Home Media Magazine - October 7-13, 2007 - (Page 24) Edited by Angelique Flores www.homemediamagazine.com Mother Theresa. It’s been done many, many times.” On top of criticism from salsa musicians and critics, five versions of the movie, which were different from the final theatrical cut, circulated as a result of copies that leaked during film festival screenings. Still, Ichaso wasn’t without support from other salsa stars, such as Victor Manuelle, Ismael Miranda and Obie Bermudez, among others, who had small parts in the film. The film’s star Anthony also idolized Lavoe and met him before Lavoe died, Ichaso said. “Who’s that ugly chick?” Lavoe said upon meeting Anthony years ago, when the young salsa singer had long hair, the director said. Despite the film’s detractors, Ichaso couldn’t be happier with the outcome. “What’s there to be unhappy about?” he said. “It’s resuscitating the sound and everything. Most people are very happy that this movie was made. Many years from now, this is something that you can refer to. Who was Hector [Lavoe], Ruben [Blades], Willie [Colon], Fania? It’s the closest thing we have [to an answer].” With the upcoming DVD, the medium is sure to preserve Ichaso’s film. “DVD is forever,” he said. “And with the new systems, 5.1 sound, you control it. It’s your event … and it’s a good Christmas gift.” ‘El Cantante’ Moves to DVD Director Leon Ichaso talks about the controversies behind the film By Angelique Flores “He was a victim of a business,” Ichaso said. “He was a tight budget, deep criticism and multiple circulat- victim of fame. He didn’t want it. And he was a victim of ing versions of the film could have been enough displacement, which causes a lot of pain in people from to sink El Cantante. others countries.” But director Leon Ichaso and his crew rose to the occaBeing part of the music scene at the time, Ichaso knows sion with the biopic on salsa legend Hector Lavoe. And what he’s talking about. now the film is coming to DVD “I lived it. I was there in Manhat($27.95) Oct. 30 from New Line tan when it happened,” said Ichaso, Home Entertainment. who directed another film about a “A lot of people think this is a big salsa star dealing with the flipside Hollywood movie,” Ichaso said. of success with Crossover Dreams “The budget of this movie is like (1985), starring Ruben Blades (on lunch money for a Hollywood projDVD from New Yorker Video). ect.” Still, El Cantante drew controverHe shot the independent film — a sy for that depiction of pain that project produced by Jennifer Lopez, Lavoe underwent, as well as for the among others — in 33 days, and it story being told through the eyes of drew $7.5 million at the box office. Puchi, whom many disliked, and While the tight budget was limiting whose role became a large one in for the filmmakers, Ichaso said the film. keeping it a small indie film helped “I was not surprised because Latithem “do it right.” nos are in constant denial of the “[Major] studios would have fear that we have a problem; we can turned it into Bambi,” he said. Director Leon Ichaso never have a problem,” Ichaso said. And the life of Lavoe was far from “Hector was a wonderful singer sweet. The singer (Marc Anthony) came to New York from and a charismatic performer, but his immense drug addicPuerto Rico. He and the other musicians on the Fania la- tion was at the same level of his talent. Everybody knew bel rose to the top of the salsa music scene during the that, yet everybody denied that, which makes for dialogue 1970s. — and the movie becomes attacked.” “I knew Hector Lavoe. I knew all of them [in the Fania As for Puchi’s narration of Hector’s life in the film, Ichascene],” Ichaso said. “It was a revolutionary time for Lati- so said it’s a common storytelling device and a natural way nos. We were suddenly filling up Madison Square Garden.” to compress 20 years into the length of a movie. But not everything was happy and peaceful. Lavoe and “It’s a Jennifer Lopez movie,” he said, defending critics’ his wife, Puchi (Jennifer Lopez), had a serious drug addic- condemnation of Lopez’ plentiful screen time. “There are tion, which the film did not sugarcoat. unfair accusations of vanity. She’s an actress; she’s not VENEVISION ON VEOH By Angelique Flores V O D Venevision International is growing its online distribution, most recently adding its content to Veoh.com. Venevision already has content on Google Video, YouTube and Vuze. The company added Veoh to its list of online distribution sites with trailers and TV spots of Venevision content. Trailers for the upcoming DVDs of Soñar No Cuesta Nada (streeting Oct. 16, $16.98) and The Hidden/Oculto (out Nov. 20, $17.98) are available for viewing on the site. Also available for streaming are trailers for El