Banner Ads Now Available on HOLA Website

Wanna promote your upcoming stage production? Your upcoming film screening? Your upcoming special event?

HOLA members often get publicity in our Members in Performance page, but what if you could promote on our main homepage, or in our directory (The HOLA Pages), where more people can see your ad?

What if you had a project with no HOLA members that you wanted to promote?

What if you wanted to promote something that wasn’t a show (like your production company itself or a new website)?

Now you can do so by BUYING A BANNER AD on the HOLA website.

Banner ads come in half-page and full-page sizes and can be on the HOLA website for one week, two weeks, three weeks or a whole month. HOLA can also link your ad to a particular website at no additional cost.

Prices on the banner ads are affordable. Also, not-for-profit organizations receive a 10% discount on ad prices.

The HOLA website receives thousands of visits each month. The HOLA website is viewed by many professionals in the industry and is a unique way of reaching the Latino/Hispanic and mainstream audiences, which make buying a banner ad a smart investment for you.

Wanna buy a banner ad? Call (212) 253-1015 or (888) 624-HOLA or e-mail us for prices and ad dimensions.

HOLA Regional Membership Available For Those Outside New York Metropolitan Area

If you are an actor who lives in an area of the U.S. outside of the New York metropolitan area, New Jersey or Connecticut (HOLA's programming and administrative headquarters region), HOLA is proud to announce its Regional Membership level - for only $65 (versus a $125 regular NYC region membership price) for one full year!

As an HOLA Regional Member, you'll be entitled to the following member benefits:

• Your headshot, resume, reel and voiceover demo*  showcased on the HOLA Pages, the internet's only concentrated source of Latino acting talent. The directory is a trusted resource for casting directors, producers and talent agents receiving, on average, over 5,000 visits per month. (* There is an additional charge of $15 for adding your voiceover demo.)

• Your performances listed and promoted via HOLA's website and social media pages (Facebook and Twitter) that reaches thousands of people in the entertainment industry.

• Casting notices that will alert you to employment opportunities tailored to the Latino actor.

• Advocacy to combat stereotypes of the Latino/Hispanic community in media and entertainment as well as the opportunity to join in solidarity with the Latino/Hispanic acting community.


Application for regional memberships accepted by telephone order only. Call HOLA toll free at (888) 524-HOLA or (888) 524-4652. (VISA, MasterCard and American Express accepted.) Please submit your headshot (in .jpg format) and resume in a Word document or in Portable Data Format (.doc or .docx; or .pdf) via e-mail to HOLA.

Why Join HOLA? Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About HOLA

WHY JOIN HOLA?

Frequently Asked Questions

• Is HOLA an agency or management company?

No. While we work similarly to an agency or an artist management company, we do a lot more. In essence, HOLA is a membership organization, a not-for-profit arts service and advocacy organization that offers jobs and casting opportunities, workshops and seminars and special events to its membership.

• Does one have to audition for HOLA?

No. HOLA is a membership organization. Just pay the annual membership and you become an HOLA member.

• I am a new actor. Does HOLA apply to me and how so? (Or conversely, I have a fair amount of experience. How does HOLA apply to me?)

HOLA members range from the beginner to the established and everywhere in between. HOLA will apply to you at every stage of your career.

• Do I have to speak Spanish (or Portuguese) to be an HOLA member?

No. HOLA members speak English only, Spanish only, or both languages fluently. Our Brazilian members speak Portuguese as well as English. There is no requirement for any member to speak Spanish (or Portuguese) to be an HOLA member.

• What kind of casting notices do you receive?

HOLA receives all kinds of casting notices— from union and nonunion, through the disciplines of film, television, theater and voiceover. The majority of our notices are distributed to our membership. There are some instances, whether because of short notice or because of the search for something very specific, that HOLA makes referrals to certain talent.

• I have signed representation. Would that be in conflict with HOLA?

No. In fact, we would put your signed representative’s name and number on your online profile. It would be another way to promote yourself without conflict.

• If I book a job through HOLA, do I owe you a commission?

No. We are not an agency or artist management company. You are under no obligation to give us a commission. (But if you want to show your appreciation with a donation, we’ll be forced to take it, I suppose.)

• I am in the process of getting my citizenship. Could I still join HOLA?

Yes. As long as you can legally work in the U.S., you can join HOLA.

• Does HOLA have a social media presence?

Yes. We are on Facebook, Twitter and have our own channel on YouTube. In addition, we are on Wikipedia and have our own blog, titled El Blog de HOLA.

• What if I am not an actor but I like what you do?

You could support HOLA by becoming a Friend of HOLA and donating to the organization. If you are a producer or director, a Friend of HOLA donation allow us to promote your productions!

