Bella (18 page)

In 2001,
Verástegui was on a flight from Miami to Los Angeles when he was approached by the V.P. of Casting at 20th Century Fox for the studio's first-ever Latino-driven film,
Chasing Papi
, and won the starring role. He subsequently co-starred in an indie film called
Meet Me in Miami
and has appeared in such primetime television series as
CSI: Miami
,
Charmed
, and
Karen Cisco
.

In 2004, following an inspiration to transform his image, Verástegui left his agency and management and teamed with director Alejandro Monteverde and producers Sean Wolfington, Leo Severino, and Eustace Wolfington to make
Bella
and to form Metanoia Films, a company committed to projects that entertain, engage, and inspire.

Nina, played by Tammy Blanchard

Blanchard's professional acting career started with a three-year stint as Drew Jacobs on CBS's daytime soap opera
Guiding Light.
Director Robert Ackerman then cast her to play the young Judy Garland in ABC's TV miniseries
Me and My Shadow: Life with Judy
Garland,
which earned her much critical acclaim and an Emmy award for Best Supporting Actress. She co-starred with Blythe Danner in Lifetime's
We Were the Mulvaneys
and next to the Broadway stage in the latest revival of
Gypsy
, starring Bernadette Peters, directed by Sam Mendes. For her portrayal of Louise, Ms. Gypsy Rose Lee, she was nominated for the Tony and received a Theater World Award.

Blanchard joined Peter Falk for CBS's
When Angels Come to
Town,
and in 2005, Robert DeNiro cast her in
The Good Shepherd
opposite Matt Damon and Angelina Jolie and scheduled for release in December of 2006. She most recently finished CBS's upcoming movie for television
Sybil
, where she plays the title role, starring with actress Jessica Lange.

Manny, played by Manny Perez

One of eleven siblings, he was born in a suburb of the city of Santiago in the Dominican Republic. At the age of 10, he and his family moved to the United States, settling in Providence, Rhode Island. He majored in drama at Marymount Manhattan College, graduating in 1992. He has also studied at the prestigious Ensemble Studio Theatre and is a member of the Labryinth Theatre Company, in New York City.

Perez produced, starred, and co-wrote
Washington Heights
, an independent movie set in his own neighborhood. He starred in Sidney Lumet's critically acclaimed series “100 Center Street,” NBC's
Third Watch
as Officer Santiago, and has appeared in such episodic shows as
Law & Order
and
CSI: Miami
. He will be seen in the upcoming films
El Cantante,
starring Marc Anthony and
Yellow.
At the Santo Domingo Invita: All-Star-Night at Radio City Music Hall, Perez was honored as one of the most prominent Dominican actors in the United States.

Celia, played by Ali Landry

Raised in a small Cajun town in Louisiana, Landry graduated from the University of Southwestern Louisiana with a degree in communications. She entered the Miss USA pageant in 1996 with the hope of launching a career in broadcasting or entertainment, and her win brought her to the attention of a major Hollywood talent agency. The popular host of such television shows as
Prime
Time Comedy
and
America's Greatest Pets
, she eventually signed with Frito Lay for an acclaimed Doritos campaign that debuted during the 1998 Super Bowl telecast and gained her instantaneous fame.

Landry soon made the transition to acting with a variety of film and television roles, including a co-starring role in UPN's
Eve
, which has recently completed its third season. She has made guest-starring appearances on such episodic series as
Felicity, Pensacola,
and
Popular
. In 2000, she had a featured role in the motion picture
Beautiful
, directed by Sally Field.

About Metanoia Films

Bella is the first film produced by Metanoia Films. Our mission is to make movies that matter and have the potential to make a meaningful difference in people's lives. Metanoia is owned by Sean Wolfington, Eduardo Verastegui, Leo Severino, Alejandro Monteverde, and Eustace Wolfington. The team is brought together by a vision to make timeless films that make a positive difference in the world by promoting stories and characters that inspire and change people's lives. Metanoia Films has a number of projects in development, financed through a recently developed film fund.

Letter to the reader from the author

Dear Friend,

When my editor called me to tell me about
Bella
and ask whether or not I would consider writing the novelization of the screenplay, I was sitting in the waiting room of my dentist's office. I went out to the sunny front porch on that autumn afternoon and listened to the excitement in her voice as she told me about the movie, how it had won the People's Choice Award at the Toronto Film Festival and above all, how wonderful the
Bella
people were to talk with, how excited they were about their project and the message of faith, hope, love and life it gave to those blessed enough to see it. Did I want on board?

Of course! For years I've been a great lover of life in all its glorious, beautiful stages. From two cells to its dying breath, all life is a beautiful gift of God. We were on a tight time schedule by the time the writing process began. I had a month to turn the screenplay into a novel. Thankfully, the plot and dialogue were basically set, so I had the necessary time to deepen the characterization and provide the story of Nina's past, her hopes and dreams, her disappointments and trials. Leo Severino was so helpful in providing me with the ideas the writers weren't able to give screen time to and we hit the ground running, shooting emails and phone calls back and forth. It was a new process for me, but one I'm so glad to have had the opportunity to explore.

Thanks for picking up this book. I hope it blesses you, encourages you, and for some who find themselves in the valley of decision, that it will provide the light of hope.

Pax Christi,

Lisa

Lexington, KY

Reading Group Guide

1. José's grandmother often told him, “If you want to make God laugh, tell him your plans.” In what ways did José's plans change throughout this story? And in what way did God get involved in José's plans and change them?

2. José is described as a good-looking man. Why do you think he now wears a long beard and shaggy hair? In what ways does that help him heal after the tragedy he caused?

3. José's name means “he will enlarge,” and one of the meanings of the name Nina is “mother.” In what ways do these character's names define their destiny?

4. Food is a significant part of this story. How did the flavors of the Mexican culture weave their way into the lives of the major characters—those with Hispanic heritage and those without?

5. Pieter is particularly cold to Nina when she discovers she is pregnant with his child. What motivates and informs his decisions in life? Why does he strive so much to “kiss up” to Manny?

6. Manny's restaurant is a successful, high-end establishment. He demands the absolute best from his employees and himself. Where does his drive come from and how has he become so successful? How does this influence his relationship with his brother?

7. Eduardo, Manny, and José are very distinct personalities. Take some time to compare them—what do they have in common?

8. How does Nina feel about her pregnancy, other than not being ready to mother a child? Is she embarrassed by her condition? Does she worry about what others will think? Is she concerned at all about what her mother will think or say?

9. Celia clearly loved her daughter, Lucinda. And Lucinda's death was an earth-shattering tragedy for her. Do you think she will ever be ready to open lines of communication with José? How do you think she feels about the fact that José visits Lucinda's grave every morning?

10. José has, every day since the accident, lived with the guilt of killing Lucinda. It has changed his life in every way. At what level is Fernando also guilty
of Lucinda's death? Celia?

11. Nina's father is described as a heavy drinker and inconsistent. But he is also someone who loved to have fun—scooping her up to dance the shag or take walks on the beach. Why is Nina so drawn to him in her memories? Does she think her life would be better now if he hadn't passed away?

12. When Nina first meets Maria, José's mother, she thinks:
This is what women should strive for
.
This is beauty far deeper than the
skin, beauty that mirrors the heart
. How is Nina's longing—to be a good, kind, beautiful persona—exemplified in the story?