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<channel><title><![CDATA[Cigar City Magazine - INTERVIEWS & MORE]]></title><link><![CDATA[https://www.cigarcitymagazine.com/interviews--more]]></link><description><![CDATA[INTERVIEWS & MORE]]></description><pubDate>Fri, 21 Aug 2026 03:30:15 -0400</pubDate><generator>Weebly</generator><item><title><![CDATA[SORRY TO BOTHER YOU: SXSW MOVIE REVIEW]]></title><link><![CDATA[https://www.cigarcitymagazine.com/interviews--more/sorry-to-bother-you-sxsw-movie-review]]></link><comments><![CDATA[https://www.cigarcitymagazine.com/interviews--more/sorry-to-bother-you-sxsw-movie-review#comments]]></comments><pubDate>Sat, 10 Mar 2018 05:00:00 GMT</pubDate><category><![CDATA[Actors]]></category><category><![CDATA[Jordan Figueredo]]></category><category><![CDATA[Movies]]></category><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.cigarcitymagazine.com/interviews--more/sorry-to-bother-you-sxsw-movie-review</guid><description><![CDATA[       Musician Boots Riley makes his directorial debut with &ldquo;Sorry To Bother You&rdquo;, which might just be the most ambitious film of the century. The film stars Lakeith Stanfield (Get Out) as a telemarketer who is advised by a co-worker to use his &ldquo;white voice&rdquo; (a hilarious voice-over from comedian David Cross), where he soon finds success and fame, despite not even knowing what it is he&rsquo;s selling.&nbsp;      This high-concept premise is utilized to the fullest extent [...] ]]></description><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div><div class="wsite-image wsite-image-border-none " style="padding-top:10px;padding-bottom:10px;margin-left:0;margin-right:0;text-align:center"> <a> <img src="https://www.cigarcitymagazine.com/uploads/1/0/8/4/108436395/published/sorry-to-bother-you-movie-review-cigar-city.jpg?1774555453" alt="Picture" style="width:1125;max-width:100%" /> </a> <div style="display:block;font-size:90%"></div> </div></div>  <div class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><font color="#2a2a2a">Musician Boots Riley makes his directorial debut with &ldquo;Sorry To Bother You&rdquo;, which might just be the most ambitious film of the century. The film stars Lakeith Stanfield (<em>Get Out</em>) as a telemarketer who is advised by a co-worker to use his &ldquo;white voice&rdquo; (a hilarious voice-over from comedian David Cross), where he soon finds success and fame, despite not even knowing what it is he&rsquo;s selling.&nbsp;</font></div>  <div>  <!--BLOG_SUMMARY_END--></div>  <div class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><font color="#2a2a2a">This high-concept premise is utilized to the fullest extent, creating a surreal mix of clever social commentary with surreal absurdism. I could list off a plethora of films Sorry To Bother You draws inspiration from (Brazil, Office Space, the filmographies of both Spike Lee and Charlie Kauffman), yet there&rsquo;s nothing truly like it. Co-starring are Tessa Thompson (Thor Ragnarok) and Armie Hammer (Call Me By Your Name), the latter of which truly goes all out as the coke-head billionaire tycoon. All three are terrific alongside many of the films cameos.&nbsp;</font><br /><br /><font color="#2a2a2a">While it&rsquo;s cohesive enough to follow, and care about these characters, the film takes wild turns in the plot and always manages to insert a comment or critique. These jarring shifts will definitely turn off most viewers, but the unpredictable nature and confidence that writer/director Boots Riley displays helps coax you along for the ride. Sorry to Bother You is truly one of the funniest, most subversive films I&rsquo;ve seen all year, and will hopefully enter the awards conversation later this year.&nbsp;</font></div>  <div><div style="height: 0px; overflow: hidden; width: 100%;"></div> <hr class="styled-hr" style="width:100%;"></hr> <div style="height: 10px; overflow: hidden; width: 100%;"></div></div>  <div><div class="wsite-multicol"><div class="wsite-multicol-table-wrap" style="margin:0 -15px;"> 	<table class="wsite-multicol-table"> 		<tbody class="wsite-multicol-tbody"> 			<tr class="wsite-multicol-tr"> 				<td class="wsite-multicol-col" style="width:26.643598615917%; padding:0 15px;"> 					 						  <div><div class="wsite-image wsite-image-border-none " style="padding-top:0px;padding-bottom:0px;margin-left:0px;margin-right:0px;text-align:center"> <a> <img src="https://www.cigarcitymagazine.com/uploads/1/0/8/4/108436395/published/jordan-figueredo-cigar-city-writer.jpg?1774555630" alt="Picture" style="width:auto;max-width:100%" /> </a> <div style="display:block;font-size:90%">JORDAN FIGUEREDO</div> </div></div>   					 				</td>				<td class="wsite-multicol-col" style="width:73.356401384083%; padding:0 15px;"> 					 						  <h2 class="blog-author-title">WRITER JORDAN FIGUEREDO</h2> <p style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0)">Jordan Figueredo is an actor and content writer specializing in film criticism and cultural commentary. He has attended various festivals including, Toronto International Film Festival and South by Southwest. Figueredo can also be seen on-stage, winning Best Supporting Actor in Plant Theater Co&rsquo;s production of Squat in 2016.</span></p>   					 				</td>			</tr> 		</tbody> 	</table> </div></div></div>  <div><div style="height: 20px; overflow: hidden; width: 100%;"></div> <hr class="styled-hr" style="width:100%;"></hr> <div style="height: 20px; overflow: hidden; width: 100%;"></div></div>  <div class="paragraph" style="text-align:center;"><strong style="color:rgb(168, 168, 168)"><strong><font color="#2a2a2a">FOLLOW CIGAR CITY MAGAZINE</font></strong></strong></div>  <div style="text-align:center;"><div style="height:10px;overflow:hidden"></div> <span class="wsite-social wsite-social-default"><a class='first-child wsite-social-item wsite-social-facebook' href='https://www.facebook.com/cigarcity/' target='_blank' alt='Facebook' aria-label='Facebook'><span class='wsite-social-item-inner'></span></a><a class='wsite-social-item wsite-social-twitter' href='https://x.com/CigarCity' target='_blank' alt='Twitter' aria-label='Twitter'><span class='wsite-social-item-inner'></span></a><a class='wsite-social-item wsite-social-instagram' href='https://www.instagram.com/cigarcitymagazine/' target='_blank' alt='Instagram' aria-label='Instagram'><span class='wsite-social-item-inner'></span></a><a class='wsite-social-item wsite-social-linkedin' href='https://www.linkedin.com/company/cigar-city-magazine/posts/?feedView=all' target='_blank' alt='Linkedin' aria-label='Linkedin'><span class='wsite-social-item-inner'></span></a><a class='last-child wsite-social-item wsite-social-mail' href='mailto:info@cigarcitymagazine.com' target='_blank' alt='Mail' aria-label='Mail'><span class='wsite-social-item-inner'></span></a></span> <div style="height:10px;overflow:hidden"></div></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[68 KILL:SXSW MOVIE REVIEW]]></title><link><![CDATA[https://www.cigarcitymagazine.com/interviews--more/68-killsxsw-movie-review]]></link><comments><![CDATA[https://www.cigarcitymagazine.com/interviews--more/68-killsxsw-movie-review#comments]]></comments><pubDate>Mon, 13 Mar 2017 04:00:00 GMT</pubDate><category><![CDATA[Actors]]></category><category><![CDATA[Jordan Figueredo]]></category><category><![CDATA[Movies]]></category><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.cigarcitymagazine.com/interviews--more/68-killsxsw-movie-review</guid><description><![CDATA[       68 Kill, adapted from the graphic novel of the same name, stars Matthew Gray Gubler (Criminal Minds) and AnnaLynne McCord (Excision) as Chip and Liza, a young couple whose plan to steal $68,000 from Liza&rsquo;s sugar daddy leads to&nbsp;something more deranged and violent.      This punk-rock grind-house thriller won the Audience Award: Midnight Movie at SXSW and was the talk of the festival, and understandably so. Writer/Director Trent Haaga (Cheap Thrills, Deadgirl) is no newcomer to g [...] ]]></description><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div><div class="wsite-image wsite-image-border-none " style="padding-top:10px;padding-bottom:10px;margin-left:0;margin-right:0;text-align:center"> <a> <img src="https://www.cigarcitymagazine.com/uploads/1/0/8/4/108436395/68-kill-sxsw-movie-review-cigar-city_orig.jpg" alt="Picture" style="width:auto;max-width:100%" /> </a> <div style="display:block;font-size:90%"></div> </div></div>  <div class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><font color="#2a2a2a">68 Kill, adapted from the graphic novel of the same name, stars Matthew Gray Gubler (<em>Criminal Minds</em>) and AnnaLynne McCord (Excision) as Chip and Liza, a young couple whose plan to steal $68,000 from Liza&rsquo;s sugar daddy leads to&nbsp;something more deranged and violent.