City Reels: Vancouver’s Independent Cinema Guide

MMA Fighter Looking for Film Investors

by Christian Vakenti

“If I don’t believe strongly in myself and everything I do, am I going to achieve my goals?” muses the handsome, beguiling young gentleman across the table from me. “No. I’m going to be a miserable, dark soul. Instead, you have to believe!” he says.

“And that’s what makes this script so great - it teaches people to believe. It teaches people how to get what they really want - by translating the underlying messages of destiny and hope.”

The passionate speaker’s name is Arleo Dordar. An unusual moniker for an equally unusual looking fellow - Dordar’s striking 6’1” frame is offset by a classic jaw line that’s more Humphrey Bogart than metro-sexual. Training and teaching at Sport Kickboxing Academies (www.kickboxing.net), Arleo carries on a tradition of mixed martial arts style in an organization created by his father Grand Master Farhad Dordar, actor and stunt man, and Arleo’s acting coach.

The 24 year old local actor is a familiar face to many Vancouverites after his stint as the leading man in the long-running Tony and Tina’s Wedding as well as several roles on television, such as episode 2 of the award-winning The 4400, opposite Steve Brady (Sex In the City). And look for him in the debut series Shattered, a crime investigation drama.

However it’s his newest project that will likely catapult Arleo into the celebrity spotlight.

“From the Sky will be the first feature length film from Leonic Pictures,” explains Arleo. Leonic Pictures just happens to be Arleo’s newly formed production company. Watch a promotional teaser for the film at www.leonicpictures.com.

“It’s a fast paced thriller shot with stylized violence - think Quentin Tarantino fight scenes - but with an Al Pacino Serpico grittiness that grabs hold of you and draws you in to the desperate struggles of these characters.

“When I read the script I knew immediately it was a goldmine; it’s got that perfect blend you’re looking for as a moviemaker: an engrossing story filled with relatable characters that’s also highly original.”

After listening to some tales of Arleo’s past, I quickly see that his path is somewhat mirrored by that of Robert Mann, the fictional character and lead role in From the Sky - a role that Arleo is itching to play.

“When we meet Robert - he’s a petty thief - he doesn’t believe in anything. He doesn’t have much use for ideas like ‘life energy’ or hope and destiny,” Arleo posits.

“Then he gets caught up with this young girl from the Ukraine. She’s a nice girl - but she wants to emigrate to a better life and ends up falling victim to a sexual slavery ring.”

“Robert’s story arc carries him from disbelief into a grudging respect for the powers at play around him. And finally, his eyes opened, Robert begins to believe. And that’s just the beginning of his journey.”

Like Robert, Arleo didn’t have much time for the power of belief while growing up. “I thought everything was an accident,” he stares over my shoulder, as if remembering a difficult time, “maybe life on Earth itself was just a freak accident, spores crashing into it from outer space or something. Consequently, I didn’t think that we had a purpose in being here.”

“And because of this lack of perception, I had a hard time getting going. Until I started to believe - to see that there’s so much more to it all than that. And that’s when big things started happening in my life. And that’s what I want to share with the audience through this story.”

“There’s so many kids out there - kids that think the way I used to think. And we’ve got to show them that there’s more to it. That’s why we need to make this film!”

Arleo smiles, “And it’s one heck of a good story, too.”

Leonic Pictures is currently securing financing for the feature film From the Sky which is expected to begin production in late 2011.

Arleo says he is now confident in raising finance for more feature films after From the Sky is in the can. He’s also considering investors and production companies for joint venture possibilities.