Thursday, May 24, 2012

Cerronato Live! Colombian Vallenato and Cumbia Music at Esquina Tango

Event name: Cerronato Live! Colombian Vallenato and Cumbia

Date: Friday, June 22nd, 2012

Time: 9:00pm to 1:00am

Location: Esquina Tango (non-profit cultural organization)

Street Address: 209 Pedernales St. Austin TX 78702

Cost: $8

Bring your own beverage

Brief description:"Cerronato fuses rich four-part harmonies, ornate and funky accordion and bass, and frenzied percussion in a joyous yet poignant mix. Their inspiration comes from Colombian vallenato and cumbia, two old musical traditions that have spread far from their original homeland. Based in Austin, Texas, the four members of Cerronato are ambassadors for those archetypal Colombian styles through their lively performances and fervent commitment to the spirit of celebration animating them. A century after vallenato and cumbia emerged out of Colombia’s cultural cauldron of indigenous, Spanish, and African cultures, Cerronato continues to mix it up, combining respect for the heritage and the impulse to innovate."

For more information: 512.524.2772  info@esquinatangoaustin.com          http://www.esquinatangoaustin.com

Wednesday, May 23, 2012

Comicpalooza, the Texas International Comic Con multi-format pop culture convention takes place May 25-27 in Houston


Comicpalooza, the Texas International Comic Con is the best and biggest annual multi-format pop culture convention in the US southwest region. It takes place on May 25-27 at the George R Brown Convention Center in Houston, but has Austin connections. This year, there is a great variety of talent participating, as well as the Badass Celebrity Smackdown.

Just to name a few of the artists, writers, voice actors, gaming and entertainers appearing include Michael Biehn (Terminator, Alien), Christopher Judge (Stargate SG-1 and the upcoming THE DARK KNIGHT RISES), Rachel Lutrell (Stargate Atlantis) Kristen Bauer (True Blood) and Claudia Christian (Babylon 5) and Nadya Sonika, Mexican cosplayer, TV host and model. Local talent attending includes voice actor Samantha Inoue-Harte, who heads her own Austin-based studio and teaches at the Art Institute of Austin, and is an Art Attack, quarterfinalist of America's Got Talent in 2010.

Heroes for Heroes: The Badass Celebrity Smackdown is a charity event held at Comicpalooza that benefits Impact a Hero, a non-profit organization that provides emotional and financial support to severely wounded veterans from post 911 conflicts.  In addition to the heroes event, there will be a villain event as well. “The next best thing to being a sci-fi or action hero has to be shooting a sci-fi or action hero with a gun. Or maybe being shot by one,” says John Simons, founder and Chairman of Comicpalooza, the Texas International Comic Con. At least that’s the premise that led to the Badass Celebrity Smackdown, in which fans attending Comicpalooza May 25 - 27 will get their chance to pit themselves against stars of some of the biggest sci-fi and action franchises in Hollywood while helping US veterans at the same time.

Celebrities participating in the charity events are: Michael Biehn (Terminator, Aliens), Claudia Christian (Babylon 5), David Della Rocco (Boondock Saints), Sean Patrick Flanery (Boondock Saints), Richard Hatch (Battlestar Galactica), Christopher Judge (Stargate SG-1), Richard LeParmentier (Star Wars), Rachel Lutrell (Stargate Atlantis) and Kevin Sorbo (Hercules, Andromeda).

In the heroes event, fans will have the chance to shoot or be shot by their favorite heroes in a once-in-a-lifetime game of laser tag. There will be two heroes games of laser tag. To qualify for one of the fan teams, a fan may either make a $300 donation to Impact a Hero to reserve one of the fixed spots, or win one of several open spots that will be raffled off at the Impact a Hero booth from among all the fans making donations over the convention weekend.

Richard LeParmentier will be featured in the villains event where he will lead a team of the 501st Stormtroopers against fans. There will be one villain game on Friday and one on Saturday, while the heroes games will both take place on Sunday, May 27. Fans will be able to register for the villain game on site immediately before it takes place. Registration for the Heroes event will be on the Comicpalooza website. For more information on Impact a Hero go to impactahero.org. 

Actor Christopher Judge has acted in a variety of films (House Party 2, A Dog’s Breakfast), television shows (Andromeda,), animated series (X-Men: Evolution, He-Man and the Masters of the Universe) and video games (Def Jam Vendetta, Turok), but he’s undoubtedly best known for his work as Teal’c on the sci-fi series Stargate SG-1, on which he has appeared more often than any of the show’s other actors.

