AMC was at the Golden Globes Gift Suite!

Check out Laura Saltman's blog about her experiences at the Access Hollywood’s 4th Annual “Stuff You Must” Lounge and tidbits about the celebs who received the AMC Signature Pass!



"By Laura “Dish of Salt” Saltman

HOLLYWOOD, Calif. --

Hollywood’s hottest stars helped raise money for Lollipop Theater Network and Best Buddies at Access Hollywood’s 4th Annual “Stuff You Must” Lounge on January 15 & 16 at Sofitel Los Angeles.

CVS/pharmacy once again made a $100,000 donation to these two charities on behalf of celebrities that stopped by the Lounge. The gift lounge is produced by On 3 Productions, the leader in celebrity gifting experiences.

...11:40 AM -- “90210” star AnnaLynne McCord is looking stunning in a white top and black pants which are very Olivia Newton John at the end of “Grease”. You know the ones, “Tell me about it stud!”. I wonder if that’s what she thought when she put them on. She said she came specifically to grab the AMC Premiere pass. This was the only suite she was coming to just for the pass which gets her into any AMC Theater across the country for free for a year. And the last movie she saw? “Sherlock Homles”. She’s got a massive crush on the star and told the girls at AMC “If he is ever single, call me!”....

...2:30 PM — Last night I chatted with Gabourey Sidibe from the movie “Precious” at the Critics Choice Awards. She was going crazy about standing next to Tracy Morgan who she got to meet as our cameras rolled. Today she was star struck over meeting Neil Patrick Harris. She told him she was the biggest Doogie Howser fan growing up. Weren’t we all? She snags some gummy bears from the AMC Premiere pass station and drops it in her bag. I’ve been stealing popcorn from them all day....

...3:15 PM I spot “Glee’s” Jane Lynch as she is finishing up a hostess cupcake. Fortunately, she doesn’t mind talking to me with cupcake in hand. Im super excited to tell her that Rosie O’Donnell told Access Hollywood she is huge fan of Glee and Jane Lynch. Jane is flabbergasted that Rosie actually knows her name. I tell her it gets better and Rosie actually wants to come on the show and play a rival cheerleading coach against Sue Sylvester and then have a torrid affair with her. She loves this idea but when I say that Sue had a crush on a male news anchor she tells me it doesn’t matter, Sue will sleep with anyone to get idea. She says she is going to text creator Ryan Murphy to tell him Rosie wants on. Considering she appeared several times on his other show “Nip/Tuck” i’m pretty sure this is gonna be a done deal!...

Celebs who came out to show support included: Quinton Aaron, Bryan Batt, Julie Benz, Mayim Bialik, Thora Birch, Cheryl Burke, Mehcad Brooks, Jennifer Carpenter, Jamie Chung, Gary Cole, Viola Davis, Portia Doubleday, Mark Feuerstein, Jennie Garth, Jessalyn Gilsig, Alexander Gould, Nolan Gould, Evan Handler, Neil Patrick Harris, Sally Hawkins, Jae Head, Kelly Hu, Sarah Hyland, Carter Jenkins, Kym Johnson, Melina Kanakaredes, Jane Krakowski, Brent and Shane Kinsman, Ali Larter, James Kyson Lee, Rex Lee, Jane Lynch, Bailee Madison, Bill Maher, Gilles Marini, Paula Marshall, Eddie McClintock, AnnaLynne McCord, Maureen McCormick, Kevin McHale, Bridget Moynahan, Olivia Munn, Ryan Newman, Busy Phillips, Jaime Pressly, Amanda Righetti, Lisa Rinna & Harry Hamlin, Nicole Ari Parker, Perrey Reeves, Holly Robinson Peete, Sara Rue, Nicole Scherzinger, Gabby Sidibe, David Spade, Abigail Spencer, Chaske Spencer, Amber Stevens, Jennifer Stone, Michael Stulbarg, Taboo, Blair Underwood, Nadine Velasquez, Sofia Vergara, Tristan Wilds and more.

Lollipop Theater Network brings the magic of movies – currently in theaters- to children hospitalized nationwide due to life-threatening illnesses.
MORE HERE: www.lollipoptheater.org

Best Buddies International is dedicated to establishing a global volunteer movement that creates opportunities for one-to-one friendships, integrated employment and leadership development for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities
MORE HERE: www.bestbuddies.org

Head to AccessHollywood.com’s Giveaways page for a chance to win some of this great stuff!

