Posted by Elena del Valle on May 16, 2008
Bella un momento puede cambiar su vida para siempre book cover
Photos, video: Grupo Nelson
In May 2008, Lionsgate will release a 93-minute DVD version of the film Bella in the U.S. The same day the DVD is released, a 208-page novelized print version of the film, Bella: One moment can change your life forever, will become available for the first time. The DVD will sell for $27.98 and the price of the book is $14.99. Scroll down to watch a movie trailer of Bella in English.
The film is also scheduled to open in theaters in Mexico in May 2008. Bella un momento puede cambiar su vida para siempre, the Spanish version of the book, will be published by Grupo Nelson. The English edition of the book will be published by Grupo Nelson’s sister company, Thomas Nelson Fiction. Both books will be available as trade paperbacks. Grupo Nelson will launch the Spanish book version of Bella in the U.S. May 15 in Miami, Florida at the company’s annual booksellers’ conference. The book is expected to be in points of sale in Latin America after June 2008.
In
Bella, a love story, life hasn’t turned out as rosy as Jose (Eduardo Verastegui), a cook, and Nina (Tammy Blanchard) a waitress, had planned. Inspired by a true story it is described as a film that “celebrates life, love, family and relationships.” The
Bella screenplay was written by Alejandro G. Monteverde, Patrick Million and Leo Severino. The
Bella novel was written by Lisa Samson, the author of 19 books, and is based on the original screenplay.
Produced by Metanoia Films, the motion movie was released in theathers October 2007. Bella won the c People’s Choice Award of the Toronto Film Festival, Best Picture and Best Actor at the 2008 Movie Guide Awards, and the Legacy Award from the Smithsonian Institute’s Latino Center.
Grupo Nelson is the Spanish division of Thomas Nelson Publishers (founded in 1798), a publisher and distributor of books about business, culture, inspiration, Christian life, fiction and family value themes including distribution in Latin America and Spain. Thomas Nelson Publishers and Grupo Nelson are owned by Thomas Nelson, a provider of bibles, products, and live events emphasizing Christian, inspirational and family value themes.
Posted by Elena del Valle on May 15, 2008
Scene from Celia: The Life & Music of Celia Cruz
Photos: Adrienne Arsht Center
The international tour of the New York musical about the life of famous Cuban singer Celia Cruz will begin June 18, 2008. Celia: The Life & Music of Celia Cruz will kick off as part of the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County 2008 summer season. Performances will be in English or Spanish. Tickets cost $50 and $75 for VIP seating. After Miami, the show is scheduled to travel to Spain and Puerto Rico.
Scene from Celia: The Life & Music of Celia Cruz
According to promotional materials, the musical takes the audience on a 60-year journey through the life of salsa singer Celia Cruz from her humble youth on the island to her later years of international success. The story is told from the perspective of Celia’s husband, Pedro Knight. Sixteen singers, dancers and musicians will participate in the show which will be presented by the Adrienne Arsht Center and PerilloMusic by arrangement with Cardenas Marketing Network, Inc.
The Adrienne Arsht Center for Performing Arts, designed by Cesar Pelli, is Miami-Dade County’s largest public private-sector partnership. It includes a 2,400-seat opera building, a 2,200-seat concert hall, a 200-seat theater, an education center, a restored Art Deco Tower, and plaza for the arts.
Make your ads resonate with Hispanics
Listen to C&R’s Research Director Liria Barbosa in
“Hispanics’ Perspective on Advertising” audio recording
Liria Barbosa gives a presentation and participates in an extended Q&A discussion about
• Type of ads Latinos prefer
• Latino top media choices
• Percent of Latinos who tried products because of ads
• Percent of Latinos who purchased products because of ads
• What makes an ad “Hispanic”
• If ad language is important for bicultural Latinos
• What to keep in mind when targeting bicultural Latinos with ads
Click here for information on Hispanic Perspectives on Advertising
Posted by Elena del Valle on May 12, 2008
Backdrop album cover
Photos, video, song: SGM Records
Oakland, California resident David Privat-Gilman, known by his artistic name David P-G, has taken the first step in the professional music business at a young age. SGM Records signed him up at 17 and now his first electronic-techno album, Backdrop, is available for the whole word to purchase. An American-Peruvian, David P-G composed, produced and promoted his first album while he was a senior in high school. Scroll down to watch Glenbrook music video and listen to Glenbrook from the Backdrop album.