Christopher Judge (Stargate SG-1), who will be participating in the Comicpalooza events said during our telephone interview that he was really looking forward to attending. “It is my first time to attend. I have been to other cons, but first here. I have already been a fan of it, but my schedule had not worked out before to be there.”

Noting the exuberance in his voice, I asked what it means for him to participate in the events. “For me personally, it is the opportunity to meet the fans and say thanks for a decade of support. I am appreciative of them taking the time from their day to watch the show.”

He is also scheduled to participate in the Heroes for Heroes: The Badass Celebrity Smackdown for the non-profit and we discussed the upcoming event. “I did not know about it before, but once I knew, it was a no-brainer for me. These young men and women are giving their lives for us and anything that I can do, I will.”

Of all the activities scheduled for the three day convention, we talked about what excites him about going to Comicpalooza. “The opportunity to say ‘thank you;’ it is an old age adage, but it needs to be remembered. Without fans, there is no us.”

The official website www.comicpalooza.com/ contains the complete line-up of talent, artists, and the diverse events during the three day convention.


Saturday, May 12, 2012

Noche Azul de Esperanza Concert in San Antonio

ESPERANZA PEACE AND JUSTICE CENTER
922 San Pedro Ave • San Antonio TX 78212 • 210.228.0201
(entrance on W. Evergreen, 1/2 mile north of downtown)
www.esperanzacenter.org

Sunday, May 6, 2012

MARVEL’S THE AVENGERS DOMESTIC DEBUT SETS ALL-TIME INDUSTRY RECORD AT $200.3 MILLION; FILM GROSSES $641.8 MILLION GLOBALLY

The Walt Disney Studios announced today that Marvel’s The Avengers posted an estimated $200.3 million in its domestic debut May 4-6, shattering previous records and positioning the film as the highest-grossing domestic debut of all time. The film’s cumulative global box office gross is an estimated $641.8 million over 12 days in release.
In just three days, Marvel’s the Avengers is the fastest movie to reach $200 million domestically. The domestic debut kicked off Friday, May 4 and marks the second highest single day take of all time at $80.5 million. Saturday’s box office gross of $69.7 million is the highest Saturday take of all time. Moviegoers gave Marvel’s The Avengers a rare and perfect A+ CinemaScore.
Marvel’s The Avengers began opening internationally April 25 and crossed the $600 million mark globally May 6 after just 12 days in release.
International box office highlights include:

* Opened May 3 in Russia with $17.9 million, the biggest Marvel opening weekend ever
* Opened May 5 in China with $17.4 million
* Biggest opening weekend of all time in Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Ecuador, Peru, Central America, Bolivia, Hong Kong, Malaysia, New Zealand, and Philippines

Marvel’s The Avengers has now opened in all major markets except Israel, Poland, and Japan.
The film’s success comes a month after Marvel and Disney announced that a sequel to 2011’s Captain America: The First Avenger will be released April 4, 2014. A sequel to last summer’s Thor is scheduled for release November 15, 2013, and the third installment of the hit Iron Man series, which has earned over $1.2 billion worldwide, will arrive in theaters May 3, 2013.
Marvel’s The Avengers is the first Marvel Studios film to be marketed and distributed by The Walt Disney Studios.

Liz Lopez

Wednesday, May 2, 2012

Marvel The Avengers; See it on Midnight on Thursday, May 3rd in San Antonio and Houston


GET YOUR MIDNIGHT TICKETS NOW!


Santikos Palladium IMAX
Santikos Silverado IMAX - Houston


Santikos Mayan Palace 14
Santikos Palladium IMAX
Santikos Silverado 16
Santikos Silverado IMAX - Houston

PLAYING IN 2D & 3D
Santikos Embassy 14
Santikos Mayan Palace 14
Santikos Northwest 14
Santikos Palladium IMAX
Santikos Rialto
Santikos Silverado 16
Santikos Silverado IMAX - Houston

nuvoTV Launched Pastport show featuring Wilber Valderrama


Wilmer Valderrama (That 70’s Show, Yo Momma, The Dry Land) has become a household name since first appearing as the endearing FEZ on FOX’s That 70’s Show. Yet, few are aware that he had very humble beginnings and comes from an extremely poor neighborhood in Venezuela—a place so dangerous, residents lock themselves in their homes by 5 o’clock to avoid the violence on the streets.  nuvoTV’s PASTPORT:  VENEZUELA  joins Valderrama on his emotional return to Venezuela for the first time since he came to the U.S. 16 years ago.
The only series of its kind, PASTPORT follows the unique journeys of Latino celebrities as they travel to the countries of their families’ origins, often for the first time, to re-connect with their Latino heritage, history and culture.

