HOLA Member Bochinche

Bochinche refers to "gossip." In this sense, we use it to mention HOLA members who are getting acting gigs.

Emmanuelle Bordas, shown at left, booked a pharmaceutical print campaign through an HOLA e-mail casting notice.

Ura Yoana Sánchez, shown below right, e-mailed us to let us know that 2010 is starting off really well for her. She booked a role in a reading of a musical titled Sir, which was performed for the producers of In The Heights on Broadway. The writer and director found her photo on the HOLA online directory and called her for the gig. She followed this up with a Lovett Productions video about child support.

Mariangélica Cuervo, shown at left, booked a Spanish language voiceover for DSW after the casting director saw her headshot on the HOLA online directory of talent. She also booked a Honda commercial, which can be seen here.

If you are an HOLA member and want to submit a bochinche item, send us an e-mail at holagram@hellohola.org. If you are not an HOLA member, why not join?

WELCOME NEW AND RETURNING MEMBERS - JANUARY AND FEBRUARY 2010

Below is a list of new (and returning) HOLA members who joined between January 1, 2010 and February 28, 2010. (Note that "returning members" refer to those members who have returned to HOLA after having their memberships expire for some time and do not include renewing members.)

(From left to right, top row): Karina Alós, Mario Barreiro; (second row): Felicia Echavarría, Edwin Figueroa; (third row): Jesse Galván, Luis García; (fourth row): Christian Hartwig, John Mancini; (fifth row): Aileene Pérez, Betsy Pujols; (sixth row): Gary Carlos Ramírez, Tresha Rodríguez; (seventh row): Rafa Rottman, Rodrigo Sáenz; (eighth row): Pedro Serka, Tamara Turner; (ninth row): Steven Vega.

Not pictured: Martha Alzate, Wendy Ureña, Hugo Valentín.

HOLA Member Bochinche

Bochinche refers to "gossip." In this sense, we use it to mention HOLA members who are getting acting gigs.

Jean-Marc Berne, shown at left, continued his weekly residency at Locksmith Wine & Bar in the Washington Heights section of Manhattan. His concerts there in recent weeks were fundraisers for Haiti earthquake relief and have raised over $1000. In addition, thanks to an HOLA referral, he was able to perform an original song he composed ("Pétalos de la rosa") and performed at the Abracemos a Haití telethon that took place in New York and Puerto Rico and which aired on HITN. To see his performance, click here. Finally, he also booked a video PSA (through an HOLA e-mail casting notice) and a French-language radio commercial for Plantonics.

Vanessa Benítez and Ura Yoana Sánchez presented a workshop production of their play The Jedi Papi Chulo and the Power Pansa [sic]. The play won the third place at the Teatro LA TEA's Así Somos (As We Are) Bilingual Playwrights Festival, and as a result, earned a January run at LA TEA's eponymous theater in the CSV Cultural and Educational Center (home to HOLA) in the Loisaida neighborhood of Manhattan. Directed by Lisandra Payán, the play featured Benítez, Sánchez, Renzo Ríos and Tamara Turner in the cast.

Lucio Fernández and his band performed at the grand opening of Union City Performing Arts Center (UCPAC) in Union City. Other performers for the opening included the TapOlé Dance Company and El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico.

Anna Lamadrid, shown at right, was cast for the lead role in our upcoming production of Hell and High Water, or Lessons for When the Sky Falls by Jamuna Yvette Sirker, to be directed by Lorca Peress and produced by MultiStages at Hudson Theatre Guild in the Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan for a scheduled April run. The director found her on the HOLA online directory and called her in to audition.

Ángel G. Clemente appeared in two episodes (entitled "Stay in School" and "Welcome Parents") of the local public television program "Welcome to New York." Produced by the City of New York to teach English to immigrant populations in New York, one can find more information about and see the episodes at this site.

If you are an HOLA member and want to submit a bochinche item, send us an e-mail at holagram@hellohola.org. If you are not an HOLA member, why not join?

Report: HOLAtalks with Tony Plana

Tony Plana stars as Ignacio Suárez on the hit ABC dramedy "Ugly Betty" and was our honored guest at the HOLAtalks event on Saturday, February 20th. Moderated by Sirius Satellite Radio host Mario Bósquez and held at the Screen Actors’ Guild Leon Janney Boardroom in New York City, HOLAtalks with Tony Plana was a fascinating and extraordinary peek into the life and career of one of Hollywood’s most versatile and successful Latino actors.

