East of Hope Street

East of Hope Street is a 1998 award-winning film drama directed and produced by Nate Thomas. It was executive produced by Tim Russ (best known for his role as Lieutenant Commander Tuvok on the Star Trek: Voyager television series) who also stars in the film. East of Hope Street had a limited release in theaters beginning on November 5, 1999 by The Cinema Guild. It had a home video street date on September 21, 2004. The gritty, urban, fact-based story is loosely based on director Nate Thomas's 10 years of experience working as a counselor in a group home for pregnant teens in Los Angeles. Russ plays a role autobiographical of Thomas. The film has been called "timely and provocative" by the Los Angeles Daily News, "an emotional and powerful film" by KCOP-TV, "stark and unflinching" by Backstage, and "a testament to the human spirit" by The Austin Chronicle.

Plot
East of Hope Street tells the real-life coming of age story of Alicia Montalvo, a teenage Salvadoran refugee caught up in the labyrinthine Los Angeles child protection system. Alicia struggles to survive the abuses of home, the inner city, and an overburdened social system in a Los Angeles most people never see.

Featured cast

 * Jude Herrera (as Jade Herrera).... Alicia
 * Tim Russ.... Casey
 * Magda Rivera.... Rosa
 * Eve Rivera....Carmen
 * Greer Bohanon.... Tameeka
 * Asanio Lara.... Carlos
 * Roxanne Coyne.... Bianca
 * Fabiana Medici....
 * Ranjani Brow.... Missy
 * Pete Panos.... Luis
 * Susanne McKenrick.... Mrs. Robertson
 * Daniel Chace.... Mr. Robertson
 * Joyce Rae.... Louise Carrington
 * Sebastian Cetina.... Mario
 * Barbara Jones.... Judge Francis Albee
 * Rafael H Robledo....Mr. Valez

Awards and nominations

 * Best Feature Film (New Orleans Urban Film Festival 1998)
 * Best Actor Award (Jude Herrera) (New Orleans Urban Film Festival 1998)
 * Best Urban Drama (New York International Independent Film Festival 1998)
 * 1st Place Cross Cultural (Black Filmmakers Hall of Fame Festival 1998)
 * Jury Award (Hollywood Black Film Festival 1999)
 * Best Feature Film nomination (Imagen Foundation 2000)
 * Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Film (Jude Herrera) (FAITA Awards 2000)