Thursday, June 21, 2012

THE DARK KNIGHT RISES, the Tumbler and Bat-Pod are coming to San Antonio!

The most anticipated film of the year is almost here! In celebration of the release of THE DARK KNIGHT RISES, the Tumbler and Bat-Pod are coming to San Antonio!


San Antonio

DATE: Wednesday, June 27

TIME: The Tumbler and Bat Pod will be on display from 6:00PM – 9:00PM

LOCATION: Santikos Palladium IMAX theater (17703 W IH-10, San Antonio, TX 78257)
For more information, visit
https://www.facebook.com/TumblerTour

San Antonio Film Festival in full swing this week


The 18th Annual San Antonio Film Festival [SAFILM] continues through June 24th, 2012

Since 1994, San Antonio Film Festival founder and Executive Director, Adam Rocha, has been trying to build more opportunities for local filmmakers. The event also brings national and international filmmakers too. The festival is accompanied by free workshops during the conference¸ starting June 21, 2012. This year the festival will have filmmakers from all over the world, with more feature films than shorts.
This year one of the panelists will be screenwriter Alvaro Rodriguez (Machete, From Dusk ‘Till Dawn 3, Allied Forces, Plain Flower, and El Mariachi). The conference panels will address different topics, including screenwriting, documentary production, acting direction, and incentives for filmmakers from multiple sources.

There are more venues across the city and the collaboration with the movie theaters is helpful to this event. The festival will have screenings throughout the city at the Instituto Cultural de Mexico, Pearl Brewery, and three Santikos Theaters: Palladium, Bijou, and Rialto.
Here are some highlights of films from Austin filmmakers that are participating in the festival, as well as other films shot locally and or internationally.

Echotone [90m] Directed by Nathan Christ [Austin,TX]
-Rialto 2938 NE Loop 410 San Antonio, TX 78218 9:15pm on Friday, June 22nd

This film has been in a multitude of film festivals, including the Austin Film Festival [2010] among many others. I highly recommend seeing it on the big screen and enjoy the musical performances too. It was one of my favorites.
Internationally known as 'The Live Music Capital of the World,' Austin's music culture has led it to become one of the world's most sought-after destinations. As nearly two dozen high-rises pop up throughout the city amidst a post-Bush economic downfall, how does the working musician get along? This lyrical documentary provides a telescopic view in the lives of Austin's vibrant young musicians as they grapple with questions of artistic integrity, commercialism, experimentation, and the future of their beloved city. Echotone is a cultural portrait of the modern American city examined through the lyrics and lens of its creative class.

Bat City USA [51m] Directed by Laura Brooks [Austin, TX]
Bat City USA delves into Austin's complicated relationship with a colony of Mexican free-tailed bats under the downtown Congress Avenue Bridge. Each year, thousands of people get a fascinating, close-up glimpse of the world's largest urban bat colony amid the colorful downtown Austin, Texas setting. The film reveals how the bats moved into the bridge and survived eradication plans by hostile residents. Viewers discover how the bats eventually became a beloved part of what makes Austin unique and weird, mainly through the efforts of Merlin Tuttle, founder of Bat Conservation International, who convinced residents of the benefits of the bats.

Inocente [40m] Producer Albie Hecht New York, NY
-Palladium 17703 W IH-10 San Antonio, TX 78257 3pm on Friday, June 22nd

Inocente is a personal and vibrant coming of age story about a young artist's determination never to surrender to the bleakness of her surroundings. At 15, Inocente refuses to let her dream of becoming an artist be caged by being an undocumented immigrant forced to live homeless for the last nine years. Color is her personal revolution and its sweep on her canvases creates a world that looks nothing like her own dark past.
Inocente is both a timeless story about the transformative power of art and a timely snapshot of the new face of homelessness in America: children. The challenges are staggering, but the hope in her story proves that her circumstance do not define her, her dreams do.

Portion [79m] Directed by Gisberg Bermudez [Los Angeles, CA]
-Rialto 2938 NE Loop 410 San Antonio, TX 78218 12:30pm Friday, June 22nd
-Palladium 17703 W IH-10 San Antonio, TX 78257 9:15 pm Saturday, June 23rd with Red Carpet/Q&A

Despite being so close to home, Mexican illegal immigrant Luis (Bruno Bichir) feels a world apart from his beloved mother, who resides on the other side of the Rio Grande and gets gravely ill. His legal status, a potential border wall and a river have put miles between them. Set in the Southern border town of Roma, Texas 'Portion 71' tells the story of Luis and his American wife, Sarah (Tammy Minoff) a dedicated wife and mother, who holds an emotional grudge and a tragic secret. A work permit grants Luis the opportunity to work in the United States, but immigration law forbids him to re-enter should he leave the country. His heart is torn apart knowing his mothers condition.

