Report: Prime Latino Media Salon - Hispanic Heritage Month Part I (September 2012)

On September 12, 2012, the New York chapter of National Association of Latino Independent Producers (NALIP) and Tío Louie (also known as Louis Perego Moreno) presented the September 2012 edition of his monthly event, the Prime Latino Media Salon. Taking place at the Obra Negra lounge in Casa Mezcal in Manhattan's Loísaida neighborhood, Tío Louie had a "fireside chat," where he interviewed filmmakers Magdalena Albizu and Hugo Pérez and filmmaker/actor (and HOLA member) J.W. Cortés.

This event was also served as a networking opportunity between filmmakers, actors and other Latino media movers and shakers. Many of the filmmakers in attendance were members of NALIP and many of the actors were members of HOLA (and some were members of both organizations).

Tío Louie spoke with Magdalena Albizu, who is a former New York President of NALIP and is currently in pre-production for her documentary exploring Afro-Latinas titled Negrita. The filmmaker spoke of her background as an Afro-Latina growing up on Long Island, New York (a segregated region with regards to race). She is using that experience and those of others in her upcoming film. She is currently raising funds for the project. For more information on Negrita, click here.

After a ten-minute networking break, Tío Louie next spoke with J.W. Cortés. An active Marine for 13 years and a Gulf War veteran, he then became an actor and filmmaker. Cortés spoke about his experience on "Stars Earn Stripes," the NBC reality competition series that pairs military operatives with celebrities on mock missions, with the winnings earned going to veteran and first responder charities. Cortés wholeheartedly thanked HOLA for recommending him for the gig. He also spoke about the short film he wrote, directed and starred in-- Conscientious Objector. For more information on the film, click here.

After another short networking break, Tío Louie played the award-winning short film Betty La Flaca. Written and directed by Hugo Pérez, the comedy stars Ana Asensio, Illiam Carrillo, Rhina Valentín and Ángel Ramírez. Carrillo and Valentín were in attendance and our debonair host spoke briefly with them. Afterwards, he and the director spoke at length about his documentary Neither Memory Nor Magic (about Hungarian poet Miklós Radnóti, whose last works were found on his body after he was killed during the Holocaust) and the film short Julieta y Ramón, both of which he wrote, directed and produced. He also spoke about the changes in filmmaking with regards to exhibition and distribution. He is currently working with actor Adrián Martínez on a new comedy titled Gabacho. For more information about the filmmaker, click here.

Each interview included a question and answer period between guests and the audience. Many business cards were exchanged and the proceeds collected that evening were allocated for the pre-production of Albizu's documentary Negrita. The Hispanic Organization of Latin Actors (HOLA) would like to thank Casa Mezcal and its staff, NALIP, Tío Louie and all those in attendance for making this event a successful one. To see photos from the event, click here. For more information about NALIP, click here. For more information about HOLA, click here.

Photo credit: Alphabeta Productions.