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Monday, May 19, 2008
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The Reel Deal with Jade Esteban Estrada: Part 1
Category: Jobs, Work, Careers
The Reel Deal with Jade Esteban Estrada: Part 1
Acting Workshop
Street address: 3603 Crownhill Blvd., San Antonio, 78209
Location: San Antonio
WHAT:
Continuing in its mission of promoting and advancing the interests of the Texas film industry, the Texas Motion Picture Alliance (TXMPA) has joined forces with actor, comedian, and Latin pop star Jade Esteban Estrada (a Texas native) – to present a new workshop for actors, "The Reel Deal with Jade Esteban Estrada: Part 1"
WHEN:
Saturday, May 24 from 10AM – 5PM
WHERE:
PrimaDonna Productions - 8603 Crownhill Blvd., (near the Magic Time Machine)
DETAILS:
"The Reel Deal with Jade Esteban Estrada: Part 1" is part of a series of acting workshops conducted by industry professionals from across the state to benefit the TXMPA. In this particular workshop, students will work on-camera, learning not only the basic craft and techniques of acting, but also how to develop a character through physical movement, as well as the technical demands of on-camera acting. The workshop will be led by Jade Esteban Estrada, a veteran of stage and screen who calls San Antonio home.
As a singer, music from Jade's CD, "Angel" has appeared on the award-winning series The Shield, and as a screen actor, his credits include recent appearances in the Emmy award-winning series 30 Rock and Friday Night Lights. His also the host of the 19th Annual GLAAD Media Awards on Bravo. According to Nikki Young, South Central Texas Regional Representative for TXMPA, "we asked Jade to conduct this type of class, because Jade is truly a working actor and has been a mentor to many; moreover he understands the importance of what the TXMPA is all about and why it is important that actors stay on top of their game so when the big projects come in town, they will be ready!" Estrada adds, "Whether you're auditioning, or whether you're already booked, there's a very specific set of skills both internal and external that one needs to know when you're working on camera. And I'm proud to be working with TXMPA to share these essential tools, which will ultimately show production companies all over, who want to come to film in Texas, that Texas has got some 'reel' talent (which of course we already knew)!"
"The Reel Deal with Jade Esteban Estrada: Part 2" will take place in November and will focus on the business side of show business. From getting an agent to online auditions.
ABOUT TXMPA:
The Texas Motion Picture Alliance (TXMPA) is a nonprofit 501(c)(6) organization founded in Austin on June 16, 2006 to become the advocate for the film, video, interactive, and digital media production industries in the Lone Star State. The Alliance is committed to building a strong community of industry professionals and to support legislation that benefits our industry. TXMPA is also committed to educating the general public about our businesses and how we impact their lives through the hundreds of millions of dollars our productions pump into the economy.
PRICES:
This fun, but intensive workshop for ages 15 and over costs only $105 and includes the price of lunch! *A portion of the enrollment proceeds will benefit TXMPA.*
Payment must be made in full no later than the close of business on Monday, April 7 as spaces are limited to only 15 students. A $20 fee will be added to those who register late. Checks, cash, or money orders are accepted. Credit card payments will also be accepted, but only through PayPal. Considering that this is event is a fundraiser, cancellations and no shows will still be charged the full amount and no refunds will be provided.
TO MAKE RESERVATIONS:
Please call 210.822.3552 or e-mail mailto:info@primadonnaproductions.com
FOR MORE INFO:
http://www.txmpa.org or http://www.getjaded.com
3:17 PM
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Wednesday, September 19, 2007
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Tulsa, OK: ’Impossible takes more time’
TULSA WORLD
'Impossible takes more time'
Jade Esteban Estrada takes his family with him wherever he goes
By KAREN SHADE
World Scene Writer
September 19, 2007
Read it online:
http://www.tulsaworld.com/entertainment/article.aspx?articleID=070919_238_D3_hJade67400
It seems a rare day to find Jade Esteban Estrada in his hometown of San Antonio. But even there, he can't seem to get a break.
Spending most of the year between Los Angeles and New York City, the comic, actor and singer thinks of Charo.
"I don't know if you know this about me," Estrada said, "but I used to be the choreographer for Charo -- 'Cuchi-Cuchi.' "
He remembers touring with her to various casinos and venues for shows and watching her settle into a new hotel room by setting up photos of her son and husband on the dressing table, a small cross and her make-up all around.
Now that he's spending his time on the road headlining his own shows, "Tortilla Heaven" among them, Estrada does the same to make himself at home wherever he is.
"I like to have a picture of my nephew and a picture of my grandmother and make it as homey as I can. It's very interesting. You kind of just find yourself," said Estrada recently, speaking from the quiet nook of a San Antonio art gallery where he is being photographed for the cover of an acting trade journal.
But family also follows him on stage every time he performs the comedy
"Tortilla Heaven." The play, with the subtitle: "A Story of Life, Love and Making Tortillas the American Way," was written by his sister, Celeste Angela Estrada, and directed by David Miguel Estrada, his brother.
