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By Michael Lopez

We have to admit, we have quite a lot of respect for Andy Garcia. Outside of his solid acting resume, the 56-year-old Cuban-American is a successful producer, musician and writer. He's also branching out into the directing game, with a new film based on the life of Ernest Hemingway.

Hemingway & Fuentes will profile the strong friendship the author had with boat captain Gregorio Fuentes. Andy will portray Gregorio and screen legend Anthony Hopkins has signed on as Ernest.

Additionally, the movie will feature Academy Award nominee Annette Bening as Hemingway's third wife. The plot will reportedly revolve around Ernest's Old Man and the Sea story and how Fuentes influenced him to write it.

"I've always been passionate about fishing and about the book The Old Man and the Sea, and I knew that I had to do this screenplay," Garcia recently said.

It all sounds very exciting to us. Look for Hemingway & Fuentes to arrive in theaters by late 2013.

Who's your favorite classic author? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Andy Garcia, Annette Bening, Anthony Hopkins, Blogger: Michael Lopez, Books, Ernest Hemingway, Gregorio Fuentes, Hemingway & Fuentes, Movies & CineMás

By Michael Lopez

We have to admit, we're pretty excited about Magic City. Not only does it feature prominent Latinos in the cast, it transports them to 1950's Miami. The Starz original series had its big premiere in L.A. last week and we happened to be there to cover all of the action.

"It's 1959 Miami beach – mobsters, the CIA and my character stuck in the middle," lead Jeffrey Dean Morgan told us. "I think the writing is brilliant, it captures the essence of that unforgettable era."

Morgan portrays Ike Evans on the show, which takes place at the Miramar Playa hotel. As you can imagine, Cuban-Americans play a big role in the plot too. Actor Yul Vazquez (who was born on the island) plays hotel manager Victor Lazaro and Dominik Garcia-Lorido is his daughter Mercedes.

If Dominik looks familiar, it's because she has a very famous bloodline. Her dad is Cuban-American icon Andy Garcia and he showed his support at the premiere as well.

"This has been amazing," Garcia-Lorido said. "I've been able to have so much fun with my character. I play a maid in the hotel and she and the owner's son have a ‘special relationship."

Seeing how Starz is a subscription cable channel, you can expect plenty of "special relationships" on the show without the hassle of network censors. And the series made sure to cast several sexy ladies to round out the cast.

Former Bond vixen Olga Kurylenko plays a high society wife on the series (who was formerly a showgirl).

"This show is very interesting," Olga explained. "I'm playing this member of 1950's high society. But because of her past, she isn't fully accepted. And that will lead to a lot of drama to come."

Russian-born beauty Elena Satine also has a dark backstory on the show, playing a glamorous Miami escort.

"You're going to see a lot of surprises with my character," she told us. "She's very mysterious at first, but you'll discover that she has many layers and holds a lot of secrets."

And former pop star Willa Ford was given a juicy role too, playing the gorgeous Janice Michaels. When we spoke to her, she explained that one of her favorite experiences on set was wearing the retro fashions.

"Everyone was so dapper in this era," she said. "I'm a big vintage clothes collector. Being on this show reminded me why those styles were so great. It was like playing dress up everyday!"

We're definitely excited to see how Magic City pans out and which classic icons pop up (Celia Cruz or Desi Arnaz perhaps?). Starz certainly believes in the series, as they've already green lit a second season before episode one even hit the air.

Are you excited about Magic City? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Andy Garcia, Blogger: Michael Lopez, Dominik Garcia-Lorido, Elena Satine, Exclusive Entrevistas, Fashion Face-Off, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Magic City, Olga Kurylenko, STARZ, Style, Television, Tr3s Exclusives, Willa Ford

By Michael Lopez

Good news Dora The Explorer fans, your favorite junior adventurer is back on Nickelodeon with new episodes and a brand new voice! 11-year-old Fátima Ptacek will now be stepping up to the mic for the iconic role and, judging by her resume, she's more than qualified for the part.

