Category: Entertainment News

Gaby Natale teams up with HBO Max for Isabel Allende biographical series

Photo: google

Triple Daytime EMMY-winning journalist and entrepreneur Gaby Natale teamed up with HBO Max to honor Isabel Allende’s legacy as part of the launch of her biographical series Isabel during Women’s History Month. (AGANARmedia, 2021)

Natale is part a of a group of Latina powerhouses who joined forces to share a message of hope and resilience with the next generation. Along with Allende, 23 Latina activists and thought leaders united to create “Dear Future Latina Trailblazer.” The book is a collection of letters for revolutionary Latinas by revolutionary Latinas that uses the power of writing to elevate women’s voices and help create change. Each letter reflects the authentic personal journey of the contributor while passing stories and traditions to future Latina revolutionaries and trailblazers. “Dear Future Latina Trailblazer” was created in honor of the new 3-part series, Isabel, that premiered on HBO Max on March 12.

 Isabel follows the incredible life of award-winning author and feminist icon Isabel Allende. Her story is a testament to how you can find strength in your struggles and succeed despite them. At the peak of her career, Isabel receives the devastating news that her adult daughter is on the verge of dying. She abandons everything to become a full-time mother, and her daughter dies in her arms a year later. In parallel,  Isabel must leave her native Chile due to political conflicts, abandoning everything for love and immersing herself into literature to heal her wounds.”

“A few years ago, I interviewed Isabel Allende. She did not disappoint. It was one of the most heartfelt, funny, raw and inspiring conversations I had in my career. It was such an authentic exchange that the show on which that interview was featured received a Daytime Emmy nomination. I wondered if our paths would ever cross again, until 2021 brought Isabel back to my life in the shape of a book. But this time, it was a book I was able to contribute to.” Gaby Natale.

Gaby Natale is a triple Daytime EMMY® winner, TV personality, bestselling author, and motivational speaker. She is the executive producer and host of the nationally-syndicated TV show SuperLatina on PBS’ Vme network. People magazine named Natale one of 2018’s “25 Most Powerful Latinas,” highlighting the inspirational story of how she went from a local TV show that started out of a carpet warehouse to becoming the only Latina in US history to win triple back-to-back Daytime EMMYs. Natale is also the founder of AGANARmedia, a marketing company with a focus on Hispanic audiences that serves Fortune 500 companies such as Hilton Worldwide, Sprint, AT&T, eBay, and Amazon. Natale holds a bachelor’s in International Relations and a master’s degree in Journalism from the University of San Andres and Columbia University.

Video on Demand release: award-winning documentary Brewmance

The award-winning documentary Brewmance will be releasing on video on demand on all major platforms on April 13, 2021. Photo: Brocklamation Films, used with permission.

Giant Pictures presents a Brocklamation Films Production: Brewmance. Produced and directed by Christo Brock (Touch The Wall), it will be releasing on VOD on all major platforms on Tuesday, April 13, 2021. (EG-PR, 2021)

About Brewmance:

The American Craft Beer movement began with a group of restless homebrewers searching for something genuine and flavorful. Today it has evolved into a redefinition of beer and an international cultural phenomenon. That uniquely American spirit of rebellion and innovation survives in two groups of homebrewers from Long Beach, California who are looking to open their own breweries and bring their beers to the world. These include a Christian father-son team who grew close over making beer and a retired rock star looking for the “quiet” existence of a brewery owner.

With the insight and commentary of legendary brewers Ken Grossman (Sierra Nevada), Fritz Maytag (Anchor Brewing), Charlie Papazian, Vinnie Cilurzo (Russian River), Sam Calagione (Dogfish Head), Jim Koch (Boston Brewing) and others, Brewmance reveals the soul of craft beer in the heart of America.

Christo Brock is an American Producer, Director, and Editor best known for the iconic swim documentary Touch the Wall, the sports films Spirit of the Marathon and Hood to Coast, and the craft beer documentary Bremance.

FEATURE DOCUMENTARY (USA) / Running Time: 102 Minutes

VOD PLATFORMS:
US:
Apple TV (iTunes), FandangoNow , Google Play, Vudu, Microsoft Store. Google Play, Altavod, Vimeo On Demand and InDemand on Comcast, Spectrum, Cox and major cable providers.
CANADA:
Apple TV (iTunes), Google Play, Microsoft Store, Vimeo On Demand
UK:
Apple TV (iTunes), Google Play, Microsoft Store, Vimeo On Demand

Dan Sundstrom (Ten Mile Brewing) Photo: Brocklamation Films, used with permission.

