January 2, 2025 • 41 mins
Dominican actor Manny Perez, a powerhouse of talent and conviction, shares how he first discovered his love for acting as a kid and turned it into a celebrated career, gracing screens big and small with unforgettable performances.
But Manny is more than just an actor—he’s an advocate for his community, using his films to highlight the struggles of our island and tackling real-world issues head-on. From fearlessly challenging political figures in the Dominican Republic to championing his beloved neighborhood, Manny opens up about the passion that drives his work.
Plus, he gives us a glimpse into his personal life and what keeps him grounded. Don’t miss this intimate conversation with one of the Dominican Republic’s brightest stars.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:02):
Gracias Come Again, a podcast by Honey German.
Speaker 2 (00:08):
Today we're sitting down with a true icon of Dominican
cinema and Hollywood actor, Manny Perez. From Santiago to the
bright lights of the big screen. Manny has carved out
a name for himself as one of the most versatile
and celebrated Latino actors of our time, and he's here
to give us the real behind his life, journey, the projects,
and what's next for the Pride of Black Republica Dominicana. Welcome,
(00:31):
Manny Perez, bim Menil. I've been following your career forever.
Manny Perez is here with us in studio today. How
are you feeling talk to me?
Speaker 3 (00:41):
Well, thank you for having me. Really, it is a
pleasure to be here. I most so, just so you
know we've I've known no view from a while while back,
really press, so when you hit me up, I was like, what, yeah,
let's do this.
Speaker 1 (00:56):
So thank you for having me. Really, this means a lot.
Speaker 2 (00:59):
I jump right in your DM, I said, and Manny,
I want to interview you because you know, life is
all about going for it, right of course, And I
made a wishless at the beginning of the season and
you are part of the list.
Speaker 1 (01:11):
Oh oh wow, well thank you.
Speaker 2 (01:12):
I was like, I want to sit down with many
press because there's so many different things I admire about you.
First of all, we're both Dominicans. Let's talk about it.
Speaker 3 (01:20):
There you go.
Speaker 2 (01:21):
Second of all, you're just so not afraid of speaking
your mind and really, you know, using your art for
the disenfranchised and the people that don't have a voice.
And that's super big for me. It's like, you're an actor.
That's great, so many actors in this world, but are
you making a difference as an actor? You are and
(01:42):
for that I admire you.
Speaker 3 (01:43):
Well, thank you, thank you. What's funny, you know, I
believe that, you know, if God gave me a talent,
and I feel like I don't want to be an
actor just to walk around with glasses and PRT and bay.
Now you know, I wanted to make a difference. And
I feel like the projects that I do, I do
them because they mean something to me or to the
(02:04):
community or to the world. And uh. And so what
I do is I take my money money I made,
create write my own stories that I want to make
a point, and I go and shoot them and and yes,
I've had problems with the films that I've that I've shot,
especially in the Minican Republic, with politicians who don't want
(02:26):
the world to know what's happening in their in their backyard.
But I feel like, listen, man, God gave me this voice.
I feel like I'm gonna use it and I'm gonna
show the world, you know, what's happening.
Speaker 2 (02:36):
And that brings me right to Lasogadris, which is the
project that you're currently you know, promoting. Yes, I saw
so much in that movie and I was just like, wow,
he took a risk here. Not only do you talk
about you know, corruption, corruption in the government, you also
have you know, child pedophilia in there. Yeah, you have
so much you know, just family just going against family,
(03:00):
you know, just you know, crimes against journalists in our country.
And I was just like, wow, he really took a
risk with this one.
Speaker 3 (03:08):
Yeah, I did. You know, It's funny, you know, everything
you see in that film actually is based on true
events that happen in the dr that are still happening
in the DR And like I said, I feel like,
if I'm going to invest my own money, I want
to make sure that I leave a point so the
world can see what's happening. And that means a lot
(03:29):
to me as an artist, I really do. I just
don't want to act for the sake of just acting.
I want to just say, hey, man, this was going down,
check it out. Let's make a change, and hopefully maybe
it will change some people's mind and they'll look at
what's happening and they'll start a movement. I don't know,
but I feel like that's what I want to do
as an actor.
Speaker 2 (03:50):
And you're leading, that's what you're doing because you put
it in me. I'm like, this is happening because I
am somewhat disengaged being you know, I guess born and
raised in New York. I'm not they're something not experiencing
what the island is experiencing. But watching the movie, I
was like, she is real, Yeah, it's happening.
Speaker 3 (04:07):
Well, you know what's funny.
Speaker 1 (04:08):
I come from a small town in the dr right
called Baidoa.
Speaker 3 (04:11):
It's like in the mountains of Santiago San Diego. So
in this town, we still don't have electricity. Exactly twenty
twenty four, exactly what.
