Spoiler Alert: This interview contains spoilers for “If Y’Don’t Know, Now Y’Know,” the Season 2 finale of “Power Book III: Raising Kanan” on Starz.
Rebuilding Raquel’s empire after all her decisions backfired will be an uphill battle, but she may not have to walk the road alone.
Season 2 of “Power Book III: Raising Kanan” ended with an explosive shoot-out between Raquel (Patina Miller), Lou (Malcolm Mays), and Marvin (London Brown), who battled Sal’s (Michael Rispoli) Mafia in New Jersey. The exchange resulted in the deaths of newcomers Zisa (Paulina Singer), Cartier (Omar Dorsey), and Kenya (LeToya Luckett).
Raquel had hit rock bottom with her plans to extend her operations to Jersey, D.C., and the south thwarted, and her son, Kanan (Mekai Curtis) choosing his new relationship with his father over hers. And at a moment where death was knocking on Raquel’s door, she’s saved by her former rival,...
Rebuilding Raquel’s empire after all her decisions backfired will be an uphill battle, but she may not have to walk the road alone.
Season 2 of “Power Book III: Raising Kanan” ended with an explosive shoot-out between Raquel (Patina Miller), Lou (Malcolm Mays), and Marvin (London Brown), who battled Sal’s (Michael Rispoli) Mafia in New Jersey. The exchange resulted in the deaths of newcomers Zisa (Paulina Singer), Cartier (Omar Dorsey), and Kenya (LeToya Luckett).
Raquel had hit rock bottom with her plans to extend her operations to Jersey, D.C., and the south thwarted, and her son, Kanan (Mekai Curtis) choosing his new relationship with his father over hers. And at a moment where death was knocking on Raquel’s door, she’s saved by her former rival,...
- 10/24/2022
- by BreAnna Bell
- Variety Film + TV
The Broadway production of Stephen Adly Guirgis’ Between Riverside And Crazy starring Common will be simulcast during its final two weeks in February, producer Second Stage Theatre announced today.
The play will be the second production simulcast by Second Stage, following last season’s production of Clyde’s.
“We are very pleased to once again offer a simulcast viewing option – in real time – from our Broadway home, the Hayes Theater,” said Second Stage Executive Director Khady Kamara in a statement. “This unique program significantly broadened our audience with last year’s production of Clyde’s and we are excited to resume this program by simulcasting a live Broadway performance of Stephen Adly Guirgis’ Pulitzer Prize-winning play into people’s homes this winter.”
Between Riverside And Crazy begins performances at Second Stage’s Hayes Theater on Nov. 30, with an official opening night on Dec. 19.
The simulcast performances will take place the...
The play will be the second production simulcast by Second Stage, following last season’s production of Clyde’s.
“We are very pleased to once again offer a simulcast viewing option – in real time – from our Broadway home, the Hayes Theater,” said Second Stage Executive Director Khady Kamara in a statement. “This unique program significantly broadened our audience with last year’s production of Clyde’s and we are excited to resume this program by simulcasting a live Broadway performance of Stephen Adly Guirgis’ Pulitzer Prize-winning play into people’s homes this winter.”
Between Riverside And Crazy begins performances at Second Stage’s Hayes Theater on Nov. 30, with an official opening night on Dec. 19.
The simulcast performances will take place the...
- 10/11/2022
- by Greg Evans
- Deadline Film + TV
Click here to read the full article.
Second Stage Theater will bring back its simulcast streaming of Broadway performances this winter with Stephen Adly Guirgis’ Between Riverside and Crazy.
The non-profit theater company will sell tickets to live-streamed performances of the play, which will also be happening in front of a live audience, from Jan. 31 through Feb. 12, 2023, the last two scheduled weeks of the play’s run. While rare in the industry, due to the costs involved and fear of cannibalizing the audience, this is the second time the theater company has simulcast a Broadway play from the Hayes Theater.
Last year, Second Stage launched the program by simulcasting 14 performances of Lynn Nottage’s Clydes during the last two weeks of its run in January and in the thick of the omicron variant. Eleven of the 14 simulcast performances sold out, with 78 percent of viewers coming from outside New York City.
