Press Kit - Shut Up and Do it!

Theatrical Release in Puerto Rico!!
Caribbean Cinemas
Fine Arts Cafe
Opening September 18 7:00PM
For more information:
www.caribbeancinemas.com
www.shutupanddoit.net
Director Information:
Bruno Irizarry
(917) 804-4372
[email protected]
Index
Bio
Synopsis
Team
Cast
Reviews
Festivals
Technical Information
Bio
Bruno Irizarry
Director
BRUNO IRIZARRY is an actor, screenwriter and director. The comedy Shut Up
and Do it! screened at various film festivals in the United States marks his debut
as a film director. Bruno also worked as a director for the ‘Kismet Theatre’
company located in New Jersey where he directed the play Chewing Mother’s
Bones. As an actor, his career has been very extensive and varied. He was last
seen in the world premiere of “The Night is a Child” at the Milwaukee Repertory
Theatre. Some of his credits are: Anna In The Tropics (Portland Center Stage);
Love, Valour and Compassion! (Seattle Repertory Theatre); Who Killed Hector
Lavoe? (47 Street Theatre, NY / Centro de Bellas Artes, P.R.); West Side Story
(Opera Illinois); La Gringa and Blood Wedding (Spanish Repertory Theatre, NY).
On television Bruno has appeared in New York Undercover and Guiding Light. In
the movies, he had the pleasure to meet and be directed by Robert De Niro in the
film The Good Shepherd.
The search for new experiences takes him to create 222 Productions LLC, with
offices in New Jersey and Puerto Rico. The goals of the production company are to
produce and develop feature films with independent financing. His next project, the
romantic comedy “200 Letters” will begin production next year.
BRUNO IRIZARRY es actor, guionista y director de teatro y cine. La comedia Shut
Up and Do It! ya presentada en varios festivales en Estado Unidos, marca su
debut como director de cine. Bruno también trabajó como director para la
compañia ‘Kismet Theatre’ de Nueva Jersey, en la cual dirigió la producción de la
obra Chewing Mother’s Bones. Como actor, su carrera ha sido interesante y
variada. Se ha presentado en teatros regionales y en Off-Broadway. Algunas de
las producciones en las que ha actuado se encuentran: Anna In The Tropics
(Portland Center Stage); Love, Valour and Compassion! (Seattle Repertory
Theatre); Quién Mató a Héctor Lavoe (47 Street Theatre, NY / Centro de Bellas
Artes, P.R.); West Side Story (Opera Illinois); La Gringa y Bodas De Sangre
(Spanish Repertory Theatre, NY) entre otras. En televisión Bruno participó en
programas como: New York Undercover y Guiding Light. Ya en cine, él tuvo el
gusto de conocer y de ser dirigido por Robert De Niro en la película The Good
Shepard.
La búsqueda contínua de nuevas experiencias llevaron a Bruno a fundar 222
Productions, LLC. con oficinas en Nueva Jersey y en Puerto Rico. La casa
productora tiene como meta producir y desarollar largometrajes con financiamiento
independiente. Su próximo proyecto, la comedia romántica “200 Cartas” comienza
producción el próximo año.
Synopsis
Michael, a Latino actor in New York City is fed up with the portrayal of Latinos in film
and TV. With his passion for acting and self respect hanging in the balance, he
decides to take destiny into his own hands by making a movie. Michael’s dream soon
becomes a nightmare as he encounters the trials of independent film making:
dwindling budgets, actors' egos and jealous boyfriends. Michael’s comic and
emotional journey leads him to realize that there might be more to his dreams than
just making a movie.
Michael, un actor latino en al ciudad de Nueva York, está harto por la forma en que
caracterizan a los latinos en el cine y la televisión. Por el respeto que tiene a sí mismo
y la pasión que tiene por la actuación, él decide tomar el destino en sus propias
manos y filmar una película. Pronto el sueño de Michael se convierte en pesadilla ante
las complicaciones que presentan una producción independiente: poco dinero, los
actores y sus egos, y novios celosos. La experiencia humorístico-emotiva de Michael
lo lleva a comprender que en sus sueños puede haber algo más que solo realizar una
película.
