News (Noticias) Tagged ‘Disney’

The Advertising Council in partnership with the United States Department of Agriculture’s Food Nutrition and Consumer Services recently launched new Spanish-language public service advertisements (PSAs) designed to motivate Hispanic families to lead a healthy lifestyle that includes good nutrition and adequate physical activity. The campaign prominently features characters from the beloved Disney’s, Jungle Book.

To view the Multimedia News Release, go to: www.prnewswire.com/mnr/adcouncil/35158/

A recent survey conducted on behalf of the Ad Council’s Coalition for Healthy Children shows that parents continue to be deficient when it comes to knowing how to foster healthy lifestyle habits in the home, with 39% of all mothers surveyed reporting that they are unclear about which foods are considered healthy for their families. Furthermore, Hispanic parents show greater disparities, with 49% of Hispanic parents reporting that they are unclear about which foods are healthy for their families. Research indicates that being overweight during childhood and adolescence is associated with obesity during adulthood, and can lead to serious health problems such as heart disease, hypertension, diabetes and some types of cancer.

“The combination of proper nutrition and daily physical activity are critical for a healthier lifestyle,” said USDA’s Deputy Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services’ Kate Houston. “Overweight and obesity affects all of us — particularly our children. It is time for all of us to work together to ensure a healthier future for our most precious resource, our children.”

“I am thrilled about this wonderful and informative campaign to educate Hispanic parents and children about nutrition. The PSAs are both motivating and entertaining and I’m confident that they will inspire families throughout the nation to make the necessary changes to lead a healthier lifestyle,” said Peggy Conlon, President and CEO of The Advertising Council.

The new Spanish-language PSAs encourage Americans to visit the campaign’s website, www.MyPyramid.gov, where mothers and caregivers can obtain information and realistic tips for making and sustaining healthy choices for their children.

The new PSAs will be distributed to media outlets nationwide this month to appear in advertising time and space donated by the media.

U.S. Department of Agriculture

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) provides leadership on food, agriculture, natural resources, and related issues based on sound public policy, the best available science, and efficient management.

The department increases food security and reduces hunger in partnership with cooperating organizations by providing children and low-income people access to food, a healthful diet, and nutrition education in a manner that supports American agriculture and inspires public confidence.

The Advertising Council

The Ad Council (www.adcouncil.org) is a private, non-profit organization that marshals talent from the advertising and communications industries, the facilities of the media, and the resources of the business and non-profit communities to produce, distribute and promote public service campaigns on behalf of non-profit organizations and government agencies in issue areas such as improving the quality of life for children, preventive health, education, community well-being, environmental preservation and strengthening families.”

Shawn Marshall joins as President of GlobalHue Africanic
- Jacqueline B. Reynolds is Executive Vice President - Multi-Connect
Marketing
- Jeanne Vaughn, Ph.D. is Senior Vice President/Director of Planning -
GlobalHue Latino
- Nation's largest multicultural agency continues to experience
exponential growth throughout the country; 90 new hires have joined
GlobalHue since January

Despite high gas prices and the never-ending mortgage crises, GlobalHue has retained its stature as the No. 1 multicultural marketing communications agency in the country. Still experiencing unprecedented growth in a “down” economy, GlobalHue announced today the addition of three senior staff members to its leadership team. Shawn Marshall joins as President of GlobalHue Africanic; Jacqueline B. Reynolds joins as Executive Vice President - Multi-Connect Marketing; and Jeanne Vaughn is hired as Senior Vice President/Director of Planning for GlobalHue Latino.

“Some of the most respected and creative minds in our industry call Shawn, Jacqueline and Jeanne innovators and fearless, creative thinkers,” said Don Coleman, Chairman of GlobalHue. “We are very excited for them to join our teams. All bring an added depth and breadth of experience - Shawn in the areas of integrated marketing and business development, Jacqueline in public relations and Jeanne in strategic planning - that will strengthen and complement our already extremely strong senior staff.”

GlobalHue continues to experience exponential growth. Since January, the agency added 90 new hires to its offices throughout the U.S.

Marshall has more than 17 years of experience in the United States and Latin America in the areas of consumer marketing, trade marketing, mobile marketing, sales, business development and finance. Prior to joining GlobalHue he was Vice President-Multicultural Marketing and Sales for Vibes Media, a pioneer and leader in Mobile Marketing. He also held senior marketing positions at Bally Total Fitness, Eastman Kodak, the Radio Advertising Bureau and The Walt Disney Company.

In his new position as President of GlobalHue Africanic, Marshall will lead all aspects of the agency’s African-American focused business unit while strategically positioning the agency and its products and services for growth and innovation. He also will be responsible for developing and implementing GlobalHue Africanic plans that are seamlessly integrated with other GlobalHue business units.