Second Stage Theater will bring back its simulcast streaming of Broadway performances this winter with Stephen Adly Guirgis’ Between Riverside and Crazy.
The non-profit theater company will sell tickets to live-streamed performances of the play, which will also be happening in front of a live audience, from Jan. 31 through Feb. 12, 2023, the last two scheduled weeks of the play’s run. While rare in the industry, due to the costs involved and fear of cannibalizing the audience, this is the second time the theater company has simulcast a Broadway play from the Hayes Theater.
Last year, Second Stage launched the program by simulcasting 14 performances of Lynn Nottage’s Clydes during the last two weeks of its run in January and in the thick of the omicron variant. Eleven of the 14 simulcast performances sold out, with 78 percent of viewers coming from outside New York City.
- 10/11/2022
- by Caitlin Huston
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Common shows his excitement over his upcoming Broadway debut this November. Pic credit: ©ImageCollect.com/gotpap/StarMaxWorldwide
Common will be turning his dream into a reality as he takes the stage for his Broadway debut this November.
Lonnie Rashid Lynn, known by his stage name Common, has had a successful career in the music industry since his start in the early 90s.
The rapper has also established his place as a Hollywood actor, with starring roles in films such as Just Wright, The Informer, and John Wick: Chapter 2.
However, he has recently moved his talents over to the Broadway stage and will be starring in the role of Junior in Stephen Adly Guirgis’ play, Between Riverside and Crazy.
The Pulitzer Prize-winning play will begin previews on November 30 and will run at the Second Stages Hayes Theatre in New York City.
The rapper recently took to Instagram to announce his upcoming...
Common will be turning his dream into a reality as he takes the stage for his Broadway debut this November.
Lonnie Rashid Lynn, known by his stage name Common, has had a successful career in the music industry since his start in the early 90s.
The rapper has also established his place as a Hollywood actor, with starring roles in films such as Just Wright, The Informer, and John Wick: Chapter 2.
However, he has recently moved his talents over to the Broadway stage and will be starring in the role of Junior in Stephen Adly Guirgis’ play, Between Riverside and Crazy.
The Pulitzer Prize-winning play will begin previews on November 30 and will run at the Second Stages Hayes Theatre in New York City.
The rapper recently took to Instagram to announce his upcoming...
- 9/19/2022
- by Juliane Pettorossi
- Monsters and Critics
Common will be making his Broadway debut in Stephen Adly Guirgis’ play Between Riverside and Crazy. The rapper will be playing the role of Junior and the cast is set to start performances on November 30 at Second Stages Hayes Theatre. Following the announcement, Common shared his thoughts on being part of the Pulitzer Prize-winning play.
“This has been a dream of mine for a very long time to act in a play, to do theater, and to be a part of a theater company,” he shared on Instagram. “I am supremely grateful and overwhelmingly inspired to be a part of Between Riverside and Crazy. I can’t wait to begin this process and to live this journey.”
The rapper continued: “You never could have told me that little south side boy that he would be on Broadway. When I got this role, I called my mother like I had gotten my first record contract.
“This has been a dream of mine for a very long time to act in a play, to do theater, and to be a part of a theater company,” he shared on Instagram. “I am supremely grateful and overwhelmingly inspired to be a part of Between Riverside and Crazy. I can’t wait to begin this process and to live this journey.”
The rapper continued: “You never could have told me that little south side boy that he would be on Broadway. When I got this role, I called my mother like I had gotten my first record contract.
- 9/18/2022
- by Armando Tinoco
- Deadline Film + TV
Common, the actor, rapper and songwriter who has won Oscar, Emmy and Grammy Awards, will make his Broadway debut in the coveted role of “Junior” in Stephen Adly Guirgis’ Pulitzer Prize-winning play Between Riverside and Crazy.
Today’s announcement by the Second Stage Theater completes casting for the play, which begins performances Nov. 30 at Second Stage’s Hayes Theater ahead of a Dec. 19 opening night.
Earlier this week, the production announced that most of the cast members of the acclaimed 2015 Off Broadway production will reprise their roles for Broadway, including Stephen McKinley Henderson, Victor Almanzar, Elizabeth Canavan, Rosal Colón, Liza Colón-Zayas and Michael Rispoli.
