The LUMPIA Cast/Crew thank and remember JERRICK GUINTO (1978-2010)

Dear LUMPIA Lovers,

Despite all our achievements and new projects, this month has been a
very sad and mournful one for us. One of our good old friends, and
fellow LUMPIA castmate JERRICK JAMES GUINTO passed away quietly
last Saturday, April 24. He was almost 32 years old. Memorial services
are already underway.


It feels that I've known Jerrick since childhood. In reality, I actually
met him for the first time during the summer of 1996. That was when we
started filming our reunion movie "LUMPIA" with my old neighborhood in
Daly City, CA. In my tribute email to Julius Torres, I mentioned that
those Kid Heroes movies we made in our youth created a following and
inspired other neighbors to join our future productions. Jerrick was
one of them. Though he never took part in "Kid Heroes", Jerrick jumped
at the opportunity to take part in "LUMPIA" when he was recruited by
Brian Lucas (Swift Rock), Edward Baon (Tyrone), and Carlos Baon (Silent
Avenger).



While "LUMPIA" was really an excuse to just hang out with the old gang
again, I noticed almost immediately how different the tone was on set.
While some of the regulars were casually having fun with their roles,
the newer recruits were giving it their all and taking it very seriously.
I loved how Jerrick fearlessly played his role of "BIGGS". Jerrick
transformed what was supposed to be a generic Crew Member or
"Henchmen #4" role into a memorable character. Who else would have the balls
to have a LUMPIA shoved in his mouth and then have his pants pulled down
on camera? For an untrained actor, Jerrick was always open to a lot of
my suggestions and in return, gave me a great performance that I'm
forever in gratitude for.



Yes, most people outside our circle will remember Jerrick as "BIGGS",
but he was a best friend and close brother to a lot of us. When LUMPIA
took a huge hiatus after that 1996 shoot and then resumed shooting in 2002,
Jerrick was one of the cast members to jump onboard and continue his role.
By then, I realized just how much of a friend Jerrick really meant to me.
This was not just a role for him, but it was yet another opportunity for
him to reunite with the old gang. I wasn't his director anymore, but his
neighbor and his close friend. While it's been a few years since I've seen
Jerrick, there will always be this strong connection between us, because of
our LUMPIA experience together. And that bond will be forever immortalized
in my eyes through one favorite memory: Seeing his face light up with a huge
smile on stage immediately following the world premiere of LUMPIA
and surrounded by all of us, "the old gang".

For all that you've given us, THANK YOU Jerrick. We already miss you, brother...




God bless,
Patricio Ginelsa
"indie" Filmmaker
http://www.kidheroes.net/pginelsa
http://www.xylophonefilms.com
http://www.LoveThatLumpia.com

Kid Heroes Productions, P.O. Box 83672, Los Angeles, CA 90083