LOS ANGELES (Top40 Charts/ ILDK Media) Award-winning filmmaker Francisco Lorite has received a 2014 "Best Theatrical Short" Imagen Award nomination for his short film entitled "Mediation". This marks the second time Lorite is nominated for an Imagen - he previously won for his groundbreaking short film "Cuco
Gomez Gomez is Dead".
The Imagen Awards are given annually by the Imagen Foundation to recognize and reward the positive portrayal of Latinos in all media, as well as to honor the achievements of Latinos in the entertainment and communications industries.
MEDIATION (30 second trailer) from Top Rebel Productions on Vimeo.
The 29th Annual Imagen (Spanish for "image") Awards will be presented at a gala black-tie dinner on Friday evening, August 1st, at the Beverly Hilton Hotel International Ballroom.
"Mediation" is the first project released by the brand new Film/TV production company entitled Top
Rebel Productions - the brainchild of Francisco Lorite, actor Freddy Rodriguez ("
Six Feet Under", "
Night Shift") and veteran producer Bill Winett.
The short tells the story of a divorce mediation that spirals completely out of control for a husband (Freddy Rodriguez), his soon-to-be ex-wife (Marley Shelton) and their court-appointed mediator (Lola Anthony).
Launched earlier this year, Top
Rebel Productions, is not only offering a viable platform for Latin actors to break Hollywood stereotypes, and present characters that are moving beyond the outdated stereotype, but also to tell stories they care about on their own terms while inspiring audiences.
While Freddy Rodriguez is returning to the small screen with the TV series "
Night Shift", which premiered on NBC May 27, Top
Rebel marks as well the actor's new business venture and opportunity to increase his presence behind the camera.
The trio immediately went to work shooting "Mediation" - a short film borrowing from the film noire style of the 50s. As the first project released under the Top
Rebel Productions marquee, "Mediation" presents and sets the tone for the production company's stable of projects and shows that excellent production can be accomplished with little budget.
The road less traveled has certainly been the path to success for Lorite.
Known for his multiple award-winning no-budget short "Cuco Cuco
Gomez is Dead", Lorite accomplished something few directors have.
Cuco not only screened over 150 times in the US alone, got sold for broadcast and garnered prominent media attention; but it also won five awards --including the prestigious Imagen Award for Best Theatrical Short, "Best Cine Latino" at the DC Film Festival, "Best Edited Short" at the 2005 Manhattan Short Film Festival, and a Special Jury Honor presented by Edward
James Olmos at the Los Angeles
Latino International Film Festival.
Not so bad for a Spaniard who a few years ago packed his bags and moved to New York City with little knowledge of English and just one idea in mind: to write and direct. Lorite admits to teaching himself English, with a little help from a blue pocket-dictionnary and "Three's company" reruns, in order to be able to start making a living acting in this country. Similarly, he credits his VCR for teaching him all he knows about editing, writing, directing and calls Netflix his film grad school!
Bringing a unique passion to his craft and desire to make his mark, Lorite is certainly one talented filmmaker to keep an eye on.
