Appearances
Appearances: Media
-
July 7, 2008 at 1:00 am
Masiela hosted the “Models Around the World,” charity event on July 7 at Universal City Walk. The gala doubled as a premiere episode of a new television show that will travel the world, introducing local models, stylists and designers. Los Angeles was in the spotlight for this event, opening up the catwalk for dozens of hopefuls looking for their big break. Additionally, the show has a companion magazine called “MATW,” featuring Masiela on its first cover. Read the whole article here with additional pictures from the Cover Shoot and event here.
The event benefitted the Masiela Lusha Foundation.Source: MasielaLusha.com
-
June 20, 2008 at 1:00 am
Illuminary Pictures is in Business
The Burbank Leader reported that Masiela’s Illuminary Films is taking meetings with Hollywood studios. Masiela is president and CEO of the new production company, and Nick LoPiccolo has been promoted to president of marketing and production. Prior to joining Illuminary, LoPiccolo served as a production executive with Lopo Entertainment, an artist management and consulting firm, and with the Bozmedia Group in New York City, where he worked with Fortune 500 companies and studios.
Source: BurbankLeader.com
-
May 7, 2008 at 1:00 am
Celebrities select their favorite books on Mary-KateandAshley.com.
Masiela was in good company with Nicole Kidman, Zac Efron, Hayden Panettierre, and Luke Wilson, all sharing their favorite reads. Masiela picked Aesop’s Fables and the original German translation of Grimm’s Fairy Tales. She loves reading some of the earlier tales, since “they were much darker then and were originally used to scare kids instead of entertain them!"
Source: Mary-KateandAshley.com
-
May 6, 2008 at 1:00 am
Poetry in Motion
In an interview with Lisa Steinberg of Starry Constellation Magazine Masiela discussed George Lopez, her new novel, and her lifelong obsession with S’mores.
George Lopez
It was the authenticity of humor and family that drew viewers to George Lopez, and Masiela felt lucky to have been “given freedom to entertain in our own way which is a gift in this industry.” She believes the show stayed fresh by allowing characters to evolve; her own character, Carmen, experienced three major relationships, catholic school, girl fights, running away, pretending to be pregnant, and more.
Masiela felt lucky to play such a colorful character, but made sure that Carmen was someone that other girls could relate to. For example, in one storyline Carmen was bullied by the popular girls. “After this aired I had girls come up to me in the street, telling me that the entire time they were crying because the same thing happened to them in high school,” said Masiela. “Moments like that make me proud to be an actress.”
Entertaining is instinctual to Masiela, and that’s one reason she loves doing comedy. “You hear the audience's reaction immediately...if I sync up with their enjoyment, they tend to sync up with mine and follow my lead as an entertainer. It's a wonderful relationship.”
Other passions
Masiela recently completed a novel called “The Besa,” a Balkan legend about a family and one single promise fulfilled past death. Her second book of poetry, “Drinking the Moon,” was recently published, and she just completed a third book of poetry titled “Amore Celeste: and Other Works.”
When she’s not acting or writing, she’s learning. “Anything I can get my hands on, whether it's philosophy or the latest Hollywood gossip on Lindsay Lohan and Jessica Simpson. Hollywood's like a high school; everyone knows everyone's business without ever meeting the person! I love it!”
But her lifelong obsession? S’mores. “Breakfast, lunch, and dinner. My one and only true obsession I hold above acting and writing! The only actual thing I'd bring to a deserted island.”
But in the end, “I'm here for the public. If through my acting or writing, you enjoy life a little bit more, then my work is complete.”Source: Starry Constellation Magazine
-
May 1, 2008 at 1:00 am
Masiela shares her inspirations and goals with The Star Scoop.com
Masiela spent her formative years acting on George Lopez, but she is also a writer. She started writing her second book of poetry, "Drinking the Moon,” when she was thirteen. It’s the simplicity of poetry that Masiela is drawn to: “the most simple moments, like one person holding another person's hands, or one little smile that came out of nowhere; you can frame that into one poem.”
