Breakout actor Mike Infante (Freaky Tales) has officially signed on for his first major leading role in the upcoming independent romantic drama short Under the Rug, The San Francisco Tribune has learned. Rising actress Aspen Janae is set to star opposite him.
Directed by emerging filmmaker Alyssa Jules Lozano and produced by Michael Stephenson, the film marks a pivotal career milestone for Infante. He will portray Aidan Cervantes, a young cobbler living with cerebral palsy. The high concept romantic plot follows Aidan as he battles a growing, physical manifestation of his own deep seated shame, which takes the form of a strange lump beneath an old rug in his home. His world changes when he strikes up an electric human connection with Mia Brown, played by Janae, an empathetic and sunshine incarnate local mail carrier. Mia’s warmth finally forces Aidan to face the deep vulnerabilities and self doubt he has spent a lifetime avoiding.
The project positions Infante as a deeply compelling, modern romantic heartthrob. Lozano’s script relies heavily on the raw, magnetic chemistry between Infante and Janae to drive the film’s emotional heartbeat, balancing intense leading man vulnerability with a powerful physical presence to redefine what a classic cinematic romance looks like.
For Infante, a Sacramento State alumnus and competitive wheelchair bodybuilder, the role represents a major artistic milestone. Having already broken industry stigmas in the Ryan Fleck and Anna Boden directed anthology Freaky Tales, Under the Rug allows him to steer a narrative that handles disability with nuance, dignity, and intense passion. Instead of framing disability as a tragedy, the film uses its magical realism premise to explore universal themes of love, intimacy, and self acceptance.
Filming for Under the Rug is slated to begin in Northern California this summer.