Speaker 2 (04:26):
Are you already, oh, Dominican Republican is the Dubai of
the Caribbean Maseratis Dubai.
Speaker 3 (04:32):
Is Punta ga is Santo Domingo, then everything else. So
I say to myself and say, well, man, that's what's happening.
And I feel like everybody has an iPhone there, everybody
drives the Borghini whatever, but there's no electricity to plug
your iPhone dude. So it's like, wait, are we you know,
let's let's focus on the basic and La Soga vengeance
(04:55):
three deals with let's get this. As a matter of fact,
the last message that I leave you is, hey, let's
focus on the basic education, electricity, uh Medica hospital medicare, Like,
let's deal with the basic.
Speaker 2 (05:09):
That is some basic ship.
Speaker 3 (05:10):
That is some basic ship that we need. But somehow
we're going I feel like we're going forward. By the
same time, we're going backwards with what's with with what's
happening in the island. And that's not cool, man, it's
not cool.
Speaker 2 (05:23):
And now when you said you got, you know, kind
of like backlash from some politicians, how did you receive it?
Was it a phone call? Was it the newspapers? Your phone?
Speaker 3 (05:32):
This phone, dude? It was crazy, can't on me? And
I had when I was promoting my film it opened there,
I went on national TV.
Speaker 1 (05:42):
I went crazy because I don't know.
Speaker 3 (05:47):
Exactly and I feel like I say what I say
and and I was like complaining about how my little
town has no water and I'm like, dude, twenty twenty four.
And then an hour later, I get a call on
this phone and can't said. He's like, listen, man, I
(06:12):
got the point.
Speaker 2 (06:16):
Our biggest actor internationally and at le we're not Louisa.
Speaker 1 (06:21):
He was like, I got the we got the point.
We're on it, on it, trust me.
Speaker 3 (06:25):
And I was like se. I was like, I'm like,
you're honest. He's like, I've been on it since. I'm like, well, dude,
since two years ago. I was I was told by
the last government that you guys were on it. Spent
two years nothing is happening, and still nothing happening. And
now I spend a year ago nothing's happening to this day.
And uh so he's like, you need to calm that down,
you know, just bring it down.
Speaker 2 (06:46):
Like listen, bro, you up, no many left? Yeah, you know,
but you know what, it takes a lot of courage,
you know, to exist in our own country and go
up against our own government, because nothing we want more
than to be loved by our people, and sometimes it
(07:08):
can take one politician to get everybody to want to
turn against us. So I commend you. You're a brave man.
Speaker 3 (07:13):
No, well, thank you. The thing is, I'm not trying
to be brave. I'm just trying to like be real
on the moment, and if you ask me, I'm going
to answer you in a real way.
Speaker 2 (07:23):
You're out here, like Spike Lee, doing the right thing,
right exactly.
Speaker 3 (07:26):
Do exactly. Great film, by the way.
Speaker 2 (07:29):
That is that classic. That is definitely classic. Now, speaking
of classics, let's go back to your beginnings, because you've
been doing this. I was watching your real like you're
acting real, and I'm like, I saw you, and I've
saw you like in your twenties and your thirties and
your forties. I said, this man has been eaten off
of acting his whole life. Have you ever had any
other job other than acting?
Speaker 3 (07:48):
No, listen, I've been blessed. I've been blessed. But after college,
I was a bartender. Okay, I was downtown Novachento, a
place called novachenta way way back bartender. Then I went
to l a bartender again, and.
Speaker 2 (08:06):
You went to l A to act, to act.
Speaker 3 (08:09):
Bett became a but rolled and say, and then I
got I booked, h It's funny. Before that, I booked
this indie film called New York Cup with Mirosovino, Chad
McQueen and then Little Me, you know, as like the
(08:31):
bad guy, and I thought when that came, I'm like, well,
it's gonna be the film that is it? Not another?
Speaker 1 (08:41):
And I was like, well, back to bartending. So I
went back to bartending.
Speaker 2 (08:44):
Do you remember how to make any drinks?
Speaker 3 (08:46):
Of course, youngo and says, I went to l A,
didn't book anything, came back and I booked one hundred
Center Street with Sidney Lumett and that was an amazing
show for any where. I play this Dominican lawyer, defense attorney,
(09:12):
and that really changed my career. Then I took that
money and then wrote with a friend of mine, Washington Heights,
the film Washington Heights, and that really took my career
to a different level.
Speaker 2 (09:26):
How good do you feel about the fact that you've
always been able to exist as a Dominican man, as
a Latino telling our stories, playing characters that are like
like you haven't had to fake it, you know, because
we have some Latinos that play black, that play white,
that do anything but play but you do. How good
does that feel that you never had to fake who
(09:47):
you weren't?
