Yelyna De León to Star in and Direct ’20 Pounds to Happiness’ From ‘Real Women Have Curves’ Writer Josefina López (EXCLUSIVE)

As a seasoned movie-goer with a penchant for stories that resonate and characters that leap off the screen, I find myself eagerly anticipating “20 Pounds to Happiness.” This film, helmed by debut director Yelyna De León, promises a fresh perspective on love, friendship, and self-discovery – themes close to my heart.


Yelyna De León is set to act in and helm the upcoming romantic comedy, titled “20 Pounds to Happiness,” penned by Josefina López, who is known for her work on “Real Women Have Curves.

In the movie, I have the privilege of sharing the screen with Carlo Mendez and Riley Shanahan, alongside other talented individuals like Christiana Leucas, Soledad St. Hilaire, Iyari Limon, Rafael Sigler, and Tricia Cruz.

In his first venture as a feature film director, ’20 Pounds to Happiness’ unfolds a story about a plus-sized Latina character, who is part of a ‘Real Women Have Curves’ support group. She finds herself torn between staying faithful to her friends and potentially losing the man she desires. López and De León act as producers for this film.

DeLeon has acted in various shows such as “Will & Grace,” “Snowfall,” “Ray Donovan,” “Shameless,” “A Better Life” and “East Side Story.” Additionally, she has written, produced, and starred in the murder mystery film “Murder in the Woods” alongside Danny Trejo.

Mendez is a Cuban-American actor with television roles in “9-1-1,” “Superior Donuts,” “Parks and Recreation” and “The Real Rob.” He is currently a series regular on the Emmy-winning show “The Bay” and is in production on “Dexter: Origins,” premiering this December.

Shanahan is primarily recognized for his appearances in the TV series “Titans” and “DC’s Legends of Tomorrow”, as well as sharing screen time with Alicia Vikander in The National’s short film titled “I Am Easy to Find”.

As a cinephile, I’ve had the privilege of contributing to some captivating productions in the past. These projects span across various genres and networks, such as Lifetime’s “The Lottery,” “Miss Me This Christmas,” “Last Stand,” “Deadly Justice,” and “Getting Her.” Each one has left a unique mark on me, and I’m proud to have been part of their creation.

Limon boasts an impressive acting career, having appeared in over a hundred national advertisements. Additionally, she has made guest appearances on shows such as “ER,” “Jane the Virgin,” “Glee,” and “How to Get Away With Murder.” However, she is most famously recognized for her role as Kennedy on “Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

Previously, St. Hilaire collaborated with López on “Real Women Have Curves” and with De León on “Murder in the Woods.” She has also taken on leading roles in “Beatriz at Dinner,” “Sun Dogs,” and “Desperate Housewives.

As a passionate film enthusiast, I’ve had the pleasure of gracing the screens in “Dreaming Hollywood,” “Gentefied,” and now, I’m set to captivate audiences once more alongside Jennifer Garner in the upcoming TV series, “Can’t Go Home.

Recently, Cruz has been featured in productions such as “Above the Line” and “More.” Additionally, she can be seen this year in Dylan Vox’s movie titled “Deadly Swap.” Her television series roles encompass appearances on shows like “Criminal Minds,” “ER,” “Lizzie McGuire,” and “Beverly Hills 90210.

As a passionate cinephile, I’m fortunate to be associated with some remarkable talent agencies. Yelyna De León is represented by Elyah Doryon at Coast to Coast and Albert Gianelli at Omnium Entertainment. Similarly, Mendez is under the representation of HG5 Entertainment. Shanahan is guided by Brad Gelfond at Strike Up the Brand. The dynamic duo of Leucas is represented by Laina Cohn at CT Media and Bobby Moses at Mavrick Artists. Limón’ is proudly represented by Universal Talent in New York. Lastly, Sigler is under the watchful eye of Kylie MacKenzie at Artistic Talent. And let’s not forget Cruz, who’s repped by Torque Entertainment. Each one brings a unique spark to the silver screen and I can’t wait to see what they’ll do next!

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2024-10-07 21:47