about bella

From the Producer of The Passion of The Christ comes Bella - a story about friendship, family and our capacity for love in the face of the unexpected.

An international soccer star (Eduardo Verástegui) is on his way to sign a multi-million dollar contract when a series of events unfold that bring his career to an abrupt end. A beautiful waitress (Tammy Blanchard), struggling to make it in New York City, discovers something about herself that she's unprepared for. In one irreversible moment, their lives are turned upside down... until a simple gesture of kindness brings them both together, turning an ordinary day into an unforgettable experience.

cast

Tammy Blanchard (Nina)
Blanchard’s professional acting career started with a three year stint as Drew Jacobs on CBS’s daytime soap opera, The Guiding Light. Director Robert Ackerman then cast her to play the young Judy Garland in ABC’s TV miniseries, Me and My Shadow: Life with Judy Garland which earned her an Emmy® Award for Best Supporting Actress. Blanchard next took to the Broadway stage in the latest revival of Gypsy which she was nominated for the Tony and received a Theater World Award. In 2005, Robert DeNiro cast Blanchard in The Good Shepherd opposite Matt Damon and Angelina Jolie. She most recently finished CBS’s upcoming movie for television, Sybil, where she plays the title role, starring with actress Jessica Lange.

Eduardo Verástegui (Josè)

At the age of 18, Verástegui left his small town in Xicotencatl, Tamaulipas and headed to Mexico City to pursue a career in entertainment. Twelve years later, Eduardo had toured the world as a singer in the Mexican pop sensation Kairo and as an acclaimed solo recording artist, performing sold-out concerts in over 13 countries. Starring in five highly-rated telenovelas (Spanish soap operas) for Televisa (broadcast in over 19 countries), he has also been featured on hundreds of international magazine covers including People En Español which voted him one of 50 Most Beautiful People. In 2001, Verástegui landed the starring role in 20th Century Fox’s Chasing Papi, the studio’s first ever Latino-driven film. He has also appeared in such primetime television series as CSI:Miami and Karen Cisco. In 2004, following an inspiration to transform his image, Verástegui left his agency and management and teamed with Monteverde and Severino to form Metanoia Films – the production company for Bella.

Manny Perez (Manny)

At the age of 10, Perez and his family moved from the Dominican Republic to the United States and in 1992 graduated with a major in drama at Marymount Manhattan College. He has also studied at the prestigious Ensemble Studio Theatre and is a member of the LAByrinth Theatre Company, in New York City. Perez produced, starred and co-wrote Washington Heights, an independent movie set in his own neighbourhood. He also starred in Third Watch as Officer Santiago, Law & Order and CSI: Miami.

Jaime Tirelli (José’s Father)

Born to a Puerto Rican family, Jaime is a graduate of the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, Class ’75. He has appeared on the Broadway stage, as well as The Public Theater, and in various productions at The Puerto Rican Traveling Theater. His film credits include more than 30 titles, including The Brave One, Definitely, Maybe, Carlito’s Way and The Groomsmen.

Angélica Aragón (José’s Mother)

Born in Mexico City, she studied at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts (LAMBDA) for almost seven years where she pursued acting, art, music and dance. Returning to Mexico in the early ‘80s, she started working in the telenovelas industry for Televisa and then signed with Argos Television, which brought her international acclaim for Mirade de Mujer (A Woman’s Glance). Among her film credits are The Evil That Men Do, A Walk in the Clouds, Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights and Picking Up the Pieces.

crew

Alejandro G. Monteverde (Director & Screenplay)

Born and raised in the Mexican town of Tampico, Tamaulipas, Monteverde entered the University of Texas film school, where he went on to win an unprecedented number of film festivals for a student filmmaker while still an undergraduate. His first film, Bocho, shot in with no budget in Monteverde’s spare time as a student, was recognized with the Kodak’s Excellence in Cinematography award and won awards at several international film festivals. His student demo reel was impressive enough that Kodak and Panavision both awarded him with sponsorships to shoot his first 35mm short, Waiting for Trains, which subsequently won major awards in several different festivals including New York International film festival. Following his graduation from UT, Monteverde produced several award-winning short films, commercials and music videos. In 2004, he moved to Los Angeles and partnered with actor/producer Eduardo Verástegui and producers Sean Wolfington, Leo Severino & Eustace Wolfington to make Bella and to form Metanoia Films, a company committed to projects that entertain, engage and inspire.

Steve McEveety (Executive Producer)

McEveety is an award-winning filmmaker who has produced such movies as the Oscar® award-winning Braveheart, We were Soldiers, The Passion of the Christ, The Man Without a Face and What Women Want under Mel Gibson’s Film Company, Icon. McEveety signed on after the film was finished to help market and distribute the film.