Team
Executive Producer
Bruno Irizarry
Producers
Bruno Irizarry
Rafael Marín
Veronica Caicedo
Associate Producers
Michel Corbiere
Gustavo Trucco
Casper Sanderson
Monica Steuer
Leonard Zelig
Director
Bruno Irizarry and
Veronica Caicedo
Director of Photography
Raoul Germain
Production Manager
Johana Castro
First Director Assistant
Jason Foulke
First Assistant Camera
Alexandra Doering
Sound
Antonio Moncada
Boom Operator
Patrick Tobin
Grip
Don Warden
Make Up
Lisa Hernandez
Wardrobe
Geroge Pires
Production Assistants
Justin Sivin
Rose Heredia
Loury Azucena
Cast
Pedro Capó
Monica Steuer
Bruno Irizarry
Pedro Capó is best known as a Latin singer/songwriter, who is also an
accomplished film and theatre actor. Born in San Juan, Puerto Rico, he relocated
to New York City, to pursue a career in music. Now a SONY BMG recording
artist, Pedro is becoming a musical idol throughout Latin America and the United
States. Once a member of the popular boy band Marca Registrada, Pedro enjoys
his greatest success and notoriety as a solo artist, scoring hits with his freshman
album FUEGO Y AMOR. A natural performer, Pedro was immediately cast in a
starring role by The Apollo Theatre’s production of “The Sweet Spot” (NYC). This
participation led the way to a film starring role in “Shut Up And Do It” directed by
Bruno Irizarry and Veronica Caicedo (NYC), presented in domestic/international
film festivals circuit. Currently, he is starring in the new Off-Broadway hit musical
production of "CELIA: The Life and Music of Celia Cruz". Pedro looks foward to
the premiere of the film "Paraiso Travel" in which he plays the role of Giovanny.
The film is directed by Simon Brand, co-starring John Leguizamo. This humble
Puerto Rican talent is grandson to legendary composer, singer, and TV director
Bobby Capó, who by the 1940’s had become the musical idol of Cuba and Latin
America. Like his grandfather, Pedro’s nostalgia for his beloved Puerto Rico is
the inspiration for much of his songwriting.
Monica Steuer has had extensive experience in theatre, film and television, both
in the USA and Mexico. She graduated from The American Academy Of
Dramatic Arts in NYC receiving The Charles Jehlinger Award for Best Actress.
Some of her TV and film credits include: NBC’s Law & Order:SVU, Total Recall,
Empire, Destiny Has No Favorites (which has been seen in festivals around the
world including the acclaimed Cannes Film Festival in France and Chile’s Viña
Del Mar International Film Festival where Monica received the “Golden Paoa
Award” for Best Actress), Therapy, Shut Up and Do It!, One Night Stand and the
upcoming The Ministers where Monica had the pleasure of working with Harvey
Keitel. Her theatre credits include: Queen Isabella in Edward II; Rosaura in Life
Is A Dream; Yerma in Yerma; Angustias in The House of Bernarda Alba;
Evangelina Chi in Te Juro Juana Que Tengo Ganas; Hortensia in Los Soles
Truncos; Cristina 2 in Un Busto Al Cuerpo (HOLA Award);; La Madre de las
Solteronas in Doña Rosita- La Soltera (ACE Award); Angustias in The Last Of
Bernarda (HOLA Award), and most recently Bertha Gardes in Gardel-The
Musical (ACE Award) and La Marquesa de ‘Ah’ in Zanahorias/Carrots for which
Monica won the Premios Sin Límite Award and an HOLA Award. Monica is also
a trilingual voice-over artist with over 15 years of experience. Next, she will start
shooting the independent feature ‘ Secrets’ this summer in New York.
Bruno Irizarry is an actor, screenwriter and director. The comedy Shut Up and
Do it! screened at various film festivals in the United States marks his debut as
a film director. Bruno also worked as a director for the ‘Kismet Theatre’ company
located in New Jersey where he directed the play Chewing Mother’s Bones. As
an actor, his career has been very extensive and varied. He was last seen in the
world premiere of “The Night is a Child” at the Milwaukee Repertory Theatre.
Some of his credits are: Anna In The Tropics (Portland Center Stage); Love,
Valour and Compassion! (Seattle Repertory Theatre); Who Killed Hector Lavoe?