In the 2015 staging, the role of Junior was played by Ron Cephas-Jones.
The play, directed by Austin Pendleton, tells the story of ex-cop and recent widower Walter “Pops” Washington (Stephen McKinley Henderson) and his recently paroled son Junior (Common) as they struggle to hold on to...
Today’s announcement by the Second Stage Theater completes casting for the play, which begins performances Nov. 30 at Second Stage’s Hayes Theater ahead of a Dec. 19 opening night.
Earlier this week, the production announced that most of the cast members of the acclaimed 2015 Off Broadway production will reprise their roles for Broadway, including Stephen McKinley Henderson, Victor Almanzar, Elizabeth Canavan, Rosal Colón, Liza Colón-Zayas and Michael Rispoli.
In the 2015 staging, the role of Junior was played by Ron Cephas-Jones.
The play, directed by Austin Pendleton, tells the story of ex-cop and recent widower Walter “Pops” Washington (Stephen McKinley Henderson) and his recently paroled son Junior (Common) as they struggle to hold on to...
- 9/16/2022
- by Greg Evans
- Deadline Film + TV
Click here to read the full article.
Common will step onto a Broadway stage for the first time this winter in Second Stage Theater’s Between Riverside and Crazy.
The rapper and actor — who is a Tony Award short of becoming an Egot winner — was announced on Friday as part of the cast of the upcoming Broadway production from writer Stephen Adly Guirgis and director Austin Pendleton. The show will begin previews on Nov. 30 before opening on Dec. 19 at Second Stage’s Hayes Theater.
Common will star in the dark comedy as the recently paroled Junior, son of ex-cop and recent widower Walter “Pops” Washington (played by Stephen McKinley Henderson). The play follows the duo as they fight to hold on to one of the last rent-stabilized apartments on Riverside Drive amid the rehashing of old wounds and in the face of sketchy new houseguests and a final ultimatum.
Common...
Common will step onto a Broadway stage for the first time this winter in Second Stage Theater’s Between Riverside and Crazy.
The rapper and actor — who is a Tony Award short of becoming an Egot winner — was announced on Friday as part of the cast of the upcoming Broadway production from writer Stephen Adly Guirgis and director Austin Pendleton. The show will begin previews on Nov. 30 before opening on Dec. 19 at Second Stage’s Hayes Theater.
Common will star in the dark comedy as the recently paroled Junior, son of ex-cop and recent widower Walter “Pops” Washington (played by Stephen McKinley Henderson). The play follows the duo as they fight to hold on to one of the last rent-stabilized apartments on Riverside Drive amid the rehashing of old wounds and in the face of sketchy new houseguests and a final ultimatum.
Common...
- 9/16/2022
- by Abbey White
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The upcoming Broadway production of Stephen Adly Guirgis’ Pulitzer Prize-winning play Between Riverside And Crazy, directed by Austin Pendleton, will reunite much of the acclaimed 2015 Off Broadway cast when it begins previews Wednesday, November 30, at Second Stage’s Hayes Theater.
The production, which officially opens Monday, December 19, will reunite most of the Off Broadway cast, including Stephen McKinley Henderson, Victor Almanzar, Elizabeth Canavan, Rosal Colón, Liza Colón-Zayas and Michael Rispoli.
The synopsis: City Hall is demanding more than his signature, the landlord wants him out, the liquor store is closed – and the Church won’t leave him alone. For ex-cop and recent widower Walter “Pops” Washington (Henderson) and his recently paroled son Junior, the struggle to hold on to one of the last great rent stabilized apartments on Riverside Drive collides with old wounds, sketchy new houseguests and a final ultimatum…”
Original cast member Ron Cephas-Jones will not be returning...
The production, which officially opens Monday, December 19, will reunite most of the Off Broadway cast, including Stephen McKinley Henderson, Victor Almanzar, Elizabeth Canavan, Rosal Colón, Liza Colón-Zayas and Michael Rispoli.
