It’s possible to define the greatness of Pittsburgh Pirates right fielder Roberto Clemente with numbers.
Precisely 3,000 hits. Twelve Gold Gloves. Two World Series titles with a franchise that hadn’t won one in the 30 years before Clemente’s arrival. One World Series Mvp and one National League Mvp. The first Latino player to be inducted into the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown.
The numbers for Roberto Clemente are fairly phenomenal.
But they’re inadequate.
Roberto Clemente is in a pantheon of sports figures because of the trail he blazed for Latino and specifically Caribbean players. He’s revered because his commitment to humanitarian causes was so all-encompassing that his death, at the age of 38, came while transporting supplies to earthquake victims in Nicaragua. He’s iconic because the things he did on the field that couldn’t always be measured statistically — his throwing arm, his on-field intensity — bordered on Bunyanesque.
Precisely 3,000 hits. Twelve Gold Gloves. Two World Series titles with a franchise that hadn’t won one in the 30 years before Clemente’s arrival. One World Series Mvp and one National League Mvp. The first Latino player to be inducted into the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown.
The numbers for Roberto Clemente are fairly phenomenal.
But they’re inadequate.
Roberto Clemente is in a pantheon of sports figures because of the trail he blazed for Latino and specifically Caribbean players. He’s revered because his commitment to humanitarian causes was so all-encompassing that his death, at the age of 38, came while transporting supplies to earthquake victims in Nicaragua. He’s iconic because the things he did on the field that couldn’t always be measured statistically — his throwing arm, his on-field intensity — bordered on Bunyanesque.
- 3/12/2024
- by Daniel Fienberg
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Rita Moreno: Just A Girl Who Decided To Go For It Photo: Courtesy of Sundance Institute/photo by Getty Images Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided to Go For It, Netflix from Thursday
Our streaming selection this week is this sprightly documentary originally made for PBS's dependable American Masters series, which shines a light on the life and work of the West Side Story star. As charismatic as ever at age 87, when this film was made, she is a lively and engaging interviewee, something that director Mariem Pérez Riera turns to her advantage as she considers Rita's career. And what a career it is, starting at age six and still going strong. This is a straightforward documentary in terms of technique but it's packed with interesting content including the discrimination Puerto Rican stars like her faced at the hands of the industry. While it touches on dark subject matter,...
Our streaming selection this week is this sprightly documentary originally made for PBS's dependable American Masters series, which shines a light on the life and work of the West Side Story star. As charismatic as ever at age 87, when this film was made, she is a lively and engaging interviewee, something that director Mariem Pérez Riera turns to her advantage as she considers Rita's career. And what a career it is, starting at age six and still going strong. This is a straightforward documentary in terms of technique but it's packed with interesting content including the discrimination Puerto Rican stars like her faced at the hands of the industry. While it touches on dark subject matter,...
- 5/15/2023
- by Amber Wilkinson
- eyeforfilm.co.uk
By Abe Friedtanzer
We should all aspire to be as active as Rita Moreno when we turn ninety years old. The legendary actress had her own documentary, Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided to Go for It, premiere at Sundance last year (it’s now available on Netflix), and co-starred in Steven Spielberg’s remake of West Side Story, the film that won her an Oscar back in 1961. While her latest film, The Prank, isn’t anywhere near the caliber of her previous work, it’s great to see her still at it and enhancing any film she’s in…...
We should all aspire to be as active as Rita Moreno when we turn ninety years old. The legendary actress had her own documentary, Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided to Go for It, premiere at Sundance last year (it’s now available on Netflix), and co-starred in Steven Spielberg’s remake of West Side Story, the film that won her an Oscar back in 1961. While her latest film, The Prank, isn’t anywhere near the caliber of her previous work, it’s great to see her still at it and enhancing any film she’s in…...
- 3/18/2022
- by Abe Friedtanzer
- FilmExperience
The Sundance Institute has selected Minhal Baig, Marion Hill, Ciara Lacy, Billy Luther, Chanelle Aponte Pearson, Mariem Pérez Riera, Jamila Wignot and Iman Zawahry for its fourth Momentum Fellowship, supporting professional development for mid-career artists from historically marginalized communities as they explore and develop their creative practice.
The eight fellows selected will participate in a full-year program tailored for each by Sundance Institute staffers, receiving access to unrestricted grant funding, as well as industry mentorship and meetings, a writing intensive, and professional coaching offered by Renee Freedman & Company, with support from The Harnisch Foundation. Additionally, as part of the Sundance Institute’s ongoing partnership with NBCUniversal, the studio will provide an opportunity for select Momentum fellows working on fiction projects to participate in the Universal Directors Initiative. The two-year, at-will initiative, led by Universal’s Global Talent Development & Inclusion team, provides access to NBCUniversal’s creative executives and producers to...
The eight fellows selected will participate in a full-year program tailored for each by Sundance Institute staffers, receiving access to unrestricted grant funding, as well as industry mentorship and meetings, a writing intensive, and professional coaching offered by Renee Freedman & Company, with support from The Harnisch Foundation. Additionally, as part of the Sundance Institute’s ongoing partnership with NBCUniversal, the studio will provide an opportunity for select Momentum fellows working on fiction projects to participate in the Universal Directors Initiative. The two-year, at-will initiative, led by Universal’s Global Talent Development & Inclusion team, provides access to NBCUniversal’s creative executives and producers to...
- 3/8/2022
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
The Oscar-nominated “Flee” took home the top prize at the 15th annual Cinema Eye Honors on Tuesday evening at the Museum of the Moving Image in New York.
Going into the evening, Neon and Participant Media’s “Flee” led the field with a total of seven nominations, while “Summer of Soul (…Or When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised)” followed with six.
Filmmaker Cheryl Dunye also received the organization’s legacy award during the ceremony. The director was honored for her landmark 1996 independent feature “The Watermelon Woman.” After accepting the legacy award on stage, Dunye presented the category of audience choice prize.
See the full list of film winners and nominees below.
Outstanding Nonfiction Feature
“Ascension”
“Faya Dayi” (Directed and produced by Jessica Beshir)
“Flee” (Winner)
“The Rescue”
“Summer of Soul”
“The Velvet Underground”
Outstanding Direction
“Ascension”
“Faya Dayi”
“Flee”
“In the Same Breath”
“Procession” (Winner)
“Summer of Soul”
Outstanding...
Going into the evening, Neon and Participant Media’s “Flee” led the field with a total of seven nominations, while “Summer of Soul (…Or When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised)” followed with six.
Filmmaker Cheryl Dunye also received the organization’s legacy award during the ceremony. The director was honored for her landmark 1996 independent feature “The Watermelon Woman.” After accepting the legacy award on stage, Dunye presented the category of audience choice prize.
See the full list of film winners and nominees below.
Outstanding Nonfiction Feature
“Ascension”
“Faya Dayi” (Directed and produced by Jessica Beshir)
“Flee” (Winner)
“The Rescue”
“Summer of Soul”
“The Velvet Underground”
Outstanding Direction
“Ascension”
“Faya Dayi”
“Flee”
“In the Same Breath”
“Procession” (Winner)
“Summer of Soul”
Outstanding...
- 3/2/2022
- by J. Kim Murphy
- Variety Film + TV
Jonas Poher Rasmussen’s animated documentary “Flee” has been named the best nonfiction film of 2021 at the 15th annual Cinema Eye Honors, which were presented on Tuesday night in New York City. “The Rescue,” about the efforts to retrieve a Thai youth soccer team from a flooded cave, won the Audience Choice Prize.
The Neon release “Flee,” which uses animation to give anonymity to a young gay man who escaped Afghanistan as a teenager and made his way to Denmark, also won the award for graphic design and animation. It is nominated for Oscars in the documentary, animated-feature and international-feature categories.
Robert Greene won the directing award for “Procession,” while Matthew Heineman, Jenna Millman and Leslie Norville took the producing prize for “The First Wave.”
Jessica Kingdon’s “Ascension” won the most Cinema Eye awards, three, taking the prizes for debut feature, cinematography and score.
Other winners included “Summer of Soul...
The Neon release “Flee,” which uses animation to give anonymity to a young gay man who escaped Afghanistan as a teenager and made his way to Denmark, also won the award for graphic design and animation. It is nominated for Oscars in the documentary, animated-feature and international-feature categories.
