CAST - AT A GLANCE
Eric Etebari (Cellular; Witchblade; 2 Fast 2 Furious)
Charles Durning (2-time Academy Award/4-time Golden Globe/9-time Emmy winner and nominee)
Costas Mandylor (Saw 6; Saw 5; Beowulf; The Pledge)
Robert Clohessy (Boardwalk Empire; Oz; The Interpreter)
Blanche Baker (Emmy winner; Sixteen Candles)
Thomas G. Waites (And Justice for All; The Thing; Warriors)
Justin Deas (Winner - 6 Emmys)
Jackie Martling (Sirius Radio Personality; formerly - The Howard Stern Show)
Randy Jones (Cowboy - The Village People)
Rachael Robbins (O.B.A.M. Nude; Screaming Dead)
Written & Produced – Kenneth Del Vecchio
Directed by – Jana Mattioli
Casting by Lawyer Nicholas
Co-Producer – Caitlin Kehoe
Director of Photography – Rod Weber
Director of Photography – James Houk
Production Designer – Sarah Schetter
AN AFFIRMATIVE ACT
A slice of life of a young, professional married couple with their darling baby turns a sharp, dark corner when the pair are arrested and charged with several counts of fraud. The reason: Terry and Samantha Succi aren't the man and woman that they purported to be. In truth, they are two women. One, a long haired, pretty school teacher; the other, a boyish-looking architect, who tricked the world surrounding her into thinking she was a man.
Under false pretenses of being a heterosexual couple, they married. Under false pretenses of being a heterosexual couple, they adopted their child. They obtained their benefits and paid their taxes through the same fraudulent pretext of being husband and wife...And they did so because of state law that discriminates against homosexual partners; they were prohibited from receiving the same rights and benefits as their straight counterparts.
The Governor, in an effort to protect his politically necessary anti-gay marriage bill, secretly arranges for a quick slap-on-the wrist plea offer that will ensure both a guilty plea and a fast end to the case. Terry and Samantha, though, decide to fight the fight and enlist the unlikely representation of self-absorbed, but respected powerhouse, heterosexual attorney John DeMine. What ensues is a massive media covered courtroom battle, with equally divided views...and equally plotted acts of legal - and illegal - warfare.
The women have indeed broken the law. The law indeed discriminates against them. With morals, egos and political control at stake, threats turn into physical attacks. A rogue left-wing group assaults the woman prosecuting the case, followed by a violent invasion into Samantha's and Terry's home by a fringe right-wing outfit . With the case closed to the public, the courtroom becomes a stage of safety - and justice. The arcing of John DeMine's character, the will of the beaten prosecutor and the strength of the charged couple, will influence a jury, perhaps of peers, perhaps not. One affirmative act, deciding not only the fate of the women's freedom, but also the governor's bill and one of the most controversial issues facing the United States, will be had in this courtroom. One affirmative act - of justice, or maybe not.
THE FILMMAKERS
Kenneth Del Vecchio has been called a "True Modern-Day Renaissance Man." He is a critically acclaimed filmmaker who has written, produced and directed a dozen feature films that star multiple Academy Award and Emmy winners and nominees. Two of his most recent films are being distributed by Universal’s Vivendi Entertainment and one by Anchor Bay, with several other large distribution deals underway. Del Vecchio is founder and chairman of one of the world’s largest film festivals, Hoboken International Film Festival. He also is the author of some of the nation’s bestselling legal books, including criminal codebooks published by Prentice Hall and New Jersey Law Journal Books/ALM, as well as a published criminal suspense novelist. In addition, he is the owner of The Criminal Law Learning Center, where he has taught thousands of police officers and lawyers…and he is a criminal attorney who has tried over 400 cases.
The movie is being directed by Jana Mattioli, handpicked by Del Vecchio. Mattioli has worked as production designer on several of Del Vecchio's films, has served as the technical director of the Hoboken International Film Festival Gala Awards Ceremony, and has directed a number of plays. She is prominent in the NYC LGBT community, and very passionate about AN AFFIRMATIVE ACT. She is particularly excited about the film because it is not "preachy", which she feels gives it the best shot to change people's hearts. |
