Posted by Elena del Valle on October 27, 2006
“El Platanal” by Elizabeth Erazo Baez
Art: Elizabeth Erazo Baez
Six artists, from almost as many Latin countries, will display 29 works at a show called “Colors of Hispanic Heritage” from October through December 8, 2006. The exhibit can be seen at the Broward Community College administrative art space on the panoramic 12 floor of the Willis Holcombe Downtown Center in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Elizabeth Erazo Baez, a painter whose works will also be on display, will curate the show for the second year in a row. She has organized a mix of media, including photography and glass sculpture. The other exhibiting artists are Mirta Lopez, Lourdes Crosby, Mima Marin and Luis Matos, who hail from Puerto Rico, Cuba and the Dominican Republic.
The event is presented by the Broward Community College Board of Trustees, Viva Broward! and BCC President Dr. Larry Calderon. The artists are contributing several pieces for a silent auction that will be held for the benefit of ASPIRA, a nonprofit organization devoted to helping Latino youth.
Posted by Elena del Valle on October 23, 2006
Pitbull
Photo: TVT Records
Cuban American rapper Armando Perez “Pitbull” takes on a political approach for his second studio album, “El Mariel,” scheduled for an October 31 release. According to promotional materials, in the new album he describes the image of Cuba and focuses on President George W. Bush’s war efforts. The album is a far cry from his previous work as the bilingual hip-hop artist tries to prove that his songs are more than just about getting dirty.
“They have this misconception,” said Pitbull, 25. “They’ll say, ‘He’s just this Latin rapper, he’s a reggaeton act, he’s crunk.’ They don’t know what to say about me. [After El Mariel] a lot of folks are gonna start saying, ‘You gotta watch out for that boy Pit.’”
“El Mariel” is named after the Cuban boatlift that relocated almost 125,000 Cubans to Miami, Florida. The album contains rap ballads and club bangers. Pitbull’s aim for the album is to educate his listeners regarding this event. The artist’s life parallels that of some of those who came in the 1980 boatlift.
“Some [Marielitos] yes were criminals, some came from a negative background, but you have those who became politicians, lawyers, judges, and doctors, you name it,” said Pit. “Now that I got my foot in the door it’s time to take opportunities like the Marielitos did.”
Pitbull was born to Cuban immigrants and was raised by a single mother in Miami who worked three jobs. His childhood consisted of frequent relocations and he wasn’t reacquainted with his father until he was 18. The two were on friendly terms until his father’s passing last year.
In 2005, Pitbull surpassed gold status for the sale of more than 500,000 copies of his debut album, “M.I.A.M.I.: Money Is A Major Issue,” released in the United States in 2004. Aside from the “El Mariel” album, the artist will debut his first full-length Spanish only album, “Armando,” in 2007. He is also scheduled perform at the Latin Grammy Street Party in New York, and will do the voice of one of the characters in the upcoming video game, “Scarface: The World Is Yours,” based on the 1983 film. — Sergio Carmona
To listen to “Ay Chico” from “El Mariel” click on the play button below.
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Posted by Elena del Valle on October 20, 2006
“The Latin Legends of Comedy” DVD cover
Photo: Fox Home Entertainment
Century City, California — Described in promotional materials as “wild, irreverent and totally uproarious,” three Latino comedians, Joey Vega, J.J. Ramirez and Angel Salazar appear in the soon to be released “The Latin Legends of Comedy” DVD on Key Video, a label of Fox Home Entertainment. “The Latin Legends of Comedy” will be available for $19.98 ($25.98 Canada).
“The Latin Legends of Comedy” was presented at the New York International Latino Film Festival, Chicago Latino Film Festival, Boston International Film Festival, Phoenix Film Festival and Palm Beach International Film Festival.
The DVD features uncensored performances by Vega, who has toured with Chris Rock and Marc Anthony; Salazar, seen on “In Living Color” and “Showtime At The Apollo;” and Ramirez, a regular on Comedy Central and Showtime.
Part stand-up comedy concert and part documentary, the recording showcases the struggles and successes of the first Latino comedians who, over twenty years, broke into and became pioneers of New York’s stand-up comedy scene. The comics have been friends from the beginning of their careers. The DVD is presented in widescreen and features English stereo sound and English and Spanish subtitles.