THE CAST OF ABC’S “PRIVATE PRACTICE” TO “BLOW OUT CANCER”
THE AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY, “THE OFFICIAL SPONSOR OF BIRTHDAYS”
Creating a World with More Birthdays For Everyone

The cast of ABC’s hit show “Private Practice” will host a special dinner to “Blow Out Cancer” and celebrate More Birthdays for Everyone with the American Cancer Society. Guests include: Kate Walsh, Tim Daly, Amy Brenneman, Audra McDonald, KaDee Strickland, Chris Lowell, Paul Adelstein, Creator and Executive Producer Shonda Rhimes and Executive Producer Betsy Beers, with heartfelt opening remarks by American Cancer Society CEO, California Division David F. Veneziano.

The American Cancer Society (ACS) is the “Official Sponsor of Birthdays” creating a world with more birthdays for everyone by saving lives, helping people get well, stay well, by finding cures and fighting back. ACS is dedicated to furthering this mission by co-hosting an intimate dinner at Spago with the cast of ABC’s “Private Practice” to honor four courageous cancer survivors.

The American Cancer Society is dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem by saving lives, diminishing suffering and preventing cancer through research, education, advocacy and services Founded in 1913 and with national headquarters in Atlanta, the Society has 13 regional Divisions and local offices in 3,400 communities, involving millions of volunteers across the United States. For more information anytime, call toll free 1-800-ACS-2345 or visit www.cancer.org.

I’m Not Like That No More Films in Hollywood

By Gus Ugalde, Armijo News

Accenting the positive aspects of Hispanic families, and their community in general, has always been important to independent film executive producer Redford Mejia.

Mejia, is currently engaged in producing what he calls the Mexican version of the recent blockbuster hit The Hangover.

I’m Not Like that No More is the latest project Mejia is involved with and is following on the heels of The Deported, starring Nick Turturro, Talia Shire, Michael Rapaport and Paul Rodriguez.

I’m Not Like That No More stars talented newcomer Felipe Esparza, who is described by Mejia as the next Carlos Mencia, and is currently filming in various locations around Hollywood. Playing his father as an ex-luchador is veteran actor Paul Rodriguez.


“Good hearted humor in the Hispanic community has always been the focus of my films,” said Mejia. “I don’t want to forget the Hispanic community in my work.”

“We have a specific demographic target for our films,” said Mejia. “We want to target the Latino Belt, which includes California, Arizona, New Mexico…all the way to Florida.”

“My goal is to target the Latino community and to employ Hispanics,” added Mejia.

During the filming of The Deported, 80 percent of the film’s crew was Hispanic and for I’m Not Like That No More, that figure has grown to 90 percent.

Fellow 701 Productions Inc. producer Helyn Taylor, who has the overwhelming task of seeing to the day-to-day needs of the production, cast and crew shares Mejia’s view of the film and the community it represents.

“This film is full of hope for the Latino Community,” said Taylor. “I get tears in my eyes from all the love and hope that is portrayed here.”

“This is such a well written script,” added Taylor. “As a matter of fact, we were able to attract actors from theatrical agencies that normally wouldn’t get involved with a low-budget film like this.

“They just loved our script,” added Taylor.

The film is written and directed by Christian Sesma and takes place in modern-day Los Angeles and has a very Mexican cultural flavor and appeal to it.

Mejia plans to debut his film at the Latino Film Festival at the city of Huntington Park’s Sabor de Mexico Lindo - Downtown Festival on Pacific Blvd. this October 3.

Next on the horizon for the fledgling production company and Mejia is an ambitious project film called Pobrecito (poor little boy) starring Hector Jimenez of Nacho Libre fame.

Mejia hopes to take full advantage of the Jimenez talent who most recently played the role of pro-wrestler El Esqueleto (the skeleton) in Nacho Libre.

Pobrecito is a film that was written specifically with Jimenez in mind.

The film is about the struggles, trials and tribulations facing an illegal alien who is pursuing the American Dream that becomes a millionaire according to Taylor.