</font></div>  <div>  <!--BLOG_SUMMARY_END--></div>  <div class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><font color="#2a2a2a">This punk-rock grind-house thriller won the Audience Award: Midnight Movie at SXSW and was the talk of the festival, and understandably so. Writer/Director Trent Haaga (<em>Cheap Thrills, Deadgirl</em>) is no newcomer to genre films, and here he goes into full-exploitation mode. 68 Kill really goes for gratuity with sex, drugs, and a whole lot of blood.&nbsp;</font><br /><br /><font color="#2a2a2a">What stood out to me the most were the performances from Gubler, McCord, and Alisha Boe (<em>13 Reasons Why</em>), who heighten the film&rsquo;s energy with their eccentric performances. That being said, towards the end, it can become somewhat tiresome, with the introduction of some obnoxious characters that verge on overkill. Running at a short 93 minutes, 68 Kill is a fun ride for genre fans.</font><br /><br /><font color="#2a2a2a">*IFC Midnight is set to distribute 68 Kill with a release date set for August 4th.*</font></div>  <div><div style="height: 10px; overflow: hidden; width: 100%;"></div> <hr class="styled-hr" style="width:100%;"></hr> <div style="height: 10px; overflow: hidden; width: 100%;"></div></div>  <div><div class="wsite-multicol"><div class="wsite-multicol-table-wrap" style="margin:0 -15px;"> 	<table class="wsite-multicol-table"> 		<tbody class="wsite-multicol-tbody"> 			<tr class="wsite-multicol-tr"> 				<td class="wsite-multicol-col" style="width:23.982683982684%; padding:0 15px;"> 					 						  <div><div class="wsite-image wsite-image-border-none " style="padding-top:0px;padding-bottom:0px;margin-left:0px;margin-right:0px;text-align:center"> <a> <img src="https://www.cigarcitymagazine.com/uploads/1/0/8/4/108436395/jordan-figueredo-cigar-city-writer_orig.jpg" alt="Picture" style="width:auto;max-width:100%" /> </a> <div style="display:block;font-size:90%">JORDAN FIGUEREDO</div> </div></div>   					 				</td>				<td class="wsite-multicol-col" style="width:76.017316017316%; padding:0 15px;"> 					 						  <h2 class="blog-author-title">WRITER JORDAN FIGUEREDO</h2> <p style="text-align:left;"><font color="#2a2a2a">Jordan Figueredo is an actor and content writer specializing in film criticism and cultural commentary. He has attended various festivals, including the Toronto International Film Festival and South by Southwest. Figueredo can also be seen onstage, winning Best Supporting Actor in Plant Theater Co.&rsquo;s production of Squat in 2016.</font></p>   					 				</td>			</tr> 		</tbody> 	</table> </div></div></div>  <div><div style="height: 0px; overflow: hidden; width: 100%;"></div> <hr class="styled-hr" style="width:100%;"></hr> <div style="height: 0px; overflow: hidden; width: 100%;"></div></div>  <div class="paragraph" style="text-align:center;"><strong style="color:rgb(168, 168, 168)"><strong><font color="#2a2a2a"><span style="display: none;">&nbsp;</span>FOLLOW CIGAR CITY MAGAZINE<span style="display: none;">&nbsp;</span></font></strong></strong></div>  <div style="text-align:center;"><div style="height:10px;overflow:hidden"></div> <span class="wsite-social wsite-social-default"><a class='first-child wsite-social-item wsite-social-facebook' href='https://www.facebook.com/cigarcity/' target='_blank' alt='Facebook' aria-label='Facebook'><span class='wsite-social-item-inner'></span></a><a class='wsite-social-item wsite-social-twitter' href='https://x.com/CigarCity' target='_blank' alt='Twitter' aria-label='Twitter'><span class='wsite-social-item-inner'></span></a><a class='wsite-social-item wsite-social-instagram' href='https://www.instagram.com/cigarcitymagazine/' target='_blank' alt='Instagram' aria-label='Instagram'><span class='wsite-social-item-inner'></span></a><a class='wsite-social-item wsite-social-linkedin' href='https://www.linkedin.com/company/cigar-city-magazine/posts/?feedView=all' target='_blank' alt='Linkedin' aria-label='Linkedin'><span class='wsite-social-item-inner'></span></a><a class='last-child wsite-social-item wsite-social-mail' href='mailto:info@cigarcitymagazine.com' target='_blank' alt='Mail' aria-label='Mail'><span class='wsite-social-item-inner'></span></a></span> <div style="height:10px;overflow:hidden"></div></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[BABY DRIVER: SXSW MOVIE REVIEW]]></title><link><![CDATA[https://www.cigarcitymagazine.com/interviews--more/baby-driver-sxsw-movie-review]]></link><comments><![CDATA[https://www.cigarcitymagazine.com/interviews--more/baby-driver-sxsw-movie-review#comments]]></comments><pubDate>Sat, 11 Mar 2017 05:00:00 GMT</pubDate><category><![CDATA[Actors]]></category><category><![CDATA[Jordan Figueredo]]></category><category><![CDATA[Movies]]></category><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.cigarcitymagazine.com/interviews--more/baby-driver-sxsw-movie-review</guid><description><![CDATA[       After dropping out of Marvel&rsquo;s Ant-Man, cult director Edgar Wright returns to the big screen with an original script, over 20 years in the making.      Baby Driver follows a young getaway driver&nbsp;(Ansel Elgort) who is coerced by a crime boss (Kevin Spacey) to take part in a heist that quickly goes south. The twist here is that&nbsp;he is a music fanatic whose life syncs up to the tunes on his iPod. The simplest way to describe Baby Driver is &ldquo;La La Land meets The Fast and  [...] ]]></description><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div><div class="wsite-image wsite-image-border-none " style="padding-top:10px;padding-bottom:10px;margin-left:0;margin-right:0;text-align:center"> <a> <img src="https://www.cigarcitymagazine.com/uploads/1/0/8/4/108436395/baby-driver-movie-review-cigar-city_orig.jpg" alt="Picture" style="width:auto;max-width:100%" /> </a> <div style="display:block;font-size:90%"></div> </div></div>  <div class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><font color="#2a2a2a">After dropping out of Marvel&rsquo;s Ant-Man, cult director Edgar Wright returns to the big screen with an original script, over 20 years in the making.</font></div>  <div>  <!--BLOG_SUMMARY_END--></div>  <div class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><font color="#2a2a2a">Baby Driver follows a young getaway driver&nbsp;(Ansel Elgort) who is coerced by a crime boss (Kevin Spacey) to take part in a heist that quickly goes south. The twist here is that&nbsp;he is a music fanatic whose life syncs up to the tunes on his iPod. The simplest way to describe Baby Driver is &ldquo;<em>La La Land </em>meets <em>The Fast and the Furious</em>&rdquo;. It&rsquo;s high-speed thrills, often paired with a playful soundtrack, all done in Wright&rsquo;s flashy,&nbsp;comedic style.</font><br /><br /><font color="#2a2a2a">While this premise could come off as gimmicky, Baby Driver&rsquo;s eclectic tunes carry significance and were carefully selected to heighten its&nbsp;elaborate set pieces. To maintain this kinetic spirit throughout, there are some very energetic performances from Elgort and the supporting cast&nbsp;(including Jamie Foxx, John Hamm, and Lily James).</font><br /><br /><font color="#2a2a2a">Unfortunately, the script isn&rsquo;t nearly as noteworthy as its&nbsp;execution. There&rsquo;s very little new here-story-wise, and a few of the supporting characters rely on tropes rather than character development. That being said, this is leagues better than the standard summer fare we&rsquo;re used to. Baby Driver is rich with wit and charm, it&rsquo;s visually engaging (as expected from an Edgar Wright film), and it&rsquo;ll be a very enjoyable treat for the end of the summer movie season.</font><br /><br /><font color="#2a2a2a">Sony Pictures will release Baby Driver in theaters on June 28th.</font></div>  <div><div style="height: 0px; overflow: hidden; width: 100%;"></div> <hr class="styled-hr" style="width:100%;"></hr> <div style="height: 10px; overflow: hidden; width: 100%;"></div></div>  <div><div class="wsite-multicol"><div class="wsite-multicol-table-wrap" style="margin:0 -15px;"> 	<table class="wsite-multicol-table"> 		<tbody class="wsite-multicol-tbody"> 			<tr class="wsite-multicol-tr"> 				<td class="wsite-multicol-col" style="width:22.404844290657%; padding:0 15px;"> 					 						  <div><div class="wsite-image wsite-image-border-none " style="padding-top:10px;padding-bottom:10px;margin-left:0px;margin-right:0px;text-align:center"> <a> <img src="https://www.cigarcitymagazine.com/uploads/1/0/8/4/108436395/jordan-figueredo-cigar-city-writer_orig.jpg" alt="Picture" style="width:auto;max-width:100%" /> </a> <div style="display:block;font-size:90%">JORDAN FIGUEREDO</div> </div></div>   					 				</td>				<td class="wsite-multicol-col" style="width:77.595155709343%; padding:0 15px;"> 					 						  <h2 class="blog-author-title">WRITER JORDAN FIGUEREDO</h2> <p style="text-align:left;"><font color="#2a2a2a">Jordan Figueredo is an actor and content writer specializing in film criticism and cultural commentary. He has attended various festivals, including&nbsp;the&nbsp;Toronto International Film Festival and South by Southwest. Figueredo can also be seen onstage, winning Best Supporting Actor in Plant Theater Co.