SYNOPSIS

In this drive-thru documentary enchilada, two friends, filmmakers Johl Smilowski, of Portland (Oregon), and Jordi Ortega, of Barcelona (Spain), embark on a quest to find the secret reasoning behind the political behavior of Americans. Shot on a poor-boy-sandwich budget, the film revisits the last days of the 2004 U.S. presidential election, a bizarre time for a culinary field trip, ain't it? Immersed in the swing state of Nevada, with the city of Las Vegas on Halloween weekend as backdrop, and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan in full throttle, we see the second term of George W. Bush cooking, while the John Kerry souffle dries up in the oven. Was that thing on a separate pan the global crisis heating up? Could the current meltdown have been prevented had things gone differently in '04? In this cheap shrimp cocktail of a film, we shot everything that moved: bunnies from Colorado, a chicken-chef from New York, Texan marines, casino workers, hundreds of volunteers of Driving Votes and America Coming Together (ACT), and actor Sean Penn, among many other colorful characters. 2009 AOF-Action on Film Festival Alan J. Bailey Award "Best Political Commentary." American politics served Vegas buffet style!

PRESS

Johl Smilowski was born and raised in Portland, Oregon, to a local mother of Austrian-Norwegian descend and a Czechoslovakian father.  Mr. Smilowski has studied various curriculums ranging from Journalism to Politics and World History, while performing research at two of the United State's most coveted institutions of higher learning (UCLA & Columbia University).  In 2000, he (along with co-writer Cannon Combs) had a script, "Don't Fence Me In, The Bert Shepherd Story" optioned.  In 2004, he (along with writer/director/producer Jordi Ortega) shot the award winning documentry "American Politics, All You Can Eat".  Mr. Smilowski has had published political opinion pieces, poetry, social commentary and film reviews online and in local and underground papers throughout Oregon & California. Both behind and in front of the camera, Mr. Smilowski has worked in film since 1996. Currently, he is studying all aspects of the wine field in hopes of becoming a Sommelier.  As well, Mr. Smilowski is looking to break into Broadway in a producers capacity.  He resides in the greater New York City area.

Jordi Ortega (Co-writer/Director, Producer) is a native of Barcelona, Spain, and a Los Angeles resident. Formally trained as a TV journalist, Ortega has produced news stories for Reuters TV, Univision, Telemundo, Fuji-TV and Television Española (TVE). Now a Director, Ortega is a past fellow of the USC Annenberg/Getty Arts Journalism Program. A former board member of the Los Angeles Press Club, he holds an Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Emmy in Investigative Journalism. Amy Goodman has called him a "bridge" between cultures. Author Sasha Anawalt says: "He has the knack for documenting truth." Matt Mulcahy (WSTM-TV/NBC): "Ortega has a unique character and shooting style that gives a sense of art and urgency to his stories." TORO BRAVO is Jordi’s creative production company.