The synopsis: City Hall is demanding more than his signature, the landlord wants him out, the liquor store is closed – and the Church won’t leave him alone. For ex-cop and recent widower Walter “Pops” Washington (Henderson) and his recently paroled son Junior, the struggle to hold on to one of the last great rent stabilized apartments on Riverside Drive collides with old wounds, sketchy new houseguests and a final ultimatum…”
Original cast member Ron Cephas-Jones will not be returning...
- 9/9/2022
- by Greg Evans
- Deadline Film + TV
Gabriel Byrne, most recently seen in the acclaimed Hereditary, has joined the Netflix true crime film Lost Girls, along with Lola Kirke (Mozart in the Jungle), Miriam Shor (Younger), Thomasin McKenzie (Leave No Trace), Oona Laurence (The Beguiled), Reed Birney (House of Cards), Kevin Corrigan (Dice), Rosal Colon (Orange is the New Black) and Dean Winters (John Wick).
Oscar nominee Amy Ryan was previously announced as the lead. Prior to Netflix, the project was setup at Amazon Studios with Sarah Paulson attached to headline.
Liz Garbus (What Happened Miss Simone?) is directing the pic, which will be her first narrative feature. The plot is based on Robert Kolker’s nonfiction book of the same name, adapted by Michael Werwie.
The story centers on Mari Gilbert as she relentlessly drives law enforcement agents to search for her missing daughter and in the process sheds light on a wave of unsolved murders...
Oscar nominee Amy Ryan was previously announced as the lead. Prior to Netflix, the project was setup at Amazon Studios with Sarah Paulson attached to headline.
Liz Garbus (What Happened Miss Simone?) is directing the pic, which will be her first narrative feature. The plot is based on Robert Kolker’s nonfiction book of the same name, adapted by Michael Werwie.
The story centers on Mari Gilbert as she relentlessly drives law enforcement agents to search for her missing daughter and in the process sheds light on a wave of unsolved murders...
- 10/26/2018
- by Amanda N'Duka
- Deadline Film + TV
When it comes to rewarding the best comedic cast on television, the SAG Awards often simply go with the biggest cast. Recent winners like “Orange is the New Black” (2014-2016), “Glee” (2009), “Desperate Housewives” (2004-2005) and “Ally McBeal” (1998) all prevailed thanks in part to having the most cast members on the voting ballot. Interestingly enough, all four of these were also hour-long dramedies, which suggests SAG voters are more apt to give the prize to large casts when they’re also in large productions.
What does this statistic mean in terms of predicting the 2018 SAG Awards? “Orange is the New Black” once again boasts the biggest comedy cast with a record-setting 45 men and women nominated for the Netflix prison series. That’s up from 37 cast members in 2016, 34 in 2015, and 40 in 2014. Of this year’s other nominated ensembles, Netflix’s “Glow” consists of 18 cast members, followed by HBO’s “Veep” at 15, ABC...
What does this statistic mean in terms of predicting the 2018 SAG Awards? “Orange is the New Black” once again boasts the biggest comedy cast with a record-setting 45 men and women nominated for the Netflix prison series. That’s up from 37 cast members in 2016, 34 in 2015, and 40 in 2014. Of this year’s other nominated ensembles, Netflix’s “Glow” consists of 18 cast members, followed by HBO’s “Veep” at 15, ABC...
- 1/19/2018
- by Marcus James Dixon
- Gold Derby
We waited a long time for the fifth season of Orange Is the New Black, and it certainly did not disappoint. In addition to seeing more of "Skinhead" Helen and the drugged-out dynamic duo of Leanne (Emma Myles) and Angie (Julie Lake), we got a closer look at Carmen "Ouija" Aziza (Rosal Colon). Rosal plays a tough Dominican inmate who gets transferred to Litchfield and becomes part of Maria Flores's gang, but her makeunder definitely doesn't do her justice. Related70+ Awesome Snaps of the Oitnb Cast Being Real-Life Friends Judging from her Instagram photos, Rosal is a lot more glamorous and bubbly in real life. In fact, Rosal says the only thing she and Ouija have in common is their sense of humor. "My character in Orange Is The New Black is strong, intelligent, likes to joke a lot, is not afraid to be violent if you have to rectify a situation or if you have to defend your sisters," Rosal told People En Español in 2016. "What I have in common with my character is that we're both clowns, sometimes. Maybe not in the best situations but we like to laugh." While Rosal's transformation may not be as drastic as the others, we're still not sure if we would recognize her on the street.
