Word to the Wise
| Word to the Wise | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Ambrose Montas IV |
| Written by | |
| Produced by | |
| Starring | |
Release dates |
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Running time | 180 minutes |
| Country | Vitosium |
| Language | English |
Word to the Wise is a 2022 Vitosian film directed by Ambrose Montas IV, which details the life of Vitosian music legend, David Wise.
Cast
Alessandro Sashia as Frank Campos
Brendon Mariano as Michael Fonseca
Cody Gama as 14-year-old David Wise
Damon Gero as Mike Couto-Byers
Ethan Monti as Billie Duran
Eric Gabilisco as Connor Moura
Fae Fonnend as Celia Wise, David's Mother
Felix Furtado as Johnny Moniz
Gianpietro Ventimiglia as Dr. Leonard Wise, David's Father
Jamie Freitas-Maksym as Loretta Wise, David's Younger Sister
Jonas Gama as David Wise
Keith Madrid as Lance Rocha
Luca Gabilisco as Young Javier Singleton
Martino Almeida as Wendell Wise, David's Younger Brother
Paige Pearce as Sonia Amorim
Paulino F. Wallace as 4-year-old David Wise
Cameos
- Billie Duran
- David Wise
- DJ Wise
- Javier Singleton
- Johnny Moniz
- Loretta Wise
- Mike Couto-Byers
- Wendell Wise
Synopsis
The year is 1945 in Diarora, Cunzava, Vitosium. Celia Bastos (Fae Fonnend) is singing in a bar when Leonard Wise (Gianpietro Ventimiglia) walks in and sits down next to his childhood friend, Lloyd Melo (Andrew Pascoal). Leonard thanks him for letting him know about Celia singing here. Lloyd jokes that Leonard wouldn't shut up about wanting to see her perform so he had to. Leonard says that he and Celia used to be neighbours growing up so he always had this crush on her but she always seemed out of his league. The show ends and Leonard approaches Celia, who comments that it's been nine years since they've last seen each-other. Leonard says that he doesn't want to live with regrets and doesn't want to pass this opportunity up. He asks if, perhaps, they could catch up. Celia smiles and accepts, saying that, "unlike the rest of these creeps", Leonard always had a good head on his shoulders.
It is two weeks later. Leonard and Celia are at an ice cream parlour. Leonard comments on graduating med school like his dad, which is why he moved to Diarora. Celia talks about pursuing singing after moving away from her parents. The two discuss how bad Celia's parents are with Celia commenting that she refuses to talk to them again. What's worse, according to her, is them trying to take advantage of her now that she is a well known singer in Diarora. Leonard promises to make sure they don't come anywhere near her or her success. Celia thanks him for the gesture.
It is now ten years later in 1955. Celia watches as four year old David (Paulino F. Wallace) and his two year old twin siblings, Loretta (Isis Barbosa) and Wendell (Beckett Stone) run around playing tag with a couple other neighbourhood kids (Abilio Moura and Corbin Pinto). There is a knock on the door. As Celia opens the door, Lloyd Melo and Avery Alcantara (Francisco Wallace Jr.) enter and congratulate them on moving to a new house. David, Loretta and Wendell come in and beg their mom for food which Celia begins to make. Leonard, Lloyd and Avery head to the living room where Leonard begins to play his guitar. Everybody sans Celia gathers around and listens to his song, which he wrote about his wife, Celia.
It is now 1965. David (Cody Gama), who is now 14, is listening to The Alvims, one of his favourite bands, while studying. Celia and Leonard enter his room and start a conversation with him about what he wants to do in the future. Leonard suggests being a surgeon like him while Celia agrees. David says that he isn't sure right now and comments that he wants to do music like The Alvims and The Montenegro Brothers. Leonard isn't sure if David could be successful but says that he can support a hobby and goes to fetch his guitar. He tells David that he'll teach him how to play as long as he considers going to med school. David agrees and Leonard teaches him his first note. Celia goes to get the two some snacks and some drinks. That night, Celia tells Leonard that, if David wants to pursue music, maybe he should do that. After all, she was a successful singer. Leonard isn't sure and says that David may have some really bad luck and doesn't want him to end up homeless. Celia understands and tells him that, if he wants to pursue music instead of med school, they should support him. The next day, Leonard sits down with David and tells him that, while they have an agreement that he'll teach him guitar in exchange for considering med school, he'll only support David pursuing music if he has a plan. If not, it's off to med school he goes. David agrees and thanks him for changing his mind a bit.
