NJ Poet Produces Smoke & Mirrors"

Raul Maldonado - poet, writer, and motivational speaker expands repertoire to film independent movie, "Smoke & Mirrors" currently shooting in Yonkers, NY

Yonkers, NY (PRWEB) September 12, 2004 -- Recent record-breaking successes of indies Fahrenheit 911, runaway hit Garden State, and Spy Kids movies have put stars in the eyes of Raul Maldonado, Wayne, NJ resident and NY native. Maldonado has commenced film production of his screenplay, SMOKE & MIRRORS", a story of a decent man driven to violence by a hostile environment, a family living with the pain of a drug addicted father, and a young boy struggling against temptation of the fast life of the street in the urban landscape of Yonkers, NY.

With a crew and cast of over 20 including Fabian Stone playing Mirrors as the male lead and Jennifer Pinto portraying Smoke, the female lead, Smoke & Mirrors" is vaguely reminiscent of Rauls experiences during his darkest days of drug addiction. All of my life experiences, the obstacles Ive overcome, and even living with my disability have prepared me and led up to the realization of this dream", says Maldonado.

Maldonado is a man who does not know the meaning of the word CANT. The first impression one gets when first meeting this scruffy bearded, curly haired cherub of a man is anything but the inspired, determined, man-on-a-mission that he really is. By all accounts Maldonado should not have lived to accomplish all he has done and pursue his filmmaking dreams.

Having survived a serious, near fatal accident by a drunk driver years ago that left him disabled, conquered a ten year drug addiction, undergone over 15 surgeries, he now is dealing with diabetes. Yet in spite of such adversity Maldonado would not despair and has accomplished more since 2001 than most of us would in a lifetime.

He has published several books including THIS AINT NO POCKET DIARY (2001)-a journal of his drug addiction years; THE BOOK OF HOPE; and most recently, THE COMPANY WE KEEP (2003), an anthology of poetry, including submitted works by poets Dr. Jimmy Santiago Baca, and Maria Maziotti Gillan.

Maldonado has performed time and time again in the famed NUYORICAN POETS CAFÉ in NYC, produced a CD, a video entitled URBAN TROUBADORS, among other projects. He has succeeded in the motivational speaking circuit to countless students at colleges and universities, and even makes time in his busy schedule to volunteer for Literacy Volunteers of America.

When asked whats next on the horizon, Maldonado states, "I really want to continue public speaking-motivate people to pursue their dreams. Hey, if I can reach my goals, even with a disability, imagine what others can accomplish if they only tap into their potential. I also want to continue filmmaking and have already started another film project. God has kept me around for a reason, and Im gonna keep on goin until he brings me home."

Smoke & Mirrors" will end shooting at the end of September. Call 973.818.9965 to have him speak your organization or school. For more on the movie, log onto www.poetwarriors.org

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