: Power for Independents. Presented by HBO, the Conference will be a three-day meeting of the minds for Latino content producers and those trying to reach them. The Conference kicks off with a powerful opening plenary, “Where’s My Space? Paths to Profits in a Multi-platform World.” The top content officers for PBS, AOL Latino, MTV Networks and HD Net Films will parse the mobile media revolution, and explore the ways that Latino cinematic expressions and media employment can advance through new technologies. Are Latinos as involved in this next wave of media, both as creators and leaders? What steps are needed to put them at the forefront with other media artists? Co-sponsor HBO will host an opening night welcome reception for Conference attendees as well as a panel titled “Content on the Move: Opportunities in the Mobile Arena” that will probe the growing demand for personalized entertainment. "One of the great things about NALIP has always been its ability to gather the best in the business for the exchange of ideas, knowledge and experiences," said Lucinda Martinez-Desir, Vice President, Market Development, at HBO.  "This year is no exception, and as a company that has always embraced new technology, HBO is happy to take part in addressing the myriad opportunities that mobile's evolution has created for all of us." Additionally, NALIP will host a sneak preview screening of John Singleton’s new film, Illegal Tender with writer/director Franc. Reyes (Empire), producer John Singleton and stars Wanda de Jesus (The Ministers) and Rick Gonzales (War of the Worlds) present for a Q&A. The following two days will look at strategies for conquering the mobile media revolution through professional development seminars, keynote speeches, technology exhibits in a Digital Filmmaking Village and networking events including a Gala Awards Dinner hosted by comedian and radio host Joey Medina honoring George A. Romero, Edward James Olmos, the producers of ABC’s “Ugly Betty” and ESTELA winners Judy Hecht Dumontet and Natalia Almada. Conference Agenda Conference 8 is co-chaired by documentary filmmaker Evangeline Griego (Sir! NO Sir! ), Spike TV Executive Vice President Pancho Mansfield and Fox Vice President of Emerging Markets Rick Ramirez. Executives from AOL Latino, Intel, HBO, SAG, Universal, CBS, Fox, Endeavor, Warner Bros., VOY, State Street Pictures, the WGAW and many others are scheduled to attend and participate.  Performer/director panels on voice-over careers and cold readings, opportunities to pitch Si TV and Nickelodeon, plus tips on how to break in to Hollywood…legally!...are included in the weekend agenda. Documentary makers have a track of seminars that includes documentary distribution in the new media age, a funding panel with representatives from all the major documentary foundations and funds, and a pitch forum with international commissioning editors from Spain and France. Narrative makers look at how to really make a movie under a million dollars, moderated by El Cantante’s producer Julio Caro. “Latinos still receive many fewer opportunities to tell their stories,” says Caro. “And when they do, they get fewer resources to tell them. I want people to see how we use budgets and talent extremely creatively, to create big looks and commercial product.” Co-chair Pancho Mansfield states, “NALIP is an excellent forum for aspiring and established filmmakers to network with decision makers and further their craft with insight from some of the brightest minds in the entertainment industry.” Speakers include Intel’s Chris Thomas, QD3’s Quincy Jones III, Galan Productions’ Hector Galan, Paradigm’s Ray Telles, CBS Casting Executive Fern Orenstein, Universal Studios Creative Executive David Ortiz, Galan Entertainment founder Nely Galan, filmmaker/producer Moctesuma Esparza, Cingular Wireless Executive Director of Hispanic Marketing Roberto Garcia, HBO VP of Market Development Lucinda Martinez-Desir, National Hispanic Media Coalition President Alex Nogales, Screen Actors Guild National Director of Affirmative Action and Diversity Angel Rivera and Endeavor agent Alexis Garcia. A complete list of speakers is available at: www.nalip.org/conference2007/Speakers.html. NALIP sessions will include an “Ugly Betty” Case Study with the show’s producers, marketers and cast members, a special session on wealth with Nely Galan called “How to Produce, Make Projects You Love and Create Wealth Without Selling Your Soul” and an examination of “How to Write for a Diverse Network Show: The Real Ways In,” including panelists from “Heroes,” “Martin,” and “The George Lopez Show.” The top Internet Majors, My Space, Revver, Google, Jaman and Commendo will be represented on a panel looking at the trends and technologies driving this next wave of digital media. Friday will conclude with a “Latinos in the Industry” Roundtable of media activists with Edward James Olmos, Alex Nogales, Helen Hernandez, Frank Zuniga and Moctesuma Esparza. “Our Conference becomes more dynamic and relevant each year,” says NALIP Executive Director Kathryn Galan. “Industry execs like HBO’s Maud Nadler and Greg Rhem, Warner Bros.’ David Hernandez and Felicia Bell, PBS’ John Boland, WGBH’s Judith Vecchione and Studiocanal’s Roberto Blatt provide insight and access for our emerging and mid-career filmmakers. We are pleased to welcome software and technologies that can make Latino work more efficient, accessible and artistic. Comedian and Latino 96.3 radio personality Joey Medina will MC the Awards Gala where Latino media luminaries will be honored on Saturday, March 10. Cult legend director and writer George A. Romero (Dawn of the Dead, Night of the Living Dead) will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award in Film, Edward James Olmos (HBO Films’ Walkout, “Battlestar Galactica”) will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award in Advocacy. The visionary producers behind the hit ABC television series “Ugly Betty” will receive an Outstanding Achievement Award. The McDonald’s Corporation returns to present one rising Latino documentary director and one rising Latino feature filmmaker the ESTELA award which is a $7,500 cash grant that recognizes their work, leadership, creativity, vision and passion. This year’s winners are Judy Hecht Dumontet (Tortilla Heaven) and Natalia Almada (Al Otro Lado). Concurrent with Conference 8, with the support of the National Endowment for the Arts, NALIP presents the third Latino Media Market™.  Twenty-eight select feature production and development projects, documentary works-in-progress and reality television series ideas will be accepted to participate in a special executive meeting series designed to advance each producer’s project, arrange financing and attract broadcast licenses.  SiTV will once again return as the exclusive non-scripted television channel taking series concept pitches and will award a $2,000 prize, plus a 4-month development option to the strongest series concept pitched at the Market. Additionally, NALIP will hold a special Loteria with all of the proceeds going to one lucky Conference attendee in order to advance the winner’s project and Jaman will announce the Jamanlibre Latino Short Film Contest winner. 
 About the Honorees & Hosts GEORGE A. ROMERO, Lifetime Achievement Award American director George A. Romero was making films from the age of 14 with an 8 mm camera, like most teen movie enthusiasts. Matriculating into the industrial-film business in Pittsburgh, Romero accrued enough capital to make his first feature-length film in 1968, a graphically gruesome zombie picture entitled Night of the Living Dead.   Barely making back its cost on its initial release, the movie received some welcome, if adverse, publicity when Reader's Digest devoted an article to it. The magazine was appalled at the scenes of cannibalism and similar horrors, going so far as to insist that a movement be started to have the picture banned. Naturally, this made the movie more popular than ever, much more so than if Reader's Digest had simply ignored it. And the subsequent profits of Night of the Living Dead enabled Romero to finance several more low-budget scare pictures before he broke into the mainstream with Dawn of the Dead in 1978, a semi-comic sequel to his first film. Day of the Dead (1985), the third of the Dead Trilogy, was more elaborate than his earlier productions.   Romero then added such films as Creepshow (1980), Martin (1978), and his weekly TV terror anthology “Tales From the Darkside” (1984-1986), which belied its tiny budget with excellent writing, first-rate actors (Barnard Hughes, Fritz Weaver, Jerry Stiller, Eddie Bracken, et al.) and bone-chilling makeup effects. Romero has exerted considerable influence on an entire school of higher-budget horror directors, notably John Carpenter, Wes Craven, and Brian De Palma. Romero is married to actress and long-time collaborator Christine Forrest and has three children. EDWARD JAMES OLMOS, Lifetime Achievement Award in Advocacy Actor, producer, director and community activist Edward James Olmos was born and raised in East Los Angeles.  A veteran of the theater, he earned a Tony nomination for his mesmerizing performance in the 1978 drama/musical Zoot Suit.  He reprised the role for a feature film in 1981, and went on that year to star in Wolfen. He followed these performances with pivotal roles in Ridley Scott's landmark Blade Runner and Robert M. Young's acclaimed The Ballad of Gregorio Cortez. Olmos’ feature film credits also include Selena, Mi Familia / My Family and American Me, which he also directed.  His extensive television work includes HBO’s The Burning Season, Showtime’s In the Time of Butterflies, the ABC miniseries “Dead Man’s Walk” and the documentary The Unfinished Journey, directed by Steven Spielberg.  Olmos also starred for two seasons in the acclaimed PBS series “American Family.”   He has been awarded a HUGO Award for Best Actor for his portrayal of Commander William Adama in the science fiction thriller, “Battlestar Galactica,” which airs on NBC/Universal’s Sci-Fi Channel every Friday at 10/9C. He was also honored with Marlene L. Dermer, co-director of the Latino Film Festival at the 2005 Premio Awards for Arts & Entertainment.   His latest film, Walkout is based on a true story.  In 1968, then-teacher Sal Castro (played by Michael Pena) asked students in his classroom to read the history-book passage on the Mexican-American contributions to the Civil War – which was a trick question, since that passage did / does not exist.  