Posted by Elena del Valle on October 13, 2006
“Mona Lisa” and “Girl with Pearl Earring” by Juliana Martinez
Photos: Juliana Martinez
A Northeast Los Angeles art gallery, jFerrari, will feature works from several Latino artists in its upcoming exhibit, “Baile de las calaveras.” From October 21 to November 1, 2006 gallery visitors will be able to see paintings by Eduardo Bonilla, Juliana Martinez, Ernesto de la Loza, and Ricardo Duffy.
“A baile is a dance, and if you see a group of people dancing, they are dancing to the same music, but each has their own approach. That is very much what this show is like,” said gallery owner Jazmin Ferrari.
Eduardo Bonilla’s talent was discovered early in his childhood. He has already had 35 exhibits and ten solo shows. Bonilla portrays the journey of his life in his paintings. Juliana Martinez was also an artist since childhood. The Puerto Rican born artist has made California her home. Her focus is on enjoying the present. Unlike so many others in her field she does not focus on social commentary.
Ernesto de la Loza uses a canvas of a different scale. He is a muralist in the Los Angeles community. Since 1974 he’s poured his life into murals through out California. Ricardo Duffy’s approach is at the other end of the spectrum. With a mixture of dry humor and social commentary Duffy displays his version of present day life. — Melissa Gonzalez
Posted by Elena del Valle on October 9, 2006
Aterciopelados
Photo: Nacional Records
Aterciopelados, the platinum-selling, Grammy-nominated pop/alternative Colombian band is back. They will be releasing “Oye,” their first new studio album in five years on October 24. It is the follow up album to “Gozo Poderoso” and will include the single “Complemento” (Nacional Records)
With the critical and commercial success of their previous Grammy-nominated album “Gozo Poderoso,” Aterciopelados landed on the Top 10 of the Billboard Top Latin Albums chart and made an appearance on the “Tonight Show with Jay Leno.” Aterciopelados means velvet ones in Spanish.
Aterciopelados co-founders Andrea Echeverri (vocals, guitars) and Hector Buitrago (bass, arrangements, producer) each released solo albums in the past year (Echeverri’s received two Grammy nominations), building anticipation for the band’s new studio set. The new album was produced by Buitrago and mixed by Thom Russo (Johnny Cash, Juanes, Kinky).
“Oye” is described in promotional materials as an organic rock sound reminiscent of the band’s early work on albums like “La Pipa de La Paz” (Peace Pipe). “Complemento,” the album’s first single, is designed to be an upbeat declaration of love from someone who has found her soulmate. The album also features Aterciopelados’ trademark social and political commentary on songs like “Oye Mujer” which asks of women “are you a human being, or the erotic fantasy of some guy?” Another song, “Pace,” is a call to action for peace. In support of the new album, Aterciopelados will kick off a major market U.S. tour in late October and will return to the States for additional tour dates in 2007.
Aterciopelados formed in Bogota, Colombia in the early 90s debuting with the 1994 album “Con El Corazon en La Mano” rising to fame in Colombia and internationally. They have performed at the Hollywood Bowl and Mexico City’s Auditorio Nacional.
To listen to the single “Complemento” from the new album “Oye” click on the play button below.
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Posted by Elena del Valle on October 2, 2006
Mabel Valdiviezo, film producer, director
Photo:Suzanne Cancilla-Fox
A podcast interview with Mabel Valdiviezo, producer and director, “Soledad is Gone Forever” is available in the Podcast Section of Hispanic Marketing & Public Relations, HispanicMPR.com. During the podcast, she discusses making films for Hispanic audiences with Elena del Valle, host of the HispanicMPR.com podcast.
Mabel is a principal of Haiku Films. She is the writer, director and producer of the short films “The Water’s Muse” and “Strange Machines: Music Boxes” that screened at the International Latino Film Festival and the de Young Museum in San Francisco. In 2005, Mabel was series producer and editor behind Peralta Community College Television’s (PCTV) new program “Talk Back,” a fast-paced show that brings the current issues faced by San Francisco’s East Bay communities into sharp uncompromising focus.
“I am a filmmaker born in Peru, a country whose human rights violations duplicate those committed in Chile under the infamous Pinochet era,” said Mabel. “The memories of those atrocities affected a whole generation of exiles, who, like myself, have started the healing process by freeing our voices and telling our stories.”
