This Is Me… Now: A Love Story

Alyssa Gin and Sofia Basulto

April 6, 2024

This Is Me… Now is a movie released and financed by Jennifer Lopez. The $20 million movie centers around her love life and personal healing journey. The movie was released on February 16th, 2024, and released on the same day as her album.

Cast members of this movie include Jennifer Lopez, Ben Affleck, Sofía Vergara, Kim Petras, Post Malone, and other famous actors. This movie was directed by Dave Meyers and is available on Amazon Prime.

Lopez received lots of backlash from this movie. Audiences called the film unnecessary and all over the place and it was seen as Lopez’s attempt to stay relevant. While people found this film confusing and irrelevant, others enjoyed this unconventional take on a movie and musical.

The film is a musical and features the songs from her newest album. It is one part of a three-part multimedia project that Lopez is funding herself to showcase her personal journeys. It centers around Lopez’s relationship with her husband, Ben Affleck, and her previous relationships. It serves as a response to the criticism Lopez faced throughout her life and career surrounding her love life.

Jennifer Lopez has been a controversial figure in the media for years. This project of hers put her in the spotlight again and opened doors for what is to come in the future.

About the Contributors

Alyssa Gin, Writer

Coming back to The Downey Legend for the second year in a row, Alyssa Gin, 12, returns in hopes of preparing herself for college and the future. Gin has been getting ready for this moment for the past 4 years, committing to playing Varsity Girls’ Tennis and volunteering in the Assistance League of Downey. Gin has been ‘experimenting’ with the possibilities of her future, trying different courses within school and accepting new opportunities to learn. Although she believes that getting involved is important, in her free time, her favorite thing to do is going to concerts, shopping, reading, and hanging out with her friends. Gin holds her family close to her heart and values the support she constantly receives and feels from them. “What motivates me through life is my family,” said Gin. “...and also I motivate myself.”

Sofia Basulto, Writer

Entering her final year of high school, Sofia Basulto, is returning for the third and final year of being a writer on the Downey Legend. Although entering senior year can be bittersweet, Basulto is ready to start creating memories and writing them down along the way. After she graduates, Basulto plans to go to her dream school at NYU in hopes of becoming a screenwriter and an actress. Outside of the newspaper room, Basulto is also a part of ASB and loves helping out others. Out of Downey High, Basulto enjoys listening to music, such as Lana Del Rey, SZA, and Amy Winehouse; Basulto also enjoys reading. With her very kind and outgoing personality, Basulto hopes to encourage Dowey High and anyone out there to enjoy this 2023-2024 school year. “ Sometimes, we just have to get out there,” Basulto stated. “ We only live once. We don’t know who can be out there. A person you have never spoken to, can be your soulmate.”