New Tubi TV series ‘Sangre Negra’ continues in March

The new telenovela-style tv series ‘Sangre Negra’ continues in March. Courtesy photo, used with permission.

The new telenovela TV series SANGRE NEGRA (“Black Blood”) (2021) continues on Tubi, the exclusive streaming home to the series. The series recently unveiled in February and new episodes will be continue shortly in March. (Dina White PR, 2021)

Political struggle and volatile romance form the explosive backdrop to this epic series. Sangre Negra is the cross-generational saga of the Santos Family which is told telenovela style and combines the family drama of “Dallas” with the underworld intrigue of the “Sopranos.”

Set in modern-day Los Angeles, the Santos family includes Guillermo Santos Sr. (played brilliantly by Erik Estrada), the wealthy patriarch of La Familia de Santo; the eldest son, Guillermo Jr. (Ricardo Herranz) a slick and ambitious criminal defense attorney, and Ricardo “Ricky” Santos (Antonio McKay), the half-black, half-Hispanic illegitimate son of Guillermo Sr. The charismatic Ricky is an up and coming star in world of organized crime, and another talented actor, Christian Santos (Danny Arroyo) rounds out the cast as the youngest of the Santos brothers, a decorated LA detective dedicated to cleaning up the streets of Los Angeles, even if it means putting Ricky, his own brother, in jail.

The brothers are “the law, the lawyer and the lawbreaker!” When Ricky gets arrested- by his brother, the cop, naturally his attorney brother defends him. Guillermo is constantly trying to make peace between Christian and Ricky. This series features the constant battle between good and evil, and how the choices made will determine the path each character will take to achieve the American dream.

Gaby Natale featured in NBC-Telemundo 2021 Unstoppable Women List

Gaby Natale was featured in NBC-Telemundo 2021 Unstoppable Women List. Courtesy photo, used with permission.

Just in time for Women’s History Month and anticipating International Women’s Day, Gaby Natale was featured in the opening episode of the the 2021 Unstoppable Women List, a yearly campaign by NBCUniversal’s Telemundo network highlighting extraordinary women in business, entertainment, and sports. The triple EMMY-winning TV host, bestselling author, motivational speaker, and entrepreneur shared her 2-decade journey in the show “En Casa con Telemundo,” going back from the launch of her TV show from a carpet warehouse in West Texas in 2007 to becoming the first Latina author published by HarperCollins Leadership with the release of her book The Virtuous Circle in 2021. (AGANARmedia, 2021)

Gaby’s inspirational story was included in NBC-Telemundo’s Unstoppable Women digital properties and featured in the hit show “En Casa con Telemundo”, kicking off the network’s Women’s History Month Celebrations. Past Unstoppable Women honorees include vice president Kamala Harris, designer Carolina Herrera, singer and entrepreneur Gloria Estefan, actress Lupita Nyong’o and activist Monica Ramirez. Unstoppable Women’s comprehensive approach includes public service announcements, on-air and digital campaigns with inspiring messages and speaker series.

Gaby Natale is a triple Daytime EMMY® winner, TV personality, bestselling author, and motivational speaker. She is the executive producer and host of the nationally-syndicated TV show SuperLatina on PBS’ Vme network. People magazine named Natale one of 2018’s “25 Most Powerful Latinas,” highlighting the inspirational story of how she went from a local TV show that started out of a carpet warehouse to becoming the only Latina in US history to win triple back-to-back Daytime EMMYs. Natale is also the founder of AGANARmedia, a marketing company with a focus on Hispanic audiences that serves Fortune 500 companies such as Hilton Worldwide, Sprint, AT&T, eBay, and Amazon. Natale holds a bachelor’s in International Relations and a master’s degree in Journalism from the University of San Andres and Columbia University.

