BEVERLY HILLS: HBO’s Rodrigo Garcia, Ugly Betty’s Tony Plana and writer Ligiah Villalobos of La Misma Luna will receive top honors at The Imagen Foundation’s 23rd Annual Imagen Awards on Thursday, Aug. 21 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel.
Garcia will be honored with the Foundation’s Creative Achievement Award; Plana will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award and Villalobos, the prestigious Norman Lear Writer’s Award.
Among her many achievements, Villalobos penned and executive produced Under the Same Moon (La Misma Luna), a feature film that 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. Upon its release on March 19, 2008 by Fox Searchlight and The Weinstein Company, the film went on to break the three-day opening weekend record for a Spanish-language film. Made for under $2 million, the film has earned over $22 million worldwide.
A veteran of film, stage and television, Plana is also one of the most active advocates of outreach programs that bring the world of entertainment to hundreds and thousands of youngsters and young adults. He currently stars in Ugly Betty, ABC’s groundbreaking hit series for which he received an award from the International Press Academy and an Alma Award nomination for best supporting actor in a television comedy. Plana has starred in more than 70 feature films, has portrayed leading roles in four critically acclaimed television series and his Broadway credits include Zoot Suit and Boys of Winter.
Writer-director Rodrigo Garcia, born in Bogota, Columbia and raised in Mexico, is the son of Gabriel Garcia Marquez, a world-renowned author, journalist, and Nobel Prize winner. Garcia has earned his own fame as a prolific and award-winning television and film director who has directed a variety of independent films and several episodes of the HBO series, Six Feet Under and The Sopranos, among others. His most recent feature film project is Sony Pictures’ Passengers, which will be released in fall 2008.
Additionally, Imagen will acknowledge contributions for excellence in Latino entertainment in 18 categories. Nominees include:
Best On-Air Advertising
Artist Speaking Tr3s', AB Quintanilla y Los Kumbia All Stars, MTV3
Civic es Civic, La Agencia de Orci & Asociados
Descubre and Download, Colby O'Donis, MTV
Descubre and Download, Malverde, MTV
Tu Pride, Silvestre, MTV
Tu Pride, Elan, MTV
Tu Pride, Ruben, MTV
Vivelo Aqui Campaign, HBO
Best Local Informational Programming
Ninos Inmigrantes Llegan a La Escuela, Univision 23
Fox 11 News, Alter the Melee, Producer, Pete Noyes
Vista L.A., ABC7
Best National Informational Programming
Beyond Borders: an MTV Tr3's Immigration Forum, MTV Networks
Hispanics Today, Producers Erica Ortiz & Don Kaiser
LatinEyes, Executive Producer, Andres Pruna
Maria Hinojosa One-on-One with Tony Plana, Producer, La Plaza-WGBH
Nick News with Linda Ellerbee, I'm American, you're not, Nickelodeon, Nickelodeon Network
Best Theatrical Short or Student Film
Below the Fold, The Pulitzer that Defined Latino Journalism, Produced & Directed by Roberto Gudino, Executive Producer Olga Briseno
Nina Quebrada, Produced by Diana Romero and Directed by Jen Kleiner
A Day at the Theatre: Produced by Karla Ojeda and Directed by Kenneth Castillo
Proof of Birth, Produced by Sergei Krasikav, Directed by Jose Luis Orbegozo
Suripanta, Produced by David Rodriguez and Edward Cohen, Directed by David Rodriguez Estrada
Best Documentary for Television
Borinqueneers (The) El Pozo Productions
Brown is the New Green, Producer & Director, Phillip Rodriguez
Made in L.A., Producer and Director, Robert Bahar and Almudena Carracedo
Orozco: Man of Fire, Producer and Director, Laurie Coyle and Rick Tejada Flores
Recycled Life (Cinemax Reel Life), Iwerks-Glad Production in association with HBO/Cinemax Documentary Film
Toxic City: This is Where I Live, Producer & Director, Nori Takei, mun2
Best Children's Programming
Dora the Explorer, Nickelodeon; Nickelodeon Network
El Tigre, The Adventures of Manny Rivera, Nickelodeon, Nickelodeon Network