(47 Street Theatre, NY / Centro de Bellas Artes, P.R.); West Side Story (Opera
Illinois); La Gringa and Blood Wedding (Spanish Repertory Theatre, NY). On
television Bruno has appeared in New York Undercover and Guiding Light. In
the movies, he had the pleasure to meet and be directed by Robert De Niro in
the film The Good Shepherd.
The search for new experiences takes him to create 222 Productions LLC, with
offices in New Jersey and Puerto Rico. The goals of the production company
are to produce and develop feature films with independent financing. His next
project, the romantic comedy “200 Letters” will begin production next year.
Paolo Andino
Darlene Vazquetelles
You may know this first generation Cuban American as Naldo (the overly
sensual UPS man) on Logo's Big Gay Sketch Show. Just before that Paolo was
recurring on One Life To Live as liver specialist Dr. Harrison until the hospital
blew up (true story line), luckily he survived with a faint heart beat and lived to
operate again. He shot the independent film Choking Man which played at the
Tribeca Film Festival & had it’s LA & NY premier in November and more
recently a run on the Sundance Channel. Paolo has appeared on Ed, As The
World Turns, Guiding Light & Law and Order. Regionally Paolo has worked in
theates from San Diego to Washington D.C. He can be seen and heard in
commercial spots for DHL, MTV, United Way, McDonald’s, the video game
True Crime II and the audio book Heat. He also sells his deliciously hip little
gourmet treats “don’t touch my cookies!” from his kitchen in Greenwich Village
Puertorican actress who started modeling and acting in her hometown, San
Juan, since her teen years. She later moved to Miami, FL where she continued
her studies in Communication and Acting in Florida International University.
She balanced her studies with a co-hosting job for a local T.V. station in Miami
called A Oscuras pero a Encendidos. After graduating from college, she moved
to Los Angeles, California where she worked in soap opera General Hospital.
Among her film credits, independent films El Chupacabra, Shut up and Do it
and Kings of South Beach. Although her main focus is to make it in the
Hollywood scene, she often goes back to her hometown where she has cohosted a Travel Channel type of show covering the towns in Puerto Rico.
Recently she was part of the cast of Duena y Senora and Decisiones, spanish
soap operas produced by Telemundo. She now resides in Los Angeles, CA,
focusing on her upcoming projects.
Since childhood, Ed has worked extensively in international (Argentina, Puerto
Rico, Spain) and local TV including Law & Order, soaps including All My
Children & Another World. He was also the first VJ for MTV International.
Amongst all his theater credits are The Blonde Man where he won an Obie
Award; Ariano; and Nowhere on the Border where he won the Ace Award in
2007 for best drama actor. Some of his film credits include Kiss of Death,
Highlander II the award winning film "Maria Full of Grace"
Ed Trucco
Reviews
2 Films, 2 Worlds at the HBO New York International Film Fest
By Margarita Kurtz
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
The Latino worlds collided at this year’s HBO New York International Film Festival. From the
Indie to the Showcase films; the difference is a fresh breath of air for the Latino Community.
‘Shut Up and Do It!’ is a warm-hearted feature written, directed, and starring its creator
Bruno Irizarry. It is a comical look at how a Latino actor deals with the stereotypical roles
that come his way. Michael is done with playing thugs, crack addicts, and wife beaters. He
decides to take destiny into his own hands by directing and acting in an original screenplay.
He enlists the help of his brother José (Pedro Capo), who acts as his producer, arranges
auditions, and even gives him $500 of his own money.
There are many fine comedic moments in this film that explore how Latino accents are
exploited and identity is perceived. Irizarry has created a movie about making a movie. He
brings a refreshing candor and earnestness to his DIY project. The film highlights include: a
voiceover session that mimics a Café Bustelo commercial, his search for scripts that bring a
variety of people to his door, and the audition scenes where actors exaggerate everything.
The cast is well rounded with Capo, a talented and natural comedian, Monica Steuer
(Irizarry’s wife in real life) as Carmen, the love interest and lead actress, and Ed Trucco as
Leo, her bad boy boyfriend.