“This film is made for Jimenez,” said Taylor. “Without him…there is no movie.”

Working closely with 701 Productions is the Norm Marshall & Associates entertainment marketing firm that is providing the publicity for the film.

NMA public relations executive Lindsey Rowe has been a fixture at the on-site shoots along with Monica M. Jaramillo, NMA public relations director and are excited about this project.

“701 Productions and Redford Mejia is a phenomena,” said Jaramillo. “Their dedication to creating quality films which also highlight the Latino community is inspiring.”

“Everyone on the team is passionate about movie making and I am proud to be a part of the 701 Productions family,” added Jaramillo.

KMART Partners with “TRANSFORMERS: Revenge of the Fallen”

Kmart® Celebrates the Theatrical Release of “TRANSFORMERS: Revenge of the Fallen” with Multi-Dimensional Marketing Partnership

HOFFMAN ESTATES, IL (May 26, 2009) - Kmart® announced today its upcoming multi-channel entertainment marketing promotion supporting the June 24 release of “TRANSFORMERS: Revenge of the Fallen” from DreamWorks Pictures and Paramount Pictures, in association with Hasbro, Inc. The promotion launches June 7 and runs through July 4, 2009.

The program kicks-off with Kmart’s most robust Father’s Day promotion to date; themed to the film. Beginning June 7th through Father’s Day on June 21st, Kmart will encourage consumers to “TRANSFORM YOUR DAD” with a variety of merchandise and will offer 2 free movie tickets to see “TRANSFORMERS: Revenge of the Fallen” with a $50 menswear purchase, exclusions apply.

Kmart is supporting the promotion with a national television spot (in both English and Spanish) highlighting men’s apparel, the movie ticket offer and the film. The micro-site (www.kmart.com/transformers) is where consumers can redeem codes for movie tickets, download “TRANSFORMERS­: Revenge of the Fallen”-themed content, watch movie trailers and purchase TRANSFORMERS merchandise.

For the second half of the promotion, June 22 – July 4, Kmart teamed-up with Hasbro to create a dedicated Transformers destination boutique. “Headquarters for TRANSFORMERS will be located in the front of each Kmart retail location and will house everything TRANSFORMERS: toys, video games, men’s and boy’s apparel, bedding, and much more.

Kmart also created synergies with fellow “TRANSFORMERS: Revenge of the Fallen” movie partners: Burger King Corp. and Mars Snackfood. Participating BURGER KING ® restaurants will distribute TRANSFORMERS toy and footwear coupons, redeemable at Kmart stores through its BK® Kids Meal. Kmart will also be featured in its kids-directed “BK® Adventures” newsletter and email newsletter. Mars Snackfood will bring the cross-partnership with Kmart to life by creating “TRANSFORMERS: Revenge of the Fallen”-themed window displays and hosting in-store events at both Penn Station and Astor Place, New York City store locations.

Additional support includes: circular advertisements, email blasts, signage, in-store radio and TRANSFORMERS-themed gift cards. And for the first time ever, Kmart created a 24-page movie-themed comic book which will be distributed in select theaters during the promotional period. The comic book is the movie adaptation of “TRANSFORMERS: Revenge of the Fallen” and includes several Kmart ads highlighting the movie ticket offer and TRANSFORMERS licensed merchandise. It also contains a page of coupons designed to drive traffic both in-store and online.

Paramount Pictures releases “TRANSFORMERS: Revenge of the Fallen” on June 24, 2009.

The Kmart partnership was executed by Norm Marshall & Associates.

About Kmart:

Kmart, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sears Holdings Corporation (NASDAQ: SHLD), is a mass-merchandising company that offers customers quality products through a portfolio of exclusive brands that include Jaclyn Smith, Joe Boxer, Martha Stewart Everyday and Route 66. For more information visit the company's Web site at www.kmart.com or the Sears Holdings Corporation Web site at www.searsholdings.com.

About “TRANSFORMERS: Revenge of the Fallen”:

In the highly-anticipated "TRANSFORMERS: Revenge of the Fallen," debuting June 24, 2009, Sam Witwicky (Shia LaBeouf) again joins with the AUTOBOTS against their sworn enemies, the DECEPTICONS. Michael Bay directs from a screenplay written by Ehren Kruger & Roberto Orci & Alex Kurtzman.