Writing poetry is very personal - “it's like publishing your diary” – but Masiela prides herself on being honest with the reader, and especially hopes to inspire girls. She was inspired to write by a female mentor, her teacher in Michigan, who asked her to read her poems in front of the class. “That was the first time I ever felt like I was accepted, and that it was okay to write, and it was okay to be good at writing poetry. It just snowballed from there. “
Masiela is just as passionate about movies, and hopes to do more. “I love the attention you have to give to movies, it takes you about three months for one character from beginning to end, to play the whole story, and you really sink into the character.”
Her final piece of advice to fans is to “find a subject that you absolutely adore…When you love something, you do a good job at it.”Source: TheStarScoop.com
-
April 29, 2008 at 1:00 am
In an interview with Gabriel Castro for Latin Style magazine, Masiela talked about Carmen Lopez, books, fashion, and staying grounded. Although she is currently a junior at UCLA majoring in English, she remembers fondly her days portraying Carmen on “George Lopez.” “Carmen’s problems and the family’s problems [were] beyond Latino, they’re universal…she represent[ed] a role model for other teenagers in the U.S. having typical growing up experiences.”
Now that she’s in college, she’s focusing more on her writing. Some of her favorite authors are Jane Austen, Sylvia Plath, and Gabriel Garcia Marquez. “’One Hundred Years of Solitude’ is such a powerful book – these writers shape my poetic voice.”
Masiela also took some time to discuss fashion and the dress she borrowed from Warner Bros for her high school prom. “I went straight to the 50s section and picked it out since I wanted to go vintage…It’s a masterpiece the way the designer tamed and manipulated the fabric to create this simple yet interesting dress.” Some of her fashion tips are to mix fabrics and break color rules, “…but it’s never in style to over do anything.”
With so much going on, how does she stay grounded? By driving up the coast with her mother. “When things get hectic, we just take a drive along Pacific Coast Highway, and connect with nature.”Source: MasielaLusha.com
-
March 1, 2008 at 1:00 am
Surprising, cool facts about Masiela
Much has been written about Masiela Lusha, but you'll be pleasantly surprised at all the cool facts Masiela recently shared with TeenMag.com. Masiela answers some basic and not so basic questions that shed a bit more light into her life and likes. If you're just getting to know Masiela, here are some basic facts: Masiela is 22, she's a Scorpio, and she was born in Tirana, the capital city of Albania.
Now, here are even more fun facts about Masiela: Food Network is her favorite channel; she loves S'mores for dinner and for breakfast too; you'll find Coco Puffs and Fruity Pebbles in her cupboard; she never misses TRL; she subscribes to Teen Magazine and Cosmopolitan; Ariel from Disney's "Little Mermaid" is her favorite cartoon character; Chinese pop, French pop, German pop and the weekly horoscope are in her iPod playlist; her fav fast food joint is McDonald's and she likes to order the #2 (double cheeseburgers); she exercises doing ballet everyday; her cell phone is a Sidekick; the cast of "The George Lopez Show" gave her a Maltese (which she named Daisy) on her 18th birthday; her giant brown sunglasses are her coolest clothing accessory.
One of the most interesting facts about Masiela is that she keeps all her poetry and other writings in her laptop—her most prized possession. Masiela says that "I write and act as often as I can and try and make it public." She has definitely made her talent public with the publication of her book of poetry "Drinking the Moon," which is out in bookstores now. Masiela appreciates many forms of reading from newspapers and novels to a book of poetry by Louise Gluck. Masiela admits that she can't start her day without reading something intelligent.
Getting together with her girlfriends, watching romantic movies, and talking are some of Masiela's favorite things to do.
Some of the perks of being a celebrity, according to Masiela, are the (boxes of) free clothes and the fact that people laugh at her jokes. Masiela would like to someday receive an Oscar and a Pulitzer Prize and her idea of heaven is receiving acclaim for doing what you love. It's ironic that with such a lively personality and for such an ambitious young lady, Masiela admits that she's extremely shy.
Masiela is a very interesting and intelligent individual who is constantly growing to improve herself and her craft--so who knows there might be an additional list of even more interesting facts about Masiela in the very near future.
