Be Here Now: The Andy Whitfield Story

An inspiring love story about television superstar Andy Whitfield of “Spartacus” fame and his charismatic wife Vashti, who together take on the most heroic role he’s ever had to play. With matching 'Be Here Now' tattoos on their forearms, they go on a quest to heal Andy from a cancer diagnosis – by embracing life, rather than fear. They bravely allowed Academy® Award-nominated filmmaker Lilibet Foster to follow their dramatic and intimate roller coaster in the hope that by sharing their journey they may help inspire others with challenges and dreams. And, it’s their determination, courage, healthy dose of humor and love, that shows us that the journey is more important than the destination. Funded by the third most successful documentary campaign on Kickstarter, the filmmakers, producer Sam Maydew, who brought everyone together, and director Lilibet Foster, are releasing the film through Be Here Now Productions, beginning this Spring.

As though life is imitating art, actor and sex symbol, Andy Whitfield, had just achieved his dream of becoming a star as the tragic-hero of the hit series, “Spartacus: Blood and Sand” when he is faced with his biggest personal challenge. Before now, Andy and his charismatic wife, Vashti, combined their will-power to make their dreams become reality, including Andy’s transformation from an engineer into a successful actor. Now, they set their sights on beating cancer, by making a promise confirmed in matching ‘Be Here Now’ tattoos, to embrace life rather than live in fear.

They allowed filmmaker, Lilibet Foster, to follow them throughout their dramatic and life-affirming journey, in this love story that unfolds over their quest to find a cure, in the hopes that by sharing it, they might help inspire others faced with challenges and who have goals and dreams. Shot in a verite style in Australia, New Zealand, India and the US, it is their powerful determination, remarkable openness, irrepresible humor and love that makes the film an intimate and inspiring life-lesson about having the courage to face challenges and take advantage of every day – regardless of the outcome. It also reveals how close, yet so far, we are from finding a cure for this disease, which touches all of our lives.

Ultimately, “Be Here Now” (The Andy Whitfield Story) is a life-affirming love story about aiming for the skies, yet appreciating and embracing what is right before us. This film is for anyone who has ever faced a challenge or had a dream. Their inspiring journey is an example for us all to both manifest our own destiny, yet remember to Be Here Now.

Q & A’s scheduled:

April 15th 7 PM
Presented by Lymphoma Research Foundation
Special Guests: Jai Courtney, Actor
Sam Maydew, Producer

April 16th 7 PM
Special Guest: Sam Maydew, Producer

April 17th, 1:20 PM
Presented by Lights Camera Cure

April 17th, 4:10 PM
Presented by LLS Team in Training
Special Guest, Steve Rivero: Team in Training Mission Captain & Coach

April 17th, 7 PM
Hosted by Ora Nadrich
David Kessler​, ​Benjamin W. Decker, Trudy Goodman, ​​Ronald Alexander, Marcia Cross​, ​​Carrie-Anne Moss, Andrew Keegan​, Megan Monahan, Ele Keats, ​​​Catherine McGoohan, Justin Faerman​​, Felicia Tomasko

April 18th, 7 PM
Presented by weSPARK

April 20, 7 PM
Presented by Mend Family Acupuncture and Silverlake Acupuncture

April 21, 7 PM
Presented by Veda Mela - Special Guest, Dr. Siva Mohan