“As challenging as 2020 and 2021 have been for most of us, I’ve always believed in the resilient spirit of my community. I want to remind people in these difficult times that there is no shame in starting over. I had to do it myself many times. I went from being an unemployed college graduate in Argentina to becoming an entrepreneur in the United States, winning 3 Daytime Emmys, publishing a bestselling book, and launching my line of beauty hair products. There were many false starts and setbacks along the way. I know what it feels like to start from zero.”- Gaby Natale

Movies by Moonlight in the Garden this Friday at the San Antonio Botanical Garden

Movies by Moonlight in the Garden will be this Friday March 6, 2021. Photo: San Antonio Botanical Garden

This Friday, March 5, Movies by Moonlight in the Garden continues with two family friendly movies on the lawn: The Lion King and Glory Road. Cozy up under the moonlight with family or friends for a special double feature at the San Antonio Botanical Garden. Guests are encouraged to bring low riding lawn chairs and blankets. Drinks and food will be available for purchase. Guests are asked to follow all COVID-19 visitor guidelines during their visit at the Botanical Garden. (San Antonio Botanical Garden, 2021)

Fee: $20 adults ($18 member) and $15 child ($13.50 member). Tickets available online. The first movie will begin shortly after the sun sets around 6:45p.m. Movies are subject to change.

The Lion King (2019) (G) – After the murder of his father, a young lion prince flees his kingdom only to learn the true meaning of responsibility and bravery.

Glory Road (PG) – In 1966, Texas Western coach Don Haskins led the first all-black starting line-up for a college basketball team to the NCAA national championship.

The San Antonio Botanical Garden was first imagined nearly eight decades ago by civic influences Mrs. R.R. Witt and Mrs. Joseph Murphy. Forty years of planning and partnerships finally blossomed on May 3, 1980 with the official opening of the Botanical Garden. Since that day, the formal gardens and collections of native Texas plants have evolved to make the Botanical Garden one of the most noteworthy botanical centers in the state, educating and inspiring visitors from around the world.

Brownsville Guitar Festival presented by Brownsville Society for the Performing Arts

On Sunday February 28, the Brownsville Society for the Performing Arts presented The Brownsville Guitar Festival Concert with Connie Sheu, Xavier Jara, and Matt Palmer live-streamed on Facebook. This was an excellent opportunity for the community to hear a variety of guitar performances by some of the best guitarists around.

This hour and a half concert consisted of three outstanding guitarists who each brought their best a-game and performed almost a half-hour each of inspiring music. Connie Sheu began her set with a few words about what music means to her and it would have been nice to hear some personal words from the other guitarists. They performed classical guitar selections from Vicente Asencio, Dilermando Reis, Sergei Rudnev, and other composers.

For a live-streamed concert, the quality of the sound and visuals was exceptional and the transition between performers went smoothly. Hopefully, the community appreciates the efforts of the BSPA to bring this level of performances to the masses. Congratulations to everyone involved and may there be more in the future, whether in person or live-streamed.

Performer profiles:
Connie Sheu studied U.S. History and Music at Columbia University and earned a Master of Music from the Juilliard School. She completed her Doctor of Musical Arts at the University of Southern California. She is a dynamic guitarist, devoted teacher, and ardent advocate of classical guitar.

Xavier Jara earned his master’s degree from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music in May 2020. He is the 1st prize winner of the 2016 Guitar Foundation of America International Concert Artist Competition. A native of Minnesota, he was a student of Alan Johnston at the MacPhail Center for Music in Minneapolis until 2011 when he moved to Paris, France to study with Judicaël Perroy.

Matt Palmer holds the Doctor of Musical Arts degree from The University of Arizona and has appeared as a soloist throughout the United States, Europe, Mexico, Canada, South America, and the Caribbean. A recent recipient of the “Up and Coming Guitarist of the Year” award by Guitar International Magazine, Matt has been described by critics as “a young artist about to make a real dent in the world of classical guitar.” (Premier Guitar Magazine)

The Brownsville Society for the Performing Arts (BSPA), located in Brownsville, Texas, was founded in 1994, and its mission is to enhance quality-of-life in the community through cultural entertainment, striving to produce quality programming to a largely underserved community. Of special interest to the BSPA are performing arts that are mostly inaccessible to a large portion of the community. To the best of its ability, the BSPA generates performance opportunities, organizes competitions, endows scholarships, provides financial assistance, holds master classes and clinics, and supports similar activities with a clear educational value. BSPA helps those that pursue a career in music and dance education or other work in the performing arts field.

Upcoming new album release: Set In Stone by Travis Tritt

Travis Tritt’s new album Set In Stone will be out Friday May 7, 2021. Courtesy photo, used with permission.