Nominado, Tres Pajaros, Medellin and La Santa Muerte, all of which are already available on DVD. “Veoh offered the possibility of cutting down content management by being versatile enough to mirror our rich media on other popular video sites,” said Manual Avila, director of the home video division for Venevision International. “We believe that sites such as Veoh are must-have distribution platforms that allow us to showcase the films that we distribute in a compelling format within our particular vertical market.” Besides adding more distribution through streams of movies, the company also expects the online outlet will boost DVD sales. Venevision eventually will add one to three films monthly, along with trailers and 30-second commercials for available DVDs, Avila said. COM I NG I DESERT MOUNTAIN MEDIA Oct. I MICROCINEMA INTERNATIONAL Nov. 27 (pre30 bows Puebla de Madera and En Busca de Un Muro (DVD $9.99 each. book Oct. 30) is releasing its first Spanish-language documentary with El Fin el Sueño Americano (DVD $23.99), which takes a look at the history of suburbia and its affect on the environment (also available in English). Oxxo Revives Sexy Mexican Comedies By Angelique Flores D T V Sexy comedies aren’t new, but they’re making a comeback. Oxxo films Oct. 15 will release three new direct-to-video productions starring Mexican comedian Charly Valentino. Transilvania, Mi Amor; Tu Prima, Tu Hermana, La Gata, y Tu Mama Tambien; and Sexo, Sudo y Risas will be priced at $14.99 each or together as a three-pack for $35.99. All the films are subtitled in English. “This particular genre — based on scantily clad women and off-color jokes — was part of the Mexican cinema of the 1980s [and met] with great commercial appeal,” said Adam Valdex, CEO of Oxxo. While sexy women and raunchy humor isn’t foreign to U.S. films, sexy comedies from Mexico have their own twist. “In the U.S., los galanes (“good-looking men”) make these types of films, but in Mexico they are made by los ga- I FIRST LOOK STUDIOS will bow two titles from DistriMax: the Oct. 9 release of Los Pajarracos (DVD $19.98), about a Mexican wrestler who dreams of competing in an American ring, and the Nov. 13 release of Club Eutanasia (DVD $19.98), starring an ensemble cast of legendary Mexican stars. UP I SALIENT MEDIA will release comedian Alex Reymundo’s first stand-up comedy special Nov. 13 (prebook Oct. 16) with Alex Reymundo: Hick-Spanic (DVD $14.99). The DVD comes with interviews, behind-the-scenes footage and deleted scenes. I VANGUARD CINEMA Nov. 7 (prebook Oct. 12) will bow Histeria de Todos (DVD $29.95), a Mexican novela in the tradi- I IMAGE ENTERTAINMENT Dec. 11 (prebook Oct. 30) releases the drama Whisky Romeo Zulu (DVD $24.99). I LAGUNA PRODUCTIONS Oct. 9 releases Mafia en tion of “Melrose Place” and “Clase 406.” The boxed set contains Chicago, followed Oct. 16 by 7 Kilos, an actioner in the vein of Empire and Carlito’s Way. Nov. 13 (prebook Oct. 9) comes Un Día Sin Sexo. All DVDs are $24.95 each. all six episodes. Episodes 1 & 2, Episodes 3 & 4, Episodes 5 & 6 are available individually for $14.99 each. I LIONSGATE More DVDs ($12.95 each) from the “Caminantes … Si Hay Camino” documentary series from Mexico arrive Oct. 30 (prebook Oct. 3) with Grandes Directores, featuring directors Luis Buñuel and Emilio “El Indio” Fernandez, and Grande Comediantes Vol. 2, profiling Eulalio González Ramírez “Piporro” and Joaquín Pardavé. Also Oct. 30 arrives Así del Precipicio (DVD $19.98). I XENON PICTURES Nov. 20 (prebook Oct. 23) releases 7 Días (DVD $24.99), a Mexican theatrical film that received five Ariel nominations. Nov. 13 (prebook Oct. 16) comes the first three seasons of the successful telenovela “Rebelde” packaged together (nine-DVD set $39.99) with RBD tattoos. Nov. 27 (prebook Oct. 30) Xenon releases the wildly popular La Fea Más Bella (four-DVD set $24.98), the Mexican version of “Ugly Betty.” — Angelique Flores lones (“overweight men”),” Valentino said. “Think in terms of a rotund comedian being the big, sexy beast of Mexican Comedy.” Add to that the some spiciness, picardia (“mischievousness”) and a Mexican blue-collar approach to laughter, and that’s what distinguishes these films from their U.S. counterparts, Valdez said. With the popular Valentino as the star of these films, Oxxo expects the titles will find success. “[Valentino] is a household name for the U.S. Latino population,” Valdez said. “He is considered the prince of Mexican picardia. Apart from being well-liked and respected, he represents el Pueblo Mexicano. He has never lost sight of his beginnings, even when his career took off.” Home Media Magazine October 7–13, 2007 http://www.homemediamagazine.com http://Veoh.com
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