TRANSFORMERS is a brand of Hasbro, Inc. (NYSE:HAS). Hasbro is a worldwide leader in children’s and family leisure time products and services with a rich portfolio of brands and entertainment properties that provides some of the highest quality and most recognizable play and recreational experiences in the world. As a brand-driven, consumer-focused global company, Hasbro brings to market a range of toys, games and licensed products, from traditional to high-tech and digital, under such powerful brand names as TRANSFORMERS, PLAYSKOOL, TONKA, MILTON BRADLEY, PARKER BROTHERS, CRANIUM and WIZARDS OF THE COAST. Come see how we inspire play through our brands at http://www.hasbro.com (C) 2009 Hasbro, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

DreamWorks Pictures and Paramount Pictures Present In Association with Hasbro A di Bonaventura Pictures Production A Tom DeSanto/Don Murphy Production A Michael Bay Film “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen” starring Shia LaBeouf, Megan Fox, Josh Duhamel, Tyrese Gibson and John Turturro. The film is directed by Michael Bay. Written by Ehren Kruger & Roberto Orci & Alex Kurtzman. Based on Hasbro’s Transformers™ Action Figures. Produced by Don Murphy & Tom DeSanto, Lorenzo di Bonaventura and Ian Bryce. Executive producers are Steven Spielberg, Michael Bay, Brian Goldner and Mark Vahradian. This film has not yet been rated.

About Burger King Corporation:

The BURGER KING® system operates more than 11,800 restaurants in all 50 states and in 74 countries and U.S. territories worldwide. Approximately 90 percent of BURGER KING® restaurants are owned and operated by independent franchisees, many of them family-owned operations that have been in business for decades. In 2008, Fortune magazine ranked Burger King Corp. among America's 1,000 largest corporations and Ad Week named it one of the top three industry-changing advertisers within the last three decades. To learn more about Burger King Corp., please visit the company's Web site at www.bk.com

About Mars Snackfood US:

Mars Snackfood US is the United States snack operations of Mars North America. With more than $7 billion in annual sales in the United States, Mars North America includes food, snack and pet care segments, which are a symbol of excellence for quality brands. Headquartered in Mount Olive, N.J., Mars North America employs more than 12,000 associates in the United States, with 54 facilities nationwide. Mars Snackfood US, headquartered in Hackettstown, N.J., includes some of the world’s favorite brands such as DOVE® Brand Chocolate, M&M’S® Brand, MILKY WAY® Brand, SNICKERS® Brand, 3 MUSKETEERS® Brand, TWIX® Brand and more. Additional popular brands in the petcare and food segments for Mars North America include UNCLE BEN’S® Brand, PEDIGREE® Brand Food for Dogs, and WHISKAS® Brand Food for Cats. Please visit www.mars.com.

TUNE IN ALERT!

Today at 4:25pm on 90.7 FM, Pocho Hour of Power talks with NALIP's David Ortiz & Alex Rivera (SLEEP DEALER). LISTEN LIVE http://www.kpfk.org/

NALIP is Right Around The Corner!!

NALIP 10: A DECADE OF INFLUENCE: THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF LATINO INDEPENDENT PRODUCERS EXAMINES THE LAST AND NEXT DECADE OF LATINOS IN FILM

Industry Pros Michael Lombardo, Herb Scannell and Luis Valdez Give Keynote Speeches
at Tenth Anniversary of NALIP, April 17 – 19, 2009

Los Angeles, CA (April 7, 2009) The National Association of Latino Independent Producers (NALIP) celebrates their Tenth Anniversary, and examines the present and future trends of Latino media at a weekend Conference, April 17 – 19 in Newport Beach, CA. Presented by HBO and the National Latino Media Council, the three-day event offers an unrivaled combination of conversations, panels, producing opportunities, and networking events for both established and emerging media professionals. NALIP is committed to creating more images by and about Latinos through professional training, industry networking and trend forecasting.

