Rome & Jewel

I happen to have been an Uncredited Actor in this film-I played one of The LAPD Officers in the scene where we shut "The Pool Party" down.

Admittedly, because I appear in this film, I might be biased in favor of this production, but I think that this is a wonderfully produced, directed and written work.

The actors took the filming of this movie very seriously! Everyone was as professional as anyone on any set that I've ever been on! I worked most closely with Les Feltmate, (The Other Police Officer,) Lindsey Haun, (Jewel,) Stephanie Dyann, (Kara,) Nate Parker, (Rome,) Cole Griffin, (Jay,) Russel Howard, (Perry,) and a host of very young Extras. Everyone was great on this set and I have extremely fond memories of working on this film last August and Sept.

Working with Director Charlie Kanganis was a distinct pleasure! Charlie is a very intense, yet a personable and fair director with an extraordinary eye for detail. One of my favorite memories is when he took the 78 pound, 35mm film camera on his' own shoulder to demonstrate what he wanted done in one particular shot. He was awesome to work with and I would like to work with him again someday.

I happen to have had three films playing in The Film Festivals this year, but of all, "Rome And Jewel" was the best and it was my only full-length feature in the festivals this year.

Furthermore, this movie was done on a very tight budget. I thought that with our budget that this turned out to be a very good looking film! Of course, it isn't Oscar-worthy, it wasn't mean't to be such a film. This is more of a film with a message and I hope that it's message is understood and heeded to by today's young people.

See this film! Don't see it because we worked hard to make it, but because it's a good movie, it is entertaining and the message against racial bigotry is strong and it is a good lesson for all audiences that prejudice can lead to extraordinary tragedies. This is a message that is timely even in the early 21st Century.

David Cubero

I was in this movie as an extra, and Filming it was really fun to see how everything works! I thought all the actors and actress where great!!! I had a really fun time filming this movie and I would do it again! I think that they just need a little but more room in their budget. If anyone knows where I can buy the movie, I would love to know because all of my family really wants to see it. I think the best party of the movie was when we were having the party and the cops came and shut it down!!! I swear when we were filming, I thought the cops where real!!! And the location was the best!!! I would have to say that it was a great movie and I was more than happy to be in it and let everyone know that!!!

Rome and Jewel is a fine musical that I truly hope gets picked up for theatrical release. I was lucky enough to see it when they showed it at the high school where I teach.

At first I thought "Oh, not another take on Romeo and Juliet..." but I was really drawn into this story, mainly because of the strong acting and the catchy and memorable songs. And let's face it, anything that gets our kids to accept Shakespeare is a good thing. I show Baz Luhrmann's excellent movie when I want to ease them into the nuances and rhythms of Elizabethan language.

But Rome and Jewel is even more accessible viewing.

Set in Los Angeles (present day -- hence contemporary dialects and language) it tells the story of a young white girl who falls instantly in love with a young black guy who crashes her sweet sixteen party. This causes a clash between the white kids and the black kids at the party that spills out into the streets of LA. Meanwhile there's an intense political back story (just as in Shakespeare's play) and the lovers do their best to keep their romance secret...

The actor playing Mercury was fantastic. I hope he gets discovered soon. Okay, I just looked him up and he will be playing a character named "Goatee" in the fourth Die Hard installment. I hope it's a substantial role.

This movie is gorgeously shot and well edited. See it whenever you get the chance.

Now I want to look up and watch everything this director has done, because he really knows what he is doing behind the camera.