How Fidel Castro Changed The Life of Netflix’s Chupa Star: Demián Bichir Shares Stories of An Oscar® Nom and Working with Steven Soderbergh
Los Angeles, CA (April 5, 2023): Oscar® nominated actor Demián Bichir (A Better Life) is this week’s guest on Hollywood at Home – a podcast exploring “art and soul” conversations with renowned entertainment industry personalities hosted by The Creative Coalition’s CEO Robin Bronk. Demián discusses the behind-the-scenes of the highly anticipated Netflix movie, Chupa (out on Netflix April 7th), when he realized he was going to be an actor, and the opportunities that “opened up the oyster” of his career.
Highlights from Hollywood at Home featuring Demián Bichir:
What Demián Loves Most About Chupa: “It’s one of the things that I love more about this film, that it’s so believable… We had this beautiful dog on set for Chupa… We all fell in love with that dog…There’s a big difference between just holding and embracing air instead of something that is real. So that helped us a lot… I think it’s beautiful, it’s such a lovely sack of happiness. I can’t wait until they make this a teddy bear, because I want one.”
He Always Knew He Was Going to be an Actor: “I was very young…three years old when I first jumped into a professional stage. It was in the Palace of Fine Arts in Mexico City… My brothers and I grew up in the theater because my father is a theater director, and my mom is an actor as well, so that’s pretty much the life we’ve known.”
How Fidel Castro Changed His Life: “… This is the only character that I had five months to prepare… I studied the whole thing for five months. I had Fidel for breakfast, lunch, and dinner… It was one of the biggest challenges in my career and that’s something that opened up the oyster… Chris Weitz saw me playing Fidel Castro in Che… so God Bless his heart because he thought that I could be perfect for [A Better Life.]”
An Oscar® Nomination is a Chance to Win the Lottery: “… We began thinking that there would probably be a chance to get an Oscar® nomination and then it happened… I can only tell you that that’s a lottery ticket… In a world and an industry with so much talent everywhere and with so many wonderful works every year to have five names only and you being part of those five names, that’s a lottery ticket.”
Running Away From Stereotypes: “I say no to many projects because they lack that [social advocacy]. They diminish the perception of Latin America in general and Mexico in particular… I run away from stereotypes as much as I can and I always look for solid scripts, wonderful people and great artists, and iconic roles.. so that’s why I say I’m happy…”
Steven Soderbergh Just Says Action: “… Basically, he [Steven Soderbergh] hopes that you will have your role ready and your homework done… because he doesn’t rehearse… He just says action… and if you’re not ready he will just pan the camera. But then I remember that’s how we shoot in Mexico. That’s how we do it in Mexico. I think God made me an actor in Mexico first, so I could endure any other type of acting.”
More about Hollywood at Home:
Hosted by The Creative Coalition CEO Robin Bronk, “Hollywood at Home” brings listeners intimate portraits, key moments of discovery, and “art and soul” conversations with iconic entertainment industry personalities from the big screen to the boardroom, from L.A. to D.C. Listen now at http://thecreativecoalition.org/podcast.
Previous guests include Sheryl Lee Ralph (“Abbott Elementary”), Marlee Matlin (“CODA”), Jason Alexander (“Curb Your Enthusiasm”), Alan Cumming (“Schmigadoon!, “The Good Wife”), Patricia Heaton (“Everybody Loves Raymond,” “The Middle”), Eric McCormack (“Will and Grace”), Willie Garson (“And Just Like That…”), Colman Domingo (“Euphoria”), Kerry Ehrin (“The Morning Show”), Wendi McLendon-Covey (“The Goldbergs”), Ken Olin (“This is Us,” “Thirtysomething”), Anthony Rapp (“Star Trek: Discovery”), Julie Taymor (“The Lion King”), and Alfre Woodard (Clemency,” “Luke Cage”), among others.
More about The Creative Coalition:
Founded in 1989 by prominent members of the creative community, The Creative Coalition is the premier nonprofit, nonpartisan 501(c)(3) social and public advocacy organization of the arts and entertainment community. The Creative Coalition is dedicated to educating its members on issues of public importance. The Creative Coalition also creates award-winning public service campaigns including #RightToBearArts to promote the efficacy of the arts. Actor Tim Daly serves as the organization’s President. For more information, visit https://thecreativecoalition.org.
Media Contact:
Marvin Roca Jr.
marvin@therosegrp.com
707-540-1850
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