Robert Greene won the directing award for “Procession,” while Matthew Heineman, Jenna Millman and Leslie Norville took the producing prize for “The First Wave.”
Jessica Kingdon’s “Ascension” won the most Cinema Eye awards, three, taking the prizes for debut feature, cinematography and score.
Other winners included “Summer of Soul...
- 3/2/2022
- by Steve Pond
- The Wrap
Exclusive: Roadside Attractions has acquired North American rights to Peeter Rebane’s theatrical feature directorial debut, Firebird, with plans to release it exclusively in theaters on April 29.
Based on a true story that unfolded during the Cold War, Firebird is a love story set against the backdrop of a Soviet Air Force base in Estonia during late 1970s Communist rule. Sergey (Tom Prior), a soulful, young soldier who dreams of becoming an actor in Moscow, is counting the days until his military service ends. His life turns upside down when he locks eyes with Roman (Oleg Zagorodnii), an enigmatic ace fighter pilot newly assigned to his base.
Driven by their undeniable attraction, Sergey and Roman navigate the precarious line between love and friendship at a time when Soviet men in uniform caught having a sexual affair were met with the severest punishment. As their friendship grows into love, the men...
Based on a true story that unfolded during the Cold War, Firebird is a love story set against the backdrop of a Soviet Air Force base in Estonia during late 1970s Communist rule. Sergey (Tom Prior), a soulful, young soldier who dreams of becoming an actor in Moscow, is counting the days until his military service ends. His life turns upside down when he locks eyes with Roman (Oleg Zagorodnii), an enigmatic ace fighter pilot newly assigned to his base.
Driven by their undeniable attraction, Sergey and Roman navigate the precarious line between love and friendship at a time when Soviet men in uniform caught having a sexual affair were met with the severest punishment. As their friendship grows into love, the men...
- 2/22/2022
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Roadside Attractions and Vertical Entertainment have prevailed in a bidding war surrounding the Sundance thriller Emily the Criminal, starring and produced by Aubrey Plaza, claiming North American rights. They’ve slated the film for an exclusive theatrical release this year, with Redbox joining the partnership for home entertainment distribution.
John Patton Ford’s feature directorial debut follows Emily (Plaza), who is saddled with student debt and locked out of the job market due to a minor criminal record. Desperate for income, she takes a shady gig as a “dummy shopper,” buying goods with stolen credit cards supplied by a handsome and charismatic middleman named Youcef (Theo Rossi). Faced with a series of dead-end job interviews, Emily soon finds herself seduced by the quick cash and illicit thrills of black-market capitalism, and increasingly interested in her mentor Youcef. Together, they hatch a plan to bring...
John Patton Ford’s feature directorial debut follows Emily (Plaza), who is saddled with student debt and locked out of the job market due to a minor criminal record. Desperate for income, she takes a shady gig as a “dummy shopper,” buying goods with stolen credit cards supplied by a handsome and charismatic middleman named Youcef (Theo Rossi). Faced with a series of dead-end job interviews, Emily soon finds herself seduced by the quick cash and illicit thrills of black-market capitalism, and increasingly interested in her mentor Youcef. Together, they hatch a plan to bring...
- 2/2/2022
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Rita Moreno is brutally honest when discussing one of the takeaways from her near-decade relationship with Marlon Brando: “He was a bad guy when it came to women.” The Egot-winning icon said as much to Jessica Chastain when the two actresses joined each other for a conversation as part of Variety’s “Actors on Actors” series, presented by Amazon Studios. Chastain was the first to bring up Brando, telling Moreno, “I think you are every bit of the actor Marlon Brando was. That must have been so difficult for you in a time where you’re seeing all of these opportunities being given to him.”
“He and I had had a relationship for almost eight years. Ultimately, it was exciting to be with Marlon,” Moreno replied. “Oh, my God, it was exciting. He was extraordinary in many, many ways, but he was a bad guy. He was a bad...
“He and I had had a relationship for almost eight years. Ultimately, it was exciting to be with Marlon,” Moreno replied. “Oh, my God, it was exciting. He was extraordinary in many, many ways, but he was a bad guy. He was a bad...
- 2/1/2022
- by Zack Sharf
- Variety Film + TV
Actor Juan Pablo Di Pace is gearing up to make his feature directorial debut with For Another Time, an LGBTQ+ romantic drama inspired by true events in his life, that will be exec produced by 99-year-old icon Norman Lear and his Act III Productions partner Brent Miller.
For Another Time is a coming-of-age story that follows Matías, a queer filmmaker who gets an unexpected invitation to revisit the family that forever influenced his past, forcing him to question the present while potentially changing his future.
Production on the film set in Duino, Italy and Buenos Aires, Argentina will kick off on February 26. Di Pace will play the present-day version of Matías, with another as-yet-undisclosed actor to play a younger version. Casting for additional roles is underway. Andres Pepe Estrada will co-direct the film and serve as its editor.
Di Pace is producing under his Momento Films banner with Kristen Carroll,...
For Another Time is a coming-of-age story that follows Matías, a queer filmmaker who gets an unexpected invitation to revisit the family that forever influenced his past, forcing him to question the present while potentially changing his future.
Production on the film set in Duino, Italy and Buenos Aires, Argentina will kick off on February 26. Di Pace will play the present-day version of Matías, with another as-yet-undisclosed actor to play a younger version. Casting for additional roles is underway. Andres Pepe Estrada will co-direct the film and serve as its editor.
Di Pace is producing under his Momento Films banner with Kristen Carroll,...
- 1/27/2022
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Norman Lear and his producing partner Brent Miller of Act III Productions have partnered with Juan Pablo Di Pace of Momento Films to launch Di Pace’s LGBTQ+ romantic drama, “For Another Time,” which will shoot on location in Duino, Italy, and Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Lear and Miller previously exec-produced Mexican film “Te Llevo Conmigo” (I Carry You With Me) and documentary “Rita Moreno: Just A Girl Who Decided to Go For It.”
Di Pace, who also stars in the film, based “For Another Time” on events in his own life, and he will co-direct with editor, Andres Pepe Estrada. Di Pace has appeared in “Fuller House,” “Mamma Mia! The Movie” and the upcoming “The Mattachine Family.”
In addition to Lear and Miller, executive producers include Massimiliano Milic, CEO of Terroir Films; and Kent Gibbons. Producers are Juan Pablo Di Pace; Kristen Carroll, founder and CEO of SpoPro/Spotlight Productions...
Lear and Miller previously exec-produced Mexican film “Te Llevo Conmigo” (I Carry You With Me) and documentary “Rita Moreno: Just A Girl Who Decided to Go For It.”
Di Pace, who also stars in the film, based “For Another Time” on events in his own life, and he will co-direct with editor, Andres Pepe Estrada. Di Pace has appeared in “Fuller House,” “Mamma Mia! The Movie” and the upcoming “The Mattachine Family.”
In addition to Lear and Miller, executive producers include Massimiliano Milic, CEO of Terroir Films; and Kent Gibbons. Producers are Juan Pablo Di Pace; Kristen Carroll, founder and CEO of SpoPro/Spotlight Productions...
- 1/27/2022
- by Jazz Tangcay
- Variety Film + TV
Puerto Rican trailblazer is rare holder of Egot.
Rita Moreno, the Puerto Rican actor who won the Oscar for the original West Side Story, will receive the 2022 Stanley Kramer Award at the 33rd Annual Producers Guild Awards.
Moreno is among the cast and served as executive producer on Steven Spielberg’s remake of the musical which is competing in awards season and released by Disney/20th Century Studios. She also stars in upcoming feature The Prank and was the subject of Sundance 2021 documentary Rita Moreno: Just A Girl Who Decided To Go For It.
The performer holds the rare distinction of being an Egot,...
Rita Moreno, the Puerto Rican actor who won the Oscar for the original West Side Story, will receive the 2022 Stanley Kramer Award at the 33rd Annual Producers Guild Awards.
Moreno is among the cast and served as executive producer on Steven Spielberg’s remake of the musical which is competing in awards season and released by Disney/20th Century Studios. She also stars in upcoming feature The Prank and was the subject of Sundance 2021 documentary Rita Moreno: Just A Girl Who Decided To Go For It.
The performer holds the rare distinction of being an Egot,...