Reynolds has more than 20 years of experience in strategic communications, media relations and consumer strategies affairs programs. Prior to joining Multi-Connect Marketing, she was Vice President, Marketing at SiTV, the first and only Hispanic television network in English. Reynolds, who is fluent in Spanish, also spent 10 years at The Coca-Cola Company. Prior to that, she was a Vice President at Casanova Pendrill Inc., the third largest Hispanic advertising firm in the U.S.

In her new role at Multi-Connect Marketing, Reynolds is responsible for working with executive management to develop and disseminate the company’s key messages, and oversee all facets of GlobalHue’s corporate communications efforts, which include media, internal employee communications and messaging, as well as corporate branding and reputation management.

Vaughn, who was based in Mexico for nearly 17 years, was hired by international agency TERAN|TBWA to introduce planning and implement strategic marketing. While there, her leadership resulted in several EFFIE, Cannes Lions, and Circulo Creativo awards. In addition, TERAN|TBWA was the first to win the “Agency of the Year” award for three consecutive years. She holds a doctorate in Latin American Literature from the University of California.

In Vaughn’s new position as Senior Vice President/Director of Planning for GlobalHue Latino, she will direct cross-functional strategy for all GlobalHue Latino clients. She also will design and implement strategic planning workshops and training programs aimed at helping clients solve their branding, marketing and strategic issues.

“Jeanne is an exemplary leader and has a terrific background in advertising and branding to the Hispanic market,” said Laura Marella, Vice Chairman of GlobalHue Latino. “Her expertise, innovation and skill stand out within our industry and I am thrilled to have Jeanne on my team.”

Allen Pugh, Vice Chairman of GlobalHue added, “By adding these three talented leaders to our group and growing our current team of outstanding professionals, GlobalHue will not only be the No. 1 Multicultural Agency, but also one of the top Marketing agencies in the U.S. Together, we will execute the GlobalHue vision while we provide world-class service to our clients and help grow their business.”

About GlobalHue

GlobalHue is the nation’s largest minority-owned, full-service marketing communications agency dedicated to multicultural consumers. Named “Best in Class” by Adweek Magazine in 2007, the GlobalHue umbrella has four full-service communications agencies: GlobalHue Latino; GlobalHue Africanic; GlobalHue Asian; and GlobalHue Next. All provide market expertise to clients who want to reach African-American, Hispanic, Asian-American, urban and youth consumers. The agencies have offices in New York, Detroit, Chicago, Dallas, Washington, D.C., Orlando, Irvine, Calif., and Los Angeles.

Together, the agencies have more than 300 employees that handle advertising, media planning and buying, events and promotions, and public relations for many clients. In 2007, GlobalHue’s capitalized billings were $720 million.

Multi-Connect Marketing is the business unit that handles all PR, Events, Promotions, Grassroots, Entertainment, Content Development and Sports Marketing.

GlobalHue boasts several blue-chip clients, including Verizon, Chrysler LLC, Chrysler Financial, Wal-Mart, Bermuda Department of Tourism, U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. Navy, Abbott Laboratories and Subway.

For more information, visit www.globalhue.com .

“

On Thursday, August 7th, Baby Abuelita Productions, creators of the popular Spanish-lullaby singing dolls, salutes Miami Children’s Hospital for its service to the children and the South Florida Hispanic community. The Neighborhood Salute, which is a prize awarded to Baby Abuelita by Edy’s SlowChurned ice cream for its written submission in appreciation of the Miami community, will be celebrated at Miami Children’s Hospital.
The salute will include free ice cream for 100 participants to attend and a premier showing of an episode of the new Baby Abuelita DVD, Family Fiesta. The first in a series of DVDs distributed by Baby Abuelita Productions, Family Fiesta was honored in July with the 2008 Outstanding Products award by iParenting Media Awards, a Disney company. Children patients, their families and Miami Children’s Hospital staff are invited. Baby Abuelita dolls and books will be raffled as part of this event.
At this celebratory event, information will also be distributed about Baby Abuelita’s Sing, Abuelita, Sing! contest. As part of the company’s desire to preserve the heritage from one generation to another, people of all ages can enter for the chance to win one of two Sing Abuelita Sing contests. The entire family can participate by either singing a traditional lullaby or nursery rhyme or by submitting a drawing or photo of family members that resemble one of the Baby Abuelita characters: Abuelita Rosa, Abuelito Pancho, Baby Andrea or Baby Tita.
Sing Abuelita Sing is a contest for the entire family, as an effort to embrace the family heritage. Dress up in a bata de casa, put on a pair of gafas or sing “Arroz con Leche” and submit your entry to Sing Abuelita Sing. Full contest rules and regulations can be found on the company website at www.babyabuelita.com.
Founded in 2005, Baby Abuelita Productions was created by a pair of working mothers — Hilda Argilagos-Jimenez, a dance teacher and Carol Fenster, a psychotherapist. “We wanted to create a doll that preserved tradition and warm memories,” said co-founder Carol Fenster. “But our dolls have managed to do that and more. We get emails from teachers and parents who are using these dolls to educate their children and teach them Spanish, which is a wonderful thing.”
Baby Abuelita dolls, books, and DVD are available at a wide variety of Wal Mart and Toys R Us locations and online at

la comunidad, one of the most awarded advertising agencies in the world, has appointed Antoinette Zel as agency president in the Miami office. A media pioneer, Zel, 43, most recently held the position of Senior Executive Vice President, Network Strategy for the NBC Universal/Telemundo Network. Prior to NBCU/Telemundo, Zel, a longtime MTV Networks executive, served as President of MTV Networks Latin America.

