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Coming Soon: #LOLASJOURNEY


LOGLINE: When a young woman is blamed for her life-threatening health issues due to her size, a medical emergency pushes her to advocate for her life.

DONATE TOWARDS OUR PRODUCTION BUDGET OF $20,000 HERE or HERE*
Check donations are encouraged. Email to request the mailing address.

Contact me for more information, Look Book/Deck, or script. 

The press release can be viewed here.

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Short + Sweet Festival

Tickets are now on sale for the 2019 Short + Sweet Hollywood Festival. Select block "Del Rio" to see original Latino plays in a ten-minute format, including ROSA, written by Ruben Mendive and directed by Ana Lydia Monaco.
ROSA is an English-language play that in both a dramatic and comedic fashion, highlights the differences between Latinos and our lived experiences.  

Jacqueline Castañeda stars as ROSA,  Leah Lopez is KARLA and Alberto Ocampo is the show's COP. 

ROSA runs from October 11-14 at the Marilyn Monroe Theater in Hollywood. Buy your tickets here and enter ‘HALFTIX’* at check-out for half price early bird tickets across the whole festival (excluding our semi finals and finals).

* NOTE: This code will be removed by 9/13 or when the allocation runs out – hurry!
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"ROMA" Community Screenings

Following Roma’s 10 Oscar nominations and two Golden Globe® wins, the National Domestic Workers Alliance (NDWA) and Participant Media have announced a nationwide effort of community screenings for domestic workers and employers in 12 cities, including Atlanta, Los Angeles, Chicago, Seattle, and New York.

These screenings are part of a larger campaign to encourage viewers take action and explore how they can make a difference for the women who care for our families and homes.
Roma comes at a time  of incredible momentum in the fight towards equality and the improvement of working conditions for domestic workers. To date, eight states and one city have passed laws to expand rights for domestic workers. This year alone, Senator Kamala Harris and Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal will be introducing the first national Domestic Workers Bill of Rights.

While these screenings have been filled with members of partner organizations, you can also help domestic workers at a personal level by contributing to the first ever benefits platform for housecleaners called Alia.

Alia allows for employers and supporters of housecleaners to provide paid time off with as little as $5 (monthly contribution). While house cleaners in California and New York can also access accident insurance, critical illness insurance, life insurance, or disability insurance.

To find out how to support domestic workers, visit: www.roma.domesticworkers.org
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Burgerim

*This is a Sponsored Post*


Always looking for a casual spot that offers a nice mix of something healthy and something yummy (hopefully both!), my hubby and I were recently invited to try Burgerim at its first US location in East Hollywood.

Burgerim is gourmet burger fast casual restaurant chain that is well known outside of the US for its its two, three or sixteen-burger combo boxes....but it's much more than that!


Make no mistake, Burgerim IS a burger joint, but different...

Larger than a slider, each Burgerim burger is made with an 2.8-ounce patty that's made in a variety of proteins including dry-aged beef, Wagyu beef, salmon, lamb, or even a veggie patty.


Burgers can be further personalized when adding one (or several) of the available toppings including a sunny-side up egg, pineapple, or sautéed mushrooms; or topped with one (or several) of the many speciality sauces, including the House sauce, BBQ, or spicy mayo.

To make your burger even yummier, Burgerim gives you a selection of  three artisanal buns, including a gluten-free or whole wheat bun.


Each burger box can have all of the same burgers, or different burgers (the 16-burger box can have up to four different burgers, of four of each).

The sides, round seasoned fries (Burgerim fries) or onion rings, are served with a selection of dipping sauces that will leave you wanting more.


As for other items on the menu, I was partial to the the Basket Salad, made with fresh arugula, strawberries, candied pecans, goat cheese and topped with a raspberry vinaigrette.

While my hubby loved the desserts, especially the New York-style cheesecake.

The complete menu has a nice variety of sandwiches and other lunch and late-night munchie favorites, including chicken wings, sweet potato fries and home fries.


Burgerim Hollywood is a family friendly restaurant that will soon serve beer and wine.

No reservations are needed and street parking was easy to find. But for those not in the area, they also offer local delivery.