Speaker 3 (09:47):
Well, I feel like that's what I am. I feel
like as actors, we got to show who we are.
Speaker 1 (09:52):
And I believe that.
Speaker 3 (09:53):
I believe the acting is is is living you in
a situation. So I truly believe that, and I've been
blessed again. You know, I've always played the bad guy,
mostly the bad guys. But what I do is I
try to find the heart in these characters and just
give him a different point of view from my angles
(10:13):
as what many Perez would do. So and I always say,
you know, you see Denzel Washington as Denzel Washington in
every film, You see Robert de Niro's Robert deniroll in
every film, because that's what they're special, that's what they do,
that's what they bring. So I feel like I'm bringing
what many Perez will bring to that situation that he's
involved in, in whatever character he's playing.
Speaker 2 (10:34):
And I love you for it because anytime I watch it,
like that's manny, that's how Many moves his mouth that's
how many moves his hands. It's like you're playing a
different character, but it's still you. Even the way you
move your mouth to the side.
Speaker 3 (10:46):
Exactly, that's it. But that's what it's you. But the
thing is, you know, as actors, that's what we got.
We have nothing as I can't be you because it's
impossible to be you. You know you're special. You do you,
I do me in a situation. That's what I believe
what acting is about. Not everything else is just extra
layer that people don't need. Complicate stuff. Feet.
Speaker 4 (11:08):
Oh yeah, feet, that's a picular meter.
Speaker 2 (11:13):
And let me tell you what you know. If you
if you're listening and you've never watched Ponchao, you have to.
It's just such a hilarious flick.
Speaker 3 (11:21):
It's a funny. And you did a.
Speaker 2 (11:22):
Great gay role well pretend gayrol. You were so good
at it. I loved it. It was just like it
just felt that also felt so natural. Feet, I'm like,
how did this link happen?
Speaker 3 (11:33):
Feet? That is the most beautiful woman I've ever met
in my She deserves that anymore.
Speaker 1 (11:46):
And she's all about the business.
Speaker 3 (11:48):
She's like, look man Loago, And I was like, I
was like, I love you. Let's do it inside that.
Speaker 1 (11:58):
But she was amazing, really, she's she's amazing.
Speaker 3 (12:00):
I we still child, we still talk, and I'm so
happy they made this film about her life. You know,
she's just an amazing talent and and and then and
icon in our our music industry, Dominican music industry.
Speaker 2 (12:15):
And you know what's great that we idolize her if
we give her her flowers.
Speaker 3 (12:20):
You know.
Speaker 2 (12:20):
Yeah, we joke around about how old she is and
if she's seventy or eighty or one hundred. You know,
but we love her. And she's on a pedestal for Dominicans,
of course, and that's super important for us to do
with our people. And that's why you're here today, you
know that.
Speaker 1 (12:33):
Kind Well, thank you, thank you, thank you.
Speaker 2 (12:36):
And she's getting her movie. Now, let's talk about Benano.
How did ben come about? Is that something you came
up with the idea to do.
Speaker 1 (12:43):
No, Actually, it's funny. When I did the Hoyo, that's.
Speaker 2 (12:47):
That's my favorite movie, well that you've done, it was
just so gretty. It was just so real. It was
just so raw. Yeah, that was the hair was doing
this thing in that movie too. You have good hair,
but good hair, but that week.
Speaker 1 (13:01):
You know what's funny, that's based on a real guy.
Speaker 3 (13:03):
That's based on a real narco guy in the d
R fairly Phelix Felie, Well, it's based on a real
If you look.
Speaker 1 (13:16):
Up Narco, Dominican Narco, his name pop up.
Speaker 3 (13:20):
It's based on his life, how he was sent to prison,
but in prison he was out and about every other week.
Speaker 1 (13:29):
So it's based on that.
Speaker 3 (13:30):
So the guy, the producer who who produced that film
so sorry, the producer of Jack nan.
Speaker 1 (13:41):
And say, hey man, you look exactly like Jack.
Speaker 3 (13:45):
All your local put on me. And I was like local.
So then I was like, okay, well let's meet up.
And he was real. He's like, listen, I own the rights,
he's the deal. You look exactly like him. Let's start.
So then I started doing Researcher and Jack Benano because
I knew who he was. I grew up watching him,
(14:06):
but I had no idea how to imitate him with mannerisms.
And it's different the way how I speak his his
his his Dominican is very elite.
Speaker 2 (14:16):
My Dominican is a real person. So that makes it
even harder.
Speaker 3 (14:19):
Right exactly, So I studied that guy for about four
years via YouTube. Then I had to learn about learn.
Speaker 2 (14:28):
You did stunts.