Mabel is currently developing the feature length version of “Soledad Is Gone Forever.” She is also developing “Silhouettes,” a series of short documentaries exploring emigration/immigration through the eyes of Carlos Cartagena, a Salvadorian born artist and his interaction with immigrants in cities across the nation. Mabel has edited the feature length narratives “Counting The Days” and “My Camera” as well as several other films. She serves as co-chair of the National Association of Latino Producers (NALIP) San Francisco Chapter.
To listen to the interview, scroll down until you see “Podcast” on the right hand side, then select “HMPR Mabel Valdiviezo,” click on the play button or download it to your iPod or MP3 player to listen on the go, in your car or at home. You can also subscribe to the podcast by right clicking over the podcast box and selecting “copy shortcut” then inserting the URL address in the podcast section of your iTunes program listed under the “advanced” column. The podcast will remain listed in the October 2006 section of the podcast.
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Posted by Elena del Valle on September 20, 2006
Esteban Arce new co-host of “Mexico Lindo y Futbol”
Photos: Baral Group Studios
One of GolTV’s shows, “Mexico Lindo y Futbol,” will have a new co-host who prides himself on his sense of humor and familiarity with soccer. Television veteran Esteban Arce will join Javier Vargas and Gerrardo Ruiz Massieu on a show about Mexican soccer and Mexican culture. More than 50 percent of the audience for the show, produced by South Florida based Baral Group Studios, is Mexican.
“Esteban, Javier, Gerardo and the entire team of correspondents present a very entertaining, fun, illustrative, and exciting show about Mexican soccer and Mexican life,” said Alina Baraldi, the show’s executive producer. “This is a different way to show Mexico, the culture, their passion, the way of living, their people. This is a program every Mexican living in the United States wants to watch and our audience participates very much with many interactive themes.”
Alina Baraldi, executive producer, “Mexico Lindo y Futbol”
According to the promotional materials, Arce is known for his humor and has often joked about Mexican superstars including Maria Felix, Luis Miguel, and Irma Serrano. His television experience includes creating and presenting the Televisa production, “El Calabozo,” experience on a radio program, “The Crazy World of Esteban Arce,” and hosting “Cotorreando,” on Telemundo-NBC in the United States. Arce also brings to the table a professional soccer career as a player in Mexico in the 1980s.
“Mexico Lindo y Futbol” made its debut on May 5, 2005. It airs daily Monday to Friday at 11 p.m. ET in English and Spanish and presents highlights, scores, statistics, and aspects of Mexican life and the world of soccer. More information can be found at GolTV.tv — Sergio Carmona
Posted by Elena del Valle on September 18, 2006
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Richard Glatzer and Wash Westmoreland
Photo: Sony Pictures Classics
A podcast interview with Richard Glatzer and Wash Westmoreland, directors and writers, “Quinceañera” is available in the Podcast Section of Hispanic Marketing & Public Relations, HispanicMPR.com. During the podcast, they discuss the movie and their efforts to capture the Latino audience with Elena del Valle, host of the HispanicMPR.com podcast.
Over the past few years, Richard has strived to establish himself as an indie filmmaker while simultaneously producing some of televisions’s reality hits. His first feature film “Grief” (1994) broke new ground by treating the AIDS crisis with depth and unexpected humor. “Grief” played in competition at Sundance and won top prizes at the San Francisco Frameline Festival and the Torino Festival.
Richard originally intended to become an academic. He received a Ph.D. in American Literature from the University of Virginia and edited a book of essays about Frank Capra. His television career includes MTV’s “Osbournes”, “Road Rules,” and “Tough Enough.” Richard, Tyra Banks and Ken Mok created the reality program “America’s Next Top Model,” now in its sixth season. He is a Life Master tournament bridge player.
Wash has made several documentaries, features and TV shows. In 2004, he went undercover, leaving his political affiliations at the door, to write and direct a film about the tormented “Gay Republicans” that won the Audience Award for Best Documentary at the AFI Festival and is now available on DVD.
Hailing from Leeds, England, Wash earned his college degree in Politics at the University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, immediately prior to moving to America. In 1994 he was living in New Orleans, Louisiana, when he caught the film bug and made a short film “Squishy Does Porno!” which according to promotional materials gained cult status. Shortly afterwards he moved to Los Angeles and landed a job in the adult industry. In 2000 he made his debut feature film based on his observations of that industry, “The Fluffer”, co-directed with Richard. The film premiered in North America at the Toronto Film Festival and internationally in Berlin, Germany. Premiere magazine selected it as one of the “Top Ten Buried Treasures” of the year.