&rsquo;s&nbsp;production of Squat in 2016.</font></p>   					 				</td>			</tr> 		</tbody> 	</table> </div></div></div>  <div><div style="height: 10px; overflow: hidden; width: 100%;"></div> <hr class="styled-hr" style="width:100%;"></hr> <div style="height: 10px; overflow: hidden; width: 100%;"></div></div>  <div class="paragraph" style="text-align:center;"><strong style="color:rgb(168, 168, 168)"><strong><font color="#2a2a2a">FOLLOW CIGAR CITY MAGAZINE</font></strong></strong></div>  <div style="text-align:center;"><div style="height:10px;overflow:hidden"></div> <span class="wsite-social wsite-social-default"><a class='first-child wsite-social-item wsite-social-facebook' href='https://www.facebook.com/cigarcity/' target='_blank' alt='Facebook' aria-label='Facebook'><span class='wsite-social-item-inner'></span></a><a class='wsite-social-item wsite-social-twitter' href='https://x.com/CigarCity' target='_blank' alt='Twitter' aria-label='Twitter'><span class='wsite-social-item-inner'></span></a><a class='wsite-social-item wsite-social-instagram' href='https://www.instagram.com/cigarcitymagazine/' target='_blank' alt='Instagram' aria-label='Instagram'><span class='wsite-social-item-inner'></span></a><a class='wsite-social-item wsite-social-linkedin' href='https://www.linkedin.com/company/cigar-city-magazine/posts/?feedView=all' target='_blank' alt='Linkedin' aria-label='Linkedin'><span class='wsite-social-item-inner'></span></a><a class='last-child wsite-social-item wsite-social-mail' href='mailto:info@cigarcitymagazine.com' target='_blank' alt='Mail' aria-label='Mail'><span class='wsite-social-item-inner'></span></a></span> <div style="height:10px;overflow:hidden"></div></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[MARK-PAUL GOSSELAAR, ACTION MOVIES, BRUCE WILLIS & ARTURO FUENTE CIGARS?]]></title><link><![CDATA[https://www.cigarcitymagazine.com/interviews--more/mark-paul-gosselaar]]></link><comments><![CDATA[https://www.cigarcitymagazine.com/interviews--more/mark-paul-gosselaar#comments]]></comments><pubDate>Wed, 18 May 2016 04:00:00 GMT</pubDate><category><![CDATA[Actors]]></category><category><![CDATA[Cigar Makers]]></category><category><![CDATA[Interviews]]></category><category><![CDATA[Jordan Figueredo]]></category><category><![CDATA[Movies]]></category><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.cigarcitymagazine.com/interviews--more/mark-paul-gosselaar</guid><description><![CDATA[       While attending the 10th Annual Gasparilla International Film Festival, Cigar City Magazine was lucky enough to chat with Mark-Paul Gosselaar at the premiere of his new film, &ldquo;Precious Cargo&rdquo;. Most notable for his role as Zack Morris in NBC&rsquo;s &ldquo;Saved by the Bell&rdquo;, he also starred in TNT&rsquo;s &ldquo;Raising the Bar&rdquo; and &ldquo;Franklin &amp; Bash&rdquo;.      CCM: Is this your first time in Ybor?Gosselaar: &ldquo;In Ybor? I believe so. I didn&rsquo;t g [...] ]]></description><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div><div class="wsite-image wsite-image-border-none " style="padding-top:10px;padding-bottom:10px;margin-left:0;margin-right:0;text-align:center"> <a> <img src="https://www.cigarcitymagazine.com/uploads/1/0/8/4/108436395/mark-paul-gosselaar-cigar-city_orig.jpg" alt="Picture" style="width:auto;max-width:100%" /> </a> <div style="display:block;font-size:90%"></div> </div></div>  <div class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><font color="#2a2a2a" size="3">While attending the 10th Annual Gasparilla International Film Festival, <em>Cigar City Magazine</em> was lucky enough to chat with Mark-Paul Gosselaar at the premiere of his new film, &ldquo;Precious Cargo&rdquo;. Most notable for his role as Zack Morris in NBC&rsquo;s &ldquo;Saved by the Bell&rdquo;, he also starred in TNT&rsquo;s &ldquo;Raising the Bar&rdquo; and &ldquo;Franklin &amp; Bash&rdquo;.</font></div>  <div>  <!--BLOG_SUMMARY_END--></div>  <div class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><font color="#2a2a2a">CCM: Is this your first time in Ybor?<br />Gosselaar: &ldquo;In Ybor? I believe so. I didn&rsquo;t get to see much. I flew in yesterday morning, slept a little bit, and came to the festival.<br />&nbsp;<br />CCM: You know, Ybor City is kind of known as &ldquo;Cigar City&rdquo;, it&rsquo;s the Cigar capital of the world.<br />Gosselaar: Is that right? I didn&rsquo;t know that.<br />&nbsp;<br />CCM: Towards the beginning of the film, there was an awesome action set-piece on a boat.&nbsp;Did&nbsp;you do your own stunts? Was it an adrenaline rush?&nbsp;Were&nbsp;you apprehensive at first?<br />Gosselaar: &ldquo;I used to own boats, before I had kids. (Laughs). Because when you own kids, you don&rsquo;t own anything. I&rsquo;m an experienced boat driver, I guess you could say. A lot of those scenes were actually of me driving, and given the resources we have on a film like this, where we don&rsquo;t have a lot of time to get the shot, we did switch between&nbsp;a stunt driver and me. I was pretty comfortable doing that.&nbsp;I never felt like&nbsp;<br />&nbsp;<br />CCM: It was intense, I mean that scene was about what, 5, 7 minutes long?<br />Gosselaar: I haven&rsquo;t seen the entire cut of the film.&nbsp;Last&nbsp;night [at the premiere], I was supposed to watch it, but I couldn&rsquo;t&nbsp;watch it with a bunch of people. I have to watch it by myself (laughs), like through my hands.<br />&nbsp;<br />CCM: Yeah, there are&nbsp;some actors&nbsp;who&nbsp;don&rsquo;t even watch some of their films.<br />Gosselaar: I think sometimes it can help, while other times it can discourage you as an actor. As actors, well, I think in any profession you look back at your work and say &ldquo;oh, I could&rsquo;ve done that&rdquo; or &ldquo;I could&rsquo;ve played it this way&rdquo;.<br />&nbsp;<br />CCM: How was your experience working with Bruce Willis?<br />Gosselaar: It&rsquo;s everything you&rsquo;d expect working with an icon like him, (laughs) he&rsquo;s just the coolest motherfucker ever, like my character Jack is the type he&rsquo;s played in his sleep over the last few decades, in the back of my head I&rsquo;m wondering if he&rsquo;s critiquing how well I play &ldquo;him&rdquo;. It was fun, he&rsquo;s a great addition to the film, and you know he&rsquo;s Bruce Willis!<br />&nbsp;<br />CCM: If you weren&rsquo;t an actor, what would you be doing?<br />Gosselaar: Hmm, I don&rsquo;t know, I would&rsquo;ve liked to have done something in sports, I&rsquo;ve always been a huge sports enthusiast, whether it&rsquo;s football, baseball, but definitely not basketball. I would&rsquo;ve loved to have played&nbsp;professional sports.<br />&nbsp;<br />CCM: How does working on independent projects compare to mainstream?<br />Gosselaar: There&rsquo;s really no difference in my opinion.&nbsp;I think the biggest thing is that you just don&rsquo;t have the luxury of time. On bigger projects and bigger budgeted films and television, you just have more time. When I did a film in &rsquo;98, I believe, &ldquo;Dead Man on Campus&rdquo;, in between&nbsp;set-ups, we&rsquo;d have an hour. I&rsquo;d go back to my trailer and play cards with the guys or whatever. With Precious Cargo, we didn&rsquo;t have that time. In between&nbsp;set-ups, we had about ten minutes. We just had no time;&nbsp;it&rsquo;s more intense, but the quality can be just as good.&nbsp;There&rsquo;s&nbsp;no difference. If you have a great script, great actors, and filmmakers, you can make a great film.<br />&nbsp;<br />CCM: Earlier, you mentioned cigars, and of course, we&rsquo;re called Cigar City Magazine, so do you smoke cigars?<br />Gosselaar: I used to be a big cigar smoker, but for me personally, I stopped.&nbsp;I&rsquo;m not sure.&nbsp;I wonder why. I could blame it on the kids, maybe, but I just don&rsquo;t have that time at the end of the night to enjoy a cigar. I love the culture of it, I love smoking with men and women, that was sort of my &ldquo;wine&rdquo;, collecting cigars. But I think I had just kind of gotten away from it, due to a lack of time.<br />&nbsp;<br />&#8203;CCM: What was your favorite brand of cigar?<br />Gosselaar: I remember in my first marriage, I had smuggled in some Cuban cigars from Italy, and that&rsquo;s what I handed out after the ceremony. I like the&nbsp;shorter, fatter types of cigars. I love Arturo Fuente Cigars.