More so, "Tortilla Heaven" features Estrada speaking two languages and performing as seven different characters, most of whom are based on his grandmother.
"She said, 'The difficult can be done immediately, but the impossible just takes a little bit more time.' I say that for situations and for personalities that might clash with my own," Estrada said.
"Believe me, when you fly and live in hotels and eat in restaurants daily, it requires a lot of patience. It's something that I take with me all the time."
Audiences will get to see some of the poignancy of family memories undoubtedly rolled into the comedy of "Tortilla Heaven" when it returns to the Nightingale Theater Thursday night.
The solo performance shows three generations of Mexican-Americans relating to each other across obstacles that range from cultural tradition and assimilation into American life at-large.
He performed the show at the same venue in 2005 and brought another solo show called "Icons: The Lesbian and Gay History of the World, Vol. 1" to the theater that same year.
Estrada started in stand-up comedy and has been featured on such shows as Comedy Central's "The Graham Norton Effect," NBC's "Friday Night Lights" and "In the Life" on PBS.
Also an actor and singer, Estrada said it feels as if he's added public speaker to the list. On Monday, Estrada participated in MTV Networks' annual panel discussion of Latino history along with employees of Comedy Central, VH-1 and other affiliated networks. He is the spokesman for MTV's Hispanic Heritage Month programming.
Often called the "first gay Latin star," Estrada said these days he finds himself asked to speak more and more on social issues that affect Hispanic Americans in general.
While world figures may be commenting on the challenges of bi-culturalism, Estrada said none are making the statement the way he does.
"I enjoy putting on a mask to portray many characters to make a point that I believe . . . world leaders try to make everyday, but I think they do it in a less shimmery light," he said. "I'm a comedian; I like to make people laugh, but I don't think I ever lost that need to report the things I see in my society."
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Friday, September 14, 2007
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San Antonio, TX: Adieu to the San Antonio 48 Hour Film Project...until 2008
Category: Movies, TV, Celebrities
ZONA DE SILENCIO
Adieu to the San Antonio 48 Hour Film Project -- Until 2008
August 19, 2007
By ERIK BOSSE
The BIG DAY ... una vez más. If Tuesday's 48 Hour Film Project wasn't hairy enough, you might want to revisit it with the 48 Hour Film Project "Best of" Screening & Awards Ceremony. I know I did.
I spent today folding the last of the programs. I bought 13 gift bags and filled them with the modicum of swag I had. I even drove to Wal-Mart (yes, fucking Wal-Mart) to buy some frames for all the awards I'd printed up. 19 awards. 19 frames. Add the gift bags, and it seems I'm burdening myself with some serious over-head which will cut into my meager profit of the whole endeavor. But, really, I would feel like a royal piker if I just handed out limp printed paper -- "Here ya go, sport, try not to wrinkle it."
Carlos and Adrian came by to help me with the set-up for the event. I'm glad Carlos was able to see some of the 48 films. He wasn't able to make the screening on Tuesday because he was on set, I believe, in Austin. Unfortunately Carlos' film didn't make the audience's cut to move on to tonight's screening, but he decided to show up to see what his peers were up to.
We got to Urban-15 at about 5:30. I knew that George was inside involved with a board meeting, or something important like that. So we waited until someone came out. After five minutes Catherine and her son Antonio drove up. The meeting was going on in the basement, so we started setting things up in the sanctuary (aka, the performance space), and the Yellow Room (aka the Mirror Room) -- the Yellow Room is where Urban-15 sets up A/V equipment for people in wheelchairs; one day they hope to get an elevator, but this is the best they can do at the present.
As I was setting up the box office area, Amy showed up. She wanted to volunteer her son, Douglas. He's pretty young, but Amy wants to get him involved volunteering in arts projects to help get him into NESA (one of the arts magnets in San Antonio). They turned out to be indispensable working the front of the house. I put Adrian upstairs tearing tickets and passing out programs. Carlos helped out doing whatever needed to be done at any given moment. Like any good filmmaker, he's flexible and can move seamlessly from task to task.
Around 6:30 things were getting fairly intense. The space was filling up fast. Catherine was asking if I thought we should move the plastic adirondack chairs up into the orchestra pit. I said yes. And at that moment Travis arrived. He asked what he could go to help. I turned him over to Catherine.
And then my Masters of Ceremony arrived. Jade Esteban Estrada. "Gay Latin Icon" is, I believe, how some reviewer designated him. His own website (www.getjaded.com) is less effusive: "Jade Esteban Estrada, the Master Entertainer." I'm willing to agree with both. But there can be no dispute that the guy looks great in a tux. We went into the upstairs lobby and talked over the night's agenda. He'd already researched the whole history of the 48 Hour Film Project. Wow. He certainly came prepared!
George was busy patching a microphone into the sound system for Jade. I took Carlos over to the video player and soundboard and let him run tech.
When I mentioned the awards certificates, Jade asked to see them. He didn't care that I had them in an ugly blue plastic storage bin. I offered to stack them on the stage. He said that would be much better. When he wondered if he would have an assistant to help with the certificates, I muttered something about how I could do it. Jade, ever the consummate professional, didn't skip a beat. "Perhaps there's some glamorous person in the audience we could ask." I agreed with him. No one wants to see or hear me. "You know many of the beautiful extroverts in this room, Jade," I said. "Think of who would be good."