Source: TeenMag.com
-
October 6, 2007 at 1:00 am
George Lopez Reaches 100 Episodes
When the 100th episode of George Lopez aired in March 2006, it was the first time that any broadcast network comedy with a mostly Latino cast had reached this milestone.
"At that time, a quarter of my life was among the cast and crew of George Lopez. Reaching 100 episodes felt just as much of a personal accomplishment as it was a television milestone. I learned the greatest lessons of all inside the safety of a team I was blessed to call my family." - Masiela
Source: MasielaLusha.com
-
May 6, 2007 at 1:00 am
Masiela Goes to the Prom
The Hook Up section of The National Enquirer reported that Masiela jumped at the chance to go to her friend’s high school prom, despite her busy schedule playing Carmen on George Lopez. She’d never attended the teenage right of passage, having tested out of high school at 15 years old. But she’d stayed in touch with her friends from Macomb Township, Michigan, and they arranged for Masiela to attend her prom at Dakota High School. She borrowed a dress from Warner Bros’ wardrobe dept, asked Drew Bell to be her date, and for one night she was just a normal teenager.
“It was strange to have a TV star at the prom,” said an English teacher who oversaw the event. “But it’s an exciting strange.”Source: MasielaLusha.com
-
February 7, 2007 at 1:00 am
Love Equals Writing Contest
Masiela was a judge at the 2007 Love Equals writing contest, along with Ben Affleck, Jennifer Garner, Paul Newman, Rainn Wilson, John Lithgow and more.
"Experiencing the lives of young poets through their stories and figures of speech was a privilege for me," says Masiela. "There was a frothy sweetness to the netting of their words, and it was a refreshing experience I hope to relive in the future."
Love Equals is a writing competition for children from 6 to 11 years old. To enter, children write a letter, essay, story or poem explaining what love means to them. The Celebrity Judging Panel determines the winner, and prizes are given at a star-studded Valentine's Day Awards Ceremony.
Source: Love Equals Contest
-
May 6, 2006 at 1:00 am
Masiela’s Musings
As Carmen on “George Lopez” she dealt with some normal – and some not so normal - teenage stuff, such as fighting with friends, crushing on boys, and disobeying her parents. But there was always more to Masiela Lusha than “normal teenage stuff.” In this interview with Gina LaGuardia in College Bound Teen, Masiela talks about balancing being an actress, poet, and hunger prevention spokesperson .
Writing – whether it’s a screenplay, poetry, or novel – is one of Masiela’s first passions. At age 12, she became one of the youngest authors in the world with “Inner Thoughts,” published in both English and Albanian. The compilation was the result of traveling in Europe with her mother and writing her thoughts upon each discovery. “My muse carries me depending on the topic I’m studying at the time,” Masiela says.
Another of those muses was a high school prom, where she arrived decked out in a beautiful dress on loan from Warner Bros, only to be so nervous she could barely eat, and spending most of evening hiding amongst her friends. But Masiela didn’t let that get her down. “I want to use the experience when I experiment with a script or a story.”
College will provide even more experiences to write about. A straight A student majoring in English with a minor in business, Masiela enrolled in college to compliment her work as an actress. “It helps me read scripts and gain a better understanding,” she says.
At the time of this interview Masiela was also the spokesperson for the Great American Bake Sale, a hunger relief program that raises awareness and funds to fight child hunger in the United States.
How does she do it all?
“It’s about taking one step, one day, one class at a time” she shares. “Force yourself to concentrate and let that guide you. If you focus and tell yourself, ‘I can do this,’ then you can.”
Source: MasielaLusha.com
-
May 6, 2006 at 1:00 am
The Hook Up section of The National Enquirer reported that Masiela jumped at the chance to go to her friend’s high school prom, despite her busy schedule playing Carmen on George Lopez. She’d never attended the teenage right of passage, having tested out of high school at 15 years old. But she’d stayed in touch with her friends from Macomb Township, Michigan, and they arranged for Masiela to attend her prom at Dakota High School. She borrowed a dress from Warner Bros’ wardrobe dept, asked Drew Bell to be her date, and for one night she was just a normal teenager.
“It was strange to have a TV star at the prom,” said an English teacher who oversaw the event. “But it’s an exciting strange.”
