Dean on the Scene has more interviews from this year’s NHFA Noche Musical from The Mayflower Hotel!
We continue with our interview with Camila Morrone, star of the Amazon Prime series “Daisy Jones & the Six” and the upcoming film, “Gonzo Girl”. She was honored as the 2023 NHFA Horizon Award winner.
Congratulations on winning the Horizon Award. How does it feel tonight?
I feel incredibly, incredibly honored to be here tonight. Being Argentinian, being Latin is such a big part of my life, who I am. I try to represent that and everything I do; I try to show face and help out and show love to the community in whatever way I can. I was lucky enough that they asked me to be here tonight.
When did you realize that you wanted to become an actress?
As far back as I can remember. Well, my parents were actors and aspiring actors, and they moved to America to pursue their dream of acting. I grew up in those audition rooms and watching my parents work hard and that I think as far back as I can remember, in my youth, I grew up in a household of actors and artists. So, from five to six years old, I was already putting on little shows for my parents and doing whatever I could. So, the love for acting has been a part of my life.
And you’re about to be in a film called Gonzo Girl, which is directed by Patricia Arquette, her directorial debut. What can you tell us about that role?
Well, the film just premiered at TIFF last week, and opening night in Toronto Film Festival, we have an interim agreement. So, we were able to be there and support the film. And this film has shaped me in a lot of ways not just professionally, but also emotionally. As a woman, and has been an incredible learning experience and getting to work with real masters of their craft like Patricia Arquette, Willem DeFoe & Sean Penn. I’m just still absorbing and just incredibly grateful.
Now we have seen an influx of the Latina actors and actresses over the last few decades. Where do you see that momentum going?
Hopefully forward, continuing on the path that it’s on. I think it’s come a long way from when my parents were actors 15-20 years ago, but it’s by no means where we need to get. So hopefully nights like this, the foundation is doing and supporting. I think they’re all right steps towards the common goal that we all share.
Next, I talked to the co-producers of the upcoming movie, “Radical”. Actor/producer Eugenio Derbez and producer Ben O’Dell were on hand for the inaugural 2023 Visioning Summit, Advancing Representation in Media, Arts, & Beyond – launched by NHFA this year to explore progress and break down barriers in achieving representation.
You both got a brand-new film that’s coming out, “Radical” which I heard nothing, but great reviews tell us about the film we’re going to see in the next few weeks.
Eugenio Derbez (Producer/”Sergio”) – Oh my god, we’re really excited because it won the Sundance Film Festival. So, it’s coming out on November 3rd. And, we’re very excited to tell them about the story.
Ben O’Dell (Producer) – It’s based on a true story from a Wired magazine article about a teacher that will handle plays in Matamoros, Mexico, who felt like he wasn’t connecting to his students, and he changed his teaching style. And in one year, he transformed these kids. And in a backdrop of a very difficult backdrop not to Lourdes. There’s a lot of struggles there. So, it’s incredibly moving, inspiring story. It’s Spanish language, his audience is gonna love it. And I guarantee if you have a heart, you will be crying by the end of the movie.
I’m already feeling crying right now. Speaking of teachers, what teacher had inspired you to be where you are right now?
ED: Wow, I had a teacher that he was teaching us law. And I remember that he was very, very funny, but in a different way, like very straight. He was never trying to be funny, but he was funny by itself, by himself, and, and the way he teaches. It was so different than that, that made it an entire class and didn’t want to miss a class. So, it was very inspiring. And he was always very hard, because he cared but at the same time, he was very lovable.
BO: I think we learn from people all the time. I was just thinking as you’re asking this question. He’s my teacher (points to Eugenio). I’ve learned so much. We’ve been working together for nine years. I’m not kidding. I seriously like, not only things like comedy, which he’s taught me a lot about, I thought I knew a lot about it until I started working with him. But really, truly how to be a kind, humane person, no matter what position you’re in. And no matter how famous he gets, or how many people idolize him. He’s always very humble and very kind and that I’ve learned from him. So that’s my teacher.
Where do you see the representation of Latino actors and actresses going in the near future?
ED: Well, it was time. All the Latin people been watching superheroes from the U.S. and then “Black Panther” came out. And it was their turn. And when then we saw “Blue Beetle”, I thought it was fair that finally, to have a Latin superhero. I hope it’s just the beginning, because our population is growing fast in the U.S. I think we’re actually underrepresented on screen whereas so many Latinos in this country, and just a few of them are on screen that I think it was time to finally have our own superhero.
BO: But we there’s a long way to go. And we actually saw the numbers go down from 22 to 23. And so, you know, if they’re 20% of the population, Latinos, they should be at least 20% of the actors out in the world and we’re not even close. And there’s so much talent out there. And my kids are Latino, my wife’s Latina, and I want them to see themselves reflected in movies and television and it’s not happening. Not enough, though. Eugenio’s leading the way and he’s done an amazing job, but we need to open the doors for young actors to have those opportunities.
Stay tuned for our final round of interviews from NHFA Noche Musical as Reps. Juan Castro and Teresa Fernandez close us out!
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