CRITICAL THINKING - JOHN LEGUIZAMO INTERVIEW

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John Leguizamo steps behind and infront of the camera for his new inspiring film, Critical Thinking.

Seventeen years after making his directorial debut with the HBO original movie Undefeated, acclaimed Emmy award winning actor John Leguizamo is back behind the camera for his first turn as a feature film director with Critical Thinking – the true-life story of how a group of Black and Latino high schoolers in the late 1990s had their lives transformed by competitive chess.

In the film, Leguizamo plays Mario Martinez, a high school teacher who supports and nurtures his students who dream of becoming chess champions. Martinez never gave up hope on his students and believed that they were worthy of investment and praise especially when pretty much everyone around them had failed them in one way or another.

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Set in 1998, the film chronicles the tragedy and triumphs of the members of the Miami Jackson High School chess team — Sedrick Roundtree (Corwin C. Tuggles), Ito Paniagua (Jorge Leneborg Jr.), Rodelay Medina (Angel Bismark Curiel), Gil Luna (Will Hochman) and Marcel Martinez (Jeffry Batista) — as they defy the odds in their bid to become first inner-city chess team to ever win the U.S. National Chess Championship.

For more than thirty years in the business, Leguizamo has brought so many memorable characters to life to life whether on the the big, small screen and on the live stage. His unique blend of comedy and drama has entertained us all at the most unexpected times. Leguizamo says his priorities have shifted over the last few years learning he could help affect more change in Hollywood ( or as he calls it, Holly-wouldn’t) by using his power and influence to showcase the talents of Black and brown actors in Hollywood with projects like Critical Thinking.

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Critical Thinking was to have had its world premiere at South by Southwest in March 2020. However, the festival was cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic. It is now available on Video on Demand and is a must see!

I spoke with John about working on this film, the teachers and directors who have inspired him and why this movie is being released at a critical time .