Speaker 1 (14:29):
I did stunts.
Speaker 2 (14:33):
I was like, that was all shot in dominic.
Speaker 3 (14:38):
That was all shot in Dominican Republic.
Speaker 2 (14:40):
And what do you do when you do these movies?
You relocate to the art.
Speaker 3 (14:43):
I relocated to d R and I'm there for three
four months. No, and I and I work it out.
Speaker 2 (14:52):
So how are you so humble and like so real?
I'm like, I'm like blown away. And I was talking
about that before you came, because when I ask you
how many people are coming, it's just you. And I'm like,
if he would have been a rapper, it would have
been twelve people. I said, this is an actor, This
is like a Hollywood actor. This is like the biggest
Dominican actor ever.
Speaker 3 (15:10):
Well, thank you, But you know what's funny. I see
the thing is I don't believe. That's why I said
to me, being an actor is not about fame and
about about the glory and the glasses, about just me
doing great work. And I feel like these guys who
walk around with twenty hulums and twenty dudes behind them,
I feel like they got issues of just them being
them and nothing.
Speaker 1 (15:32):
I'm not talking about anyone else. I'm just saying in general.
Speaker 2 (15:34):
Plus, you get to save all your money, right, and
you don't got to pay a publicist and a manager
and a stylist and a hairstylist and a water bottle getter.
You don't got paid twenty people, right exactly.
Speaker 1 (15:47):
So you're.
Speaker 4 (16:02):
This so soga though for your personamas okay, but finaldia.
Speaker 2 (16:17):
Okay, Michell, you are yaga, Laudio will be there, Okay,
I guess yea ben am I getting a second part?
Do you make it come more like?
Speaker 3 (16:36):
Yeah? No, everyone is asking a sad question. No, well,
no that I don't know. I don't know.
Speaker 2 (16:43):
It's like a cliffhanger where you was The idea was
to make Vanana two and three. Okay, okay, I knew
it because I'm like that was the idea. What is
happening right now?
Speaker 3 (16:53):
Is it pause or is it not pause? Right now?
The producer is working working out the details regarding script
that help help well, exactly right, I mean it. No,
it's true and we should you know, But he says
that maybe by the end of the year we can
we will start.
Speaker 1 (17:11):
I don't know, okay, I don't know.
Speaker 2 (17:14):
What are you working on for twenty twenty five. What's
in post production?
Speaker 3 (17:17):
Talk?
Speaker 2 (17:17):
Well, okay, well you can share.
Speaker 3 (17:19):
I will well for my own projects. I wrote something
that I want to do, another film that I want
to shoot, but this one will takes takes place in
the United States that deals with Dominican corruption in the
New United States.
Speaker 2 (17:33):
Is corruption, of course there is from everywhere.
Speaker 3 (17:36):
We We're crazy.
Speaker 1 (17:38):
So that's what I want to do. But with that,
I need my funds. It's not gonna be enough.
Speaker 3 (17:43):
I need you need really, yeah, said no, I'm looking.
I'm looking for like three hundred thousand dollars.
Speaker 2 (17:51):
I can't help. Sorry, I'm gonna have to call about Pittman,
the CEO.
Speaker 5 (17:56):
But hey, days it will be amazing.
Speaker 3 (18:02):
So I have I have that and I and I
have a film that I that I worked on as
an actor that might come out this year, A Cold
Final Hour where I play a priest that was shot
him down in Atlanta. It's interesting, interesting story.
Speaker 2 (18:19):
So father John, Father John movie, that's right right on that.
How did that come about? And you're playing a priest?
Speaker 3 (18:30):
I played the priest.
Speaker 2 (18:31):
I could see it.
Speaker 3 (18:32):
Yeah, one of the producers saw my work.
Speaker 1 (18:35):
It's funny. He saw my work in a sooga and
he's like, listen, man, I need.
Speaker 3 (18:38):
A priest who has a priest who's not afraid to
face his demons, because the whole story deals with him,
uh going to prison. He gives the last rights to
the prisoner, and this prisoner happens to be the guy
who killed his family, so there's like a conflict of
(18:59):
all guys and stuff.
Speaker 2 (19:00):
He's got to be really gritty.
Speaker 3 (19:02):
So he has to be like a priest who who's
not afraid.
Speaker 2 (19:05):
He's a badass.
Speaker 3 (19:05):
Yeah, yeah, you're bad priest. So that's the idea you're.
Speaker 2 (19:08):
Doing and you're bad ass and all. Now, were you
a badass kid? No?
Speaker 3 (19:14):
I was actually no a kid, were you? I come
from a family of eleven kids.
Speaker 2 (19:21):
Things jud because I didn't know no, no.
