Thursday 26 July 2012

Jovanny Venegas talks about K-11 with Fox News Latino



Jovanny Venegas, once the 15-year-old host of the most popular radio show in central Texas, is beginning to make his mark in Hollywood.    

Venegas, now 28, has become a versatile figure in the entertainment industry, working in television, movies, and even working as a red carpet reporter in last month’s BET Awards.

In the post-production film "K-11," directed by Jules Stewart, mother of "Twilight" star Kristen Stewart, Venegas plays the part of a bisexual Asian inmate in a prison. It centers on K-11, a secure unit of the Los Angeles County jail where, according to the Hollywood Reporter, "transgender, homosexual and transexual inmates are placed to separate them from the danger they would face in the normal prison population."

The film, without a set release date, excites Venegas because of the opportunity to work with acclaimed Mexican actress Kate Del Castillo.

“It was a great experience,” he said, “because growing up, I’ve always admired her work.”

In one scene, he said, “She brings that fire…she’s fighting this girl, and it gets all crazy, and I’m just standing there watching this whole thing go down right in front of me and I’m just like 'Wow.'”

In the Hollywood Reporter Jules Stewart says about the film, which marks her directorial debut: "The whole point for me is to tell stories that are different and unique, hence K-11."

Another film Venegas will be featured in is called "Fifth Street," inspired by a scene in "The Godfather." The film, which is going to Sundance, has many Latino actors.

Venegas portrays a gangster, but the actor stresses that there are many other Latinos in the film who have regular roles. It's an important point to make for Venegas, who objects to stereotypical typecasting for Latino actors.

But it is important to Venegas to spread his wings, and work across different media.

Venegas will also be featured in a pilot on Fuse TV called “The Hustle." Venegas describes at as a “Hip-Hop version of Entourage,” and is he the only Latino actor on the show.

People reacted with intrigue over his involvement with Hip Hop.

"Being able to transition from regional Mexican, to mainstream Latin, to Hip Hop, I feel like people were thrown off," Venegas said. "How was he able to do Hip Hop?" he said people wondered.

He is the lone Latino in a recently shown commercial that included ex-NWA rapper Ice Cube.
As a DJ at age 15, Venegas knew the entertainment industry was where he belonged, despite going through plenty of hardships on the way.

When working at his radio station, the owner of the station was an avid user of cocaine. Although Venegas knew that this was going on around him, he chose to ignore it because he knew the opportunity to DJ at such a young age was very rare.

"As a kid being able to work at a radio station I was just so excited," he said, "I felt like all my dreams were coming true as I was coming into this station. And I wasn’t even paid. Just being able to be there…was an amazing experience for me."

At another point, managers stole money from his pay and contracts, according to published reports on the Internet. One report said "Jovanny was somewhat aware, but he felt he had to deal with it to continue with radio and music."

But things escalated to such a degree, that it became difficult to tolerate much longer. One night, five minutes after Venegas left the studio, someone entered and stabbed the owner. He left radio and spent some time working for Telemundo/NBC mun2 San Antonio.

Venegas decided to move to Los Angeles, a reluctant move since he preferred to go to Miami or New York. But he ended up on the West Coast, where his reaction was "Wow, I love it!"

He graduated from Santa Ana College, and later from California State University Los Angeles with a Bachelor of Arts degree in broadcast journalism. He became involved in gigs that would get him closer to the television and movie industries. Covering red carpet events seemed a door to those worlds.
Venegas, who is tight with his family, sometimes took his relatives to such events.
"
After I finished my interview with Sandra Bullock, I was like 'Where’s my mom?' I couldn’t find her," he recalled. Finally, he spotted her. "I was like 'Mom, where were you?'  She said, 'Oh I was just crying.' She was so emotional, she was so proud, because she’s been there from day one, seeing all my struggles and everything I’ve been through. And here I was, her son, interviewing Sandra Bullock, and here’s my mom right here, watching."

Now, his ship is sailing, and the horizon looks endless, full of promise.

"I think I've paid my dues," he said.

In addition to his television and movie work, and commercials and hosting and producing projects, Venegas also has a mission that is close to his heart.

It's his own "Look At Me Now!" Foundation -- a program that focuses on at-risk students. The program's aim is to motivate these youths and enhance their lives with the help of mentors and training, among other things.

Source via @RedAlertLive with thanks.


Monday 23 July 2012

Jason Mewes to lead UK horror "Devil’s Tower"



Here’s a rather nice exclusive to start the week as we can announce that Jason Mewes and Roxanne Pallett are to co-lead the forthcoming horror film, Devil’s Tower, currently shooting in Derbyshire.

You’ll know Mewes from his brilliant work in Kevin Smith’s films from the View Askewniverse and Zack and Miri Make a Porno, and seeing him take a leading role in a British movie is a very interesting move.
Pallett has been a long-standing star of Emmerdale, and most recently appeared in the BBC’s Waterloo Road, and this should be a great role for her to break through on the big screen.

Starring alongside them will be the Tony Award-winning Frances Ruffelle (Les Misérables), Jessica Jane Clement (The Real Hustle), Peter Barrett (UFO, Jack Falls), Jazz Lintott (UFO, Airborne), and Emma Buckley (How to Stop Being a Loser), in her first principal role.
Award-winning short film director Owen Tooth will be making his feature directorial debut, with a script from newcomer Adam Marsh.

Hawthorn Productions’ Dominic Burns (How to Stop Being a Loser, UFO) will be producing, and had this to say about the upcoming film, as well as a little update on his upcoming film, UFO:
I’m thrilled with the cast we’ve put together, Roxanne Pallett is now focusing on film and I can instantly see why, her on screen performance is remarkable.

Jason Mewes is a legend and to my knowledge he’s never been in a British film. Everyone’s buzzing about working with him, we all feel exceedingly lucky to have him on board. He’s certainly taking on a role that’ll push him and I know it’s a character his fans are going to love!

Devil’s Tower is a dark, nasty movie with a shit load of scares and plentiful gore and we’ve even managed to slip in some dark comedy and a touch of sex! It’s a main stream movie we’re releasing in cinemas but it’s certainly a film proper horror fans are going to love.

On his forthcoming film UFO, and the decision to produce Devil’s Tower:

"I’ve been in post on UFO for a year, that’s the price you pay for doing a movie requiring a lot of CGI. I had long wanted to set up a slate of movies that launches directors and writers whose talent outweighs their experience and this seemed like a perfect opportunity to step back from directing and produce.
UFO is finally in the last stages of post for an early 2013 release, we’ll have more news very soon and we’ll be announcing details for the next film I’m directing in the next few weeks."

It’s great to see the British horror film industry is still very much alive, and reigning in talent like this. Fans of Mewes and Pallett should be looking forward to a very different side of them both, which is always nice to hear.

Mewes has just landed in the UK to join the production, and we can’t wait to see how it all unfolds on the big screen.