Source: MasielaLusha.com
-
March 27, 2005 at 1:00 am
Downs and ups of auditioning in Hollywood
In this in depth interview with writer Michelle Blood for a book titled “How to Become a Magnet to Hollywood Success,” Masiela shares her experiences about being new to Hollywood, the entertainment industry, and the path to success. When Masiela and her mother first came to Hollywood to pursue Masiela’s acting career, mother and daughter were very new to the biz and the city. With a level head, a supportive family and a positive attitude, Masiela found her path to success. Beginning with television appearances on “Lizzie McGuire” and “Law & Order: Criminal Intent,” and her role as “Carmen” in over 100 episodes of “The George Lopez Show” along with upcoming roles in feature films, Masiela has broken the Hollywood barrier and is at the threshold of major stardom.
Upon arriving in Hollywood, Masiela began taking acting classes. A good piece of advice from her mother to take classes from different acting coaches broadened Masiela’s knowledge of acting. “I was able to go to so many different acting classes, I was able to understand each of their viewpoints, and I was able to use them all, and somehow create my own approach to Hollywood.” In addition to the classes were the numerous auditions, “Everything was all about Hollywood,” Masiela commented about those early days. Once she got with manager Beverly Strong, the auditions really started coming in. Masiela met Beverly through Rock Riddle, a Hollywood luminary known for giving very good advice to young actors just starting out in the business.
There were still some stumbling blocks during those times. Masiela’s first audition for an ABC show didn’t go off as well as she would have wanted. She went in thinking the audition was for a comedy. Going into the audition showing her comic flair, when she should have been showcasing her talent for drama didn’t get her the part. About the experience, Masiela states, “That taught me to really study each and every show that I auditioned for, because, even though it’s your own individual acting, it’s still part of the show, and it still has to go along with the feel of the show. I learned that the hard way, but I learned it.” Her second audition turned out much better. It was a modeling audition for some print work for an article Ben Affleck wrote for a glossy cover magazine. “I went in there, and I did it,” said Masiela. She got the modeling job and got to meet Ben Affleck—the first major actor she met since she’d been in Hollywood.
When Masiela auditioned for “The George Lopez Show,” it was such a long wait. So she just went on with other auditions thinking that she didn’t get the part, but ABC was actually considering her for the role. The long wait, according to her manager was actually a good sign. When asked about her experience with the show, Masiela is proud to be part of such a great cast. “Oh, my gosh, every single day is a new experience for me. I feel so lucky, because I work with these people who are veterans in their field, and they know what they’re doing. These professional, amazing actors and I just feel like every single day I learn something new because of them. I feel lucky that I realize, once again, that Hollywood is a business and these people are so professional. It just makes me proud that I’m part of Hollywood because of them,” Masiela replies. Working on “The George Lopez Show” allows Masiela to release her love for comedy and slapstick, ““TV shows give me more freedom physically, which I love. I love physical comedy, I love moving my body and expressing a scene and the character in more ways than my voice or my face. I love expressing it with my hands, with my body, with my legs, jumping, and the different ways of expressing emotion, and that’s what the sitcom allows me to do. The sitcom allows me to jump around and to express the entire emotion of Carmen through one big jump or one big hand swing, and that says a lot about a person.”
As for the future, Masiela knows what she wants and nothing will deter her from pursuing her dreams. “I always had a pretty clear view of how I saw myself in 5 years and 10 years. Even though I took one day at a time based on experiences and fallbacks and stuff like that, I just picked myself up and went at it again. I never really got discouraged by that. I always had a clear view of my destination, my goal, what I wanted to reach by the end of the year,” Masiela also adds, “I’m not much of a party person, so I don’t really enjoy the parties as much, but I love the people. I love the art, and I do think that acting is a beautiful art.” Without too much partying Masiela can concentrate on her love for writing, “I want to write, I want to direct, I want to star, and I just want to be there, and I want to experience every avenue that Hollywood has to offer,” says this versatile and ambitious talent who wants to experience everything “good” Hollywood has to offer.Source: Hollywood Success
View all appearances.
