By Reid Nakamura

Former Telemundo exec will oversee development of Latino-themed scripted, unscripted and digital projects

Endemol Shine North America has named Flavio Morales Executive Vice President, Endemol Shine Latino, U.S. Initiatives.

In his new role based in Los Angeles, Morales will oversee the development of scripted, unscripted and digital content for the U.S. Hispanic/English-speaking marketplace. Cris Abrego and Charlie Corwin, Co-Chairmen and Co-CEOs of Endemol Shine North America announced the news Wednesday.

“Flavio brings a wealth of experience as both a producer and as a programming executive to our team,” Abrego and Corwin said in a statement. “He’s already off and running, developing original content aimed at the English speaking U.S. Hispanic marketplace–an area we believe has been left largely untapped.”

“I feel fortunate to be a part of an amazing company,” Morales said. “I look forward to collaborating and innovating with Cris, Charlie, Laurens and the entire Endemol Shine familia.” Morales most recently served as EVP at BIG VIDA Entertainment. He previously served as programming executive at NBCUniversal’s Telemundo’s cable network mun2 (now NBCUniverso) for nearly 10 years. Prior to joining mun2, Morales served as Director of Programming and Music for LATV, of which he was also a founding member.

Check this out on TheWrap.com

Based on the real-life event, 33 miners were trapped for 69 days in a gold/copper mine that collapses, their compelling story gets retold by Mexican director Patricia Riggen. Riggen tells the story of the 33, engaging the audience and recreating the experience of the miners. From Guadalajara, Mexico Riggen is no stranger of representing a minority, being one herself in a male dominated field. Best known for her film Bajo La Misma Luna, which won the ALMA and Young Artist Award, among others, Riggen could be in the run for the first Latina director to be nominated for an Oscar.

Riggen is a strong advocate of Latino storytelling, we talked her on that and her journey as a Latina director.

Since the success of "Bajo La Misma Luna", you were approached for various films for you to direct. What is it about The 33 that made it the right story for you to tell at this particular time?

Well, you know I'm a big promoter of Latin story and I think this one was one of the biggest of all. One would think because of that it would have been easier to get made and to get financed , but on the other hand it wasn’t. Latino stories, Latino casts and Latino movies are still difficult to get made in Hollywood, so it was a big challenge and I'm just thrilled with the fact that we are going out with twenty-five hundred screens. I don’t think that there are other movies that have that wide release so for me from Bajo la Misma Luna to this, is a huge step in the right direction, trying to get those movies made, trying to get them to the big screen and getting them seen by all Latinos in the US.

The film was shot in a real salt mine in Colombia, what was the most difficult aspect of getting this film done and being in a place where the 33 men were so vulnerable, what will resonate with audiences the most?

There were many challenges. The first one was staying truthful to the real story and the real cast because it's easy to stray away to make it more entertaining or scary but I just really wanted not to present a inspired by this event but really the movie of this event as it was to the eyes to the words, was a challenge because we have to stay true and we have to be like a movie that is two hours long. So it has to do with how do we condense 69 days, how can we condense that number of casts. There were many decisions to be made every day, so that was one. The second one was telling the story that people know what the output is, they know how it ended, and it is a happy ending, so how do we keep people engaged and intrigued throughout the story. Fortunately, I have a lot of stories, a lot of anecdotes and a lot of moments to draw from to create that tension. The difficult thing was what to leave out, that was another ever present challenge.

You have worked with accomplished filmmakers in their own right, Eva Mendes, Eugenio Derbez, Kate del Castillo, Ligiah Villalobos and Producer Mike Medavoy. How did you manage an international ensemble cast like the one we see in The 33.

It was fascinating, I think we have the opportunity to tell our story to expand our borders, so it was a beautiful thing to have all. I just really follow my heart and ask for the best actor I could for each of the role and also see who was available and willing because there wasn’t a lot of money, it was a very demanding schedule and very long and there's small screen time, little screen time for a movie star.

In 2008, you were awarded the Stella Award. What role do organizations like NALIP play in the development of emerging filmmakers?

Hugely important for Latino filmmakers in the U.S because we are still underrepresented and difficult to get our stories on the screen, organizations share the same common background .

I think NALIP is hugely important for Latino filmmakers in the U.S. Firstly, we are still under represented ,it is very hard to get our stories through and it's just part of these organizations that is going to keep us going and strong and together. I think the unity of all Latinos is a very important thing but I think organizations like that, achieve that. It's not about your origin, we all share a common background and we have to stay stronger together to accomplish things.

What is something you didn't know as an up and coming filmmaker that you wish you knew to enlighten our NALIP community and emerging filmmakers.

