Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Pictures from the World Premiere of "No Boundaries"

"No Boundaries" had it's World Premiere this weekend, Saturday, March 28, 2009 at the International House in Philadelphia, PA. Here are some pics from the red carpet!




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Saturday, March 28, 2009

"No Boundaries" hits the pages of the Philadelphia Inquirer

This article appeared in the business section of the Philadelphia Inquirer this morning, led by this picture on the top margin of the front page! I'm really proud of how it represents and endorses the movie. Only a few corrections: I was an AIR FORCE brat, not Army; and Mark was born in New York City in 1972. ;) Click on the title if you'd like to link directly to the online article. Enjoy!

Posted on Sat, Mar. 28, 2009

Tug's son, Mark, in Philly based movie
By Tirdad Derakhshani
Inquirer Staff Writer



Christopher and Isabel, the couple at the heart of the old-fashioned No Boundaries, fall in love at first sight - on the Broad Street subway, somewhere between Oregon Avenue and City Hall.

A sweet, melancholy drama about immigration, No Boundaries, which will have its world premiere tonight at the Philadelphia Film Festival/Cinefest '09, is possibly the most Philly-centric film since Tom Hanks' Philadelphia and M. Night Shyamalan's The Sixth Sense resurrected the city's cinematic reputation.

Shot entirely on location across the city, including Southwest Philly, the Italian Market, and the Art Museum, the film was made by a cast and crew drawn mostly from the local talent pool.

Even the Los Angeles-based lead actor, Mark McGraw, has a significant local connection: He is the son of the late Phillies icon Tug McGraw.

"It's great to come back after 17 years," says McGraw, who was born in New Orleans in 1971, but grew up in Philadelphia during his dad's long tenure with the Phillies, which started in 1974.

McGraw is amused that he landed his very first starring role in a feature in Philly.

"It's kind of ironic to be back, because I always loved it here but I never thought I'd come back to work here."

Written and codirected by first-time Philadelphia filmmaker Violet Mendoza, No Boundaries follows Isabel, a beautiful illegal immigrant from South America played by Lancaster-based singer-actor Dani Garza.

Isabel sneaks into the country and makes her way to her cousin Martin (Victor Velez) in Southwest Philadelphia, where she throws herself into multiple jobs so she can send money back home for her mother's medical bills.

Isabel's life takes a dramatic turn when she encounters Christopher (McGraw). The tall, blond all-American good guy virtually stalks her until she agrees to see him.

They fall in love, but before long, Isabel learns that Christopher is an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent. Conflicts ensue. There is tragedy. Sacrifices are made.

Corporate lawyer-turned film producer Joyce Koh, who grew up in Overbrook Park and Lower Merion, says she and Mendoza insisted the film be firmly grounded in Philadelphia.

"We have no interest in being anywhere outside Philly," she says. "And the city has a great draw for filmmakers - a supportive film office and wonderful crews."

Koh, a first-generation American whose parents emigrated from South Korea, says Isabel's character "encompasses all that we find easy to ignore about the immigrant population in this country: They are doing things, making a contribution and not just taking."

McGraw is a late bloomer: He began his acting career only three years ago, after 10 years as a firefighter and paramedic in Oregon. He says that while he had always been fascinated by acting, he decided in high school to "do the responsible thing and get an education and a real job."

He says being back in town brought back memories of his father, who died in 2004 of brain cancer. "I saw some of the old places [where] we'd hang out," he says, including Rembrandt's, London Grill, and of course Pat's Steaks.

Unlike McGraw, Garza has an extensive background in musical theater. An Army brat who describes herself as "three-quarters Hispanic and and one-quarter Irish," she says she felt a real kinship with her character.

"When Violet first described Isabel to me on the phone, I had this gut feeling I had to do this story," she says. "Much more than our shared ethnicity, I identify with [Isabel's] passion and her drive. . . . she is working for what she wants and she won't let anything stand in her way."

Asked if McGraw suffers from the same arrogance that afflicts so many celebrity offspring, she laughs.

"At first I didn't make a connection that his father was someone famous," she says. "But Mark, he's an absolutely genuine, humble guy who is making his own way in the world. . . . I mean he's a home designer, he designed his last two homes himself!"

No Boundaries has generated a lot of buzz around town: Tonight's [3/28 screening film's] initially scheduled screening for tonight [3/28] sold out quickly in record time, and two other shows have been added, each of which will feature appearances by various members of the cast and crew.

Contact staff writer Tirdad Derakhshani at 215-854-2736 or tirdad@phillynews.com.

McGraw, Garza and other members of the cast and crew will talk at each one of the film's screenings: Tonight, Saturday, March 28 at 7 p.m. (sold out); tomorrow, Sun 29 at 2 p.m.; and Friday, April 3, at 6:45 p.m. All screenings at International House. Information: 267.765.9800, Ext. 4 or www.phillycinefest.com.

Philadelphia Film Festival/Cinefest '09 continues through April 6. For highlights and a schedule, go to www.phillycinefest.com. Tickets can be purchased online at www.phillycinefest.com or by calling 267-765-9800, Ext. 4.

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Wednesday, March 25, 2009

"No Boundaries" on the 10!show on NBC10

My very own "No Boundaries" co-star Mark McGraw gave an interview to Philadelphia's NBC10 on their morning show, "10!show" on Wednesday, March 25th, 2009 to tell the world about our upcoming premiere and screenings at the Philadelphia Cinefest 09. Click on the picture below to link to the video. Enjoy!



