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 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 (212) 253-1015. (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 – MARCH AND APRIL 2017

Below is a list of new (and returning) HOLA members who joined between March 1, 2017 and April 30, 2017. (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): Greg Cuellar, Wendy Gutiérrez; (second row, left to right): Valeria Llaneza, Yeila Lluberas; (bottom row, left to right): Daisy Payero, Christina Villa.

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.

LaMicro Theater is presenting Leonardo González's play Nanas. Produced by Berioska Ipinza and Pietro González, it is directed by Tatiana Pandiani, and boasts an all-HOLA member cast in Marina Catalán, Alicia Cerón, Aniela González, and Julissa Román (shown clockwise, above, from top left). The production will take place in June at IATI Theater, located in Manhattan's East Village. For more information, click here.

Marco Antonio Rodríguez, shown at right, was featured in Broadway World, where his starring role opposite Kimber Riddle in the Catherine Filloux play Kidnap Road. Directed by Elena Araoz, the production is now running through May at LaMama Experimental Theater Club, located in Manhattan's East Village, and will feature several post-performance discussions. To read the article, which includes a schedule of post-performance discussions, click here.

Rosie Berrido, shown at left, holding award, received a special award for Innovative Contribution in the Field of Coaching from the New York chapter of the Asociación de Mujeres en Cine (AMuCine). The event was part of the first annual Cayenne Short Film Festival, which took place in April at El Comisionado Dominicano de Cultura en EEUU (CoDoCul), located in Manhattan's Washington Heights neighborhood.

Héctor Luis Rivera, Carlos Navedo, and Yvette Quintero were featured in the Héctor Luis Sin Censura blog on account of their participation as actors in films being screened at the 6th annual Dominican Film Festival in New York (DFFNY), scheduled to take place in July in the Washington Heights neighborhood of New York. Rivera co-stars in the feature film Dondequiera que vayas (written and directed by Danilo Arroyo), while Rivera, Navedo and Quintero co-star in the short film Quédate (written and directed by Wilton Reynoso). To read the blog, which is in Spanish, click here. [Clockwise from above left: Rivera, Navedo, Quintero.]

Allison Strong recently performed at the Council on Foundations Leading Together Conference in Dallas, Texas, where she sang a new song by Mary-Mitchell Campbell alongside fellow Broadway talents Crystal Hall, Tyley Ross and Justin Gregory López.  The song, titled “Reasons for Hope,” is an anthem promoting peace and an open dialogue between both sides during this challenging political climate.  One can see her performance of the song (where she is wearing the yellow dress) by looking at the video below (the song starts at 33:44).  


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?

Bobby Cannavale, Nick Cordero, Rubén Santiago-Hudson Among Those Receiving 2017 Drama Desk Nominations

The 62nd Annual Drama Desk Awards nominations were announced by former HOLA Award honoree Javier Muñoz and Laura Benanti on Thursday, April 27, 2017 at Feinstein’s/54 Below in the theater district of midtown Manhattan. The Drama Desk Awards are presented annually by The Drama Desk Organization, a not-for-profit organization, and were first awarded in 1955 to recognize excellence in New York theatre productions on Broadway, Off-Broadway and Off-Off-Broadway. The 2017 Drama Desk Awards will be hosted by Michael Urie at the Town Hall on June 4, 2017. 

Former HOLA Award honoree Bobby Cannavale, shown at left, picked up a nomination for Outstanding Actor in a Play for his role in The Hairy Ape, presented at the Park Avenue Armory this past season. Nick Cordero, shown at right, picked up a nomination for Outstanding Actor in a Musical for his work in the Palminteri-Menken-Slater musical A Bronx Tale (currently performing on Broadway).

Rubén Santiago Hudson, shown at above left, picked up a nomination for Outstanding Director of a Play for his work helming August Wilson's Jitney. Daniel Ocanto, shown at above right, (in collaboration with Graham Ulicny and Sean Smith) earned a nomination for Outstanding Music in a Play for his contribution to the New Georges/The Sol Project production Alligator. Brian Quijada, shown at right, earned two nominations: one for Best Sound Design for a Play and one for Outstanding Solo Performance, both for his self-penned solo show Where Did We Sit on the Bus? 

For more information about the 2017 Drama Desk Awards, and to read the full list of this year's nominees, click here.

