Leguizamo in The Lincoln Lawyer
March 20, 2011 § Leave a comment
John Leguizamo
The Lincoln Lawyer is based on the best-selling novel by Michael Connelly in which a lawyer, played by Matthew McConaughey, does business from the back of a Lincoln Town Car representing a high-profile client.
The star studded cast includes John Leguizamo, Michael Peña (Crash, Million Dollar Baby), and Marissa Tomei.
Here’s a behind the scenes clip of Leguizamo talking about working the streets of Los Angeles as Val Valenzuela. [INTERVIEW CLIP]
And here he is in action.
The Lincoln Lawyer is in theaters now.
Call For Film Entries
March 16, 2011 § Leave a comment
The San Francisco Latino Film Festival is now accepting film entries.
Films made by, about or with Latinos from the U.S. and abroad are encouraged to enter.
To qualify films must be made between 2008 and now. Short and feature films are welcome to enter and the deadline to submit is June 3, 2011.
Click here for the PDF entry form. If you have questions, email info@sflatinofilmfestival.com.
Follow SF Latino film happenings on Twitter and like the SF Latino Film Festival on Facebook to join the conversation.
Good luck!
Somos Lo Que Hay at San Diego Latino Film Festival
March 11, 2011 § Leave a comment
Somos Lo Que Hay
The 18th annual San Diego Latino Film Festival kicks off tonight with a screening of the highly anticipated thriller Somos Lo Que Hay, a Canana film about cannibals in modern day Mexico City.
I’m excited to see it along with a slew of new Spanish language films this weekend. Tweet me if you’re out there @sflatinofilm.
To get more information about San Diego Latino Film Festival screenings go to sdlatinofilm.com, follow them on Twitter @macsd and follow hashtag #SDLFF.
Here’s a trailer of Somos Lo Que Hay.
Directed by Jorge Michel Grau.
Bay Area Latino Film Begins a New Chapter
March 8, 2011 § Leave a comment
Cine+Mas SF, a new organization producing the San Francisco Latino Film Festival successfully wrapped year two of their September events. A group of ten Bay Area film lovers run this non-profit organization with Fractured Atlas as its fiscal sponsor.
The group pushes messages online, on the streets, via radio and on news stations like CBS5 – all in an effort to keep the Latino film movement thriving in the SF Bay Area. Shows were presented in San Francisco, Marin, Redwood City, the Silicon Valley at The Tech Museum of Innovation and in Berkeley.
The festival showcased 30 films including shorts, documentaries, and features. Eight countries were represented including Mexico, Peru, Argentina, Venezuela, the Dominican Republic, Uruguay, Brazil, and the USA.
Seven filmmakers were in attendance including Florence Jaugey, director of the Oscar nominated film, ‘La Yuma’.
It’s not a festival without parties and there were several including a smash opening night at the new SOM SF in partnership with Latinos a Morir. Other events included Project One closing night at Sub-Mission, and their annual IMAX event at the Tech Museum of Innovation in San Jose.
“Our mission is to step forth as a new organization with fresh eyes” says their founder, Lou Ramirez. “We were successful in doing so, showcasing two Oscar nominated films in the foreign film category.”
The website contains constantly updated information. View call for entry details, film trailers along with film notes and links their Facebook page: www.sflatinofilmfestival.com or follow them on http://Twitter.com/sflatinofilm.
Eva López-Sánchez Talks About La Ultima Y Nos Vamos
January 24, 2010 § Leave a comment
In her latest feature film, Eva López-Sánchez takes us along with three 20-year-olds on a Friday night in Mexico City. Each gets pulled into a different party crowd throughout the film, away from the safety of their bodyguards and parents.
La Ultima y Nos Vamos (One for the Road) made its public debut at the 23rd Annual Guadalajara International Film Festival and its California debut in the Bay Area. The filmmaker attended three Bay Area screenings to entertain Q&A.
Her remarks
“It’s a take on Mexico that isn’t seen by American audiences,” says López-Sánchez. “You’ve only seen a violent and corrupt Mexico City. My film showcases the music and lifeblood of our Friday nights. We’ve all had one of them, thinking ‘what am I doing here?’ Meeting with people who we wouldn’t regularly meet with, the story is universal.”
Cine+Mas Film Festival chose La Ultima y Nos Vamos as its closing night film. November of 2010 was the last time the film screened to audiences before it toured cinemas in France and Mexico.
“I love the film. I love how you captured a bird’s eye view of Mexico City in your intro and your soundtrack speaks to me,” an audience member said in San Jose. “I grew up in Mexico City and your film took me back home.”
“We took six flights over the city, shooting various districts. It’s Mexico City today with its mix of cultural influences.” She filmed the capitol, nightlife, and the dark alleys like only a native could. “The city is full of surprises. I can be anywhere in the city at any time of day or night and still discover a new amazing neighborhood jewel.”
The audience at the Lumiere Theatre in San Francisco responded, “What inspired you to make this film? ”
“My son came to me with an incredible story line about these kids ending up with completely different crowds – in neighborhoods they shouldn’t have been in.” The film explores how people relate with others who are completely different and “can find something human. It’s about relating despite our differences.”
Her writing process
“I told my son to write it all down and we’d make a movie out of it. He told me, ‘I don’t know how to write a film.’ So I told him to write what ever he could and to write it in the first person and I would help him with the rest.”
