fun and frolic in the sun... nights of bacchanal. 
"A Pagan affair"
THEATRICAL RELEASE
LOS ANGELES: LAEMMLE SUNSET 5 - MEET STAR MATTHEW LEITCH IN PERSON AT 11:55 PM SHOWS FRI, JUNE 26 & SAT, JUNE 27 @ LAEMMLE SUNSET 5
MIAMI/FT. LAUDERDALE: GATEWAY CINEMAS - STARTS FRI, JUNE 26 9:50 PM DAILY
SABOR TROPICAL (Tropical Flavor)
CLICK TO DOWNLOAD PRESS PHOTOS
writer/director/producer: Jorge Ameer
LOGLINE: Mattew Leitch, star of the award winning film AKA, headlines this carnival romp as Brian, a foreign journalist, who travels to Panama on vacation during one of Latin America's premiere festival celebrations- the carnival of Las Tablas- only to find himself in a relationship of desperation and violence.
THE STORY - CARNIVAL OF LAS TABLAS
Carnival of “Las Tablas” is in the Province of Los Santos, two hundred and eighty two kilometers and three and 
a half hours away from Panama City is recognized as the best carnival in this country. It takes place during February, about 40 days before Good Friday. Carnivals traditions and rituals date back to the days of the Roman bacchanals where mythology and rituals were practiced. The carnvial of Las Tablas is at least two hundred and fifty years old. This pagan event rooted in folklore can be traced back to pre-Christian and pre-Islamic origins. This year Calle Abajo (downtown Las Tablas) is celebrating their 50th queen anniversary marking 2009 a special year that will ultimately gather past and present royalty as they celebrate heritage, their reign of the downtown kingdom and breed new blood into this pagan affair. The origins of carnival date back to the worshiping of the gods. These gods as they knew them represented our vital existance representing are the gods of the earth, water (such as Jimaja in Brazilian culture, Hydros in Greek, Osiris in Egypt), sky (Zeus in Greek, Shu in Egypt) and the sun (also referred to as Helios or Apollo in Greek Culture and Ra in ancient Egypt). These gods were feared and glorified in ancient cultures. It is from these ritualistic practices that the resurgence of carnival evolved into what it is today. There are many religious undertones to this yearly event specially of the glorification of the god "Momo" (said "El Dios Momo" in Spanish). The god "Momo" represents the freedom of the spirit, the decadence that come with the pleasures of the flesh and the unification of the people for the worshiping of this bacchanal god.
On friday before Ash Wednesday everything begins with the selection of the carnival queen and her attendants. Queens are selected from both Uptown and downtown “Las Tablas”. Their reign lasts from their coronation ceremony until the successor is crowned the following year. It's a true spectacle of beauty and extravaganza. The queens work very hard all year round to raise funds for the expenditures of their glamorous costumes and and exhorbitant floats and thrones. Their respective towns become their kingdoms of festive cultural traditions.
For all Panamanians, Carnival is the most awaited annual event, their popularity is comparable in Latin America with the famous Brazilian carnival, both in popular participation, fun, as well as in their splendorous costumes and popular folkloric allegories.
The whole country, a multitude of people from all races and social backgrounds, take to the streets for four days and five nights, for the sole purpose of having fun.
Events follow a similar pattern on each of the four days of Carnival (Saturday to Tuesday). In the morning, there are "mojaderas" or water throwing, blue dye and shaving cream fights in the central plaza, and the two "tunas" parade in sexy clothing, dressed for the heat, dancing and singing songs praising their group or ridiculizing the other. The morning events are called the culecos.
Thousands of people are congregated in a small plaza to enjoy the exciting "culecos" wich are mainly popular outdoor dances where participants are sprinkled on constantly with clean water pumped from cistern trucks. There are moments when the event comes to a climax when the queens parade with their beautiful costumes saluting participants while the songs and the traditional typical music of the tunas play along. The luxury and the splendor of the Las Tablas Carnival envelope the nights while the traditional rivalries among the "calle arriba" and "calle abajo" tunas, (each routing for their Queen), sing folkloric tunes and dance on top of the impressive and majestic allegorical carts designed for each of the four holidays. They are accompanied by "comparsas" and "tunas" (cheerful groups of musicians and dancers) which delight young and old alike. At nights there are dances in popular public sites and streets that complete a full day of festivities.
People dress in party clothes and the dancing parades include decorated floats. After the parades at night, each tuna goes back to their toldo (their base) and join a large dancing party until early hours of the morning.
The time for rest is rather short since as soon as the sun appears the celebration begins once more. Come and see for yourself, live your own Panamanian carnival experience. The celebration in Las Tablas doesn’t have any limits, you must come prepared to enjoy an endless number of festive activities and dance all night!