Zel’s appointment will enrich the leadership slate of la comunidad, the independent global creative leader, and position the agency for expansion in the US, targeting both the US Hispanic and general market consumer. Zel will be responsible for long-term strategic vision, business development and management of the US office, in tandem with la comunidad’s Buenos Aires office.

“I’ve known Antoinette for a long time and she’s always been an innovator. She knows the challenges faced by advertisers, and the current state of traditional media given her Viacom and NBCU experience. She knows the vehicles to use to get consumers to care - whether through branded extensions or original digital applications, and that’s very exciting for us,” said Jose Molla, la comunidad founder and Creative Director. “Plus, she has a great reputation as both an inspiring and effective leader; she’ll help us take la comunidad to the next level.”

With a track record growing businesses that thrive on creativity, Zel brings a broad perspective on marrying strong creative to the needs of consumers and marketers that result in tangible performance. She is especially known for her expertise in targeting the hard to reach 12-34 multi-cultural youth segment. In 2006, Zel and NBCU/Telemundo garnered its first Peabody Award for Excellence in Journalism for a news special, “For My Country? Latinos in the Military.”

A 13-year veteran of MTV Networks, as President of MTV Networks Latin America, Zel led all creative, commercial and strategic operations for MTV, Nickelodeon and VH1 in 22 countries in Latin America.

Trained as an entertainment attorney, Zel is a frequent keynote speaker who has been widely recognized by the media industry including Hollywood Reporter’s “Top 25 Hispanic Women in Entertainment (2007)”; and Ad Age “Top 25 Women to Watch,” (2006), and Billboard’s Top 20 Power Players in Music (2005).

About la comunidad

Founded in 2001 by brothers Jose and Joaquin Molla, la comunidad (the community) is a global independent agency known for excellence in multi-platform advertising and for authentic communications on multinational brands. La comunidad has three offices one in Miami Beach and two in Buenos Aires. La comunidad was named the 2006 Agency of the Year by Adweek’s Marketing y Medios; the agency has won numerous international advertising awards, including two Gold TV Lions and one Bronze Lion in the 2007 and 2008 editions of Cannes.

After just two years, la comunidad was ranked as the 13th most awarded agency in the world, according to The Gunn Report. La comunidad clients include Best Buy, Remy Martin, Johnson & Johnson, Citibank, Virgin Mobile, MTV/VH1, Volkswagen (Latin America), Disney Channel, Coca Cola Company and Rolling Stone Magazine, among others. For more information visit www.lacomu.com. “

Went to the movies this weekend and saw the preview for Beverly Hills Chihuahua. Can you say extreme unease? What could possibly go wrong with a movie about dancing, Spanish-accented Chihuahuas”*

Alma Awards Website

MOTION PICTURE CATEGORIES

Outstanding Performance of a Lead Latino/Latina Cast in a Motion Picture

• Bella
• El Cantante
• Illegal Tender
• Love in the Time of Cholera
• Tortilla Heaven

Special Achievement - Outstanding Spanish Language Motion Picture

• La Misma Luna (Under the Same Moon)

TELEVISION CATEGORIES

SPECIAL ACHIEVEMENT - OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE OF A LATINO/LATINA-LED ENSEMBLE IN A TELEVISION SERIES

• Ugly Betty (ABC)

OUTSTANDING ACTOR IN A DRAMA TELEVISION SERIES

• Enrique Murciano – Without A Trace (CBS)
• Edward James Olmos – Battlestar Galactica (Sci Fi Channel)
• Danny Pino – Cold Case (CBS)
• James Roday – Psych (USA)
• Adam Rodriguez – CSI: Miami (CBS)

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A DRAMA TELEVISION SERIES

• Ricardo Chavira – Desperate Housewives (ABC)
• Jorge Garcia – Lost (ABC)
• Benito Martinez – The Shield (FX Network)
• Amaury Nolasco – Prison Break (FOX)
• Miguel Sandoval – Medium (NBC)