David P-G producer and composer
“I very much enjoyed it. I spent hours each day working on songs because I got hooked on it,” said David P-G, who was influenced by varied music genres and incorporates different styles in his music, from hip-hip to techno.
David P-G
He composed the music, arranged the songs, produced and designed his album cover with his drawings and photographs. His first single Glenbrook and 12 other tracks are on sale at iTunes.com. David P-G plans to promote his music in the San Francisco Bay area and in his hometown.
Many of his songs were made in his early teens and he continues to pursue music as he enters college. SGM Records, a record label and production company, conducts digital video production specializing in music videos, TV commercials and public service announcements.
Reach Hispanics online today with
“Marketing to Hispanics Online” audio recording
Identifying and characterizing the booming Hispanic online market
Joel Bary, Alex Carvallo and Matias Perel
Find out about
• The 16 million Latino online users
• Latino online users by gender
• What they do online
• Their language preferences
• How to reach Hispanic urban youth online
• What affects their online behavior
• What influences their purchases
Click here for information about “Marketing to Hispanics Online”
Click on the play button to listen to Glenbrook from the Backdrop album
Posted by Elena del Valle on May 9, 2008
How the Garcia Girls Spent Their Summer film poster
Photos and video: Grupo Najera, Maya Releasing
On May 16, 2008 Maya Releasing will release How the Garcia Girls Spent Their Summer, a story of three generations of Mexican American women in one family who experience sexual awakenings over the course of a summer, in theatres across the country. Scroll down to watch movie video clip.
The 128-minute feature was written, produced and directed by Georgina Garcia Riedel who was inspired by her 70-year old grandmother’s desire to buy a car. It stars Rick Najera, America Ferrera, Steven Bauer and Elizabeth Peña.
Actor Rick Najera
How the Garcia Girls Spent Their Summer was originally screened at the 2005 Sundance Film Festival. The film has also been screened in festivals in Sao Paulo, Austria, Buenos Aires, Istanbul, Stockholm and Sydney.
Improve your outreach programs by understanding
how Latinos see themselves – listen to
“Latino Identity and Situational Latinidad ” audio recording
Presenters Diana Rios and Ph.D., Federico Subervi, Ph.D.
Find out
• Who is Latino
• Assimilation, acculturation and pluralism
• Hispanic culture dynamics affecting Latino
• Role of Latino identity
• Three factors that contribute to Latino identity
Click here for information on Latino Identity and Situational Latinidad
As sweltering summer stretches over an Arizona border town, Doña Genoveva (Lucy Gallardo), the Garcia family matriarch, buys a car even though she doesn’t know how to drive. She recruits Don Pedro to teach her to drive and sparks begin to fly. Her daughter, Lolita (Elizabeth Peña), also enters into a romantic sizzle at the butcher shop
where she works. At the same time, Lolita’s teenage daughter, Blanca (America Ferrera) is experiencing her own awakening.Maya Releasing is owned by Maya Entertainment, which was created by producer Moctesuma Esparza. The vertically integrated production, distribution and exhibition company also owns Maya Cinemas and Maya Pictures and targets the growing United States Latino market.
Posted by Elena del Valle on May 8, 2008
Click on image to enlarge
Photo: starMedia
French owned starMedia continues to reach out to Latinos in the Americas. It recently launched starMedia EntertaiNEWS, the first of three new channels it plans for this year. The new portal is an online channel designed to bring Spanish-speakers in the United States global entertainment news and programming. Developed with C3 Entertainment, the portal recaps the week’s most important entertainment news and lists information about concerts, movies, theater and other cultural events.
