We're off to a running start this month, juggling multiple productions being coordinated from multiple continents. Soon-to-be-infamous Argentine directing team Doble Nelson just zoomed into town from Barcelona; they wrapped a car spot for us that involves the Santa Monica Pier, a girl coming out of a cake wearing a strategically placed Mexican serape and a lapdog getting zapped into the sky by an alien spaceship. None of which were in the original boards, but we can't help but love our directing team anyway.

New director Alfredo de Villa just landed a new feature film, and even though we can't mention the details or the cast it's destined to be a Latin-flavored hit with some serious mass market appeal (that's just a fancy way of saying there's a big studio behind it and the average American will like the movie, too).

We can now officially refer to commercial director Simón Bross as "noted Mexican film director Simón Bross," given that he's won or taken top honors in just about every international film festival he has entered. A small, random sampling of awards include CineVegas, the Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival, the Guadalajara Film Festival, the Bogotá Film Festival, the... Honestly, there are too many to mention. Trust us. Additionally, Simón was recently chosen to helm Panama's groundbreaking new tourism campaign. He just spent a stretch there filming Panamanian legends like salsa superstar (and Tourism Minister) Rubén Blades and former pro boxer Roberto Duran. He's in town this month shooting an additional two spots for American brand names and taking advantage of the lovely Santa Monica weather.

Finally, the Story Department has offered notes, analysis, treatments, feedback and/or unwavering moral support (and chocolate) on a few really impressive Latin film projects, including a biopic about a Mexican music superstar, a Cuban-flavored story set in Miami and a family-focused ensemble piece set in Chicago.

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