 Burgerim Gourmet Burgers
5001 Melrose Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90038

Happy Eating!
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The Wizarding World of Harry Potter Opens in Universal Studios Hollywood


One of the benefits of having a family member, in my case my hubby, work for a major Hollywood studio, is having access to things (activities, movies, et all) that normal folks, like me, don't have; and while rarely share these experiences or talk about them, let alone blog about them, I knew that The Wizarding World of Harry Potter opening up at Universal Studios Hollywood is all sorts of exciting for pretty much everyone in So Cal, let alone Los Angeles, so I made an exception.


So I got to see and experience the Wizarding World of Harry Potter a couple of weeks back in a super exclusive, super private, like less than a few hundred people in the park, event. As in, there was NO LINE and we got on all rides twice (all rides being a total of two rides).


Let me get this out of the way: Other than my niece and stepdaughter being COMPLETELY obsessed with Harry Potter, I only recently saw the first two movies. So I am NOT a huge and lifelong Harry Potter fan. But I do like the movie series (because I haven't read the books) and especially love anything with owls. So there you go.

That being said, you can imagine that I was going in with childlike wonder yet not huge expectations about the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, but excited none-the-less.


Let's start of with what's important: The Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Universal Studios Hollywood IS a true representation of the production design and art direction of the movies.

Absolutely and beyond a measure of a doubt: GORGEOUS.


The Hogwarts Castle is especially breathtaking and perched atop a man-made hill that overlooks the San Fernando Valley, I promise you that no view outside of Universal Studios Hollywood could possibly compare to the beauty of this location. Period and end of story.


As for the entertainment and rides. Let me get right to it: There are TWO rides (The Hogwarts Castle and the rollercoaster); ONE interactive get-your-wand show (that is merely preparing eager eyed Harry Potter fans to walk into a wand shoppe and spend a pretty penny); and one occasional (possibly hourly) sidewalk/outside performance that was all sorts of -meh-.

As for the rides, because they are, ahem, "size prohibitive," (I saw several people get turned away because they didn't fit into the chairs), I suggest that before you get your hopes up and stand in line with a few hundred people to try out the chairs for size if you are a little on the hefty/pudgy/large/plus size. (and by pudgy, I'm a size 16 and 5'9" and had plenty of room - but I don't have a large *upstairs* or large belly, if you know what I mean)


The Wizarding World of Harry Potter has one large restaurant - which the architecture alone is worth the dining experience; two Butterbear stands, and several shops. Actually, most of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is composed of shops...lots and lots of shops, with so much branded and themed merchandise that I was overwhelmed going through it all (and I'm a shopper!).

Then there is the train as soon as you walk in, but even with a private super exclusive private party with very few people, it was very hard to get to it or take a photo from afar.

And...that...is...it.


Did I like The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios Hollywood? Absolutely. Both my hubby and I enjoyed it VERY much!

Was the food good? I would rate the food above the amusement park norm; and the world famous Butterbeer was just a bit too sweet for me, but as liquidy foamy butterscotchey as it was, my hubby loved it so much that he ordered two and walked around with a sugar high for the rest of the day.

But, and this is my but: I was there with a few hundred people in mild weather...and the sidewalks already felt crowded and hot, so I can't possibly imagine what it will be like to visit The Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Universal Studios Hollywood when it opens or during the peak summer months.


That said, a true diehard fan will have the time of their life and the interactive ride inside of the Hogwarts Castle is definitely worth riding (given a choice, I would ride this one over the rollercoaster), and if you can't possibly stand the lines on a hot San Fernando Valley day, definitely try the restaurant. (Note: Rumor has it that folks will wait upwards of two hours, possibly more, to enjoy the rides - so be prepared).

Ana Lydia
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Check-Out my Documentaries!

Last semester I took a college course that I mistakingly thought would help me create better vlogs. I figured this was a skill I needed since I tend to lag with my blog writing. Vlogging is quicker...or so I thought.

Unfortunately, or fortunately, depending on how you look at it, this course was a bit more involved than the course description eluded to:

The class was intense, it was creative, and it also awoke a passion within me that threw my life - and career - for a tailspin.

Or, as my friends like to remind me: We knew it. (I guess my second life chapter calling was more obvious to others than to me!)

By the end of the semester I ended up researching and writing a treatment (with no prior experience what-so-ever), writing a script, and directing two documentaries...with the support of two amazing teams that I would have never met if it weren't for this class.

Without further ado and details that will bore you to tears, I invite you to take a look at both documentaries and share your thoughts on either topic (that with obvious reasons, are near and dear to me):


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"Light & Noir" Exiles and Emigres in Hollywood, 1933-1950

This is a sponsored post. All opinions my own.