OUTSTANDING ACTRESS IN A DRAMA TELEVISION SERIES

• Valerie Cruz – The Dresden Files (Sci Fi Channel)
• Cote de Pablo – NCIS (CBS)
• Lana Parrilla – Swingtown (CBS)
• Sara Ramirez – Grey’s Anatomy (ABC)
• Roselyn Sanchez – Without A Trace (CBS)

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A DRAMA TELEVISION SERIES

• Alana De La Garza – Law & Order (NBC)
• Marisol Nichols – 24 (FOX)
• Paula Garces, The Shield (FX Network)
• Julie Gonzalo – Eli Stone (ABC)
• Dania Ramirez – Heroes (NBC)
• Lauren Velez – Dexter (Showtime)

OUTSTANDING MALE PERFORMANCE IN A COMEDY TELEVISION SERIES

• Jake T. Austin – Wizards of Waverly Place (Disney Channel)
• Joshua Gomez – Chuck (NBC)
• Carlos Mencia – Mind of Mencia (Comedy Central)
• Oscar Nuñez – The Office (NBC)
• Johnny A. Sanchez – MADtv (FOX)
• Charlie Sheen – Two and A Half Men (CBS)

OUTSTANDING FEMALE PERFORMANCE IN A COMEDY TELEVISION SERIES

• Maria Canals-Barrera – Wizards of Waverly Place (Disney Channel)
• Selena Gomez – Wizards of Waverly Place (Disney Channel)
• Anjelah Johnson – MADtv (FOX)
• Judy Reyes – Scrubs (NBC)
• Nadine Velasquez – My Name Is Earl (NBC)
• Persia White – Girlfriends (The CW)

OUTSTANDING COMEDY SPECIAL

• “Carlos Mencia: Performance Enhanced” (Comedy Central)
• “George Lopez: America’s Mexican” (HBO)
• “Hick-Spanic” (Showtime)
• “The Original Latin Divas of Comedy” (Showtime)
• “The Payaso Comedy Slam” (Showtime)

OUTSTANDING DIRECTOR OF A TELEVISION SERIES

• Norberto Barba – Law and Order: Criminal Intent, “Depths” (NBC)
• Rodrigo Garcia – In Treatment, “Paul and Gina, Week One” (HBO)
• Linda Mendoza – Ugly Betty, “Betty’s Baby Bump” (ABC)
• Miguel Sandoval – Medium, “Aftertaste” (NBC)
• Jay Torres – Desperate Housewives, “Distant Past” (ABC)

SPECIAL ACHIEVEMENT – OUTSTANDING DIRECTOR OF A MADE FOR TV MOVIE

• Kenny Ortega – “High School Musical II” – Disney Channel

OUTSTANDING WRITING FOR A TELEVISION SERIES

• Mick Betancourt – Law and Order: Special Victims Unit, “Fight” (NBC )
• Silvio Horta – Ugly Betty, “Jump”(ABC)
• Gloria Calderon Kellet – How I Met Your Mother,
• “How I Met Everyone Else” (CBS)
• Jose Molina – Without A Trace, “Without You” (CBS)

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE IN A DAYTIME DRAMA SERIES

• Maurice Bernard – General Hospital (ABC)
• Kamar de los Reyes – One Life to Live (ABC)
• David Fumero – One Life to Live (ABC)
• Galen Gering – Passions (NBC)
• Jessica Leccia – Guiding Light (CBS)
• Eva Tamargo – Passions (NBC)

Juan Luis Guerra puede sumar a su estantería de premios una estatuilla de la que sobresalen dos grandes orejas negras: el premio “Mouscar” de Disney.”*

On the surface, political life in Cuban Miami seems unchanged. Little Havana is still partly a Disney version of a displaced Cuba and partly a genuine community hub, where families who have long since left for suburbia still come for nostalgic weekend lunches. At the Versailles Restaurant, the community newspapers preaching no compromise with Castro are all that are on offer. For almost four decades, the Versailles has been an obligatory stop for Washington politicians courting the Cuban-American community, visits that, as photographs in the restaurant attest, have often involved putting on a white guayabera, the four-pocket dress shirt that often replaces a coat and tie in the Caribbean. This familiar theater of intransigence — a staple of South Florida life at least since the Bay of Pigs invasion in 1961, when C.I.A.-backed Cuban exiles tried to overthrow the new Communist regime — is ubiquitous. Some Cuban-Americans point hopefully to a softening in the Spanish-language, Cuba-focused radio outlets that now dominate the South Florida market. But for an outsider, what is striking is the degree to which the hard-line stance endures, since it might have been supposed that 50 years of failure to influence events on the island might have led to the conclusion that the hard-line position needed to be reconsidered. Most officeholders in Florida and, for that matter, most national politicians continue to at least pay lip service to the dream of a post-Communist Cuba, even though, early this year, Fidel Castro succeeded in seamlessly handing over power to his brother Raúl — testimony, if any was needed, to the stability of the regime.”*

High School Musical: El Desafio” is the first Disney-branded feature film made in Latin America. It was produced for Mexico, Argentina and Brazil (where filming hasn’t yet begun), with three local casts, three distinct scripts and three versions of the soundtrack. The movie arrives in theaters July 17 in Argentina and September 5 in Mexico.”*

PlayPhone, Inc., which operates the largest network of mobile content destinations in North America, announced today that it has launched its own market-leading destination at www.playphone.com in Spanish. From this point forward, the Latino community has access to top-branded mobile entertainment through a medium specifically tailored to their needs at www.playphone.com/espanol.