Go, Diego, Go, Nickelodeon; Nickelodeon Network
Handy Manny, Disney Channel
Maya and Miguel, PBS
Best Variety or Reality Show
Ceasar and Chuy, LATV Networks
Dog Whisperer with Cesar Millan, National Geographic Channel
Dancing with the Stars, ABC
Mi TRL Awards, MTV Networks
Step It Up & Dance, Bravo
Randy Jackson Presents, America's Best Dance Crew, MTV and Warner Horizon Television
Vivo Presents, Juanes, Producer, Shari Scorca, Executive Producer, Gloria Medel, mun2
Best Supporting Actress - Film
Danielle Polanco, Missy, Step Up 2 The Streets, Producer, Patrick Wachsberger & Erik Feig, Director, Jon M. Chu
Leonor Varela, Where God Left His Shoes, Written and Directed, Salvatore Stabile
Roselyn Sanchez, Game Plan, Producers Gordon Gray & mark Ciardi, Director, Andy Fickman
Best Supporting Actor - Film
David Castro, Where God Left His Shoes, Written and Directed by Salvatore Stabile
Eugenio Derbez, La Misma Luna, Producer/Director, Patricia Rigen
Jacob Vargas, Sleep Dealer, Producer, Anthony Bregman
Tego Calderon, Illegal Tender, Producer, John Singleton
Best Actress - Film
Giovanna Mezzogiorno, Love in the Time of Cholera, Directed by Mike Newell, Stone Village Pictures
Kate Del Castillo, La Misma Luna: Directed by Patricia Riggen, Fox Searchlight Pictures
Wanda de Jesus, Illegal Tender: Directed by Franc Reyes, New Deal Productions
Yvette Yates, Nina Quebrada: Directed by Jen Kleiner, The Collective
Best Actor - Film
Adrian Alonso, La Misma Luna: Directed by Patricia Riggen, Fox Searchlight Pictures
Javier Bardem, Love in the Time of Cholera Directed by Mike Newell, Stone Village Pictures
John Leguizamo, Where God Left His Shoes: Directed by Salvatore Stabile, Vulcan Productions
Rick Gonzalez, Illegal Tender: Directed by Franc Reyes, New Deal Productions
Best Director
Kenny Ortega, High School Musical 2, Disney Channel
Mike Newell, Love in the Time of Cholera, Stone Village Pictures
Patricia Riggen, La Misma Luna, Fox Searchlight Pictures
Best Picture
Alondra Smiles: Directed by Concha Nora Villa, Villa Media Productions
La Misma Luna: Directed by Patricia Riggen, Fox Searchlight Pictures
Love in the Time of Cholera: Directed by Mike Newell, Stone Village Pictures
Where God Left His Shoes, Directed by Salvatore Stabile, Vulcan Productions
Best Supporting Actress - Television
Cote de Pablo, NCIS: CBS, Belisarius Productions, Paramount Television
Eva La Rue, Miami CSI, CBS Television, CBS Productions
Maria Canals Barrera, Wizards of Waverly Place, Disney Channel, It's a Laugh Productions
Ana Ortiz, Ugly Betty, ABC Studios
Dana Ramirez, Heroes, NBC
Best Supporting Actor
Danny Pino, Cold Case, Jerry Bruckheimer Television in association with CBS Productions and Warner Bros. Television
Esai Morales, Jericho, CBS/Paramount Network Television
Jorge Garcia, Lost, ABC Studios
Shalim Ortiz, Heros, NBC,
Tony Plana, Ugly Betty, ABC Studios
Best Actress - Television
America Ferrera, Ugly Betty, ABC Studios
Christina Milian, Snowglobe, ABC and Disney Channel
Kathleen Herles, Dora the Explorer, Nickelodeon Network, Nickelodeon Studios
Selena Gomez, Wizards of Waverly Place, ABC Family, It's a Laugh Production
Best Actor - Television
Carlos Mencia, Mind of Mencia, Comedy Central
Edward James Olmos, Battlestar Galactica, The Sci-Fi Channel
James Roday, Psych CBS
Wilmer Valderamma, Handy Manny (animation), Disney Channel
Best Primetime Series
ER: NBC and Warner Bros. Television
Grey's Anatomy, ABC Studios, Mark Gordon Company
Lost, ABC, ABC Studios
Scrubs, ABC Studios, Dozer Productions
Ugly Betty, ABC Studios
The Imagen Foundation awards are unique in that they recognize entertainment entities and individuals who support Imagen’s mission which is to enhance opportunities for Latinos in front of and behind the camera and feature Latino actors in positive roles. The Imagen Foundation serves as a liaison between the industry and the Hispanic community by providing access, education and resources. Additional information regarding Imagen, its awards program and annual Job Fair in January is available at www.imagen.org or by calling (626) 836-6100.