"Well, I think I saw Vanessa Reyes around here somewhere...."
"Great," I said. "She's gorgeous and engaging."
"There she is," Jade said. "But, oh, she's wearing blue."
I had no idea what he meant by that. "But blue is good. Let's ask her -- she'll be a hit. What's not to love? Just look at her!"
We asked, and Vanessa agreed.
I had to rush away because we were getting too many people coming in. I began cautioning the people lining up that it might be standing room only.
The full audience number was probably 140. It did indeed become standing room only. At 7:30, when the screening was officially to begin, we shut the doors with a "Sold Out" sign outside.
When Jade began doing his thing, it all smoothed out. He's a truly gifted performer. Intuitive, charismatic, and eminently watchable.
The night would have given me a fresh ulcer were it not for Jade controlling the audience, Amy running the box-office, and Carlos handling the video / audio. I can't thank those guys enough!
We broke for an intermission midpoint. And like most every other Urban-15 event, the audience was invited to the basement space for complementary aguas frescas, which are always deliciously designed by George Cisneros.
After the break we had some drawing for door prizes. And then the second half of the films began.
And just like the Tuesday screening, I was nervously pacing about. I nosed around trying to see how I could be of use.
Eventually the films ended. And Jade began to do his stuff again. I only wish we could have given him a spotlight.
I took loads of bad photos of the event. Lee was busy snapping away as well. If it's okay with him, I'll post some of his photos on a later blog.
My favorite photo ops have to be iChingao Productions (these kids are pumped and a little crazy -- they are also damn good filmmakers); Fat Bird Productions (students from Saint Mary's Hall with the help of their teacher, Carol Parker, who is not just the director of this piece, but also gives us a very cute and quirky performance as the antagonist of the piece); and Princess (three filmmakers from Brackenridge High School -- all guys -- who did a wonderful meditation of growing up that swept the audience awards of group B). I guess I like these three teams because I met all these kids at the Josiah Youth Media Festival earlier in the summer. They might be kids, but they are serious about what they are doing.
After all the awards were handed out, I wandered around shaking hands when people offered. And I made sure that those people who were still hanging around who I felt I could ask to help with the clean up were roped into a quick shut down of the event. Mostly we were moving chairs down to the basement. Carlos, Adrian, Pete, Marcus, and Antonio moved damn fast. Seven minutes, I'm guessing, and we were all ready to pour out a celebratory bottle of wine and toast the success of the night.
Congratulations to all those involved -- filmmakers, crew, actors, sponsors, audiences members, the helpful folks in the local media, and the volunteers. I take all responsibilities for the rough edges in this first year of the San Antonio 48 Hour Film Project, and I want to thank all of you for those very frequent moments when this whole production moved smoothly.
Let's to it again next year!
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Here are the awards presented:
Best Film Audience Award Group A: Dating Danielle
Best Film Audience Award Group B: Golden Birthday
Best Costumes was a tie: Trick or Tweet; No Man's Land.
Best Musical Score: Last Chance
Best Special Effects: Golden Birthday
Best Graphics: Dream Job
Best Use of Line of Dialogue: Dating Danielle
Best Use of Prop: Trick or Tweet
Best Use of Character: Dead Man's Hand
Best Sound Design: Cat of the Month
Best Cinematography: No Man's Land
Best Acting: Cat of the Month
Best Editing: Reflection
Best Writing was a tie: Dating Danielle; Blinding
Best Directing: Last ChanceBest
Best Film: Reflections
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San Antonio, TX: TheatreASAP a mix of dramas
San Antonio Express-News
Theater review:
TheatreASAP a mix of dramas
September 12, 2007
Deborah Martin
Express-News Staff Writer
TheatreASAP, that annual tribute to hard-and-fast deadlines as creative inspiration, once again produced an evening of strong 10-minute plays.
The six scripts were written Friday night, handed over to actors and directors Saturday morning and unveiled for an enthusiastic audience at the San Pedro Playhouse Saturday night.
Each piece offered a strong, clear vision, well-executed by the actors. They were aided in a few spots by Rick Malone's sound effects.
The evening was presented by the San Antonio Theatre Coalition, and hosted with goofball charm by Joe Libby.
First up was playwright Ric Slocum's hard-edged "A San Antonio Rupture," in which a group of barely literate junkies (Tony Campbell, Joel Crabtree, Gabriel Ruiz and Nikki Young) celebrate finding crystal meth in a purse one of them stole from a church parking lot. The piece takes a turn when their leader winds up overdosing, and another prays over his body. The play, directed by Kathleen Lovejoy, got things off to a bracing start.
"Packing Memories," written by Allison Orr Block and directed by Sharon Renee Shepherd, was funny and moving. In it, an older woman (Varda Ratner) rebels as a two-man crew (entertaining turns from Matthew Byron Cassi and Edward Gallardo III) pack up her home; her grown daughter (Lisa Renee Hart) has decided she can't live on her own anymore. The mother has a flashback to the daughter's birth that is powerful for both women.