Quinceañera is a 2006 Sony Pictures Classics movie winner of the Audience Award and Grand Jury Prize for Best Dramatic Feature at the Sundance Film Festival 2006
To listen to the interview, scroll down until you see the “Podcast” on the right hand side, then select “HMPR Richard Glatzer and Wash Westmoreland” hit the play button or download it to your iPod or MP3 player to listen on the go, in your car or at home. To download it, click on the arrow of the recording you wish to copy and save to disk. The podcast will remain listed in the September 2006 section of the podcast.
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Posted by Elena del Valle on September 15, 2006
Las Florecitas
Photos: Pochteca Media
The city of Laughlin in Nevada will salute Hispanic Heritage Month with the third annual Viva Laughlin! from October 6 through October 9. The event will offer Latino entertainment options in Laughlin’s casino resorts. This small city in Nevada experienced a surge of casino construction in the 1980s. Today there are nine hotel casinos, where Los Angeles Hispanics alone make an average of 3.2 casino visits per year.
“It’s a smaller scale and it has a small town feel and more people feel at home,” said Minerva Partida, media director for Pochteca Media, which helped organize and produced the event with the Laughlin Tourism Committee and the Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority. “In the last two years, there is combined revenue of $4 million and last year it sold out. This event has also introduced the city to the public.”
Malo band
This year’s version of Viva Laughlin! will appeal to an older crowd by showcasing music veterans who established their careers over twenty years. Three-time Grammy Award winning Tejano singer La Mafia will perform every night at Don Laughlin’s Riverside Resort in Don’s Celebrity Theater. Legendary Tejano superstar Little Joe y La Familia will also perform on October 7 at the Flamingo Laughlin at 8 p.m. Varied music from bands such as Malo and Las Florecitas will be part of the event including rancheras, polkas, and cumbias.
Viva Laughlin will also include a beauty contest featuring Miss Hawaiian Tropic Latina models on Saturday, October 7 at the Colorado Belle Hotel Casino; as well as the first Mexican poker tournament hosted by the Colorado Belle Hotel in the Casino Poker Room on Saturday, October 7 at 1 p.m. More information is available at VisitLaughlin.com — Sergio Carmona
Posted by Elena del Valle on September 8, 2006
Tania Waisberg and Facundo Lujan
Photos:Tania Waisberg and Facundo Lujan
Stories are frequently told of doctors and lawyers who immigrated to the United States only to wash dishes. It is unfortunate but many lose their credentials and even identities when trying to live out the American dream. Is the immigrant story the same for all professions? What happens to artists?
Tania Waisberg and Facundo Lujan set out to answer these question with their documentary “Portraits of Artists as Latino Immigrants,” scheduled for a screening at Encuentros at the Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts in San Francisco on September 27. The 32 minute documentary tells the story of four artists who immigrated to California. Through their stories and art the artists show the process of adapting and the hopes of success that are common for immigrants to the U.S.
Artists from “Portraits of Artists as Latino Immigrants”
The artists selected for this project are in different stages of the immigration process and represent various artistic disciplines. Salvadorian born Victor Cartagena has been making art in the Bay area for more than a decade. His work can be found through out California and even Hawaii. Cartagena’s work focuses on the immigrant experience and social issues in the U.S. Using sculpture, video and audio he brings to light economic and political issues.
With a focus on glass sculpture brothers Eimar and Jamex de la Torre portray their artistic talent. Born in Guadalajara, Mexico they have spent the majority of their lives in the United States. Their work can be found in museums in Chicago, Arizona and their home state of California.
Maria Amparo Escandon is on the other side of the spectrum as a writer. She has written screenplays as well as short stories and published a novel, Santitos. Escandon was born in Mexico City and now lives in Los Angeles where she created Acento, an advertising agency for the Hispanic Market.
The film has already received awards from the Sacramento and San Francisco’s Women’s film festivals. “Portraits” was also recently screened at the Nosotros American Latino Film Festival which was founded by Ricardo Montalban. Additional information is available online at Portrait.com — Melissa Gonzalez