- 1/26/2022
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
It’s a happy 90th birthday to iconic actress Rita Moreno, celebrating today the renewal of interest in one of her most famous roles, that of Anita in the 1961 version of West Side Story (she’s also the widow Valentina in the 2021 update).
But lest we forget, Moreno is one of the few performers to have won an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony award. A Kennedy Center honoree, she has also won various lifetime achievement awards and the Presidential Medal of Freedom, America’s highest civilian honor.
Brent Miller, a producer of the documentary Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided to Go for It, asked Moreno the question of the day: What does it feel like turning 90?
“It doesn’t feel any different. On the face of it, nothing has changed,” Moreno said. “I’m older and deeply grateful for still being here. And inevitably, now there is concern...
But lest we forget, Moreno is one of the few performers to have won an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony award. A Kennedy Center honoree, she has also won various lifetime achievement awards and the Presidential Medal of Freedom, America’s highest civilian honor.
Brent Miller, a producer of the documentary Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided to Go for It, asked Moreno the question of the day: What does it feel like turning 90?
“It doesn’t feel any different. On the face of it, nothing has changed,” Moreno said. “I’m older and deeply grateful for still being here. And inevitably, now there is concern...
- 12/11/2021
- by Bruce Haring and Dominic Patten
- Deadline Film + TV
The Oscar shortlists hit Hollywood on Dec. 21, with filmmakers and artisans alike waiting to see if their pics have made it. It’s another Covid-challenged year, with theaters still not running at full capacity and screening links de rigueur even as widespread vaccinations boost the confidence in getting back in a cinema. The films below have been gaining traction on the awards circuit so far, but given the contours of kudos campaigns, surprises can and will emerge. Critics groups are beginning to weigh in and some guild nominations are imminent. Oscar nominations will be announced Feb. 8, with the ceremony taking place March 27.
Documentary Feature
This category once again offers up an embarrassment of riches, with films such as Denmark’s “Flee” leading the pack — the Sundance winner recently won a Gotham award. “Flee” can also grab noms in animation and international feature. NatGeo’s lineup includes John Hoffman and Janet Tobias’ “Fauci,...
Documentary Feature
This category once again offers up an embarrassment of riches, with films such as Denmark’s “Flee” leading the pack — the Sundance winner recently won a Gotham award. “Flee” can also grab noms in animation and international feature. NatGeo’s lineup includes John Hoffman and Janet Tobias’ “Fauci,...
- 12/11/2021
- by Carole Horst
- Variety Film + TV
From her earliest days preparing to play Anita in the original 1961 “West Side Story,” Rita Moreno has never been averse to script changes. In fact, if it weren’t for a little update to the lyrics for “America,” the show’s most memorable dance number and Anita’s big star moment, she may never have accepted the role that came to define her career. After landing the role in the movie, Moreno began preparing using the original Broadway script, with a book by Arthur Laurents and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. When she came to the lyric “Puerto Rico, you ugly island, island of tropic diseases,” her heart sank.
“I went, ‘I can’t do this. I can’t do this to my people.’ I was on the verge of calling my agent and saying, ‘I have to pull out,’ knowing that he would just scream at me and not understand...
“I went, ‘I can’t do this. I can’t do this to my people.’ I was on the verge of calling my agent and saying, ‘I have to pull out,’ knowing that he would just scream at me and not understand...
- 12/10/2021
- by Jude Dry
- Indiewire
Rita Moreno celebrates her 90th birthday and a new remake of ‘West Side Story’ from Steven Spielberg
Rita Moreno celebrates her 90th birthday on December 11. As luck would have it, that’s just one day after the Steven Spielberg remake of “West Side Story” opens nationwide. She won an Oscar as a supporting actress for the original almost 60 years ago and now returns in a new role and as executive producer.
Few performers have had such a varied and successful career as this dynamic triple-threat. The talented actress, singer and dancer is one of only 16 artists to achieve Egot status and one of 23 to achieve the Triple Crown of Acting and one of only two people (with Helen Hayes) to accomplish both.
SEEWhich 16 people have the Egot?
Moreno was born in Humacao, Puerto Rico in 19831 and moved with her mother to New York City as a small child. By the age of 13, she had her first Broadway role and, before long, she and her mother headed to Hollywood.
Few performers have had such a varied and successful career as this dynamic triple-threat. The talented actress, singer and dancer is one of only 16 artists to achieve Egot status and one of 23 to achieve the Triple Crown of Acting and one of only two people (with Helen Hayes) to accomplish both.
SEEWhich 16 people have the Egot?
Moreno was born in Humacao, Puerto Rico in 19831 and moved with her mother to New York City as a small child. By the age of 13, she had her first Broadway role and, before long, she and her mother headed to Hollywood.
- 12/10/2021
- by Susan Pennington
- Gold Derby
Will there be a place for legendary actress Rita Moreno at the 2022 Oscars? Following the first screenings of Steven Spielberg’s “West Side Story” in New York and Los Angeles on Monday night, journalists and awards pundits were already floating the possibility that Moreno, who won her first and only Academy Award for the original “West Side Story” film in 1962, could be back at the Oscars again for the same project 60 years later.
If that happens, Moreno would once again make Oscars history on multiple fronts. Moreno, who turns 90 on December 11, would become the oldest performer ever nominated for an Academy Award, surpassing Christopher Plummer (who was 88 when he received recognition for “All the Money in the World”). The 60-year gap between her first and only Oscar nomination and a potential second would also put Moreno in the record books — surpassing the 41-year space between acting nominations for Henry Fonda.
If that happens, Moreno would once again make Oscars history on multiple fronts. Moreno, who turns 90 on December 11, would become the oldest performer ever nominated for an Academy Award, surpassing Christopher Plummer (who was 88 when he received recognition for “All the Money in the World”). The 60-year gap between her first and only Oscar nomination and a potential second would also put Moreno in the record books — surpassing the 41-year space between acting nominations for Henry Fonda.
- 12/2/2021
- by Christopher Rosen
- Gold Derby
So have we seen everything yet?
AFI Fest, which just wrapped in Los Angeles, is the final prominent film festival to unveil a handful of awards hopefuls.
Lin-Manuel Miranda’s directorial debut, “Tick, Tick … Boom!,” from Netflix, premiered to strong reviews and plenty of Oscar buzz. As part of a banner year for Miranda that includes involvement in three other projects — “Encanto,” “In the Heights” and “Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided to Go for It” — Miranda successfully stages a movie adaptation of a lesser-known, autobiographical musical from “Rent” composer Jonathan Larson. The film will most likely earn a second lead actor Oscar nomination for Andrew Garfield (after “Hacksaw Ridge”) for playing Larson, in a role that requires quite a bit of singing.
In fact, Garfield may emerge as a formidable challenger to Will Smith for “King Richard,” where he plays Richard Williams, the father of tennis champs Venus and Serena.
AFI Fest, which just wrapped in Los Angeles, is the final prominent film festival to unveil a handful of awards hopefuls.
Lin-Manuel Miranda’s directorial debut, “Tick, Tick … Boom!,” from Netflix, premiered to strong reviews and plenty of Oscar buzz. As part of a banner year for Miranda that includes involvement in three other projects — “Encanto,” “In the Heights” and “Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided to Go for It” — Miranda successfully stages a movie adaptation of a lesser-known, autobiographical musical from “Rent” composer Jonathan Larson. The film will most likely earn a second lead actor Oscar nomination for Andrew Garfield (after “Hacksaw Ridge”) for playing Larson, in a role that requires quite a bit of singing.
In fact, Garfield may emerge as a formidable challenger to Will Smith for “King Richard,” where he plays Richard Williams, the father of tennis champs Venus and Serena.
- 11/19/2021
- by Clayton Davis
- Variety Film + TV
The Cinema Eye Honors has announced the nominations for its 15th annual awards. “Flee” leads the field with seven nominations, while “Summer of Soul (…Or When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised)” followed with six.
Written and directed by Jonas Poher Rasmussen, the animated documentary “Flee” landed nominations in outstanding nonfiction feature, direction, production, original score, graphic design and animation, audience choice prize and this year’s new category for outstanding achievement in sound design. The film follows the story of Awin Nawabi, an Afghan refugee who is suddenly forced to face the life-altering effects of a secret that he has kept for 20 years.
