Well, maybe if the novel wasn’t so bad it might have been made into a film. Did anyone ever consider that? Did anyone even glance through her book? Weak storyline, pasteboard characters, and cliche-ridden, stereotype-sodden scribbling will not broker the Hollywood deal. I’m thinking that an actual writer wearied his eyes on her text and showed the execs the light of day.
Makes we wonder what Miramax is going to do with the colossal clusterfuck that is BRIEF AND WONDROUS LIFE OF OSCAR WAO. Maybe Ms. Rodriguez and Mr. Diaz should get together and boo-hoo on each other’s shoulders—I’m sure when they tear themselves away, they will leave the image of the blinking Christ on their maudlin shirts.

HI YOU LOOK SO CUTE PLEASE TELL ME THAT UR SINGLE

The only movie with those two that i care to see is the Alisa/Junot sex tape.

Wow, gotta love how urban latino and ramon managed to trash Junot Diaz in response to a post that has nothing to do with him.

Yeah, the book is trash, but trash very calculatedly written precisely for the Sisterhood of Traveling Pants/SaTC movie treatment. Quality writing has never been a requisite for putting something through the Hollywood meat grinder.

Oddly enuf, AV-R’s listed reasons sound like the truth, given the sorts of experiences other Hollywood hopefuls have shared.

But hey, wasn’t the half-million advance on the novel enough? Why get greedy?

@urban latino: um…we considered it in the 350 words above?

La Cindy—

Absolutely right—I tender my apologies. Perhaps, though, your ire was not as profound as mine. Keep up the good (and funny) work!

Gawd, tripod is an understatement. But the auto-focus? made me seasick! (as did the crazy eyes!)

So, we’re supposed to believe that she sent her screenplay to every single studio, and not a single one showed any interest in her immaculate work? Hmm, something’s not quite right. I mean, the studios have already shown that they will back an abortion of a film about Latinos (see Chasing Papi). And, we can scrutinize Chasing Papi even more. The characters were mostly professional Latinos. The gorgeous Roselyn Sanchez played an attorney, and Jaci Vasquez played a spoiled rich girl. These are nonstereotypical characters! There were certainly stereotypes of Latinos in the film, but my point is: it was actually backed by a studio AND it portrayed Latinos in nonstereotypical occupations.

Also, Alisa fails to recognize that the Latino presence in Hollywood is growing. Guillermo Del Toro, Alfonso Cuaron, and other Hispanic directors are close to becoming household names. Richard Rodriguez is making films that often portray Latinos in a positive (but sometimes also negative) light. The guy can essentially do whatever he wants now. Salma Hayek and Andy Garcia both made powerful historical films of interest to Latinos. And, Latinos are more than well represented at the Cannes Film Festival this year.

I understand that Alisa is talking about Hispanic Americans in the states, but she also has to realize that Hollywood is a business. I think it’s safe to say that her current screenplay falls under the category of Chick Flick, and, as everyone knows, films in that genre just don’t do as well as the typical pop corn movies that are safe beats for Hollywood. It’s also true that the number of women moviegoers is on the decline (or it was a few years ago). It’s not always an anti-Latino issue. She needs to improve her screenplay or just make a piece of crap independent film … and she needs to stop complaining.

safe bet* (not beat). Sorry, my brain isn’t cooperating this evening.

First off. These days you don’t need to put it through Hollywood “grinder” to make a film. You can get some independent funding. It may take longer, but if theres a true audience for the flick it will eventually get picked up after a festival or two. Hey if you want it that bad, its worth the process, then after it becomes successful you can Do Chasing Papi 2! With your own money..Ahh life..

Hollywood’s only agenda is the bottom line. If they don’t feel that a film will sale than it’s a no-go. They promote Latino films all the time, positive and negative.

i actually like her books and would like to see the movie but every one has their own opinion
oh and to La Cindy: wow did you actually sit there and count how many words urban latino typed in his comment? Didn’t you have any thing better to do?

I read the book recently and told my gringo husband that this book was going to be made into a movie. But when I googled it , I saw it was already in the works.
I am Latina and enjoyed the book completely.
It was on point portraying our various feminine cultures. It is a shame Hollywood is not interested, but by the same token the books get butchered when the movie is made, so I can envision Lauren, Usnavys, Liz, Rebecca , Amber and Sara just they way I picture them, what an incredible idea !
I believe naming actresses to the characters will just kill my imagination.