"In My Hands, The Stars, The Stars" — written by Guadalupe Flores and directed by Lou Garza — took a clear-eyed look into the difficult backyard reunion of a woman's foster children (Jade Esteban Estrada, Martha Prentiss, Alicia Tafoya, Julie Vaquera and Express-News Managing Editor Brett Thacker) after her death. Estrada was especially strong as the mentally disabled son.
"The Birthday Surprise," written with typically twisted wit by Antoinette Winstead and directed with a great sense of tone by Art Peden, had a pair of women (Mellissa Marlowe and Mary Robinson) trying to bring a third out of a funk with a gift: A shirtless young man (J.T. Urick) they've bound and gagged just for her. Winstead teases out information about these women slowly, giving the pay-off — they're cannibals — a big impact.
"Where in Bexar is Agapito?" — a screwy, entertaining piece written by GRITO (husband-and-wife team Grisel Acosta and Vincent Toro) and directed by Chadd Green — had the feel of a B-movie. It opened with a woman (the marvelous Anna Gangai) in a tizzy over the loss of a sacred artifact; it turns out the artifact was a hollow clown head swiped by a pair of tourists (David Omar Davila and Heather Kelley).
The evening ended with "Inside the Loop," a bittersweet piece written by James Venhaus and directed by Catherine Babbitt. It traced a relationship backward, from its heartbroken finale to its beginning. It featured strong performances from Gregory Hinojosa and Sara Larson as the couple and W. Chris Champlin as the new man in her life.
It was a terrific evening, and, as usual, whetted the appetite for next year's offerings.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o8roBlzj-As
www.getjaded.com
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Jersey City, NJ: "His Personal ’Heaven’
Category: Movies, TV, Celebrities
JERSEY JOURNAL
HIS PERSONAL 'HEAVEN'
Friday, September 14, 2007
By JEFF THEODORE
Journal Arts Editor
Read it online:
http://www.nj.com/entertainment/jjournal/index.ssf?/base/entertainment-0/1189749756182550.xml&coll=3continue
For Jade Esteban Estrada, who calls himself a performing artist (not performance), the obligation to leave a legacy behind strikes at his very core, keeps him focused on the future.
"It's important for me to know that I'm doing my best to contribute to society, to set an example for the next generation," he says. "If we don't take that responsibility seriously, we can be set back hundreds of years."
Estrada, a former scratch vocalist for the Back Street Boys and chief choreographer for 70s and 80s star Charo, says that's why he created a show like "Tortilla Heaven," which was heavily inspired by his grandmother.
In "Heaven," a one-man show, Estrada portrays seven characters that cover three generations of Mexican-Americans.
Estrada, who grew up in San Antonio, Texas, says his grandmother's "whole goal in life was to see us (her grandchildren) speak some kind of proper Spanish."
"Heaven," a sendup that details the interaction - or lack thereof - between the generations, will be staged at the Jersey City Museum Sunday during the museum's observance of Hispanic Heritage Month, which started Saturday and ends Oct. 15.
"Tortilla Heaven" is a family affair, written by Estrada's sister and directed by his brother.
"I can't express how much of an honor it is to work with two people who are gobs and gobs more talented than me," Estrada, 31, says of his siblings. "They are wonderful writers. In retrospect, it makes sense that we're all writers. Our mom would virtually write a 10-page letter to tell us to go take out the trash."
When asked if he considers himself a singer, dancer, actor or comedian, Estrada says he refuses to single out any of his "babies."
Estrada, an openly gay man, says his appearance in Jersey City will be one of several he's made here. He headlined gay pride celebrations in Jersey City in 2002 and 2003 and hosted the event in 2004.
"The folks at Jersey City Lesbian and Gay Outreach have actually become very good friends of mine," he says. "When I'm on my death bed doing my best Evita impersonation, the thing I will be most grateful for is that I have been allowed to cross paths with people who are making a difference like them."
www.getjaded.com
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fNLEgAHZCzQ
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Wednesday, March 28, 2007
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San Antonio, TX: "Super-Estrella"
Category: Movies, TV, Celebrities
San Antonio Current SUPER-ESTRELLA By JOHN HASKELL March 27, 2007
Read it online: http://sacurrent.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=18132996&BRD=2318&PAG=461&dept_id=550942&rfi=6
On January 20, the Silver Dollar Saloon hosted an event that general manager Skyler Blue called "the most excitement the strip has experienced in many years." The production provoked similar responses from other eyewitnesses. "More than once I overheard people say, 'This has been the best day ever' … 'I've had so much fun,'" said Austin-based actress Silvia Lake. The cause of the thrill: Jade Esteban Estrada's music video for "Bella Morena," a single from 2003's Fabulous Gay Tunes, Vol. 2, shot at the Silver Dollar, a cornerstone of Main Street's 'mo-fabulous strip.