THE FAST AND THE FURIOUS: Film Franchise With Most Latino/Hispanic Actors

The Fast and The Furious film franchise is a series of action films that focuses on street racing and heists. Produced by Universal Pictures, the series was established in 2001 with the eponymous first film, which has since been followed by five sequels, two short films that tie into the series, and a video game series. On April 14, 2017, the most recent installment, The Fate of the Furious (also known as Fast & Furious 8 or Fast 8, and often stylized as F8) was released in theaters. The film grossed $532 million worldwide during its opening weekend, setting the record for the highest-grossing opening of all time, ahead of Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Together, the film series has grossed over US$4.811 billion dollars worldwide, becoming the all-time biggest franchise in the history of Universal Pictures. Paul Walker, who has starred as Brian O'Conner since the first film in 2001, marked his final film appearance in Furious 7 due to his death on November 30, 2013 in a single-vehicle car crash.

The films in the series are as follows.

The Fast and The Furious (2001), directed by Rob Cohen
2 Fast 2 Furious (2003), directed by John Singleton
Turbo-Charged Prelude (2003), a six-minute short film
directed by Philip G. Atwell
The Fast and The Furious: Tokyo Drift (2006),
directed by Justin Lin
Los Bandoleros (2009), a twenty-minute short film
directed by Vin Diesel
Fast & Furious (2009), directed by Justin Lin
Fast Five (2011), directed by Justin Lin
Fast & The Furious 6 (2013), directed by Justin Lin

Furious 7 (2015), directed by James Wan
The Fate of the Furious (2017), directed by F. Gary Gray.

The films were based on a magazine article written by Ken Li entitled "Racer X." The screenplays were written by Gary Scott Thompson, Erik Bergquist and David Ayer (original film); Michael Brandt and Derek Haas (second film); Vin Diesel (Bandoleros short film); and Chris Morgan (Prelude short film, as well as third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth films), respectively.

The stars of the film series include Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Tyrese Gibson, Sung Kang, Chris Ludacris Bridges, Thom Barry and Dwayne Johnson. In addition, Vin Diesel has been a producer on the following films in the franchise: Los Bandoleros, Fast & Furious, Fast Five, Fast & The Furious 6, Furious 7, and The Fate of the Furious.

The film series has spawned several racing video games for various systems. They include the arcade game The Fast and the Furious (2004, known as Wild Speed in Japan),and the PlayStation (and PlayStation 2) game The Fast and the Furious (2006). Several games have all been released for iOS (which are available on the iTunes App Store), for Android devices, for the PC (Windows OS), Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Wii U and Nintendo 3DS.

Universal has incorporated several theme park attractions involving the franchise. Universal Studios Hollywood and its Studio Tour has featured several of the picture car vehicles. From 2006 to 2013, The Fast & The Furious: Extreme Close-Up attraction was part of the Studio Tour. On June 25, 2015, Universal Studios Hollywood allotted the final portion of their Studio Tour for the dark ride Fast and Furious: Supercharged. Universal Orlando announced the development of a ride of the same name to open in 2018.

But did you know of the numerous Latino/Hispanic stars who have been in the film franchise?

• Michelle Rodríguez, of Puerto Rican and Dominican heritage, played Leticia "Letty" Ortiz in The Fast and The Furious, Los Bandoleros, Fast & Furious, Fast & The Furious 6, Furious 7 and The Fate of the Furious. A photo of her is also shown in Fast Five.

• Jordana Brewster was born in Panama to a Brazilian mother and an American father. She was raised in England, the U.S. and in Brazil. She played Mia Torretto in The Fast and The Furious, Fast & Furious, Fast Five, Fast & The Furious 6 and Furious 7.

• Eva Mendes, of Cuban heritage, played FBI agent Mónica Fuentes in 2 Fast 2 Furious. She has an uncredited cameo at the end of Fast Five.

• Mo Gallini (sometimes credited as Matt Gallini) of Cuban and Lebanese heritage, played Enrique in 2 Fast 2 Furious.

• Roberto "Sanz" Sánchez was born in Cuba. He played Roberto in 2 Fast 2 Furious.

• John Ortiz, of Puerto Rican heritage, played Arturo Braga in Fast & Furious and Fast and the Furious 6.

• Laz Alonso, of Afro-Cuban heritage, played Fénix "Rise" Calderón in Fast & Furious.

• Leonardo Nam was born in Argentina and raised in Argentina and Australia to Korean parents. He played Morimoto in The Fast and The Furious: Tokyo Drift.

• Mirtha Michelle, of Dominican heritage, played Cara Mirtha in Los Bandoleros and Fast & Furious.

• Elsa Pataky, was born in Spain to a Spaniard father and a Hungarian/Romanian mother. She played Elena Neves in Fast Five, Fast and the Furious 6, Furious 7 and The Fate of the Furious.