“Summer of Soul” is nominated for outstanding nonfiction feature, direction, editing, sound design, audience choice prize and debut. The documentary about the 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival is the first directorial effort by Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson.
Other films with multiple nominations include “Ascension,” “Faya Divi” and “The Rescue” with five nominations,...
Written and directed by Jonas Poher Rasmussen, the animated documentary “Flee” landed nominations in outstanding nonfiction feature, direction, production, original score, graphic design and animation, audience choice prize and this year’s new category for outstanding achievement in sound design. The film follows the story of Awin Nawabi, an Afghan refugee who is suddenly forced to face the life-altering effects of a secret that he has kept for 20 years.
“Summer of Soul” is nominated for outstanding nonfiction feature, direction, editing, sound design, audience choice prize and debut. The documentary about the 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival is the first directorial effort by Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson.
Other films with multiple nominations include “Ascension,” “Faya Divi” and “The Rescue” with five nominations,...
- 11/10/2021
- by J. Kim Murphy
- Variety Film + TV
The Cinema Eye Honors, recognizing outstanding artistry and craft in nonfiction filmmaking, today announced the full slate of nominees for its 15th Annual Awards Ceremony, which will be held on Thursday, January 13, 2022, at the Museum of the Moving Image in Astoria, New York. Leading the pack of nominees are two Sundance premieres: Jonas Poher Rasmussen’s animated “Flee” and Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson’s “Summer of Soul,” which was nominated for six awards.
A trio of other lauded docs are nominated for five awards apiece, including Jessica Kingdon’s “Ascension,” Jessica Beshir’s “Faya Dayi,” and E. Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin’s “The Rescue.” Both Kingdon and Beshir are first-time feature filmmakers, while Vasarhelyi and Chin are long-time Cinema Eye faves, and Chin currently ranks as the most-winning Cinema Eye honoree in the event’s history, with five wins.
Historically, films nominated for Cinema Eye will often go on to other nominations and critics prizes.
A trio of other lauded docs are nominated for five awards apiece, including Jessica Kingdon’s “Ascension,” Jessica Beshir’s “Faya Dayi,” and E. Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin’s “The Rescue.” Both Kingdon and Beshir are first-time feature filmmakers, while Vasarhelyi and Chin are long-time Cinema Eye faves, and Chin currently ranks as the most-winning Cinema Eye honoree in the event’s history, with five wins.
Historically, films nominated for Cinema Eye will often go on to other nominations and critics prizes.
- 11/10/2021
- by Kate Erbland
- Indiewire
The Critics Choice Association (Cca) announced the first annual Celebration of Latino Cinema, which will take place on Dec. 9. The event will honor Latino figures who have made significant contributions to film in 2021.
At the event, which will be presented virtually, Rita Moreno will receive the Icon Award. Her documentary “Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided to Go For It,” premiered earlier this year, and she also appears in and executive produces Steven Spielberg’s “West Side Story” adaptation premiering on Dec. 10. Lin-Manuel Miranda will receive the Visionary Award. The film adaptation of his Broadway musical “In The Heights” was released earlier this year, and he wrote the songs in the Disney animated film “Encanto,” which premieres in December. Actor Demián Bichir will receive the Career Achievement Award in recognition of the tenth anniversary of “A Better Life,” the film that made him one of only four Latinos to...
At the event, which will be presented virtually, Rita Moreno will receive the Icon Award. Her documentary “Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided to Go For It,” premiered earlier this year, and she also appears in and executive produces Steven Spielberg’s “West Side Story” adaptation premiering on Dec. 10. Lin-Manuel Miranda will receive the Visionary Award. The film adaptation of his Broadway musical “In The Heights” was released earlier this year, and he wrote the songs in the Disney animated film “Encanto,” which premieres in December. Actor Demián Bichir will receive the Career Achievement Award in recognition of the tenth anniversary of “A Better Life,” the film that made him one of only four Latinos to...
- 9/21/2021
- by Selome Hailu
- Variety Film + TV
(Editor’s Note: IndieWire’s coverage of the 2021 IDA Documentary Screening Series is presented by the Amazon Original Documentaries “Val” and “My Name is Pauli Murray.“)
IndieWire and International Documentary Association have again partnered for the organization’s annual Screening Series, which will take place virtually, in addition to select screenings in various venues in Los Angeles including the Hollywood Legion Theater and the Landmark Theatre in West LA. Following the screenings, IndieWire will be posting written and video coverage of moderated Q&As featuring filmmakers and subjects.
“IDA is proud to present a thoughtful selection of films that represent a multiplicity of voices, perspectives, and styles,” said IDA Director Rick Perez. “Our inclusive curatorial approach reflects our values and commitment to recognizing the role that the documentary form plays in helping audiences better understand the world around them.”
Theatrical screenings are as follows.
“The Rescue” (Hollywood Legion Theater), Monday,...
IndieWire and International Documentary Association have again partnered for the organization’s annual Screening Series, which will take place virtually, in addition to select screenings in various venues in Los Angeles including the Hollywood Legion Theater and the Landmark Theatre in West LA. Following the screenings, IndieWire will be posting written and video coverage of moderated Q&As featuring filmmakers and subjects.
“IDA is proud to present a thoughtful selection of films that represent a multiplicity of voices, perspectives, and styles,” said IDA Director Rick Perez. “Our inclusive curatorial approach reflects our values and commitment to recognizing the role that the documentary form plays in helping audiences better understand the world around them.”
Theatrical screenings are as follows.
“The Rescue” (Hollywood Legion Theater), Monday,...
- 9/7/2021
- by Ryan Lattanzio
- Indiewire
Variety’s 2021 Power of Women: Los Angeles honorees include Channing Dungey, Amanda Gorman, Lorde, Rita Moreno and Katy Perry.
Power of Women: Los Angeles will return as a live event outdoors at the Wallis Annenberg Center on Sept. 30. In partnership with Lifetime, the event will gather the honorees along with other women working in media and entertainment to celebrate their philanthropy.
Each honoree will be featured on the cover of Variety’s Power of Women issue on Sept. 29, which will also include the annual Women’s Impact Report highlighting 50 women who impacted the media and entertainment industry this year. Variety has also partnered with Sweet to give each honoree an Nft of their cover and each event attendee an Nft of their invitation in their gift bags.
“Variety’s return to a live Power of Women event is especially meaningful, as we strive to amplify the impact of the vital causes championed by our honorees,...
Power of Women: Los Angeles will return as a live event outdoors at the Wallis Annenberg Center on Sept. 30. In partnership with Lifetime, the event will gather the honorees along with other women working in media and entertainment to celebrate their philanthropy.
Each honoree will be featured on the cover of Variety’s Power of Women issue on Sept. 29, which will also include the annual Women’s Impact Report highlighting 50 women who impacted the media and entertainment industry this year. Variety has also partnered with Sweet to give each honoree an Nft of their cover and each event attendee an Nft of their invitation in their gift bags.
“Variety’s return to a live Power of Women event is especially meaningful, as we strive to amplify the impact of the vital causes championed by our honorees,...
- 9/7/2021
- by Selome Hailu
- Variety Film + TV
Female directors had a better chance of having their documentaries screened at film festivals than their narrative features, according to a new study.
Women accounted for 42% of directors, writers, producers, executive producers, editors and cinematographers on documentaries that were featured in Sundance, SXSW, AFI, New York Film Festival and other annual celebrations of moviemaking. In contrast, they comprised 35% of those working on narrative features at those same festivals. The report, which was undertaken by San Diego State University’s Center for the Study of Women in Television and Film, examined 7,452 credits on 582 films that screened at 20 high-profile film festivals in the U.S. The report captured a year in which female filmmakers, like Sian Heder (“Coda”), Amber Sealey (“No Man of God”), Mariem Pérez Riera (“Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided to Go For It”) and Rebecca Hall (“Passing”), scored some of the biggest deals and best reviews of the film festival season.
Women accounted for 42% of directors, writers, producers, executive producers, editors and cinematographers on documentaries that were featured in Sundance, SXSW, AFI, New York Film Festival and other annual celebrations of moviemaking. In contrast, they comprised 35% of those working on narrative features at those same festivals. The report, which was undertaken by San Diego State University’s Center for the Study of Women in Television and Film, examined 7,452 credits on 582 films that screened at 20 high-profile film festivals in the U.S. The report captured a year in which female filmmakers, like Sian Heder (“Coda”), Amber Sealey (“No Man of God”), Mariem Pérez Riera (“Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided to Go For It”) and Rebecca Hall (“Passing”), scored some of the biggest deals and best reviews of the film festival season.