Born and raised in Acarigua, Venezuela, Valderrama’s acting talent shone at an early age, and late at night he would often fantasize about being destined for Hollywood. Tears filled the actor’s eyes when he returned to that very bedroom where he first envisioned his dream that would eventually lead him on a path to fame. With nostalgic visits to his elementary school, a local radio station and a drama class at a university, PASTPORT: VENEZUELA is an emotionally charged hour that gives viewers an up close and personal look at Hollywood star’s triumphant return home.
“PASTPORT captures a journey to your past that anyone can relate to, but especially the Bi-Cultural Latino community,” said Maria Perez-Brown, nuvoTV’s senior vice president of programming, “The people we follow are passionate about their own American experience, but crave a stronger bond to their heritage. Our audience connects with this on a very personal level, because they are constantly balancing the best of their two cultures."

About nuvoTV
nuvoTV is the first and only English-language television network created for Bi-Cultural Latinos 18-49A. 

Bold. Vibrant. Driven. From lifestyle and comedy programming to music and movies, 70% of the programming slate consists of originals, all shot in high-definition. nuvoTV will connect with Latinos across all platforms (TV, online, VOD, broadband, mobile), offering unique, high quality content that speaks to this audience. 
nuvoTV is available on Time Warner Cable Channel 154 in New York/New Jersey. nuvoTV is also in major markets including Los Angeles, Miami, Chicago, Texas and San Francisco / Bay Area.

SE EXTIENDE EL PROGRAMA "VEA 'CHIMPANZEE',

“Chimpanzee” llegó a los cines el 20 de abril y recaudó $10,6 millones de dólares en su
fin de semana de estreno, con lo que resultó ser tan popular entre el público que
Disneynature extenderá la iniciativa de conservación “Vea ‘Chimpanzee’, salve
chimpancés” por una segunda semana. Por cada espectador que vea “Chimpanzee”
hasta el 3 de mayo de 2012, Disneynature hará una donación al Jane Goodall Institute
(JGI) a través del Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund para ayudar a proteger a los
chimpancés, ahora y en el futuro.

“Vea ‘Chimpanzee’, salve chimpancés” estaba programado originalmente para
desarrollarse durante la semana de estreno de la película hasta el 26 de abril y ahora
continuará durante la segunda semana de exhibición del filme, hasta el 3 de mayo, lo
que lo convierte en el primer programa de conservación de Disneynature que obtiene
una extensión.

La noticia fuemuy bien recibida por la Dra. Jane Goodall, Dama del Imperio Británico,
fundadora del Jane Goodall Institute y Mensajera de la Paz de la ONU. “No podríamos
estar más felices de extender esta colaboración para ayudar al Jane Goodall Institute a
proteger de mejor manera a los chimpancés y a los lugares que ellos llaman su hogar”,
señaló. “Una película como ‘Chimpanzee’ ayuda a difundir la pasión que tenemos por
estos seres extraordinarios, al compartir los momentos realmente conmovedores que
experimentan Oscar y los demás chimpancés de un modo que, con suerte, inspirará al
público a continuar apoyando esta causa por mucho tiempo después de que termine la
película”.

Clasificada G por la MPAA,“Chimpanzee” puede verse en los cines en este momento.

