Check out our Members News for November 15, 2018!

ABC Buys "East WillyB" Comedy Based On Web Series

Image courtesy of Deadline

ABC has put in developmentEast WillyB,a half-hour comedy based on the indie web series created by Julia Ahumada Grob and Yamin Segal from Korin Williams and Monique Nash’s Kronicle Media and ABC Studios. 

Written by Grob and Segal, East WillyB is an ensemble comedy that revolves around a truly unconventional family, dysfunctional neighbors who populate the last hold-out dive bar in gentrified Brooklyn. Together they’ll face life’s challenges — from love, friendship, and legacy, to family and change — realizing they can only do it if they lean on each other; their chosen family.

Described as an American story told through the voices and experiences of Latinos, the critically praised East WillyB web series, which takes on issues facing the Latino population, was named the “Latino show for the next generation” by the New York Times.

“When we created this show as a web series we did so by using our grit, emptying our piggy banks, and paying our cast and crew with our tia’s arroz con pollo,” said show creators Grob and Segal. “To have the opportunity to bring an authentic Brooklyn story to television is a dream come true for two New York kids raised on city stoops.”

Segal is an award-winning writer/director who served as head of content for Univision’s English-language channel Flama. A graduate of the ABC/Disney Writing Program, Grob’s credits include Mr. Iglesias, ABC’s Galavant, and Stuck in the Middle. Grob’s passion for writing is influenced by her nontraditional upbringing, and desire to bring the authentic stories of people of color to television.

Read more at deadline.com

"John Leguizamo's Road to Broadway" by Ben DeJesus Premieres Friday, November 16th on PBS!

In partnership with Latino Public Broadcasting’s arts and culture series VOCES, Great Performances presents this behind-the-scenes documentary chronicling Leguizamo’s latest theatrical showcase, “Latin History for Morons.” This comic yet pointed look at the repression of Latino culture in America follows Leguizamo’s journey through his own family history to his first-ever comedy club tour and to Off-Broadway workshops of the new show. Along the way, Leguizamo navigates the challenges of writing (and re-writing) history lessons intended to enlighten and entertain.

Read more and watch the trailer HERE. 

Chance The Rapper To Craft MGM Movie Musical "Hope" With Nico Segal & Carlito Rodriguez

Image Courtesy of Rolling Stone

Chance The Rapper is at the center of "Hope", an original movie musical that MGM will develop and finance. Scripting will be Carlito Rodriguez, whose credits include the Fox series Empire and HBO’s The Leftovers. Grammy-winning songwriter and producer Nico Segal (formerly known as Donnie Trumpet) will oversee the creation of the film’s original music. Told through original music from Nico and his collaborators, Hope follows a group of Chicago teenagers that band together to turn art into action within their community.

Read more at deadline.com

About NALIP:

A leading advocate in inclusion in the industry, NALIP is providing more resources to aspiring filmmakers every year with events such as the NALIP Media Summit, the Latino Media Fest, and the Diverse Women in Media Forum, and events such as the Latino Lens Workshops and the Latino Lens Incubator Shorts.