Hispanic shock jock boffo at B.O.
'El Vacilon' clicks with U.S. Spanish-speaking auds
By ANNA MARIE DE LA FUENTE
Date in print: Mon., Nov. 14, 2005, Weekly
HOLLYWOOD -- Only a handful of pics aimed at U.S. Latinos have lately managed to catch on, but a small R-rated pic has captivated this elusive market, at least on the East Coast.
"El Vacilon: The movie," based on top-rated East Coast Hispanic radio program "El Vacilon de la manana," opened Oct. 21 to sellout biz at most of the 30 screens distrib Televisa Cine booked over the weekend. It played to overflow auds in New York's tri-state area (although it did little business in Orlando because of a hurricane that weekend).
Gross-out pic, which reportedly cost about $350,000 to make, posted a three-day cume of $284,000, a $9,466 per screen average in the U.S. In Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic, pic has grossed $105,311 since its Nov. 3 opening on just 25 screens. Cume to date is nearly $1 million, encouraging for such a low-budget pic.
El Vacilon DJ Luis Jimenez is often billed as a Hispanic shock jock, not unlike Howard Stern, whose radio show he often beat in the New York ratings derby. Jimenez wrote and stars in the pic, which abounds with scatological and slapstick humor.
Pic is based on Jimenez' more than 10-year experience at the mike fielding calls and hosting on-air skits and parodies. It also features Jimenez' co-host Moonshadow and thesps Juan Manuel Lebron, Ruperto Vanderpool, Marilyn Torres, Caridad and Alessandra Ramos.
Televisa Cine, the U.S. distribution arm of Mexican conglom Televisa and Hispanic marketing company Latin World Entertainment, formulated a campaign strategy that included billboards, print, Internet and buses. But Luis Jimenez's constant plugs on his radio show were pivotal in driving up aud numbers.
Televisa Cine's last release, "Matando Cabos," did less than boffo business. "It was a disappointment but we're trying to open a market and it has its challenges," says Televisa topper Eckehardt von Damm.
"El Vacilon" helmer Agustin and his shingle Babylegs Entertainment co produced the pic with Easy Entertainment Group and marketing firm Latin World Entertainment. Panamax Films, the new production shingle launched by former Telemundo prexy and CEO, boarded the pic at the last minute to cover p & a costs.
The question remains whether the pic will do as well on the West Coast, where Televisa plans to release it soon. But its makers think its visual, albeit crude humor will transcend all barriers. The plot is simple and ambitions even simpler -- they're just out to make people laugh.
'El Vacilon' clicks with U.S. Spanish-speaking auds
By ANNA MARIE DE LA FUENTE
Date in print: Mon., Nov. 14, 2005, Weekly
HOLLYWOOD -- Only a handful of pics aimed at U.S. Latinos have lately managed to catch on, but a small R-rated pic has captivated this elusive market, at least on the East Coast.
"El Vacilon: The movie," based on top-rated East Coast Hispanic radio program "El Vacilon de la manana," opened Oct. 21 to sellout biz at most of the 30 screens distrib Televisa Cine booked over the weekend. It played to overflow auds in New York's tri-state area (although it did little business in Orlando because of a hurricane that weekend).
Gross-out pic, which reportedly cost about $350,000 to make, posted a three-day cume of $284,000, a $9,466 per screen average in the U.S. In Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic, pic has grossed $105,311 since its Nov. 3 opening on just 25 screens. Cume to date is nearly $1 million, encouraging for such a low-budget pic.
El Vacilon DJ Luis Jimenez is often billed as a Hispanic shock jock, not unlike Howard Stern, whose radio show he often beat in the New York ratings derby. Jimenez wrote and stars in the pic, which abounds with scatological and slapstick humor.
Pic is based on Jimenez' more than 10-year experience at the mike fielding calls and hosting on-air skits and parodies. It also features Jimenez' co-host Moonshadow and thesps Juan Manuel Lebron, Ruperto Vanderpool, Marilyn Torres, Caridad and Alessandra Ramos.
Televisa Cine, the U.S. distribution arm of Mexican conglom Televisa and Hispanic marketing company Latin World Entertainment, formulated a campaign strategy that included billboards, print, Internet and buses. But Luis Jimenez's constant plugs on his radio show were pivotal in driving up aud numbers.
Televisa Cine's last release, "Matando Cabos," did less than boffo business. "It was a disappointment but we're trying to open a market and it has its challenges," says Televisa topper Eckehardt von Damm.
"El Vacilon" helmer Agustin and his shingle Babylegs Entertainment co produced the pic with Easy Entertainment Group and marketing firm Latin World Entertainment. Panamax Films, the new production shingle launched by former Telemundo prexy and CEO, boarded the pic at the last minute to cover p & a costs.
The question remains whether the pic will do as well on the West Coast, where Televisa plans to release it soon. But its makers think its visual, albeit crude humor will transcend all barriers. The plot is simple and ambitions even simpler -- they're just out to make people laugh.
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