SOBRE LA PELÍCULA

Disneynature lleva a los espectadores a lo más profundo de los bosques de África con “Chimpanzee”, una nueva aventura de la vida real que presenta a un adorable bebé
chimpancé llamado Oscar y su enfoque divertido de la vida en una notable historia de
lazos familiares y de superación personal. La curiosidad juguetona de Oscar y el ánimo
por el descubrimientomuestran la inteligencia y el ingenio de algunas de las
personalidades más extraordinarias del reino animal. Trabajando juntos, la familia de
chimpancés de Oscar —incluidos su madre, Isha, y el sabio líder del grupo, Freddy—
viaja por el complejo territorio de la selva. El mundo es un patio de juegos para el
pequeño Oscar y sus jóvenes compañeros chimpancés, que prefieren provocar un caos
a unirse a sus padres para una siesta por la tarde. Pero cuando la familia de Oscar se
enfrenta a una comunidad rival de chimpancés, él debe valerse por sí mismo hasta que
aparece un aliado sorpresivo y cambia su vida para siempre. Dirigida por Alastair
Fothergill (“African Cats” y “Earth”) y Mark Linfield (“Earth”), y narrada por Tim Allen
verse en cines en este momento. Para obtener más información sobre “Chimpanzee”,
visita Disney.com/Chimpanzee, pon “Me gusta” en nuestra página en Facebook: Facebook.com/Disneynature o síguenos en Twitter: twitter.com/Disneynature.

SOBRE EL JANE GOODALL INSTITUTE

Fundado en 1977, el Jane Goodall Institute continúa con la investigación pionera de la
Dra. Goodall sobre el comportamiento de los chimpancés, que comenzó hace más de 50
años; una investigación que transformó las percepciones científicas de la relación entre
humanos y animales. En la actualidad, el Instituto es un líder mundial en el esfuerzo por
proteger a los chimpancés y sus hábitats. También es reconocido ampliamente por
establecer en África programas de conservación y desarrollo innovadores y centrados
en las comunidades, y por el Jane Goodall’s Roots & Shoots, el programa mundial
ecologista y humanitario para jóvenes de todas las edades, que tiene grupos en más de
120 países. Para obtener más información, visita www.janegoodall.org.

SOBRE EL DISNEY WORLDWIDE CONSERVATION FUND (DWCF)

The Walt Disney Company ha demostrado desde sus inicios un compromiso con el
medio ambiente que continúa hasta la actualidad. Desde su origen en 1995, el Disney
Worldwide Conservation Fund (DWCF) ha dado continuidad a este legado a través de
las conexiones que establece para inspirar a las personas y las asociaciones que crea
para proteger a la fauna y la flora del mundo. El programa de becas anual del DWCF ha
tenido un impacto mundial en los esfuerzos por ampliar elconocimiento científico, influir
en los líderes para que lleven a cabo acciones de conservación y atraer a las
comunidades mediante la educación y propuestas sostenibles de conservación. A la
fecha, el DWCF ha otorgado más de $14 millones de dólares a más de 800 proyectos
en 110 países, que incluyen fondos para apoyar la conservación de leones, chitas y
chimpancés. El DWCF también sostiene al Rapid Response Fund, que ha
proporcionado fondos de emergencia a más de 100 gestiones de ayuda. Para conocer
más sobre el enfoque de Disney sobre la naturaleza, visita
www.disney.com/conservation

SOBRE DISNEYNATURE

Disneynature fue lanzado en abril de 2008. Su misión es unir a los más importantes
documentalistas del mundo natural para compartir una amplia variedad de historias
sobre la naturaleza en la pantalla grande, con el propósito de cautivar, inspirar y educar
al público de todo el mundo. Walt Disney fue un pionero en la realización de películas
sobre la naturaleza: produjo 13 largometrajes de True-Life Adventure entre 1948 y 1960,
que ganaron ocho Premios de la Academia®. Las primeras tres películas de
Disneynature —“Earth”, “Oceans” y “African Cats”— son tres de los cuatro largometrajes
sobre la naturaleza de mayor recaudación hasta la fecha, mientras que “Earth” marcó un récord para el género en su fin de semana de estreno. La conservación ha sido uno de los
principales pilares del sello, y las películas de Disneynature alientan a la audiencia a
ayudar a marcar la diferencia. A través de donaciones ligadas a la asistencia de público
durante las semanas de estreno de las tres películas, Disneynature ha plantado tres
millones de árboles en la Selva del Atlántico de Brasil, ha establecido 16.200 hectáreas
de áreas marinas protegidas en las Bahamas y ha protegido 26.300 hectáreas de
sabana en Kenia.

Para obtener más informaciónsobre Disneynature, visita Disney.com/chimpanzee, pon
“Me gusta” en nuestra página en Facebook: facebook.com/Disneynature, y síguenos en
Twitter: twitter.com/Disneynature. Para obtener más información sobre el Disney
Worldwide Conservation Fund, visita www.disney.com/conservation.