BeChicMag.com

BeChicMag.com on the Red Carpet!

Last night was a great success for BeChicMag.com! We had access to profile the red carpet premiere of “Julie & Julia” starring Meryl Streep as notable chef Julia Childs and Amy Adams as blogger/author Julie Powell, respectively. In true A-list fashion, Streep arrived late to the premiere. For BeChic TV, we had the pleasure of speaking with Deborah Rush who plays Julia Child’s (Streep’s) best friend in the film and actor Bob Balaban who said I look like Hilary Swank! We were also thrilled to speak with the first Latina to be named America’s Next Top Model Jaslene Gonzalez!
Julie & Julia hits theaters August 7th!

Check out this promo we did for BeChic TV! It’s only 28 seconds long.

To catch our webisode of the premiere, go to BeChic TV here.

A BeChic EXCLUSIVE: MEET JENNIFER LOPEZ’S DOUBLE

Sure, you may have seen photos of Jennifer Lopez on the set of her upcoming film The Back-Up Plan. But take another look at the image to the left. That’s not Jenny from the block. It’s Joselyn Martinez- who was a stand-in for J.Lo during eight days of shooting in New York City.

“As a stand-in you get to rehearse all of the scenes the actors will do,” says Martinez. “It was mostly 12-13 hour days. I wore high heels everyday because Jennifer used them and we have to be the same height.  I still have nightmares about running late to set.”

The Back-Up Plan- which hits theaters in January 2010- is a romantic comedy where Jennifer Lopez’s character conceives twins through artificial insemination and then meets the man of her dreams on the same day!

The Washington Heights native worked close to Jennifer and gave us the 4-1-1 on the star’s work ethic. “I noticed she gets really focused even when it’s a circus around her. When she was acting, there were cameras all around taking pictures of her,” says Martinez. “I loved it when she went to her phone to text after a scene. I share her love for texting!”

J.Lo is known to bring her clan to work and last week was no different. Her sister Lynda was on set with her baby. Joselyn says Mama Lopez was there everyday and Marc Anthony stopped by a few times, but no signs of their twins.

“On the last day, when she wrapped, and a birthday cake was brought out for her, she came over and we hugged and she thanked me,” says Martinez who is working on the release of her own album “Movimiento Subterraneo” and has a role in an upcoming film.

For more on Joselyn Martinez click here. -Mercedes Sanchez

BROS HIT THE SCREEN WITH THEIR FIRST DOCUMENTARY

Grammy award-winning duo Calle 13 gave one heck of a performance at SummerStage in Central Park on Saturday. We got a chance to sit down with the Puerto Rican natives Residente (Rene Perez) and Visitante (Eduardo Cabra) at the Renaissance Hotel to talk about their upcoming documentary “Sin Mapa” (Without a Map). The film captures the socially and politically conscious brothers’ journey across South America as they explore indigenous music and culture.

“Latinos need to be more united and more informed to what’s going on throughout Latin America,” says Residente. “We want to make more documentaries on different countries because in this one we were only able to cover a few.  Mexico needs its own documentary. So does Brazil.”

Although they’re known to have fun with their explicit lyrics, Calle 13 also raps on race, social class, pop culture and politics in a genius and satirical manner. In their current album, the group has a single with Panamanian salsero Ruben Blades called “La Perla”.

See the premiere of “Sin Mapa” at the New York International Film Festival on July 29th. - Mercedes Sanchez

See the video of “La Perla” below.
If you understand Spanish, please tell us what you think about the lyrics.

A RECAP ON RAMON RODRIGUEZ

When I interviewed actor Ramon Rodriguez for the “50 Sexiest Latino Singles” Valentine’s Day story in the NY Post, he was rocking a “Lower East Side” shirt, a shoulder-length mane and was just a sexy bachelor starting his career. Two years later, Ramon is no longer single and got rid of his locks. As you can see from the photo on the left, the Puerto Rican hottie is dating Rosie Perez pictured here at the premiere of Pineapple Express.

Apparently, great things can happen in two years. In 2006, Rodriguez was about to star in the HBO drama “The Wire.” Today, he’s filming Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen with Shia LaBeouf.

As far as Rosie, the Brooklyn star continues to do her thing and from what I’ve seen, is shining more than ever. Besides her successful career, I have a feeling her natural glow has something to do with Ramon’s long lashes and luscious lips. Don’t you think you think so?
*mercedes sanchez

While the nation discusses immigration through raging sound bytes, a new film, starring a number of telenovela stars – puts a face to the controversial issue. “La Misma Luna” (Under the Same Moon) tells the story between a mother and son separated by the Mexico and US border.

Director Patricia Riggen deftly explores the fictional family’s sacrifices which she says is not far moved from everyday reality.

“There are four million women going through this situation in the U.S. today,” says Riggen. “It’s something that every one of them has to evaluate. And if they leave a child behind, they do it because they don’t have another option. They do it for love.”

“La Misma Luna” was filmed in only five weeks in both Mexico and Los Angeles where the two protagonists only shot one scene together. Riggen does a phenomenal job as she examines the daily lives of Rosario and Carlitos played by Mexican superstar Kate del Castillo and Adrián Alonso, respectively. While Rosario begins her mornings with a soothing shower followed by a toasty Pop-Tart in her East L.A. apartment, her son Carlitos bathes with a bucket of water behind his grandmother’s house. And as for breakfast, he makes himself a hot chocolate by steaming milk on the stove and literally churning the chocolate.

America Ferrera also makes a short appearance as Martha, a young woman who tries to help her brother pay for college by smuggling babies across the border.

“I feel a part of it because I am one of those immigrants who left their families to come here in search of something,” says 35-year-old Del Castillo who left her native Mexico City for Hollywood. “What I liked most about the storyline is that it touches upon this topic in the most human way possible.”

Del Castillo, who on her time off likes to write and participate in extreme sports like sky diving and car racing, recently returned from the 2008 Berlin Film Festival for the premiere of “Julia” with Academy Award winning actress Tilda Swinton. The single actress also just finished filming “Por Vida” alongside Danny Glover.

When the Guadalajara-born director first started working on the film five years ago she was still living in Mexico. And at the time, immigration wasn’t as hot a topic as it is today. “The question shouldn’t be what is the United States to do about immigration,” says Riggen. “It’s the Mexican government and Mexican society that should work hard to resolve the poverty problem. That’s where we should focus our energy because if there isn’t poverty, there isn’t a need to migrate.”

“La Misma Luna” is in theaters now. *mercedes sanchez

You can also read my article in the New York Post.