Sunday, December 16, 2007

Rincon Criollo Stage


Rincon Criollo Stage
Originally uploaded by clarisel.
Opportunity

Internships with the Rincón Criollo Cultural Center, Inc. in the South Bronx

Part of Rincon Criollo's collaboration with local residents and institutions is through internships and short-term independent projects.

The Rincón Criollo Cultural Center has been an oasis of Puerto Rican history and traditions in the South Bronx for over 30 years. Founded in 1987, this incredible community garden also serves as an important cultural center, which is internationally recognized as a "school and performance" space featuring bomba and plena, traditional musical expressions of Puerto Rico's African legacy and it's current working class. Rincón Criollo is regularly visited by community leaders, foreign dignitaries and students of Puerto Rican and Latino culture. www.myspace.com/rinconcriollo

Because the Rincón Criollo Cultural Center has a limited staff and is growing rapidly, interns have the opportunity for invaluable hands-on cultural and educational experience tailored to fit their individual talents and interests.

Internships are offered year-round. While internships are unpaid, they offer invaluable professional experience in the field of cultural development.

Majors/Minors who might be interested:
Non-Profit Management/Administration, Puerto Rican/Latino Studies, Ethnomusicology, Music, History, Anthropology, Sociology, Cultural Studies, Museum/Archival Studies, Education, Marketing/Tourism, Journalism, etc.

Education:
Interns in the education department will be required to assist in organizing programs and events.

Fundraising:
Fundraising interns will assist staff in planning fundraising events. Interns in this department will also write grant proposals and identify funding sources.

Non-Profit Management:
Management interns will gain some experience in all of the categories listed above as well as handling personnel; working with boards and committees; facility design and management; legal aspects and other unique aspects of running a non-profit organization.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Contact: Carlos "Tato" Torres
Tel: (347) 584-8915
Email: tatobrujo@gmail.com

Bohio at the "Centro ceremonial indigena Tibes"


Tuesday, December 11, 2007

Spotlight: Being Big Works for Actor Lou Torres


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Originally uploaded by prsuncom
By Robert Waddell

Actor Lou Torres has the curse of most character actors: the viewing audience knows his face but
doesn’t know his name.
This burly Puerto Rican from the Bronx is recognizable from films such as the first “Spiderman,” “Shaft,” “Taxi” with Queen Latifah, “The Fantastic Four,” “Night at the Museum,” “El Cantante” and “Music and Lyrics.”
“Now people look at me (on the street) like they know me or they’ve seen me or they don’t believe it’s me,” said Torres who is large and magnetic with sensitive eyes and a brusque voice.
He attended DeWitt Clinton High School in the Bronx and studied at Queens College’s Aaron Copland School of Music.
He used to be a New York City music teacher and a caseworker at Planned Parenthood. He also served at one point as assistant chief of staff to Councilman David Rosado.
But in the late 1990’s, things changed.
Torres recalled that he saw a Spanish newspaper classified ad looking for “a tough Hispanic male for the film ‘Sleepers’ with Robert De Niro.”
At first, he thought it was a hoax or a scam. But his friend convinced Torres to go to the audition even though he had no formal acting training. He didn’t get the part, but he was encouraged to pursue acting.
Torres has since taken acting classes at H.B. studios, The Actors Studio and the Puerto Rican Traveling Theatre’s Raul Julia Training Unit.
He is now a full-time actor and producer. He runs Big Lou Productions and has done three films so far.
As a working actor, he mainly plays the big guy, the storeowner or bouncer types.
“I’m happy to get all of my roles,” Torres said.
“I look at it as work. Whatever work I get, I’m appreciative of it.”
Now, Torres produces movies to provide himself and other actors with the non-traditional roles and projects he dreams about. His big dream is to do a Latino remake of “Marty.”
“I’ve already produced my second project called ‘Rockaway’ and that’s going to be released by Lions Gate. Nothing has been formalized, but he is hoping that something positive will happen by next year.
For now, Torres said he’s going to continue producing movies and telling stories. “Maybe one day I'll cast myself as the lead.”


Robert Waddell is a Bronx-based writer who contributes articles to Puerto Rico Sun.