In a way, not knowing helped me, because if I knew how hard it was, I may have not taken on a lot of these challenges. I have to say because it is challenging to make movies in Spanish, it’s challenging having Latino faces on the screen, it’s challenging, everything about it is challenging. In my ignorance I was naïve enough to throw myself under Bajo La Misma Luna , and I think that is the way to go. We shouldn’t stop at the obstacles because otherwise it will never be easier. We will always be Latino, we are always going to have the background and the experiences because they are unique and different from the others, and why not use it and tell our story. We just need to keep going. We just need to keep going.

I think, one of the things we need to explore with NALIP and other organizations is what the African-American community have accomplished in the U.S. They discovered their audience and ever since the African-Americans have made their own movies and always make money and therefore they have no studios questioning it and they are releasing movies every month, and every day. We haven't achieved that . One of the important things as Latino filmmakers is to keep up the idea of community because if we aren't able to reach our own community to support us, we are never going to get it , we are never going to have what the African American industry, film industry has, which is a place. We still don’t have a place in the industry and we have to fine tune it to the audience . So those connections are very important and organizations like NALIP need to expand to the community as an audience member and ticket buyers to support our stories . In order to really succeed in our industry we have to do that, but we haven't. It’s the only way we are ever going to succeed.

What is next for Patricia?

I'm just finishing shooting a movie. I'm in the editing process of a movie called Miracles from Heaven that I shot for Sony Pictures. It’s a movie with Jennifer Garner, Queen Latifah, and Eugenio Derbez. I was working on the script and found that the character happened to be Mexican, and this character happened to be a doctor, a pediatrician who is the best in the US, and just seeing that he was Mexican just made me think that this is the time...let’s make a big deal of it because we are always portrayed negatively in movies. I need to highlight this character especially in the Trump phase that we see. So I called Eugenio and I said let’s go for it and he signed on immediately and I got him on board and it’s a free character. For him and for me, the most important thing is to be bringing positive characters to the screen that are Mexican or Latin to change those perceptions.

The 33 in Theaters November 13

The33Movie.com

NALIP is excited to return as a partner for this years AFI FEST 2015 presented by Audi, November 5-12 at the Dolby Theatre, TCL Chinese 6 Theatres, the Egyptian Theatre, and the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel. Join us supporting the following NALIP hosted films, remember, all tickets to all regular screenings are free! For more information about Free Tickets, Express Passes and Patron Packages (note that the Patron Packages come with an allotment of Gala tickets), go toAFI.com.

NEON BULL (BOI NEON)

Brazil | Uruguay | Netherlands, 2015

101 min.

Feature

World Cinema Section

Chinese 3, November 8 @ 7:30pm

Chinese 6, November 11 @9:45pm

Director: Gabriel Mascaro

Cast: Juliano Cazarré, Aline Santana, Carlos Pessoa, Maeve Jinkings

A young cowboy working the Brazilian rodeo circuit dreams of becoming a famous fashion designer.

Iremar is a modern-day cowboy working the Brazilian rodeo circuit. He spends his days covered in mud and feces, looking after the bulls and preparing their tails before releasing them onto the Vaquejada track. A recent textile boom is providing new opportunities for people in the region, and Iremar dreams of becoming a famous fashion designer, using his spare time to create elaborate garments for a new clothing line. There’s an intense potency at the heart of this sophomore narrative feature from Gabriel Mascaro (AUGUST WINDS, AFI FEST 2014). As in his previous work, the plotting and dialogue are sparse, here offset by a hypnotic series of images showing modern bullfighters in the arid rodeos of northern Brazil. Fertility and sexuality hum at the edges of the story as we follow a young man subjected to recent economic changes that threaten the cowboy way of life. – Lane Kneedler

THE MYSTERIOUS DEATH OF PÉROLA (A MISTERIOSA MORTE DE PÉROLA)

Brazil | France, 2014

62 min.

Feature

Breakthrough Section

Chinese 5, November 7 @ 6:45pm

Chinese 2, November 9 @ 4:30pm

Director: Guto Parente

Cast: Ticiana Augusto Lima, Guto Parente 

A young student, living alone in an old apartment, begins to lose herself in loneliness until reality merges with dreams.

A young student leaves her home and boyfriend behind to study art in France, where she moves into an old apartment and begins to lose herself in her loneliness and nostalgia. She becomes increasingly frightened of open doors and windows, and begins to feel that someone is watching her. This fear causes reality to merge with dreams and fantasy. THE MYSTERIOUS DEATH OF PÉROLA is a murder mystery where time, space and characters seem to disappear among classical music, old paintings and video recordings. What results is a film that plays as both an experimental narrative and a horror film rolled into one. Writer/director/actor Guto Parente (short film DOGS ARE SAID TO SEE THINGS, AFI FEST 2012) and producer/actress Ticiana Augusto Lima craft an intimate micro-thriller that creeps under your skin and will have you pondering its mysteries long after the film has ended. — Jenn Murphy

AFI FEST presented by Audi, November 5-12 at the Dolby Theatre, TCL Chinese 6 Theatres, the Egyptian Theatre and the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel.