NALIP 10: A DECADE OF INFLUENCE kicks off with a high-level keynote lunch where Michael Lombardo, President of HBO’s Programming Group and West Coast Operations, will accept a special award presented to the network for their dedication to diversity and the Latino media community. A crowd of over 500 conference attendees will be present for the keynote speech, “Where Were We, Where Are We Now?” given by influential director and playwright, Luis Valdez (LA BAMBA, ZOOT SUIT). The opening plenary follows with a panel discussion around “What's going on? Meeting Today's Challenges", featuring a new Nielsen research report on the decade’s Latino viewing habits in film and television, presented by Executive Director, Research and Analysis, Cindi Smith. Future-looking keynote address on Saturday will be made by Herb Scannell, Next New Networks Chairman, and former President of Nickelodeon Networks. Esteemed academic and industry leaders, including Academy Award®, Emmy Award® and Golden Globe® winners and nominees, lead the rest of the weekend’s conference case studies, workshops and sessions.

NALIP welcomes PBS President/CEO Paula Kerger for a critical conversation about the role of Latino producers in public television. The program also includes a case study of the 2009 Sundance premiere DON’T LET ME DROWN with filmmakers Cruz Angeles and Maria Topete, along with cast member Yareli Arizmendi. The Tenth Anniversary culminates with NALIP’s annual awards that honor world-renowned advocacy and filmmaking pioneers Raphael Montañez Ortiz, Ray Andrade and Kenny Ortega, who have paved the way to change. NALIP also presents the 2009 Estela Awards, the largest Latino filmmaker grants endowed by the McDonald’s corporation, which go this year to rising Latino talents, Cruz Angeles (DON’T LET ME DROWN) and Hugo Perez (SUMMER SUN, WINTER MOON).

CONFERENCE AGENDA

NALIP 10: A DECADE OF INFLUENCE is co-chaired by Columbia University professor/filmmaker Frances Negrón-Muntaner (WAR IN GUAM), producer/executive David Ortiz (WANTED, HELLBOY 2), and writer/producer Ligiah Villalobos (LA MISMA LUNA). "Having participated at the first annual NALIP conference in San Francisco,” states Villalobos, “it is an honor for me to be a Co-Chair for the 10th Anniversary. It is with great pride that I look back at what this organization and its members have accomplished in the last ten years". Executives from HBO, Universal, CBS, Fox, Lifetime, NBC/Telemundo/mun2, Warner Bros., Maya Pictures, CNN, Participant, State Street Pictures, the Walt Disney Studios, the WGAW, NALA Films, Mio.tv, IndiePix, PBS, POV, Truly Indie, LPB, and many others are scheduled to attend and participate.

Longtime co-sponsor HBO will host an opening night welcome reception for Conference attendees, as well as a “Conversations With…” HBO Documentary Films executive John Hoffman and independent filmmaker Paula Heredia (“Addiction”). The session will offer an interactive dialogue that addresses how filmmakers best present projects to HBO Documentary Films, as well as how the HBO model and process differ from other distribution outlets developing and acquiring documentary programming. HBO Documentary Films will also announce an exciting new filmmaker grant for one emerging Latino documentary maker, with a winner awarded in summer 2009.

The dynamic, successful Latino edition of Back Stage’s Actorfest will once again be hosted at the NALIP annual conference. Over 500 Latino hopefuls will attend this free open call for Latino talent, which runs 9 am – 7 pm on Thursday, April 16, prior to the conference opening. Back Stage’s Actorfest will include casting directors from CBS, ABC, mun2, NBC, Fox, Telemundo, and the Disney Channel, along with managers and independent casting directors who will be on hand to seek out fresh Latino talent for roles in upcoming film and television productions. Special informational panels and master classes will also be accessible, free, to all attendees.

NALIP 10 sessions include a no-holds-barred Reality TV Boot Camp lead by expert producers Luis Barreto and Christopher Ragazzo. Opportunities for Latinos in comedy will be discussed by execs from HBO, Comedy Central, and Fox, along with comedians Marlon Wayons and Kiki Melendez. Actor Wilmer Valderrama and his producing partner Danny Villa will do a conversation with CBS VP Edith Mendoza about the burgeoning brand that is WV Enterprises. Performers will have headshots and audition techniques adjusted and critiqued by CBS Senior Casting VP Fern Orenstein and writer/director Rick Najera (Latinologues), while special writer workshops are held with Real Women Have Curves playwright/screenwriter Josefina Lopez, and CBS Story Analyst/UCLA Extension instructor Harrison Reiner (AMAR A MORIR). Special prizes to NALIPsters screening their short work will be hosted by Final Draft. Documentary makers have a 3-workshop DocFundamentals track of seminars, plus a case study of two documentaries from the Latino diaspora, the Sundance award winner EL GENERAL by Natalia Almada, and NUESTRA DESAPARETIDOS by Juan Mandelbaum, moderated by P.O.V.’s Executive Director Simon Kilmurry.

