Actor Carlos Gomez, actor Jansen Panettiere, actor Ryan Ochoa, actor Clifton Collins Jr., actor Moises Arias, actor Cheech Marin, actor Jake T. Austin and actress Patricia Manterola at the premiere of "The Perfect Game" at The Grove photo: alberto rodriguez/getty
The Grove in LA was the place to be yesterday as The Perfect Game made its debut. Kids from the cast, including Ryan Ochoa, Moises Arias, Jake T. Austin, and Jansen Panettiere enjoyed a pre-event of autograph signings, a pitching cage, and photo ops with their fans. Based on a true story, the film is about a little train that could, a Monterrey, Mexico ragamuffin Little League baseball team in 1957, who defies all odds by beating competitors twice their size to win the Little League World Series that year. All the while, dealing with the prejudices of the day. Like being called “wetbacks” on the diamond and not being able to use the restrooms designated for “white people.” Still, it is an uplifting story lead by Clifton Collins Jr. who plays Cesar, the teams’ coach who needs these kids as much as they need him and Cheech Marin who puts a comedic spin on his character Father Esteban, a priest who incorporates his love of baseball into his worship. Think splashing holy water on the kids’ baseball mitts and taking church donations for the beloved team!
Actress Hayden Panettiere and boxer Wladimir Klitschko arrive at the premiere of "The Perfect Game" at The Grove photo: jason merritt/getty
And so, the obvious question is “Have you ever felt like an underdog?” Witches of Waverly Place star Gregg Sulken told me in his cute British accent, “Always. I played soccer when I was younger and I was a smaller guy. I like being the underdog because there is no pressure on you. And everyone loves an underdog!” Disney’s Anna Maria Perez de Tagle reminisced about the time she & Nick Jonas were on the same team for the Disney Channel Games and they managed to come back from behind to win. She also remarked that Nick was very competitive with his brother Kevin, especially when they would hit the trailers for heated games of Catchphrase in between takes during the filming of Camp Rock. Ryan Ochoa who plays Norberto in the film, revealed that he had been bullied in school, but the best advice he could give kids is to “be confident” because “everyone is going to witness or be bullied sometime in their life.” Finally, the star of the movie-a clean shaven Clifton Collins Jr. said “I constantly feel like an underdog. Sometimes I think I haven’t accomplished enough or I haven’t made a difference. And my friends either laugh at me and hang up or they tell me to go into my office and look at all of the awards & posters on the wall!” He also let me know that he is talking to Slash (one of my faves) about directing a music video for him. After all, he has already directed and starred in one for Grammy nominated artist, Jamey Johnson-“The High Cost of Living.” After the premiere, Cheech Marin, Patricia Manterola and friends gathered at The Grove’s La Piazza, where they had an impromptu cast dinner and enjoyed the Italian chow. Cincin!
IndustryWorks Pictures’ The Perfect Game opens April 16, 2010.