“PlayPhone understands the importance of the Hispanic community within the mobile entertainment ecosphere,” said Ron Czerny, founder and chief executive officer at PlayPhone. “With our content destination now available in Spanish, we can better provide our compelling content such as ringtones, wallpapers, games and more to a segment of the market that is key for delivering continued success.”

Hispanics are the fastest-growing population segment in the United States, according to figures provided from the Selig Center for Economic Growth, and are among the most avid consumers of mobile content and services. Additionally, they are the fastest-growing and youngest US mobile segment, with the highest average revenue per user of any demographic group, according to Telephia’s “Q2 2007 Mobile Hispanic Report.”

Consumers can access the Spanish site by going directly to www.playphone.com/espanol or selecting the Language menu at the top of the usual PlayPhone destination at www.playphone.com. Not only does the site feature navigation and valuable information in Spanish, but also promotes top mobile entertainment of interest to the Latino community alongside its usual compelling content from partners such as SONY BMG, EMI Group, Cartoon Network, SEGA, Bandai, Disney, Glu Mobile, Konami, Vivendi Universal, Sony Pictures Entertainment, ABC Television, Platinum Studios and many more.

PlayPhone gives consumers access to a new and exclusive media catalog spanning audio, video and gaming content from leading music labels and artists, game publishers and media companies. In addition to operating its consumer facing mobile destination at PlayPhone.com, it also powers mobile content destinations for entertainment and retail brands including Wal-Mart, ABC Television, Cartoon Network, Adult Swim, SEGA, Real Networks, iPlay and many more.

About PlayPhone, Inc.

PlayPhone (www.playphone.com) is a leading global mobile media company present in 20 countries throughout North America, Europe, Asia and Latin America that provides cutting edge personalization and entertainment content to mobile consumers anytime, anywhere. PlayPhone founded the direct-to-consumer mobile media distribution standard in 2003 and continues to establish new means for delivering wireless entertainment. The company currently operates its own leading mobile entertainment destination at PlayPhone.com and powers subscription-based mobile portals for the world’s top entertainment and retail brands including Wal-Mart, ABC Television, Cartoon Network, SEGA, Real Networks and more. PlayPhone is based in San Jose, Calif. and is funded by top venture firms Menlo Ventures, Cardinal Venture Capital and Scale Venture Partners.”*

Mary Rodas, who was an original and youngest member ever admitted to the Hispanic American Hall of Fame and in her teens had her life story as the “Teenage Toy Tycoon” featured in magazines, newspapers, radio and television shows around the world, has announced that all Balzac2 balls are being given away Free at www.BalzacToys.com, the Balzac Toys website (shipping and handling charges apply - limit 1 to a customer.)

“After the tremendous success of the Balzac brand over the past 25 years, we want to thank our customers by giving away the Balzac2 Earth Balls which are great for educational use and outdoor play. We are putting them on BalzacToys.com where select items are featured and everything in the ‘World of Balzac’ section is Free,” says Mary. “We have been thrilled by the thousands of people who have made our website hot and we keep rewarding the kids and adults who visit it with these incredible new offers.”

Balzac, the famous balloon in a cloth sack ball, became a major hit and was distributed by such companies as Hasbro, Wham-O and other toy companies throughout the world. During the 1990’s the company underwent a brief period in Chapter 11 while licensed to a licensee that did not work out. However, in less than one year all creditors were paid off with interest and the company got their product back. The original Balzac is now a classic in the toy industry. It is still a favorite at DisneyWorld, a popular premium for major companies and a consistent seller for mail order houses.

Mary and her company are not resting on the past success of Balzac. “Balzac3 will be introduced in 2009 and it is a real revolution. It is another “knock your socks off” product!” announced Mary, without giving away any of the new features of her latest toy product. Meanwhile, she also works as both a philanthropist and as an advisor at New York College of Health Professions (www.nycollege.edu ). As a minority who has lived the “American Dream,” Mary is hoping that anyone who gets a Balzac2 for Free (a $22.00 value) might make a donation instead to www.barackobama.com . “When I became a Scholastic Mentor I was one of the few minorities whose story became required reading in elementary schools. But Senator Obama blows the ceiling off everything for every minority and I strongly support him.”