Speakers include HBO President Michael Lombardo and HBO SVP Nancy Geller, Participant’s Bonnie Abaunza, CNN’s Rose Arce (“Latino in America”), New York Daily News’ Juan Gonzalez, Maya Pictures Chair Moctesuma Esparza and Exec. VP Jose Martinez, Fox Sr. VP of Programming Pancho Mansfield, director/producer/writer David Zucker, Showtime SVP Pearlena Igbokwe, Comedy Central VP Scott Landsman, Paramount creative executive Alan Khamoui, Fox creative executive Adriana Ambriz, Universal Director of Development Franklin Leonard, State Street VP of Development and Production Rene Rigal, HBO VP of Market Development Lucinda Martinez-Desir, and Si TV co-founder Jeff Valdez. A complete list of speakers is available at: www.nalip.org/Conference10 .

Further elevating their Tenth Anniversary, NALIP will honor three media luminaries at a cocktail reception hosted by Sauza 3G tequila. The three honorees have broken barriers and made remarkable contributions that changed how Latinos are viewed in film and television. The evening, mc’ed by comedian Joe Hernandez-Kolski, will include celebrity presenters.

NALIP’s 2009 honorees include Raphael Montañez Ortiz, Pioneer Achievement Award recipient who is considered the first U.S. Latino to make a film, and is also one of the co-founders of El Museo del Barrio in New York. The Pioneer Achievement in Advocacy Award recipient is Ray Andrade, a media activist and founder of the pan-Latino protest group Justicia that challenged the lack of Chicano representation in media, and the inaccurate portrayal of Latinos in the entertainment industry as a whole. These two media luminaries paved the way for the third honoree and Outstanding Achievement Award recipient, Kenny Ortega. He has achieved unprecedented success as the director/co-producer of the HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL series phenomenon.

Capping off the evening is the presentation of NALIP’s highly anticipated 2009 Estela Awards, presented to two talented Latino filmmakers on the rise. The Estela Award for a narrative filmmaker will be presented to Cruz Angeles, a director who made his feature film debut at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival with DON’T LET ME DROWN; and producer/director Hugo Perez, who receives the Estela Award for his documentary work, SUMMER SUN, WINTER MOON. Through their commitment to excellence and Latino media, the McDonald’s Corporation provides a $7,500 filmmaker grant to each of the Estela Award winners. The McDonald’s financial contribution, together with NALIP’s recognition, supports each artist’s next project, and their progress towards being a star.

Concurrent with Conference 10 and with the support of the National Endowment for the Arts, NALIP presents the fifth Latino Media Market™. Thirty two select feature production and development projects, documentary works-in-progress and reality television series ideas will be accepted to participate in a special executive meeting series designed to advance each producer’s project, arrange financing and attract broadcast licenses. Si TV will once again take non-scripted television series concept pitches, and will award a $2,500 prize plus a 4-month development option to the strongest series concept pitched at the Market. Additionally, NALIP will hold a special Loteria, with all of the proceeds going to one lucky Conference attendee in order to advance the winner’s project; second and third-place prizes donated by Showbiz Software Store and Final Draft.

ABOUT THE ORGANIZERS

FRANCES NEGRON–MUNTANER, Conference Co-Chair
Frances Negrón-Muntaner is a filmmaker, writer, and scholar. She is the recipient of Ford, Truman, Scripps Howard, Rockefeller, and Pew fellowships. She holds a Masters in Visual Anthropology and Fine Arts from Temple University, and a Ph.D. in Comparative Literature from Rutgers University. Ms. Negrón-Muntaner’s books include Boricua Pop and Sovereign Acts. Among her films are AIDS IN THE BARRIO and BRINCANDO EL CHARCO: PORTRAIT OF A PUERTO RICAN. She is currently completing two documentaries, WAR IN GUAM and REGARDING VIEQUES. She is a co-founder of NALIP and founder of Miami Light Project's Filmmakers Workshop; she is also a tenured professor at Columbia University.