</font></div>  <span class='imgPusher' style='float:left;height:0px'></span><span style='display: table;width:auto;position:relative;float:left;max-width:100%;;clear:left;margin-top:0px;*margin-top:0px'><a><img src="https://www.cigarcitymagazine.com/uploads/1/0/8/4/108436395/published/jordan-figueredo-cigar-city-interviewer.jpg?1774550649" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 10px; border-width:1px;padding:3px; max-width:100%" alt="Picture" class="galleryImageBorder wsite-image" /></a><span style="display: table-caption; caption-side: bottom; font-size: 90%; margin-top: -0px; margin-bottom: 0px; text-align: center;" class="wsite-caption">ACTOR MARK-PAUL GOSSELAAR & WRITER JORDAN FIGUEREDO</span></span> <div class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;display:block;"><font color="#2a2a2a">CCM:&nbsp;Actually, their factory is right here, about 4 blocks away!<br />Gosselaar:&nbsp;Wow! What were those little, small ones?<br />&nbsp;<br />CCM:&nbsp;Short Story.<br />Gosselaar:&nbsp;Short Story! I fucking love Short Stories. That was the perfect size for me because I felt like I could get through it,&nbsp;finish it, and not have to set it down. I used to really be in the cigar culture.<br />&nbsp;<br />CCM:&nbsp;Well, one thing about the cigar culture is that it really brings people together.<br />Gosselaar: Yeah, I do miss that.&nbsp;I miss going to smoke cigars with my buddies and having a nice scotch in my hand.<br />&nbsp;<br />CCM:&nbsp;Right. Something you mentioned earlier&nbsp;that&nbsp;I find very interesting, since most guys don&rsquo;t even mention it:&nbsp;you liked smoking cigars with men AND women. So were you around a lot of women when you smoked cigars?<br />Gosselaar:&nbsp;Oh yeah, I think [women smoking cigars] wasn&rsquo;t as prevalent as it is now.&nbsp;I think back in the 90s, when I was smoking, it wasn&rsquo;t as big then, but I love seeing it. It&rsquo;s good for the industry, good for society. That&rsquo;s why I&rsquo;m excited about this project I&rsquo;m working on for FOX, it&rsquo;s about the first woman to pitch in the majors. She gets called up by the San Diego Padres, and I play the pitcher [for the Padres]. I think it&rsquo;s just another great story to bridge that gap, and she&rsquo;s also black, so it bridges that gap between gender and race.<br />&nbsp;<br />CCM:&nbsp;That&rsquo;s the next project you&rsquo;re working on.&nbsp;When&nbsp;does that come out?<br />Gosselaar:&nbsp;It&rsquo;s a pilot, so we get picked up in May. I mean, you never know with these things.&nbsp;Everyone&nbsp;told us it&rsquo;s a sure thing, but you never know. If it were to come out, it&rsquo;d be in September. We go into production in July.<br />&nbsp;<br />Precious Cargo is available to watch in select theaters and video-on-demand platforms&nbsp;on&nbsp;April 22nd.</font></div> <hr style="width:100%;clear:both;visibility:hidden;"></hr>  <div><div style="height: 0px; overflow: hidden; width: 100%;"></div> <hr class="styled-hr" style="width:100%;"></hr> <div style="height: 20px; overflow: hidden; width: 100%;"></div></div>  <div><div class="wsite-multicol"><div class="wsite-multicol-table-wrap" style="margin:0 -15px;"> 	<table class="wsite-multicol-table"> 		<tbody class="wsite-multicol-tbody"> 			<tr class="wsite-multicol-tr"> 				<td class="wsite-multicol-col" style="width:23.896103896104%; padding:0 15px;"> 					 						  <div><div class="wsite-image wsite-image-border-none " style="padding-top:0px;padding-bottom:10px;margin-left:0px;margin-right:0px;text-align:left"> <a> <img src="https://www.cigarcitymagazine.com/uploads/1/0/8/4/108436395/editor/jordan-figueredo-cigar-city-writer.jpg?1774550225" alt="Picture" style="width:auto;max-width:100%" /> </a> <div style="display:block;font-size:90%"></div> </div></div>   					 				</td>				<td class="wsite-multicol-col" style="width:76.103896103896%; padding:0 15px;"> 					 						  <h2 class="blog-author-title">WRITER-JORDON FIGUEREDO</h2> <p style="text-align:left;"><font color="#2a2a2a">Jordan Figueredo is an actor and content writer specializing in film criticism and cultural commentary. He has attended various festivals, including<span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">&nbsp;the</span>&nbsp;Toronto International Film Festival and South by Southwest. Figueredo can also be seen onstage, winning Best Supporting Actor in Plant Theater Co.&rsquo;s&nbsp;production of Squat in 2016.</font></p>   					 				</td>			</tr> 		</tbody> 	</table> </div></div></div>  <div><div style="height: 20px; overflow: hidden; width: 100%;"></div> <hr class="styled-hr" style="width:100%;"></hr> <div style="height: 20px; overflow: hidden; width: 100%;"></div></div>  <div class="paragraph" style="text-align:center;"><strong><strong style="color:rgb(168, 168, 168)"><font color="#2a2a2a">FOLLOW CIGAR CITY MAGAZINE</font></strong></strong></div>  <div style="text-align:center;"><div style="height:10px;overflow:hidden"></div> <span class="wsite-social wsite-social-default"><a class='first-child wsite-social-item wsite-social-facebook' href='https://www.facebook.com/cigarcity/' target='_blank' alt='Facebook' aria-label='Facebook'><span class='wsite-social-item-inner'></span></a><a class='wsite-social-item wsite-social-twitter' href='https://x.com/CigarCity' target='_blank' alt='Twitter' aria-label='Twitter'><span class='wsite-social-item-inner'></span></a><a class='wsite-social-item wsite-social-instagram' href='https://www.instagram.com/cigarcitymagazine/' target='_blank' alt='Instagram' aria-label='Instagram'><span class='wsite-social-item-inner'></span></a><a class='wsite-social-item wsite-social-linkedin' href='https://www.linkedin.com/company/cigar-city-magazine/posts/?feedView=all' target='_blank' alt='Linkedin' aria-label='Linkedin'><span class='wsite-social-item-inner'></span></a><a class='last-child wsite-social-item wsite-social-mail' href='mailto:info@cigarcitymagazine.com' target='_blank' alt='Mail' aria-label='Mail'><span class='wsite-social-item-inner'></span></a></span> <div style="height:10px;overflow:hidden"></div></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[TONY AWARD WINNING ACTOR-JOE MANTEGNA]]></title><link><![CDATA[https://www.cigarcitymagazine.com/interviews--more/tony-award-winning-actor-joe-mantegna]]></link><comments><![CDATA[https://www.cigarcitymagazine.com/interviews--more/tony-award-winning-actor-joe-mantegna#comments]]></comments><pubDate>Tue, 01 Jan 2013 05:00:00 GMT</pubDate><category><![CDATA[Actors]]></category><category><![CDATA[Cigar Makers]]></category><category><![CDATA[Interviews]]></category><category><![CDATA[Paul Guzzo]]></category><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.cigarcitymagazine.com/interviews--more/tony-award-winning-actor-joe-mantegna</guid><description><![CDATA[       Joe &nbsp;Mantegna: A Versatile Talent in Hollywood. He has graced the stages of Broadway and made memorable appearances on television and in film. As a leading man, he has headlined films, while his talents as a character actor have often stolen the spotlight.      He has brought to life iconic figures such as Dean Martin and Fidel Castro, and transformed fictional characters like Joey Zasa and Fat Tony into cultural icons that resonate beyond the screen.His versatility spans a wide arra [...] ]]></description><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div><div class="wsite-image wsite-image-border-none " style="padding-top:10px;padding-bottom:10px;margin-left:0;margin-right:0;text-align:center"> <a> <img src="https://www.cigarcitymagazine.com/uploads/1/0/8/4/108436395/published/joe-mantegna.jpg?1774552070" alt="Picture" style="width:484;max-width:100%" /> </a> <div style="display:block;font-size:90%"></div> </div></div>  <div class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><font color="#2a2a2a"><strong>Joe &nbsp;Mantegna: A Versatile Talent in Hollywood.</strong> He has graced the stages of Broadway and made memorable appearances on television and in film. As a leading man, he has headlined films, while his talents as a character actor have often stolen the spotlight.</font><br /></div>  <div>  <!--BLOG_SUMMARY_END--></div>  <div class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><font color="#2a2a2a">He has brought to life iconic figures such as Dean Martin and Fidel Castro, and transformed fictional characters like Joey Zasa and Fat Tony into cultural icons that resonate beyond the screen.</font><br /><br /><font color="#2a2a2a">His versatility spans a wide array of genres, including comedies, dramas, soap operas, thrillers, love stories, cartoons, and more. He has also lent his voice to Oscar-nominated documentaries and audiobooks.