故 事 大 綱 詩 人 、 劇 作 家 米 基 皮 尼 路 （ 班 哲 文 畢 特 飾 ） 一 生 狂 野 不 ? ， 是 近 代 拉 丁 文 化 界 的 傑 出 代 表 。 他 藉 詩 詞 、 散 文 及 舞 台 劇 對 身 邊 事 物 及 社 會 表 達 內 心 的 良 知 ， 在 文 化 界 激 起 連 串 迴 響 。 一 生 動 蕩 的 皮 尼 路 ， 染 上 毒 癮 及 小 偷 生 涯 令 他 在 自 毀 邊 緣 徘 徊 ， 幸 得 母 親 、 多 年 女 友 及 劇 團 經 理 約 瑟 柏 的 協 助 ， 令 才 華 洋 溢 的 他 渡 過 重 重 難 關 ， 他 的 女 友 舒 嘉 （ 泰 莉 沙 蘇 圖 飾 ） 是 半 紅 不 黑 女 演 員 ， 更 一 直 守 候 在 皮 尼 路 身 旁 給 予 無 限 支 持 。 偷 竊 罪 服 刑 後 ， 皮 尼 路 以 獄 中 見 聞 寫 成 百 老 匯 名 劇 《 Short Eyes 》 ， 獲 得 絕 佳 的 好 評 ， 獲 六 項 東 尼 獎 提 名 。 在 1976 年 ， 《 Short Eyes 》 被 搬 上 銀 幕 ， 同 時 開 展 皮 尼 路 的 演 戲 及 劇 作 家 事 業 ， 其 在 《 紅 番 區 》 （ Fort Apache, the Bronx ， 81 年 ） 、 《 黑 街 》 （ Alphabet City ， 85 年 ） 及 電 視 劇 集 《 Miami Vice 》 亮 相 。 皮 尼 路 於 88 年 肝 病 逝 世 ， 傳 奇 一 生 享 年 42 歲 。 皮 尼 路 與 摯 友 兼 恩 師 米 基 艾 格 林 （ 贊 加 洛 艾 普 薛 度 飾 ） 創 立 詩 人 咖 啡 館 Nuyorican Poets Caf e ， 迄 今 仍 是 紐 約 市 曼 哈 頓 東 區 的 熱 點 。 本 片 將 皮 尼 路 於 60 年 代 末 至 80 年 代 末 起 伏 的 下 半 生 重 現 。 製 作 花 絮 誰 是 皮 尼 路 ？ 紐 約 著 名 詩 人 兼 劇 作 家 米 基 皮 尼 路 （ Miguel Pinero ， 1946-1988 ） ， 出 生 於 波 多 黎 各 。 作 品 的 特 色 擅 長 描 寫 社 會 黑 暗 面 ， 犯 罪 與 死 亡 往 往 是 他 的 寫 作 題 材 。 皮 尼 路 一 生 沉 淪 於 毒 海 、 販 毒 及 偷 竊 ， 一 度 被 判 入 紐 約 州 的 新 生 監 獄 （ Sing Sing Prison ） ， 殊 不 知 他 將 獄 中 經 歷 撰 寫 大 受 歡 迎 的 舞 台 劇 《 Short Eyes 》 ， 該 劇 於 1974 年 奪 得 劇 場 界 最 高 殊 榮 的 東 尼 獎 （ Tony Awards ） 六 項 提 名 。 在 詩 作 方 面 ， 皮 尼 路 是 Spoken-word* 表 演 形 式 的 倡 導 者 ， 亦 是 紐 約 市 詩 人 蒲 點 Nuyorican Poets Cafe 創 辦 者 之 一 。 *Spoken Word ─ ─ 綜 合 饒 舌 Rap 、 自 由 即 興 、 口 語 詩 的 新 興 表 演 形 式 瘦 身 15 磅 扮 癮 君 子 飾 演 詩 人 、 劇 作 家 米 基 皮 尼 路 的 主 角 班 哲 文 畢 特 ， 為 演 繹 染 上 毒 癮 的 瘦 削 身 型 ， 刻 意 由 185 磅 減 到 170 磅 的 體 重 ， 方 法 只 是 暫 定 進 出 健 身 房 ， 一 點 運 動 也 不 做 便 可 以 瘦 身 。 原 來 畢 特 在 高 中 求 學 時 期 ， 經 常 被 同 學 取 笑 骨 瘦 如 柴 的 身 材 ， 因 此 得 到 「 稻 草 人 」 的 化 名 。 後 來 ， 畢 特 以 不 斷 健 身 來 增 加 身 體 的 肌 肉 ， 今 年 四 月 更 被 網 站 選 為 「 二 十 五 個 最 性 感 男 士 」 的 第 一 名 。 特 別 拍 攝 手 法 作 為 一 部 傳 記 電 影 ， 採 用 非 順 序 式 手 法 呈 現 皮 尼 路 的 魅 惑 一 面 ， 乃 混 合 兩 部 同 時 拍 攝 的 數 碼 攝 影 機 的 彩 色 片 段 ， 及 一 部 16 米 厘 攝 影 機 的 黑 白 菲 林 片 段 造 成 ， 結 果 營 造 出 有 如 七 、 八 年 代 紐 約 街 頭 的 粗 糙 和 真 實 感 。 導 演 里 安 伊 查 素 （ Leon Ichaso ） 將 挑 撥 性 的 獨 立 製 片 精 神 ， 發 揮 於 生 活 在 社 會 邊 緣 的 皮 尼 路 身 上 ， 他 說 ： 「 在 搜 集 皮 尼 路 作 品 期 間 ， 我 被 他 對 低 下 層 創 作 的 詩 篇 看 得 入 迷 ， 我 對 他 的 赤 裸 描 繪 手 法 深 深 吸 引 ， 這 是 我 要 將 他 的 生 平 拍 成 電 影 的 主 因 。 」 用 心 演 繹 技 驚 四 座 班 哲 文 畢 特 在 電 視 劇 集 《 律 政 風 雲 》 （ Law and Order ） 的 威 風 凜 凜 正 義 形 象 深 入 民 心 ， 這 次 演 出 不 修 邊 幅 的 詩 人 皮 尼 路 ， 令 人 有 眼 前 一 亮 的 感 覺 。 畢 特 接 演 的 原 因 ， 是 被 劇 本 的 複 雜 戲 劇 性 所 吸 引 。 據 知 ， 畢 特 在 年 青 時 代 ， 首 先 在 電 視 上 看 過 皮 尼 路 的 劇 作 《 Short Eyes 》 ； 畢 特 得 悉 要 將 文 學 界 傳 奇 人 物 演 好 ， 他 認 為 是 一 次 重 大 責 任 及 考 驗 ， 他 說 ： 「 我 不 想 只 是 扮 扮 他 的 神 情 便 算 數 ， 最 希 望 能 捕 捉 皮 尼 路 的 靈 魂 及 精 髓 ， 但 諷 刺 地 ， 給 皮 尼 路 帶 來 靈 感 的 （ 意 指 ： 毒 品 ） ， 亦 是 破 壞 他 的 東 西 。 」 畢 特 在 開 鏡 前 與 導 演 ， 透 過 唸 詩 及 討 論 歷 史 ， 加 深 他 們 之 間 對 角 色 的 認 識 ， 拍 攝 時 已 建 立 一 套 簡 語 互 相 溝 通 。 亡 友 教 路 演 好 戲 論 最 瞭 解 主 角 的 人 物 ， 非 皮 尼 路 一 班 生 前 好 友 莫 屬 。 皮 尼 路 的 兄 長 杜 戴 （ Dodi Pinero ） 給 予 畢 特 至 寶 貴 的 訓 示 ， 令 他 學 會 皮 尼 路 的 握 拳 、 走 路 、 談 吐 等 正 確 方 法 。 另 一 位 協 助 畢 特 揣 摩 角 色 的 ， 正 是 皮 尼 路 的 生 前 最 親 密 的 朋 友 兼 作 詩 良 伴 米 蓋 爾 米 基 艾 格 林 （ Miguel Algarin ） ， 他 曾 與 皮 尼 路 一 同 創 辦 Nuyorican Caf e 會 社 ， 米 基 艾 格 林 的 真 人 更 在 電 影 中 皮 尼 路 葬 禮 客 串 唸 詩 。 值 得 一 提 是 ， 飾 演 皮 尼 路 摯 友 兼 恩 師 米 基 艾 格 林 的 演 員 贊 加 洛 艾 普 薛 度 （ Giancarlo Esposito ） ， 曾 與 皮 尼 路 不 下 一 次 同 台 演 出 ， 包 括 電 影 《 紅 番 區 》 （ Fort Apache, The Bronx ） 及 電 視 劇 集 《 Miami Vice 》 ， 而 艾 普 薛 度 首 次 看 到 班 哲 文 畢 特 ， 認 為 畢 特 較 真 人 版 高 大 及 瘦 削 ， 兩 人 卻 擁 有 一 樣 的 眼 神 。 戲 內 邂 逅 現 任 妻 子 主 角 班 哲 文 畢 特 ， 與 飾 演 女 友 的 演 員 泰 莉 沙 蘇 圖 ， 去 年 拍 《 不 ? 