Speaker 3 (19:26):
Together my momy went down. We didn't have electricity, so
it's like impossible eleven. I'm number ten of eleven. Okay,
So so I was the clown in the family. So
I always wanted to like make people laugh. So I
was like when I came to the United States, I
(19:46):
was like, you know what I'm going to do it here? Guys.
Speaker 2 (19:50):
You started with your church, right, Yeah? To moon though listen,
I am a stalker slash journalist. No.
Speaker 3 (19:57):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (19:57):
I started in a church just down the block from
where I lived.
Speaker 3 (20:02):
No Catholic, I guess it's Christian Catholic Catholic and they
do Saturdays plays like afternoon kids. Uh theater theater. So
I was like seeing that. I didn't know English, by
the way I had. I had no idea how to
speak English. So I was ten and then I was
like what is that? And then you know, like all
they're doing place, So I went in there. The lady
(20:25):
took me on. She's like, okay, you you stay there.
You're the tree. So I was the tree.
Speaker 2 (20:31):
Acting careers popped off.
Speaker 3 (20:33):
I was the green tree, and and uh, what was it?
Peter Pan?
Speaker 2 (20:37):
Was it?
Speaker 3 (20:38):
Well? I played the tree, no lines, no lines, and
I was smiling.
Speaker 2 (20:44):
If life was only that silvil, right, And I was like, oh,
I love this.
Speaker 3 (20:49):
So I couldn't wait for Saturday to get.
Speaker 2 (20:51):
What did you like about it? Was it being on stage?
Was it being creative? I think was making people happy?
Speaker 3 (20:56):
I think it was a touch of all or the above.
Just because I was it was it was a different
world for me. I was like, Wow, this is beautiful,
this is great, and yeah, I said. So when I
graduated high school, I decided to move to New York
to pursue acting.
Speaker 1 (21:15):
I went to.
Speaker 2 (21:19):
Young Acting. I told you, you need to go to
New York. Somebody did no, It's just I did research
and there was New York l A. And I was like, well,
you could take the bus in New York.
Speaker 1 (21:30):
I could take yeah. So I so basically I took
the bus in New York. You didn't mind you.
Speaker 3 (21:33):
My dad and my mom you OK.
Speaker 1 (21:37):
They were like, no, I do that here in my classes,
but I said me, and I was like, oh my god.
Speaker 3 (21:45):
So then I said me always dreamed of one of
us amons to go to college. And then I owned diploma.
Speaker 2 (21:54):
Because I was of course Dominican parents get so memo.
Speaker 3 (21:59):
But none of my eleven brothers and sisters, they all like,
were factory workers and they went to high school, quit
high school, went into factory. And I was like, you
know what that I'm gonna get you that. So I
need to get body. But if you let me go
to New York, exact me. So I met Janco York
and then.
Speaker 2 (22:16):
That's how I That's how I managed to up because
nobody need commented I.
Speaker 3 (22:22):
Got a scholarship.
Speaker 2 (22:23):
You did, okay, so do we need.
Speaker 3 (22:29):
Just to act?
Speaker 1 (22:30):
No?
Speaker 3 (22:30):
Yeah, I came to study. So then I came and
did an audition and they gave me a scholarship.
Speaker 2 (22:35):
And I was like, what then, what you're surprised about?
Speaker 3 (22:40):
It's like case. Honestly, I had no idea. And then
I was like, oh, and then they gave you like
somehow they gave me extra money on the side.
Speaker 2 (22:49):
Learning expenses, and so I was happy, and so.
Speaker 3 (22:54):
I was like, this is perfect. And then that's how
I got my my my college degree, a BA in
Bachelor in in uh in acting from Marry mind. I
love it and I was very thank you. And then
represent see Peral. He passed away three months before I graduated,
and that really broke my heart. That like, I know,
(23:19):
but you you cure okay at the old fast you're
gonna go HINTI friends of mine who are way better talent,
and you know they speak way better English and all
(23:39):
this and logo it's hard to you know, Papa, are
you the man? Megi? I met you the final This
is not This is a hard career, dude. It's not
for everyone. I honestly that's why I say that. You know,
I meet actors who are like, yeah, and I want
to be an actor. Uh overnight and bro overnight, you
(24:00):
gotta you gotta work your ass. Bro, you gotta like
learn how to take ka tatis workshops and classes and
figure this out.
Speaker 1 (24:08):
You know, it's now an overnight thing.
Speaker 2 (24:11):
So now, what role were you most surprised that you got?
Like you were like, I'm not getting this. I'm not
getting this, and you went home you were like, ye see.
Speaker 3 (24:21):
Oh you know what I'll tell you.
Speaker 1 (24:22):
I'm gonna tell you a little story because it's comical.