Trash Dance [65 min] Directed by Andrew Garrison [Austin, TX]
This film was screened during the 2012 SXSW Film Festival. I highly recommend seeing it on the big screen and see how the City of Austin employees transform their everyday tasks into great art.

Sometimes inspiration can be found in unexpected places. Choreographer Allison Orr finds beauty and grace in garbage trucks, and in the men and women who pick up our trash. Filmmaker Andrew Garrison follows Orr as she joins city sanitation workers on their daily routes to listen, learn, and ultimately to convince them to collaborate in a unique dance performance. Hard working, often carrying a second job, their lives are already full with work, family and dreams of their own. But some step forward, and after months of rehearsal, two dozen trash collectors and their trucks perform an extraordinary spectacle. On an abandoned airport runway, thousands of people show up to see how in the world a garbage truck can “dance.”
Generation Me [129m] Directed by Ericka Marsalis-LaManna [Austin, TX]

- Palladium 17703 W IH-10 San Antonio, TX 78257 3pm on Sunday, June 24, 2012
Generation Me is a deliciously inappropriate comedy about a pop/R&B singer named Malia Jade and the relationship mishaps that often occur in this crazy era of social network obsessions.

The Awards Ceremony will be held on Sunday evening at 7pm at the Santikos Palladium.
Address for the theaters:

Palladium 17703 W IH-10 San Antonio, TX 78257
Bijou 4522 Fredericksburg Rd. San Antonio, TX 78201

Rialto 2938 NE Loop 410 San Antonio, TX 78218
Instituto Cultural de Mexico 600 Hemisfair Park San Antonio, TX 78205

Pearl Brewery 200 E Grayson St San Antonio, TX 78215
For more information and a schedule of the workshops and screenings visit www.safilm.com

Liz Lopez CineyMas www.trueviewreviews.com

Monday, June 4, 2012

MARVEL STUDIOS COMIENZA EL RODAJE DE LA TERCERA ENTREGA DE LA EXITOSA FRANQUICIA “IRON MAN”


 “Iron Man 3” de Marvel comenzará a filmarse con fecha de estreno programada para el 3 de mayo de 2013

Siguiendo los pasos del lanzamiento que batió récords de “Marvel’s The Avengers” de Marvel Studios, el rodaje de la esperada “Iron Man 3”, dirigida por Shane Black, ha comenzado en Wilmington, Carolina del Norte. El calendario de rodaje también incluye locaciones en Raleigh/Durham, Carolina del Norte, Miami, Florida, y China.

Basada en la popular serie de historietas de Marvel, publicadas por primera vez en 1963, “Iron Man 3” cuenta con el regreso de Robert Downey Jr. (“Iron Man”, “Marvel’s The Avengers”), como el icónico superhéroe Tony Stark/Iron Man, junto a Gwyneth Paltrow (“Iron Man”, “Iron Man 2”) como Pepper Potts, Don Cheadle (“Iron Man 2”) como James “Rhodey” Rhodes y Jon Favreau (“Iron Man”, “Iron Man 2”) como Happy Hogan. Con fecha de estreno en Estados Unidos para el 3 de mayo de 2013, “Iron Man 3” de Marvel será la segunda película que será totalmente propiedad de, vendida y distribuida por Disney, que adquirió Marvel en 2009.

“Iron Man 3” continúa las épicas aventuras cinematográficas del multimillonario inventor y superhéroe favorito de todo el mundo, Tony Stark, alias “Iron Man”. El presidente de Marvel Studios Kevin Feige produce la película. Los productores ejecutivos del proyecto incluyen a Jon Favreau, Louis D’Esposito, Alan Fine, Stan Lee, Charles Newirth, Victoria Alonso, Stephen Broussard y Dan Mintz.

El equipo creativo de producción de la película incluye al director de fotografía dos veces ganador del Premio de la Academia John Toll, ASC (“Braveheart”, “Legends of the Fall”), el director de arte Bill Brzeski (“The Hangover”, “Due Date”), a los editores Jeffrey Ford, A.C.E. (“Marvel’s The Avengers”, “Captain America: The First Avenger”) y Peter S. Elliot (“Fantastic 4: Rise of the Silver Surfer”), y a la diseñadora de vestuario Louise Frogley (“Quantum of Solace”, “Contagion”).