“In any event, take advantage of this unbelievable offer and have a Balzac2 on us, for nothing, and be on the lookout for next Balzac line. Balzac 3, well that will be a whole new chapter in this somewhat tired industry which we will jolt again,” says Mary.

For More Information, Please Contact:
Barbara Carver
516 921-3100 or via email at:

Ry Cooder has been exhuming and reappraising overlooked areas of the musical culture of America (and beyond, as the Buena Vista Social Club can vouch) for so long now that he has become part of the story himself. More than four decades since he emerged as an electric blues guitarist so highly rated that he turned down an offer to join the Rolling Stones, Cooder continues to ferret out unfamiliar and neglected stories.

I, Flathead is the third part of a loose Southern California trilogy that kicked off with the acclaimed Chavez Ravine in 2005, an elegy for a destroyed Latino community in the heart of Los Angeles. Its follow-up, My Name is Buddy, told the history of US labour as seen by a folk-singing cat (how else?). I, Flathead, though, is an unashamed tribute to Californian strange. A set of linked songs supposedly performed by one Kash Buk, a jobbing musician and salt flats racer (a “flathead” is an early V-8 engine), it explicitly evokes an era of “popular mechanics” magazines, sci-fi comics and demobbed servicemen in search of a thrill, the time and place that threw up the Church of Scientology, the Hell’s Angels and Disneyland. The modern world, in fact. “*

Ms. Lovato grew up in Texas, competing in beauty pageants, taking acting, music and singing lessons and landing her first television role on the children’s show “Barney & Friends” when she was eight.

For Ms. Lovato and her family, the desire to get into the Disney empire was as great as the company’s desire to find new talent. “Take it from someone who tried for eight years to make it, once you get in you’re thankful,” says Dianna De La Garza, Ms. Lovato’s mother.

For her part, Ms. Lovato expresses some surprise that she has ended up as a player in Disney’s talent pool. But she insists that the media company allows its actors to flourish as individuals. “Disney has an image that’s not the reality,” she says. “Artists aren’t as manufactured as they appear.”"*

Actress Eileen Galindo is jumping on the other side of the stage, behind the spotlight, to wear a new hat as first time theatrical director.
She will world premiere “Trailerville”, the unique play written by Hannah Logan and produced by Jennifer Cetrone founder of From The Ground Up Theatre Company.

“Trailerville” takes place in the early 1970’s and explores the lives of the residents of the fictional Lakeview Mobile Home Park in the Southern community of DeSales County. It is an, at times hilarious, and often moving, exploration of faith, acceptance, love and triumph that asks the question - Does where we come from make us who we are and, perhaps more importantly, does God live in a trailer?

But perhaps it is the behind the scene story of how “Trailerville” came to be that equally deserves the focus and most certainly, a closer look at. One word can then summarize it all: SERENDIPITY, and one name brings it all together: EILEEN GALINDO.

Eileen is not just anybody. She is someone absolutely worth knowing, and someone everyone wants to know! She’s been called the Oprah Winfrey of her own social circles for her exponentially growing entourage - sort of a “six degree of Galindo” phenomenon. And “Trailerville” is yet another perfect illustration of Eileen’s Midas touch. “I wanted to start directing, maybe readings for some of the theatre companies I had been working for, when Jennifer Cetrone, told me she was looking for a director for her company’s next production”, explains Galindo.
“I said I could probably put her in contact with someone. She then asked who would be crazy enough to want to direct for free. - I said that if someone asked me I’d do it. And that’s how it came about”, Eileen proceeds to say while nonchalantly drifting a smile.

The original plan was to do a published piece. But as the company was going through a transition, it became the perfect opportunity to try launching a world premiere. Galindo had been working in a writer’s group with short story writer, Hannah Logan, on the original Trailerville stories and instantly knew they could be adapted into a play.

“Trailerville” is an ensemble cast with a total of 30 actors altogether part of a double cast - there are no under studies and no specific leads/principals.
Another unique aspect of the play is that the production company is one of the only “bi-coastal” theatre companies in the country, as artistic Director/founder, Jennifer Cetrone opened an east coast chapter of From The Ground Up Theatre Company in March of this year.

Taking on the role of director was certainly not a big stretch for Galindo whose real lifestory is nothing short of “taking charge” episodes. She is one of those rare talents who remains strongly involved on a political level to affect the entertainment industry with regards to minorities and has most definitely become a voice to be reckoned with.

She found herself on the pages of the LA Times not just for an acting review but for her charitable endeavors following the Katrina disaster. Owner of a 5-unit building in Hollywood, California, Eileen generously housed a young couple with their newborn (Katrina evacuees) for three months rent free. She sent out a mass e-mail asking for donations of blankets, food, clothes, etc… and somehow found herself mentioned on Hollywood’s members-only, highly prestigious, elite internet newsletter dubbed “The List”. The outcome was car loads of prêt-a-porter designer brands from the finest boutiques on Rodeo Drive and Robertson Blvd, snazzy furniture, gift cards and boxes of gourmet delicacies.