Juan José Nuñez, COO, starMedia
“As a subsidiary of one of the world’s leading media organizations, starMedia accesses an extraordinary variety of content. That allows us to continue developing and introducing a new generation of services and resources for our users and advertisers,” said Juan José Nuñez, chief operating officer, starMedia. “StarMedia EntertaiNEWS is the first of a series of new offerings we look forward to launching over the next few months. StarMedia continues to affirm its market leadership position by introducing diverse and relevant content for its U.S. Hispanic audience. We’re totally committed to empowering our users with information and entertainment they value.”
Visitors to the new website can also watch movie previews and other video clips; peruse celebrity photos of the week; and receive entertainment reports. StarMedia plans a weekly a headliner show, a humorous five-minute news Webisodio or webcast sponsored by Toyota. A video capsule features popular entertainers, box office trailers, interviews and celebrity news and gossip.
StarMedia.com is a free-to-web service connecting three million Spanish-speakers online in the United States and 24 million overall. StarMedia has local operations in Mexico, Spain and the United States (Los Angeles, Miami and New York). Orange, starMedia’s parent company, is a subsidiary of the France Telecom Group. C3 is a privately-held entertainment company founded in 1959.
Find out what multicultural kids across America think
Listen to Michele Valdovinos, SVP, Phoenix Multicultural in
“Marketing to Multicultural Kids” audio recording
Michele Valdovinos gives a presentation and participates in an extended Q&A discussion about multicultural children based on a Phoenix Multicultural and Nickelodeon study of 1,300 multicultural children in 16 United States markets.
Find out about
• The Phoenix Multicultural Kids Study
• Relationship between children and their context
• Issues relating to family, technology and media, diversity, buying power, relationships in household, self perception, values, acculturation, cultural heritage, frequency of media activity, income and spending, brand preferences, the American Dream
• How many billions of dollars buying power multicultural kids children have
• Children’s spending attitudes, habits by ethnicity
• How much money a year Hispanic kids have available to spend
• Types of products Hispanic kids buy
Click here for information on “Marketing to Multicultural Kids”
Posted by Elena del Valle on May 2, 2008
David Beckham: Life of an Icon DVD cover
Photos, video: Liberation Entertainment/Anchor Bay Entertainment
A new film, David Beckham: Life of an Icon, an unauthorized biography of the well known soccer player, is scheduled for release to the public on DVD May 6 for $19.97. Spotted by sports scouts in a working class neighborhood at the age of 11 he was signed up to play soccer at 14 by Sir Alex Ferguson and went on to become world famous.
The film shares insights on his life from his early days; his meteoric rise in sports and fame, including some moments of Beckham’s life with his famous wife, the birth of his son, and the family’s relocation to the United States. Scroll down to watch promotional videos in English and Spanish for the DVD.
“Soccer is the biggest sport in the Spanish-speaking world and Beckham is its biggest star,” said Matt Kennedy, director of marketing for Liberation Entertainment, the DVD’s distributor. “An estimated 50 percent of the Galaxy’s fans are Hispanic and have been there from day one. They love Beckham, which was evidenced by the fact that more than a quarter million jerseys were purchased before he even played his first Los Angeles game. To them, it’s not whether he came from Guadalajara or East London, it’s that he’s a great soccer player.”
The 77-minute film includes footage from his most important games, as well as family photos supplied by David’s father. The video also features some of Beckham’s greatest moments, commentary from players and journalists as well as pictures and footage. Distributors produced promotional materials in English and Spanish. In addition to the usual mass outreach to media in print, broadcast and online, they also approached Latino media representatives.
David Beckham
David Beckham’s first taste of the U.S. came with a distinctly Latin flavor. At 13 (in 1989), Beckham flew to Texas to compete in the Dallas Cup, a top youth tournament.
“I remember meeting one of the nicest families. When we went there, each player got sort of drafted out to a house with a family and I went to this Mexican-American family,” said Beckham of his experience. “It was amazing; the experience of being part of a real Mexican-American family that loved soccer.”
That home belonged to Sam and Christine Alcala. Beckham roomed with Mike, Sam and Christine’s son. Every morning Sam would drive them to practice after breakfast. In the evenings, they ate rice, beans and tacos.