Multi-Platinum selling and award-winning artist, Travis Tritt, will release a new album, Set In Stone, on May 7 and a new single, “Smoke In A Bar,” on March 5. Tritt revisits his traditional country roots on “Smoke In A Bar,” pining for humbler times when the world was not so fast-moving and simple things were not overlooked or taken for granted. Released through Big Noise Label Group and produced by Dave Cobb, the new album features 11 new songs, 8 of which were co-written by Tritt. Set In Stone marks Tritt’s first original full-length studio album in over a decade. (AristoPR, 2021)

On Set in Stone, the Grammy winner delivers the quintessential Travis Tritt album with a touch of Americana and Roots. He pays homage to all sides of his musical personality along with the trademarks of his originality. Opening with the rowdy “Stand Your Ground” and mixing powerful love songs like “Leave This World” with searing country rockers like the first single “Ghost Town Nation,” the new album is described by Tritt as “getting back to a no-frills classic outlaw-country sound.” Available for pre-save/pre-add here.

The track list for Set In Stone:
1.“Stand Your Ground”
2.“Set In Stone”
3.“Ghost Town Nation”
4.“Smoke In A Bar”
5.“Leave This World”
6.“They Don’t Make Em’ Like That No More
7.“Better Off Dead”
8.“Southern Man”
9.“Open Line”
10.“Ain’t Who I Was”
11.“Way Down In Georgia”

Travis Tritt’s albums, seven of which are certified platinum or higher, have led him to amass more than 30 million in career album sales, two GRAMMY® Awards, four CMA Awards, including the CMA Horizon Award (now known as the New Artist Award); a Billboard Music Award for Top New Artist, an invitation to become a member of the world-famous Grand Ole Opry and a devoted fan base that has filled venues coast-to-coast. He is also dubbed one of “The Class of ‘89,” which includes Country music superstars Garth Brooks, Clint Black, and Alan Jackson, all of whom dominated the charts in the ‘90s. Travis Tritt continues to sell-out shows and stays authentic and relevant to country music fans across the globe. His distinctively soulful voice and exceptional guitar prowess continue to be front and center.

Among his eleven studio albums and numerous charted singles are five number ones and 20 Top 10 hits, including “Help Me Hold On,” “Anymore,” “Can I Trust You with My Heart,” “Foolish Pride,” “Best of Intentions,” “I’m Gonna Be Somebody,” “Modern Day Bonnie and Clyde,” “Here’s A Quarter,” “It’s A Great Day To Be Alive,” and more.

Throughout his extraordinary career, his talents have crossed over into film and tv, where he appeared in Rio Diablo (1993), The Cowboy Way (1994), Tales from the Crypt (1995), Sgt. Bilko (1996), Fire Down Below (1997), Outlaw Justice (1999), Touched By An Angel (1999), Blues Brothers (2000), Yes, Dear (2004), Brother’s Keeper (2013), Forever My Girl (2018), and more.

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Travis Tritt’s Set In Stone album release

Award-winning documentary After the Murder of Albert Lima

The Video on Demand release of the documentary After the Murder of Albert Lima is set for Thursday, March 18, 2021. Photo: google

The award-winning documentary After the Murder of Albert Lima tells the story of a son obsessed with capturing his father’s killer. Paul Lima has spent over a decade seeking justice for his slain father, Albert. Though convicted, Albert’s murderer has remained free in Honduras. After years of the legal system failing him, Paul takes the unorthodox step of hiring two bounty hunters to travel with him to Honduras to track down and capture his father’s killer. This riveting, and, at times, darkly comedic documentary explores both the importance of family and the dangers of taking the law into your own hands. This Crackle original will be premiering exclusively on Crackle in the US on Thursday, March 18, 2021. (EG-PR, 2021)

Documentary features: running time: 97 minutes/ Language: English / Country: USA, Honduras. Director: Aengus James, Executive Producers: Van Toffler, Floris Bauer, Jude Harris, Meredith Vieira; Producers: Amy Rapp, Aengus James, Colin King Miller, Paul Lima. A Gunpowder & Sky/This is Just a Test/Meredith Vieira Productions Production
Official Selection: DOC NYC, Woodstock Film Festival and many more.

Aengus James is an award-winning filmmaker and television producer. His recent works include Scandalous (Magnolia, CNN, BBC), the untold story of The National Enquirer, Undercover Billionaire (Discovery), and the GLAAD Media Award-winning I Am Jazz. Aengus began his career serving as Barry Levinson’s cinematographer in Poliwood. After the Murder of Albert Lima follows Aengus’ directorial debut and IDA award nominated documentary comedy American Harmony. He has created and directed content for global brands and non-profits, and his work has received numerous honors including special recognition from the White House and the United Nations for raising awareness on issues including veterans’ mental health and women’s healthcare around the world. Aengus is the co-founder and head of This is Just a Test.