We were first given a look at Plana’s extensive dramatic and comedic acting resume via a short video press kit. Plana’s award-winning career as an actor, writer, director and producer spans 30 years of work in theatre, film and television including productions on Showtime, Nickelodeon, Warner Brothers, Fox, NBC and ABC, and over 70 feature films, Broadway and regional shows.

However, most notable and featured on the video is Plana’s dedicated work to the East L.A. Classic Theatre, a company he co-founded and serves as the executive artistic director. In the past decade his company, which performs bilingual productions of modernized classics, has served the L.A. Latino community via literacy and educational outreach programs for youth in school and after-school. In addition, the theatre provides an opportunity for local professional actors to become directly involved with the community through exciting new adaptations of well-known plays.

Plana emphasized the importance of theatre and theatre education in his own career. Having graduated magna cum laude from the Literature and Theatre Arts Honors Program at Loyola Marymount University, he went on to train at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London, popularly regarded as one of the most exceptional drama schools in the world. He shared a story about his theatre acting training coming in handy when competing against “real people” for his first Broadway role, and how his first starring role in a play helped land him an agent. For some, this story is very relevant to the challenges non-theatre based actors still face today in being cast and finding representation and clearly, for Tony Plana, his formidable training has served as a valuable career asset in theatre, and film and television.

He also shared his experiences from his award-nominating work on two history making television series where he played the role of a single father to Latino families wrestling with contemporary American issues including race, class, parenthood, gender and personal identity. His unique perspective on crafting incredibly dimensional characters such as Roberto Santiago on HBO’s "Resurrection Boulevard" and Ignacio Suárez on ABC’s "Ugly Betty" was an inspiring commentary on why Latino actors must continue to meet the challenge of exploring outside the world of stereotypes predominately represented in today’s television programming. Notable for its groundbreaking production, "Resurrection Boulevard" is U.S. television’s first one-hour drama produced, written, directed by and starring Latinos, and is the most awarded series in Showtime’s history. "Ugly Betty" is currently the longest running and highest rating Latino cast sitcom earning over 70 nominations, and numerous Golden Globes, SAG, Peabody, Golden Satellite, Alma, and Primetime Emmy Awards.

“What was the best advice an actor ever gave you about the business?” asked Mario Bósquez in a final question. He replied, “The best advice is the one I gave to myself. Take each audition one at a time, and each day one at a time!”

Intelligent, thoughtful, charming, and witty personalities, both Tony Plana and Mario Bósquez should be thanked for celebrating with us a very special conversation about who we are, where we’ve come from and where we must grow in the world of arts and entertainment in order to continue to truthfully represent the diverse and extraordinary contribution of the global Hispanic and Latino community.

...Mauricio Alexander

Mauricio Alexander is a proud member of HOLA, the Screen Actors Guild and Actors Equity Association. He has been featured in and is a regular series stand-in on ABC’s "Ugly Betty" Seasons 3 and 4. Photo credits: A Ruiz Photography. More photos can be seen on HOLA's Facebook page.

Discounts for HOLA members

HOLA Member Discount Program

Your HOLA member card entitles you to discounts at the following stores. You must present your HOLA member card in order to receive the discount. If you are a current HOLA member and have misplaced your member card, please call the office at (212) 253-1015 or e-mail us at info@hellohola.org so that we can get you a new one.

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Hair Salons & Spas

Marie Lacomme

269 West 23rd Street (off Eighth Avenue)

New York, NY 10011 ~ (212) 243-3860 ~ 20% discount

Luba Salon

811 Lexington Avenue (bet. East 62nd and East 63rd Streets)

New York, NY 10065 ~ (212) 752-0087 ~ 15% discount

Sam Brocato Salon

2 Wooster Street (off Canal Street)

New York, NY 10013 ~ (212) 334-3777

10% off select haircuts with select stylist and a free travel size product

Restaurants

Amor Cubano

2018 Third Avenue (bet. East 110th and East 111th Streets)

New York, NY 10029 ~ (212) 996-1220 ~ 10% discount

Cucina Con Amore

1429 Fifth Avenue (near East 116th Street)

New York, NY 10016 ~ (212) 722-2244 ~ 10% discount

FB Lounge

175 East 106th Street (bet. Third and Lexington Avenues)

New York, NY 10029 ~ (212) 348-3929 ~ 10% discount

Fortunato Brothers Pasticceria

289 Manhattan Avenue

(at Devoe Street, near Metropolitan Avenue)