There are five extended interviews in the film: “Brand Beckham,” “The Beckham Phenomenon,” “The Kofi Annan Story,” “Beckham in America,” and “Why Beckham?” with Sir Bobby Charlton, Ellis Cashmore, Andrew Milligan, Jimmy Burns, Steve Bunce and Sasha Pasulka.
The DVD is divided into the following chapters: Life of an Icon; Style and Fashion; World Cup 1998; The Comeback Kid; World Cup 2002 – Revenge; Worldwide Appeal Brand Beckham; Fallout With Alex Ferguson; Move to Madrid; World Cup 2006; Return to Madrid; and Move Towards Hollywood and Future.
Beckham grew from a modest life as a young boy in his early soccer days to a media star and style icon into a jet-set life. He recently moved with his rock star wife Posh Spice to Hollywood, California.
Click here to buy David Beckham: Life Of An Icon
Posted by Elena del Valle on April 28, 2008
Deeper Down album cover
Photos, song: HardKandy records Inc.
Deeper Down, the first Royal Doll album, will be released online via iTunes.com, iTunes International, Emusic.com, Amazon.com, napster.com, this month. It will sell for $9.99 for the album or .99 cents per song. The album, which includes pop, trip hop, alternative, rock and R & B rhythms, has 15 songs including 14 new songs and a remix. Vocalist Damaris De Jesus and Producer and multi-instrumentalist Greg L. Hines, known by his artistic name Mad Scientist Brother Noyze The Mad Musician, make up Royal Doll.
“It’s a funny story. A guitarist friend of mine and I were discussing our favorite movies. We both agreed on Willy Wonka as an all time great movie. He mentioned to me the author of the original book they based the movie on (Charlie and The Chocolate Factory) was named Roald Dahl. I thought he said Royal Doll. I told him the guy had a great name, Royal Doll. He the said no; Roald Dahl. We both died laughing, ” said Hines, chief executive officer and president, HardKandy Records Inc. when asked about the origin of the name Royal Doll. “I then told him when I found the right vocalist I was going to name a project Royal Doll. Years later I found the beautiful Damaris De Jesus a true Royal Doll and knew the project we were working on would fit the name.”
Mad Scientist Brother Noyze The Mad Musician was born in Newark, New Jersey. His first original song involved five human beat boxes orchestrated and mixed with original sound effects he recorded with a tape deck. Hines was named Brother Noyze The Mad Musician because he used odd sonic textures in his musical compositions.
Mad Scientist Brother Noyze The Mad Musician and Damaris De Jesus
Hines’ love of noise and odd sonic textures comes from his fondness for Sci-Fi and from years working in a factory where he used to Human Beatbox in time with the machinery. After eight years of music production, he developed House of Ill Repute, a project in which he is a vocalist and released the EP Are You My Eve? as well as the album Confessions of a Lover Gone Mad. Later, Hines returned to music production specializing in hybrid music types and started HardKandy Records as an outlet for his music.
De jesus also a Newark, New Jersey native found refuge from difficult moments in music. A chance meeting with Brother Noyze during a talent show led to the signing of a solo album for her. He also invited her to be the lead singer for Royal Doll.
Click on the play button to listen to Return My Love from the deeper Down album
Make your ads resonate with Hispanics
Listen to C&R’s Research Director Liria Barbosa in
“Hispanics’ Perspective on Advertising” audio recording
Liria Barbosa gives a presentation and participates in an extended Q&A discussion about
• Type of ads Latinos prefer
• Latino top media choices
• Percent of Latinos who tried products because of ads
• Percent of Latinos who purchased products because of ads
• What makes an ad “Hispanic”
• If ad language is important for bicultural Latinos
• What to keep in mind when targeting bicultural Latinos with ads
Click here for information on Hispanic Perspectives on Advertising
Posted by Elena del Valle on April 24, 2008
Yasmin Deliz and Enrique Iglesias on Vivo
Photo: Robson Muzel
In April, mun2 hopes to capture the hearts of its viewers 12 to 34 years of age with Enrique Iglesias: Bigger on mun2, a series of appearances by singer Enrique Iglesias. The pop star will be featured prominently including holamun2.com originals, hosted shows, interactive features, original promos, music video blocks, and exclusive interviews. Some of the programs, a promo, digital vignette and teasers, will be available in part or whole on holamun2.com, the network’s website. Appearances will be in Spanish, English and spanglish.