- 8/31/2021
- by Brent Lang
- Variety Film + TV
As she prepares for her upcoming 90th birthday, actress Rita Moreno can look forward to the release of Steven Spielberg’s highly-anticipated take on West Side Story, in which she plays a significant role, and to the PBS debut of a new documentary about her life.
Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided to Go for It, directed by Mariem Pérez Riera, will premiere as part of the pubcaster’s Emmy-winning American Masters series on Tuesday, October 5. With startling candor, Moreno explores every aspect of her career as a Puerto Rican immigrant to America possessed of extraordinary ability to sing, dance and act and a burning desire for stardom. But as a young woman of color, she was generally cast as random “ethnic” types in “accent” roles—playing Thai, Polynesian, Native American, generic Latina, often with makeup smeared on to darken her skin.
Speaking about the documentary at the PBS TCA presentation Thursday,...
Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided to Go for It, directed by Mariem Pérez Riera, will premiere as part of the pubcaster’s Emmy-winning American Masters series on Tuesday, October 5. With startling candor, Moreno explores every aspect of her career as a Puerto Rican immigrant to America possessed of extraordinary ability to sing, dance and act and a burning desire for stardom. But as a young woman of color, she was generally cast as random “ethnic” types in “accent” roles—playing Thai, Polynesian, Native American, generic Latina, often with makeup smeared on to darken her skin.
Speaking about the documentary at the PBS TCA presentation Thursday,...
- 8/12/2021
- by Matthew Carey
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Egot winner Rita Moreno has been cast in a starring role in the feature film The Prank, to be directed by Maureen Bharoocha (Golden Arm), opposite Connor Kalopsis and Ramona Young (Never Have I Ever). Filming begins this month in and around Los Angeles.
The Prank follows two high school students who play a prank on their physics teacher, Mrs. Wheeler, played by Moreno. When she fails them on a test; they teach the imperious, demanding, insulting instructor a lesson by falsely accusing her of the murder of a missing student.
Other cast in The Prank includes Keith David, Meredith Salenger, Jonathan Kimmel, Nathan Janak and Kate Flannery.
The dark comedy is written by Rebecca Flinn-White & Zak White. Bharoocha was recently named IndieWire’s Rising Female Directors of 2020, was on HBO’s 2018 Director’s List, and was nominated for the SXSW 2020 Adam Yauch Hörnblowér Visionary Directing Award.
The Prank follows two high school students who play a prank on their physics teacher, Mrs. Wheeler, played by Moreno. When she fails them on a test; they teach the imperious, demanding, insulting instructor a lesson by falsely accusing her of the murder of a missing student.
Other cast in The Prank includes Keith David, Meredith Salenger, Jonathan Kimmel, Nathan Janak and Kate Flannery.
The dark comedy is written by Rebecca Flinn-White & Zak White. Bharoocha was recently named IndieWire’s Rising Female Directors of 2020, was on HBO’s 2018 Director’s List, and was nominated for the SXSW 2020 Adam Yauch Hörnblowér Visionary Directing Award.
- 8/9/2021
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
The African American Film Critics Association has scrapped its planned in-person ceremony for the 3rd annual Aafca TV Honors, and will instead now take place as a virtual event. The shift was made in light of the recent rise in Covid-19 cases in both Southern California and around the country due to the delta strain of the pandemic.
Meanwhile, Aafca also announced on Monday that it would recognize legendary TV producer Norman Lear with the org’s Aafca TV Honors Legend Award. The virtual ceremony takes place on Saturday, Aug. 21 at 4 p.m. Pt. Yvette Nicole Brown will host the now-online affair, which had been previously slated for the California Yacht Club in Marina Del Rey, with a 50 percent audience capacity.
“Norman Lear’s work has made such a tremendous impact that creators still feed off of it till this day,” said Aafca co-founder and president Gil Robertson. “This award recognizes Mr.
Meanwhile, Aafca also announced on Monday that it would recognize legendary TV producer Norman Lear with the org’s Aafca TV Honors Legend Award. The virtual ceremony takes place on Saturday, Aug. 21 at 4 p.m. Pt. Yvette Nicole Brown will host the now-online affair, which had been previously slated for the California Yacht Club in Marina Del Rey, with a 50 percent audience capacity.
“Norman Lear’s work has made such a tremendous impact that creators still feed off of it till this day,” said Aafca co-founder and president Gil Robertson. “This award recognizes Mr.
- 8/9/2021
- by Michael Schneider
- Variety Film + TV
Norman Lear celebrated the dawn of his second century on the planet by probably accomplishing more than you did in the past month. Not only did he gather with family and friends, but Lear also published an op-ed in The Washington Post, warning of the erosion of voting rights in America, and TBS sealed a deal to develop a new version of his iconic 1970s late-night soap “Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman.”
“How about that,” said Lear, on the phone from New York. “I can’t overstate how exciting I find that.”
Brent Miller, who runs Lear’s Act III production company, credited Sony for “for really pushing through in the way they have. To make sure that we could close that [TBS] deal right on his birthday was a nice gift.” The updated show is set to star Emily Hampshire (“Schitt’s Creek”) in the title role; Hampshire and Jacob Tierney (“Letterkenny”) are writing and executive producing.
“How about that,” said Lear, on the phone from New York. “I can’t overstate how exciting I find that.”
Brent Miller, who runs Lear’s Act III production company, credited Sony for “for really pushing through in the way they have. To make sure that we could close that [TBS] deal right on his birthday was a nice gift.” The updated show is set to star Emily Hampshire (“Schitt’s Creek”) in the title role; Hampshire and Jacob Tierney (“Letterkenny”) are writing and executive producing.
- 7/30/2021
- by Michael Schneider
- Variety Film + TV
Questlove’s Summer of Soul (…Or When The Revolution Could Not Be Televised) will hit a cumulative $1.4 million rising to an estimated $1.47 million Monday with a $375,000 second-week gross in 752 theaters. The best performing documentary so far this year “may possibly get to $2 million, that’s our goal,” said Searchlight Pictures head of distribution Frank Rodriquez.
In a weird Covid transition year where major studio releases have recently started to pile up and lots of product is day-and-date – including Summer of Soul, on Hulu – or close to it, the other biggest docs so far are Sundance darling The Sparks Brothers (Focus Features) at about $650,000 and Rita Moreno: The Girl Who Just Decided To Go For It (Roadside Attractions). Both opened June 18. Roadside didn’t not report estimates today and will do Monday afternoon. The last cume is $243,851 in North America but that doesn’t include this past weekend.
The Sparks...
In a weird Covid transition year where major studio releases have recently started to pile up and lots of product is day-and-date – including Summer of Soul, on Hulu – or close to it, the other biggest docs so far are Sundance darling The Sparks Brothers (Focus Features) at about $650,000 and Rita Moreno: The Girl Who Just Decided To Go For It (Roadside Attractions). Both opened June 18. Roadside didn’t not report estimates today and will do Monday afternoon. The last cume is $243,851 in North America but that doesn’t include this past weekend.
The Sparks...
- 7/11/2021
- by Jill Goldsmith
- Deadline Film + TV
“The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard” nabbed the top spot on box office charts, debuting with $11.6 million from 3,331 U.S. venues over the weekend.
The Lionsgate movie, a sequel to the 2017 action comedy “The Hitman’s Bodyguard,” opened on the big screen on Wednesday and has collected $17 million to date. However, the film cost nearly $70 million to produce and even more to market so it will need to have a long, lucrative run in theaters in order to turn profit. That could prove difficult since Universal’s “F9,” an action adventure that’s targeting a similar audience, hits cinemas next weekend.
Starring Salma Hayek, Ryan Reynolds and Samuel L. Jackson, “The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard” is one of the rare movies since the onset of Covid-19 to play exclusively in theaters. Opening weekend crowds were mostly older men, with 55% of ticket buyers identifying as male and 66% over the age of 25.
As the only new nationwide release,...