• F. Valentino Morales, of Dominican and Italian heritage, played Malo in Los Bandoleros.

• Celinés Toribio was born in the Dominican Republic. She played Malo's Wife in Los Bandoleros.

• Tego Calderón, born in Puerto Rico, played Tego Leo in Los Bandoleros, Fast & Furious, Fast Five and The Fate of the Furious.

• Don Omar, born in Puerto Rico, played Rico Santos in Los Bandoleros, Fast & Furious, Fast Five, and The Fate of the Furious.

• Luis "Trikz" Da Silva, of Portuguese heritage, played Diego in Fast Five.

• Joaquim de Almeida was born in Portugal. He played Hernan Reyes in Fast Five.

• Noel Guglielmi, of Mexican and Italian heritage, played Héctor in Furious 7.

• Ronda Rousey, of Afro-Venezuelan, Polish, English, and German heritage, played Kara in Furious 7.

• Viktor Estrella was born in El Salvador. He played a Doctor in Furious 7.

• Eden Estrella, of Spanish-Filipina-Portuguese-Irish-German-British-French-Scottish ancestry, played Agent Luke Hobbs's daughter Samantha in Furious 7 and and The Fate of the Furious.

• Jorge Ferragut was born in Havana, Cuba to parents of Cuban and English heritage, played the Dominican Priest in Furious 7.

• Romeo Santos, of Dominican and Puerto Rican heritage, played Mando in Furious 7.

• Jorge-Luis Pillo, of Ecuadorian and Puerto Rican heritage, played a Cop in Furious 7.

• Janmarco Santiago, of Cuban heritage, played Dominic's Cuban cousin Fernando in The Fate of the Furious.

• Celestino Cornielle, of the Dominican Republic, played Raldo in The Fate of the Furious.

Dwayne Johnson has expressed interest in future films in the series and stated that there are plans for a spinoff film featuring his character Hobbs, but that it would not be filmed or released until after Furious 7 is released. Paul Walker had stated that an eighth feature film was "guaranteed", with the studio also wanting ninth and tenth installments. However, after Walker's death, his character and that of his wife (played by Jordana Brewster) were retired from the franchise. Shortly after the premiere of The Fate of the Furious, dates were announced that the next two films in the franchise. They will be released on April 19, 2019 and April 2, 2021, respectively.

WGA Members Approve Strike Authorization In Historic Turnout

Film and TV writers are ready to take to the picket line next week, voting overwhelmingly to give their union leaders the authority to call a strike if this week’s final round of bargaining fails to produce a contract.

The strike authorization was approved by 96.3% of the 6,310 writers who cast ballots, according to the Writers Guild of America (WGA), a record 67.5% of eligible WGA members. A strike, if it comes to that, can’t begin until midnight May 1, 2017 when the current film and TV contract expires. The WGA’s last strike, launched in 2007, lasted 100 days. That authorization vote was approved by 90% of voters.

A strike can still be averted if the WGA and management’s Alliance Of Motion Picture & Television Producers can work out a deal this week. The talks, which took a two-week hiatus to allow the WGA East and WGA West to poll their members on strike authorization, resume tomorrow and are expected to continue throughout the week and possibly into the weekend, if necessary. It’s also possible the strike deadline could be extended if the two sides think they’re close to a deal.

For more information, read David Robb's article in Deadline by clicking here.

Paola Lázaro and Nick Cordero Receive Outer Critics Circle Award Nominations

On Tuesday, April 25, 2017, former HOLA Awards honoree Danny Burstein and Jane Krakowski announced the list of Outer Critics Circle (OCC) Awards nominations in the Oak Room at the Algonquin Hotel in the theater district of midtown Manhattan.

Nick Cordero picked up a nomination for Outstanding Actor in a Musical for his work in the Palminteri-Menken-Slater musical A Bronx Tale. Paola Lázaro received a nomination for the John Gasser Award, which is presented for an American play, preferably by a new playwright, for her play Tell Héctor I Miss Him.

The Outer Critics Circle, the organization of writers covering New York theatre for out-of-town newspapers, national publications and other media beyond Broadway, celebrates its 67th season of bestowing awards of excellence in the field of theatre, the Outer Critics Circle is an association with members affiliated with more than ninety newspapers, magazines, radio and television stations, internet, and theatre publications in America and abroad.

The winners will be announced on Monday, May 8, 2017. The annual Gala Awards Dinner and presentation of awards to the winners will be held on Thursday afternoon, May 25, 2017 at the legendary Sardi's Restaurant. For more information, including a list of this year's nominees, click here or here.

