Report: Prime Latino Media Salon (November 2012)

On November 14, 2012, the New York chapter of National Association of Latino Independent Producers (NALIP) and Tío Louie (also known as Louis Perego Moreno) presented the November 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, this month's edition had a focus on Latinas in the industry. Tío Louie had a "fireside chat," where he interviewed filmmaker Carmen Oquendo Villar and screened short films and excerpts of short films from filmmakers Mauricio Alexander, Adrián Manzano and Marilyn Pérez.

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).



First, Tío Louie spoke with documentary filmmaker, art curator and media scholar Dr. Carmen Oquendo Villar. Born in Puerto Rico, she studied at the University of Puerto Rico, Boston College and Harvard University (where she earned her doctorate) before studying film at New York University's Graduate Film Program and is currently an Assistant Professor of Cinema Studies, Media Theory and Filmmaking at the State University of New York, Purchase. She has been the recipient of the Guggenheim, Rockefeller, Fulbright and Jacob Javits grants, among others. She spoke about her documentary, La aguja (the Needle), co-directed by José Correa Vigier and produced by Felipe Tewes (who were both also interviewed by Tío Louie). The documentary had a gala premiere in Puerto Rico (where the documentary takes place) the day after the Prime Latino Media Salon.

After a networking break, Tío Louie screened two short films by Mauricio Alexander and excerpts of films by Adrián Manzano and Marilyn Pérez and spoke to each filmmaker about their process on making films.
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 (taken by Alphabeta Photography), click here. For more information about NALIP, click here. For more information about HOLA, click here.