Inspired by the historical injustice, Moctesuma Esparza, a young activist and a student named Paula Crisostomo, used civil disobedience to protest policies at five East L.A. high schools that were predominantly populated by Latino students and mostly staffed by Anglo faculty and administration.  Olmos directed the film and his son, Bodie Olmos, stars as Esparza.   Walkout enlightens viewers about a little-known chapter in modern Mexican-American history and Olmos aim was to get our attention - it certainly sparked an immigration debate that is still going on in modern day.     Throughout his career, Olmos has received numerous accolades, including an LA Drama Circle Award, an Emmy and two Golden Globe Awards.  In 1988, he received an Academy Award nomination for his portrayal of Jaime Escalante, the dedicated, real-life math teacher in Stand and Deliver, which Olmos also produced. Most recently, he was awarded the PASS award from the National Council on Crime and Delinquency for producing the domestic-violence documentary It Ain’t Love.   Olmos is currently a United States Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF.  He is also a national spokesperson for the following organizations: Southwest Voter Registration Project, where he helps the Latino Community in its pursuit of citizenship and voter registration; the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation; and the AIDS Awareness Foundation.  He also serves on the boards of Recruiting New Teachers, the Twentieth Century Fund, UCLA School of Film and Theater, UCLA Mentoring Program, Miami Children’s Hospital, Los Angeles Children’s Hospital, National Council on Adoption, Children’s Action Network, Hollywood Supports and OneNetNow.com.   Edward James Olmos is tireless in his efforts to improve the human condition. One would be hard pressed to find a man more dedicated to his family, his work, his concerns and causes, and the people who look to him for a voice in their own lives.   JUDY HECHT DUMONTET, ESTELA Judy is the writer / director and a producer of the film Tortilla Heaven, to be released in theaters by Archangel Entertainment in March 2007.     When the filmmaker first arrived in New Mexico to set up the film, she had yet to raise more than one-half of the budget.  Undeterred, she found the perfect location, called a town meeting and pitched the script to the people of Embudo, a small town north of Santa Fe. By unanimous vote Embudo welcomed the filmmakers and pitched in to help, donating homes, churches, people and facilities and uniting to help make the film.  10 miles down the road, the Picuris Indian Nation did the same.  Armed with this grass-roots support, the Latina filmmaker brought together an outstanding Latino and Native American cast to realize this modern-day Latino tale of God, food and the American dream.  Tortilla Heaven is her feature film debut.   A past winner of the Directors Guild Award for most outstanding new Latino filmmaker, her student-produced short film The Novice (ìLa noviciaî) premiered at Sundance and went on to win awards and accolades throughout the U.S., Latin America and Europe, including a Grand Prize at the Worldfest/Houston, the Eastman Kodak Award, Gold Medals at the Fort Lauderdale and Austin International Film Festivals, the Bandeira Paulista at the Mostra Internacional de Cinema in São Paulo, an Award of Merit at Chicago International and the Bronze Medal at the Charleston International Film Festival.   She won earlier recognition for her documentary Homeboys, also made at the University of Southern California. The film premiered at the Kennedy Center, won a FOCUS Award, a CINE Golden Eagle and audience awards in Europe at London and Oberhausen. Writer/director of Univisionís La visión de una mujer (A Woman’s Vision), she co-starred, was second unit director and associate producer on the European mini-series And the Violins Stopped Playing and won Gold Medals at the Worldfest/Houston and the Charleston International Film Festival for her feature script Colorblind as well as a, Premio de Oro in Cuba for her feature script version of La Novicia. Born in Mexico City, she grew up in the U.S. and studied cinema at the University of Southern California after receiving a joint degree with honors in domestic and international law from Columbia University. NATALIA ALMADA, ESTELA Natalia Almada's debut feature-length documentary, Al Otro Lado, about immigration, drug trafficking and Corrido music was nationally broadcast on PBS’s award winning program P.O.V. in August 2006 and had a special week long engagement at New York’s Museum of Modern Art in March 2006. Al Otro Lado was nominated for a 2005 Gotham Award and was an official selection of the Tribeca Film Festival, The Los Angeles Film Festival, Margaret Mead, the New York Latino International Film Festival (Kodak Cultural Award), Cinefestival (best feature film), Morelia Film Festival (honorable mention for Best documentary), Puerto Rico International Film Festival (best documentary) and others. The film received support from the Sundance Documentary Fund, Latino Public Broadcasting, The Tribeca All Access Program, The New York Foundation for the Arts and the Arizona Humanities Council. Her personal, experimental short, All Water Has A Perfect Memory about her family’s memories of the death of her sister, was an official selection of the 2002 Sundance Film Festival, and was awarded best short documentary at the Tribeca Film Festival and a gold plaque award at the Chicago International Film Festival. Natalia is a 2006 and 2007 MacDowell Colony Fellow, a 2006 Rockefeller grant nominee and 2005 recipient of a Creative Capital Grant and a New York State Council for the Arts grant for El General. She received her Masters of Fine Arts from the Rhode Island School of Design in 2001 and works as a freelance editor. EVANGELINE GRIEGO, Conference Co-Chair Ms. Griego is an award winning independent documentary producer/director who has been working in film for the past 18 years.  