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Adoptions from the Heart commercials

Here are three commercials (each in English, followed by a 5-second black space and then the Spanish version) for "Adoptions from the Heart" that I shot last fall. They're airing regionally (across PA, NJ, and MD) now on network cable, and the Spanish ones on Telemundo and Univision. Enjoy! :)

In "The Path" (above), the English voiceover is NOT my own voice, but the Spanish version is all me.

In both "The Bar" (above) and "The Kitchen" below, both voiceovers are all me.


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Thursday, March 19, 2009

"No Boundaries" - 2nd Screening at Philly Cinefest 09



Yes, the World Premiere of No Boundaries SOLD OUT in only 5 days at the Philly Film Festival/Cinefest!! The Philly Cinefest 09 website posted [3.17.09]:
.............................................
SOLD OUT SCREENING [3.17.09]
CineFest 09 is excited to announce our first sellout: No Boundaries, March 28, 7pm at the International House. NEVER BEFORE HAVE WE SOLD OUT A SCREENING THIS FAR IN ADVANCE... and there are more to come! So if you're waiting to get your tickets, grab them now before more titles sell out!

If you already missed your chance for No Boundaries, we have added a SECOND SCREENING: March 29, 2pm at the International House. The cast and crew will be in attendance at this screening also.
.............................................]

So get your tickets now! Call the box office at 267-765-9800 x4 or reserve online at www.PhillyCinefest.com.

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Tuesday, March 17, 2009

"No Boundaries" selected for Nashville Int'l Film Festival


“NO BOUNDARIES”
is going to the movies… at the
Nashville Film Festival!



PHILADELPHIA, PA – March 17, 2009 – No Boundaries, LLC is thrilled to announce its official selection in the Nashville Film Festival (http://www.NashvilleFilmFestival.org) which will take place from April 16th to the 23rd 2009, for its independent feature film, No Boundaries (http://www.NoBoundariesTheMovie.com), directed by Jake Willing and Violet Mendoza. Nashville Film Festival celebrates its 40th anniversary this year. With over 22,000 people attending the 2008 festival, it is one of the best-known arts events in Tennessee and is the biggest, most international film festival in the mid-South. "This is a festival built on 40 years of dedication to both the craft of filmmaking and the diverse interests of this community," says Artistic Director, Brian Owens.

No Boundaries, filmed in the beautifully diverse locations of the Greater Philadelphia Region, contains edgy and original cinematography. The film has an original score and features music from various talented independent musicians from the Philadelphia area. No Boundaries showcases the talent of former Nashville resident, Mark McGraw, who plays the male lead role of "Christopher Fox", an immigration agent, who falls in love with "Isabel Moreno", played by Dani Garza, who makes her feature film debut. Isabel makes a treacherous journey from her home in South America to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in a desperate attempt to save her ailing mother. In one magical moment, Christopher’s eyes meet those of Isabel’s, changing their lives forever. Christopher’s unlikely love affair with Isabel puts them both at great risk. Isabel is forced to choose between true love and survival in her new country.

McGraw states, "I’m so excited. Nashville has been a special place for me to visit and live over the years. And now, I’m happy that the film No Boundaries will have the opportunity to visit Nashville as an official selection of the Nashville Film Festival. This city has always been full of such talented artists and I’m just thrilled to be invited to the party!"

Mendoza adds, "What an honor to be accepted into one of the top film showcases in the world, a dream come true! It is a great tribute to the cast and crew as well as the unseen heroes of this film: the musicians. 'Music City' here we come!"


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Friday, March 13, 2009

"No Boundaries" selected for WSIFF



“NO BOUNDARIES”
OFFICIAL SELECTION of the WHITE SANDS INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL


PHILADELPHIA, PA – March 13, 2009 – No Boundaries, LLC is proud to share that the White Sands International Film Festival (“WSIFF” (http://www.wsiff.com)) has officially selected the independent feature film, No Boundaries (http://www.NoBoundariesTheMovie.com), directed by Jake Willing and Violet Mendoza, to screen in this year’s festival. WSIFF celebrates its 5th anniversary and will be hosted in Las Cruces, New Mexico from April 23rd to April 26th. "Filmmakers submitted a plethora of narrative films to us, and our expert judges saw them all. The judges reviewed every one of the films, often screening them more than once. Then, referring to an established set of criteria, and applying their own critical acumen, they made their selection." (Donn Finn, Executive Producer of WSIFF, and Kierstin Schupack, Festival Director of WSIFF). WSIFF screens outstanding short and feature length documentaries and narratives of all genres from around the world, but also retains a special focus on Latino and New Mexican filmmaking. No Boundaries has been scheduled to screen several times at the new Allen Theatre Complex.

No Boundaries, filmed in the beautifully diverse locations of the Greater Philadelphia Region, contains edgy and original cinematography. No Boundaries introduces the talented Dani Garza, who makes her film debut in the lead role as "Isabel Moreno". Isabel makes a treacherous journey from her home in South America to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in a desperate attempt to save her ailing mother. Isabel’s strength, ardor and determination are a tribute to Latin American values evidenced in the United States everyday. In one magical moment, Isabel’s eyes meet those of "Christopher Fox", played by Mark McGraw, changing their lives forever. Isabel’s unlikely love affair with Christopher, an immigration agent, puts them both at great risk. Isabel is forced to choose between true love and survival in her new country.

Mendoza states, "¡Extraordinario! This selection by WSIFF is personal to me. It’s an accomplishment for No Boundaries to be recognized among so many great Latin American artists. ¡Muchas gracias!"

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