I haven't mentioned, until now, but I directed my first two mini-documentaries this semester. The one I'm proudest of, is the one that was inspired by my treatment of a student History Department thesis about the "dirty business" of the film industry in the Golden Age of Hollywood.

Within this thesis I found a rough gem that I wanted to explore further: The Hollywood Production Code, also known as the Hays Code of the 1930's; a morality code and precursor to the TV & Movie rating system.

Although I was already a huge fan of this era, I was ignorant to what went on during this time behind the scenes. Through my documentary research and re-watching films with a new perspective, really brought to light stories that I was completely unaware of.

Another Hollywood behind-the-scenes history lesson is coming in the place of a special exhibit at the Skirball Center in Los Angeles aptly titled "Light & Noir" Exiles and Emigres in Hollywood, 1933-1950 which is open to the public until March 1, 2015.

This exhibit explores how the experiences of German-speaking exiles and emigres who fled Nazi Europe -many of them Jews- influenced classic films of Hollywood's Golden Age, such as Sunset Boulevard, Double Indemnity, Casablanca, to name a few. 

The exhibition will also spotlight acclaimed of actors, directors, writers, and composers, focusing on their impact on American cinema and culture; and through a never-before-assembled selection of film footage, drawings, props, costumes, posters, photographs, and memorabilia.

Light & Noir tells the story of Hollywood’s formative era through the lens of the émigré experience, focusing on genres in which the exiles and émigrés were especially productive: the exile film, the anti-Nazi film, film noir, and comedy. 

The exhibit features costumes worn by Marlene Dietrich, Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman, and Joan Crawford; as well as the Max Factor Scroll of Fame, and the original props from the set of Rick's Cafe in Casablanca.

The exhibition will also demonstrate how the experiences of exodus and exile affected the lives and work of emigres in many different ways - just as it does now...and just like my story and my perspective on the past influenced how I viewed the thesis that inspired my first mini-documentary.

In addition, various activities and film screenings will take place to further explore this era through the eyes and experiences of experts. I will be at be at the History of Fashion and Makeup talks on Sunday, December 7, and hope you can join me!

If you are a lover of film and obsessed with history and Hollywood as I am, you will not want to miss the exhibit

READINGS AND TALKS
Kimberly Truhler—The History of Fashion in Film Noir
Sunday, December 7, 1:00 p.m.

Gabriela Hernandez—Bésame Cosmetics*
Sunday, December 7, 2:30 p.m.
*client
FILM SCREENINGS
Somewhere in the Night
Tuesday, January 6, 1:30 p.m.

The Woman in the Window
Thursday, January 8, 8:00 p.m.*

The Stranger
Tuesday, January 13, 1:30 p.m.

Pitfall and Criss Cross—Double-Feature Film Screening
Sunday, January 25, 2:00 p.m.

Confessions of a Nazi Spy
Tuesday, February 3, 1:30 p.m.

Act of Violence
Tuesday, February 10, 1:30 p.m.

The File on Thelma Jordon
Thursday, February 12, 8:00 p.m.*

Cinema’s Exiles:
From Hitler to Hollywood
Sunday, March 1, 11:00 a.m.

______

Admission to this special exhibit is included with your Skirball Cultural Center Admission, or Free to all on Thursdays.

This was a sponsored post. All opinions my own.
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Join me at the 10th Annual Cinema Italian Style in Los Angeles

It's no secret that I'm a huge film buff. 

 I'm especially fond of movies that have a great story to tell. Something heartfelt, emotional, purposeful, and that teaches me something at the end of the film. Whether it's a message or reminder about a moral.
Add beautiful scenery, and it goes without saying, great acting, and I am bound to be lost in the screen for the duration of the film and transported to a different time and place. Films that give me all of the above tend to be independent or foreign. Especially Italian.
Sophia Loren at Cinema Italian Style
Photo Courtesy of CIS

I'm not sure when I saw my first Italian film, but I do remember being drawn to Sophia Loren's deep eyes and intense dialogue. Even if in Italian and trying to keep-up with the subtitles, I was hooked.