All About Becoming an HOLA Member or a Friend of HOLA

Wanna be an HOLA member? Wanna know more about HOLA first?

HOLA is a not-for-profit arts service and advocacy organization founded in 1975.

HOLA members get their headshots and resumes on our web directory. In addition, HOLA receives casting notices from various sources that we pass on to our members (or in specific cases, help refer actors to the casting director).

HOLA offers low-cost workshops and seminars, professional counseling, special events and networking activities. We also produce the HOLA Awards which honor outstanding achievement by Latinos in entertainment.

HOLA has a Facebook page and a Twitter page in addition to this blog (imaginatively titled El Blog De HOLA). Whenever a member is doing a project, we can promote via e-mails we send out, through our Members in Performance page on the website or in El Blog on our HOLA Member Bochinche column (only good bochinche, never bad bochinche). It functions as another outlet to promote your work. HOLA is also on YouTube and on Wikipedia.

What if you are not an actor? You can support HOLA by being a Friend of HOLA. For more information, click here.

To become an HOLA member online (New York metropolitan area), fill out the member application form here.

WELCOME NEW AND RETURNING MEMBERS – SEPTEMBER AND OCTOBER 2014

Below is a list of new (and returning) HOLA members who joined between September 1, 2014 and October 31, 2014. (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.)

Top row, left to right: Guillermo Ayestas, Ángela Casas; second row, left to right: Cristina Contreras, Jenmary Day; third row, left to right: Jesica Levi, Ivonne Martínez; fourth row, left to right: Samantha Onega, Jaime Puerta; fifth row, left to right: Miluka Rivera, Rennie Rodríguez; bottom row: Stewie Vill.

 

 

 

 

 

HOLA Member Bochinche

Bochinche refers to “gossip”. In this sense, we use it to mention HOLA members or Friends of HOLA who are getting acting, performance or similarly artistic gigs and/or recognition in the media. The names of HOLA members and Friends of HOLA are listed below in boldface. To see what other HOLA members are doing currently, click here.

Nathalie Tolentino, shown at right, was profiled in an article by Elia Esparza in Latin Heat, where her role in the Rocío Llado film Teresa, la amante del libertador, was highlighted. The film stars HOLA members Luis Galli and Ana María Estrada, and recently had its premiere in Lima, Peru. To read the article, click here.

Edna Lee Figueroa will be presenting the solo show Láyel. Written by Joselo Arroyo and directed by Arroyo and Karina Casiano, the show will run in November as part of the Festival de Teatro Internacional Mujeres en Escena, to take place at the Comisionado Dominicano de Cultura en EEUU, located in Manhattan's Washington Heights neighborhood.

E3Outlaws Productions will present Federico García vuelve a nacer. Written by Rodolfo Braceli and directed by Raúl Rivera, the production will star María Fontanals, María Cotto and Enmanuel García Villavicencio (an all-HOLA cast), shown clockwise from above left. The production will be part of the eARTh Theater Festival/Lorca Al Desnudo II, scheduled to take place in November at the Roy Arias Studios and Theaters complex, located in the theater district of midtown Manhattan. For more information, click here.

Luis Antonio Ramos portrayed the President of Colombia in an episode of "Madam Secretary" (CBS).

The Bruno Irizarry film 200 cartas will be screened on Monday, November 24, 2014 as part of  the Borimix Puerto Rico Fest. The film stars Lin-Manuel Miranda, Jaime Camil, Dayanara Torres, Mônica Steuer, Irizarry, Iris Chacón, Mayra Matos and Alfredo De Quesada. The screening will take place at Teatro SEA, located in the Clemente Soto Vélez Cultural and Educational Center (home to HOLA) in Manhattan's Loísaida neighborhood. For more information, click here.

If you are an HOLA member or a Friend of HOLA and want to submit a bochinche item, send us an e-mail. If you live in the New York metropolitan area and want to be an HOLA member, why not join? If you live outside the New York metropolitan area and want to be an HOLA member, you can find out more information on how to do so, by clicking here. If you are not a Friend of HOLA, why not become one?

HOLA Member Bochinche

Bochinche refers to “gossip”. In this sense, we use it to mention HOLA members or Friends of HOLA who are getting acting, performance or similarly artistic gigs and/or recognition in the media. The names of HOLA members and Friends of HOLA are listed below in boldface. To see what other HOLA members are doing currently, click here.

Carl Franklin's acclaimed film Bless Me, Última will be screened in New York in November by the Pregones Theater-Puerto Rican Traveling Theater at its location in the theater district of Manhattan. The film stars Miriam Colón, who will be interviewed by María Hinojosa (shown above, at right, from left to right) for a post-screening conversation after the first screening. For more information, click here.