The Mental Game of Auditioning Workshop with Herman Chaves

ONE DAY IN NEW YORK
Master Class for Bad Ass Actors

with Herman Chaves

Sunday, May 21, 2017
2-6pm
Teatro SEA
107 Suffolk Street, First Floor
(between Rivington and Delancey streets), NYC
F, J, M, Z trains to Delancey/Essex • M14A, B39 buses

Price: $150 ($100 for HOLA members)

SMALL CLASS SIZE. LIMITED TO 15 ACTORS.

To register, call HOLA at (212) 253-1015 (credit cards accepted), 
then e-mail your headshot & resume to
thegameofauditioning@gmail.com
so that Herman can select your scene from film or television.

Goal: To empower you and relieve the fear and anxiety that happens around auditioning, while also training you to break down scripts like a pro and to OWN your audition process.

 Some of the Topics Covered:

1. How to overcome audition anxiety/nerves.

2. On-camera auditioning for film & television.

3. The #1 thing a casting director is looking for.                                                  

• Do you get so UPTIGHT or TENSE before an audition that you can't think straight?
• Are you NOT TRUSTING YOURSELF, scared/worried that you might forget your lines?
• Do you become so tense to perform your scene because you worry about embarrassing yourself?
• Do you care too much about the approval or validation of the casting director?

It does not have to be that way.

Many actors experience feelings of audition anxiety. Audition anxiety is the number one obstacle to a relaxed, effortless confident read, a quality that you must have to lock in on on with your reader and enter the fun zone!

Yes, it is possible and I will show you in this
one-day master intensive how you can attain this.

Let's work together on implementing and applying a powerful pre-game mental strategy, so you can affect the reader, causing them to have an experience and allowing your truth to play full out, unapologetically. In one day, you can have total clarity and relief on how to overcome the mental game that is stopping you from booking the room every time.

1. The Mental Blueprint: A SOLID UNDERSTANDING OF HOW TO WIN THE MENTAL GAME OF AUDITIONING AND BOOK THE JOB AND THE ROOM. Herman bases his teachings on, psychology, sports psychology and years of experience and interviews with top actors, casting directors and directors, as well as his own personal experience out in the trenches.

2. Script Analysis: HOW TO ATTACK TV & FILM SCRIPT LIKE A STREET FIGHTER. WE GO FOR THE JUGULAR. THERE'S NO TIME TO INDULGE IN WEEKS OF SCRIPT BREAKDOWN. LEARN THE FAST, LASER SHARP WAY THE PROS DO IT.

3. YOU WILL EXECUTE YOUR CHOICES WITHOUT DOUBT for your Mock Audition, scenes will be provided - every actor works.

4. A FREE HANDOUT OF "THE GAME BOOK", which covers even more in depth what you will learn on this day. No need to take notes in this class. We give them to you to take home so you can focus.

5. Hear from the Casting Director's and Director's mouth what their pet peeves are, and what they REALLY want from you in the room. Pre-recorded audio.
   
   

Q: How is this different from other audition classes?

A: We are being respectful of your time and money, so we address only the indispensable, primary needs that you must have out in the real world when you are auditioning for film and TV. There is NO FLUFF in this Master Class. We hit hard, pull down the barriers and show you how to:

1.  Own every audition in your own way.

2. Understand and own what is applicable in a real world situation.

3. Arrive with the correct mindset to approach an audition like a street fight - your life is on the line and you are there to AFFECT THE READER.

4. Learn how to quickly assess your sides and make choices. NO overthinking– you mist get out of your head.
   
5. Learn how to EXECUTE that assessment.
   
6. Remember, NO FILLERS, NO FLUFF.
   

• The Class will watch a video that shows how fear affects performance in any field AND how it is the origin of giving a Bad Audition - Auditions are 90% mental!

• Applying what we get from The Manual and video, we will transition to the reader/actor contact exercise. It's not enough to just understand all of this intellectually. We must get on our feet and experience - simulate - the bodily sensations, nerves, breathing, avoidance, etc. that come up when you are in front of the casting director, or reader. This is called AFFECTING THE READER - your only job. THIS work is where you really begin to see your own true potential as an auditioning actor. Your RAW God-given talent starts to shows up, Because an actor's best work is only expressed when he or she believes they are safe in the room, while connected to the reader.

• BONUS: Hear prerecorded audio comments from casting directors regarding not only the business, but their "pet peeves" with actors.

• PLUS a Q&A - please bring lots of questions.