Alicyn Packard - News

"ALONDRA SMILES"
Best International Feature Film
Winner at the Heart of England International Film Festival

Link to Trailer - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zxUVBqlQLGs
or
www.alondrasmiles.com

England, June 2008 - The family feature "Alondra Smiles" was a top winner at the Heart of England International Film Festival, giving the movie its third festival recognition so far this year.

The Academy of Media, Recording, Interactive, Television & Stage Arts (AMRITSA) and the festival's special selection committee of seasoned filmmakers and representatives from The Prem Group Ltd. honored "Alondra Smiles" with Best International Feature Film.

"I'm very thankful to God for having a great cast, crew and the never ending support of family and friends," said Conchita Nora Villa, director of the film, upon receiving the recognition at the awards ceremony.

"Alondra Smiles" also garnered the top prize, the Directors Gold Award, at the International Family Film Festival in Hollywood and earlier this month took home the Audience Award at the Reel Rasquache Film Festival in Los Angeles.

Villa Media Productions, along with an up-and-coming cast, brings this heartwarming story to life. In "Alondra Smiles," we meet Alondra, a fourteen-year-old who's planning to have a very special 15th birthday celebration, and her spoiled cousin Tatiana, who wants to ruin Alondra's plans.

Alondra (Natalie Gomez) has a positive attitude towards life despite having lost her parents to an accident seven years ago; she is grateful for her loving grandparents (Jose V. Villa and Josefina Ortega-Villa), whom she now lives with. Alondra befriends Armando (Anthony Marquez), a nice guy she met while working at her uncle's restaurant. Unfortunately, Alondra's manipulative step-cousin Tatiana (Paloma Rodriguez) wants Armando as her date for her debutante party, and with the help of her sidekicks she keeps Armando and Alondra apart while making them believe that she's just trying to help.

Director Conchita Nora Villa says, "My family and I wanted to produce a movie that an entire family can watch together. It was also important for me to portray Latinos in a positive, non-stereotypical way."

Ms. Villa's credits include working on "Selena" and "Mi Familia/My Family" as well as producing various independent projects. After over 10 years of experience in the various facets of the film industry, she decided to team up with her brother, Producer/Writer Juan Francisco Villa, and her family to produce and finance "Alondra Smiles." This film is Ms. Villa's directorial debut.

"Alondra Smiles" has also been selected to the International Film Festival in South Africa (October 2008) and the Kids First! Film Festival. "Alondra Smiles" is currently looking for distribution. Trailer, photos and further information are available at www.villamediaprod.com and www.myspace.com/alondrasmiles.

Villa Media Productions is a family-owned and operated company. It is currently developing an "Alondra Smiles" television pilot.
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Posted by Alicyn at 03:04 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I just recorded some voices for the BluRay DVD "Happy Gilmore." The new DVD features an option where you can cheer along with Happy while he's golfing. I played the grandmother & the girlfriend. FUN! I'm not sure of the release date, but I'll keep ya posted!!

Posted by Alicyn at 01:54 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Greetings Friends,

Episode #4 of the Emerson MOBCAST is now available on the Emerson Mafia
website! Just Click here:

http://www.emersonmafia.com/thefamily/podcast.php

Episode #4: JOHN TAYLOR

Professional voiceover artist John Taylor (www.johntaylorzone.com)
and I go on a "journey of sound" and discuss where to study voiceover
in Los Angeles, creating a home recording studio, and why a career in
voiceover is so awesome. We also take a quick dip in his indoor pool
and record our joy!

Today's podcast features music by singer/songwriter Jim Hanft.
For more info visit:
http://myspace.com/jimhanft
www.jimhanft.com

*****************************************************************
The EmersonMobCast, is a podcast FOR the Mafia, ABOUT the Mafia!

EmersonMobcast features interviews with Emerson Alums working in the
entertainment industry & offers career tips, insight & advice from the
Godfathers & Godmothers of the mafia. We seek to inspire alumni to
achieve their greatest dreams by offering insight from those who have
traveled the path before you & by strengthening our network of
talented individuals.

I hope you guys enjoy listening. Feel free to sign up to have future
episodes delivered directly to your I-Tunes or RSS. There will be more
to come!

T H A N K S !

Posted by Alicyn at 10:38 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Here's a music video for a song I sang as Little Miss Sunshine called "Reach High." It appeared in the "Dreams" episode of "The Mr. Men Show." E N J O Y !