The film 11:55 Holyoke is currently filming in upstate New York. Written and directed by Ben Snyder and Ari Issler, the film is executive produced by John Leguizamo (see below) and stars Víctor Almanzar, Shirley Rumierk, Elizabeth Rodríguez, David Zayas, and Robin De Jesús in the cast. For more information, click here or here.

Maritza Vives, shown at left, will star opposite Christian Gnecco Quintero and María del Mar Velásquez in the Irving A. Leitner play The Keeper of the Vineyards. Directed by Jared Loughner, the play will be presented in November in the Serene Sargent Theater at the American Theater of Actors located in the Columbus Circle area of Manhattan. For more information, click here. In addition, she acted in the Raymond Hernández film El pelotudo. She booked the role after seeing the casting notice for the project in the daily e-mail announcements that HOLA sends to its members and self-submitting.

Rafael Beato is starring in the title role of the musical Simon The Invisible Boy (written by Adam Baritot and Dianna Tucker and directed by Rommy Sandhu). Presented by Ritual Theater Company, it is currently doing a tour of schools in the New York City metropolitan area.

Edvin Ortega starred in the film The Jersey Devil (written by Joseph and Billy Pepitone and directed by Joseph Pepitone). The film screened at the Atlantic City Cinefest-Downbeach Film Festival at the Dante Hall Theater in Atlantic City, New Jersey, and for which Ortega was awarded with a Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy for his performance in the film, shown at right. For more information, click here, here or here.

Michael Díaz (also known by his nom de comédie Juan Bago) can be seen in another webisode of his webseries (The Flama). Titled "How To Date Online" (written and directed by Jaime Fernández and Anthony Palmini), it can be seen here.

John Leguizamo (see above) is starring in the film Fugly! Written by Leguizamo and Kathy DeMarco, this "anti-romantic comedy" is produced by Leguizamo, Laura Knight, and Danny Bigel, and is directed by Alfredo De Villa. The film also stars Radha Mitchell, Rosie Pérez, Ally Sheedy, Griffin Dunne, Ioan Gruffudd, Tomás Millán, Perry Reeves, Yul Vásquez and Olga Merediz in the cast. The feature film will start screening at AMC theaters in New York City on Friday, November 7, 2014. For more information, click here or here.

If you are an HOLA member or a Friend of HOLA and want to submit a bochinche item, send us an e-mail. If you live in the New York metropolitan area and want to be an HOLA member, why not join? If you live outside the New York metropolitan area and want to be an HOLA member, you can find out more information on how to do so, by clicking here. If you are not a Friend of HOLA, why not become one?

HOLA Member Bochinche

Bochinche refers to “gossip”. In this sense, we use it to mention HOLA members or Friends of HOLA who are getting acting, performance or similarly artistic gigs and/or recognition in the media. The names of HOLA members and Friends of HOLA are listed below in boldface. To see what other HOLA members are doing currently, click here.

2014 HOLA Awards recipient Pablo Andrade was profiled in an article in the October 13, 2014 issue of ¡HOLA! Venezuela magazine [blogger's note: no relation]. The issue features George Clooney and Amal Alamuddin on the cover. In the profile, it talks of his receiving his two HOLA Awards in 2014 as well as his future plans. To read the profile (which is in Spanish), click on the photo at right.

Pregones Theater-Puerto Rican Traveling Theater is presenting Dancing In My Cockroach Killers. With text by Magdalena Gómez, music by Desmar Guevara and direction by Rosalba Rolón, the production stars HOLA members Jesús E. Martínez and Omar Pérez and will be presented in October and November at Encuentro 2014 at the Los Angeles Theatre Center (LATC), located in Los Angeles, California. For more information, click here and here. 

Suni Reyes, shown at left, most recently performed standup comedy at The Brit Pack in Manhattan's SoHo neighborhood as part of Sunday Sessions with Viviana Cortez. In addition, she will be performing in the Old School Sketch Show (OSSS) on Tuesday, October 28, 2014 at The People's Improv Theater (The P.I.T.), located in Manhattan's Rose Hill neighborhood. For more information, click here.

Festival de la Palabra NYC presents its annual festival of panels, conferences, book fairs, readings, screenings, and performances in various locations in Manhattan (El Museo Del Barrio, New York Public Library's Mid-Manhattan Branch, La Casa Azul Bookstore, Albertine Books and La Marqueta) in October. It follows a sister festival of the same name in Viejo San Juan, Puerto Rico. HOLA members represented at the festival include Caridad de la Luz (La Bruja), Sonia Manzano, Luis Salgado, Manuel A. Morán and Mônica Steuer. For more information, click here or here.