Marvel Studios recientemente produjo la elogiada “Marvel’s The Avengers”, que marcó el récord en Estados Unidos de un fin de semana de estreno de tres días con una recaudación de $207.4 millones en la taquilla. La película, actualmente en salas, sigue batiendo récords en taquillas y es el lanzamiento de Walt Disney Studios con mayor recaudación a nivel mundial y nacional, así como la quinta película del estudio en recaudar más de mil millones de dólares en todo el mundo.

Durante el verano de 2011, Marvel lanzó exitosamente dos nuevas franquicias con “Thor”, protagonizada por Chris Hemsworth, y “Captain America: The First Avenger”, con Chris Evans. Ambas películas se estrenaron ocupando el primer puesto en la taquilla y han recaudado combinadas más de $800 millones en todo el mundo. En 2010, “Iron Man 2”, protagonizada por Robert Downey Jr., Gwyneth Paltrow, Don Cheadle, Scarlett Johansson y Mickey Rourke, ocupó el primer puesto en su primer fin de semana, con una recaudación a nivel nacional de $128.1 millones.

En el verano de 2008, Marvel produjo las exitosas películas de verano “Iron Man” y “The Incredible Hulk”. “Iron Man”, en la que Robert Downey Jr. se pone por primera vez la poderosa armadura del superhéroe y protagoniza junto a Terrence Howard, Jeff Bridges y Gwyneth Paltrow, se estrenó el 2 de mayo de 2008, y se convirtió inmediatamente en un éxito de taquilla. Ocupando el primer puesto durante dos semanas seguidas, la película recaudó más de $100 millones durante su fin de semana de estreno. El 13 de junio de 2008, Marvel lanzó “The Incredible Hulk”, que fue su segunda película en ocupar el primer puesto ese verano.

SOBRE MARVEL ENTERTAINMENT:

Marvel Entertainment, LLC, una subsidiaria propiedad en su totalidad de The Walt Disney Company, es una de las empresas de entretenimiento basado en personajes más prominentes del mundo, construida a partir de una cartera de más de 8000 personajes que han figurado en una variedad de medios a lo largo de setenta años. Marvel utiliza sus franquicias de personajes en entretenimiento, licenciamiento y publicaciones. Para obtener más información, visite www.marvel.com.

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Liz López


MARVEL STUDIOS BEGINS PRODUCTION ON THIRD INSTALLMENT OF THE BLOCKBUSTER FRANCHISE IRON MAN

Following in the footsteps of the record-breaking Marvel Studios’ release “Marvel’s The Avengers,” production on the highly anticipated film “Iron Man 3,” directed by Shane Black, has commenced production in Wilmington, North Carolina. The production schedule will also include locations in Raleigh/Durham, North Carolina, Miami, Florida and China.

Based on the ever-popular Marvel comic book series, first published in 1963, “Iron Man 3” returns Robert Downey Jr. (“Iron Man,” “Marvel’s The Avengers”) as the iconic Super Hero character Tony Stark/Iron Man along with Gwyneth Paltrow (“Iron Man,” “Iron Man 2,”) as Pepper Potts, Don Cheadle (“Iron Man 2”) as James “Rhodey” Rhodes and Jon Favreau (“Iron Man,” “Iron Man 2”) as Happy Hogan. Set for release in the U.S. on May 3, 2013, Marvel’s “Iron Man 3” marks the second feature to be fully owned, marketed and distributed by Disney, which acquired Marvel in 2009.

“Iron Man 3” continues the epic, big-screen adventures of the world’s favorite billionaire inventor/Super Hero, Tony Stark aka “Iron Man.” Marvel Studios’ President Kevin Feige is producing the film. Executive producers on the project include Jon Favreau, Louis D’Esposito, Alan Fine, Stan Lee, Charles Newirth, Victoria Alonso, Stephen Broussard and Dan Mintz.

The creative production team on the film includes two-time Oscar®-winning director of photography John Toll, ASC (“Braveheart,” “Legends of the Fall”), production designer Bill Brzeski (“The Hangover,” “Due Date”), editors Jeffrey Ford, A.C.E. (“Marvel’s The Avengers,” “Captain America: The First Avenger”) and Peter S. Elliot (“Fantastic 4: Rise of the Silver Surfer”), and costume designer Louise Frogley (“Quantum of Solace,” “Contagion”).

