by Antonio Mejías-Rentas
Ángel Tavira, en El Violín (photo by Martin Boege Pare)
ONE LINERS: Ángel Tavira, the Mexican musician who had not acted before starring in the fi lm El violín, for which he won a special prize in Cannes in 2006, has died at age 84. Colombian singer Shakira has signed a multi-faceted 10-year contract with Llve Nation that involves tours, marketing and future recordings and may be worth as much as $100 million. Rubén Blades will perform a series of 12 concerts during a three-week European tour intended to promote Panama as a tourist destination; the singer-songwriter, closing out his term as his country’s Minister of Tourism, is readying a full-time return to music next year.
HOLLYWOOD CALLS: Book and film deals are in the works for Ingrid Betancourt, fellow hostages and the people involved in her dramatic rescue this month from Colombian guerrillas.
Betancourt and 14 other hostages held by the insurgent Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (or FARC) were released July 2 in an universally praised operation by the Colombian Army dubbed Oparación Jaque, that did not require the fi ring of a single shot.
The liberated hostages and rescuers are negotiating deals with agents and producers, according to various sources.
Betancourt, a former Colombian senator who was running for president when she was kidnapped over six years ago, published a memoir in 2001 titled Hasta que la muerte nos separe. Most recently, a letter to her mother, former Colombian beauty queen Yolanda Pulecio, and the reply by Betancourt’s two children was published as Cartas a mi madre. Both books are being reissued and Betancourt said upon her release that she plans to write a play about her ordeal.
Los Angeles’ powerhouse Creative Artists Agency is representing the former hostage, along with her French agent, Susannah Lea. Hollywood actress Julia Roberts is reportedly interested in acquiring the rights to portray Betancourt in film. And three U.S. former hostages are reportedly negotiating with Limited Talent Agency.
At least two films about the kidnapping and release have already been announced. Colombian T.V. network RCN has hired director Simón Brand to film its version of Operación Jaque. And Venezuelan actress Patricia Vásquez has acquired the film rights to Searching for Ingrid, a memoir by Betancourt’s husband Juan Carlos Lecompte, and is expected to go into production next year.
According to published reports, Hollywood producers Scott Steindorff and Phil Maloof are negotiating with the Colombian government for an official version of Operación Jaque. Hispanic Link.