THE GOD MOMO (EL DIOS MOMO)
Momo is a direct descendant of the god CAOS (chaos). Caos represented the abyss from where all should rise. His mother was NYX (the God of Night). His Childhood 
was spent with his brothers ERIDE (god of Discord) and APATE (god of trickery), MORO (god of destiny) and TANATO (the god of death). The legend of God Momo recounts that he was chosen to be the judge and to resolve disputes between HEFESTOS (God of Fire) and HADES(God of the hells) and ATENEA (Goddess of the intelligence and war) who individually designed a man, a bull, a house and they professed to have conquered perfection, each with their own invention.
Momo told Hefestos that his man was missing an opening on his left rib to guarantee immediate access to the heart in case of emergencies. Hades, who manufactured the bull was shown the inconvenience of a bull having horns on both sides and not in the middle which would result in improved efficiency during its hunting. He warned Atenea that at home there was something very important missing...mobility. He mentioned that in case a foreign undesirable being approached or if they were to become victims of the plague, there would be no place to go. Momo represents the outlandishness in criticism, the intelligent beratement. Habitually he represents by dressing as arlequin, hiding behind a mask and always accompanied by his manifestations with a cane (with the head of a doll at the end)...a sign of pure madness.
He is barely talked about in mythology legends because his sarcasm was not precisely a literary tool Greek dramalogues and contemporary writers had towards mythology which is usually heroic or historical. Momo has a warped sense of humor and an inventive capacity. He always had the shame of his symbolisms and associations with madness...pure madness.
PRODUCTION NOTES
SABOR TROPICAL, the latest film from filmmaker Jorge Ameer, exposes the tropical delicacies from the chicken of the trees to the joys, folklore and culture of Panamanian living. From the growing, to the preparation and consumption of some exotic foods, tropical flavor takes you on a journey of discovery through your host Brian played by the very talented Matthew Leitch star of the award winning film “AKA” . In his most daring role to date, Matthew shines as he shows his dexterity and long range of acting abilities as well as a zest for this very difficult character who dives into the tropics to document the local festivities of carnival. There, he discovers not only the local culture but also he is placed on a path of self discovery as he is forced to face a new set of adventures that will test his own personal and emotional endurance.
In an unprecedent artistic move, actor and executive producer Matthew Leitch unveils an emotional, physical and sexual part of him never seen on screen as he journeys through an awakening of his character Brian, a foreign journalist covering the local pagan festivities in Panama. In this deeply personal and affecting story, Brian the main character is very charismatic, complex and sometimes disturbingly contradicting. On the inside, his inability to let go of past romantic relationships keeps him stagnant in a way that prevents him from seeking new pleasures in life. Yet his outer image displays such charm and wit that it’s difficult to appreciate who the real Brian is or what he stands for. All of these factors will ultimately collide to produce a very true to life character for Matthew Leitch that will ultimately keep you wondering and strung along his path of self discovery.
MATTHEW LEITCH ON PREPARING FOR THE BRIAN ROLE
I received the script in late December 2008 and proceeded to read it over and over for the next few weeks. I made no judgement. I had no grand ideas about the character. I just absorbed what was on the page over, and over, and over. I find that is the best way to get it into my blood. I didn’t really understand what the piece needed from me until we began working. And then I realized I had to go big. Knock down all the doors or give in, shy away and sleepwalk through the whole thing. Praying for it to end.
I decided to go for it.
Male sexuality can quickly warp into violence and cruelty if it does not find satisfaction. Or, worse still, if it is mocked. I felt that Brian is a victim of both. Unable to find sexual fulfilment until a brief epiphany, and then mocked and betrayed when he discovers he's being used for his money.
Brian is a complex character. There is no middle ground at all. He is upbeat and charismatic, but also internally warped. I found it hard not to judge him. I did not like him. His actions make me despise him. So I had to access parts of myself that I cannot stand. My own ability to commit inexcusable acts.
I still wake up in a cold sweat over some of those scenes. Did I take it too far? You have to understand that I am a family man from a small village in England. It caused me immense distress to make this picture. To access all that bile and insecurity. There is one scene in particular that to this day makes me feel sick. But it is powerful and it is Brian. Perhaps some of the breakdown afterward is more me than him. So to dismiss him as not liking him is too simple. It is more that certain parts of him remind me of parts of me i don't like and want to forget.
Of course I love him too. But he can be violent and awful. I think that is where my anxiety came in. Finding truly awful parts of myself. And i suppose the sexual part. Him breaking down in a certain intense scene... you will know it when you see it for yourself... tapped into all that wierd and shameful catholic guilt about sex i was tortured by in my teens.
I would also like too add that my wife is an angel for doing this movie. And good God does she look fantastic !