Posted by Alicyn at 03:55 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

The trailer for the independent feature by Jesse Pomeroy that I shot last year is here.
In the midst of an epidemic of teen suicides, filmed and posted to the internet, and while adults, newscasters, analysts and law enforcement officials try to bring order through moral condemnation and legislation, fifteen year old Rachael seeks her own answers to the mysteries and vagaries of life through a series of video blogs threatening her own suicide if no one helps her uncover the truths she seeks. Her videos attract the attention of a pedophile and an FBI agent and the race is on to see who can get to Rachael first before she adds herself to a long list of statistics. World Full of Nothing is the first feature film from writer/director Jesse Pomeroy. It stars Bella Nelson in a stand-out debut performance along with Angela J. Anderson, Markus Innocenti, Oliver Cowley, Sandy Greenwood, Alicyn Packard and Hannah Cowley. The film was produced by Jesse Pomeroy and Markus Innocenti and is currently being edited by Jules Portman at Mission Post.

Posted by Alicyn at 09:56 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I starred in another "Starring You" video shoot for Jib Jab. This time around I got to work with Andy Ochlitree & Devin Bell, an amazing stop-motion animator.

Hilarity ensues! I'll keep you posted when this is released!!

Posted by Alicyn at 10:46 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

More excellent news from the indie feature that I had a suppporting role in:

"ALONDRA SMILES"
Wins Audience Award at the Reel Rasquache Film Festival and is Nominated for the Best First Film USA at the International Film Festival England-UK (IFFE)

Link to Trailer - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zxUVBqlQLGs

Los Angeles, June 2008 - The family feature "Alondra Smiles" was the audience favorite at the Reel Rasquache Film Festival, which was held on the campus of California State University, Los Angeles over the weekend. "Alondra Smiles" took home the Audience Choice Award; the film also recently garnered the top prize, the Directors Gold Award, at the International Family Film Festival in Hollywood, and it is nominated as Best First Film USA at the International Film Festival England-UK (IFFE), which will be held June 9-13 in England.

Villa Media Productions, along with an up-and-coming cast, brings this heartwarming story to life. In "Alondra Smiles," we meet Alondra, a fourteen-year-old who's planning to have a very special 15th birthday celebration, and her spoiled cousin Tatiana, who wants to ruin Alondra's plans.

Alondra (Natalie Gomez) has a positive attitude towards life despite having lost her parents to an accident seven years ago; she is grateful for her loving grandparents (Jose V. Villa and Josefina Ortega-Villa), whom she now lives with. Alondra befriends Armando (Anthony Marquez), a nice guy she met while working at her uncle's restaurant. Unfortunately, Alondra's manipulative step-cousin Tatiana (Paloma Rodriguez) wants Armando as her date for her debutante party, and with the help of her sidekicks she keeps Armando and Alondra apart while making them believe that she's just trying to help.

Director Conchita Nora Villa says, "My family and I wanted to produce a movie that an entire family can watch together. It was also important for me to portray Latinos in a positive, non-stereotypical way."

Ms. Villa's credits include working on "Selena" and "Mi Familia/My Family" as well as producing various independent projects. After over 10 years of experience in the various facets of the film industry, she decided to team up with her brother, Producer/Writer Juan Francisco Villa, and her family to produce and finance "Alondra Smiles." This film is Ms. Villa's directorial debut.

"Alondra Smiles" has also been selected to the International Film Festival in South Africa (October 2008) and the Kids First! Film Festival. "Alondra Smiles" is currently looking for distribution. Trailer, photos and further information are available at www.villamediaprod.com and www.myspace.com/alondrasmiles.

Villa Media Productions is a family-owned and operated company. It is currently developing an "Alondra Smiles" television pilot.
###

Posted by Alicyn at 10:40 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

It's official, "The Mr.

Men Show" has been greenlit for a second season on The Cartoon Network. We'll begin recording in July with new episodes to come in 2009. In addition, "The Mr. Men Show" premiered on Al Jazeera this month & is currently the number one children's show in the UK!

You can check out "The Mr. Men Show" daily on CN at 9am & 1:30pm. I play the characters, Miss Sunshine, Miss Naughty & Miss Whoops.

If you like what you see, visit www. mrmenshowblog. com and leave a comment.

This is super-helpful!

Much Love,

Ali

PS if anyone can find video online of the show in arabic that would be AMAZING!

Posted by Alicyn at 03:29 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)