詩 生 活 》 時 結 識 不 久 即 傳 訂 婚 消 息 ， 他 們 於 今 年 四 月 在 畢 特 的 祖 家 三 藩 市 秘 密 結 婚 。 畢 特 去 年 與 拍 拖 四 載 的 名 氣 女 友 茱 莉 亞 羅 拔 絲 分 手 ， 有 傳 分 手 原 因 是 羅 拔 絲 遲 遲 不 肯 與 畢 特 正 式 拉 埋 天 窗 ， 難 怪 他 與 蘇 圖 拍 拖 不 久 即 火 速 結 婚 。 演 員 資 料 班 哲 文 畢 特 （ Benjamin Bratt ） 剛 在 今 年 十 月 被 美 國 娛 樂 網 頁 《 E!Online 》 的 「 2002 年 度 二 十 五 個 最 性 感 男 士 」 排 名 榜 之 中 ， 畢 特 被 封 為 最 性 感 男 士 之 首 ！ 輕 易 打 低 大 眾 認 為 最 性 感 的 畢 彼 特 （ Brad Pitt ） 和 佐 治 古 尼 （ George Clooney ） 。 憑 電 視 劇 集 《 律 政 風 雲 》 （ Law and Order ） 榮 獲 艾 美 獎 最 佳 男 配 角 提 名 ， 班 哲 文 畢 特 的 電 影 戲 路 甚 廣 ， 喜 劇 代 表 作 有 姍 迪 娜 布 洛 合 作 的 《 選 美 俏 臥 底 》 （ Miss Congeniality ） 及 《 借 借 你 的 愛 》 （ The Next Best Thing ） ， 科 幻 動 作 片 則 有 《 宇 宙 深 慌 》 （ Red Planet ） 及 《 越 空 狂 龍 》 （ Demolition Man ） ， 動 作 片 更 有 《 燃 眉 追 擊 》 （ Clear and Present Danger ） 。 畢 特 的 新 作 有 即 將 上 映 的 驚 慄 片 《 Abandon 》 。 贊 加 洛 艾 普 薛 度 （ Giancarlo Esposito ） 資 深 演 員 艾 普 薛 度 從 影 作 品 超 過 五 十 多 套 ， 舞 台 演 出 的 作 品 更 多 不 勝 數 。 重 要 電 影 作 品 有 《 非 常 嫌 疑 犯 》 （ The Usual Suspects ） 、 《 生 命 中 不 能 承 受 的 煙 》 （ Smoke ） 、 《 拳 王 阿 里 》 （ Ali ） 及 《 Malcolm X 》 等 ， 其 間 他 亦 在 電 視 劇 集 《 紐 約 重 案 組 》 （ NYPD Blue ） 及 《 流 氓 醫 生 》 （ Chicago Hope ） 等 。 泰 莉 沙 蘇 圖 （ Talisa Soto ） 蘇 圖 在 《 鐵 金 剛 勇 戰 殺 人 狂 魔 》 （ Licence to Kill ） 飾 演 鐵 摩 達 頓 的 殺 人 狂 魔 死 敵 露 比 ， 她 擁 有 非 凡 的 身 手 及 精 於 巴 西 棒 擊 搏 鬥 術 ， 被 請 來 連 演 兩 集 《 格 鬥 之 王 》 ， 片 中 扮 演 一 萬 歲 的 Katina 公 主 。 蘇 圖 其 他 作 品 不 乏 愛 情 片 ， 包 括 飾 演 安 東 尼 班 特 拉 斯 （ Antonio Banderas ） 愛 人 的 《 Mambo Kings 》 、 在 《 天 生 愛 情 狂 》 更 與 尊 尼 特 普 （ Johnny Depp ） 及 馬 龍 白 蘭 度 （ Marlon Brando ） 同 台 演 出 。 導 演 ／ 編 劇 ： 里 安 伊 查 素 （ Leon Ichaso ） 身 兼 導 演 及 編 劇 兩 職 ， 伊 查 素 在 電 視 及 電 影 界 兩 棲 發 展 ， 滲 入 不 少 拉 丁 元 素 ， 像 首 部 電 影 《 Bitter Sugar 》 (Azucar Amarga) 是 一 套 以 古 巴 為 背 景 ， 描 寫 一 段 愛 情 故 事 的 黑 白 片 。 由 韋 斯 史 納 斯 主 演 的 劇 情 片 《 Sugar Hill 》 ， 揭 示 以 暴 易 暴 的 毒 品 市 場 黑 暗 面 。 電 視 作 品 方 面 ， 珍 素 的 得 意 之 作 有 執 導 過 數 集 的 八 十 年 代 人 氣 劇 集 《 Miami Vice 》 ， 以 及 大 導 米 高 曼 （ Michael Mann ） 的 《 Tales From The Hollywood Hills: A Table At Circo's 》 的 拍 攝 工 作 等 。
美 國 影 評 「 生 動 而 不 能 抗 拒 。 」 ─ ─ 【 洛 杉 磯 時 報 】 「 班 哲 文 畢 特 的 演 出 令 人 震 驚 ！ 」 ─ ─ 【 紐
約 觀 察 家 報 】 「 班 哲 文 畢 特 的 上 位 作 ， 角 色 暗 藏 令 人 迷 惑 的
狂 怒 ！ 」 ─ ─ 【 BOXOFFICE MAGAZINE 】 「 班 哲 文 畢 特 演 活 一 代 詩 人 ， 演 出 水 準 拍 得 住 影 帝 德 斯 汀 荷 夫 曼
！ 」 ─ ─ 【 紐 約 時 報 】 附 ： 米 基 皮 尼 路 詩 詞 作 參 考 A LOWER EAST SIDE POEM by Miguel Pinero Just once before I die So let me sing my song tonight From Houston to 14th Street There's no other place for me to be A thief, a junkie I've been all that's true So here I am, look at me I don't wanna be buried in Puerto
Rico Miramax
International and GreeneStreet Films presents Benjamin Bratt PINERO Giancarlo Esposito Casting WHO WAS PINERO: When asked by Miquel Algarin, founder of The Nuyorican Poets Cafe and longtime champion of poetic expression, to attend a screening of Pinero, as in Miquel Pinero, Lord of Loisada, La Poeta, I was, most assuredly excited. He who placed wings on weathered pages, perched atop the dusty shelves of crumbling libraries, barrio bookstores and tables which lined the bustling streets. Words which taught so many to know the truth and poetry in the language we speak. Wisdom and wit, limericks and sonnets, cussing and fussing while constantly fusing New York City Hard Times Blues with The Menudo of a Cuchifrito Love Affair. We met in the lobby filled with faces I'd seen on magazines, in movies, TV. Spanglish sprayed from mouths to walls to floors the ceiling as finally we scrambled to find our seats. To see this man, Benjamin Bratt, hear