The Lionsgate movie, a sequel to the 2017 action comedy “The Hitman’s Bodyguard,” opened on the big screen on Wednesday and has collected $17 million to date. However, the film cost nearly $70 million to produce and even more to market so it will need to have a long, lucrative run in theaters in order to turn profit. That could prove difficult since Universal’s “F9,” an action adventure that’s targeting a similar audience, hits cinemas next weekend.
Starring Salma Hayek, Ryan Reynolds and Samuel L. Jackson, “The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard” is one of the rare movies since the onset of Covid-19 to play exclusively in theaters. Opening weekend crowds were mostly older men, with 55% of ticket buyers identifying as male and 66% over the age of 25.
As the only new nationwide release,...
- 6/20/2021
- by Rebecca Rubin
- Variety Film + TV
Rita Moreno was one of the stars of 1961’s “West Side Story” movie, but Steven Spielberg had to convince her to return for the director’s upcoming film adaptation of the Broadway musical.
“I almost wet my knickers. I couldn’t believe this was Steven Spielberg on the phone, whom I so admired,” Moreno told USA Today in an interview published on Saturday. “But then I had the courage to say, ‘I don’t think I could do a cameo. I think it would be a severe disservice to this movie — it’d be a distraction’. And he said, ‘No, no, no. This is a real part. Tony Kushner wrote this part for you.'”
Moreno will play a supporting character in Spielberg’s “West Side Story,” which will premiere on December 10 and stars Ansel Elgort and Rachel Zegler, with Ariana DeBose, David Alvarez, Mike Faist, Josh Andrés Rivera, Ana Isabelle,...
“I almost wet my knickers. I couldn’t believe this was Steven Spielberg on the phone, whom I so admired,” Moreno told USA Today in an interview published on Saturday. “But then I had the courage to say, ‘I don’t think I could do a cameo. I think it would be a severe disservice to this movie — it’d be a distraction’. And he said, ‘No, no, no. This is a real part. Tony Kushner wrote this part for you.'”
Moreno will play a supporting character in Spielberg’s “West Side Story,” which will premiere on December 10 and stars Ansel Elgort and Rachel Zegler, with Ariana DeBose, David Alvarez, Mike Faist, Josh Andrés Rivera, Ana Isabelle,...
- 6/19/2021
- by Tyler Hersko
- Indiewire
As far as screen legends go, there aren’t too many that are as understandably revered and beloved as Rita Moreno. The exquisite documentary, Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided to Go For It, deftly explores the appeal and charisma of an actor whose career spans seven decades and never ceases to amaze and entertain.
The film follows Moreno throughout her storied career, as she emerges from her humble beginnings as an immigrant from Puerto Rico to become one of the more celebrated actors of the last seventy plus years, eventually earning the rare distinction of being an Egot Award winner. The film follows a linear path as it begins with Moreno recalling an idyllic life on a Puerto Rican farm before a five-year-old Rita emigrated to America with her mother.
After studying dance and several performances on Broadway, Moreno caught a break when she was cast as any...
The film follows Moreno throughout her storied career, as she emerges from her humble beginnings as an immigrant from Puerto Rico to become one of the more celebrated actors of the last seventy plus years, eventually earning the rare distinction of being an Egot Award winner. The film follows a linear path as it begins with Moreno recalling an idyllic life on a Puerto Rican farm before a five-year-old Rita emigrated to America with her mother.
After studying dance and several performances on Broadway, Moreno caught a break when she was cast as any...
- 6/19/2021
- by Mike Tyrkus
- CinemaNerdz
The Sparks Brothers, a documentary about a cult band by a brand-name director in Edgar Wright hits big screens this weekend, a felicitous one as New York and LA drop most capacity restrictions in theaters. The film about musician brothers Ron and Russell Mael of Sparks premiered at Sundance this year, notching a 100% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes — all of which could hopefully give the arthouse market some long-term traction through the summer
Roadside Attractions debuts another pedigreed documentary, Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided To Go For It.
The Sparks Brothers, from MRC Non-Fiction, was produced by Wright, Nira Park, George Hencken, and Laura Richardson. It’s a musical odyssey through decades with the brothers and bandmates featuring passionate tributes from Beck, Flea, Jane Wiedlin, Jack Antonoff and Patton Oswalt. It opens on 543 screens in 200 markets.
“People asked to play it. They wanted to play it.
Roadside Attractions debuts another pedigreed documentary, Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided To Go For It.
The Sparks Brothers, from MRC Non-Fiction, was produced by Wright, Nira Park, George Hencken, and Laura Richardson. It’s a musical odyssey through decades with the brothers and bandmates featuring passionate tributes from Beck, Flea, Jane Wiedlin, Jack Antonoff and Patton Oswalt. It opens on 543 screens in 200 markets.
“People asked to play it. They wanted to play it.
- 6/18/2021
- by Jill Goldsmith
- Deadline Film + TV
Our road to box office recovery has had its ups and downs, and after a few weekends in a row of $20+ million openers, it feels as if we’ve taken a step backward again as In The Heights and Peter Rabbit 2 under-performed, both opening in the low teens. Despite those soft openings, though, the overall weekend box office of $57 million was still the fourth best this year. Even if this weekend backslides below $50 million, an unthinkable number pre-pandemic, it will still be far ahead of where we were one month ago, and only one week remains until F9 hits, hopefully giving the industry the blockbuster opening it has been waiting for.
This week has just one new wide release offering: The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard. The sequel to 2017’s The Hitman’s Bodyguard is packed with stars, with Ryan Reynolds, Samuel L. Jackson, and Salma Hayek returning from the original, while Antonio Banderas,...
This week has just one new wide release offering: The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard. The sequel to 2017’s The Hitman’s Bodyguard is packed with stars, with Ryan Reynolds, Samuel L. Jackson, and Salma Hayek returning from the original, while Antonio Banderas,...
- 6/17/2021
- by Sam Mendelsohn <mail@boxofficemojo.com>
- Box Office Mojo
‘Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided to Go for It’ Film Review: Documentary Honors a Showbiz Legend
This review of “Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided to Go for It” was first published at the film’s premiere at the 2021 Sundance Film Festival
For Puerto Rican goddess Rita Moreno, one of the greatest performers — Latina or otherwise — ever to devour our screens with her scintillating talent, the measure of that greatness rests in her career longevity running parallel with integrity. The pedestal of hard-earned success from which she now gazes at Hollywood and its perfidious antics was, at least in the early years, built on perseverance amidst dissatisfaction.
Director Mariem Pérez Riera’s definitive documentary on everything that has colored Moreno’s worldview in nearly nine decades, “Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided to Go for It,” opens with the dazzling, and often deceiving, glory of her trophies and accolades as she prepares for a Cuban-themed birthday party. As soon as the beloved Egot winner enters the frame,...
For Puerto Rican goddess Rita Moreno, one of the greatest performers — Latina or otherwise — ever to devour our screens with her scintillating talent, the measure of that greatness rests in her career longevity running parallel with integrity. The pedestal of hard-earned success from which she now gazes at Hollywood and its perfidious antics was, at least in the early years, built on perseverance amidst dissatisfaction.
Director Mariem Pérez Riera’s definitive documentary on everything that has colored Moreno’s worldview in nearly nine decades, “Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided to Go for It,” opens with the dazzling, and often deceiving, glory of her trophies and accolades as she prepares for a Cuban-themed birthday party. As soon as the beloved Egot winner enters the frame,...
- 6/17/2021
- by Carlos Aguilar
- The Wrap
Updated with the latest: “I’m incredibly disappointed with myself,” wrote Rita Moreno on Twitter Wednesday. “While making a statement in defense of Lin-Manuel Miranda on the Colbert Show last night, I was clearly dismissive of black (sic) lives that matter in our Latin community. It is so easy to forget how celebration for some is lament for others.”
When asked by Colbert on Tuesday about criticism of Miranda and his film — which is partially set in Puerto Rico — for its lack of dark-skinned characters, Moreno said, “There’s a lot of people who are puertorriqueño, who are also from Guatemala, who are dark and who are also fair. We are all colors in Puerto Rico.”
“This is, she said, “how it is, and it would just be so nice if they hadn’t come up with that and left that alone, just for now. They’re really attacking the wrong person.
When asked by Colbert on Tuesday about criticism of Miranda and his film — which is partially set in Puerto Rico — for its lack of dark-skinned characters, Moreno said, “There’s a lot of people who are puertorriqueño, who are also from Guatemala, who are dark and who are also fair. We are all colors in Puerto Rico.”