HOLLYWOOD INDEPENDENTS & ARIZTICAL ENTERTAINMENT presents an A.J. PRODUCTIONS in association with CONTINUUM PICTURES a JORGE AMEER film “SABOR TROPICAL” starring MATTHEW LEITCH as BRIAN
JORGE AMEER JOSE ROSETE JEAN CARLOS LONDON TORIE TYSON
Executive producers JORGE AMEER MICHAEL SHOEL MATTHEW LEITCH JAMES DUVAL DANNY TORRES producer AUSTIN ANDERSON associate producer RICHARD SCOTT music JASON FRISCHETTI WINSTON JOHNSON (DIONYSOS) carnival music by TONADAS DE CALLE ABAJO with additional songs by LEANDRO CABEZA DE MARTILLO, edited by AUSTIN ANDERSON
CAST
Brian MATTHEW LEITCH
Jorge JORGE AMEER
Jean Carlos JEAN CARLOS LONDON
Manos JOSE ROSETE
Emma KIRSTIE LEICH
Claudia TORIE TYSON
Calle Abajo President RAUL MONTENEGRO
Airline front desk agent LORENA BORGUEZ
Iguana Cleaner LUIS CASTILLERO
Farm food taster/preparer RAMIRO DOMINGUEZ
Las Tablas resident DANIEL MEDINA
Carnival Interview ERIC BRUCE
Carnival Interview CHAY CARTER
Carnival Interview JOSE RODRIGUEZ
Carnival Interview ELENA REINA
Carnival Interview JORGE QUESADA
Carnival Interview ELOY CHACON SANABRIA
Kyuco Interview OLMEDO MENDOZA
Kyuco Owner MARIANELA DE PAZ
Kyuco waitress ZULEYKA JIMENEZ
Driver TELEMACO JESUS ATHANASIADIS
Piamonte Hotel Owner NELSON CEDENO
Piamonte front desk MARIO REYES
Rincon del Faro owner JUAN CARLOS URRIOLA
Analida carnival group REBEKA CHRISTENSEN
Petra carnival group HELENA TLEN
Carson carnival group BRADLEY MILDREN
Alana carnival group PUJA KALARIA
Monica carnival group NICOLE TREIPL
Carla carnival group ANGELA JOBIN
Sandra carnival group SALLI WALKER
Frank carnival group JONAS ZIELKE
Michael carnival group CARSON CLOSE
Yolanda carnival group YAJAIRA ROMAN
Barber shop attendant LUIS CARLOS DELGADO
Alex ERIN LINKLATER
CREW
Executive Producers
JORGE AMEER
MICHAEL SHOEL
MATTHEW LEITCH
JAMES DUVAL
DANNY TORRES
Producer
AUSTIN ANDERSON
Associate Producer
RICHARD SCOTT
Assistant Director/Production Manager
JEAN CARLOS LONDON
Catering
RESTAURANTE RINCON DEL FARO
RESTAURANTE PIAMONTE
Catering host for Piamonte
DALYS SOLIS
NEREIDA MORENO
ERIC VERGARA
Production Locations - Las Tablas
HOTEL PIAMONTE
BARBERIA SANTA LIBRADA
RINCON DEL FARO
PARQUE PORRAS
FINCA EL ESPINAL
Piamonte On site staff
LISET JIMENEZ
YADITH MEDINA
Security
LUIS GUTIERREZ
MARIO REYES
KYUCO On site staff
MARIANELA DE PAZ
ZULEIYKA JANETH JIMENEZ
Las Tablas On Site Collaborators
HOTEL PIAMONTE
NELSON CEDENO
MIRNA DE CEDENO
HERCILIA CEDENO
Permits- Carnival Directive –Calle Abajo
RAUL MONTENEGRO
Consultant
LUCA VARISCO – HOTEL LA LUNA
Transportation (Panama – Las Tablas)
JINILIZ MORAN
TELEMACO JESUS DIAZ
Promotional Considerations
JUAN CARLOS URRIOLA
RESTAURANTE RINCON DEL FARO
HOTEL/RESTAURANTE PIAMONTE
KYUCO – CAUSEWAY
FINCA EL ESPINAL
RAMIRO DOMINGUEZ
Iguana handler - Finca Espinal
LUIS CASTILLO
Production Assitants
DANIEL MEDINA
JOSE RODRIGUEZ
MUSIC
“Solamente los dos”
musical composition by
JASON FRISCHETTI
“The long walk home”
musical composition by
JASON FRISCHETTI
“Robbin Hood”
musical composition by
JASON FRISCHETTI
“All of the same”
musical composition by
JASON FRISCHETTI
“Americana”
musical composition by
JASON FRISCHETTI
SONGS
Quizas perdiendo el tiempo
“Maybe I’m loosing time”
performed by ARTURO CARRASQUERO (LEANDRO)
No devo sentirme asi
“I should not be feeling like this”
performed by ARTURO CARRASQUERO (LEANDRO)
Me sangra el corazon
“My heart is bleeding”
performed by ARTURO CARRASQUERO (LEANDRO)
Me duele decirte
“It hurts me to tell you”
performed by ARTURO CARRASQUERO (LEANDRO)
LEANDRO’S music available at
TONADAS DE CALLE ABAJO
From the 50 th Queen celebration
of the tuna of Calle Abajo
CABEZA DE MARTILLO
POST PRODUCTION
CONTINUUM PICTURES
FILMPLANE ENTERTAINMENT