Marvel Studios most recently produced the critically acclaimed “Marvel’s The Avengers,” which set the all-time, domestic 3-day weekend box office record at $207.4 million. The film, which is currently in release, continues to shatter box office records and is The Walt Disney Studios’ highest-grossing global and domestic release of all time and marks the studios’ fifth film to gross more than $1 billion worldwide.

In the summer of 2011, Marvel successfully launched two new franchises with “Thor,” starring Chris Hemsworth, and “Captain America: The First Avenger,” starring Chris Evans. Both films opened #1 at the box office and have grossed over $800 million worldwide combined. In 2010 “Iron Man 2,” starring Robert Downey Jr., Gwyneth Paltrow, Don Cheadle, Scarlett Johansson and Mickey Rourke, took the #1 spot in its first weekend with a domestic box office gross of $128.1 million.

In the summer of 2008, Marvel produced the summer blockbuster movies “Iron Man” and “The Incredible Hulk.” “Iron Man,” in which Robert Downey Jr. originally dons the Super Hero’s powerful armor and stars alongside co-stars Terrence Howard, Jeff Bridges and Gwyneth Paltrow, was released May 2, 2008, and was an immediate box office success. Garnering the number one position for two weeks in a row, the film brought in over $100 million in its opening weekend. On June 13, 2008, Marvel released “The Incredible Hulk,” marking its second number one opener of that summer.

ABOUT MARVEL ENTERTAINMENT:

Marvel Entertainment, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company, is one of the world's most prominent character-based entertainment companies, built on a proven library of over 8,000 characters featured in a variety of media over seventy years. Marvel utilizes its character franchises in entertainment, licensing and publishing. For more information visit www.marvel.com.
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Liz Lopez

Friday, June 1, 2012

Free Salsa Classes at the Austin Mexican Ameriican Cultural Center

Beginners Salsa Dance

June 4 - July 12

Mondays, 6-7:30 pm

Thursdays, Open Dance Studio, 6-8pm

FREE! / 6 - week session


Have you ever wanted to learn salsa dance moves? Then this FREE course is for you! Join instructor Raul Ramirez in a salsa course designed for the absolute beginner. Students will learn very basic footwork, turns, and patterns. The class will introduce you to the fundamentals of leading and following steps to salsa music. iAzúcar!

 
Intermediate Salsa Dance
June 4 - July 12
Mondays, 7:45 - 8:45 pm
Thursdays, Open Dance Studio, 6-8pm
FREE! / 6 - week session
This FREE course is designed for students who have completed Beginners Salsa and are confident with the Salsa rhythm and turn patterns. Join instructor Raul Ramirez, as he guides you in perfecting your dance moves to become a Salsero(a).
NOTE:
Beginners & Intermediate Salsa classes are designed as informal, instructional classes led by a volunteer instructor.
  • The Open Dance Studio is offered to registered students only. This is an opportunity for students to practice their skills during a self-guided, dancing social hour.
Pre-registration is required. No partner necessary. Call 512.974.3785 and visit www.maccaustin.org
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Liz Lopez

FOR REGISTRATION: 512.974.3785
FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT www.maccaustin.org

Blanco Lavender Festival is June 8–10!



Visit beautiful Blanco in the heart of the Texas Hill Country for the 8th Annual Blanco Lavender Festival. A Lavender Market will be held on the grounds of the Old Blanco County Courthouse featuring arts and crafts and local lavender products. Tour local lavender farms to experience the beauty of lavender blooming in the fields and the unique vision of each farmer.

Get festival details on speakers and artisan vendors at www.blancolavenderfest.com

Happy 5th Anniversary to Edible Austin; Celebration is June 2nd

Join Edible Austin in celebrating their 5th Anniversary on Saturday, June 2nd by supporting local farmers, ranchers and food artisans at the SFC Farmers’ Market Downtown. 
 
Stop by our market booth to pick up the 5th anniversary issue of the magazine and register for a chance to win a special birthday treat. Be there by 9:30 am for a special announcement at the bandstand.
 
9 am–1 pm, 400 W. Guadalupe St. Austin TX
 
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Liz Lopez

BUDWEISER Presenta LA GIRA DEL ADIÓS con DON VICENTE FERNÁNDEZ y VICENTE FERNÁNDEZ, JR.


Este año el grande de los grandes, Don Vicente Fernández, se despide de su público.  Texas tendrá cinco oportunidades para que sus admiradores lo aplaudan por última vez: la Gira del Adiós comienza el 27 de julio en Hidalgo, continúa el 28 de julio en Laredo, el 26 de octubre en Houston, el 27 de octubre en San Antonio y finaliza para nuestro Estado el 28 de octubre, en Dallas.