She attended Mexico City’s Centro de Capacitación Cinematográfica, has made six full length films and several short films since. Her directorial debut was with Francisca, a political period drama that looks at Mexico City’s Tlalteloco massacre of 1968, where hundreds of student protesters were killed. Her first three films were documentaries and the latest works have been feature films.
“I didn’t want to write this film because I would write it with all of my experience- through my old eyes. I wanted a fresh perspective. I wanted his young eyes to tell the story.” He brought her the story on eight handwritten pages. “It was fresh and it was fun.”
During a radio interview, Margarita of San Francisco’s Pirate Cat Radio mentions that films from Latin America often emulate their European influences instead of portraying Indo Latinos the way La Ultima y Nos Vamos does.
“The characters have different backgrounds, but they’re tied together by predominant cultural influences. They’re very Mexican in character. They use Mexicanisms. They share Mexican music roots.”
The score
Music in the film complemented each character’s personality. “As a filmmaker, you have to be in the know. I have a network of different artists that keep me up to date with their latest work.” Among the artists are MC Luca a hip-hop artist and Big Metra. “Niña Dioz is a reggae artist who wrote Criminal Sound specifically for the film. She’s from Monterrey, Mexico and is only 20 years old.”
The film’s instrumental music was a collaboration between López-Sánchez and Renato y Ramiro del Real who are well known music production artists from Mexico City. La Ultima y Nos Vamosis is their second feature film project.
“Film is important because it’s a universal way to communicate facts of life and human nature. You can have the notion of an experience, but by watching it play out on film you can live that experience almost first hand. Film resonates with you and affects you the way that no other medium can.”
Eva López-Sánchez Talks About La Ultima Y Nos Vamos
November 24, 2009 § Leave a comment
La Ultima Y Nos Vamos
In her latest feature film, Eva López-Sánchez takes us along with three 20-year-olds on a Friday night in Mexico City. Each gets pulled into a different party crowd throughout the film, away from the safety of their bodyguards and parents.
La Ultima y Nos Vamos (One for the Road) made its public debut at the 23rd Annual Guadalajara International Film Festival and its California debut in the Bay Area. The filmmaker attended three Bay Area screenings to entertain Q&A.
Her remarks
“It’s a take on Mexico that isn’t seen by American audiences,” says López-Sánchez. “You’ve only seen a violent and corrupt Mexico City. My film showcases the music and lifeblood of our Friday nights. We’ve all had one of them, thinking ‘what am I doing here?’ Meeting with people who we wouldn’t regularly meet with, the story is universal.”
La Ultima y Nos Vamos toured cinemas in the U.S., France and Mexico before its release onto DVD.
“I love the film. I love how you captured a bird’s eye view of Mexico City in your intro and your soundtrack speaks to me,” an audience member said in San Jose. “I grew up in Mexico City and your film took me back home.”
“We took six flights over the city, shooting various districts. It’s Mexico City today with its mix of cultural influences.” She filmed the capitol, nightlife, and the dark alleys like only a native could. “The city is full of surprises. I can be anywhere in the city at any time of day or night and still discover a new amazing neighborhood jewel.”
The audience at the Lumiere Theatre in San Francisco responded, “What inspired you to make this film? ”
“My son came to me with an incredible story line about these kids ending up with completely different crowds – in neighborhoods they shouldn’t have been in.” The film explores how people relate with others who are completely different and “can find something human. It’s about relating despite our differences.”
Her writing process
“I told my son to write it all down and we’d make a movie out of it. He told me, ‘I don’t know how to write a film.’ So I told him to write what ever he could and to write it in the first person and I would help him with the rest.”
She attended Mexico City’s Centro de Capacitación Cinematográfica, has made six full length films and several short films since. Her directorial debut was with Francisca, a political period drama that looks at Mexico City’s Tlalteloco massacre of 1968, where hundreds of student protesters were killed. Her first three films were documentaries and the latest works have been feature films.
“I didn’t want to write this film because I would write it with all of my experience- through my old eyes. I wanted a fresh perspective. I wanted his young eyes to tell the story.” He brought her the story on eight handwritten pages. “It was fresh and it was fun.”
During a radio interview, Margarita of San Francisco’s Pirate Cat Radio mentions that films from Latin America often emulate their European influences instead of portraying Indo Latinos the way La Ultima y Nos Vamos does.
“The characters have different backgrounds, but they’re tied together by predominant cultural influences. They’re very Mexican in character. They use Mexicanisms. They share Mexican music roots.”
The score
Music in the film complemented each character’s personality. “As a filmmaker, you have to be in the know. I have a network of different artists that keep me up to date with their latest work.” Among the artists are MC Luca a hip-hop artist and Big Metra. “Niña Dioz is a reggae artist who wrote Criminal Sound specifically for the film. She’s from Monterrey, Mexico and is only 20 years old.”
The film’s instrumental music, which is also known as the score, was a collaboration between López-Sánchez and Renato y Ramiro del Real who are well known music production artists from Mexico City. La Ultima y Nos Vamosis is their second feature film project.
“Film is important because it’s a universal way to communicate facts of life and human nature. You can have the notion of an experience, but by watching it play out on film you can live that experience almost first hand. Film resonates with you and affects you the way that no other medium can.”
The Archives of My Mind 