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VOY™
Pictures Announces New Home for Latino Film, Talent. 2004
Inaugural Production and Talent Slate Includes Projects and Alliances
That Represent the Power and Commercial Potential of Latin Culture. Projects
With Leading Latino Talent Including: Freddy Prinze Jr., Michelle Rodriguez
and Fina Torres.
ADVANCE/ LOS ANGELES, Jan. 19 /PRNewswire/ - VOY, the leading multi- media entertainment company targeting the English-language Hispanic market, today announced the launch of its feature film division, VOY PICTURES, LLC. In partnership with top Latino talent, VOY will produce twelve to fifteen films over the next three years, establishing VOY as the hub for Latino film in Hollywood.
VOY's projects will be in the three to five million dollar range; VOY also will co-produce projects in the ten million dollar range and above.
"English-language Latin films are an emerging genre that is severely underrepresented in the Hollywood system. While there is a richness of Latin talent, the lack of sophisticated and commercial vehicles targeting this market creates an opportunity to develop a new voice in film. VOY Pictures fills the market void created by the explosion of the Latin community in the U.S. with its demand for relevant films, and the increasing appetite for Latin culture throughout the American mainstream and across the world," said Fernando Espuelas, CEO of VOY.
"We have built a creative and business home where Latin talent can merge artistic brilliance with the richness of our culture to develop and produce top quality feature films. These movies will reflect the fusion of our heritage fused with the emerging voice of the New Latino generation while creating significant commercial opportunities for VOY and our partners," said Emilio Diez Barroso, President of VOY. "Our mission is not to create Latin films; our mission is to create great films with Latin components. We are proud to bring these and future projects into the market under the VOY brand," he added.
VOY has partnered with Cherry Road Films, a Los Angeles-based financing and production company, to co-develop and co-produce a number of films.
VOY Pictures has assembled an initial slate of projects and talent for 2004 that represent some of the finest writers, producers, directors and actors.
*
Freddie Prinze Jr. ("Scooby-Doo," "She's All That")
will produce and
star in "Rave Train," a film he co-wrote with Conrad Jackson.
"Our
generation is looking for new kinds of films -- films that represent
us, films that show the richness, humor and variety of life. VOY is a
new way to make great films that connect with both Latinos and the
mainstream," said Prinze Jr.
* Venezuelan writer, producer and director Fina Torres ("Woman on
Top")
will develop and direct "Hip Hop Cinderella." "VOY is a
bridge
between Latin America and Hollywood. By simultaneously understanding
American culture and the Latin experience, VOY can connect stories,
artists and audiences through its films," said Torres.
* VOY Pictures is developing two projects with acclaimed actress
Michelle Rodriguez ("Girlfight," "SWAT" and "The
Fast and Furious").
Rodriguez said, "VOY is a breakthrough for Hollywood, it is a place
where people from every culture can come together to produce great
films. I am excited to be working with VOY."
* Celebrated Argentine television and film writer/director Daniel
Barone, ("Alma Mia," "El dia que me Amen," "Vulnerables")
will develop
two projects for VOY Pictures. "VOY is a great opportunity to connect
the Latin tradition of storytelling with the vast American market.
Our long history of filmmaking will now have a new artistic and
commercial outlet through VOY," said Barone.
* VOY is developing additional properties including "All for One"
by
Lisa Garibay and Joshua Welsh and "The Kissing Bandit" by Pennel
Bird.
* As part of its strategy to target the Latin baby boom market, VOY
Pictures will also develop animated films based upon the widely known
Latino comic-strip, "Los Kitos." "VOY Pictures has given
us a
wonderful opportunity to create first-rate films that appeal to both
Latino and mainstream kids," said Colombian-born Martha Montoya,
creator of "Los Kitos." "This crossover market is fast-growing
and
hungry for high-quality projects," she added. "Together with
VOY, we
will satisfy that demand."
With a population of more than 40 million, Hispanics are now the leading
minority and fastest growing group in the United States. The swelling
growth segment within this demographic is the "New Generation"
-- the acculturated second/third generation -- a population that is predominantly
English- speaking, upwardly mobile, and closely identifies with both mainstream
and Latin culture. By 2006, Hispanics will comprise 14% of the U.S. population.
While first-generation Hispanics are most comfortable speaking Spanish
in home, social and business environments, the preferred use of Spanish
is diluted in second and third generations. Sixty-five percent of second-
generation Hispanics designated English as the language they had the "most
comfort" in speaking; in third-generation Hispanics, this number
increased to 70.1%. The nation's Hispanic population represents more than
$600 billion of buying power. Over the next five years, it is estimated
to grow to over $1 trillion. Latinos account for 15 percent of North American
motion picture box office sales, according to the MPAA.
In September, VOY announced the publication of its first book, "Life in Action," in partnership with Tarcher/Penguin, slated for an September 2008 release. An inspiring story of optimism and self-empowerment, the book will be available in U.S. stores early September 2008. VOY will offer consumers a continuing series of both non-fiction and fiction titles that will also be developed into films for the VOY Pictures division.
VOY Pictures, LLC, is the film and television division of VOY, LLC voygroup.com, a privately funded lifestyle and entertainment company focused on the English-speaking Latin market. Through a suite of VOY-branded products and services including film, music, publishing and television production divisions, as well as a cable television network scheduled to launch in late 2004, the company focuses on entertainment that reflects Latino sensibilities and crossover appeal. VOY has offices in New York, Los Angeles, Mexico City and Buenos Aires. John Sloss and Robert Nathan of Cinetic Media, Inc., a New York-based consultancy providing corporate strategic advisory services to media companies, are outside consultants to VOY Pictures. VOY Pictures' film business is represented by Jeff Berg and Eddie Borges of the Hollywood talent agency International Creative Management, Inc. (ICM).
