- Cierra Ramirez (L) with Eva Mendes “Girl In Progress” movie poster – Pantelion Films
- Eva Mendes and Cierra Ramirez introduce their movie to a packed theatre of teens and moms – photo: Todd Williamson
Eva Mendes is lending a considerable blast of star power to promote Girl in Progress, her new indie film whose central mother-daughter drama dovetails with her real-life volunteer work. Towards that ends, she co-hosted a charity screening on Saturday, April 28 for a packed house of young teenagers and their mothers.
Pantelion Films has set Girl in Progress for release May 11, Mother’s Day Weekend. Mendes was joined by her costar Cierra Ramirez at the AMC Universal CityWalk Stadium 19 theatre. They introduced the film and participated in a question-and-answer session afterwards to talk about their personal connection to the subject matter and how audience members related to their characters.
Mendes plays Grace, an overwhelmed single mother whose daughter Ansiedad (Ramirez), feeling neglected, is inspired by the coming-of-age stories taught in her high school English class to skip adolescence and jump right to adulthood. As Grace grows increasingly distracted with work, bills and ill-advised romance, Ansiedad’s planned shortcut to adulthood goes awry.
Girl in Progress was directed by Patricia Riggen (Under the Same Moon, the smash TV movie Lemonade Mouth) from a script by Hiram Martinez. In addition to Mendes and Ramirez, costars include Patricia Arquette, Eugenio Derbez and Matthew Modine.
CLICK HERE for “Girl In Progress” YouTube trailer.
The April 28 charity screening was arranged in partnership with the Step Up Women’s Network. The nonprofit foundation seeks to empower teen girls from under-resourced communities to fulfill their potential, as well as guide and assist professional women through networking and collaborations.
CLICK HERE for Step Up Women’s Network online.