News

Starring Latino comedienne Kiki Melendez, Journey of a Female Comic,is a documentary comedy that will be released through AMC Theatres’ AMC Independent Program in Los Angeles and San Diego on May 2nd, 2014 with other major markets to follow. The date will also see the release of Water & Power, which will be a historical accomplishment for Independent Latino Filmmakers just in time for the Cinco de Mayo weekend.

An award-winning actress,writer,producer, TV personality and trailblazing figure, Melendez is best known for creating Galavision’s #1 entertainment show in 2000, “Kiki Desde Hollywood”, and Showtime Network’s hit show, “Hot Tamales Live!”in2008, the longest running all-female comedy show, now available on Hulu.

Her debut feature is an inspirational film for audiences of all races,genders,and backgrounds. It centers on Melendez’ life growing up in a developing country, being raised by a single immigrant mother, and her career in Hollywood pursuing the American Dream. Never forgetting her humble beginnings, Melendez’ journey is thought-provoking, inspiring audiences to discover the difference between fame and fulfillment.

Thanks to initial enthusiastic reception during test screenings, AMC’s independent program added the 88-minute version to its slate. "Journey of A Female Comic fits perfectly within our AMC Independent programming initiative, which opens our screens to movies that resonate with our diverse audiences,” said Nikkole Denson-Randolph, Vice President of Alternative Content at AMC. “Kiki Melendez’ story is honest and entertaining, and will connect with many of our guests

“I am so grateful to AMC Independent for the opportunity to share my story. My hope in making this film, is to encourage and inspire women to take their dreams into their own hands”, says Melendez.

The feature began as an experimental short film,which premiered at the Dr Global International Film Festival. It also opened at Miami's Hispanicize Film Showcase and The Broadway International Film Festival in 2012, where it represented the U.S. and won “Best Documentary”.

The documentary also features other prominent Latino figures in Hollywood, including interviews with Edward James Olmos, Jacob Vargas, Esai Morales, Nadine Velazquez,the late Lupe Ontiveros, Maria Conchita Alonso and Guy Ecker. Melendez also has lively conversations with international stars including Aaron Spelling, Usher, Sofía Vergara, Halle Berry, Hugh Jackman, John Travolta, Shakira and Marc Anthony.

Journey of A Female Comic was produced by Latin Hollywood Films in association with Lions Kill Productions. It is produced and directed by Erick M. Crespo and Kiki Melendez, written by Lyn McCullough and Kiki Melendez. Executive Producers are David Albert Pierce, Mark Ford, Paul Lawrence, Gloria Ortiz, Vickie Leyva and Mike Levy.

To read more about this film visit: Here...

The Hot Tamales review has gone smallscreen loco with Kiki Melendez' hot, hot, hot group of kick ass comics who can riff in English and Spanish, and are poised to take over TV for the masses. Melendez created The Hot Tamales Live Revue and took it to Showtime Television, where breakout star Monique Marvez made an impression with her life lessons for men and women, and how to navigate the battle of the sexes. Marvez was drafted by Fox en Espanol to take their tour bus across the country entertaining the advertisers and affiliates with the up-and-coming programming the network has in store for 2011. Marvez is booked at Groucho's Comedy Club in Cocoa Beach, Florida on...

Showtime's Kiki Melendez. Hot Tamales Live! is Thursday, December 9 at 7:30pm at The Hollywood Improv. Showtime's Hot Tamales Live will be in performance for one night only at the Hollywood Improv. The sexy, spicy smart comics will knock your socks off with an All-Star Cast!! Booked are New York City's Sara Contreras and Edgar Rivera; Monique Marvez from Showtime.s Latin Divas; Nadine Rajabi from Showtime.s Hot Tamales Live; Ludo Vika from Que Locos Comedy Jam and Douglas Williams from Starz Television .First Amendment;. all are in the house. The Hollywood Improv is at 8162 Melrose Ave in Hollywood CA 90046 Doors Open at 7:00Dinner Reservations available323-651-2583 or www.improv.com...

Showtime network's Original Latin Divas' star Monique Marvez will join comic impresario Kiki Melendez' latest Hot Tamales revue, also featuring Thea Vidale, Rick Najera, Nadine Rajabi, Douglas Williams III, and Joey Vega at the famous Conga Room in Los Angeles on June 12. Marvez is just off her Fox Sports en Espanol mobile upfront junket and East coast comedy tour, Vidale is appearing on Comedy Central Premium Blend and Howard Stern, Najera is performing Daddy Diaries: Diary of a Dad Man at the Covina Center for the Performing Arts, Rajabi has a hot radio show, "Nadine @ Nite", which can be heard on National Lampoon Comedy Radio on Xm Channel 154 and Vega is producing and starring in...

Hot off her bilingual Improv dates in Miami and Ft. Lauderdale with Kiki Melendez' Hot Tamales revue, and Improv dates in Tempe, Arizona, radio personality Monique Marvez has returned to her stand-up roots and is confirmed for more club dates in Southern California. Miami native Marvez is booked next in San Diego at the Belly_Up_Tavern, where the raucous comic with a whip-smart set that covers life, love and the nuances of relationships promises to reveal what lay ahead, post-San Diego Jack, her FM radio home for the few years where her popular morning drive show, "Monique and the Man," was the only real human voice on Jack's otherwise automated 'bot DJ. The San Diego show is her...

Hot off their successful dual English and Spanish sets in South Florida, Kiki Melendez' talented lineup of diverse Latina comics is coming to La, and the show is a no miss for any and all comedy fans. Melendez has woven a group of ladies (east coast-west coast and Texan) whose hilarious worldview is colored by their different experiences growing up in America. Most are first generation kids who navigate the world through a perspective always rich in humor and "Wise Latina" wisdom. "No culture has as many rules about sex except maybe Victorian England,'' says Monique Marvez, one of the stars of Hot Tamales Live, reports the Miami Herald "By the time a Latin girl is in...

Effervescent reality television judge and star of "So You Think You Can Dance" Mary Murphy is hosting a benefit called Project Haiti: An evening of compassion, action and hope in Hollywood, California. The event will take place on Thursday, February 25 from 6pm to 9pm at Capitol City Hollywood 1615 N. Cahuenga Blvd, Los Angeles, CA. The event will be hosted by choreographer Mary Murphy of "So You Think You Can Dance" and celebrity reporter Jerry Penacoli of "Extra." Star of the Original Latin Divas (Showtime) and San Diego Jack FM air personality Monique Marvez is scheduled to appear as well. Marvez is currently touring with Eva Longoria and Kiki Melendez' Hot Tamales review and has...

Showtime scored a big comedy hit in 2006 with the Original Latin Divas, as the best Latina female comic voices in America: The late Mexicana Marilyn Martinez, "New Yorican" Sara Contreras, Cubana Monique Marvez and Tejana Sandra Valls all performed their sets to an Sro crowd. Marvez went on to take over San Diego Jack FM's morning drive, Martinez starred in Martin Lawrence's 1st Amendment Stand-Up special and Valls has been producing and writing for SiTV. Sadly, Marilyn Martinez passed away on November 3, 2007. Now comedy promoter and performer Kiki Melendez has round up two of the Divas, Marvez and Valls, and added Shayla Rivera to create a first for southern Florida: A comedy set by...