Report: Prime Latino Media Salon - NALIP Annual Conference Kickoff (June 2013)

Photo of Tío Louie (center), HOLA staff
and filmmakers. Photo courtesy of
Louis Perego Moreno.

On June 4, 2013, NALIP New York, Tío Louie, the Hispanic Organization of Latin Actors (HOLA) and the New York chapter of the United Latino Professionals (ULP) presented a June edition of the Prime Latino Media Salon. This particular edition was a kickoff event for the National Association of Latino Independent Producers (NALIP) annual conference (titled, "Spotlight on the Trillion $ Latino Market" and scheduled to take place June 7-9, 2013 in Los Angeles, California) as well as serve as a contest for four works-in-progress.

The event took place at Bleecker Heights Tavern, a speakeasy-type boîte located in Manhattan's West Village. As usual Louis Perego Moreno (more commonly known as Tío Louie) was the host. Four projects were screened. They are listed below.
•      Daniel Maldonado: H.O.M.E. (Feature Film)
•      Adel L. Morales: Pushing Dreams (TV Drama Series & Webisodes)
•      Anthony Ruiz & Ed Trucco: Truth Will Out (Short Film)
•      Sonia González-Martínez, Angelo Lozada & Tammi Cubilette of T&A Flicks: True Hate (Short Film)

Those in attendance were able to vote for one of the projects. Monies raised from the evening went to serve as a cash prize toward the winning filmmaker(s) to aid in the completion of their project. After a slightly delayed beginning due to a few technical difficulties, the screenings were off and running and went off without a hitch.

The winner of the competition was...

...Daniel Maldonado for his feature film H.O.M.E. (and of which HOLA member Vanessa Verduga is a co-producer). The film stars Jeremy Ray Valdez and is one of a triptych of cinematic stories planned by the director. A trailer for the project can be seen below.



Before and after the screenings, there was time for networking between actors and filmmakers (and others). An actor in attendance remarked that "these four completely different projects were all enjoyable and it renews my faith in Latinos making films". HOLA would like to thank all those in attendance for the success of a lively, spirited, and inspirational event.

To see photos of the event, click here.