LOS ANGELES: Earlier this month, the Lifetime Movie Network hosted a world premiere screening for the original movie Little Girl Lost: The Delimar Vera Story.
The film stars Judy Reyes (Scrubs) in the lead role as Luz Cuevas, a working class mother who is told that her infant daughter, Delimar, has perished in a suspicious fire in their Philadelphia row house. Despite the evidence and based only on her intuition as a mother Luz remains convinced that her daughter was kidnapped and that she’s still alive.
Luz and her husband (Luis Bustamante) attempt to put the tragedy behind them for the sake of their other children, however Luz continues to suspect her distant cousin (Ana Ortiz) of foul play and enlists the help of Angel Cruz (A Martinez), a sympathetic state representative. The film also features Marlene Forte and David Zayas.
A must see presentation, the movie premieres on Sunday, Aug 17 at 8PM ET/9PM PT, on the Lifetime Movie Network.
EAST LOS ANGELES: Seventy-six teens from the Boys & Girls Clubs of East Los Angeles are recipients of $225,000 in scholarships provided by Toyota Financial Services. This is the second year TFS has provided scholarships for the club’s members, staff and recent alumni under its “Making Life Easier” program. In recognition of the tremendous success of last year’s scholarship recipients, TFS increased the fund from $150,000 to $225,000 this year.
The scholarship fund is part of TFS’s national giving strategy of supporting at risk youth who have shown academic achievement and serve as role models by volunteering in their community. The scholarships will allow economically disadvantaged youth to pursue their higher education goals by providing up to $10,000 for university, college, trade or vocational school tuition and fees. In addition to scholarships, TFS has once again provided the Boys & Girls Clubs of East L.A. $275,000 in funding for the club’s after-school programs and family economic development programs.
The awards presentation was held at a luncheon, Aug. 13, at which recipients received backpacks filled with school supplies and also a tour of a private Auto Museum at Toyota’s headquarters in Torrance, CA. Scholarship recipients were accompanied by their families, Boys & Girls Clubs of East L.A. Executive Director Anna Araujo, TFS President & CEO George Borst and hundreds of TFS employees.
Scholarship recipients include Brittany Ulloa, 17; Manuel Garcia, Jr., 23; and Claudia Guerrero, 21. Ulloa, admitted to Wellesley with dreams of becoming a doctor to help less fortunate people here and abroad. President of the club’s Keystone Club, she considers the staff and other members her second family and “the epitome of what giving back is all about.”
Garcia is a junior at Cal State L.A. studying civic engineering. He credits his time as a member and a tutor at the Boys & Girls Club as a driving force in shaping his character and giving him confidence in himself to pursue a college degree.
Guerrero, 21, admitted to University of Phoenix is seeking a BA in human resources. She has been involved with the Boys & Girls Club since she was five and works there today as an administrative assistant. “Every community has its problems,” says Guerrero, “but to me there is no place like East Los Angeles." She began her studies at Chico State , but had to put them on hold and return to Los Angeles. As time went on, she became depressed that she was not in school and then afraid to pick up where she had left off. But coming back to the Boys & Girls Club, she began to realize that “the only person holding me back was myself.” She now looks forward to continuing her work at the club and starting classes once more this fall.
NEXT POST: Coming soon – stay tuned.
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