It is now 1969. 18-year-old David (Jonas Gama) sits down in class when Javier Singleton (Luca Gabilisco) sits down next to him. Javier notices David's backpack which has The Alvims on it and comments on it, sparking a conversation between the two. After class, the two eat lunch together as Javier talks about his parents being musicians but nothing famous. David is interested and Javier mentions that they were both accountants and then decided four years ago to start a duet. David says that his mom is Celia Bastos, which Javier recognizes and fanboys over. That night, Javier joins David at his house, trying not to fanboy over seeing the Celia Bastos. In David's room, the two discuss their favourite bands with Javier saying that he wants to be a musician. David gets excited and exclaims the same thing.
There is a small montage of David and Javier practicing the guitar and keyboard, respectively. Javier is then shown practicing singing. After the montage, David and Javier are shown graduating high school. Leonard Wise approaches them afterwards and tells David that the plan he presented to him was a rock band but, if he wants to accomplish that, he needs more members. He'll give him a few months and, if he isn't in any sort of band by then, he needs to start applying to universities. David understands. At Javier's house, the Singletons make an extravagant meal and are excited about David and Javier's venture into the world of music. The two of them tell Javier's parents (Gabriela Salgado and Osvaldo Teixeira) that they need more members in their band. Javier's parents, Leonardo and Suzana, offer to join their band but they have to make it more slow and their lyrics needs to be more about the world. They can't be in a band that plays too hard and doesn't have a good message for the next generation. When David and Javier say that they will think about it, Leonardo gets a little irritated and asks them if they don't think they (Leo and Suzana) are good enough for their band. Suzana tells Javier that they need to be more grateful towards their offer and excuses them from the table, saying that they had eaten enough.
The next day, the two of them are at David's house. David says that, maybe, they can hold auditions in his garage with Javier liking the idea. In the garage, Leonard approaches them and asks what they are doing. When told about the audition idea, Leonard is unsure. Celia comes out and encourages Leonard to let them have the garage as their band space for now with Leonard changing his mind. He tells David and Javier that he can clean up the old shed out back and do a couple renovations on it as long as they have more members to join them. Until then, they can use the garage. David and Javier are both super excited and start to print out flyers asking for people to audition for the band. There is a small montage of auditions but everybody is very mediocre and one tries and fails to smoke marijuana in the garage before being kicked out. David and Javier are now laying down on David's bed. They both discuss it being a month since graduation with David really feeling the pressure. David's sixteen year old twin siblings, Loretta (Jamie Freitas-Maksym) and Wendell (Martino Almeida), enter. The two of them suggest going along with Dad's plans until they can get into a band. Plus, if they get diplomas and the band doesn't work, it is something to fall back on.
It is sixteen months later: February 1971. David is attending Aviron University for Business Administration while Javier is attending the same school but for medicine. David and Javier are hanging out with their new university friends, Aldo Moura (Hermínio Carreira), Gene Alvares (Heitor Tavares) and Toby Thomas (Arturo Morrison). They are discussing the Beggars and Thieves album from Animal Faces that came out late last year. The discussion turns towards the movie, Psychopath, which is set to release soon. Gene teases Toby about being easily scared. Toby's girlfriend, Sonia Amorim (Paige Pearce), comes by and sits down, telling them that she overheard them discussing the movie and says that she is excited to see it too. Toby scoffs at her and says that a movie like that isn't for her.