Apoyando a su padre en este adiós estará su hijo mayor, Vicente, Jr., quien abrirá sus conciertos. Con gran presencia de los Fernández, los espectadores se sentirán cobijados por una familia muy agradecida con su  público.

Recientemente, Vicente produjo el disco “Los 2 Vicentes”, donde padre e hijo comparten créditos y canciones. Un tema en particular, “Vamos a quererla más”, fue inspirado por doña Refugio “Cuquita” Abarca, esposa y madre respectivamente. Con lo unida que es esta familia, todo es posible y por sus vínculos con Texas (ellos tienen casas en San Antonio), no se sabe quién podría acompañarlos en este festival familiar. El año pasado fue la misma doña Cuquita quien subió al escenario para acompañar a su esposo en un dueto.

Vicente Fernández es un hombre de palabra y esta despedida es final: no duden que va a estar llena de emociones. Con una trayectoria de 45 años de carrera artística, Don Vicente Fernández cuenta con 100 producciones discográficas y 65 millones de copias vendidas internacionalmente, sin mencionar sus múltiples reconocimientos que aún continúa recibiendo. 

¡Usted no puede faltar! Acompañe a la familia Fernández porque este es el adiós definitivo del gran Vicente y, por mucho que nos pese a todos, después de esta gira no podremos escuchar otra vez las palabras de nuestro rey sobre el escenario: “Mientras mi público no deje de aplaudir, yo no dejo de cantar”

Si quieren ser parte de la historia del “rey de Huentitán” y disfrutar al “rey de las Rancheras”, tiene que experimentar en vivo -o como se dice popularmente, “en carne propia”- la voz y carisma del hombre que lleva el sentir de México alrededor del mundo.

Boletos disponibles En taquilla del AT&T Center, con tarjeta de crédito al 1-800-745-300 o visitando www.ticketmaster.com o www.attcenter.com. 


Liz Lopez

Caramelo (NYC based Flamenco-R&B-funk) Releases RIDE, new CD


Caramelo is a crew of musicians and flamenco dancers with a shared love of soulful R&B, alt rock, and hot Latin grooves. On their debut Ride, Sara Erde’s sensuous bilingual purr and the gorgeous, gritty voice of flamenco singer Alfonso Cid (“La Luna”) grace the band’s urbane hooks, unexpected instruments, and ear-candy songwriting.
Caramelo revels in a New-World sound and vision for old-school duende, the spirit of expression and energy that drives flamenco at its best. This streets-meets-Sevilla soul will fill Drom on June 2, 2012, as the band celebrates Ride, thanks to special guests from Antibalas, Chicha Libre, and Gregorio Uribe Big Band —and to the band’s funky corps of lithe, vibrant dancers.

NYC Concert Details:


06/02/2012, Saturday

New York, NY
RELEASE PARTY @ DROM
85 Avenue A between 5th & 6th
Tix: $10 adv./$15 door, Doors Open: 6:30 pm, Show: 7:30 pm & 9:30 pm
Release Party. Ph: 212.777.1157

Sara Erde was raised in Brooklyn, in a Jewish folk music-loving family surrounded by Spanish-speaking friends, neighbor kids who convinced her to start dancing flamenco early on. She also grew up hanging out with the Cherry family (she rapped in Spanish on Neneh’s Raw Like Sushi) and chilling at reggae clubs. An actress as well as a musician and dancer, Erde often played in off-Broadway shows late into the night, only to show up at high school the next day in pajamas. Her interests eventually converged as Erde began choreographing operas for major companies, including the Met.

Despite years of intensive training and professional performance in flamenco, Erde still felt she had much to learn. So she headed to Sevilla, the heartland of flamenco, and spent six years there, learning how the art form is inseparable from everyday life. Yet Erde never quite felt in her element: “When I put on a flamenco dress, I felt like I was in drag,” Erde laughs. “I had to find a way that felt organic and reconciled all my different artistic loves. I kept wondering how I could make it mine, so I didn’t feel I was playing a role.”

Meanwhile, guitarist Jed Miley was living a parallel life. After the accidental purchase of a flamenco guitar, Miley simultaneously pursued his obsessions with flamenco and with his home town of Seattle’s alt-rock scene. “It grows as an obsession with you. Flamenco is so deep and complicated that you can keep finding new layers,” Miley reflects. “I was drawn to guitar music, then you discover the dancing and singing.” His obsession gained him spots with Seattle-based flamenco companies and soon took him to Sevilla, where he studied guitar with some of the city’s most revered teachers, experience that made Miley an in-demand music director and guitarist in American flamenco circles.

