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Becoming Eduardo 2009 | | Drama, Independent | d. Rod McCall Elizabeth Peña, A Martinez, Seth Adkins |
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| Eddie Corazón (Julian Alcaraz), a 16-year-old juvenile delinquent and secret reader, who attends an alternative high school in rural New Mexico, now walks the thin line between tragedy and glory as he searches for his place in the world. A long-time “gangster” buddy, T.J. Ritchie (Mike Dunay), pushes Eddie to deal drugs. Encouraging Eddie to develop his intellect, an unorthodox teacher inadvertently gets him to enroll in a ballroom dance class, where he meets college-bound beauty, Lupe Garcia (Elizabeth Blanco), and is struck down by love. Desperate to impress Lupe, Eddie tries his hand at poetry. Pulled in opposite directions by T.J. and Lupe, Eddie realizes that his life is, indeed, up to him. Becoming Eduardo is writer, director, producer and New Mexico resident Rod McCall’s latest feature film. In the tradition of two of his other films, Cheatin’ Hearts and Lewis & Clark & George (both Sundance Film Festival official world premieres), Rod McCall has produced yet another film in Southern New Mexico. Becoming Eduardo was shot in the summer of 2008 in Hillsboro and Truth or Consequences, New Mexico. The film is based on “Alternative Ed,” a novella by LouAnne Johnson (the author of the book the film “Dangerous Minds” was based on). The film stars newcomers Julian Alcaraz, Elizabeth Blanco and Mike Dunay, with support from film and TV veterans--A Martinez, Holly Riddle, Josh Cruze, Gary Perez and Elizabeth Peña (Lone Star, The Incredibles). Becoming Eduardo was produced in association with The Creative Media Institute at New Mexico State University, where McCall is an instructor. A number of McCall’s film students were production assistants on the film. Becoming Eduardo also includes rookie actors, Mariah Talent and Adrien Gloria from Alma d’Arte, the Las Cruces High School for the Arts in Las Cruces. The director of Alma d’Arte, Irene Oliver-Lewis, is also in the film. | ||