Frances Xavier Cabrini: The People's Saint
CAST
Miriam Giudice as Mother Cabrini as a Young Woman
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Miriam Giudice (Milan, Italy) is a film/theater actress, singer and classical/contemporary dancer with a specialization in ancient Greek dramatic literature. She performs in numerous theater, dance and opera productions, and summer festivals, across Italy: Milan, Verona, Pavia, Torino, Treviso and more. Her recent film credits include: Un amore cosi' grande, Stanza 309, Bob Dylan, Zoufree, Dal diario di una signora di New York and Fuori Fuoco. Miriam has a special connection to Mother Cabrini as a graduate of Milan's Istituto Madre Cabrini.
Massimo Brusadin as the Priest
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Massimo Brusadin (Milan, Italy) describes himself as "by chance a man; an actor by choice." He was born in 1971 in Pordenone, in Italy's Friuli-Venezia Giulia region, and re-born as an actor in 1996. Since childhood, he has been interested in delving into dramatic literature and intrigued by the magic of being able to go from dramatic to comedic roles; rediscovering the strength of characters from other time periods; and reinterpreting them to make them relevant today. Since living in Milan, Massimo has worked as a model and performed in theater, TV sitcoms, short films, and feature films. He adds, "When art becomes a tool for creating something worthwhile, I take every opportunity to do it." Massimo appeared in Lucia Mauro's film, One Year Later, and in her TV pilot, The Cooking American.
Antonio Di Robertis as Pope Leo XIII
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Antonio De Robertis (Milan, Italy) was born in Milan to parents originally from Italy's Puglia region. While still in his teens, he started to work in engineering/architecture and, through night school courses, he obtained his diploma as a surveyor. Antonio enjoyed a long career in the construction field before embarking on his passion for the life and work of the artist Vincent Van Gogh. He is a much-respected scholar and researcher, and his work on Van Gogh can be found at http://www.vangoghiamo.altervista.org. Since retiring in 2011, Antonio has pursued a prolific career as a film, TV and theater actor. He appeared in Lucia Mauro's film, One Year Later.
Barbara Landis as Mother Cabrini Before Entering Eternity
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Barbara Landis (Chicago, Ill.) is a mezzo-soprano who has sung internationally throughout Italy, England, Scotland, Israel, the Dominican Republic, and the United States. Barbara received critical praise for her portrayal of the title role in Gian Carlo Menotti’s opera, The Medium, with Chamber Opera Chicago, a role she also performed for the composer at the Spoleto Festival in Italy. She returned to Italy to sing in recitals at the festivals of both Spoleto and Modena. She can also be heard on Cedelle Records’ The Medium starring Joyce Castle with Chicago Opera Theater. Barbara has performed the roles of Jane Austen and Anne Elliot in her own musical adaptation of Jane Austen’s Persuasion, which has toured to England, Scotland, New York City, and the Chicago area. She sang the title role in Britten’s The Rape of Lucretia in England, broadcast by the BBC.
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Introducing
Martina Refano (Milan, Italy) in the role of Mother Cabrini as a Child.
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Il Grande Coro di Roma
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Il Grande Coro di Roma (Rome, Italy), founded and conducted by Maestro Fabrizio Adriano Neri, performs an original hymn to Mother Cabrini composed by Enzo De Rosa. One of Italy's most renowned choirs, it is composed of Choirs from famed national and international institutions, including RAI, UNFAO and TIM. Its volunteer members are dedicated to humanitarian and social justice issues, including concerts on behalf of the United Nations, Red Cross, Doctors Without Borders and more. It boasts high-calibre soloists, such as American mezzo-soprano Amalia Dustin and piano accompanist Maestro Andrea Calvani. Il Grande Coro di Roma has performed at Rome's Auditorium Parco della Musica, Santa Cecilia Conservatory, Sapienza University, LUISS Guido Carli University and more, and is regularly featured on Italian TV and radio.
