The first time Jesse Garcia learned about Richard Montañez — the former Frito-Lay executive who’s said that he invented the wildly successful Flamin’ Hot Cheetos brand when he was working as a janitor for the company — the actor immediately thought, “That would be an awesome movie.” Years later, Eva Longoria cast Garcia to play Montañez for her feature directing debut, “Flamin’ Hot,” which premieres June 9 on Hulu and Disney+.
The film, produced by DeVon Franklin, covers Richard’s life from his difficult childhood to his marriage to his high school sweetheart Judy (Annie Gonzalez) to his rise at Frito-Lay. For Garcia, it was an all-too-rare opportunity to depict the real-life story of a Latino family in a mainstream feature film.
“Non-Latino projects, they have the luxury of failing,” Garcia says. “But if our work doesn’t work — or if for some reason is not successful — it’s a struggle to get the next project.
The film, produced by DeVon Franklin, covers Richard’s life from his difficult childhood to his marriage to his high school sweetheart Judy (Annie Gonzalez) to his rise at Frito-Lay. For Garcia, it was an all-too-rare opportunity to depict the real-life story of a Latino family in a mainstream feature film.
“Non-Latino projects, they have the luxury of failing,” Garcia says. “But if our work doesn’t work — or if for some reason is not successful — it’s a struggle to get the next project.
- 6/7/2023
- by Adam B. Vary
- Variety Film + TV
Director Wash Westmoreland (Still Alice) has tapped rising star Millicent Simmonds (A Quiet Place) and Rachel Brosnahan (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel), to star in Helen & Teacher about famous Deafblind activist Hellen Keller and Anne Sullivan, her committed yet controlling translator and companion.
Simmonds, who will star as Keller, is in fact a distant cousin of the author and disability rights advocate.
Set during the early 1900’s, the movie will follow Keller’s tumultuous time at Radcliffe College of Harvard University when her rapidly expanding worldview and sexual awakening brings her into direct conflict with the more conservative Sullivan. When Ms. Sullivan is courted by the young and brilliant publisher, John Macy, tensions escalate between the two women threatening the bonds of their friendship.
Cornerstone will handle international sales and distribution and will commence sales at next month’s American Film Market. UTA Independent Film Group and WME are overseeing the U.
Simmonds, who will star as Keller, is in fact a distant cousin of the author and disability rights advocate.
Set during the early 1900’s, the movie will follow Keller’s tumultuous time at Radcliffe College of Harvard University when her rapidly expanding worldview and sexual awakening brings her into direct conflict with the more conservative Sullivan. When Ms. Sullivan is courted by the young and brilliant publisher, John Macy, tensions escalate between the two women threatening the bonds of their friendship.
Cornerstone will handle international sales and distribution and will commence sales at next month’s American Film Market. UTA Independent Film Group and WME are overseeing the U.
- 10/14/2021
- by Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
“A Quiet Place” breakout Millicent Simmonds and “Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” star Rachel Brosnahan will play Helen Keller and her teacher Anne Sullivan in the forthcoming feature film “Helen & Teacher.”
Simmonds, who is deaf, is a distant cousin of Deafblind activist Keller, and her casting marks a significant turning point for deaf representation on screen. Most adaptations of Keller’s story over the years have generally featured non-deaf actors.
Simmonds will star opposite Brosnahan, who will portray her committed yet controlling translator and companion Sullivan. Cornerstone will handle international sales and distribution, and is set to kick off sales at the American Film Market next month. UTA Independent Film Group and WME are overseeing the U.S. sale.
“Helen & Teacher” is based on the original screenplay by Laetitia Mikles and Westmoreland, in consultation with a team at the Helen Keller National Center for Youth and Adults.
Set during the early 1900s,...
Simmonds, who is deaf, is a distant cousin of Deafblind activist Keller, and her casting marks a significant turning point for deaf representation on screen. Most adaptations of Keller’s story over the years have generally featured non-deaf actors.
Simmonds will star opposite Brosnahan, who will portray her committed yet controlling translator and companion Sullivan. Cornerstone will handle international sales and distribution, and is set to kick off sales at the American Film Market next month. UTA Independent Film Group and WME are overseeing the U.S. sale.
“Helen & Teacher” is based on the original screenplay by Laetitia Mikles and Westmoreland, in consultation with a team at the Helen Keller National Center for Youth and Adults.
Set during the early 1900s,...
- 10/14/2021
- by Manori Ravindran
- Variety Film + TV
In her documentary 15: A Quinceañera Story, which begins airing tonight at 7 p.m. on HBO and HBO Latino, Mexican singer and actress Thalía Sodi showcases the lives of five girls as they celebrate their 15th birthdays. Executive produced by her husband Tommy Mottola and co-directed by Emmy winner Matthew O’Neill and Sodi herself, the series of four short films follows the lives of five Latina girls from diverse cultural, ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds through their rite of passage into adulthood.
To promote the docuseries, the 46-year-old star visited Univision’s morning show Despierta América yesterday, where she dressed...
To promote the docuseries, the 46-year-old star visited Univision’s morning show Despierta América yesterday, where she dressed...
- 12/19/2017
- by Lena Hansen
- PEOPLE.com
Mexican megastar Thalía was given the opportunity of a lifetime to tell the story of five teenage warriors in her documentary, 15: A Quinceañera Story.
“It was a dream that I pursued for years and I was finally able to make it a reality with HBO,” the singer told People Chica. “It took us almost three years to develop my ideas, find our girls, follow their stories and edit the best moments to create this original series that presents our Hispanic culture to new audiences.”
Produced by music executive and entrepreneur Tommy Mottola and directed by Emmy winner Matthew O’Neill and Thalía herself,...
“It was a dream that I pursued for years and I was finally able to make it a reality with HBO,” the singer told People Chica. “It took us almost three years to develop my ideas, find our girls, follow their stories and edit the best moments to create this original series that presents our Hispanic culture to new audiences.”
Produced by music executive and entrepreneur Tommy Mottola and directed by Emmy winner Matthew O’Neill and Thalía herself,...
- 11/21/2017
- by Nohelia Castro
- PEOPLE.com
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