“Mun2 is bringing a true pioneer of bilingual pop to fans with our exclusive Bigger on mun2 treatment of original, irreverent, and candid content on-air and online,” said Flavio Morales, mun2 vice president of Programming. “Kicking off the new season of Vivo with Enrique Iglesias, one of the greatest international pop stars of all time, is a huge treat for our audience.”
Enrique Iglesias: Bigger on mun2 includes a appearances on a mun2 on-air promo, Holamun2.com, 2RSLVJ, The Shuffle, Pepsi Musica, Enrique Iglesias “95/08″ video block, and Vivo, a three year old program. According to a mun2’s representative, the network executives expect many women viewers and high audience numbers.
Launched in 2001, mun2 offers bilingual programming for young U.S. Latinos. The multi-platform youth entertainment network is available nationwide to 17 million viewers on cable and television. The network is part of Telemundo Cable Networks, a division of NBC Universal TV Networks Distribution.
Find out what multicultural kids across America think
Listen to Michele Valdovinos, SVP, Phoenix Multicultural in
“Marketing to Multicultural Kids” audio recording
Michele Valdovinos gives a presentation and participates in an extended Q&A discussion about multicultural children based on a Phoenix Multicultural and Nickelodeon study of 1,300 multicultural children in 16 United States markets.
Find out about
• The Phoenix Multicultural Kids Study
• Relationship between children and their context
• Issues relating to family, technology and media, diversity, buying power, relationships in household, self perception, values, acculturation, cultural heritage, frequency of media activity, income and spending, brand preferences, the American Dream
• How many billions of dollars buying power multicultural kids children have
• Children’s spending attitudes, habits by ethnicity
• How much money a year Hispanic kids have available to spend
• Types of products Hispanic kids buy
Click here for information on “Marketing to Multicultural Kids”
Posted by Elena del Valle on April 21, 2008
Hot Bread CD cover
Photos, songs: The Mambo Project
New York Latino pianist, bandleader and arranger Gilberto “Pulpo” Colon, Jr. recently released his debut CD, Hot Bread. Colon, Jr. is recognized by many in the Latino music industry as the former pianist and musical director for the well-known Héctor Lavoe. Released by The Mambo Project, Hot Bread features Latin jazz and salsa music. The album, available for purchase online, also includes music from Chino Nuñez, Richie Bastar, “Little” Johnny Rivero, and Joe Santiago.
There are arrangements by Jóse Febles, Papo Lucca, and Oscar Hernández and Pulpo enlisted the participation of Héctor “Papote” Jiménez, a young vocalist. Driving the project home are Pulpo’s solos and montunos for which the veteran is known, including five original numbers. He also pays homage to Latin musicians Eddie Palmieri, Willie Colón, and Héctor Lavoe.
“About 20 years ago, Pulpo asked his musical mentor José Febles to write two original songs for a potential album Pulpo was going to record. Of the two, ‘Hot Bread’ was a Latin jazz composition written specifically for Pulpo and his style of piano playing. That album never came to fruition and the arrangement sat in the bowels of Pulpo’s basement for two decades. While brainstorming titles for the CD, it was deemed to be a fitting tribute to his musical mentor and to Pulpo’s true passion for Latin jazz,” said
Chris Soto, founder of The Mambo Project, when asked how the album title was picked.
Gilberto “Pulpo” Colon, Jr.
Born in New York City on December 28, 1953, Pulpo’s musical journey began at the age of 14 and has spanned more than four decades. His parent’s commitment to their heritage played an important role in his decision to pursue Latin music at a time when his contemporaries were moving towards mainstream rhythms. After experimenting with various instruments, Pulpo followed the tutelage of piano man Charlie Palmieri.