<br />&#8203;</font><br /><font color="#2a2a2a">Having worked under the direction of cinematic legends like Francis Ford Coppola, Woody Allen, and David Mamet, he boasts an impressive filmography with over 140 titles listed on IMDb. His accolades include a Tony Award, three Emmy nominations, and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.<br /><br />&#8203;Few figures in the entertainment industry can match the versatility of Joe Mantegna, one of the most well-rounded actors of the past few decades. Despite his extensive body of work, Mantegna remains grounded, often expressing&nbsp;uncertainty about his career.&nbsp;<br /><br />&nbsp;&ldquo;That&rsquo;s the scariest thing about being an actor,&rdquo; Mantegna reflected, known widely for his role in *Criminal Minds*. &ldquo;I once read an interview with Tom Hanks where he mentioned that even after all his success, he still feels nervous after finishing a job, wondering if anyone will want him for another film. Once a TV show wraps or a movie finishes production, you're technically out of work until that next call comes in. It&rsquo;s scary, but it&rsquo;s also what makes acting exciting. You never know what the next offer will be or if it will be your defining role. I genuinely enjoy that unknown element of acting.&rdquo;<br /><br /><strong>A SERENDIPITOUS JOURNEY</strong><br /><br />Mantegna&rsquo;s journey in the acting world is perfectly illustrated by his&nbsp;being&nbsp;hired to narrate the documentary *The Fuente Family: An American Dream*.&nbsp;<br /><br />&ldquo;It all began on the set of *Baby&rsquo;s Day Out* in 1993,&rdquo; he recalled.<br /><br />Filmed in Chicago, Mantegna&rsquo;s hometown, he often enjoyed cigars with co-stars Joey Pantoliano and Brian Haley during breaks. Their shared passion led Mantegna to suggest they send a photo of themselves enjoying cigars to *Cigar Aficionado*. To his surprise, the magazine called for an interview, leading Mantegna to mention his favorite cigar: the Arturo Fuente Hemingway.<br /><br />Months later, while visiting Up Down Cigar in Chicago, he encountered Carlito Fuente, who was thrilled to hear Mantegna had mentioned his cigar in the magazine. This chance encounter sparked a lasting friendship between the two, culminating in Mantegna narrating the documentary, which donated all proceeds to charity.<br /><br /><strong>GIVING BACK THROUGH CIGARS</strong><br /><br />Since 2006, Mantegna has co-chaired the &ldquo;God of Fire Charity Dinner for Children In Need,&rdquo; raising over $800,000 for the cause. To honor his contributions, Prometheus Cigars released 5,000 Angelenos Robusto Gordo cigars featuring Mantegna's signature. A portion of the sales proceeds will benefit the Barbara Sinatra Children's Center, which has been helping abused children since 1986.<br /><br />&ldquo;The cigar was created by the Fuentes, rolled and blended to match my taste,&rdquo; Mantegna shared. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s everything I want in a cigar.&rdquo;<br /><br />His relationship with the Fuente family highlights a shared passion for cigars that dates back to his teenage years in Tampa, where he first tried a HavaTampa Jewel.<br /><br />&ldquo;Back then, we smoked whatever was cheap,&rdquo; he chuckled. &ldquo;It was a bit unusual for young guys to smoke cigars. But as the cigar craze hit, it felt validating. Cigars weren&rsquo;t just for old men anymore; they became cool!&rdquo;<br /><br /><strong>A JOURNEY OF PERSISTENCE</strong><br /><br />Mantegna&rsquo;s success wasn&rsquo;t instant. He spent 15 years honing his craft before landing his big break in David Mamet&rsquo;s Pulitzer Prize-winning play *Glengarry Glen Ross*, for which he won a Tony Award.<br /><br />&ldquo;That was the biggest jump in my career,&rdquo; he recalled, having starred in the play from 1984 to 1985.&nbsp;<br /><br />Afterward, he became a regular in Hollywood, acting alongside heavyweights like Tom Hanks in *The Money Pit*, Richard Pryor in *Critical Condition*, and Nick Nolte in *Weeds*. His breakthrough role as Joey Zasa in *The Godfather: Part III* cemented his status in the industry.<br /><br />&ldquo;I had mixed feelings on that set,&rdquo; Mantegna admitted. &ldquo;I kept thinking, &lsquo;I&rsquo;m about to deliver a line to Al Pacino under Coppola&rsquo;s direction!&rsquo; But I also wondered, &lsquo;Didn&rsquo;t I always believe I was good enough to reach this point?&rsquo;&rdquo;<br /><br /><strong>ENDURING IMPACT</strong><br /><br />Opportunities have continued to arise for Mantegna across various genres in film and television. While he has appeared in countless roles, he is perhaps best known as the voice of Fat Tony on *The Simpsons*, a character he has voiced in 25 of the show's 26 episodes.<br /><br />&ldquo;It&rsquo;s an honor to be part of a show with such a global impact,&rdquo; Mantegna said. &ldquo;I&rsquo;ve had fans run up to me in Australia quoting Fat Tony, and I&rsquo;ve even had someone show me a full arm tattoo of the character. It&rsquo;s flattering.&rdquo;<br /><br />Mantegna takes pride in being recognized as an actor with diverse skills. No matter where he is on the call sheet, he ensures his characters leave a lasting impression.<br /><br />&ldquo;You&rsquo;re only as good as your last performance,&rdquo; he remarked. &ldquo;You have to strive to make it your best.&rdquo;<br /><br />With over 140 acting credits to his name, Mantegna continues to captivate audiences, proving that while he may always worry about the next role, his talent and dedication will keep him entertaining fans for years to come.</font></div>  <div><div style="height: 20px; overflow: hidden; width: 100%;"></div> <hr class="styled-hr" style="width:100%;"></hr> <div style="height: 20px; overflow: hidden; width: 100%;"></div></div>  <div><div class="wsite-multicol"><div class="wsite-multicol-table-wrap" style="margin:0 -15px;"> 	<table class="wsite-multicol-table"> 		<tbody class="wsite-multicol-tbody"> 			<tr class="wsite-multicol-tr"> 				<td class="wsite-multicol-col" style="width:20%; padding:0 15px;"> 					 						  <div><div class="wsite-image wsite-image-border-none " style="padding-top:0px;padding-bottom:10px;margin-left:0px;margin-right:0px;text-align:center"> <a> <img src="https://www.cigarcitymagazine.com/uploads/1/0/8/4/108436395/published/paul-guzzo-tampa-mafia-orig.jpg?1774553723" alt="Picture" style="width:195;max-width:100%" /> </a> <div style="display:block;font-size:90%">PAUL GUZZO</div> </div></div>   					 				</td>				<td class="wsite-multicol-col" style="width:80%; padding:0 15px;"> 					 						  <h2 class="blog-author-title">WRITER PAUL GUZZo</h2> <p style="text-align:left;"><font color="#2a2a2a">Paul Guzzo is an accomplished communications and marketing manager at the <a href="https://www.usf.edu/ucm/contact/" target="_blank">University of South Florida</a>, previously known for his impactful reporting at the <em><a href="https://www.tampabay.com" target="_blank">Tampa Bay Times</a></em>. During his tenure there, he uncovered the lost segregation-era all-black Zion Cemetery, shedding light on a significant piece of local history.<br /><br />&#8203;His reporting encompassed a diverse range of topics, including the local film industry, Tampa&rsquo;s rich history, professional wrestling, and the fascinating individuals who shape the community. With over two decades of journalistic experience in Tampa since 1999, Paul has also served as a senior writer for <em>Cigar City Magazine</em> and <em><a href="https://tampamafia.com" target="_blank">Tampa Mafia Magazine</a></em>. In his earlier career, he was an independent filmmaker, recognized for creating an award-winning documentary about Charlie Wall, Tampa&rsquo;s first crime lord.