Estrada has shared the stage with dreamboat Ricky Martin and the Material Girl herself, but he is a super-estrella in his own right who has won numerous awards with the phrase "performance artist of the year" attached. Whether the job calls for singing, dancing, acting — even stand-up comedy — Jade can deliver, making him a modern renaissance man of the performing-arts industry. You've probably seen him on Comedy Central, or maybe you caught him in the hit stage production Tortilla Heaven, written and performed by the extravagantly talented Estrada family. He returns to the Alamo City next week for an encore performance of the work that has made him a legend in Say-Town and beyond, ICONS: The Lesbian and Gay History of the World, Vol. 1.
Jade spoke with the Current recently from his home in New York. You came down here to shoot your video at the Silver Dollar Saloon; why? We went out and searched several places … and Silver Dollar had the mood we were looking for for those segments of the video.
What was the mood or vibe you were looking for? Well, the song that it is, "Bella Morena," it's very party, it's very up. But, because I'm originally from San Antonio, there was like a Tejano feel to [Silver Dollar] … anyone who lives here probably doesn't notice because it's just a normal part of the culture, but me looking at it from a New York or L.A. standpoint, there's a very unique style to the venue and to the people that go there, whether they realize it or not. And I wanted to make a video that you could just tell it had San Antonio all over it.
Has anything about the biz surprised you as a performer? I was very, like, pro live theater, pro stand-up comedy, pro live performances, and then I did like one thing on Comedy Central (The Graham Norton Effect) and the first bit that I did, I swear, I had never had so much response in my email box. In my head I was like, "I have done great things on stage that no one has ever seen, and I do this one silly bit on Comedy Central for like a couple of minutes and all of a sudden I'm a star to you."
You've been called the "Most Notable Gay Latin Act in the Country." What does this title mean to you? Um, about the "Notable Gay Latin Act," thing, there's like … maybe me, and maybe me? I don't know anybody else who's like that, so it's hardly an amazing title to have. As far as the gay thing, I'm comfortable with it, but it used to bother me … I believe in people identifying however they want to identify themselves, and because I feel this way, I have people identifying themselves with me, whatever that might be, as a performer, as a Mexican-American, as a gay man, as a lesbian or transgender person — I'm all about that … So I would be a hypocrite not to nod in acceptance and approval of people saying things about me … The video is all about, no matter who you are or what you are, it's beautiful. And as many times and as cliché as that might sound … you always have to deal with a new generation of people who have never heard that idea. ..[if !supportEmptyParas]--> ..[endif]--> ICONS: The Lesbian and Gay History of the World, Vol. 1
7:30pm Wed Apr 4
$12 general;
$10 student, senior
Metropolitan Community Church of San Antonio
611 E. Myrtle
857-4233
Getjaded.com www.GetJaded.com
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Monday, March 26, 2007
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New Britain, CT: "Feeling Free To Be Yourself"
Category: School, College, Greek
NEW BRITAIN HERALD
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| Feeling free to be yourself |
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By Joseph Wenzel IV
March 24, 2007 | ..>
Read it online:
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NEW BRITAIN - A one-man show, a television program and a heterosexual child made people of all sexual orientations feel safe and secure to be themselves Saturday.
The 14th annual True Colors Conference was held at Central Connecticut State University. True Colors is the largest, statewide nonprofit organization that works with lesbians, bisexuals, transgender, intersex, and those questioning their sexuality in the United States.
The group's mission is to "create a world where youth, adults, and families of all sexual orientations and gender identities are valued and affirmed," according to Robin McHaelen, founder of True Colors.
The shinning moment of the conference for McHealen was when a heterosexual child approached her.
"I have never felt so safe. Everyone is very free to be themselves," the child told McHealen. That is exactly what McHalean wants, a "safe world" for all sexual orientations.
But, the boy is important to McHealen. "We need allies," she said, so, people of all sexual orientation can get the equal services that they need.
The world and the culture are changing. Yunes Yussef, True Colors secretary, said children are coming out at ages as young as 12.
But, these kids especially need support from their families and sometimes that does not happen.
"You have to have a force behind you," Yussef said. He said the road is a lot tougher for those who come out and are not supported by loved ones. He said those children are at a higher risk for violence, homelessness, suicide and substance abuse.
But with a little support, "they will feel safer," Yussef said.
Over a thousand people attended the conference's opening presentation Saturday and they came from everywhere. People came from Utah, Chicago, Oregon, Seattle and even California, True Colors officials said. McHealen added that every state in the Northeast and 60 percent of the towns in Connecticut were represented at the conference. And McHealen said gay, intersex, lesbian and heterosexual kids (middle and high school age) and adults were all in attendance.
When people arrived at CCSU, they were treated to an opening ceremony and a one-man show about historical gay figures. Jade Esteban Estrada transformed on stage into Michelangelo, Oscar Wilde, Gertrude Stein and Sylvia Rae Rivera.
Rivera was a transgender activist who threw her shoe at New York Police for equal rights. Estrada was surprised at how many people did not know who Rivera was. Estrada discussed how it is important to "expose" these subjects with both the "queer community" and the heterosexual community.