Speaker 3 (24:24):
Ship. I went to La when I was in my
l a bartender, see and uh, they were doing a
remake of love Boat, the love Boat the show, the
show and you know the black dude, Hey the bartender.
I was a bartender, Like, this's my job. They were
looking for a Latino bartender for that role. Them the
(24:47):
min Latino actor who can play a bartender in a role.
So I go in, got a call back and I
was like, whoa there me winning again. Got another call
back and they were like, now you're going to go
meet the executives, the the the suits where you do
the test, the pilot test and things where you signed
the contract and they say exactly how what you're getting.
Speaker 1 (25:07):
Look, and I saw so many numbers.
Speaker 3 (25:08):
I'm like, it's great, this is this is prior to
you doing your last uh screen test. So it's me,
m blanquito. You even.
Speaker 1 (25:26):
An Asian guy. So the Asian guy goes in and
I hear him. I'm like, they didn't they let him go?
Speaker 2 (25:33):
Okay, no, Champagne, no, no.
Speaker 3 (25:36):
I went in. They were like, hey, do you give
me a note? Go outside? And then they took the
other the white guy who's that you.
Speaker 2 (25:44):
Know, the white guy person.
Speaker 3 (25:45):
Yeah, they were he went in and I'm like.
Speaker 1 (25:47):
Wow, he's sound horrible. That's me judging that.
Speaker 3 (25:50):
So I'm thinking. So I go in and they're like
house great, blah blah blah, and it say twenty or
thirty suits inside this room, a lot of people crazy.
So then they're like thank you for coming, and I'm thinking, okay.
So then I see that the white guy who went
and it's not outside anymore. So I'm like, well, I
guess I'm gonna let him go. So then I go
(26:13):
home and I'm thinking, this is my job.
Speaker 2 (26:14):
Man.
Speaker 3 (26:14):
They called me back and it's like, yeah, I go in.
They called me and they were like, listen, man, my
agent calls me. He's like, it's not going to go
any further. They went with the other guy, the white
guy who passed Latino. Oh yeah, you got in a pistol.
I was crying.
Speaker 1 (26:29):
I started praying. I was like, this shit is crazy.
I broke my heart.
Speaker 3 (26:35):
But you know, I got up from there like two
hours later, and I was like, man, I'm gonna, I'm
I'm now I'm really gonna get strong and I'm really gonna,
you know, go for what I for what I want.
And that made me stronger. But my point is, at
that point they were looking for Latino. They went with
some white dude who looks Latino to get the job,
and he got the job. They show got canceled after
one season. But the point is, you know, I really
(26:58):
thought I was gonna get that one didn't happen. But
then I came to New York and I book literally
I booked one hundred Central Street with Sidney Lumett, which
is like for me, it's like a legend in the
industry of filmmaking. And I played like amazing role. And
that's why you didn't get your bartending gig and that's why. No,
it's true. Well, something's meant meant for you. It's meant
(27:19):
but at that point it hurt me that I didn't
get it because I was like, man, they're looking for
a bartender who's an actor, who's in the show Latino.
It's just like yo, you know, bat.
Speaker 2 (27:32):
With jobs where it's you and you're the creative, when
they don't pick you, they don't pick you.
Speaker 3 (27:38):
Yeah, and that's hurtful.
Speaker 2 (27:39):
It's just like even when I do something with voice,
it's like they hated my voice, they didn't want to
hire me. Or if I do something for interviewing or
the one with somebody else, it's because they didn't like me.
So I understand where you kind of like came from.
It's just like, what did he have that I didn't have?
And I bet you that has to do a lot
with acting.
Speaker 3 (27:57):
Yeah, h has to do with the fact that you know, he's.
Speaker 1 (28:02):
Doesn't have an accent, you know, have to do well,
thank you, I did too.
Speaker 3 (28:07):
He's white and he's not.
Speaker 1 (28:10):
I don't know.
Speaker 3 (28:10):
I mean I look at all those factors, you know,
and I'm thinking, well, could be that I don't know.
Speaker 2 (28:15):
I don't but you know what, your career has been
so amazing, and I'm a strong believer in God, and
I feel like the roles that you've landed and that
you've played, you have killed. And it's because those were
the roles for you, the ones that you didn't get.
Speaker 1 (28:29):
No, I think you're right. I think something that's meant
for you, it's meant for you.
Speaker 3 (28:32):
But you still go through that journey of heart of
the heartbreak and whatever you go through to figure that out.
Speaker 2 (28:39):
You know, how does your family see you at home?
Speaker 3 (28:45):
When it's true? That's exactly what they say, dude.
Speaker 1 (28:59):
See the thing is my family, oh, factory workers except
my little brother.