the music dance from his lips. To do Mikey justice because you see, Pinero was an icon who stayed true to the life. Lived fast and hard yet knew the code of the block. One minute sitting in Tompkins Square Park reciting his verse while sharpening his blade. Very next moment begging Joe Papp for a small advance on his dynamite new play. And that was Mikey way. Then came the sounds of clave y conga, I snapped and hummed and heard la poeta recite a poem we all knew so well. Benjamin strutting, swaying, playing his words catching fire, Mikey was here. Feet and hands tapped and clapped as black and white images brought us back to a place and time when a rhyme could heal, when art wasn't based on the art of the deal. We all could feel the power in poem and if just for a moment not a soul felt alone… Miquel Pinero, best known for his riveting play Short Eyes, awarded an Obie and New York Critics Circle Award, was one of the most influential poets of his generation. His first book, La Bodega Sold Dreams, is a metaphor filled feast of shoot outs and shout outs, subway trains and cocaine brains on fire from fear of forgetting who we were and where we were from. Along with the original Nuyorican Poetry Anthology, this poetry helped many of us aspiring poets understand craft and how knowledge helps loosen hidden emotions. Perhaps the most valuable lesson is to be a fearless hen crafting truth. Pinero, the film, is a Godsend. At a time when every aspect of accessible language is either commercialized, corrupt or corporate owned, we hear the words, see the images of a man who danced with kings and tramps alike. To call a person poet has once again become a badge of honor. This film is just reward for one who knew the beauty of poetry and the value of being heard. On meeting Pinero: met
Pinero in San Diego on a library shelf - Reg E Gaines
PINERO SYNOPSIS "Pinero" tells the story of the turbulent and creative life of a Latino icon, the poet-playwright-actor Miguel Pinero (BENJAMIN BRATT), who bounded onto the literary scene and made waves in the artistic community with his interpretations of the world around him through experimental poetry, prose and plays. After doing time in hardcore Sing-Sing for petty theft, Pinero's prison experiences developed into the Broadway hit "Short Eyes." The play went on to tremendous critical acclaim, nominated for six Tony Awards. In 1976, the play was developed into a feature film directed by Robert Young, which jump-started Pinero's acting and writing career. Eventually, he went on to write for and have featured roles in "Fort Apache," "The Bronx," as well as some of the biggest television shows of his time, "Miami Vice," "Kojak," and "Baretta." Despite his continued drug addiction and time spent in prison, the charming and charismatic Pinero managed to capture the hearts of many stars, including Sugar (TALISA SOTO), an aspiring struggling actress who stood by his side throughout his unstable life. Pinero co-founded the famed Nuyorican Poets Cafe with his trusted friend and mentor Miguel Algarin (GIANCARLO ESPOSITO) in Manhattan's Lower East Side, which continues to showcase up-and-coming Latino stars. Pinero became a hero to many in both the theatrical and Latino worlds. But the resulting notoriety and fame was too much for the Latino bad-boy genius who died a premature death in 1988. His legend lives on.