“This is, she said, “how it is, and it would just be so nice if they hadn’t come up with that and left that alone, just for now. They’re really attacking the wrong person.
- 6/17/2021
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Rita Moreno has issued a statement to The Hollywood Reporter commenting on remarks she made Tuesday on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert, saying she is “incredibly disappointed” with herself for glossing over concerns of representation from the Afro-Latino community in Warner Bros.’ musical In the Heights.
Asked about criticisms of In the Heights over a lack of darker-skinned Latinos among its core characters, Moreno, 89, defended the film’s creator-producer Lin-Manuel Miranda (who also produced the documentary Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided to Go for It).
Said Moreno: “I’m simply saying, can’t you just wait a while and leave it ...
Asked about criticisms of In the Heights over a lack of darker-skinned Latinos among its core characters, Moreno, 89, defended the film’s creator-producer Lin-Manuel Miranda (who also produced the documentary Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided to Go for It).
Said Moreno: “I’m simply saying, can’t you just wait a while and leave it ...
- 6/16/2021
- The Hollywood Reporter - Film + TV
Rita Moreno has issued a statement to The Hollywood Reporter commenting on remarks she made Tuesday on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, saying she is “incredibly disappointed” with herself for glossing over concerns of representation from the Afro-Latino community in Warner Bros.’ musical In the Heights.
Asked about criticisms of In the Heights over a lack of darker-skinned Latinos among its core characters, Moreno, 89, defended the film’s creator/producer Lin-Manuel Miranda (who also produced the documentary Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided to Go For It).
Said Moreno: “I’m simply saying, can’t you just wait a while and leave it alone?”...
Asked about criticisms of In the Heights over a lack of darker-skinned Latinos among its core characters, Moreno, 89, defended the film’s creator/producer Lin-Manuel Miranda (who also produced the documentary Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided to Go For It).
Said Moreno: “I’m simply saying, can’t you just wait a while and leave it alone?”...
- 6/16/2021
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Rita Moreno defended Lin-Manuel Miranda against the accusations of colorism levied at the film adaptation of In the Heights.
Following the release of the musical, the filmmaking team drew criticism for failing to represent Washington Heights’ Afro-Latino community, casting primarily “light-skinned or white-passing Latinx people,” as journalist Felice León told director Jon Chu. While Miranda apologized for “the hurt and frustration over colorism” on social media, Moreno — whose new documentary Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided to Go for It was co-produced by Miranda — supported both the film and...
Following the release of the musical, the filmmaking team drew criticism for failing to represent Washington Heights’ Afro-Latino community, casting primarily “light-skinned or white-passing Latinx people,” as journalist Felice León told director Jon Chu. While Miranda apologized for “the hurt and frustration over colorism” on social media, Moreno — whose new documentary Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided to Go for It was co-produced by Miranda — supported both the film and...
- 6/16/2021
- by Daniel Kreps
- Rollingstone.com
Emmy, Oscar, Grammy, and Tony Award-winning actress Rita Moreno has come out in defense of “In the Heights” creator Lin-Manuel Miranda after the highly acclaimed musical was criticized for not accurately depicting the Afro-Latino community in Washington Heights.
“You can never do right, it seems,” Moreno told Stephen Colbert on Tuesday’s episode of “The Late Show.” “This is the man who literally has brought Latino-ness and Puerto Rican-ness to America. I couldn’t do it. I mean, I would love to say I did, but I couldn’t. Lin-Manuel has done that, really single-handedly and I was thrilled to pieces and I’m proud that he produced my documentary.”
After Colbert suggested she might understand the criticism against “In the Heights,” but felt putting the blame on Miranda was misplaced, Moreno said, “Well, I’m simply saying, can’t you just wait a while and leave it alone? There...
“You can never do right, it seems,” Moreno told Stephen Colbert on Tuesday’s episode of “The Late Show.” “This is the man who literally has brought Latino-ness and Puerto Rican-ness to America. I couldn’t do it. I mean, I would love to say I did, but I couldn’t. Lin-Manuel has done that, really single-handedly and I was thrilled to pieces and I’m proud that he produced my documentary.”
After Colbert suggested she might understand the criticism against “In the Heights,” but felt putting the blame on Miranda was misplaced, Moreno said, “Well, I’m simply saying, can’t you just wait a while and leave it alone? There...
- 6/16/2021
- by Christopher Rosen
- Gold Derby
Update, June 17: Moreno issued a statement to The Hollywood Reporter that reads: “I’m incredibly disappointed with myself. While making a statement in defense of Lin Manuel Miranda on the Colbert Show last night, I was clearly dismissive of black lives that matter in our Latin community. It is so easy to forget how celebration for some is lament for others. In addition to applauding Lin for his wonderful movie version of ‘In the Heights,’ let me add my appreciation for his sensitivity and resolve to be more inclusive of the Afro-Latino community going forward. See, you Can teach this old dog new tricks.”
Earlier: Rita Moreno came to Lin-Manuel Miranda’s defense during a June 15 interview on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.” Miranda’s film adaptation of “In the Heights” has received backlash over colorism as the cast lacks any dark-skinned Afro-Latino lead actors. Moreno, whose documentary...
Earlier: Rita Moreno came to Lin-Manuel Miranda’s defense during a June 15 interview on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.” Miranda’s film adaptation of “In the Heights” has received backlash over colorism as the cast lacks any dark-skinned Afro-Latino lead actors. Moreno, whose documentary...
- 6/16/2021
- by Zack Sharf
- Indiewire
Rita Moreno doesn’t agree with the recent criticism directed at casting for “In the Heights” and at the musical’s creator, Lin-Manuel Miranda. And on Tuesday’s episode of “The Late Show,” she defended Miranda as “a man who literally has brought Latino-ness and Purto Rican-ness to America.”
Critics of the film have pointed out that the film’s main roles went to Latino actors with lighter skin, with darker skinned Afro-Latinos only seen as extras and background dancers, despite the fact that Washington Heights, where the film is set, has large Afro-Latino population.
The film, which Miranda produced and co-wrote with “In the Heights” playwright Quiara Alegria Hudes, also removes a subplot from the original musical that tackles the issue of colorism and prejudice against Afro-Latinos and Blacks in the larger Latino community.
In response, Miranda issued a heartfelt apology on Monday, saying in part “”In trying to...
Critics of the film have pointed out that the film’s main roles went to Latino actors with lighter skin, with darker skinned Afro-Latinos only seen as extras and background dancers, despite the fact that Washington Heights, where the film is set, has large Afro-Latino population.
The film, which Miranda produced and co-wrote with “In the Heights” playwright Quiara Alegria Hudes, also removes a subplot from the original musical that tackles the issue of colorism and prejudice against Afro-Latinos and Blacks in the larger Latino community.
In response, Miranda issued a heartfelt apology on Monday, saying in part “”In trying to...
- 6/16/2021
- by Ross A. Lincoln
- The Wrap
Rita Moreno responded to critiques that musical adaptation In the Heights failed to represent Washington Heights’ Afro-Latino population in remarks made on Tuesday.
In a guest appearance on The Late Show, the Puerto Rican actor defended Lin-Manuel Miranda, who wrote the music and lyrics of the original musical upon which the film is based and also produced and starred in the film. Moreno said the criticism, which has focused on the dearth of darker-skinned Afro-Latinx characters in the movie, “really upsets me.” (Miranda co-produced Moreno’s documentary Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided to Go for It.)
She continued, “You can ...
In a guest appearance on The Late Show, the Puerto Rican actor defended Lin-Manuel Miranda, who wrote the music and lyrics of the original musical upon which the film is based and also produced and starred in the film. Moreno said the criticism, which has focused on the dearth of darker-skinned Afro-Latinx characters in the movie, “really upsets me.” (Miranda co-produced Moreno’s documentary Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided to Go for It.)
She continued, “You can ...
- 6/16/2021
- The Hollywood Reporter - Film + TV
Rita Moreno responded to critiques that musical adaptation In the Heights failed to represent Washington Heights’ Afro-Latino population in remarks made on Tuesday.