Speaker 3 (29:02):
My little brother.
Speaker 1 (29:03):
I mean, he's amazing.
Speaker 3 (29:04):
I love him. He's he actually was the second family
member to graduate from college. And he's working down in Miami.
Beautiful house.
Speaker 2 (29:14):
He's chilling.
Speaker 3 (29:15):
He's chilling making some dough and it's beautiful and I'm
so proud of him. But everyone who's a factory worker
so like, they expect you to be like traditional, Yeah,
goot a job, dude, what are you doing job? I'm
like they're like, yeah, but since I haven't seen you
work with Donald Schwartz Nigga oh, Charles Bronson exact. So
(29:36):
you're like, man, what the hell is wrong? But that's
what that's how they see life. And I understand because
it's hard to explain to someone who doesn't know the
industry how it works to get a to get one
line in a in a TV show. Dude, it's hard.
It's hard.
Speaker 1 (29:51):
I mean, it's some hard ship to get one one
line in a TV show.
Speaker 3 (29:56):
But they don't get it.
Speaker 2 (29:57):
It's family. Yeah, but don't I give make um a
memy familiar.
Speaker 3 (30:02):
Something. Yes, but that's exactly what I feel like. That's
part of the culture. It's part of the Dominican culture
or the Latino culture.
Speaker 2 (30:19):
But your.
Speaker 3 (30:22):
My regular.
Speaker 2 (30:22):
I'm like my table and regular. No, no, no, no, no, no,
don I'm like, come said, you're okay?
Speaker 5 (30:31):
Twitter, Mama? Is it deliverate the mama? Like you you
know what I'm saying, mamablicative?
Speaker 3 (30:37):
You know you create your that's very funny.
Speaker 2 (30:44):
Uh what's your house?
Speaker 3 (30:59):
Then?
Speaker 2 (30:59):
Now who do you live with? If you don't myss?
Speaker 3 (31:02):
I'm married. Okay, she's cool. No, she's cool. No, she's
not to deal with the business, okay, which is great
in Santiago. Oh yeah, no, no, no, no, I know.
Speaker 2 (31:22):
Dominican Okay, no, you know you know, No, no, you don't.
Speaker 1 (31:29):
But me, I'm like real to you know, I'm real
to my my culture and.
Speaker 2 (31:32):
My probably my existing talent of course. Okaylor is okay, Okay,
you know what I'm saying.
Speaker 3 (31:42):
Oh yeah, man, we have a we have an issue
in the d R which is so crazy and it
has to do with our color color and it's crazy.
You're like, man, listen, we're not back in the time.
You know, this is like the real deal here.
Speaker 2 (31:54):
And it's very preleavent. Still, like it's still I see
it on my Facebook with my family members, you know,
sometimes like are we still stuck on this?
Speaker 3 (32:04):
No, it's crazy. Well, if you see, if you see
primetime TV in the DA, you don't see Dominican. No,
in prime time you don't.
Speaker 2 (32:13):
All you see is Big POPPI is not on TV.
Speaker 1 (32:15):
Big Poppy is not on TV, not in the deal
unless it's Big Poppy.
Speaker 3 (32:18):
Yeah, but exactly because Big Poppy became Big Poppy. Big
Poppy was just the Santiago Nicastle as po all of
a sudden, he's a because he became Big Poppy, Big Poppy.
Speaker 2 (32:32):
We don't care to color his skin now right exactly.
Speaker 3 (32:34):
It's crazy, dude. We have issues, huge issues, you know,
and it's sad, but that's how people, man.
Speaker 2 (32:41):
It isn't and you know we gotta love them. And
all we can do is what we do. You know,
put Dominicans, you know la bandero, you know, represent for
our people and speak when we do see an issue
because us staying silent when we see an issue with
our government, with our people with issues like colorism makes
us part of the problem.
Speaker 1 (32:59):
No, of course, of course, and it's sad.
Speaker 3 (33:03):
Listen, man, I wish sometime, I wish I could become
a president, like you know, run the country.
Speaker 2 (33:08):
Would you ever consider politics?
Speaker 3 (33:10):
No, I can't, because they will. They will hire someone.
They will hire a hit man to take me down
because they were like, we got to shut that dude down.
Because I'm very I'm very good, I'm very passionate, passionate man,
and very vocal, and.
Speaker 1 (33:26):
I would put half of whomever is in charge under
the jail.
Speaker 3 (33:31):
Everybody got to go.
Speaker 2 (33:33):
You want to jail, You're going to jail.
Speaker 3 (33:34):
You're going to jail because I know you corrupt, you
corrupted somehow, but anyway, No, but I'm not into politics.
That's why I'd rather just shoot stuff and with my
camera and uh and show show it to the world
and hopefully a change will happen.