PINERO ABOUT THE PRODUCTION "Pinero" tells the story of a Latino icon: the poet-playwright-actor Miguel Pinero, whose urban poetry is recognized as a pre-cursor to rap and hip-hop. A GreeneStreet Films production, the film stars Benjamin Bratt as Miguel Pinero, Giancarlo Esposito as Pinero's close friend and mentor Miguel Algarin, Talisa Soto as Pinero's love interest Sugar, Rita Moreno as Pinero's mother Adelina, and Mandy Patinkin as Public Theater Director Joseph Papp. Ichaso is known for his provocative, independently-minded and often controversial projects. He is repeatedly drawn to characters like Miguel Pinero, characters who live on the periphery of society. "Pinero" is definitely one of these characters. "The project came about when I was shooting Sugar Hill. At first, it was kind of a lark as I was having dinner after the movie and stories about Pinero began to float around," Ichaso recalls. "There was an excess of stories and I began to realize this would make for a fascinating film. A film about a renegade, Puerto Rican playwright/poet, thief sounded like something which was strictly my turf." When Ichaso began to research Pinero's work, he was very surprised by his poetry and his style of writing. Pinero's barrio tales of junkies, and prostitutes treated these underdogs of society with incredible sensitivity and affection. As expressed by Ichaso, "Pinero broke every convention, and I enjoyed him for his honesty and brutality. That's what ultimately attracted me to make a film about his life." GreeneStreet Films' partner and producer John Penotti accepted the challenge to take on a multi-faceted story that portrays the ups and downs of not only a turbulent life but also of New York at a different time period: the late 1960's to the late 1980's. "Leon Ichaso has passion. He is a story teller in the most organic way who understands how to communicate simple emotions," Penotti says. With a complicated character like Pinero, it was important to capture the full story, not only the gratuitous parts of his life but also the quieter aspects. "Although there is tremendous attention to detail, there is a wonderful randomness to the story, mostly because of the non-linear story and the seamless travel through many different time periods." Ichaso agrees that he saw a non-traditional storyline developing out of the numerous interviews he conducted about Pinero. "The task was to put everything into a coherent piece, while I also felt obligated to put the work forward rather than the stories and the tales of madness. I began to take his writings and place them as scenes." For instance, Pinero wrote a piece called 'Midnight Moon at the Greasy Spoon,' which takes place in a diner. In the film, there is a scene in the diner where the dialogue from that play is used. "I began to draw from the different plays and create a seamless narrative and that's when I said 'this is the way to go,'" says Ichaso. Once the project was underway, Ichaso got in touch with director of photography Claudio Chea to get him on board. Their long-time partnership goes back to Crossover Dreams, another Puerto Rican urban tale. Since then, they completed several films together such as Bitter Sugar and Hendrix. "There is a telepathy dialogue between us. We decided to use the combination of digital and 16mm black and white to punch in certain emotional moments because poetry and jazz to me, are black and white. I like digital because it is so mobile and fluid. I've used it in several of my last films," Ichaso adds. "Pinero" was shot with two digital and a 16mm b/w, with sometimes all three running at once. GreeneStreet supported Ichaso's passion for using a digital camera to most vividly portray the story. Penotti then suggested Benjamin Bratt to play Miguel Pinero. "At first, it was very difficult for me to imagine Bratt, who is very clean and strong looking, to play someone with that kind of lifestyle," Ichaso explains on casting Bratt to play Pinero. But by the time the film was in pre-production, Bratt was no longer the man people knew from Law & Order. He transformed himself into Miguel Pinero. Ichaso raves, "his eyes were the eyes of Pinero with incredible power and charisma, he had a very convincing take on the man. Half way through the shoot, I saw Bratt bring out another 150 percent. I think this will be a defining moment for Benjamin Bratt, before and after Pinero." "When I first read the script, I found it dramatic, horrifying and complex. It had all of the elements that appeal to a performer," Bratt explains. His first exposure to Miguel Pinero was seeing the film Short Eyes on television when he was a teenager. "When I read the screenplay, I thought it was incredibly poetic and epic, the role of a lifetime. Having to play someone that actually existed is a huge responsibility, but also the ultimate challenge." Bratt didn't want to simply do an impression of Pinero, but he wanted to capture his soul and his essence - ironically, the very thing that inspired Pinero's subject matter was also the very thing that destroyed him. Bratt realized he must establish a relationship with Ichaso in order to do the role justice. Before filming even began, they spent time with each other, listening to music, discussing history and character, reading poems. By the time they got into a working relationship, they had developed a short-hand language. Bratt was inspired by Ichaso's excitement. "He gives me directions with one word, which is important, especially in an independent