But something was missing.

“I was in Spain and thought, ‘I love flamenco so much, but I have to recognize where I come from,’” Miley notes. “That’s how I got into Caramelo. I’m not a purist, though I love pure flamenco, but I knew I had to integrate all the other interests and influences that I have.”

“In flamenco, people always sing about the neighborhood they are from,” Erde adds. “That authenticity, that sense of place is so important. That’s the starting point for our music.”

When Erde and Miley met in New York, they found they shared a sense of place, a feel for the crossover between flamenco and the city streets, between traditional palos and Spanish dance forms, and NYC club beats and moves. And Brooklyn yielded an embarrassment of potential riches: accordion licks from Eastern Europe and South America (the tangoing “Peligroso”), salsa percussion and horns, Caribbean and vintage funk vibes (“Brooklyn”), and fly-girl moves (“The Girl is Gone”).

Erde and Miley began meeting up, playing around with tracks and lyrics, which came to Erde sometimes in English, sometimes in Spanish. Their collaboration morphed quickly from flamenco-based studio project to something new all together: a pop-friendly yet tradition-inflected live funk band. But with genre-crashing twists: a violinist/female mariachi, a conservatory-trained accordion whiz from Ukraine, a cajón-wielding jazz bassist.

“We have a great rapport on stage, because we’ve been playing flamenco together for so long. There’s a thing about playing this kind of music together: you can anticipate what someone is thinking,” Erde recounts. “And as a choreographer, I felt we could adapt the flamenco model and have dance be an integral part of Caramelo. Flamenco dance is embodiment of the music. We incorporate dance with our music in a similar way.”

Caramelo’s dancers have serious flamenco cred—they’ve learned from the masters and founded their own companies—and share a burning love of old-school club music. They can leap from flamenco to hip hop in a moment’s shimmy.

The diverse yet beautifully sticky whole comes together in the spirit that animates flamenco—and any truly, deeply felt artistic expression. It’s that moment of intensity and perfection that’s hard to name.

“There are so many ways to express that intangible quality, that swing or soul or duende, that little detail about a person that makes them artistically interesting,” explains Caramelo guitarist Jed Miley. “There are these invisible and unique qualities prized in flamenco, and there’s no real way to describe them, but that’s what we strive for.”

Duende is a force that comes through you if you’re doing art in the right way,” continues Sara Erde, dancer, singer, and songwriter with the group. “That’s what possesses you. That’s what makes people say olé.”

Rene Alvarado Exhibit Matriarchs and Madonnas Opens June 8th

Gallery Shoal Creek is host to Rene Alvarado's new exhibit with an opening reception on June 8th from 6-8pm

2905 San Gabriel, Suite 101 / Austin, Texas 78705 / 512.454.6671 / www.galleryshoalcreek.com
Hours: Tue-Fri 10:00-5:00, Sat 11:00-4:00


www.galleryshoalcreek.com

YOUR SISTER'S SISTER, A Film by Lynn Shelton Opens in New York and Los Angeles on Friday, June 15th; Austin June 29th


YOUR SISTER'S SISTER, A Film by Lynn Shelton Opens in New York and Los Angeles on Friday, June 15th
Starring Emily Blunt, Rosemarie DeWitt, Mark Duplass

YOUR SISTER’S SISTER OPENS IN NEW YORK ON FRIDAY, JUNE 15th AT THE IFC CENTER AND LINCOLN CENTER (ELINOR BUNIN MUNROE FILM CENTER) AND AT AND AT THE ARCLIGHT AND LANDMARK IN LOS ANGELES WITH A NATIONWIDE ROLLOUT TO FOLLOW
**OFFICIAL ENTRY: TORONTO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL 2011**

**OFFICIAL ENTRY: SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL 2012**
**OFFICIAL ENTRY: TRIBECA FILM FESTIVAL 2012**

**OPENING NIGHT SEATTLE FILM FESTIVAL 2012**
Synopsis:

The fourth feature from Sundance award-winning filmmaker Lynn Shelton (HUMPDAY), YOUR SISTER'S SISTER is a tale of grief, romance and sibling rivalry that continues to showcase Shelton's extraordinary ability to portray human stories with remarkable humor, sensitivity and warmth.
A year after his brother Tom's death, Jack (Duplass) is an emotionally unstable slacker. When he makes a scene at a memorial party, Tom's ex-girlfriend Iris (Blunt) offers up her family cabin on an island in the Pacific Northwest so Jack can seek catharsis in solitude. Once here, however, he runs into Iris' sister Hannah, a woman reeling from the abrupt end of a seven-year relationship who finds solace in the affable Tom's unexpected presence, and the two bond over a long night of drinking. The blurry evening concludes with an awkward sexual incident made worse by Iris' sudden presence at the cabin the next morning which sets into motion a twisted tale of ever-complicated relationships.