</font></p>   					 				</td>			</tr> 		</tbody> 	</table> </div></div></div>  <div><div style="height: 20px; overflow: hidden; width: 100%;"></div> <hr class="styled-hr" style="width:100%;"></hr> <div style="height: 20px; overflow: hidden; width: 100%;"></div></div>  <div class="paragraph" style="text-align:center;"><strong style="color:rgb(168, 168, 168)"><font color="#2a2a2a">FOLLOW CIGAR CITY MAGAZINE</font></strong></div>  <div style="text-align:center;"><div style="height:10px;overflow:hidden"></div> <span class="wsite-social wsite-social-default"><a class='first-child wsite-social-item wsite-social-facebook' href='https://www.facebook.com/cigarcity/' target='_blank' alt='Facebook' aria-label='Facebook'><span class='wsite-social-item-inner'></span></a><a class='wsite-social-item wsite-social-twitter' href='https://x.com/CigarCity' target='_blank' alt='Twitter' aria-label='Twitter'><span class='wsite-social-item-inner'></span></a><a class='wsite-social-item wsite-social-instagram' href='https://www.instagram.com/cigarcitymagazine/' target='_blank' alt='Instagram' aria-label='Instagram'><span class='wsite-social-item-inner'></span></a><a class='wsite-social-item wsite-social-linkedin' href='https://www.linkedin.com/company/cigar-city-magazine/' target='_blank' alt='Linkedin' aria-label='Linkedin'><span class='wsite-social-item-inner'></span></a><a class='last-child wsite-social-item wsite-social-mail' href='mailto:info@cigarcitymagazine.com' target='_blank' alt='Mail' aria-label='Mail'><span class='wsite-social-item-inner'></span></a></span> <div style="height:10px;overflow:hidden"></div></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Tito Puente Jr.: A Legacy in Rhythm]]></title><link><![CDATA[https://www.cigarcitymagazine.com/interviews--more/tito-puente-jr-a-legacy-in-rhythm]]></link><comments><![CDATA[https://www.cigarcitymagazine.com/interviews--more/tito-puente-jr-a-legacy-in-rhythm#comments]]></comments><pubDate>Tue, 01 Jan 2008 05:00:00 GMT</pubDate><category><![CDATA[Interviews]]></category><category><![CDATA[Lisa Figueredo]]></category><category><![CDATA[Musici]]></category><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.cigarcitymagazine.com/interviews--more/tito-puente-jr-a-legacy-in-rhythm</guid><description><![CDATA[       Before embarking on his tour to perform with the Florida Orchestra at venues like the Performing Arts Center in Tampa, the Mahaffey Theater in St. Pete, and Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater, Tito Puente Jr. took a moment to chat with Cigar City Magazine from his home in Miami. While in Tampa, Tito Jr. and his band made a surprise appearance at our Cigars and Stars event at the Ybor State Museum, just prior to the Cigar Heritage Festival. The crowd was treated to an impromptu performance, an [...] ]]></description><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div><div class="wsite-image wsite-image-border-none " style="padding-top:10px;padding-bottom:10px;margin-left:0;margin-right:0;text-align:center"> <a> <img src="https://www.cigarcitymagazine.com/uploads/1/0/8/4/108436395/tito-puente-jr-cigar-city_orig.jpg" alt="Picture" style="width:auto;max-width:100%" /> </a> <div style="display:block;font-size:90%"></div> </div></div>  <div class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><font color="#2a2a2a" size="3">Before embarking on his tour to perform with the Florida Orchestra at venues like the Performing Arts Center in Tampa, the Mahaffey Theater in St. Pete, and Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater, Tito Puente Jr. took a moment to chat with <em>Cigar City Magazine</em> from his home in Miami. While in Tampa, Tito Jr. and his band made a surprise appearance at our Cigars and Stars event at the Ybor State Museum, just prior to the Cigar Heritage Festival. The crowd was treated to an impromptu performance, and Tito took the time to snap photos and sign autographs for fans.<br />&#8203;<br />In this interview, Tito shares insights about honoring his father's musical legacy and the global impact of Latin music.</font></div>  <div>  <!--BLOG_SUMMARY_END--></div>  <div class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><font color="#2a2a2a" size="3">CCM:&nbsp;Coming from such an iconic family, did people naturally expect you to pursue a career in music?<br />Puente:&nbsp;Absolutely. Growing up surrounded by music made it clear that I would likely end up in the entertainment world. However, I explored various genres, not just Latin music&mdash;I had a strong interest in rock as well.<br /></font><br /><font color="#2a2a2a" size="3">CCM:&nbsp;Your recent tour primarily features your father's music, while your earlier projects leaned more towards dance-oriented tracks. What prompted this shift?<br />Puente:&nbsp;In the late '80s, I was deeply involved in rock, but spending time with my dad reignited my passion for jazz and his work. I also delved into hip-hop during my college years, immersing myself in NYC's vibrant club scene. Transitioning from rock to Latin dance music allowed me to connect more intimately with my heritage, blending live percussion with house beats.<br /></font><br /><font color="#2a2a2a" size="3">CCM:&nbsp;Did your father teach you percussion, or did you receive formal training?<br />Puente:&nbsp;Interestingly, I didn't learn percussion from him directly. What he instilled in me were values&mdash;how to be a good person and a provider. He encouraged my education, emphasizing the importance of reading and writing music, which I truly appreciate.<br /></font><br /><font color="#2a2a2a" size="3">CCM:&nbsp;How significant is music in Latin culture?<br />Puente:&nbsp;It's immensely important. Latin music is a cultural cornerstone. Growing up, I listened to my father's music and legends like Celia Cruz and Johnny Pacheco. For many Latinos, food and music are central to our culture&mdash;they truly define who we are.<br /></font><br /><font color="#2a2a2a" size="3">CCM:&nbsp;Can you explain the origins of the term "Salsa"?<br />Puente:&nbsp;My father used to joke that salsa was what you dipped your chips in! The term originated in New York in the '70s and became a global phenomenon. However, the music encompasses various styles, like Mambo, Rumba, and Cha Cha Cha. The term is fun, and I don&rsquo;t mind it.<br /></font><br /><font color="#2a2a2a" size="3">CCM:&nbsp;How would you describe your current musical direction? Is it an updated blend of Latin styles?<br />Puente:&nbsp;Our shows in Tampa are unique. We play Salsa and Mambo, the music my father popularized in the '40s and '50s, now enriched by the Florida <br />Orchestra. It&rsquo;s a modern take on traditional Mambo, creating a fresh experience.<br /></font><br /><font color="#2a2a2a" size="3">CCM:&nbsp;Having grown up in New York and now residing in Miami, how do the Latin communities compare?<br />Puente:&nbsp;They&rsquo;re worlds apart. Miami has a significant Cuban influence, while New York's sound incorporates more jazz elements. Tito Puente's music resonates with the swing of Duke Ellington and Count Basie. His arrangements were groundbreaking, and even today, people of all ages dance to his music. "Oye Como Va," for example, was initially a flop but has become one of the most iconic songs of the 20th century.<br />&#8203;</font><br /><font color="#2a2a2a" size="3">CCM:&nbsp;What&rsquo;s the general awareness of Latin music's influence in areas outside major Latin populations?<br />Puente:&nbsp;The influence of Latin music is at an all-time high globally. My father was a pioneer, performing in places like Japan and Australia, paving the way for artists like Ricky Martin and Gloria Estefan. Today, there's a solid fan base for the music I play. I&rsquo;m excited to share these rhythms with diverse audiences everywhere.</font><br /><br /><font color="#2a2a2a" size="3">What's Tito Puente Jr. Up to Since 2008?<br />Since 2008, Tito Puente Jr. has significantly expanded his musical journey. He has released several albums that continue to honor his father's legacy while incorporating contemporary influences. Tito has been actively touring, captivating audiences worldwide with his vibrant performances and innovative collaborations. He has also engaged in educational initiatives, teaching the next generation about the&nbsp;rich history and cultural significance of Latin music. His passion for music remains as strong as ever, and he continues to be a vibrant ambassador for Latin rhythms and culture.</font></div>  <div><div style="height: 0px; overflow: hidden; width: 100%;"></div> <hr class="styled-hr" style="width:100%;"></hr> <div style="height: 10px; overflow: hidden; width: 100%;"></div></div>  <div><div class="wsite-multicol"><div class="wsite-multicol-table-wrap" style="margin:0 -15px;"> 	<table class="wsite-multicol-table"> 		<tbody class="wsite-multicol-tbody"> 			<tr class="wsite-multicol-tr"> 				<td class="wsite-multicol-col" style="width:21.107266435986%; padding:0 15px;"> 					 						  <div><div class="wsite-image wsite-image-border-none " style="padding-top:0px;padding-bottom:10px;margin-left:0px;margin-right:0px;text-align:center"> <a> <img src="https://www.cigarcitymagazine.com/uploads/1/0/8/4/108436395/lisa-m-figueredo-cigar-city-magazine_orig.jpg" alt="LISA FIGUEREDO CIGAR CITY MAGAZINE" style="width:auto;max-width:100%" /> </a> <div style="display:block;font-size:90%">LISA FIGUEREDO</div> </div></div>   					 				</td>				<td class="wsite-multicol-col" style="width:78.892733564014%; padding:0 15px;"> 					 						  <h2 class="blog-author-title">WRITER &amp; FOUNDER OF CIGAR CITY MAGAZINE</h2> <p><font color="#2a2a2a"><em>Cigar City Magazine</em>&nbsp;is the brainchild of Lisa M. Figueredo, a passionate advocate for her rich cultural heritage, history, and family legacy.