- 6/21/2017
- by Monica Sisavat
- Popsugar.com
Film to Premiere at a special one-night, invitation-only, engagement sponsored by HBO(R) on October at the AMC Empire 25 on 42nd Street
New York, NY – September 25, 2013 – (Hispanicize Wire) – ProyectoNEXT, a new showcase for emerging Latino and Urban talent sponsored by HBO, will debut next month with the New York premiere of director Henry Barrial’s “The House That Jack Built.” The one-night, invitation-only feature presentation will take place October 2 in Manhattan at the AMC Empire 25.
Hailed by The Hollywood Reporter as a “convincing portrait of a neighborhood and its Nuyorican culture,” and “a majestic journey of crime, family drama, and redemption” by The Awards Circuit, “The House That Jack Built” stars Bronx native E.J. Bonilla and features an all-Latino cast of Caribbean descent from New York, including Melissa Fumero, Leo Minaya, Flor De Liz Perez, Saundra Santiago, John Herrera, and Rosal Colon.
“HBO is extremely excited to partner in the...
New York, NY – September 25, 2013 – (Hispanicize Wire) – ProyectoNEXT, a new showcase for emerging Latino and Urban talent sponsored by HBO, will debut next month with the New York premiere of director Henry Barrial’s “The House That Jack Built.” The one-night, invitation-only feature presentation will take place October 2 in Manhattan at the AMC Empire 25.
Hailed by The Hollywood Reporter as a “convincing portrait of a neighborhood and its Nuyorican culture,” and “a majestic journey of crime, family drama, and redemption” by The Awards Circuit, “The House That Jack Built” stars Bronx native E.J. Bonilla and features an all-Latino cast of Caribbean descent from New York, including Melissa Fumero, Leo Minaya, Flor De Liz Perez, Saundra Santiago, John Herrera, and Rosal Colon.
“HBO is extremely excited to partner in the...
- 9/26/2013
- by El Mayimbe
- LRMonline.com
Jack Be Simple: Barrial’s New York Story Buoyed by Strong Performances
For his fifth feature film, indie filmmaker Henry Barrial takes to the Bronx for a familial relations drama examining notions of family, marriage, and the forced archaic notion of patriarchal authority. While The House That Jack Built is unable to completely sidestep some well-worn clichés, both of a universal nature and those particular to the community within which it is set, Barrial is able to conjure a compelling level of engagement that makes you invested in the eventual outcome. Even better, he manages to do so even with an almost wholly unlikeable lead protagonist.
Jack (E.J. Bonilla) is a hot headed and handsome young patriarchal head of his extended family, and it has long been his life’s goal to provide for them all. Still a very young man, he has purchased an entire apartment complex for his whole family to live in,...
For his fifth feature film, indie filmmaker Henry Barrial takes to the Bronx for a familial relations drama examining notions of family, marriage, and the forced archaic notion of patriarchal authority. While The House That Jack Built is unable to completely sidestep some well-worn clichés, both of a universal nature and those particular to the community within which it is set, Barrial is able to conjure a compelling level of engagement that makes you invested in the eventual outcome. Even better, he manages to do so even with an almost wholly unlikeable lead protagonist.
Jack (E.J. Bonilla) is a hot headed and handsome young patriarchal head of his extended family, and it has long been his life’s goal to provide for them all. Still a very young man, he has purchased an entire apartment complex for his whole family to live in,...
- 6/16/2013
- by Nicholas Bell
- IONCINEMA.com
Upon the Los Angeles Film Festival announcing their 2013 roster I was excited to see a title familiar to me that would be having its world premiere there. That film is 'The House That Jack Built' – from a screenplay written by Joseph B. Vasquez (Hangin' With The Homeboys) that I'd read close to 15 years earlier as an intern and it was rumored that it would be a Spike Lee/John Leguizamo collaboration. The film itself is a 20 year old journey in the making for the producers. The story revolves around Jack, a Puerto Rican drug dealer who yearns for those long gone memories of what was once a happy, united family where he remembers everything as ethereal-like. So he decides to buy a tenement where they can all be under the same roof in hopes of re-creating that joy, when in reality it will never be the same again as his well intentioned gesture tests the families bond to the point of irreparable dysfunction.