With raw, funny and emotional performances from an all-star cast, Shelton once again honestly explores the complexities of interpersonal relationships while gently poking fun at her characters' predicaments.
Directed/Written by: Lynn Shelton

Starring: Emily Blunt, Rosemarie DeWitt, Mark Duplass
Distributor: IFC Films

TRT: 90 minutes

Genre: Comedy/Drama
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Liz Lopez

Theatrical release of KLOWN, the outrageous international hit comedy in Austin and on VOD on July 27th

Drafthouse Films announced the theatrical release of KLOWN, the outrageous international hit comedy, in Austin and on VOD on July 27th. 

Drafthouse Films acquired KLOWN following its Texas premiere at Fantastic Fest, where it won "Best Picture" in the Comedy Features competition. The film also won "Best Film" at Fantasia. It has recently been tapped for an English language remake with Todd Phillips producing and starring Danny McBride. Audiences will now have a chance to see the original boundary-busting comedy sensation this summer.
Synopsis:
In what critics are hailing as "the funniest movie of the year!" (IFC), KLOWN follows two wildly inappropriate friends - played by celebrated international comedians Frank Hvam and Casper Christensen - as they run amok through the Danish countryside plowing through endless awkward confrontations and unspeakable debaucheries. Hopelessly wrongheaded Frank "kidnaps" the 12-year-old nephew of his pregnant girlfriend in an eager attempt to prove his fatherhood potential to join sex-crazed Casper on his secret adulterous weekend canoe trip. From exclusive brothels, hospitalizations, armed robberies and even prison, the three paddle downstream from one chaotic misadventure to the next culminating in a surprise sentimental portrait of friendship and a final shocking reveal that you won't soon unsee.

Liz

For Greater Glory se estrena en cines de los EU el 1 de junio


No se si esta cinta de la osada revuelta popular que sacudió a la Norteamérica del siglo XX tendrá el mismo impacto en los Estados Unidos como en México, pero no tengo duda que los que la ven, si se quedarán impresionados de alguna manera u otra sobre esta guerra civil. No se puede decir que la producción es cien por ciento perfecta, porque si tiene algunos puntos que podrian haber sido hechos mejor, pero sin duda relata una historia verídica de México que tal vez hasta hoy muchos no la conocen. El guión de esta historia relata varios puntos de vista de la gente del pueblo, el gobierno mexicano, igual como el de los Estados Unidos. El mundo en general llegó a saber del grito por la libertad en las Américas muy cerca como las que hay a través del mundo hoy.
Lanzada en México el 20 de abril bajo el título Cristiada, ARC Entertainment estrenará la película épica de acción en ingles entitulada For Greater Glory en todos los cines de Estados Unidos el viernes 1 de junio. Al visitar el sitio oficial de la película en español, de pronto salta el cajón anunciando “Más de 1,000,000 personas han visto Cristiada tu no puedes quedar sin verla.” Es muy impresionante leer las notas que ha escrito el público sobre su reacción después de ver la cinta Cristiada, en particular los que relatan que son descendentes de los Cristeros de la historia.

En una producción de Pablo José Barroso, las aventuras del filme se desarrollan en el contexto de la verdadera historia en la década de 1920 oculta durante mucho tiempo, de la Guerra Cristera. “For Greater Glory es una poderosa historia real que ha sido un proyecto de pasión para todos los que participaron en su creación”, afirmó el productor Pablo José Barroso.
Dean Wright hace su debut como director con For Greater Glory, en donde aporta la fuerza visual que desarrolló durante sus años como uno de los principales expertos en efectos especiales de Hollywood, en películas taquilleras como Titanic, la trilogía de The Lord Of The Rings y Chronicles of Narnia. El guión de esta historia de la vida real que nunca ha sido contada antes en la pantalla grande fue escrito por Michael Love (Gaby: A True Story). Love creció en México y colaboró con Barroso en relatar esta historia. Si hay buenos puntos del guión que cuentan la historia, pero pienso que algunos de los personajes no se le dió más detalles para mostrar que tan importante fue su papel como lider del esfuerzo Cristeros, en particular, el pacifista Anacieto Gonzalez.