film, where things move quickly. Most importantly, he possesses the same kind of passion that I feel when I read Miguel Pinero's work." In the midst of all of the research Bratt had done for the role, several people were of enormous help. In fact, the majority of the actors cast in the film had some affiliation to Miguel Pinero. Miguel Pinero's brother, Dodi Pinero is another person who was extremely helpful. "He gave me advice on how to hold my fingers, how to walk, how to say certain things, and all of these things helped me form my character." Bratt's most important advisor was Miguel Algarin, Pinero's best friend, writing partner, and co-founder of the Nuyorican Cafe. Bratt believes that Algarin's stories have been invaluable. Algarin also took a minor role in the film playing a poet who recites poetry at Pinero's funeral ceremony. Many of the Puerto Rican actors in the film have actually met Pinero and all have their version of the events that took place. Giancarlo Esposito, who plays Miguel Algarin, knew Pinero from working with him on past films. Esposito recalls, "I met Pinero when I was an extra in Fort Apache, The Bronx, he was talking about poetry and the history of the Nuyoricans in New York. He had the kind of energy that you wanted to harness and have in you all the time and the intellect to match." Esposito met him a number of years later on the set of Miami Vice in Miami. "I remember seeing him sitting around the pool at the Alexander Hotel and thought he went "Hollywood" but by sundown, he was back to his old tricks in his hat and leather jacket breaking into the wardrobe room and stealing 15 shirts. "When GreeneStreet gave me the script," says Esposito, "I was blown away by it because it was so simple yet didn't glorify the whole addiction. I learned that Pinero wasn't the junkie I thought he was, but more of a creative artist who needed certain things once in a while to spur him on but he never let himself go to the world of just drugs. The script opened my eyes to that. Pinero was certainly a poet like no other. Ichaso is a poetic director who is good with music, timing and visually in terms of shooting scenes without words." "I heard stories about how Algarin would take care of Pinero and wash his body and bathe him and it was never about any kind of sexual attraction. They were definitely brothers." Their relationship was fascinating because they bounced ideas off each other and the creative fire that existed between them was unmatched. "I chose to portray Algarin as a person who wants to share love, have fun with it, and has a stimulation for intellect, body and the senses," says Esposito. "He is a very sensual guy." Algarin was a fireball of energy who went to the ballet every weekend, taught Shakespeare at Rutgers University, and yet could bridge the academic world with life on the streets. What amazed Esposito most about Pinero's life was his transformation in prison. Rather than becoming dispassionate and believing that he was at the mercy of the system, he was able to open up creatively. "Once he got a taste for it, Pinero ran with it and became an icon, the king for the Nuyorican people. Pinero has left a clear imprint of his life, his world, and the world that existed for many others at that time." Although Pinero's motivations are difficult to accept and even understand, the film sheds light on his driving force, the great love and passion he holds for his art. "When I first saw Bratt," Esposito recalls, "I was blown away, because I saw Pinero. Even though Pinero was shorter, and a little bit heavier, softer, not as tight as Ben, I got stopped by Ben's eyes, that's when I saw it is in his heart." Rita Moreno, who plays Pinero's mother Adelina, agrees, "when I first heard Ben was going to play Pinero, it seemed so unlikely - I thought Ben 'is so clean,' but then I came to the set for my first day of shooting and I looked at Ben and he was Pinero. It's another Ben. It's wonderful to see actors committing to bold and daring roles, such as Pinero where they get the chance to do serious acting and not just be a personality." Ichaso was very excited to have cast Moreno for the role of Pinero's mother Adelina. In one scene in the film, she mambas with young Miguel on the rooftop. Ichaso still can't believe that she has not danced on a rooftop since West Side Story. "Pinero's mother," says Ichaso, "was very much a Latina mother. I think she had a huge struggle to keep herself and her kids heads above water. There is one dialog I remember where the mother asks Miguel, 'Where is the little boy who used to bring me flowers and write me poems?' Miguel answers, 'You must remember a different childhood from mine.' This brings her up short, because she only wants to remember the good part of her life." Moreno recalls how she first met Pinero when she went to see his play Short Eyes at the Riverside Church. "On this particular night he said 'I would like to introduce a pioneer, a Hispanic person, a Puerto-Rican, who was there when there was dignity accorded to our people, who took all of the blows.' I began to wonder who he was talking about. When he said, 'Rita Moreno,' I was terribly moved." "I am also very happy to see so many Latino actors in a movie, because it still doesn't happen too often," Moreno adds. Ichaso needed to engage the community to make this film. He wanted not only the crew but also the cast and everyone involved with the film, to have a direct ethnic connection with the material, and then to definitively