A program of the American Film Institute, AFI FEST presented by Audi is a celebration of global cinema and today’s Hollywood an opportunity for master filmmakers and emerging artists to come together with audiences in the movie capital of the world.  AFI FEST is the only festival of its stature that is free to the public.  The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences recognizes AFI FEST as a qualifying festival for both Short Film categories for the annual Academy Awards®. 

Connect with AFI FEST at facebook.com/AFIFEST, twitter.com/AFIFEST and youtube.com/AFIFEST.

By Alex Bregman

Actor, writer and comedian John Leguizamo appeared on “Yahoo News Live” to discuss his new graphic novel, “Ghetto Klown,” with Yahoo News and Finance Anchor Bianna Golodryga. He also weighed in on the debate around Republican candidate Donald Trump’s hosting “Saturday Night Live” at NBC.

Leguizamo continued, “What he says doesn’t even fall into the category of PC. It is hatemongering. I hope what I do in my work is not denigrating or belittling.”

It comes on the same day major Latino and immigration advocacy groups are holding a “Dump Trump” rally at Rockefeller Center, where the show is filmed.

NBC would not comment to Yahoo News about Trump’s hosting “SNL.”

Leguizamo also weighed in on Senator Marco Rubio’s recent rise in the polls. He said, “[Rubio] is on the wrong side unfortunately. Latin people for Republicans are like roaches for Raid.”

In his new book, which tells his life story in graphic novel form, Leguizamo writes about the impact his upbringing as a Latino immigrant has had on his career. He told Golodryga: “As an immigrant, you have this crazy drive … to make something of yourself.”

About his television debut on “Miami Vice,” he said, “I do feel a little guilty contributing to that negative stereotype … I felt guilty doing it, but I knew it was the only opportunity to get my name out there.”

He told Golodryga, “I find it hurtful and insulting, and you’re celebrating someone who has said some horrible things. I find it unacceptable. I will not watch … I won’t watch ‘SNL’ anymore.”

Leguizamo continued, “What he says doesn’t even fall into the category of PC. It is hatemongering. I hope what I do in my work is not denigrating or belittling.”

It comes on the same day major Latino and immigration advocacy groups are holding a “Dump Trump” rally at Rockefeller Center, where the show is filmed.

NBC would not comment to Yahoo News about Trump’s hosting “SNL.”

Leguizamo also weighed in on Senator Marco Rubio’s recent rise in the polls. He said, “[Rubio] is on the wrong side unfortunately. Latin people for Republicans are like roaches for Raid.”

In his new book, which tells his life story in graphic novel form, Leguizamo writes about the impact his upbringing as a Latino immigrant has had on his career. He told Golodryga: “As an immigrant, you have this crazy drive … to make something of yourself.”

About his television debut on “Miami Vice,” he said, “I do feel a little guilty contributing to that negative stereotype … I felt guilty doing it, but I knew it was the only opportunity to get my name out there.” 

On Latinos in Hollywood, which he calls in his book “Hollywouldn’t,” when it comes to Latinos, he said, “The talent is out there … We are out there … There is so much talent out there: You can’t find a Latin person? You are not trying.”

Watch the video at Yahoo.com

“Chelo’s dedication to the production of her film, ‘Sands of Silence’ is exemplary” said Carole Dean, president of From the Heart Productions.  “This film will change lives, open conversations and raise the consciousness on many hidden issues.  We are honored to support Chelo in getting this film made”.

In "Sands of Silence", Chelo records a 15-year quest to expose the underworld of sex trafficking from Asia to the Americas back to the windswept beach where her childhood ended and family secrets began.

http://fromtheheartproductions.com/sands-of-silence-wins-roy-w-dean-film-grant/

NALIP has been a major supporter of Sands of Silence feature-length documentary since it was incubated at the 2008 Latino Producers Academy where I participated with NALIP member editor Maria Zeiss. The film also participated in the Latino Media Markets of 2009, 2011 and 2013, and was workshopped at the 2013 Latino Producers Academy where I participated with NALIP member editor Marla Ulloa. The connections I made with mentors at the 2008 LPA (Kate Amend) and 2013 LPA (Jean-Philippe Boucicaut) still echo today, as they both ended up being part of the film’s great four-editor team.