In 1975, Pulpo received his big break when he was approached by Fania All-Star vocalist Héctor Lavoe to be his pianist and musical director. For 16 years, Pulpo recorded and worked with Lavoe while they toured throughout the world. Pulpo was also a piano and musical theory teather for more than 16 years at Johnny Colón’s East Harlem Music School in New York City.
In addition to his own band, Pulpo plays and tours with the Big 3 Palladium Orchestra. Most recently, Pulpo became the musical director of Orquesta De La Gente (ODLG), a group dedicated to the memory of Héctor Lavoe which performs original tunes from the vocalist’s repertoire.
The nickname “Pulpo” (Spanish for octopus) was coined in recognition of his ability to move up and down the keyboard. Pulpo’s love for Latin jazz led him to start his own band named Ensalada De Pulpo.
The Mambo Project, started as an annual dance event in South Florida, provides representation and management services for professional salsa dancers and musicians. Clients incluye Richie Bastar from El Gran Combo, Pulpo, and Hacha y Machete Dance Company.
Click on the play button to listen to Apariencia and Tirandote Flores from the Hot Bread album
Make your ads resonate with Hispanics
Listen to C&R’s Research Director Liria Barbosa in
“Hispanics’ Perspective on Advertising” audio recording
Liria Barbosa gives a presentation and participates in an extended Q&A discussion about
• Type of ads Latinos prefer
• Latino top media choices
• Percent of Latinos who tried products because of ads
• Percent of Latinos who purchased products because of ads
• What makes an ad “Hispanic”
• If ad language is important for bicultural Latinos
• What to keep in mind when targeting bicultural Latinos with ads
Click here for information on Hispanic Perspectives on Advertising
Posted by Elena del Valle on April 17, 2008
La Fea Más Bella DVD cover
Photo: Xenon Pictures/Televisa Home Entertainment
Xenon Pictures and Televisa Home Entertainment continue to partner in their efforts to reach the booming Latino market with DVDs. On their behalf Lionsgate Home Entertainment recently released the 2007 telenovela La Fea Más Bella, a triple-disc DVD package with more than 10 hours (700 minutes) of PG content in Spanish with English subtitles for $24.98.
According to promotional materials, the Spanish language soap was among the highest rates programs in its category in Mexico. It was winner of the 2007 TV y Novelas award for Novela of the Year provided Univision the highest ratings it’s ever achieved, drawing an average audience of 7.4 million viewers for the finale, according to Nielsen; and comparable to that of Ugly Betty, the English language U.S. counterpart on ABC.
Improve your outreach programs by understanding
how Latinos see themselves – listen to
“Latino Identity and Situational Latinidad ” audio recording
Presenters Diana Rios and Ph.D., Federico Subervi, Ph.D.
Find out
• Who is Latino
• Assimilation, acculturation and pluralism
• Hispanic culture dynamics affecting Latino
• Role of Latino identity
• Three factors that contribute to Latino identity
Click here for information on Latino Identity and Situational Latinidad
La Fea Más Bella stars Angelica Vale (Soñadoras, Amigas y Rivales), Jaime Camil (7 días, Mi destino eres tu), Patricia Navidad (Sueños y caramelos, El Manantial), Niurka Marcos, Laisha Wilkins, and veteran telenovela actress Angélica María. The novela also marks the return to television of José José.The Spanish language telenovela stars Lety, a sweet, shy, romantic, intelligent girl considered less than attractive who evolves from an ugly duckling to a beauty. Graduating with honors in economics and a master’s in finance, she confidently enters the job market, never once considering her appearance to be an obstacle. In spite of her her skills and education she is rejected for employment repeated.
She finally accepts a secretarial position at a major production company run by the founder’s dashing but womanizing son, Fernando. Lety falls in love with him and rescues the company from disaster while dealing with office gossips and Fernando.
The program was based on the Colombian hit Yo soy Betty la fea. La Fea Más Bella was written by Fernando Gaitan, who also penned the novelas Destilando amor and Café con aroma de mujer, and produces Ugly Betty. It was directed by actor Sergio Jimenez (Vivo por Elena, Nunca te olvidare) before his passing in 2007.
Click here to buy La Fea Mas Bella
on DVD