have an attachment to the words, an attachment to the times, and to what Pinero was about. "Pinero" was shot in 26 days primarily on location on the Loisaida (Lower East Side) in New York City with tremendous support from the local community. "The time when the story takes place in the 1970's and 1980's, New York was a very different place, it was a neighborhood and we tried to recreate that," Ichaso states. PINERO ABOUT THE CAST BENJAMIN BRATT Benjamin Bratt stars as the late Latino icon, poet-playwright-actor Miguel Pinero. Benjamin Bratt was recently seen in two Warner Bros. productions, "Miss Congeniality" opposite Sandra Bullock and "Red Planet," directed by Antony Hoffman and starring Val Kilmer and Carrie-Anne Moss. He will be starring in the upcoming Paramount Pictures film "Abandon," the directorial debut of Oscar winning screenwriter Stephen Gaghan and co-starring Katie Holmes. Bratt recently completed filming Trimark and USA Networks' film adaptation of Ernest Hemingway's short story "After the Storm." With his writer-director brother Peter, he co-produced the award-winning independent feature "Follow Me Home," with Alfre Woodard. His other feature film credits include the upcoming release of the independent feature film "The Last Producer," with Burt Reynolds and Lauren Holly; John Schlesinger's "The Next Best Thing" for Paramount Pictures starring Madonna and Rupert Everett; Phillip Noyce's "Clear And Present Danger," with Harrison Ford; "The River Wild," with Meryl Streep and Kevin Bacon; "Demolition Man," with Sylvester Stallone and Wesley Snipes; and Taylor Hackford's "Blood In, Blood Out." Bratt established himself on NBC's critically acclaimed drama "Law & Order" as 'Detective Reynaldo Curtis,' for which he was nominated for an Emmy Award. His other television credits include "Exiled," the "Law & Order" telefilm, Showtime's "Woman Undone," with Randy Quaid and May McDonnell, the NBC mini-series, "James A. Michener's Texas." GIANCARLO ESPOSITO Giancarlo Esposito stars as Miguel Pinero's most trusted friend and mentor Miguel Algarin. Giancarlo Esposito is a veteran actor with over 50 film credits to his name, an equally impressive list of television credits, and a well-respected and award-winning stage background. Most recently, he was seen on the new FOX series "The Street." Esposito also played "Hypnos," the God of Sleep in "Monkey Bone," opposite Brendan Fraser and Whoopi Goldberg. Last season, Esposito played Mike Girardello on the critically acclaimed NBC drama, "Homicide." His feature film credits include "Twilight," opposite Paul Newman, "Nothing To Lose," "The Usual Suspects," and "Waiting to Exhale." He also appeared in several Spike Lee productions including "Do The Right Thing," "School Daze," "Mo' Better Blues," and "Malcolm X." Other film credits include starring in Jim Jarmusch's "Night On Earth," Tim Robbins' "Bob Roberts" and Wayne Wang's "Smoke" and "Blue In the Face."
On television, he has starred in the NBC movie "Five Desperate Hours" and "Thirst," as well as Showtime's "The Hunger" and "Naked City." Along with Ron Eldard, he starred in the highly acclaimed FOX series "Bakersfield PD." His other television credits include memorable guest appearances on "NYPD Blue," "Chicago Hope," "New York Undercover," "Living Single," "Nash Bridges," Miami Vice," and "Touched By An Angel." Esposito's Broadway credits include a starring role in "Sacrilege" with Ellen Burstyn, and performances in eight musicals. He has appeared in many off-Broadway productions including "Trafficking In Broken Hearts" at the Atlantic Theatre Company where he is also a member. He has won two coveted Obie Awards for his performances in "Distant Fires" and "Zooman and the Sign." TALISA SOTO Talisa Soto stars as Miguel Pinero's love interest Sugar. Talisa Soto made her feature film debut in Paul Morrisey's "Spike of Bensonhurst." She went on to work with acclaimed directors Oliver Stone in "The Doors" and Michael Cimino in "Sunchaser." Born in New York City, her Puerto Rican heritage and exotic beauty served her well in "Mambo Kings," in which she portrayed Antonio Banderas' true love, "Marie," who inspired the Academy-nominated song. She also co-starred with Johnny Depp and Marlon Brando in "Don Juan De Marco." Additional film credits include James Bond's leading lady in "License To Kill," and the comedy hit "Spy Hard," opposite Leslie Neilson. Soto has also appeared on television in HBO's critically acclaimed "Women in Prison," as well as the CBS series "Harts of the West." A martial arts novice, Soto had to master the art of Brazilian stick-fighting in order to resume her role as the 10,000-year-old Princess Katina, in the sequel to Paul Anderson's "Mortal Kombat," for which she did the majority of her own stunt work. RITA MORENO Rita Moreno stars as Miguel Pinero's troubled mother. Legendary actress, singer and dancer Rita Moreno has the honor of being the only performer to win an Oscar, an Emmy, a Tony, a Grammy, and a Golden Globe, a distinction that is recognized in the Guinness Book of World Records. Moreno began singing and dancing as a child and, at the age of 20, was signed by Louis B. Mayer to a contract at MGM, where she appeared in "Singin' In the Rain," "Pagan Love Song" and "Latin Lovers," among others. Shortly after, she went on to 20th Century-Fox to star in "Garden Of Evil," opposite Gary Cooper, and "The King And I," with Yul Brynner. For her role as "Anita" in "West Side Story" for Robert Wise and Jerome Robbins, Moreno was