On the political front, she served as a board member of the Screen Actor’s Guild for three years. At only twenty one years of age, Eileen became instrumental in the non-traditional casting movement that gained momentum in the 1990s, putting herself on the picket lines to encourage Broadway producers to endorse diversity in casting.
As a result, today Broadway is certainly more integrated.

Now Eileen is rightfully reaping the seeds of a well deserved success.
She secured one of the lead starring roles in a series of webisodes called “In the Motherhood”, opposite Leah Remini ["King of Queens"], Chelsea Handler ["Girls Behaving Badly"] and Lainie Kazan; wrapped production in the critically acclaimed theater play Zoot Suit “Romeo &Juliet” adapted and directed by Tony Plana, opposite Ana Ortiz (”Ugly Betty”), and Mauricio Mendoza (”Resurrection Blvd”); and joined the cast of NBC’s “Days of our Lives”, in the role of the nefarious “Beverly Healy”; and secured a voice-over appearance opposite Caroline Rhea and Mitchel Musso in “Phineas and Ferb” the new Disney Channel animated comedy by the creators of “Hey Arnold” and “Sponge Bob Square Pants”.

“Trailerville” opens on June 13 at the legendary Moving Arts Theater in the trendy Los Feliz area in Los Angeles, and runs until July 27 for six consecutive weeks.

EILEEN GALINDO

Octagon has named Matt Neidl to the position of Group Director of its multicultural marketing division. Neidl, who brings more than a decade of experience helping industry leading brands engage their multicultural audiences, will report to David Parkes, Senior Vice President of Octagon’s Marketing Solutions Group.

“Matt’s broad-based experience in the strategic development and activation of both traditional and non-traditional marketing and promotional campaigns complements and enhances the insights into the multicultural marketplace and expertise currently available from Octagon,” said Parkes. “The programs he’s created and managed across a number of industry segments give him a high degree of familiarity with our clients’ businesses in addition to developing opportunities for Octagon to help brands in categories where we’re currently not represented,” he said.

A member of the Interpublic Group (NYSE: IPG), Octagon works with Allstate, The Home Depot and Sprint on multicultural marketing initiatives.

Neidl joins Octagon from Latinsphere Experiential in California where he was Director of Experiential Marketing. Clients included Disney, XM Radio and ESPN Deportes. For these clients and others, he developed experiential, retail and promotional programs and CRM campaigns entailing lead-generation, on-line marketing and direct mail.

Prior to Latinsphere, he held various account positions with The Bravo Group and Mendoza Dillon y Asociados, both part of the Y&R Brands communications agency network. Clients included Kraft Foods, United States Postal Service, Mazda, and Miller Brewing. He also worked in the retail, broadcast, telecommunications and financial services categories.

“As we are all aware, we live in a marketplace that’s controlled by the consumer. As such, brands need to establish and create a one-to-one relationship with the marketplace,” said Neidl. “On that note, I look forward to developing and activating integrated strategic brand solutions for our clients. Octagon is focused on helping our clients achieve profitable growth through the creation of marketing solutions that enable them to generate experiences for and establish conversations with their consumers,” said Neidl.

Neidl earned his bachelor’s degree in business management and marketing communications from Universidad San Francisco in his native Quito, Ecuador. He was managing partner and event marketing director of a marketing promotional consulting firm in Quito where he serviced clients in the pharmaceutical, petroleum and beverage segments.

Octagon, named “Sports Agency of the Year” by Sports Business Journal, is the world’s leader in sports and entertainment marketing with global expertise in consulting, athletes & personalities, event management, property representation, marketing solutions, licensing and merchandising and talent procurement. As part of The Interpublic Group (NYSE: IPG), one of the world’s leading organizations comprised of advertising and marketing services agencies, Octagon employs marketing specialists based in major markets on six continents. For further information please visit:

Pardo has spent his career so restlessly straddling the borders of sculpture, design and furniture that he has drawn humorous comparisons to IKEA and Martha Stewart. If you can’t afford his luminous, geometric outdoor installations in massive concrete, you can always hope for a lamp. His lush colors and dancing forms make their way into houses, interiors, chairs, even clocks. If you flip through the new Phaidon book “Jorge Pardo,” his innumerable mutations feel like a Disney “Fantasia” in which lamps float away as glowing butterflies. Plant-like shapes loom somewhere between Fred Flintstone and the Jetsons, with sprightly touches reminiscent of Picasso cohort Wilfredo Lam. Massive concrete geometric forms are illuminated with warm colors.”*

TV Azteca, Mexico’s No. 2 web, has picked up the U.S. Hispanic version of “Desperate Housewives,” produced by Disney Latin America for leading U.S. Spanish-language net Univision.