Andrea Labate -- Director of Photography
Andrea Labate (Milan, Italy), struck by the power of images from a very young age, began working as an assistant photographer at 16. He moved to London to complete his university studies at the London College of Communication, working at the same time in Italy as a photographer. An avid world traveler and culture lover, he has filmed in four continents and completed a documentary in Ethiopia, commissioned by ActionAid. He won the Prix Italia with A day at EXPO, a short film he directed. His short film, These things take time, was awarded Best Food Short Film at the Locarno Film Festival, and Desèrt received special mention at the Lake Como Film Festival. Currently based in Milan, Andrea of Aleph Films is attending the Centro Sperimentale di Cinematografia and working as a freelance director and DP, developing his specific taste for advertising and documentary filmmaking, but always keeping an eye open for narrative. He collaborated with Lucia Mauro on her film, One Year Later, and TV pilot, The Cooking American.
Enzo De Rosa -- Composer
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Italian virtuoso concert pianist and composer Enzo De Rosa collaborated with Lucia Mauro on her award-winning short film, In My Brother's Shoes, and feature One Year Later, which was nominated for Best Original Score at Montreal's 2016 Visions of the World Film & Music Festival. He is originally from Naples, Italy, and currently lives in Montreal, Quebec, Canada with his wife, accomplished soprano Isabelle Metwalli, and their young son Leonardo. Enzo has studied piano, organ, harpsichord, classical and modern composition, and film composition. He has been the first prize recipient of national and international music competitions as a pianist and chamber musician, and has performed around the world as a soloist with chamber ensembles and vocalists. Enzo has published a CD of film music for RAI Italian Television & Radio and five CDs of original compositions for piano and various instruments.
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Italy Unit
Giulio Origlia, Assistant Director
Federico Masetti, Location Sound
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Chicago Unit -- Flightless Bird Creative
Kevin Conway, Assistant Director
Brendan McClorey, Location Sound
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PRODUCER
Joe Orlandino - Executive Producer
Joe Orlandino is the founder/principal of Atlas Media, a Chicago-based media production company, and In My Brother's Shoes, Inc., a not-for-profit 501 (c)(3) corporation. He started his career in 1974 producing and starring in pre-MTV music videos. His progressive live action/animated music video, Video Child, received awards at the 1981 Chicago International Film Festival and 1982 Athens International Film/Video Festival. He has worked extensively in corporate sales, marketing, advertising, and promotions. Clients have included Comcast, Motorola, Illinois Shotokan Karate Clubs, Silicon Valley’s Grand Hotel and Cupertino Inn. Joe is the EP of Lucia Mauro’s films In My Brother’s Shoes and One Year Later, as well as the TV pilot, The Cooking American. In addition, he is the EP of the timely issues film, Raine-Beau’s End (based on his original story); the in-development drama, Anita & Margaret; the indie comedy, Ascots; the TV mini-series pilot, The Vanquished; and Fair Winds & Down Drafts, a YouTube sailing series with host Will Clinger and guest Tim Kazurinsky.
Bob Szymkowski - Project Liaison
Bob Szymkowski is a member of the Centenary Planning Committee and a volunteer for the National Shrine of St. Frances Xavier Cabrini in Chicago. He worked for 27 years as a professional baseball scout for the Cincinnati Reds, Los Angeles Dodgers, Philadelphia Phillies and, until 2013, the Baltimore Orioles. He has signed six major leaguers; Bill Risley (14th round-1987), Dan Wislon (1st round-1990), Buddy Carlyle (2nd round-1996), Steve Parris (as a free agent-1998), Victor Diaz (37th round-2000) and 2016 Toronto Blue Jays twenty-game-winner JA Happ (3rd round-2004). Bob is a past secretary and president of the Chicago Pitch and Hit Club and is the only two-time recipient (2012 and 1992) of the Tom Hull, Scout of the Year Award presented by the Illinois High School Baseball Coaches Association. He holds a Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree in Environmental Biology from Eastern Illinois University and helped manage Gulf Coast Laboratories prior to his baseball years.