Apple TV+’s “Acapulco” star Fernando Carsa sat down with The Creative Coalition CEO Robin Bronk in the latest episode of “Hollywood at Home,” a podcast featuring unplugged and uncensored conversations with today’s biggest stars. In the newest episode, Carsa talks about working with Eugenio Derbez on “Acapulco,” his friendship with Enrique Arrizon on and off screen, how he prepared to play a young man from the 1980’s and much more. Highlights below.
“Hollywood at Home” is available on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, iHeartRadio, and more.
Listen now at:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/behind-the-scenes-with-apple-tv-s-acapulco-with/id1521900273?i=1000587109142
For planned coverage, please link to:
http://thecreativecoalition.org/podcast
Highlights from “Hollywood at Home” featuring Fernando Carsa –
On what he learned working with Eugenio Derbez: “We actually only get him a couple of weeks, because he has so much stuff to film that he comes in, films some stuff, his stuff, and then he needs to go. And one of the biggest– I mean, he talked to us about his whole life story and kind of, like, took us on memory lane and what he’s done and how he’s gotten to the place that he is, which that alone is so much knowledge. But the one thing that stood out to me the most was when he was like, ‘Unfortunately, as Latinos, it can be really hard. So we have to make sure that we’re not only trying to be part of other shows, and auditioning, but that we create our own content.’ Which is essentially what he’s doing. You know, he has Three Paths, which is his production company, and they’ve worked on really incredible projects like ‘Acapulco.’ You know, they’re part of this magic. And what he’s doing is he’s, he has knocked on so many doors and so many doors have opened up for him and now he’s opening doors for other people, which is, like, the entire young cast of ‘Acapulco,’ for instance. You know, like, he is giving us this opportunity by being our leader and I feel like that’s the biggest lesson is, kind of, like, give back to your community and try to open up doors and spaces for one another because it can be really complicated. And he’s worked so hard his whole life. And thanks to the fact that he’s made so many efforts, the path is a little bit easier for us. That’s the truth, you know.”
On his friendship with Enrique Arrizon as they play best friends in “Acapulco”: “It’s really special. And I feel like it’s an anomaly. We talk about this a lot. I do genuinely- like, I’m not lying when I said that what you guys see on screen is an extension of what we have behind the camera. Enrique and I have become really good friends and each other’s confidants. Like brothers born from another mother, it’s really beautiful to be able to have someone that you can trust so much to work on the process. So by the time that you get on screen, you can just play around. You know, like, you can rehearse together, and do all the analysis of text together. And then eventually, when you get to camera, it’s all just fun and games. I love him so much. And he’s become a really special person in my life. I mean, he’s the first person that I ever shared camera with. And he was so wonderful to me, I would turn around to him and be like, ‘I’m so nervous!’ And he would, like, hold my hand, and help me breathe and relax. So, I mean– this is gonna sound a little funny, but he was my first time! You know what I’m saying? You never forget your first time. So I have a really special place in my heart for him.”
On how he prepared to play a young man from a different generation: “I’m still 20-something, thank god! But, you know, I did. I remember when I first started building the character, I sat down with my parents and I just asked them a bunch of stuff. You know, like, especially because my dad, when it comes to Memo’s socioeconomic status, my dad had a very similar life to what Memo did. So I, you know, I did base a lot of like, how did he have access to media? And based on what he had access to, I would create what my character, you know? And eventually, they start informing you about these things as the series goes on. And then maybe some things that I had created for him did not end up being that way. You know, like, my biggest question to this day is, how did he learn English? In my mind, I feel like Maximo taught him. That’s what I chose to– you know, I feel like that was part of their bond. Maximo taught him English.”
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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 Jason Alexander (“Curb Your Enthusiasm”), Shiri Appleby (“UnREAL”), Iain Armitage (“Young Sheldon”), Justin Bartha (“The Hangover,” “National Treasure”), David Alan Basche (“The Exes”), Asante Blackk (“This Is Us”), Carly Chaikin (“Mr. Robot”), Aaron Cooley (“The First Lady”), Wilson Cruz (“Star Trek: Discovery”), Alan Cumming (“Schmigadoon!, “The Good Wife”), Ethan Cutkosky (“Shameless”), The Creative Coalition President and actor Tim Daly (“Madam Secretary”), Lea DeLaria (“Orange Is the New Black”), Colman Domingo (“Euphoria”), Griffin Dunne (“This Is Us”), Kerry Ehrin (“The Morning Show”), Wayne Federman (“Curb Your Enthusiasm”), Frances Fisher (“Titanic,” “Unforgiven”), Michael Fishman (“Roseanne,” “The Conners”), Jim Gaffigan (“The Jim Gaffigan Show”), LaMonica Garrett (“1883,” “Sons of Anarchy”) Willie Garson (“And Just Like That…”), Judy Gold (“The Other F Word”), Nicholas Gonzalez (“The Good Doctor”), Clark Gregg (“Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.”), Tony Hale (“Veep,” “Arrested Development”), Evan Handler (“And Just Like That…,” “Californication”), Patricia Heaton (“Everybody Loves Raymond,” “The Middle”), Jon Huertas (“This Is Us”), Jason Isaacs (“Star Trek: Discovery,” “Harry Potter”), Susan Isaacs (“Compromising Positions”), Richard Kind (“Curb Your Enthusiasm”), Nathan Kress (“iCarly”), Jaren Lewison (“Never Have I Ever”), Chad Lowe (“Supergirl”), Aasif Mandvi (“The Daily Show”), Rachel Mason (“Circus of Books”), Marlee Matlin (“CODA”), AnnaLynne McCord (“Let’s Get Physical”), Eric McCormack (“Will and Grace”), Wendi McLendon-Covey (“The Goldbergs”), Katherine McNamara (“Shadowhunters”), Melissa Manchester (“Don’t Cry Out Loud”), Molly Smith Metzler (“Maid,” “Shameless”), Marta Milans (“Shazam!”), Rob Morrow (“Billions”), Kathy Najimy (“Younger”), Ken Olin (“This is Us,” “Thirtysomething”), Haley Joel Osment (“Future Man,” “Entourage”), Joey and Daniella Pantoliano (“The Matrix,” “Memento”), Ross Patterson (“Range 15”), Bill Prady (“The Big Bang Theory”), Kyla Pratt (“The Proud Family”), Jessica Queller (“Supergirl”), Sheryl Lee Ralph (“Abbott Elementary”), Anthony Rapp (“Star Trek: Discovery”), Yolonda Ross (“The Chi”), Reid Scott (“Veep”), Paul Scheer (“The League,” “Veep”), Mona Scott-Young (“Love & Hip Hop”), Alena Smith (“Dickinson”), Julie Taymor (“The Lion King”), Lea Thompson (“Back to the Future”), Tramell Tillman (“Severance”), Krista Vernoff (“Grey’s Anatomy”), KT Tunstall (“Black Horse and the Cherry Tree,” “Suddenly I See”), Matt Walsh (“Veep”), Alfre Woodard (“Clemency,” “Luke Cage”), Constance Zimmer (“Good Trouble”), and David Zucker (“Airplane!,” “Scary Movie”).
More about The Creative Coalition
The Creative Coalition is the premier nonprofit, nonpartisan 501(c)(3) social and public advocacy organization of the arts and entertainment community. Founded in 1989 by prominent members of the creative 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 art. Actor Tim Daly serves as the organization’s President. For more information, visit https://thecreativecoalition.org.
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