awarded both the Oscar and the Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actress. Her other film credits include, Mike Nichols' "Carnal Knowledge" with Jack Nicholson, "The Night of the Following Day" with Marlon Brando, "The Four Seasons" with Alan Alda, "The Slums of Beverly Hills" with Alan Arkin, and "The Ritz" with Jerry Stiller, in which she reprised the role that won her a Tony on Broadway. Moreno is currently a regular on the HBO series "Oz," for which she was nominated for an Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series. She has been a constant presence on television for 40 years, winning Emmy Awards for "The Rockford Files" and "The Muppet Show," a Grammy for "The Electric Company" and a Golden Globe nomination for "9 to 5." She also starred in the hit series "The Cosby Mysteries," and has guest starred on many shows including, "The Larry Sanders Show," "The Nanny," "The Cosby Show," and "Miami Vice." NELSON VASQUEZ Nelson Vasquez plays Miguel Pinero's close friend Tito. Nelson Vasquez has worked as an actor, dancer, choreographer and writer for more than 15 years. Most recently, he appeared in "R-X'MAS," directed by Abel Ferrara and the soon to be released "Home Invaders," along with Keith David and Luis Guzman. His other feature film credits include, "Carlito's Way," "Bonfire of the Vanities," "Extreme Measures," "Brooklyn State of Mind," "Money Train," Summer of Sam," and "Do The Right Thing." His television credits include "Oz," "Law & Order," "NYPD Blue," and "Kojak." Vasquez also worked with some of the most prominent theater directors including George C. Wolfe, Graciele Daniele, Casey Childs, Michael Grief, Jon Jory, Neil Pepe, and Melia Bensussen, in which he received rave reviews for his performances from New York critics. He also toured throughout the United States, Japan and Latin America as a dancer / choreographer with Michael Jackson, Aretha Franklin, Luther Vandross and Safire. MANDY PATINKIN Mandy Patinkin plays Joseph Papp, creator of the Public Theatre. Mandy Patinkin is a veteran film, television and theatre actor who won a Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical for his portrayal of Che Guevara in "Evita," as well as an Emmy Award for Best Actor in a Drama series for his performance in "Chicago Hope." Patinkin's most recent film credits include "Elmo In Grouchland," directed by Gary Halvorson; "Lulu On the Bridge," directed by Paul Auster; and Walt Disney's "Squanto: A Warrior's Tale." His other notable feature film credits include Rob Reiner's "The Princess Bride," "Yentl", and "Dick Tracy." MICHAEL IRBY Michael Irby plays the young Latino playwright Reinaldo Povod, Miguel Pinero's protegee. Michael Irby has appeared in numerous television and theater productions. His television credits include "Law & Order," "All My Children," "Guiding Light," and "F/X The Series." Some of his theater credits include, "Stuck" at the Rattlestick Theatre, "Chorpus Christi," at the Manhattan Theatre, "Returner," at the 4th Street Theatre, and "Side Show" at the La Tea Theatre. Irby has also appeared in numerous stage productions at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. MICHAEL WRIGHT Michael Wright plays Edgar, Miguel Pinero's friend with whom he shares a van with while living on the streets of New York. Michael Wright most recently completed filming in Jean Claude Lamarr's "Bricks." Prior to that he has appeared in numerous films such as the award-winning film "Bedroom Eyes," directed by Tatsumi Kumashiro, Tristar Pictures' "The Principal," Fox release of Robert Townsend's "The Five Heartbeats," "Money Talks" with Chris Tucker and Charlie Sheen, and another Leon Ichaso film "Sugar Hill" with Wesley Snipes. Wright has appeared in several productions on the New York stage including, Charles Fuller's "Son of the Same Lion," Gus Edwards' mini-play anthology "Slices," and Jules Pfeiffer's "Elliot Lovers." He also appears as a regular on the HBO hit series "Oz." RAY SANTIAGO Ray Santiago plays Willie, the young teenager who is fascinated with Miguel Pinero and his work after watching his performance at the Nuyorican Poets Cafe. Ray Santiago made his silver screen debut as 'Tiny' in the 2000 Sundance Film Festival award-winning film "Girlfight." This January, Santiago will star in the new BBC series "New York High." Santiago currently resides in Bronx, New York with his family and attends La Guardia High School for the Performing Arts as a drama major. PINERO ABOUT THE FILMMAKERS LEON ICHASO, Writer / Director Leon Ichaso is the writer and director of "Pinero." He has distinguished himself in both features and television as a director of provocative, independently-minded and sometimes controversial projects. Ichaso manages to bridge the gap between mainstream projects and offbeat films wedded to his Latino cultural roots, infusing both strong visuals, evocative atmosphere and unflinching drama. He directed the feature films "Bitter Sugar" ("Azucar Amarga"), a critically-acclaimed, black-and-white, Spanish-language love story set against the highly volatile political backdrop of contemporary Cuba; "Sugar Hill," starring Wesley Snipes in a gritty look at a regretful Harlem drug dealer's attempts to extricate himself from a vicious circle of violence; "Crossover Dreams," a vibrant salsa drama, which helped launch the careers of both Ruben Blades and Elizabeth Pena. Ichaso's first feature project was "El Super," a New York-set comedy, which has won cult status since its 1979 release.