<br /><br />Born in&nbsp;Tampa, Lisa grew up in West Tampa alongside her best friends, Linda Gallardo and Cynthia Fuente, and the Fuente family. After graduating from Thomas Jefferson High School, she attended the Ringling College of Art and Design in Sarasota. Lisa enjoyed a successful 45-year career as the owner of an advertising agency. In 2005, she founded&nbsp;<em>Cigar City Magazine</em>, establishing the magazine as the city&rsquo;s only history publication.<br /><br />In 2016, Lisa took the reins of the&nbsp;Cigar Heritage Festival, also known as the Ybor City Cigar Festival, transforming it into the world's largest cigar festival, attracting over 20,000 attendees to Ybor City for this cherished tradition. After successfully achieving her goals, she sold the festival in 2021 and is now semi-retired.</font><br /><br /><font color="#2a2a2a">Lisa currently co-runs&nbsp;</font><a href="https://tampamafia.com/" target="_blank">Tampa Mafia Tours</a><font color="#2a2a2a">&nbsp;with her business partner, Scott M. Deitche, author of beloved works such as&nbsp;<em>Cigar City Mafia: A Complete History of the Tampa Underworld&nbsp;and&nbsp;The Silent Don: The Criminal Underworld of Santo Trafficante Jr.&nbsp;</em><br /></font><br /><font color="#2a2a2a"><strong>Lisa's Mission:</strong>&nbsp;"We have all heard stories from our parents, grandparents, abuelos, abuelas, nanas, nanos, tios, tias, zios, and zias that captivated us and sparked our curiosity. We asked questions about our family's origins, journeys, and lives. As we learned these stories, we felt pride in our heritage, alongside a hint of sadness for those we would never meet. It is our responsibility to keep these narratives alive by passing them on to our children. By sharing our past, we help them understand their roots and embrace the foundation of love and family they can carry into the future. In this way, they become the voices of our ancestors."<br /><br />Although&nbsp;<em>Cigar City Magazine</em>&nbsp;last published a printed issue in 2014, the website features articles written from 2005 to 2014. Who knows? Lisa might just revive the magazine once more!</font></p>   					 				</td>			</tr> 		</tbody> 	</table> </div></div></div>  <div><div style="height: 10px; overflow: hidden; width: 100%;"></div> <hr class="styled-hr" style="width:100%;"></hr> <div style="height: 10px; overflow: hidden; width: 100%;"></div></div>  <div class="paragraph" style="text-align:center;"><strong style="color:rgb(168, 168, 168)"><strong><font color="#2a2a2a">FOLLOW CIGAR CITY MAGAZINE</font></strong></strong></div>  <div style="text-align:center;"><div style="height:0px;overflow:hidden"></div> <span class="wsite-social wsite-social-default"><a class='first-child wsite-social-item wsite-social-facebook' href='https://www.facebook.com/cigarcity/' target='_blank' alt='Facebook' aria-label='Facebook'><span class='wsite-social-item-inner'></span></a><a class='wsite-social-item wsite-social-twitter' href='https://x.com/CigarCity' target='_blank' alt='Twitter' aria-label='Twitter'><span class='wsite-social-item-inner'></span></a><a class='wsite-social-item wsite-social-instagram' href='https://www.instagram.com/cigarcitymagazine/' target='_blank' alt='Instagram' aria-label='Instagram'><span class='wsite-social-item-inner'></span></a><a class='wsite-social-item wsite-social-linkedin' href='https://www.linkedin.com/company/cigar-city-magazine/posts/?feedView=all' target='_blank' alt='Linkedin' aria-label='Linkedin'><span class='wsite-social-item-inner'></span></a><a class='last-child wsite-social-item wsite-social-mail' href='mailto:info@cigarcitymagazine.com' target='_blank' alt='Mail' aria-label='Mail'><span class='wsite-social-item-inner'></span></a></span> <div style="height:0px;overflow:hidden"></div></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[CristAn de la Fuente: A Hollywood Trailblazer]]></title><link><![CDATA[https://www.cigarcitymagazine.com/interviews--more/cristan-de-la-fuente-a-hollywood-trailblazer]]></link><comments><![CDATA[https://www.cigarcitymagazine.com/interviews--more/cristan-de-la-fuente-a-hollywood-trailblazer#comments]]></comments><pubDate>Thu, 01 Mar 2007 05:00:00 GMT</pubDate><category><![CDATA[Actors]]></category><category><![CDATA[Interviews]]></category><category><![CDATA[Lisa Figueredo]]></category><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.cigarcitymagazine.com/interviews--more/cristan-de-la-fuente-a-hollywood-trailblazer</guid><description><![CDATA[       Cristi&aacute;n de la Fuente made history as the first male to grace the cover of&nbsp;Cosmopolitan En Espa&ntilde;ol. He has been recognized as one of the "50 Most Beautiful" by&nbsp;People en&nbsp;Espa&ntilde;ol&nbsp;three times, and in 1999, he was featured in&nbsp;People&nbsp;magazine.His film career began with&nbsp;&ldquo;Driven,&rdquo;&nbsp;in which&nbsp;he starred alongside Sylvester Stallone, achieving box-office&nbsp;success. He also appeared in &ldquo;Basic&rdquo;&nbsp;with John [...] ]]></description><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div><div class="wsite-image wsite-image-border-none " style="padding-top:10px;padding-bottom:10px;margin-left:0;margin-right:0;text-align:center"> <a> <img src="https://www.cigarcitymagazine.com/uploads/1/0/8/4/108436395/stallone-y-de-la-fuente_orig.jpg" alt="Picture" style="width:auto;max-width:100%" /> </a> <div style="display:block;font-size:90%"></div> </div></div>  <div class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><font color="#2a2a2a">Cristi&aacute;n de la Fuente made history as the first male to grace the cover of&nbsp;Cosmopolitan En Espa&ntilde;ol. He has been recognized as one of the "50 Most Beautiful" by&nbsp;<em>People en&nbsp;Espa&ntilde;ol&nbsp;t</em>hree times, and in 1999, he was featured in&nbsp;<em>People&nbsp;magazine</em>.<br /><br />His film career began with&nbsp;&ldquo;Driven,&rdquo;&nbsp;in which&nbsp;he starred alongside Sylvester Stallone, achieving box-office&nbsp;success. He also appeared in &ldquo;Basic&rdquo;&nbsp;with John Travolta and Samuel L. Jackson, and&nbsp;&ldquo;Vampiros Los Muertos&rdquo;&nbsp;opposite Jon Bon Jovi. More recent projects include&nbsp;&ldquo;Once Upon a Wedding&rdquo;&nbsp;with Esai Morales and&nbsp;&ldquo;Sue&ntilde;os&rdquo;&nbsp;alongside John Leguizamo.<br /><br />Originally from Chile, Cristi&aacute;n recently spoke with&nbsp;<em>Cigar City Magazine</em>&nbsp;about his latest projects, family, and his positive outlook on life. He visited Tampa for the first time during the&nbsp;Gasparilla Film Festival&nbsp;from February 28 to March 4, 2007.</font></div>  <div>  <!--BLOG_SUMMARY_END--></div>  <div class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><font color="#2a2a2a" size="4">CCM:&nbsp;Do you smoke cigars?&nbsp;&nbsp;<br /><strong>Cristi&aacute;n:</strong>&nbsp;Yes, I enjoy smoking cigars and have my own locker at a cigar lounge.&nbsp;<br /><br />CCM:&nbsp;What is your favorite cigar?&nbsp;&nbsp;<br />Cristi&aacute;n:&nbsp;I love Fuente Opus X, Partagas, and Montecristo #2. People warn me about smoking, but I believe cigars are different from cigarettes.<br /><br />CCM:&nbsp;What current project are you working on?&nbsp;&nbsp;<br />Cristi&aacute;n:&nbsp;I recently finished filming&nbsp;&ldquo;The Class,&rdquo;&nbsp;and I'm set to shoot&nbsp;&ldquo;Love and Virtue&rdquo;&nbsp;with director Raoul Ruiz in Luxembourg and London. I'm excited to work with Peter O&rsquo;Toole, John Malkovich, and Daryl Hannah. I also filmed a pilot called&nbsp;&ldquo;Mary Sunshine,&rdquo;&nbsp;which was picked up by USA Network.<br /><br />CCM:&nbsp;Can you explain your acting method?&nbsp;&nbsp;<br />Cristi&aacute;n:&nbsp;I immerse myself in my characters rather than just acting them out. I believe we all have different feelings and personalities, and I try to channel those to create a more authentic portrayal.<br /><br />CCM:&nbsp;How do you select your roles?&nbsp;&nbsp;<br />Cristi&aacute;n:&nbsp;I look for characters that resonate with me. If I can connect with a character, I feel I can portray them more authentically.<br /><br />CCM:&nbsp;What are you most proud of professionally?&nbsp;&nbsp;<br />Cristi&aacute;n:&nbsp;I take pride in all my work, with&nbsp;&ldquo;Driven&rdquo;&nbsp;holding special significance as my first film. Achieving my dream of making it to Hollywood from Chile is a highlight in my career.<br /><br />CCM:&nbsp;Has becoming a father changed how you select roles?&nbsp;&nbsp;<br />Cristi&aacute;n:&nbsp;I consider how my daughter might perceive my work but focus on roles that are appropriate for her age. For now, she sees me as just "Daddy" on TV.<br /><br />CCM:&nbsp;What is the most satisfying part of acting?