In a guest appearance on The Late Show, the Puerto Rican actor defended Lin-Manuela Miranda, who wrote the music and lyrics of the original musical upon which the film is based and also produced and starred in the film. Moreno said the criticism, which has focused on the dearth of darker-skinned Afro-Latinx characters in the movie, “really upsets me.” (Miranda co-produced Moreno’s documentary Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided to Go for It.)
She continued, “You ...
In a guest appearance on The Late Show, the Puerto Rican actor defended Lin-Manuela Miranda, who wrote the music and lyrics of the original musical upon which the film is based and also produced and starred in the film. Moreno said the criticism, which has focused on the dearth of darker-skinned Afro-Latinx characters in the movie, “really upsets me.” (Miranda co-produced Moreno’s documentary Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided to Go for It.)
She continued, “You ...
- 6/16/2021
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Hollywood icon Rita Moreno went for it — and the message is loud and clear.
Speaking to an audience at the Tribeca Festival 2021 premiere of her new uninhibited documentary “Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided to Go for It,’ the legendary Egot winner boldly said about the filming, “I made a promise to myself that I would be exceedingly truthful. I thought that was important… There isn’t one iota of bullshit.”
At one of the world’s first in-person film festivals in over a year, Moreno had the audience thundering with applause during a two-minute ovation. The trailblazer then took the stage for a candid panel discussion as the sun set over the outdoor Hudson River theater at Pier 76.
The very personal documentary about Moreno’s storied life is the new crowning achievement taking a front place on her trophy mantle.
“This is the dream,” she told Variety earlier...
Speaking to an audience at the Tribeca Festival 2021 premiere of her new uninhibited documentary “Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided to Go for It,’ the legendary Egot winner boldly said about the filming, “I made a promise to myself that I would be exceedingly truthful. I thought that was important… There isn’t one iota of bullshit.”
At one of the world’s first in-person film festivals in over a year, Moreno had the audience thundering with applause during a two-minute ovation. The trailblazer then took the stage for a candid panel discussion as the sun set over the outdoor Hudson River theater at Pier 76.
The very personal documentary about Moreno’s storied life is the new crowning achievement taking a front place on her trophy mantle.
“This is the dream,” she told Variety earlier...
- 6/15/2021
- by Elizabeth Taylor
- Variety Film + TV
With a slimmer lineup and much of the action taking place online rather than in Park City, the 2021 Sundance Film Festival will be anything but normal. But if early sales activity is any indication, the hybrid virtual/in-person festival will still serve as a key acquisitions market for distributors.
News of the first deals broke on December 16, the day after Sundance revealed its full slate of 72 features. That’s when Bleecker Street announced it has acquired North American rights to Nikole Beckwith’s “Together Together” and Magnolia Pictures revealed it has nabbed Rodney Ascher’s Midnight section pick “A Glitch in the Matrix.”
While those two movies come from established filmmakers, over half of the festival lineup comes from first-time feature directors. Over 90 percent of the slate are world premieres.
That suggests there is plenty of opportunity for the discovery of hidden gems. But with streaming — coupled with satellite screenings...
News of the first deals broke on December 16, the day after Sundance revealed its full slate of 72 features. That’s when Bleecker Street announced it has acquired North American rights to Nikole Beckwith’s “Together Together” and Magnolia Pictures revealed it has nabbed Rodney Ascher’s Midnight section pick “A Glitch in the Matrix.”
While those two movies come from established filmmakers, over half of the festival lineup comes from first-time feature directors. Over 90 percent of the slate are world premieres.
That suggests there is plenty of opportunity for the discovery of hidden gems. But with streaming — coupled with satellite screenings...
- 6/8/2021
- by Chris Lindahl
- Indiewire
Movies are back. We didn’t have a proper summer movie season last year thanks to Covid, but as more and more people get vaccinated, audiences have already shown a willingness to return to theaters, that is if there’s good stuff to actually see. Thankfully this summer movie season has us covered, and with delays and constant schedule shuffles, we’ve been waiting a really long time for some of these. Here are the 32 movies we’re most excited for coming soon.
“Spiral”
Chris Rock and Samuel L. Jackson star in this “Saw” sequel that casts Rock as a detective investigating a Jigsaw copycat killer and a new series of grizzly murders.
“The Woman in the Window”
Amy Adams stars in this updated take on “Rear Window,” in which she plays an agoraphobic woman who witnesses the murder of her friend, only to realize the woman she thought was murdered is someone else entirely.
“Spiral”
Chris Rock and Samuel L. Jackson star in this “Saw” sequel that casts Rock as a detective investigating a Jigsaw copycat killer and a new series of grizzly murders.
“The Woman in the Window”
Amy Adams stars in this updated take on “Rear Window,” in which she plays an agoraphobic woman who witnesses the murder of her friend, only to realize the woman she thought was murdered is someone else entirely.
- 5/13/2021
- by Brian Welk
- The Wrap
The first trailer for Steven Spielberg’s long-awaited adaptation of the 1957 Broadway musical “West Side Story” was released during the 93rd Academy Awards ceremony on Sunday night.
While Spielberg has dabbled in a slew of genres from adventure to sci-fi, this will mark the filmmaker’s first time directing a musical. “Baby Driver” star Ansel Elgort and Rachel Zegler, who is set to appear in the upcoming DC Comics sequel “Shazam: Fury of the Gods,” play teenagers Tony and Maria, who despite having affiliations with rival street gangs, the Jets and Sharks, end up falling in love. The film will also star Ariana DeBose, David Alvarez, Mike Faist, Corey Stoll and Brian d’Arcy James.
The 1961 adaptation of “West Side Story” won a total of 10 Academy Awards including best picture, sitting only behind “Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King,” “Titanic” and “Ben-Hur” with 11 wins apiece. The screenplay for...
While Spielberg has dabbled in a slew of genres from adventure to sci-fi, this will mark the filmmaker’s first time directing a musical. “Baby Driver” star Ansel Elgort and Rachel Zegler, who is set to appear in the upcoming DC Comics sequel “Shazam: Fury of the Gods,” play teenagers Tony and Maria, who despite having affiliations with rival street gangs, the Jets and Sharks, end up falling in love. The film will also star Ariana DeBose, David Alvarez, Mike Faist, Corey Stoll and Brian d’Arcy James.
The 1961 adaptation of “West Side Story” won a total of 10 Academy Awards including best picture, sitting only behind “Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King,” “Titanic” and “Ben-Hur” with 11 wins apiece. The screenplay for...
- 4/26/2021
- by Antonio Ferme
- Variety Film + TV
Rita Moreno gets her own documentary with Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided to Go For It. The Mariem Pérez Riera-directed documentary covers Moreno’s lengthy career, from when she became the sole money-earner for her family at the age of 16, to her time under contract in Hollywood, becoming the first Latina actress to win an […]
The post ‘Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided to Go For It’ Trailer: The Egot Winning Icon Gets The Documentary Treatment appeared first on /Film.
The post ‘Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided to Go For It’ Trailer: The Egot Winning Icon Gets The Documentary Treatment appeared first on /Film.
- 4/25/2021
- by Chris Evangelista
- Slash Film
It was exactly 30 years ago when Whoopi Goldberg won her Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for playing the wise psychic Oda Mae Brown in the supernatural love story “Ghost.” Thanks to her gig co-hosting and moderating the Emmy-winning daytime talk show “The View,” Goldberg is in the rare stratosphere of Egot recipients, combining her Emmy, Oscar, Tony (for producing “Thoroughly Modern Millie”), and Grammy (for her one-woman comedy album).
Now, Goldberg is looking back on her legacy thanks to a new cover story featured in Variety. Goldberg, who is widely regarded as one of the best Oscars hosts of all time, now serves on the board of governors for the actors’ branch. When she’s not hosting “The View” or gearing up to reprise her role as Deloris Van Cartier in “Sister Act 3” for Disney+, Goldberg is apparently working on writing a script of her own.
According to the Variety story,...
Now, Goldberg is looking back on her legacy thanks to a new cover story featured in Variety. Goldberg, who is widely regarded as one of the best Oscars hosts of all time, now serves on the board of governors for the actors’ branch. When she’s not hosting “The View” or gearing up to reprise her role as Deloris Van Cartier in “Sister Act 3” for Disney+, Goldberg is apparently working on writing a script of her own.
According to the Variety story,...
- 4/25/2021
- by Ryan Lattanzio
- Indiewire
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