An Apple A Day...

Bella

I have two thumbs up, and two big toes up, and if I could borrow more thumbs I'd put them all up. That's my response to the movie "Bella."

This movie won the Toronto Film Festival, which launched many other independent films into "Oscar Winner" land. I don't want to give too much of the movie away, but it is a moving celebration of life, through the lens of a Latino family and a young girl fired from the family restaurant. It is powerful and inspiring.

This movie is produced by and stars Eduardo Verastegui, instantly recognized in Mexico and Latin America because of his roles in soap operas and movies throughout Latin America, as well as his modeling career and recording career with a 'latino boy band' several years back. Eduardo has already experienced an amazing life of stardom to this point.

But he has reached a turning point. And this is where "Bella" steps in. Desiring to change the direction of his influence in culture, and the types of roles he plays, Eduardo joined with a couple of friends and founded a movie production company dedicated to putting out quality films full of hope, truth and beauty.

"Bella" is their first film, and Eduardo has spent months traveling the U.S. sharing his new vision with audiences all over, and promoting this film. Here's the deal. The movie is playing in 500 theatres around the country, breaking records in its genre, and inspiring tons of people. BUT, Hollywood is big, and movies with much larger budgets and marketing powerhouses behind them have a lot more strength to get the word out and promote their movies.

"Bella" needs people on the grassroots level to go see it and talk it up bigtime to balance out the imbalance of the entertainment world. So very simply, GO SEE THIS MOVIE, and make the biggest deal you can about it, if you are moved by it. Days are crucial here. It's Thanksgiving weekend, the biggest weekend of the year for Hollywood. So for this film to stay in theatres, it has to do well this weekend more importantly than all the success so far.

Eduardo Verastegui is a new amigo of mine. One of the most inspiring people I have encountered in years. He cares deeply about how his life and filmmaking impact not only American culture, but Latin American culture and the rest of the world. And already, his film has changed many lives, and saved lives...literally. I just hope more people can see it and be affected by it. Experience the power of the artform of film being used for good.

Go see Bella. Might change your life.