Estrada, a standup comedian and recording artist, talked about the differences between being gay today and in the 1960s and 1970s. He said back in the 1960s and 1970s, the queer community went to gay bars and were secretive about their sexuality.
"There was a shame factor," Estrada said. But, now the queer community is out in full-force holding events like gay hikes.
He also said one of the most important points in gay history was the television show, "Will and Grace." The show featured two homosexual men and two heterosexual women who were all friends. The series helped change some women's perspectives of gays.
Estrada said heterosexual women now approach him after each show and want to be friends. When before he was not given the time of day.
Estrada sees more changes. For example, McHaelen said back 20 years ago, there were four organizations like True Colors in the country, and now there are 100.
Another example was when he brought up the subject of a woman running for president (Hilary Clinton).
"People have not even batted an eye," Estrada said.
People like Estrada and McHaelen can hope for the day when they do not need to educate people on Sylvia Rivera. Because maybe, they will all ready know who she is. To learn more about True Colors, call (888) 565-5551 or visit their Web site at www.OurTrueColors.org. | ..>..>
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Tuesday, March 13, 2007
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'First gay Latin star' Jade Esteban Estrada earns double standing ovation at NERP Conference
Category: Movies, TV, Celebrities
OutOnTheNet.com
March 10, 2007
'First gay Latin star' Jade Esteban Estrada earns double standing ovation at NERP Conference
Singer/comedian/activist Jade Esteban Estrada received two standing ovations on early this month for his performance of the self-penned solo show "TransWorld! The Transgender History of the World" at the North East Regional Pride Conference (NERP) in Cape May, New Jersey.
Held at historic Congress Hall, the conference was hosted by the Jersey Pride organization and provided workshops, seminars and keynote speeches by notable LGBT leaders in the Northeast United States. The show "TransWorld: The Transgender History of the World" was originally commissioned by the University of California at Berkeley's Gender Studies Department in November 2005.
In the show, Estrada portrays Joan of Arc, We Wah, Gertrude Stein, Sylvia Rivera, Christine Jorgensen, Brandon Teena and RuPaul. As an encore, Estrada performed a segment of his award-winning solo musical "ICONS: The Lesbian and Gay History of the World, Vol. 3? where he portrayed Mary Cheney, the lesbian daughter of U.S. Vice-President Dick Cheney.
"I've seen Jade Esteban on stage four times before, but when I saw him portraying Mary Cheney, I realized he wasn't only celebrating gay icons. He was using irony to tell us that not all of our gay icons are people that we love or respect. It gave me chills. It was incredibly clever," stated Thaddius Novack, Creative Director of Jersey City Lesbian and Gay Outreach.
"What he is doing is important for our LGBTQ youth to experience. I was certainly educated tonight," stated Doreen DeJesus, Communications Director for Brooklyn Pride. Formally the choreographer to television personality Charo and a scratch vocalist for the Back Street Boys, Estrada came to international attention when Out Magazine christened him, "the first gay Latin star" in 2000.
Estrada released his debut CD "Angel" (Vicarious) in 2001 and in 2002 took part in the "Being Out Rocks" (Centaur) CD compilation in honor of National Coming Out Day for the Human Rights Campaign. In October 2006, Kentucky Governor Ernie Fletcher paid tribute to Estrada by commissioning him the title of "Kentucky Colonel," the highest honor awarded by the Commonwealth of Kentucky that acknowledges outstanding ambassadors of goodwill and fellowship around the world.
The Texas native joined other honorary colonels which include Winston Churchill, Ronald Reagan, Bob Hope, Joan Crawford, Johnny Depp, Muhammad Ali and Pope John Paul II. Estrada's television credits include appearances on the Emmy-nominated "In the Life TV" on PBS, "Friday Night Lights" on NBC and "The Graham Norton Effect" on Comedy Central.
His popular Latin dance music can be heard on the Golden Globe and Emmy award-winning police drama, "The Shield" on the FX Network. "Most performers would be happy to have a fraction of Jade Esteban Estrada's career," states Marty Rosen of the Louisville Courier-Journal. Hector Saldana of the San Antonio Express-News calls him "a show biz messiah." Roy Proctor of the Richmond Times-Dispatch calls him "a master entertainer."
Estrada has toured the U.S. with his eight solo theatre shows which include "It's Too Late…It's Already In Me," "Tortilla Heaven," ICONS: The Lesbian and Gay History of the World, Vol. 1, ICONS: The Lesbian and Gay History of the World, Vol. 2 (Winner of the 2004 Audience Favorite Award at the Columbus National Gay and Lesbian Theatre Festival), ICONS: The Lesbian and Gay History of the World, Vol. 3 (Winner of the 2006 Best Solo Performance and Best Original Music Awards at the CNGLTF), "Pico de Gallo" and "Gay Christian, Gay Muslim, Gay Jew."
Estrada will speak at the international "Behind the Rainbow" Queer Studies Easter Symposium in Mexico City on April 11, 2007 and will also be the headlining act for the Transgender 2007, the annual conference of the International Foundation for Gender Education in Philadelphia on April 13, 2007.