¿Qué precio puede tener la libertad? En For Greater Glory, un apasionado grupo de hombres y mujeres decide arriesgarlo todo por su familia, su fe y el propio futuro de su país. El general Enrique Gorostieta (el actor nominado al premio de la Academia® Andy Garcia) es un militar retirado que en un principio piensa que no hay nada personal en juego, mientras que él y su esposa Tulita (la ganadora del Globo de Oro Eva Longoria) ven cómo México entra en una violenta guerra civil. No tiene muchas escenas ella en esta cinta y no es protagonista. Su vestuario y maquillaje es increíble en su transformación para la cinta.   
Sin embargo, el hombre que al comienzo dudaba sobre si unirse a la causa pronto se convertirá en el más inspirador y sacrificado líder de la resistencia, a medida que comienza a ver las consecuencias que tiene la persecución religiosa para sus compatriotas... transformando a un grupo irregular de rebeldes en una fuerza heróica que debe ser tenida en cuenta. Entre los lideres rebeldes esta “El Catorce” (la nueva promesa Oscar Isaac - Drive, W.E. y pronto se ve en la nueva cinta de la franquisia Bourne).

Gorostieta enfrenta las peores probabilidades en el conflicto contra un gobierno poderoso e inflexible por el Presidente Plutarco Elias Calles (el actor y estrella de la canción Rubén Blades -Safe House). Sin embargo, son aquellos que conoce en el camino –jóvenes idealistas, enérgicos renegados y, principalmente, un notable adolescente llamado José (Mauricio Kuri)– quienes le revelan cómo la valentía y las creencias prevalecen incluso cuando la justicia parece perdida.
De todos los actores, Rubén Blades se destaca con su actuación como el violento presidente y entrega un buen papel como político. El joven actor Mauricio Kuri tambien actua bien frente al legendario actor Peter O’Toole como el personaje de Padre Christopher. Es emocionante sus escenas dramáticas, aunque algunas parecen un poco demasiado—eso se lo debo al guión- no al actor. Es un encanto ver a Garcia tomar el personaje de un general que pasa por un cambio mayor al guiar los Cristeros. A veces cambia su acento – a veces fuerte de español- y a veces no. Al igual, Oscar Isaac encarna el papel como rebelde, pero en una linea, suena como si fuera un vaquero de las peliculas Western de los Estados Unidos.

La cinta tiene un reparto estelar e internacional que incluye Bruce Greenwood (Star Trek, Super 8) como el embajador a los Estados Unidos, Nestor Carbonell (The Dark Night Rises) como alcalde y padrino de José, Bruce McGill (Lincoln) como el Presidente Coolidge, Santiago Cabrera (Heroes, Che) como Padre Vega, la actriz nominada al Oscar® Catalina Sandino Moreno (Maria Full Of Grace) como Adriana y Eduardo Verástegui (Bella) como Anacieto Gonzalez.
El igualmente talentoso equipo detrás de cámaras, que rodó en lugares históricos en todo México, incluye al director de fotografía Eduardo Martinez Solares (Bad Habits), al editor nominado al Oscar® Richard Francis-Bruce (The Shawshank Redemtion, Seven, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone), al director de arte Salvador Parra (Volver) y al compositor ganador del Oscar® James Horner (Avatar, Titanic, Braveheart).

Sobretodo, si merece verse este largometraje por lo que relata sobre una historia muy oculta de México. Hay escenas fuertes de violencia y no recomendadas para los jovenes.
Se estrena en cines el 1 de junio en Cinemark Galleria, Cinemark Southpark Meadows, Regal Gateway, Starplex and Tinseltown Pflugerville.

Wednesday, May 30, 2012

Music group Making Movies on tour in Austin May 30th and San Antonio May 31st

Aguardiente EP and 7"
Making Movies is releasing an EP and 7" through their friends local label, The Record Machine. The 7" can be pre-ordered.   The EP hits iTunes on June 5th. Fans can reach out to them via Twitter and Facebook!

El grupo musical, Making Movies, esta lanzando un EP en vinilo de 7 pulgadas y en formato digital por el sello disquero local, the Record Machine . Se puede comprar por adelantado.
El EP llega a iTunes el 5 de Junio. Se pueden conectar con ellos en Twitter y Facebook!


Pre order the EP:
http://therecordmachine.net/blog/store/trm-store/#!/147133
 
To learn more about the band, visit www.makingmoviesband.com
 
Liz Lopez, Cine y Mas

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.