Brooklyn, NY 11211 ~ (718) 387-2281 ~ 10% discount

Guantanamera

939 Eighth Avenue (bet. West 55th and 56th Streets)

New York, NY 10019 ~ (212) 262-5354 ~ 10% discount

La Fonda Boricua

169 East 106 Street (bet. Third and Lexington Avenues)

New York, NY 10029 ~ (212) 410-7292 ~ 10% discount

Photographers

A Ruiz Photography

(917) 363-0450

25% discount on any headshot package

Luis Carle Photography

107 Suffolk Street, Suite 309 (bet. Rivington & Delancey Streets)

New York, NY 10002 ~ (917) 279-2212

inquire with photographer for discount

Also, don't forget that HOLA members can be a part of the Actors Federal Credit Union (ActorsFCU) without having to be a member of a performing union. Credit unions offer the same services as banks and are federally insured. A minimum of $100 is required to open up an ActorsFCU account. ActorsFCU offers savings and checking accounts, certificates of deposit, debit and credit cards and loans, all at rates that are highly competitive to commercial bank rates and just as safe. ActorsFCU, 165 West 46th Street (between Avenue of the Americas and Broadway), 14th Floor, New York, NY 10036 (212) 869-8926 ext. 315.

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Become a Friend of HOLA

What do Tony Award winner Lin-Manuel Miranda, Pulitzer Prize winner Oscar Hijuelos and casting director Elsie C. Stark have in common?

They are FRIENDS OF HOLA.

What is a Friend of HOLA?
--Actors, playwrights, screenwriters, directors, producers, media professionals, patrons of the arts, and anyone else concerned with the under representation and stereotyped portrayals that continue in the media an come together under the HOLA name and make their voices heard. Friends of HOLA will become a powerful force for media change, not just in New York, but nationally.

If I want to support HOLA, how much do I have to support?
--As much as you want. Friends of HOLA is a tiered program, with several different levels of support and varying benefits. You can become an Audience Member ($0.01-$99.99), a Scenestealer ($100.00-$149.99), a Star ($150.00-$249.99), a Legend ($250.00-$499.99) or an Icon ($500.00+). You can also donate more than $500 if you so choose. As HOLA is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization, all Friends of HOLA donations are tax-deductible to the fullest extent of the law.

How do I support HOLA?
--You can call HOLA at (212) 253-1015, e-mail us at holagram@hellohola.org, or just charge your contribution online by clicking here and type in the keyword "Hispanic Organization of Latin Actors." It's that easy.

Support HOLA's mission. Become a Friend of HOLA.

HOLAtalks: TONY PLANA

Hispanic Organization of Latin Actors (HOLA)
presents

HOLAtalks
with Tony Plana

One-on-one discussions with Latino performers in the industry

Moderator: Journalist and writer Mario Bósquez

When: Saturday, February 20, 2010 at 4pm

Where: Screen Actors Guild - Leon Janney Boardroom
360 Madison Avenue, Fourteenth Floor
(entrance at East 45th Street), NYC

The Hispanic Organization of Latin Actors invite you to a candid discussion with award winning actor and director Tony Plana (currently seen as Ignacio Suárez in ABC's "Ugly Betty") as he discusses her life and career in theatre, film and television with journalist and writer Mario Bósquez (Martha Stewart Network/Sirius Satellite Radio).

RSVP: If you would like to attend, please contact:
212.253.1015 or e-mail info@hellohola.org

This invitation is open to members of HOLA and SAG. Admission is free, but reservations are strongly encouraged. When RSVP’ing, please indicate whether you are a member of HOLA, SAG or both. Once you have RSVP’d, please consider yourself confirmed unless contacted back and told otherwise.

Attendance is based on a first-come, first-served basis— please arrive promptly to ensure seating. ATTENDEES MUST BRING PHOTO ID TO GAIN ACCESS TO BUILDING.


This HOLAtalks event is made possible due to a partnership with Screen Actors Guild Affirmative & Diversity.