"Roots & Wings" was completed in 2002 and competed in the 2002 Final Cut film festival at BYU. It won the awards for Best Actor (for lead actor German Contreras, who plays the father), Best Screenplay, and Audience Choice Award (Best Film). "Roots & Wings" has also received a Gold Aurora Award (2002) for Best Foreign Language Film and was the Winner of the Performing Art Showcase Award of the Golden Key International Honour Society.
LDSFilm.com comments: Look for Christian Vuissa's absolutely stunning short film "Roots and Wings," which is supposed to go on sale in LDS bookstores in August. I HAVE seen "Roots & Wings", and it is amazing. The extremely realistic and beautifully shot story of a Mexican Catholic immigrant who finds his wife and children becoming distant as they assimilate American ways and Latter-day Saint faith, "Roots and Wings" is the work of a filmmaker who is obviously destined for great things. Every shot is thoughtfully and meaningfully framed. The acting is so natural and the emotions so raw that the film often seems like a beautifully shot documentary. Vuissa serves up no easy answers or platitudes, he simply serves up a glimpse into a fascinating and though-provoking story. At only about 25 minutes long, "Roots and Wings" is more of a film than most anything you'll find in the multiplex this summer.
Maria Carr
Ivan Hernandez
Missy Carr
Mosiah Gonzalez
Carlos Tirado
Production Designer
David Graham
Costume Designer
Brittney Rodee
Director of Photography
Brandon Christensen
Edited by
Ludwig Einklang
Orchestral Music by
Dominic Moore
Colin Moore
Story by
Christian Vuissa
Screenplay by
Agustina Perez
Produced by
Agustina Perez
Christian Vuissa
Directed by
Christian Vuissa
| Executive Producer | Stan Ferguson |
| Unit Production Manager | Julie VanDenBerghe |
| First Assistant Director | Jason Conforto |
| Second Assistant Director | Tawnya Cazier |
CAST
| Ruben | Gérman Contreras |
| Antonia | Maria Carr |
| Fifomeno | Ivan Hernandez |
| Elena | Missy Carr |
| Pedro | Mosiah Gonzalez |
| Salvador | Carlos Tirado |
(in order of appearance)
| Catholic Priest | Owen Wheeler |
| First Communion Children | Johana Hernandez Jason Carr Catalina Bella Skyler Carr |
| Mariachia Players | Mario Escobar Arturo Gonzalez Manuel Bueno Marcel Bowman Kelly Arvizu Lara Pastor |
| Women in kitchen | Ana Lyla Thomas Nora Zelaya Julia Ramirez Melba Becerril |
| Soccer Players | Alfonso Velasco Manuel Mendoza Hector Garcia Gilberto Huerta |
| Missionary #1 | Jenner Brown |
| Missionary #2 | Christian Rodeo |
| Visiting Teachers | Margaret Rodeo Michelle Hyde |
| Missionary #3 | David Payne |
| Missionary #4 | Sean Nobmann |
| Qincinera Godparents | Aldo Sanchez Monica Sanchez |
Martha Barrera
Joe Broderick
Jamison Conforto
Kerilyn Conforto
Natalie Conforto
Denise Cope
Todd Cope
Linda Coray
Lynn Coray
Rocio Crespo
Omar Culin
Olivia Dayton
Jason Edwards
Mindy Edwards
Guadalupe Flores
Jareli Flores
Carla Hernandez
Maria Hernandez
Olga Hernandez
Carol Huntington
Kirt Huntington
Kent Jex
Marry Jex
Darrell Nield
Denae Paspuel
Dolores Paspuel
Enrique Paspuel
LeEarl Peck
Yeisha Rangel
Guadalupe Valdez
Carlos Valdez
Luis Valdez
Nancy Valdez
| Sound Design | Rick McFarland |
| Set Decorators | Ryan Arvay Noelani Sanchez |
| First Assistant Camera | Jarom Ellsworth Travis Cline |
| Second Assistant Camera | Christy Mustard Colby Drewery Charlie Bird Ty Arnold |
| Still Photographer | Milma Kemppainen Kari Jorgensen |
| Documentarian | Susan Teh |
| Script Supervisors | Randy Astle Marta Becerril |
| Dialogue Supervisor | Omar Culin |
| Chief Lighting Technician | Marty Patch |
| Key Grip | Chizoma Olumba |
| Grips | Chris Kendrick Jason Hatfield Mike Evans |
| Special Effects | Jason Faller Clark Edmunds John Rim Kelly Peterson |
| Digital Transfer Engineer | Dave Nauta |
| Avid Editor | Tom Judd |
| On-Line Editor | Rob Morton |
| Credits | Tom Judd |
| Subtitles | Rob Morton Jerry Stayner |
| Production Sound Mixers | Mark Noakes Clark Edmunds |
| Boom Operator | Kelly Arvizu |
| Music Scoring Mixer | Rick McFarland |
| Music Recorded at | LDS Motion Picture Studio |
| Make-Up Artists/Hairstylists | Anna K. Brown McKinley Brown Spencer Barnes |
| Casting Associate | Alisa Angelsey [Alisa Anglesey] |
| Production Assistants | David Payne Taylor Hellwell Kynan Griffan Erin Bennett Taylor Cline |
| Craft Service | Kirsten Vuissa |
Son del Jabali
Performed by Mariachi America
Marcha de Zacatocas
Performed by Mariachi America
Les Charrerias
Performed by Mariachi America
Popuri Mexican
Performed by Mariachi America
Avo Maria
Performed by Ryan Murphy
Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow
Performed by Ryan Murphy
Come, Come Ye Saints
Performed by BYU 82nd Ward Choir
Grosser Gott, Wir Loben Dich
Performed by Ryan Murphy
Original Score Arranged/Performed by
Guitars: Dominic Moore
Colin Moore
Cello: Angelyn Richards
Trumpet: Dale Richards
The events and characters depicted in this motion
picture are fictitious. Any similarity to actual persons,
living or dead, is purely coincidental.
This film is protected under the laws of the United
States and other countries. Unauthorized duplication,
distribution, or exhibition may result in civil liability and
criminal prosecution.
Dedicated to our parents:
Ruben & Maria Antonia Pérez
Hermann & Elisabeth Vuisa
WingSpan Pictures Copyrighted © 2002