Azteca will air “Amas de Casas Desesperadas” on Canal 13, its main channel normally reserved for Mexican programming, starting June 9. In contrast to Univision’s weekly programming plan, Azteca will be stripping the skein daily Monday-Friday — like a telenovela — in its peak primetime slot.”*

Disney has signaled another shift in how it distributes the Disney Channel in Europe by announcing that Disney Channel Spain will relaunch as an ad-funded free channel.

The channel will bow on DTT in Spain July 1 in what Disney described as a global first.”*

Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg will announce today at the annual “Made in NY” Awards reception held at Gracie Mansion new efforts of the Latin Media and Entertainment Commission (LMEC) to position New York as the center for Latin media and entertainment. The announcements include the City’s first ever Latin Media Guide of events taking place throughout the city, the appointment of eight new commission members, the formation of a working group with educational institutions and industry leaders, and a newly re-launched website on www.nyc.gov .

“The Latin Media and Entertainment Commission was established to showcase our city’s Latino arts and entertainment community and create new opportunities and jobs in these fields,” said Mayor Bloomberg. “The Commission has brought together executives from Latin media and business organizations, and over the past four years these leaders have put their talents to work on the city’s behalf. By welcoming eight new members and launching a new website and Latin media guide, the Commission is strengthening the art, music, and entertainment industries that make New York City the Latin Media and Entertainment Capital of the World.”

As part of the Commission’s efforts to create and support events that provide the most enriching Latin cultural experiences, the LMEC has partnered with the bilingual Latino website NYRemezcla to create the first-ever Latin Media Guide. The 2008 edition of the guide includes 14 events supported by LMEC. These events range from Latin film screenings to outdoor Latin music concerts and combined are expected to have an estimated economic impact on the city of over $60 million.

“We continue to work closely with the Mayor to identify, build, and tout top destinations in New York City featuring Latin advertising, new media, films, music, dining, art galleries, and more,” said LMEC Chair Mario L. Baeza, Chairman and CEO of the Baeza Group, and Founder and Executive Chairman V-Me Media, Inc. “We are committed to fostering the growth of Latin organizations in New York in order to continue growing and enriching the cultural fabric of our great City.”

This year, LMEC’s goal to promote economic development for Hispanic advertising and media companies will be re-enforced by the addition of eight new board members: Patrick Dolan, Senior Vice President, Interactive Advertising Bureau; Robert Federico, Executive Director, Repertorio Español; Angela M. Freyre, Senior Vice President, Nielsen Media; Jacqueline Hernández, COO, Telemundo; Jorge Reynardus, President/Partner, Reynardus & Moya; Jeffrey Thompson, Vice President Global Diversity, Disney; Joe Uva, CEO, Univision; Carlos Sanchez, President & General Manager of Telemundo 47.

The event listings in the Latin Media Guide are also part of a comprehensive calendar featured on the LMEC’s newly redesigned website that can be found on www.nyc.gov . Some of the up-coming LMEC-endorsed events appearing in the new Latin Media Guide include TeatroStageFest being held June 2-15, the Latin Alternative Music Conference being held July 8-12, the New York International Latino Film Festival taking place July 22-27, the Latino Cultural Festival at the Queens Theater July 23-August 3 and the New York Salsa Congress August 27-31.

The new LMEC website will also include a summary of New York business incentives, an Online Business Survey, a directory of industry and Latino cultural institutions and subscription to a newsletter that will keep the public updated and informed about the LMEC’s work and upcoming Latin events. The website will also highlight the LMEC’s joint effort with many of the City’s top colleges and universities and executives in the “new media” and Hispanic advertising fields to develop and strengthen New York City’s growing Latin media and entertainment workforce. The partnership seeks to bridge the gap between educational institutions and the changing demands of the industry to provide opportunities to students.

About the Latin Media and Entertainment Commission (LMEC)
On October 28, 2003, Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg created the NYC Latin Media & Entertainment Commission (LMEC) by Executive Order No. 43. The LMEC advises the Mayor on business development and retention strategies for the Latin media and entertainment industry and works with City agencies to pursue the LMEC’s goals. Through research and strategies, the LMEC develops initiatives to retain, recruit, and expand New York City’s Latin media and entertainment productions, businesses, and jobs as well as to attract and host high-profile Latin entertainment productions and events in New York City. The Commission is made up of leaders from the Latin and mainstream media industry, community leaders from the nonprofit and cultural sectors, and leading executives from the financial, advertising, and real estate sectors. Commission members include honorary Chairpersons Jennifer Lopez and Robert De Niro; LMEC Chairman Mario Baeza, Chairman and CEO of the Baeza Group and Founder and Executive Chairman V-Me Media, Inc.; and the Mayor’s Advisor and Liaison to the Commission, Willie Colon. The heads of seven City agencies, under the direction of the Deputy Mayor for Economic Development, serve on the commission as ex officio members.”*