PALEY CENTER FOR MEDIA, THE: EL CHAPO: EXCLUSIVE LOOK INSIDE SEASON 2 WITH THE STARS {LONG VERSION}
Summary
One in a series of evenings and special screenings presented at The Paley Center for Media in New York. This evening celebrates "El Chapo," the dramatic historical series about the chaotic life of famed Mexican drug lord Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán.
After a screening of the second season premiere (see ACCNUM 130988 for synopsis and credits), Katiria Soto (news anchor, Univision New York) moderates the following panelists: Camila Jimenez Villa (co-president, Fusion Media); Christian Gabela (executive producer; VP and general manager of Story House Entertainment); and cast members Humberto Busto (Conrado Higuera "Don Sol" Sol) and Marco de la O (Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán).
The panelists touch on such topics as: the title role as de la O's "dream character" and the experience of playing a man about whom there is little concrete information over many years of his life; avoiding a "telenovela"-like portrayal of simply "good and bad" characters; exploring their contradictions and reasons for committing shocking acts; the popularity of the "narco genre," including the series "Narcos" about the life of Pablo Escobar, and what it says about the audience's willingness to read subtitles; why the show is a political thriller above all else; their "unorthodox" production schedule, in which all three seasons were created at once; de la O's rapid weight gain to portray Guzmán at different parts of his life; exploring Guzmán's family life as well as his "darker side" in season two; upcoming revelations about Don Sol's "intimacy" and how it relates to his political life; depicting the "narco wars" and their effect on the Mexican government in the early 2000s; portraying dark and sensitive story elements "elegantly"; differences between the Univision and Netflix audiences; and plans for similar historical drama series from Fusion Media, inspired by the success of "El Chapo."
Questions from the audience then lead to a discussion of the following topics, among others: what de la O might ask the real Guzmán, currently housed at a New York City penitentiary, if they were allowed to meet; responses from other real-life subjects and their attempts to be "cautious and respectful" in portraying real people; de la O's extensive research and lack of judgement into his character; Busto's study of leaders like Angela Merkel and into the ambition of megalomaniacs; his ideas about Don Sol's physical transformation over the course of the season; shooting in Colombia, standing in for Mexico; how technology has contributed to political corruption in Mexico; the importance of viewing all three seasons as a whole to understand the characters' journeys and the message of the story; exploring "the reality of narcotics" in Latin American history and telling a "360 story" that examines many characters' culpability; how the show's visual style and meticulous details inform the story and the characters' journeys; depicting Guzmán's story up through 2017 and their expectations that he will likely not escape prison again; de la O's interest in not "apologizing" for Guzmán's actions through his depiction; actress Kate del Castillo's alleged connections to Guzmán; and their favorite scenes to shoot, including a memorable action sequence in which de la O nearly lost an ear.
(This interview features several sections of unsubtitled Spanish.)
Details
- NETWORK: N/A
- DATE: 6:30 PM
- RUNNING TIME: N/A
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: 130253
- GENRE: Seminars
- SUBJECT HEADING: N/A
- SERIES RUN: N/A
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Katiria Soto … Moderator
- Humberto Busto … Panelist
- Marco de la O … Panelist
- Camila Jimenez Villa … Panelist
- Christian Gabela … Panelist
- Kate del Castillo
- Pablo Escobar
- Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán
- Angela Merkel