DAVID ORTIZ, Conference Co-Chair
David Ortiz is a producer/executive who most recently worked as a development executive for Universal Pictures, overseeing the latest FAST & FURIOUS starring Vin Diesel and Paul Walker, WANTED starring Angelina Jolie and James McAvoy, HELLBOY 2, written and directed by Guillermo del Toro and ROLE MODELS, starring Paul Rudd and Seann William Scott. Born and raised in the Bronx, New York, David graduated from the University of Chicago with a B.A. in Public Policy. David also sits on the Executive Board of NALIP.

LIGIAH VILLALOBOS, Conference Co-Chair
Ligiah Villalobos is currently writing an 8-Hour miniseries and has just completed writing the screenplay for DIEGO ASCENDING, an adaptation of the Israeli film BONJOUR, MONSIEUR SHLOMI for Salma Hayek's production company, Ventanazul, and a soon to be announced biopic. She is the writer and executive producer of the feature film UNDER THE SAME MOON, (LA MISMA LUNA). The film was an Official Selection at the 2007 Sundance Film Festival and became the highest sale for a Spanish-language film in the history of Sundance, selling to Fox Searchlight and the Weinstein Company. Made for under $2 Million, the film has grossed over $23 Million worldwide. Villalobos Co-Produced the film, DANCING IN SEPTEMBER, was a staff writer on the NBC show, "Ed", Head Writer on the Nick Jr. series, "Go, Diego! Go!" She has also sold TV projects to NBC, Showtime, F/X and ABC/Family. Before becoming a writer/producer, Ms. Villalobos held several executive positions including Director, Programming for Buena Vista Productions, Director, Current Programming for the WB Network and VP, Creative Affairs at Esparza/Katz Productions.

KATHYRN F. GALAN, Executive Director
Kathryn F. Galan has been NALIP’s Executive Director for nearly eight years, establishing NALIP as the preeminent national Latino media organization by taking it from an NCLR special project with a steering committee to an autonomous and substantial advocacy and professional development organization. She has created 6 national signature programs, and programmed eight national conferences. Ms. Galan has worked as an independent producer (FRENCH KISS, SQUANTO, DAYBREAK), new media consultant, and studio executive at Atlantic Entertainment Group, at Walt Disney Studio’s Hollywood Pictures, at Prufrock Pictures and with her own consultancy firm, EKR Strategies. She is a graduate of Amherst College, and did initial media studies in video art at SUNY Buffalo, then Masters studies in film history and criticism at UCLA, specializing in World Cinema.

NALIP ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Since its inception in 1999, NALIP has emerged as the premiere Latino media organization addressing the most underrepresented and largest ethnic minority in the country. NALIP has four national initiatives:

· The National Conference – NALIP 10: A DECADE OF INFLUENCE is NALIP’s tenth national conference. This year the conference includes the second edition of the highly successful Latino Actorfest and a spectacular line up of keynote speakers and panelists. The conference will also offer a Loteria which is a special cash prize awarded to a conference attendee for project development or completion. The Latino Media Market will again be on the agenda selecting top film, television and documentary projects for targeted one-on-one meetings with executives, representatives and funders in order to facilitate more business deals and steps to production. This year NALIP has added a category for completed films seeking distribution.

· The Latino Writer's Lab™ -- The seventh lab is presented in collaboration with Time Warner and the Writer's Guild of America East in Santa Fe, New Mexico, May 27-31, with a second session scheduled for Santa Monica in September. This 10-day intensive program attracts Latina/o film and television writers from around the country. The curriculum advances their screenplays through work on craft, as well as through direct mentoring; the program also introduces writers to agents, managers, producers and funders in order to expand their professional network and further their projects and careers.