Her company, About Time Productions, produced the documentary, Paño Arte: Images from Inside and Border Visions/Visiones Fronterizos.  Most recently she produced the feature documentary, Rosa’s Boys. Currently she’s in production on the feature documentary God Willing about a bible-based nomadic cult.   As Segment Co-Producer, she completed The New Americans, a Kartemquin Films’ PBS multi-part series. As Line Producer she produced The Journey Home, a PBS multi part series. Her extensive production management and line producing experience includes short and feature films, music videos, and public service announcements. She has produced for the J. Paul Getty Trust, and worked with The Walt Disney Company, Faction Films, Morgan Creek Productions and MGM Studios. She has worked with OUTFEST as the Festival Manager and is the Co-Founder of the Silver Lake Film Festival in Los Angeles. She serves on the board of directors for NALIP, The National Association of Latino Independent Producers, and OUTFEST Los Angeles Gay & Lesbian film festival. PANCHO MANSFIELD, Conference Co-Chair Born to a Cuban mother and Red Sox fan father, Pancho spent most of his childhood overseas.  After attending NYU Film School, he began his career working on documentaries, industrials and television magazine programs in New York.  Pancho later moved to Los Angeles and continued his career at The Artist’s Agency, a talent and literary agency.   This was followed by a long tenure at Showtime Networks, where he developed some of the more provocative and popular projects in the company’s history, including Hiroshima, Armistead Maupin’s, “More Tales of the City,” Noriega, "Stargate SG-1," "Penn and Teller: Bullshit!," "Red Shoe Diaries," "Street Time," "The Outer Limits," "Resurrection Blvd." and "Queer As Folk." Pancho has since moved over to Spike TV, heading up its original programming department, where he has shepherded recent series “Blade” and the reality show “Pros vs. Joes.”   RICK RAMIREZ, Conference Co-Chair Rick Ramirez serves as Vice President, Emerging Markets for Fox Entertainment Group. In this capacity, he is instrumental in positioning Fox as an entertainment leader in the Hispanic, African American and Asian American consumer markets. Mr. Ramirez participates in the development of business initiatives and strategies for Fox Entertainment Group and its parent News Corporation. His work engages him in the full scope of the entertainment enterprise, including marketing, sales, promotions, publicity, content development, research, business development, strategic planning, government affairs and diversity development. A native of El Paso, Texas, he worked previously at Phil Roman Entertainment, which he joined during the company's inception in early 1999. He was Vice President, and managed development, production and business affairs for animation and live-action projects intended for TV series, specials and motion picture projects. In addition, Rick oversaw all aspects of deal structuring, financing and distribution. Rick has also served as a producer for Galavisión, was a partner of Ron Tequila Productions, and practiced corporate law with Smith, Underwood, Carmichael & Floyd of Dallas, Texas. KATHYRN F. GALAN, Executive Director Kathryn F. Galán, Executive Director, has established NALIP as the preeminent national Latino media organization by taking it from an NCLR special project with a steering committee to an autonomous and substantial advocacy and professional development organization. Kathryn has worked as an independent producer (French Kiss, Squanto, Day Break), new media consultant, and former studio executive at Atlantic Entertainment Group, at Walt Disney Studio’s Hollywood Pictures, at Prufrock Pictures and with her own consultancy firm, EKR Strategies. She is a graduate of Amherst College, and did initial media studies in video art at SUNY Buffalo, then Masters studies in film history and criticism at UCLA, specializing in World Cinema.   JOEY MEDINA, Gala Host Joey Medina is a comedian and successful writer, TV host, producer and director. He recently joined Los Angeles’ Latino 96.3 FM as radio host and executive producer. Joey is a veteran of over 60 television shows, including A&E’s “Evening at the Improv”, and “The Roseanne Show,” and he can be seen in the upcoming horror film The Devil Inside, with co-stars Danny Trejo and B Real from the rap group Cypress Hill. His first screenplay and directorial debut was the award-winning El Matador. Joey is the creator, host, and Executive Producer of Latin Palooza, and is producer, writer and host of SiTV’s first scripted television show, “Circumsized Cinema.” 