Not only is she a proud Latina, Ptacek (who's part Ecuadorian) is fluent in both Spanish and English. She's also a vet of the small screen, having appeared on shows like Saturday Night Live, A Gifted Man, and Royal Pains.

And, for the record, there will be another Tr3s fave hitting the Explorer trail this week too. Andy Garcia is lending his voice to Friday's episode as the iconic Don Quixote character (and teaching good ol' Boots a few things about the royal knighthood).

You can catch Fátima's (and Andy's) big Dora debut this week on Nickelodeon at 10:00am ET/PT.

Are you excited about Dora's new episodes? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Andy Garcia, Blogger: Michael Lopez, Dora the Explorer, Fátima Ptacek, Hot Stuff, Nickelodeon, Television

By Michael Lopez

We've seen her do comedy, we've seen her do drama, but can you picture Eva Longoria as a female action star? Our favorite Desperate Housewife is looking to kick some major butt with a role in the explosive new film The Truth.

Mixing in elements of James Bond espionage with Erin Brockovich activism, The Truth follows the life of an ex-CIA operative who uncovers corporate corruption while living in South America. Longoria will play the lead alongside heavies like Andy Garcia and Forest Whitaker.

Throwing in a bit of nolstagia, Scarface's Steven Bauer has also been added to the cast along with Real Steel bad guy Kevin Durand. Damian Lee will direct the movie, which will be shot in the Dominican Republic.

Of course if you want your fill of Eva sooner than that, you can look for her in the film Four Kings with Brendan Fraser and the animated Hulu series Child Support. Both projects should be out by early next year.

Do you think Eva would make a good action star? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Andy Garcia, Blogger: Michael Lopez, Eva Longoria, Forest Whitaker, Hot Stuff, Kevin Durand, Movies & CineMás, Steven Bauer, The Truth

By Michael Lopez

Even though the New York International Latino Film Festival (NYILFF) ended earlier this week, its films continue to resonate. The seven-day event brought out heavy dramas, cultural documentaries, and even some Español-tinged animation. But most importantly, it showcased a beautiful array of talented Hispanic moviemakers.

Media outlets all over the country picked up on the buzz that NYILFF was generating. One flick that seemed to capture attention was Andy Garcia's Magic City Memoirs . Though Garcia didn't direct the film, his attachment as a producer helped bring it to the forefront. Memoirs has been described as a beautiful coming of age story (and features a notable performance by Andy's daughter, Dominik Garcia-Lorido).

Chico & Rita also caught the eye of the critics, partially because it was the first animated film to ever open the festival. Drawn with a unique and colorful style, this salsa-inspired movie is set against the backdrop of 1940's Cuba.

But if you're curious about which flicks actually took home NYLIFF awards, look no further than Maria My Love. Maria won for Best U.S. Film and deservedly so. It's not political and it's not Latino-centric, rather this movie is about family and the struggles they go through after a major loss. Its universal acclaim makes us think writer/director Jasmine McClade Jizelle has a very bright Hollywood future ahead of her.

El Regreso won for Best Foreign Film. This one has a lot more Español elements mixed into its plot as it chronicles a man's emotional journey from New York to Costa Rica. NYLIFF's Best Director honors went to Aaron Burns for Blacktino. Described as one of the festival’s funniest films, it definitely has a thought-provoking edge with its explorations of the Afro-Latino experience.

Over 100 movies were screened throughout the week, each with their own unique flair and perspective. NYLIFF also showcased quite a few up-and-coming actors, including America’s Lymari Nadal (who we'll definitely keep our eye on). Though the festival has now wrapped up, you can still visit the official site for more details on all of the selections.

Are you a fan of independent cinema? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Aaron Burns, Andy Garcia, Blogger: Michael Lopez, Cultura, Jasmin McClade Jizelle, Lymari Nadal, Movies & CineMás, new york international latino film festival, NYLIFF