The joy for me at the time was reading the last screenplay written by Joe before he passed away in 1995. My friends and I used to quote the hell out of 'Hangin' With The Homeboys' and laugh at the way he wrote these richly drawn urban characters that could walk a very fine line and he was never afraid to push a few buttons when it came to sex, race and class. He knew the comedy in tragedy. The melancholy in reading his last screenplay was that it was his last screenplay.
Born to drug addicted parents in the South Bronx, Joseph started making movies on a Super 8mm camera at the age of 12. Eventually this would lead him to study film at City College in New York where he honed his craft and would later make a low budget, gritty, if not unwatchable film called 'Street Story' (later barely released as 'Street Hitz') where according to Joe, he was writer, director, cinematographer, editor, sound editor, gaffer, negative cutter and music editor. Working with a slightly larger budget and a little more experience his next film would be 'The Bronx War' (which I own on DVD courtesy of a spot on 125th st). It was another film with a story line firmly cemented in the street life that he was familiar and comfortable with. 'The Bronx War' would be the one to catch the attention of New Line Cinema. After all, there weren't many Puerto Rican/Black filmmakers coming out of the Bronx, especially ones that spoke to the surging urban market like he did. They would decide to finance a semi-autobiographical screenplay he wrote in about three days called 'Hangin' With The Homeboys' about an epic, odyssey-like guys night out in New York City with four friends. Each of the four characters represented a different part of Vasquez. He was now making a film for a studio and not paying for it out of his own pocket. But Joseph's life played out much like one of his screenplays. During the shoot, he was slashed down the middle of his forehead to his nose by a homeless man as he took the subway to the set, ending what he believed could have been another career as an actor. The tension on the set was unbearable according to his leads. Still, the film was completed and premiered at the '91 Sundance Film Festival to great success and even walked away with a best screenwriting award. Joseph, suffering from severe Bi-polar disorder started to grow wary of studios like New Line Cinema, the very studio that helped him achieve the success he had enjoyed and started turning down projects such as 'House Party 2', citing that the films had gotten too big and were slipping away from his creative and artistic grasp. Instead he opted to do things his own way as before. A result was 'Manhattan Merengue'. This film, understandably failed to move his career to the next level and Joseph began suffering from manic depression when the offers that once presented themselves to him stopped coming in. Once thought to be the next Spike Lee (a comparison he didn't care for), he alienated those around him and at some later point claimed to be Jesus. His behavior became increasingly erratic and drew great concern from those around him as his health deteriorated. At the time no one knew he had AIDS, to which he would succumb to far from the South Bronx he loved and wrote about. At aged 33 he passed away in San Diego, CA. penniless but with his mother, who got clean, by his side.
Producer Mike Lieber, who had known Joe for many years including during his tumultuous times, held on to the script of 'The House That Jack Built', hoping that one day he could finally get it made. It was something he promised Joseph on his death bed that he would do. After attaching Cuban-American, Henry Barrial (Pig) to direct, they raised a budget that was enough to cover a shoot on HD and raised the rest on Kickstarter to bring it home. Casting was primarily done in the Bronx with E.J Bonilla (Four, Mamitas) cast to play 'Jack' and joined by an all Latino cast that includes Melissa Fumero, Leo Minaya, Saundra Santiago, John Herrera, Flor De Liz Perez and Rosal Colon.
Mike Lieber fulfilled his promise and Joseph Benjamin Vasquez' new film will premiere at The Los Angeles Film Festival which runs June 13-23. Tickets can be bought at http://www.lafilmfest.com . Give them a “Like”: https://www.facebook.com/thehousethatjackbuiltmovie.
