Posted 8/26/06 Imagen’s 21st Gala Awards Show Scores Another Gran Exito

Imagen’s Founder and President Helen Hernandez is still ecstatic about the tremendous turnout by the stars and media for the Aug. 18 awards ceremony in Beverly Hills. Proclaiming the event as another banner year, Hernandez said, this year’s event drew some of the brightest stars (Eddie Olmos, Andy Garcia, Antonio Banderas, Melanie Griffith, Jimmy Smits, Wanda de Jesus, Michael Peña and Benito Martinez, among others) and the most press coverage ever, including “E” and “Access Hollywood.”

The competition for the prestigious Imagen Awards was fierce with so many good entries vying for the top prize. However, it probably came as no surprise that Andy Garcia’s “The Lost City” took the award for Best Picture. Garcia, who is a recipient of Imagen’s 2002 Creative Achievement Award, also picked up the Best Director award for his incredible film.

Although, “Take the Lead” didn’t win in the Best Picture category, Antonio Banderas (also nominated for Legend of Zorro) picked up the Best Actor award for his role in that film, winning out over Andy Garcia who was also nominated in that category.

Up against some tough competition (Jessica Alba, Cameron Diaz, Ines Sastre), it was a sweet win for America Ferrera as Best Actress (Film) for her role in “The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants.” The Los Angeles native who made her film debut in “Real Women Have Curves,” recently shot the pilot for “Ugly Betty,” an upcoming Salma Hayek produced comedy-drama series for ABC. The show, which will debut in the fall of 2006, is an adaptation of the Colombian hit telenovela "Betty La Fea," which incidentally Univision remade under the title “La Fea Mas Bella,” and is currently one of the network’s top rated shows.

NBC’s "The West Wing" picked up its third Imagen for Best Primetime Series and Michael Peña won for Best Actor for his role in “Walkout,” which had been nominated in the Best Primetime Series.

Lisa Vidal was the favorite for Best Actress (Television) for her role in "Odd Girl Out," and picking up his first win as Best Supporting Actor for his role in TNT’s “The Closer,” was Raymond Cruz, winning out over Freddy Rodriguez (Six Feet Under) who has won this award every year since 2003. Also, a first time winner was Cote de Pablo as Best Supporting Actress for her role in NCIS.

Walt Disney Pictures’ “High School Musical,” beat out previous winners, “Dora the Explorer,” a finalist almost every year in the Best Children’s Programming category and last year’s winner, “Nick News with Linda Ellerbee.”

Other Imagen winners included Viva Baseball: Shoot the Moon Productions; Spike TV (Best Documentary for Television or Film), El Reto Final Nissan: Animus Group and Zeal Television; Fox Sports in Español (Best Variety or Reality Show), Alcanzando El Exito Escolar: Univision Television Group (Best National Informational Programming), Hispanic Heritage Month: SiTV (Best On-Air Advertising) and KCBS-TV News “Villaraigosa Interview,” beating out four time winner ABC7’s Vista L.A.

Congratulations to all the nominees and winners. Adelante 2007!

Desperate Housewives Star Uses his Celebrity to Support Causes

Ricardo Antonio Chavira may seem like a tough and violent person in his role as Carlos Solis on ABC’s Desperate Housewives, but in real life, he displays a powerful voice against violence — it’s just one of the perks of being a big time celebrity.

In April when Lifetime launched its 2006 Campaign to “Stop Violence Against Women,” Chavira and his father, Family Court Judge Juan Antonio Chavira, lent their voices to the anti-violence movement during a special programming weekend (hosted by Chavira) dedicated to the stop violence message.

He has also used his success on the ABC hit show to help in the fight against breast cancer, a cause that became highly personal to him at the age of 15, when he lost his mother to breast and ovarian cancer. The South Texas native is San Antonio’s honorary spokesman for the Susan G. Komen Beast Cancer Foundation, and has served as the National Team Captain for the “Race for the Cure” in Washington, D.C.

Chavira, who has worked consistently in all areas of the entertainment industry, holds an MFA from the University of California, San Diego. While his claim to fame may have been his role on Desperate Housewives, it is common knowledge that he regards the 2003 birth of his son, Tomas Antonio Chavira, as his greatest achievement.

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