Ichaso has directed five films for the Showtime Network, having lensed "Zooman," "The Fear Inside," for which he received a CableACE nomination, and more recently, "Free Of Eden," starring Sydney Poitier, "Executive Justice," starring Tim Daly and Peter Coyote, and "Hendrix." Ichaso helped change the look of Network television through his groundbreaking work as the director of several episodes of "Miami Vice," and helming the first four entries of Michael Mann's "Tales From The Hollywood Hills: A Table At Circo's" for the 'Great Performances' series. He also wrote and directed film segments for "Saturday Night Live," as well as the movies-of-the-week "The Take" and "A Kiss To Die For." CLAUDIO CHEA, Director of Photography Claudio Chea is the cinematographer on "Pinero." This marks his eighth feature film working as the cinematographer with director Leon Ichaso. The feature films include "Hendrix," "Execution of Justice," "Free Of Eden," and "Zooman" for Showtime, and "Ali," about the life of Muhammad Ali for 20th Century Fox. Chea was also the cinematographer on Ichaso's critically acclaimed films "Bitter Sugar," and "Crossover Dreams." Chea also directed and was the cinematographer on documentary films such as "El Acuario Nacional," an educational piece on the new national Museum; "El Paseo de la Virgen," a cultural piece highlighting ancient traditions of a Dominican Fishing Village; and "El Valle de San Juan," a follow up on the film "El Pico Duarte" reiterating the need to preserve the Dominican rain forest. JOHN PENOTTI, Producer John Penotti serves as producer on "Pinero" and is the president of GreeneStreet Films. Through GreeneStreet Films, Penotti has executive produced several projects including, Fisher Steven's directorial debut film "Just A Kiss" - recently acquired by Paramount Classics; "Lisa Picard is Famous," directed by Griffin Dunne and produced by Mira Sorvino and Dolly Hall - an official selection of the 2000 Cannes International Film Festival; "The Chateau," directed by Jesse Peretz and produced by Robin O'Hara and Scott Macaulay - to be released in early 2002 by the IFC; and "In The Bedroom," (an official Sundance 2001 Dramatic Competition entry) a co-production with Good Machine starring Sissy Spacek, to be released in November 2001 by Miramax Films. John is presently producing GreeneStreet Films current feature, "Swimfan" (working title), a teen thriller currently in post-production starring Erika Christensen ("Traffic") and Jesse Bradford ("Bring It On.") The film is a co-production with Michael Douglas' Further Films. Penotti's other producing credits include "Illuminata," written, directed and starring John Turturro with Susan Sarandon and Christopher Walken, which was released by Artisan Entertainment in August 1999; the Miramax/Pandora/Channel 4 film "A Price Above Rubies," directed by Boaz Yakin and starring Renee Zellweger, Christopher Eccleston and Julianna Margulies; and "I'm Not A Rappaport," based on the Tony Award-winning play, starring Walter Matthau and Ossie Davis. FISHER STEVENS, Producer Fisher Stevens serves as producer on "Pinero" and is GreeneStreet Films' Creative Director. The actor, writer, director and producer co-founded GreeneStreet Films with partner John Penotti after directing his first short film "Call of the Wylie," which was in competition at the 1995 Sundance Film Festival. Since then, Fisher has executive produced films the following films for GreeneStreet: "Lisa Picard is Famous" and "The Chateau." Additionally, he produced and starred in the upcoming digital feature "Sam the Man," directed by Gary Winick and co-starring Annabella Sciorra, Rob Morrow, Ron Rifkin and Maria Bello. As an actor, Stevens made his Broadway debut at the age of 18, in the Tony Award-winning play "Torch Song Trilogy" and went on to star in such films as "The Flamingo Kid," "Short Circuits I and II," "Hackers," "Only You," "Reversal of Fortune," "The Marrying Man," and "Brother From Another Planet." Other acting credits include two years as series regular on CBS-TV's "Early Edition" (where he also directed numerous episodes). TIM WILLIAMS, Producer Tim Williams is head of production at GreeneStreet Films and serves as producer on "Pinero." At GreeneStreet, he is responsible for moving projects into production and overseeing all aspects of that continuous process. In addition, he also acted as producer on the Sundance 2001 Dramatic Competition Entry "In The Bedroom." Williams is a former DGA Assistant Director with 12 years of experience in physical production, which includes extensive prep and on-set work with directors including, Sidney Lumet ("Running on Empty," "Family Business," "Q&A"), Mike Nichols ("Regarding Henry"), Penny Marshall ("Awakenings"), and Paul Mazursky ("Scenes from a Mall"). He was also Creative Director for the London-based, new writing stage company GRiP Theatre where he also wrote, directed and produced more than 15 stage productions in London and Boston. JAMIE GORDON, Co-Producer Jamie Gordon serves as co-producer on "Pinero" and is head of development at GreeneStreet Films where she is responsible for acquiring new projects for the company as well as keeping the company well informed of new writer and director talent. Gordon, a Princeton graduate who began as a Story Editor for the LA-based producer Wendy Finerman, assisted Finerman on Academy Award-winning "Forrest Gump" and later executive producer Charles Newirth on Rob Reiner's Films "The American President" and "Ghosts of Mississippi." Gordon recently produced an independent feature by writer/director Stephen James entitled "Certain Guys" and also co-produced the Castle Hill release "Chicago Cab," which featured John Cusack, Gillian Anderson, Julianne Moore, and Laurie Metcalf. She also produced the award-winning short entitled "Cowgirl." DAVID TEDESCHI, Editor David Tedeschi is the editor of "Pinero," which marks the third feature film he has worked on with director Ichaso. Prior to "Pinero," Tedeschi edited Ichaso's "Free of Eden" for Showtime, starring Sidney Poitier and the critically acclaimed "Bitter Sugar." His other feature film credits include, "The Silence of Neto," directed by Luis Argueta, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 1996. Tedeschi has edited several documentary films such as "America's Challenge," directed by Barbara Kopple; "8A," directed by Orlando Leal, an experimental feature documentary about the trial and execution of Arnaldo Ochoa in Cuba; and most recently, "My Friend Paul," directed by Jonathan Berman, about a lifelong friendship between a filmmaker and a bank robber, which was presented at the 1999 Slamdance Film Festival, Tedeschi has also worked as an editor on television shows such as the Emmy Award-winning news magazine show on Fox "TV Nation;" MTV's "True Life/I'm A Hacker," starring Serena Altschul; and "American High," a weekly drama directed by RJ Cutler for 20th Century Television for Fox Broadcasting. SHARON LOMOFSKY, Production Designer Sharon Lomofsky is the production designer on "Pinero." Most recently, she served as production designer on Beacon Pictures' "Bring It On," directed by Petyon Reed, as well as the Miramax feature film "Committed," directed by Lisa Krueger and starring Heather Graham. Her other feature film credits include Don Scardino's "Advice From A Caterpillar," Lions Gate Films' "Hi-Life," directed by Roger Hedden, "Under Heaven," directed by Meg Richman, "Claire Dolan," directed by Lodge Kerrigan, "Life Happens," produced by Shooting Gallery and directed by Nel Cox, and Gramercy Pictures' "Before The Rain," directed by Micho Manchevski and won the Golden Lion at the 1994 Venice Film Festival and was nominated for an Academy Award in 1995 for 'Best Foreign Film. |
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