Production was recently completed on Model Minority, an indie film written, directed, and produced by long-time ER actress Lily Mariye.
The film’s leading role is played by Nichole Bloom, whom readers of this blog will recognize as Nichole O’Connor, the cute girl with the goofy laugh from that State Farm commercial with Bob Barker. This dramatic starring role is quite a departure from her character in that ad.
Model Minority, a film based on true events (names and places have been changed), tells the story of Kayla Tanaka, a 16-year-old girl who is half-Japanese, half-white, and all-American. She and her sister, 14-year-old Amberlyn, live with their parents Ken (Japanese-American) and Angie (white) in a low-income section of Los Angeles. Kayla aspires to be an artist, but she puts her future in doubt when she becomes involved with a drug dealer.
The film, which also stars Courtney Mun, Chris Tashima, and Jessica Tuck, is scheduled for release in July 2012.
For more information, check out the following links:
Model Minority official website
Model Minority Facebook page
Model Minority IMDb page
Lily Mariye official website
Nichole Bloom O’Connor official website
Nichole O’Connor