© 2007 GayWired.com; All Rights Reserved. Article provided by GayLinkContent.com.
3:51 AM
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Tuesday, January 30, 2007
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Dallas, TX: "Have You Met Jade Esteban Estrada?"
Category: Music
DallasVida.com
January 28, 2007
HAVE YOU MET JADE ESTEBAN ESTRADA?
Rising Latin Pop star has been on HBO, Comedy Central and FX
Jade Esteban Estrada. Photo by ALFREDO HUERECA.
Read it online:
http://www.dallasvida.com/site.aspx/bars_clubs_lounges/jadelatino
The man NBC News calls "America's Prince of Pride" recently left his mark in the Alamo City. Latin pop star Jade Esteban Estrada (HBO Latino, Comedy Central, FX) shot the first video from his "Angel" CD at the Silver Dollar Saloon in San Antonio, Texas on Saturday, January 20, 2007. The production of "Bella Morena" featured many actors and dancers from the South Texas area. The video is due for release in March 2007. For information visit www.getjaded.com.
The Silver Dollar Saloon's general manager Skyler Blue stated, "it was the most excitement the strip has experienced in many years. It was an honor to have Jade Esteban Estrada shoot his music video in our bar."
"More than once I overheard people say, 'This has been the best day ever'...'I've had so much fun'...'Everyone has been so nice,'" stated Austin-based actress Silvia Lake.
Estrada's music can be heard on the Golden Globe and Emmy award-winning police drama "The Shield" on the FX Network. He lent his golden voice to the Human Rights Campaign CD compilation "Being Out Rocks" (Centaur Music) with Sarah MacLachlan, k d lang, Cyndi Lauper, the B-52's among others. See him perform at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LjD_j6H04dA He has shared the stage with Ricky Martin, Madonna, Margaret Cho, RuPaul and several other fabulous stars.
Formally choreographer to Charo and a scratch vocalist for the Back Street Boys, Estrada is known as the most notable gay Latin act in the country. Matt Sanders of the Southeast Missourian calls him "one of America's most prolific gay performers."
Roy Proctor of the Richmond Times-Dispatch calls him "the master entertainer." "Catch Jade Esteban Estrada while you can, or you may live to regret it," warns Curve Magazine. NBC News calls him "America's Prince of Pride." Judith Newmark of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch calls him "a versatile and irreverent entertainer." Marty Rosen of the Louisville Courier-Journal states, "most performers would be happy to have a fraction of Jade Esteban Estrada's career." The national newsmagazine The Advocate calls him "the first gay Latin star."
Estrada is best known for his popular solo shows which have toured the globe over the past five years including "Pico de Gallo," "Tortilla Heaven," "TransWorld! The Transgender History of the World," and the multiple award-winning "ICONS: The Lesbian and Gay History of the World" trilogy. Outlook Weekly calls him "one of the finest solo theatre artists of the 21st century."
The production was directed by Calvin Robertson III who recently directed music videos for notable hip-hop acts including Haps' "Latenights," "Tonz" with Biggie Vice and "Do My Thang" with Precise.
Estrada stars in the upcoming independent film "The Bad Singer" and will begin shooting "The Blue Note" directed by Adam Rendon in March.
In television, he appears currently on "Friday Night Lights" (NBC), and has appeared on Comedy Central's "The Graham Norton Effect," "In the Life TV" (PBS) and as host of the National Puerto Rican Day Parade Pageant (HBO Latino).
Estrada is the winner of the the 2006 Best Solo Performance and Best Original Music for his portrayal of Mary Cheney (daughter of U.S. Vice-President Dick Cheney) in "ICONS: The Lesbian and Gay History of the World, Vol. 3" at the Columbus National Gay and Lesbian Theatre Festival, 2006 Entertainer of the Year (Family Tree Awards), 2005 Performance Artist of the Year (Stonewall Society), 2004 Audience Favorite Award in Solo Performance (CNGLTF) and is the recepient of the 2002 Premio Estrella (LLEGO) in Washington D.C. at the 9th Annual Encuentro Awards for achievement and recognition in the entertainment industry as an openly gay Latino.
Estrada was also awarded the title of "Kentucky Colonel" by Governer Ernie Fletcher in October 2006 for his work promoting goodwill and fellowship around the world joining other recipients Winston Churchill, Ronald Reagan, Johnny Depp, Mae West and Pope John Paul II.
Estrada plans to shoot the music video for "Lagrimas Perdidas" in San Antonio in March 2007.
www.getjaded.com
Pick up the "ANGEL" CD at:
http://www.cdbaby.com/jadeestrada
10:44 PM
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Thursday, January 18, 2007
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San Antonio, TX: "Nemo's Bordello"
Category: Movies, TV, Celebrities
ZONA DEL SILENCIO
Nemo's Bordello
Posted on 2007.01.14 at 11:28
Read it at:
http://rebosse.livejournal.com/
Sunday was the casting sessions for Short Ends. Annette had helped Matthew arrange us to hold the event at a bar called the Revolution Room. It's in the stretch of Yuppie wasteland on outer Broadway just before you get to Loop 410 where inane clubs such as The Rebar can be found. I can only assume that the Revolution Room, during hours of operation, cater to that crowd of men in leather trousers and pinky rings cruising for women with tall teased hair and Gucci Lolita bags all to the back beat of hackneyed pub rock with just enough blues added to have the denizens of cemeteries throughout the Mississippi delta spinning in perpetuity.
