A new film!

Coming soon: A new production presented by T.A.T.I. Pictures.

Story by - Anita Benson and Pablo Perea

Directed by - Pablo Perea and Anita Benson

Executive Producer - Anita Benson

Cinematography - David Bancroft and Aaron "Slim" Ruffatto

Starring - 

Luke Johnson

Page Bancroft

George Way

Special thanks to - The City of Santa Fe, The Veterans' Affairs National Cemetery of Santa Fe, Michael Longueira, Karyn Rose, Mary Simmons, Rio, Anya, and Aiden Manzanares, Jim Gil, Elissa Ritt, and Jeffrey Kaplan.

We are in post-production of our second film, Road Unspoken. We just finished a two-week shoot around the Santa Fe, New Mexico area and will begin editing this summer. More news is forthcoming.

NM Filmmakers Showcase

I just found out yesterday that "The First and Only Lesson" was accepted in the NM Filmmakers Showcase! I want to invite all my New Mexico friends to see the film.

Friday, May 20 at 8:45 pm
at the GUILD CINEMA
3405 Central Avenue NE, Albuquerque, NM

Local Albuquerque Showing!

We are delighted to invite you to join us for a fun evening of food and entertainment in Albuquerque. Ara and Kerry are opening their house to us, let us repay them by bringing our charming selves! We are hoping to have some musicians attend so please bring an instrument you'd like to play. We think that any event is better with good food, so also bring some food or drink. This is a very family friendly event.

Here are the details:

Sunday, May 15th, starting around 5pm

Movie starts between 6:30-7pm (it's 20 minutes long)

Traditional New Mexico Potluck!

Please RSVP with a head count so that we can let Kerry and Ara know how many people to expect. Contact us via the "E-Mail Me" link to the right for the address and directions.

Thank you all for your support and we are really looking forward to sharing our film with you!!

Audience Choice Award

The First and Only Lesson was voted the Audience Choice Award for short film! Thank you, Chicago Latino Film Festival and everyone who came to see the movie!

27th Chicago Latino Film Festival

We are thrilled to announce that the The First and Only Lesson will be part of the 2011 Chicago Latino Film Festival! Our film will be screened twice during the festival -

Friday, April 8, 4:30 pm
Landmark Theatres, 2828 N. Clark

Saturday, April 9, 1:30 pm
Instituto Cervantes, 31 W. Ohio


We look forward to seeing you! Allison and I will be in Chicago for the April 8th screening. We are planning an after-party at Havana Gallery... more details are forthcoming.

Sacramento International Film Festival

We are proud to announce that The First and Only Lesson will be part of the 2011 Sacramento International Film Festival! If you happen to be in Sacramento, our film will be showing on Saturday, April 2 at 2:30 at Sacramento State University Hinde Auditorium, 6000 J Street, Sacramento, CA 95819.

"2,500 paintings of one woman"

Please join us on September 25 at Havana Gallery for "2,500 Paintings of one Woman," an evening of film and art. We are showing J. Paul Preseault's documentary about Pablo Perea alongside Pablo's solo exhibition of new paintings.

The opening reception begins at 7pm with a special movie screening at 9pm.

More info at: www.HavanaGallery.com

Post production is complete! We are currently submitting The First and Only Lesson to film festivals for 2011. Thank you once again to our wonderful cast and crew for all your hard work!

The Premiere!

Join us for the premiere screening of The First and Only Lesson at The Chicago Center for the Performing Arts this September!

Date and time to be announced -- please check back soon or contact us for more details. Thank you to our post-production crew, Eddie Torres, Matt Boehm, Alisha Lillion, Elena Rubin, Anita Benson and Isaiah Tweed. Special thanks to Elbio Barilari for composing the original soundtrack for the film.

Pablo Perea Fine Art

There's a new place to see Pablo's latest paintings, Pablo Perea Fine Art!

The First and Only Lesson Premieres This Summer in Chicago!

We are putting the finishing touches on our post-production. Check back soon for the date and location of the Premiere!

The First and Only Lesson, Film Synopsis

A single mother (Charin Alvarez) returns home on Halloween after picking up her 10-year-old daughter (Isa Cassin) from school. She discovers that her daughter was in detention because she’d had a fight with another student during the school Halloween party. Before going to sleep for the night, a confrontation ensues between the mother and daughter. The mother discovers that her daughter is very upset and hurt because her lifelong obsession about flying has been discovered by her classmates, who are making fun of her for it.

The daughter also blames her mother for not fulfilling a promise to teach her the secret technique to fly like a bird. The mother promises to teach her daughter to fly that very night, under the condition that she doesn’t get into any more fights at school.

During the whole night, she begins a long training session that at times looks like a fantasy or a game, and at times looks more like a catharsis of the feelings and trauma of these two people.

By the end of the night, a few moments before sunrise, they have said everything they needed to say. Both have cried and laughed together. They have brought their relationship to a new level and the secret flying technique has been passed from the mother to her daughter. The only thing left to do is fly.

THE WRAP 4:16 a.m. August 14, 2009

The Last Shot

DAY NINE, Total Exhaustion!

DAY SEVEN, the Finale

DAY SIX - St. Benedict's School & the Car Scene