NALIP ACCOMPLISHMENTS Since its inception in 1999, NALIP has emerged as the premiere Latino media organization addressing the most underrepresented and largest ethnic minority in the country.  NALIP has four national initiatives: The National Conference – Media on the Move: Power for Independents is NALIP’s eight national conference. This year the conference includes a Digital Filmmakers’ Village for attendees to experience the Mobile Media revolution first hand. The conference will also offer a Loteria which is a special cash prize awarded to a conference attendee for project development or completion. The Latino Media Market will again be on the agenda selecting top film, television and documentary projects for targeted one-on-one meetings with executives, representatives and funders in order to facilitate more business deals and steps to production. The Latino Writer's Lab™ -- The fifth lab is presented in collaboration with Time Warner and the Writer's Guild of America East in New York City, May 2-6, with a second session scheduled for Santa Monica in September. This 10-day intensive program attracts Latino/a film and television writers from around the country.  The curriculum advances their screenplays through work on craft, as well as through direct mentoring; the program also introduces writers to agents, managers, producers and funders in order to expand their professional network and further their projects and careers. Latino Producers Academy TM – Feature, television and documentary producers and directors attend this ten-day intensive seminar in Tucson, Arizona by special selection and invitation. Producer/director teams participate in seminars on advanced professional skills development and in-depth mentoring that support all aspects of their project development, production skills and marketing understanding as instructed by top industry professionals.  Feature casts and crews are provided so that scenes can be rehearsed, shot, edited and scored. Presented in association with Time Warner and Nielsen Media Research, the UCLA Film and Television Professional Certificate Program and the University of Arizona Media Arts Department, the fourth LPA will be held August 7 - 17, 2007. Latino Media Resource Guide™ – A printed directory of Latino/a writers, directors, producers, crew members, executives and production companies, including their contact and credit information, plus deadlines for diversity initiatives, film schools and funding opportunities, distribution companies and Hispanic American film listings. This book is provided free to members, as well as to all studios, networks, production companies and agents in order to enhance employment and build community.  The database is also available and updatable online, along with additional resources, links, and connections.  The fourth edition will be available at Conference 8. NALIP has 14 regional chapters that provide professional development workshops and support in project development, fundraising, proposal writing and other essential media skills. 
About NALIP: Founded in 1999 by a group of Latino producers, educators and media activists, NALIP’s mission is to promote the advancement, development and funding of Latino and Latina film and media arts in all genres. NALIP is committed to improving access and opportunities for Latino/as at all points in the media production pipeline, including the training of our next generation of media makers, and the support of emerging and mid-career professionals.  It is a national organization of industry, independent and community producers dedicated to increasing the quality and quantity of images by, for and about Latinos in the media. For the latest information about NALIP Conference 8, or to register online, go to www.nalip.org.  All those interested in exhibiting, please contact Conference Director, Tery Lopez at 310.395.8484. ### Press Contact: Monica M. Jaramillo NMA Entertainment & Marketing 818.982.3505 mjaramillo@normmarshall.com http://www.nalip.org/conference2007/Speakers.htmlhttp://www.nalip.orgmailto:mjaramillo@normmarshall.comshapeimage_2_link_0shapeimage_2_link_1shapeimage_2_link_2
 
Contact:
Monica Jaramillo
NALIP Conference 8 Publicist
P 818.982-3505 x-225
F 818-503-1936
mjaramillo@normmarshall.com
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