That's just my guess. However, on a Sunday afternoon, with us having the place to ourselves, the Revolution Room proved to be an incredibly groovy place. They weren't wasting the heat on us, and I could understand. So it was a bit chilly. And, as it was something of a raunchy bar, it took some of us a bit of time to get used to the stale beer smell. There is a bar in the front bit. Standard island where drinks are served with tables scattered about. A small stage to the side with a drum kit set up. The next room had benches along the walls and two or three pool tables. Down a short corridor, there is a long room with windows on one side. The cinder brick walls are painted aluminum. A bar and tables. A smaller room off to the side had a bar at the back. The ceiling had a barrel vault with red lights in brass nautical housings. Two benches ran the length, one on each side, strewn with pillows. Maroon brocade shot through with gold thread were hung over the pillowed benches. Very cool. If Captain Nemo ran a bordello (and I suspect he did), it would look like this.
Matthew separated the productions (there were six of us) throughout the place, so we could have a modicum of privacy to run our auditions. I was lucky enough to get Nemo's Pleasure Room. [I should go and add this to yesterday's posting where I vomited out some impromptu titles -- and I really want to see Darren Aronofsky direct Nemo's Pleasure Room.] I had brought along my video camera, just in case. I wasn't really planning to audition people. I just wanted to interview some of the actors who showed up. But as I noticed that everyone else was breaking out a camera, I did the same. But I didn't bring a tripod. Nor did I bring any lights. This was a problem. Nemo gave me dim red light. There was a bit of fluorescent up above the bar area, but no brighter. I hauled in a floor lamp from another room.
Nikki had been conscripted to help out coordinating the actors. I'm so glad. It helped make things go smoothly. This is the sort of thing Nikki has done so often, she can practically do it with eyes closed. Or at least she gives us that impression.
The actors who showed up had already seen the list of our (the filmmakers) needs. Nothing much more than the basic gender and age range -- with a few projects needing certain ethnicities. My casting needs were four men 18 to 22. The script call for one to be from Mexico, so I was also looking for a young Hispanic male who, hopefully was fluent in Spanish. I have already cast the lead female. And I needed someone to play her mom. So to match her look, I needed a 40 or 50 year old range anglo woman.
It was just me and Chris representing Production Number 4. (To streamline things, Matthew had assigned each film a number.) I was hoping to get a variety of young male actors. We didn't get that many coming into our little room. I think we might have had more women come in for the mom role.
But all in all we met a good range of talent. When Carlos gets back into town, we'll look at the video and hash things out.
One of the actors really stood out. He walked up to me and asked if this is the room for Production Number 4. At this point I didn't know what number I was. I couldn't imagine he was for our film, because he seemed to be clearly in his 30s. Maybe he could play mid-20s .... I found myself rambling if he knew the title of the film he was auditioning for. Chris tried helping out, saying ours was the romance film. But the guy didn't know. I told him to wait a moment, and I went to get conformation from Matthew or Nikki.
When I returned, confident now that we were number 4, the guy was gone. Chris didn't know where he'd gone to. I flagged Nikki down and asked her to find that guy again. He probably wouldn't fit the part because of his age, but I wanted to give everyone an opportunity. Besides, I want to see actors, dammit! And I really wish we could have had an entire day where ALL those actors gave readings on a stage, and all of us production people were in an audience to see who could do what -- and the whole thing was video-taped, and available to us all online for reference. So even if someone wasn't fitting my current needs, they might be perfect down the line.
We got him back in the room.
I sat him down in the light and turned on my camera. From back in the shadows, Chris asked the guy if he knows his brother. It turns out that Chris' brother and this guy were best friends some years back. All I did was have a short conversation with him, but he exuded charisma. He's Jade Esteban Estrada. When I mentioned him later to Nikki, her face lit up. "Isn't Jade great?" Hell, yeah. I guess I'm still a new-comer here in San Antonio, but still, I feel I've spread myself thin enough throughout the arts, that I've seen most of the local talent. I'm constantly reminded that by no means is this the case.
I found myself wondering if the script can be modified so as to bring in Jade? We'll see what can happen. I spoke later with Andy. He told me that Jade auditioned for the film that he and Dago are working on. Andy had nothing but good things to say about Jade's smart and unexpected interpretation of the character he was reading for.
So, I think the casting session went quite well. I got to meet some new talented actors. And I saw the innards of a very cool bar, that could well be available as a location in which to shoot.
Oh, yeah, I finally had the opportunity to have a short conversation with Annette, who up to now is someone I have only nodded to in passing. A very sweet woman. And she looks exactly like her headshots -- and they all look stunning.
A successful day. Well done Matthew.
12:25 AM
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