Priscilla López, shown at right, will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award from the International Puerto Rican Heritage Film Festival (IPRHFF). The Tony Award winner will receive her honor on Saturday, November 15, 2014 at El Museo Del Barrio, located on New York's Museum Mile in Manhattan's El Barrio neighborhood. For more information, click here or here.

Repertorio Español is presenting Carlos Murillo's Su nombre será tu sombra para siempre. Directed by José Zayas, the play will premiere in November at Repertorio's namesake theater located in Manhattan's Rose Hill neighborhood and star Gerardo Gudino, Ana Grosse, Bobby Plasencia, David Crommett, Luis Carlos de La Lombana, Soraya Padrao, Jerry Soto and Thallis Santisteban. For more information, click here.

If you are an HOLA member or a Friend of HOLA and want to submit a bochinche item, send us an e-mail. If you live in the New York metropolitan area and want to be an HOLA member, why not join? If you live outside the New York metropolitan area and want to be an HOLA member, you can find out more information on how to do so, by clicking here. If you are not a Friend of HOLA, why not become one?

Lead roles for Latin actors as US television notes shift in social and economic power

Cristela Alonzo, star of her eponymous
ABC sitcom "Cristela".

Check out this article by Edward Helmore in the U.K. newspaper The Guardian on the continuing evolution of Latinos in the U.S. media by clicking here.

HOLAwave: The Importance of Keeping Consistency in Performance

[HOLAwave represents a series of guest blogs by industry insiders giving informative and educational tidbits for the Latino performer. They can range from acting and auditioning advice, tech tips, legal advice, marketing, producing tips, and so on. Get caught up in the wave– the HOLAwave.]

One of the things I find fledging actors struggle with is continuity in their performances once the work is done. It is important for the actor to know and preserve what works in every performance once the "discovery" phase is over. 

Too often after getting to that place where things should be set, some actors continue to over-think and struggle; even after knowing they already thought it out deeply, practiced and rehearsed in every which way. Yes, spontaneity is good within context and realism, being lost isn't. 

This is where an actor's sense and talent in psychology comes to play. It is so important for actors to get a real sense of people's real behavior and what motivates them. This should be done in a humble nonjudgemental way; those who simply observe to mock others completely lose the point and need spiritual guidance, but the artist looks with his heart. 

Be bold and observe life, this will give you confidence in knowing your choices are right. So much is on you to make a scene come to life.

The actor must do a lot of self coaching and consistence is key to keeping the point alive and giving directors, writers and producers what they are looking for.

Renoly Santiago was born in Lajas, Puerto Rico and he spent his childhood in Union City, New Jersey. He currently resides in New York City. He made his film debut co-starring in the blockbuster hitDangerous Minds alongside Michelle Pfeiffer. Other film credits include Hackers with Angelina Jolie, Daylight with Sylvester Stallone, and Con Air with Nicolas Cage and John Malkovich; and the indie films Punks (Sundance Film Festival selection), The Street King, Just Another Romantic Wrestling Comedy and Lavoe: The Untold Story(where he played Latin music legend Johnny Pacheco). Among his episodic television appearances are guest leads in "Law & Order: Criminal Intent", "Touched by an Angel", "Big Apple" and "Stand Up".

He was nominated for a Drama Desk Award by the press as Outstanding Featured Performer in a Musical in his Broadway debut The Capeman, composed by Paul Simon, and in which he starred alongside Marc Anthony, Ednita Nazario and Rubén Blades. He has appeared in many off-Broadway productions under such notable directors as Liz Swados in Lincoln Center and in workshops with Graciela Daniele in Blood Wedding and Gabriel Barre in the Kander & Ebb musical Skin of Our Teeth with Audra McDonald and Sara Ramirez. 

His writing credits include the Emmy-nominated television series "City Kids", in which he was also a lead character and the book to the musical Bring in the Morning… A Wake-Up Call at the Apollo Theater in Harlem, New York starring Lauryn Hill.

As a singer, he can be heard singing backup for recording artist India on her album Latin Songbird, duetting with Danny Rivera and Marc Anthony amongst others, having performed with many artists of international renown.  He is currently developing new acting, writing and production ventures across some exciting genres at home and abroad, also community arts projects. He is writing new songs in English and Spanish and is presently recording music for his debut album. His next feature film is Grand Street with Kelly McGillis, currently in post-production. In addition, he most recentlky directed the Mathilde DeHaye play Snow White and the Beast at the Marilyn Monroe Theater in New York. 

For more information about Renoly Santiago, click here.