· Latino Producers AcademyTM – Feature, television and documentary producers and directors attend this ten-day intensive seminar in Santa Fe, New Mexico by special selection and invitation. Producer/director teams participate in seminars on advanced professional skills development and in-depth mentoring that support all aspects of their project development, production skills and marketing understanding as instructed by top industry professionals. Feature casts and crews are provided so that scenes can be rehearsed, shot, edited and scored. Presented in association with Time Warner and the New Mexico Film Office, Nielsen Media Research, the UCLA Film and Television Professional Certificate Program and the University of Arizona, School of Media Arts Department, the seventh LPA will be held August 4 - 21, 2009.

· Latino Media Resource Guide™ – A printed and online directory of Latino/a writers, directors, producers, crew members, executives and production companies, including their contact and credit information, plus deadlines for diversity initiatives, film schools and funding opportunities, distribution companies and Hispanic American film listings. This reference is provided free to members, as well as to all studios, networks, production companies and agents in order to enhance employment and build community. The database is also updatable online, at www.lmrg.nalip.org , where all of the additional resources, links, and connections are housed.

· NALIP has 15 regional chapters that provide professional development workshops and support in project development, fundraising, proposal writing and other essential media skills.


ABOUT NALIP
NALIP is a national membership organization that addresses the professional needs of Latino/Latina independent producers. NALIP is the first such effort aimed at Latino production in thirty years, and it is the first to last more than one year and to provide ongoing support for the Latino independent film and video makers. It stands as the premiere Latino media organization, addressing for ten years the most underrepresented and the largest ethnic minority in the country. The mission is to promote the advancement, development and funding of Latino/Latina film and media arts in all genres. NALIP is the only national organization committed to supporting both grassroots and community-based producers/media makers along with publicly funded and industry-based producers.

NALIP's values are:
* Commitment to Latino/Latina media and filmmakers, regardless of the form or content of their work
* Commitment to respect for diversity based on a code of ethics open to and respectful of differences, including gender, geography, color, class, age, ethnicity, language, sexuality, religion, genre or physical abilities
* Commitment to solidarity and accountability, applying our code of ethics to the selection, funding and mentoring process
* Commitment to raise the question of historical and cultural relevance and awareness of Latinos and Latinas
* Commitment to solidarity, alliance building and multiple visions of Latina/Latino experiences within the local, national, international and global context

For the latest information about NALIP 10: A DECADE OF INFLUENCE, go to www.nalip.org. All those interested in exhibiting, please contact Conference Director, Octavio Marin at 310.395.8880.

###

PRESS CONTACTS
Monica M. Jaramillo
Norm Marshall & Associates
818.982.3505x225
mjaramillo@normmarshall.com

Lindsey Rowe
Norn Marshall & Associates
818.982.3505 x333
lrowe@normmarshall.com

LINKS!
Conference Website: http://www.nalip.org/conference10/
Speaker Bios: http://www.nalip.org/conference10/KenotesandSpeakers.htm
Schedule: http://www.nalip.org/conference10/program_schedule.htm

NALIP Honors Legends and Newcomers

Home Media Magazine
By Erika Carmona

The National Association of Latino Independent Producers will be hosting the NALIP 10: A Decade of Influence Conference on April 18, honoring three media luminaries who have made remarkable contributions to the Latino film and television industry.

Among the recipients are Rafael Montañez Ortiz for the Pioneer Achievement Award, Ray Andrade for the Pioneer Achievement in Advocacy Award and Kenny Ortega for the Outstanding Achievement Award.

Ortiz is being honored as the first U.S. Latino to make a film, and his significant role in the international art movement of Destructivism, along with being the co-founder of the first Latino art museum in the United States.

Andrade is being recognized for his active role in challenging the lack of Chicano representation and their inaccurate portrayal in the media. He is also the co-creator and associate producer of the first Latino hit series “Chico and the Man.”

Ortega, who directed the “High School Musical” film series, serves as an example of continued growth and success to Latinos in the entertainment industry today.

Two other Latino filmmakers will also be recognized with 2009 Estela Awards for stunning debuts or distinguished work in a short period of time. Cruz Angeles will be awarded for his film directorial debut at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival with Don’t Let me Drown. Producer and director Hugo Perez will be honored for his feature documentary Neither Memory Nor Magic.

Each Estela Award recipient will receive a $7,500 Filmmaker Grant provided by McDonald’s.

Cruz Angeles

Hugo Perez

Raphael Montanez Ortiz

Ray Andrade

Kenny Ortega