It’s quite an achievement to shoot a film in just twelve days, and Irizarry did just that. ‘Shut
up and Do It!’ is an admirable cinematic effort, for the multi-tasking writer and director. The
film is funny, making a point without being overly preachy. But overall shows Irizarry’s
potential as a successful filmmaker.
http://www.skuawk.com/film/1055/2-films-2-worlds-at-the-hbo-new-york-international-film-fest
María Cristina
15 al 21 de Noviembre 2007
“Shut Up and Do It” con la dirección, guión y actuación del puertorriqueño Bruno Irizarry fue
una sorpresa muy agradable. Aunque el filme es en inglés, uno siempre tiene la sensación de
que en cualquier momento los personajes van a cambiar a español (lo que sí hacen a veces),
pero, por si acaso, tiene subtítulos en español. La historia tiene la estructura de un sitcom pero
se aparta de ese “quick fix” por el ritmo que establece, diálogos muy perceptivos y sus
referentes culturales. Continuamente desafía los estereotipos al plantearlos como
impedimentos para cualquier desarrollo individual: la apariencia física del hombre latino, la
pretensión de poder hablar español sin conocer el idioma, los guiones malos, los
comportamientos esperados, el hombre siempre en busca de una conquista fácil, la mujer
meneando el cuerpo para conseguir algo, etc. Como es una historia de un aspirante a actor,
puertorriqueño, que se cansa de que solamente le ofrezcan papeles de latinos estereotipados
(para los personajes importantes se buscan a un actor que “parezca” latino sin serlo), decide
conseguir un buen guión y hacer su propia película. Para esto hará casting (quiere que todos
sean “genuinamente” latinos), su hermano-productor conseguirá una ayudante que se ocupe de
todo, un camarógrafo, un sonidista, y el alquiler del equipo de filmación. Con un escaso
presupuesto, Irizarry ha logrado un filme interesante, divertido y muy bien hecho en términos
técnicos y de desarrollo de historia.
http://www.claridadpuertorico.com/articulos/leer/cinemafest_xix_un_buen_saldo
Festivals
http://www.marketwire.com/mw/release.do?id=841516
Apr 08, 2008
"American Latino TV" Announces Nominations for 2nd Annual
"American Latino TV Awards"
NEW YORK, NY--(Marketwire - April 8, 2008) - The award-winning, nationally
syndicated TV programs "American Latino TV" ("ALTV") and "LatiNation" announced
today, the nominees for the 2nd Annual "American Latino TV Awards," with voting and
promotion scheduled to begin this week. The "American Latino TV Awards" is a
celebration of the show's historic sixth season and is highly anticipated after the success
of the first ever "American Latino TV Awards" in 2007. "American Latino TV Awards"
serves to recognize excellence and achievement in the American Latino community and
as a tribute to the individuals, organizations and projects that have been featured in the
producers' six-season library of multi-award winning and groundbreaking television
shows.
The nominees (four per category with six categories) for the unique awards show format
were selected by a team of "American Latino TV" producers. This year's awards show
hosts four exciting new categories: Favorite Alternative Artist, Favorite Indie Film,
Favorite Extreme Athlete and Underground Fashion as well as returning categories:
Favorite Indie Musical Artist(s) and Most Inspiring American Latino(s). The winners will
be decided by online voting and announced during the syndicated broadcast of the
"American Latino TV Awards" special, which will begin airing later this summer in over
70 cities nationwide. A promotional campaign of TV, radio, local and national print and
online ads will direct viewers to www.AmericanLatinoAwards.com which provides a
detailed list of nominees, along with a short video segment of each one, and the ability to
cast votes.
The nominees for each category include:
FAVORITE INDIE FILM:
"Bragging Rights" (Documentary about the connection between
Latino culture and Stickball), "Brown is the New Green" (George
Lopez hosts this documentary about media and marketing
misrepresentation of U.S. Latinos), "Antonia" (Brazilian awardwinning film), and "Shut Up and Do It" (Actor fed up with
Latino portrayals directs and stars in his own film).
Visit www.AmericanLatinoAwards.com and www.AmericanLatino.tv
Technical Specifications
Genre
Comedy/Drama
Original Format
HD Cam
Screening Format
HDCam
Betacam SP
Digibeta
DVD
DVCam
Time:
83:20
Language
English / Spanish subtitles