Crackle Plus owns and operates ad-supported VOD networks Crackle and Popcornflix and garners 50 million streams of its movies and TV shows per month, making it one of the largest AVOD streaming platforms in the U.S. Crackle Plus has over 80,000 hours of content available across all its networks, and premieres at least one original and one exclusive program each month, differentiating it from other AVODs.

Award-winning documentary My Name is Pedro will be available February 23

My Name is Pedro opens on Video On Demand and DVD on Tuesday, February 23, 2021. Courtesy photo, used with permission.

My Name is Pedro, the award-winning film from first time director Lillian LaSalle, explores the seemingly impossible journey of South Bronx Latino educator and maverick, Pedro Santana, a former “special ed” student, whose mantra is – every kid can learn despite their circumstances. A The New York Times profile of his “Out Of The Box” teaching techniques, thrusts him into the spotlight, which creates great opportunities for change but also has its downside – public school politics which, despite the cries of students and parents alike, threaten to take him down. A documentary with unpredictable twists and turns, it harnesses a compelling message of optimism, hope and tragedy. My Name is Pedro is an essential and timely reminder of the importance of great educators that exist within the infrastructure of our country’s public education system. (EG-PR, 2021)

It will be released on VOD and DVD on Tuesday, February 23 in the US, Canada, and UK. VOD: Amazon, Apple TV, iTunes, GooglePlay, Youtube, Vimeo on Demand and Fandango NOW. Cable: Verizon, Comcast, Charter, Cox, and Wave Broadband. Documentary (USA), 127 Minutes, in English.

OFFICIAL SELECTION AND AWARDS:
Winner: Best Documentary, Golden Door International Film Festival
Winner: Spotlight on Documentary Award, St. Louis International Film Festival
Winner: Audience Award, Chicago Latino International Film Festival
Winner: Audience Award, Brooklyn Film Festival
Winner: Award of Merit, Impact Docs
Winner: Honorable Mention, Woodstock Film Festival
Official Selection: Women’s Filmmaker Showcase, BAFF
Official Selection: San Diego Latino International Film Festival

My Name is Pedro is a powerful and poignant documentary about one man’s effort to reach even the most challenging students. As a child, Pedro Santana struggled in school early on and stuttered sometimes, except when he was onstage. He became an educator, mentor, and community leader because his work went beyond the school grounds. His goal was “I want to have an impact in people’s lives” and he truly influenced students as well as their families and everyone he met. While living in a culturally diverse community, he was able to cross the cultural divide. Like most people who think “outside the box,” he rattled the status quo and became a target of those who pushed back. The lesson to be learned is that the best way to honor someone’s memory is to keep his or her work alive.

“The planet does not need more successful people. The planet desperately needs more peacemakers, healers, restorers, storytellers and lovers of all kind.” – Dalai Lama

World premiere of ‘The Spine of Night’ at SXSW 2021

‘The Spine of Night’ will premiere at this year’s virtual SXSW. Courtesy photo, used with permission.

In SXSW Film Festival 2021 news, Yellow Veil Pictures has acquired the sales rights to the animated fantasy “The Spine of Night.” It will premiere in the SXSW Midnighters section of the festival which will run virtually from Tuesday March 16 through Sunday March 20, 2021. Written and directed by Philip Gelatt and Morgan Galen King, the cast includes Richard E. Grant, Lucy Lawless, Patton Oswalt, Betty Gabriel, Joe Manganiello, Abby Savage, Larry Fessenden, and Rob McClure. (EG-PR, 2021)

From Gorgonaut Pictures, “The Spine of Night” is an ultra-violent, hand-rotoscoped epic fantasy inspired by the cult classic works of animators Ralph Bakshi and Frank Franzetta. The film is set in a fantasy land ripe with magic and intrigue where a dark force is unleashed sending mankind into an age of ruin. It falls on heroes from different eras and cultures to fight back. This epic begins many years ago when an ambitious young man steals forbidden knowledge from a sacred plant and, as he falls to its darker temptations, unleashes ages of suffering onto mankind. As his power grows over the years, there are many who stand against him. Among them are a daring tomb-robber, star-crossed lovers, a maniacal necromancer, winged assassins, and an undying guardian.