&nbsp;&nbsp;<br />Cristi&aacute;n:&nbsp;Living many different lives through my characters.<br /><br />CCM:&nbsp;What&rsquo;s the most challenging aspect?&nbsp;&nbsp;<br />Cristi&aacute;n:&nbsp;The media often focuses on personal lives rather than careers, which can be intrusive.<br /><br />CCM:&nbsp;What advice has influenced you as an actor?&nbsp;&nbsp;<br />Cristi&aacute;n:&nbsp;An older actor once told me to never forget where I come from, as many lose sight of their roots after achieving success.<br /><br />CCM:&nbsp;How often do you return to Chile?&nbsp;&nbsp;<br />Cristi&aacute;n:&nbsp;I visit frequently for family and work, and I also serve as a lieutenant in the air force reserves.<br /><br />CCM:&nbsp;What are you currently producing?&nbsp;&nbsp;<br />Cristi&aacute;n:&nbsp;I'm working on&nbsp;&ldquo;Casino,&rdquo;&nbsp;a drama set in a Chilean casino, where I will also have a small acting role.<br /><br />CCM:&nbsp;How do you stay connected to reality?&nbsp;&nbsp;<br />Cristi&aacute;n:&nbsp;I do everyday things, like grocery shopping, to stay grounded.<br /><br />CCM:&nbsp;What hobbies do you enjoy outside of acting?&nbsp;&nbsp;<br />Cristi&aacute;n:&nbsp;I love sports; they bring me joy and energy.<br /><br />CCM:&nbsp;What do you hope for in the future?&nbsp;&nbsp;<br />Cristi&aacute;n:&nbsp;I hope to be as happy in ten years as I am today. Happiness is a choice I make every day.<br /><br />CCM:&nbsp;Is this your first visit to Tampa?&nbsp;&nbsp;<br />Cristi&aacute;n:&nbsp;Yes, and I'm excited to explore the city and visit the Gasparilla Film Festival.<br /><br />CCM:&nbsp;Any final thoughts?&nbsp;&nbsp;<br />Cristi&aacute;n:&nbsp;I think we've covered everything! Oh, I have a dog named Napoleon whom I adore.<br /><br /><strong>CCM:&nbsp;</strong>Thank you, Cristi&aacute;n! Best of luck with your career. We look forward to seeing you at the Gasparilla Film Festival.&nbsp;<br />Cristi&aacute;n:&nbsp;Thank you! Have a great day, and I hope to see you soon.</font></div>  <div><div class="wsite-image wsite-image-border-none " style="padding-top:0px;padding-bottom:30px;margin-left:0px;margin-right:0px;text-align:center"> <a> <img src="https://www.cigarcitymagazine.com/uploads/1/0/8/4/108436395/cristian-de-la-fuente_orig.png" alt="Picture" style="width:auto;max-width:100%" /> </a> <div style="display:block;font-size:90%"></div> </div></div>  <div class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><font color="#2a2a2a"><strong>What Cristi&aacute;n de la Fuente Has Been Up To Since 2007</strong><br /><br />Since our last interview in 2007, Cristi&aacute;n de la Fuente has continued to thrive in the entertainment industry. He has appeared in various television series, including&nbsp;&ldquo;Dancing with the Stars,&rdquo;&nbsp;where he showcased his dancing skills and charismatic personality. He also starred in the popular soap opera&nbsp;&ldquo;El Clon&rdquo;&nbsp;and participated in numerous films, further establishing his acting portfolio.<br /><br />In addition to acting, Cristi&aacute;n has taken on producing roles, including the successful series&nbsp;&ldquo;La Casa de al Lado.&rdquo;&nbsp;He has remained active in charitable efforts, supporting various causes, especially those that&nbsp;help&nbsp;children and families in need.<br /><br />Cristi&aacute;n also expanded his family&nbsp;by&nbsp;welcoming a second child&nbsp;and has often shared his experiences as a father, emphasizing the importance of family in his life. His passion for flying continues, and he has remained involved in the Air&nbsp;Force Reserve.<br />&#8203;<br />Today, Cristi&aacute;n de la Fuente is not only a respected actor and producer but also a loving father and an advocate for positive change in his community.</font></div>  <div><div style="height: 10px; overflow: hidden; width: 100%;"></div> <hr class="styled-hr" style="width:100%;"></hr> <div style="height: 10px; overflow: hidden; width: 100%;"></div></div>  <div><div class="wsite-multicol"><div class="wsite-multicol-table-wrap" style="margin:0 -15px;"> 	<table class="wsite-multicol-table"> 		<tbody class="wsite-multicol-tbody"> 			<tr class="wsite-multicol-tr"> 				<td class="wsite-multicol-col" style="width:25.432525951557%; padding:0 15px;"> 					 						  <div><div class="wsite-image wsite-image-border-none " style="padding-top:0px;padding-bottom:10px;margin-left:0px;margin-right:0px;text-align:center"> <a> <img src="https://www.cigarcitymagazine.com/uploads/1/0/8/4/108436395/published/lisa-m-figueredo-cigar-city-magazine.jpg?1774719582" alt="LISA M. FIGUEREDO CIGAR CITY MAGAZINE" style="width:auto;max-width:100%" /> </a> <div style="display:block;font-size:90%">LISA M. FIGUEREDO</div> </div></div>   					 				</td>				<td class="wsite-multicol-col" style="width:74.567474048443%; padding:0 15px;"> 					 						  <h2 class="blog-author-title">WRITER &amp; FOUNDER OF CIGAR CITY MAGAZINE</h2> <p><font color="#2a2a2a"><em>Cigar City Magazine</em> is the brainchild of Lisa M. Figueredo, a passionate advocate for her rich cultural heritage, history, and family legacy.<br /><br />Born in&nbsp;Tampa, Lisa grew up in West Tampa alongside her best friends, Linda Gallardo and Cynthia Fuente, and the Fuente family. After graduating from Thomas Jefferson High School, she attended the Ringling College of Art and Design in Sarasota. Lisa enjoyed a successful 45-year career as the owner of an advertising agency. In 2005, she founded&nbsp;<em>Cigar City Magazine</em>, establishing the magazine as the city&rsquo;s only history publication.<br /><br />In 2016, Lisa took the reins of the&nbsp;Cigar Heritage Festival, also known as the Ybor City Cigar Festival, transforming it into the world's largest cigar festival, attracting over 20,000 attendees to Ybor City for this cherished tradition. After successfully achieving her goals, she sold the festival in 2021 and is now semi-retired.<br /><br />Lisa currently co-runs&nbsp;<a href="https://tampamafia.com" target="_blank">Tampa Mafia Tours</a>&nbsp;with her business partner, Scott M. Deitche, author of beloved works such as&nbsp;<em>Cigar City Mafia: A Complete History of the Tampa Underworld&nbsp;and&nbsp;The Silent Don: The Criminal Underworld of Santo Trafficante Jr. </em><br /><br /><strong>Lisa's Mission:</strong>&nbsp;"We have all heard stories from our parents, grandparents, abuelos, abuelas, nanas, nanos, tios, tias, zios, and zias that captivated us and sparked our curiosity. We asked questions about our family's origins, journeys, and lives. As we learned these stories, we felt pride in our heritage, alongside a hint of sadness for those we would never meet. It is our responsibility to keep these narratives alive by passing them on to our children. By sharing our past, we help them understand their roots and embrace the foundation of love and family they can carry into the future. In this way, they become the voices of our ancestors."<br /><br />Although&nbsp;<em>Cigar City Magazine</em>&nbsp;last published a printed issue in 2014, the website features articles written from 2005 to 2014. Who knows? Lisa might just revive the magazine once more!</font></p>   					 				</td>			</tr> 		</tbody> 	</table> </div></div></div>  <div><div style="height: 0px; overflow: hidden; width: 100%;"></div> <hr class="styled-hr" style="width:100%;"></hr> <div style="height: 10px; overflow: hidden; width: 100%;"></div></div>  <div class="paragraph" style="text-align:center;"><strong style="color:rgb(168, 168, 168)"><strong><font color="#2a2a2a">FOLLOW CIGAR CITY MAGAZINE</font></strong></strong></div>  <div style="text-align:center;"><div style="height:0px;overflow:hidden"></div> <span class="wsite-social wsite-social-default"><a class='first-child wsite-social-item wsite-social-facebook' href='https://www.facebook.com/cigarcity/' target='_blank' alt='Facebook' aria-label='Facebook'><span class='wsite-social-item-inner'></span></a><a class='wsite-social-item wsite-social-twitter' href='https://x.com/CigarCity' target='_blank' alt='Twitter' aria-label='Twitter'><span class='wsite-social-item-inner'></span></a><a class='wsite-social-item wsite-social-instagram' href='https://www.instagram.com/cigarcitymagazine/' target='_blank' alt='Instagram' aria-label='Instagram'><span class='wsite-social-item-inner'></span></a><a class='wsite-social-item wsite-social-linkedin' href='https://www.linkedin.com/company/cigar-city-magazine/posts/?feedView=all' target='_blank' alt='Linkedin' aria-label='Linkedin'><span class='wsite-social-item-inner'></span></a><a class='last-child wsite-social-item wsite-social-mail' href='mailto:info@cigarcitymagazine.com' target='_blank' alt='Mail' aria-label='Mail'><span class='wsite-social-item-inner'></span></a></span> <div style="height:0px;overflow:hidden"></div></div>]]></content:encoded></item></channel></rss>