Written by Juan Caceres and Vanessa Erazo, LatinoBuzz is a weekly feature on SydneysBuzz that highlights Latino indie talent and upcoming trends in Latino film with the specific objective of presenting a broad range of Latino voices. Follow @LatinoBuzz on Twitter and Facebook.
The joy for me at the time was reading the last screenplay written by Joe before he passed away in 1995. My friends and I used to quote the hell out of 'Hangin' With The Homeboys' and laugh at the way he wrote these richly drawn urban characters that could walk a very fine line and he was never afraid to push a few buttons when it came to sex, race and class. He knew the comedy in tragedy. The melancholy in reading his last screenplay was that it was his last screenplay.
Born to drug addicted parents in the South Bronx, Joseph started making movies on a Super 8mm camera at the age of 12. Eventually this would lead him to study film at City College in New York where he honed his craft and would later make a low budget, gritty, if not unwatchable film called 'Street Story' (later barely released as 'Street Hitz') where according to Joe, he was writer, director, cinematographer, editor, sound editor, gaffer, negative cutter and music editor. Working with a slightly larger budget and a little more experience his next film would be 'The Bronx War' (which I own on DVD courtesy of a spot on 125th st). It was another film with a story line firmly cemented in the street life that he was familiar and comfortable with. 'The Bronx War' would be the one to catch the attention of New Line Cinema. After all, there weren't many Puerto Rican/Black filmmakers coming out of the Bronx, especially ones that spoke to the surging urban market like he did. They would decide to finance a semi-autobiographical screenplay he wrote in about three days called 'Hangin' With The Homeboys' about an epic, odyssey-like guys night out in New York City with four friends. Each of the four characters represented a different part of Vasquez. He was now making a film for a studio and not paying for it out of his own pocket. But Joseph's life played out much like one of his screenplays. During the shoot, he was slashed down the middle of his forehead to his nose by a homeless man as he took the subway to the set, ending what he believed could have been another career as an actor. The tension on the set was unbearable according to his leads. Still, the film was completed and premiered at the '91 Sundance Film Festival to great success and even walked away with a best screenwriting award. Joseph, suffering from severe Bi-polar disorder started to grow wary of studios like New Line Cinema, the very studio that helped him achieve the success he had enjoyed and started turning down projects such as 'House Party 2', citing that the films had gotten too big and were slipping away from his creative and artistic grasp. Instead he opted to do things his own way as before. A result was 'Manhattan Merengue'. This film, understandably failed to move his career to the next level and Joseph began suffering from manic depression when the offers that once presented themselves to him stopped coming in. Once thought to be the next Spike Lee (a comparison he didn't care for), he alienated those around him and at some later point claimed to be Jesus. His behavior became increasingly erratic and drew great concern from those around him as his health deteriorated. At the time no one knew he had AIDS, to which he would succumb to far from the South Bronx he loved and wrote about. At aged 33 he passed away in San Diego, CA. penniless but with his mother, who got clean, by his side.
Producer Mike Lieber, who had known Joe for many years including during his tumultuous times, held on to the script of 'The House That Jack Built', hoping that one day he could finally get it made. It was something he promised Joseph on his death bed that he would do. After attaching Cuban-American, Henry Barrial (Pig) to direct, they raised a budget that was enough to cover a shoot on HD and raised the rest on Kickstarter to bring it home. Casting was primarily done in the Bronx with E.J Bonilla (Four, Mamitas) cast to play 'Jack' and joined by an all Latino cast that includes Melissa Fumero, Leo Minaya, Saundra Santiago, John Herrera, Flor De Liz Perez and Rosal Colon.
Mike Lieber fulfilled his promise and Joseph Benjamin Vasquez' new film will premiere at The Los Angeles Film Festival which runs June 13-23. Tickets can be bought at http://www.lafilmfest.com . Give them a “Like”: https://www.facebook.com/thehousethatjackbuiltmovie.
Written by Juan Caceres and Vanessa Erazo, LatinoBuzz is a weekly feature on SydneysBuzz that highlights Latino indie talent and upcoming trends in Latino film with the specific objective of presenting a broad range of Latino voices. Follow @LatinoBuzz on Twitter and Facebook.
- 5/15/2013
- by Juan Caceres
- Sydney's Buzz
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