Marcello is also the Artistic Producer of macIDeas, a hip and happening Toronto production company reputably known for developing projects in theatre, film and television, including such noted accomplishments as the hit plays “This Is Our Youth” and “Matt & Ben” and the Genie-nominated short film “Choke”.

Cabezas, who shares a birthdate with Bono, spent years honing his acting craft in New York City graduating from the Neighborhood Playhouse School.  He studied writing at the Ensemble Studio Theatre’s Professional Writing Internship where he wrote “Nowhere To Turn” and worked as a casting assistant for HBO’s “Sex and the City”.  He won the Overall Excellence Award at the 2000 New York International Fringe Festival for “WC” and he’s starred in numerous independent award-winning shorts, features and a couple television pilots.

I met Marcello in 2002 through my former boss.  At that time he didn’t have another client who generated as much email as Cabezas and I wondered “who is this guy?”  Then I saw his performance as Warren Straub in Kenneth Lonergan’s “This Is Our Youth”, directed by Woody Harrelson, co-starring Fabrizio Filippo and Marya Delver and staged at the Berkeley Theatre in the fall of 2003.  He blew me away!  He’s completely unselfconscious on stage; his energy is electric and comic timing excellent.  In fact, this raw food enthusiast brings a raw intensity to everything he does.  Marcello secured the rights to this play, convinced Woody Harrelson to direct not once, but twice, and remounted the production starring “Sex and the City’s” Jason Lewis and Katharine Isabelle of “Ginger Snaps” fame in 2004.  I have seldom encountered a young man with the passion, vision and sheer tenacity to fulfill his dreams that Marcello has.  He’s also modest, friendly and willing to help fellow artists whenever he can. 

Marcello is equally comfortable in front of the camera as I witnessed when I watched his one man, riveting portrayal of “Vladeck” for which he won rave reviews for both the stage and television production of Jodi Miller’s play based on the true story of the fatal beating of a teenage boy by his peers.  “Vladeck” aired on Court Television and Book Television in the spring of 2004 and Canadian Learning Television packaged it for mass distribution to schools and youth groups across the country because of its powerful message and relevancy.  “Vladeck” has now been optioned for a film.

Marcello recently appeared in the macIDeas produced, 2005 short “Leo” written by Adam Till, directed by David Hyde, and starring Joe Pingue which generated buzz at this year’s Toronto International Film Festival.  It’s a poignant piece about an unattractive flower delivery man who just wants to improve himself but falls for one of his regular customers, the stunningly beautiful Amelia, and is thrown a life curve he wasn’t expecting.  Marcello’s currently at work helping to construct the feature film length version.  He’s also finished a role in the upcoming comedy film “Homie Spumoni” which should be released next year.

macIDeas is proudly in the process of developing a POV (Presenting Our Vision) Film Camp for 2006 to provide opportunities for underprivileged youth to be exposed to the filmmaking process.  It would be a 3-4 day film camp for 50 kids accompanied by celebrity counselors and a production crew.  Their aim is to structure a storytelling environment for those who might not have access otherwise.  The concept was publicly launched on September 13, 2005 during the week of the TIFF and Woody Harrelson and a list of Who’s Who in Hollywood North attended in support of it.  Participants will be chosen by Work with Trails (www.trails.ca) and Serve Canada (www.servecanada.org).

With all of these projects on the go I would imagine that Marcello isn’t a person who needs a lot of sleep because I don’t know where he finds time for it!  If you’re not familiar with his name now, you are going to be, because as I said before, he’s definitely one to watch!

Check out macIDeas website at www.macideas.com and listen to Star TV’s interview with Marcello at http://www.star-tv.com/vault/media.asp?artist=1089.