In the words of Oscar-winning Italian Director Giuseppe Tornatore of Cinema Paradiso fame, "Italian films include love" as part of their storytelling formula; and who doesn't love, love?
Watching Cinema Paradiso sometime after graduating high school was just amazing and further connected me with the Italian-way of telling a story. Other noteworthy films that have touched my heart include Il Divo, and of course, who hasn't been in tears after watching Life is Beautiful. 
Little did I know, until now, that the Italian Ministry of Culture-Film Department, under the auspices of the Consulate General of Italy in Los Angeles, are bringing us the 10th Annual Cinema Italian Style (CIS), an annual celebration of Italian Films, from November 13-18, 2014 at both the Aero Theatre in Santa Monica and Hollywood's Egyptian Theatre.

The 2014 edition of Cinema Italian Style (CIS), the Los Angeles glamorous showcase for Italian contemporary cinema, will be dedicated to the producer Franco Cristaldi and his masterpiece Cinema Paradiso, on the twenty-fifth anniversary of its theatrical release. 

Guiseppe Tornatore (center), writer and director, known for Cinema Paradiso (1988), Malèna (2000) and The Best Offer (2013). Eros Ramazottie, singer songwriter (left). Photo Courtesy of CIS,
In addition, a rich and talented cast of actors, directors and producers will be in town to introduce the movies and meet with the audience in occasion of the screenings, and the Italian Cultural Institute in Los Angeles will showcase Cinema Paradiso's images, posters, memorabilia, and props, including the film’s original script from November 12th until November 21st.

 During CIS, the Italian Cultural Institute will be presenting a selection of documentaries and film bios of some of cinema’s most important figures (Franco Cristaldi, Sophia Loren, Quentin Tarantino, etc.), in a special program dedicated to the 90th anniversary of Istituto Luce. 
CIS Press Conference.
Photo Credit: Ana Lydia Ochoa-Monaco

The Festival will also be screening Italy's Official Oscar submission, Caeser Must Die, about a director staging Shakespeare's Julius Caesar in Rome's maximum security Rebibbia prison. Fans of classic Italian cinema will enjoy films featuring two of cinema's most celebrated actresses, Ingrid Bergman and Sophia Loren.

Visit the following link to view the schedule of the documentaries shown at the Italian Cultural Institute, November 12th - 21st: ICI-DOCUMENTARIES and download the full schedule and synopsis of the movies shown at Cinema Italian Style, here: CINEMA ITALIAN STYLE

 Learn more about the “25 Years in Cinema Paradiso” at the Italian Cultural Institute, here: ITALIAN CULTURAL INSTITUTE

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit: AmericanCinematheque, to view press conference photos, click here.
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iPic Luxury Movie Theater Opens in Westwood

The following is a sponsored post, but no one buys my opinions.
On a recent Thursday evening, my hubby and I ventured out to preview the newest iPic Luxury Movie Theater in Westwood.
According to the LA Times, "iPic has spent two years transforming the property into a six-screen 424-seat movie house where patrons will be able to order drinks and gourmet food from plush, leather reclining seats that have buttons to summon "Ninja" clad waiters."
Living in a community where there's no shortage of great movie theaters, iPic takes movie-watching to a completely different level.  

 iPic boasts the comfort of a home theater experience with high-end acoustics and sound engineering, not to mention libations created by award-winning mixologist & sommelier Adam Sega; and a distinctly California-influenced menu created by Sherry Yard - all delivered to your seat WHILE you watch your movie.
Quite literally, movie goers experience luxury the moment they arrive to the theater. From the uniformed valet parking (there is also self parking), to the hotel lobby-like check-in area, movie goers are immediately presented with the high-end experience they will enjoy.

 While appealing to have drinks and your dinner delivered to your seat from Tanzy Express, movie goers can also dine at the in-house Salt Lounge before, or after, the movie.  
Now, let's talk about the seating at iPic, which is quite literally a reason in itself to visit this theater: LAZY BOYS! OH-M-G.
My swollen ankle was arisen in the comfy leather seat, while my blanky kept me warm and pillow, well, let's just say thank GOD the movie we were watching was good, otherwise I would have been snoring.  It is THAT comfortable.

 iPic has two pricing levels, ranging from $15 to $29, not inclusive of the $4 self-service validated parking or any food. I do recommend that you look into the Free membership program, which offers such benefits as special pricing on Tuesday when Members wine is only $5 and beer is $2. I was also told that both the Salt Lounge and Tanzy Express would also have "small bites" specials on Tuesday for members. 
Together with the food, location, and well, the sheer luxury of it all, it won't be long before hubby and I return to watch a movie at iPic - because, well, we LOVE the movie watching experience as much as we love quality films.
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