STUDIO TO START OFF 2020 WITH "LA FUERZA" MINI-SERIES

It may not come to a complete shock that the studio has been working on a new web series-ish mini series called LA FUERZA during the late latter half of 2019, but it may be completely shocking to learn that the new production has been entirely produced in Spanish, for viewing by Latin fans who may have been deprived of a good Indie film in Texas. The studio has completed filming the first episode to the six episode series and plans to have a premiere viewing on January 1st, 2020 for the cast and crew.

Fuerza is the brainchild of D. R. Quintana, who wrote a full feature film under the title of La Fuerte in 2016 during his time crossing the country during several business trips. He says that the original script was written just to pass the time at hotels and to keep him busy during his off time. The initial idea for the series was to include a Vegas-type casino and a large ranch in the middle of West-Texas, but without a solid budget to produce the series the way it was originally intended, the studio pulled talented actors from the Houston area and produced a smaller fraction of the story that will be given a chance to flourish on the smaller screens of the internet.

The series cast is led by veteran actress, Maque Garcia, who takes the part of "Ana" and has worked with the studio on several projects, but most identified for her performances as "Holly McAdams" on The Secret of ANGELIKA5 which ran from 2009 to 2014; produced entirely in Montgomery County. Her other works with the studio have been a plethora of modeling and short films that were received with positive reviews. She has worked on Spanish networks in Houston for over ten years, being featured as a weather lady, traffic consultant and news investigator on Telemundo and Univision stations in Houston, Texas.

Garcia also stepped up her efforts on Fuerza, becoming the Executive Producer, ensuring that the all English written scripts were translated into Spanish properly and to ensure proper performance during screenplay just before filming began. She was beside the director during every take, taking notes, correcting Spanish grammar when required to ensure the best delivery in each scene, and she helped procure a location for the entire series first two episodes. Her tenure as an asset to the studio has proven to be the best element for success as we begin to transition from series projects to full feature films in 2020.

A surprise casting decision was made for Sonia Reyes to play "Teresa" in this new dramatic series. She played her role in a blistering performance as the antagonist for the leading character, even though it was her first time on a set, acting in front of a camera. Reyes came into the scope of Quintana's during the production effort on Wives of Bellaire, which initially went into production in 2018 but abruptly came to a halt. Her small role in a bank robbery as an extra, won Quintana's admiration through a smartly performed [and improvised] interview as a "witness to a crime." 

When the studio decided to put the project into production, Quintana did not hesitate to contact Reyes and bring her to the show. The director felt that the part of "Teresa" required a stern actress to play the character who actually looked the part with forceful facial features and still deliver a sexy look to entice a larger response from male viewers. Episode one is considered one of the best performances by a new comer for the studio and Quintana was very proud of Reyes' delivery at the end of the episode. She is expect to expand her talents to the show for the entire season, playing two roles but delivering dramatic performances to captivate audiences for a possible second extension of the series.

The studio was also desiring a strong male lead for the Latin soap opera-ish series, so Quintana called in another veteran actor for the show, the handsome Omar Scanu. His background has national origins from Puerto Rico, so he has had to adjust his Spanish dialect for Fuerza to match up with the other Latin actors. He has participated in Houston as a professional male model, as a commercial DJ "scratch" performer, and film director. Scanu plays the character of Manuel "Manny" Mancha in the show, a Houston Police Detective who is trying to solve the murder of a local businessman.

Scanu has worked on several projects with the studio from 2010 to 2016; a small role in The Secret of ANGELIKA5 both the web series & the movie which is currently in production, and the leading role in WISHBONES, a one episode sizzle reel that won accolades for dramatic presentation. His addition to Fuerza was no accident as whenever the studio has required the need for a well versed actor for dramatic performance, Omar's name has often surfaced as the best choice for setting his mark in that production as he is always well prepared and provides keen insight to developing likeable solid characters on film each time he takes a role.

Fuerza will also star Dulce Garcia [from Mexico], Salma Flores [of Katy, TX], Huberto Villarreal [of Houston], David Kurfner [of Humble, TX], and Saira Ramos [of Houston, TX]. The series is set to launch on January 1st on a special Facebook page listed here.

 

Bernice Felton R. R.

[Contributing Writer] 

STUDIO PREPARES PRODUCTION ON NEW MOVIE PROJECT...A ZOMBIE FILM!!!

D. R. Quintana has a lot to be exited about lately. Over the course of two months in the past summer and several phone calls, he conjured up a story idea about a zombie apocalypse that was too good to pass up. Quintana began working on a screenplay, and over the course of five days, a completed script was prepared to pass around for another potential movie that is to be produced entirely south of San Antonio, Texas in a small desert town called Somerset; where the studios previous production location of PRAYING MANTIS was filmed. This time, the studio planned on producing its first zombie horror film.

A talented cast was quickly chosen for key roles in the future production and locations for production have been quickly falling into place. For Quintana, the idea of working on a zombie film seemed like child's play, especially after each scene of the script seemed to just come out from the sky and onto the keyboard. He is very excited about starting filming efforts on the new film, spending time trying to find the right locations that will fit the script. The film production is entitled HAVOC 114; a possible acronym for a toxin that has the properties to bring the dead back to life in the form of zombies.

The studio has acquired the talents of Zara Majidpour, David Perales [Zombie Reign: Revelations], Saira Ramos [Angelika5], and Val Jean Eskridge to help breath life into this new script. Most of the actors in the production have already worked with the studio on previous film projects, internet based web series, and professional photo shoots. But the studio has made mention that additional actors will be added to the film as the production beings to take shape. The studio is considering an "open call" for twelve lucky people in San Antonio to play the parts of zombies during one night of production.

Zara Majidpour stepped into the studio with a long list of IMDB credibility and several local Houston films under a strong resume that secures her certification as a professional actress. Her entrance marks a valuable change in the films production angle and schedule, adding more action and some intense close-quarter fight scenes that is sure to keep the future audience on the edge of their seats. Majidpour has also worked on several dramatic network shows that will also help performances within the film when action scenes aren't required.

Saira Ramos is a veteran studio actress who has worked on The Secret of Angelika5 in Montgomery, Texas; taking part in over 36 episodes which all ran for a little over 26 minutes. She has also worked as a model, and on her professional side, she has her own company representing talent in commercialized comic book conventions throughout the United States. She is cute, funny, and is a great person to have on your side when you need someone to lift the atmosphere. Her addition to the cast is proving to be the glue that is needed to keep the humorous side of the script in check. Quintana says that whenever Ramos is on the set, you will never know which side of the actresses personae will arrive; the funny actor or the dramatic performer who is out to make a mark in her part of the film.

HAVOC 114 goes into production in late January and is slated for a mid-March release, a possible premiere at a drive-in theater in southern San Antonio and another drive-in release in Tomball, Texas, just north of Houston, and eventual world-wide release on the Amazon streaming service.