Speaker 2 (33:49):
You're definitely making a difference because when I was watching
La Soga three, I was like this, I see the messages.
I saw them, you know, from the children, from the
family member, from the journalists, from the government, from your
own you know, perspective. I saw your character change. You
were a different person in this movie. I was like, yeah,
this is not as I'm.
Speaker 3 (34:10):
Used to exactly. He's just an older man who's been
through it and he's learned from it, and now he's
just trying to just live his life and that's it.
And nobody want to leave you alone, and nobody wants
to leave him alone, which is crazy.
Speaker 1 (34:23):
Though I did, I got my ass kicked to me.
Speaker 3 (34:26):
In real life. We rehearsed that ship for like a month.
Speaker 2 (34:29):
Guys, in the bathroom, I said, this looks dangerous.
Speaker 1 (34:34):
Right now, we rehearsed that for a month in the bathroom.
Speaker 3 (34:37):
I still got my ass beat. But but yeah, it's
pretty cool. Though it's a good it's funny. You know,
doing an action flick is very different than doing a
drama or doing a comedy, because you got to really
make that real.
Speaker 1 (34:50):
Like it's like a dance. Do you get your dance? No,
it was crazy. It was crazy, but we have some
great stunts.
Speaker 3 (34:56):
Guys who from there were from there, and we like
just everything was sort of it was like a dance
set up, like a dance moving fast.
Speaker 2 (35:04):
How do you feel about the fact that so many
women find you so attractive? Really?
Speaker 3 (35:10):
Yes, let me tell you.
Speaker 2 (35:14):
Let me tell you. Oh my god, man, I told
a couple of my friends. I was like, I'm gonna
interview them. Oh my gosh, somebody is big.
Speaker 1 (35:22):
I'm like, really, well, thank you very kind. You know
what's funny is the hair?
Speaker 3 (35:26):
What do you think it is? I don't know.
Speaker 2 (35:27):
You gotta know something I got.
Speaker 1 (35:29):
I got that George Clooney ship going on in my head.
Speaker 3 (35:32):
Maybe George had good hair.
Speaker 2 (35:33):
Who's responsible for this head of hair?
Speaker 3 (35:35):
It's my dad. Actually, I'll show you because you know
he has amazing hair. I mean, my dad was like,
let me show you who this guy is. He's amazing Antonio.
Check him out. Head of hair. Like he's the man,
(35:56):
you know, and now you're the man. Well, hopefully I'm
trying to be like my dad. You know, it's funny,
you know, I feel like my dad was my idol.
It's still my idol.
Speaker 2 (36:04):
Do you have children?
Speaker 1 (36:05):
No, but I want to working on that now.
Speaker 2 (36:07):
You're working on it now.
Speaker 3 (36:08):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, look at you.
Speaker 1 (36:10):
Yeah yeah, I don't know.
Speaker 2 (36:12):
I know your character. I'm like, he would be a
tough dad.
Speaker 3 (36:15):
It would be a sweet you would be a sweet dad.
Speaker 2 (36:17):
It's crazy because it's like I'm so used to all
your characters and like, who have seen you portray it.
I'm like, you might be hard.
Speaker 1 (36:23):
No, I think it would be exactly like my dad.
Speaker 3 (36:25):
My dad was like softy at the end, softy, but
he was rough, but deep down in his side he
was softy.
Speaker 2 (36:33):
Eleven kids and you know, probably going through it and
the Dominican Republic, you can't be soft. You can't be
on No, I know I can a discipline.
Speaker 3 (36:45):
Yeah, he was very disciplined, that's well say. And we
were like like for like half hour exactly, but you
know what's fun. He never really made the correassle, but
it hurt a lot more. Bro.
Speaker 2 (37:00):
I was like, yeah, you're kneeling there forever.
Speaker 1 (37:02):
I was naving there for like half hour. Yes, in market,
did you eat Mama?
Speaker 3 (37:14):
She didn't give a look.
Speaker 2 (37:15):
She said, it's some own sip. No, that's so dope.
I want you to know, man, you know we're so
proud of you. Well, thank you everyone. Dominican's here to
manic Latinos as a general because the way you portray us,
(37:36):
and you know, just the fact that you play a Latino,
you're not faking it. You're bringing us to life. You're
giving us a voice. You're putting us on the big screen,
you're putting us, you know, on TV, in movies and series.
You're giving our people a voice, and you're sharing our
story and that is so important. And just for that,
(37:58):
I love you.
Speaker 1 (38:00):
Really, You're very kind. Really thank you.
Speaker 3 (38:02):
That's beautiful words. And and again I'm just trying to
do the best I can with whatever element I have
in my hand, if it's a pencil, if it's a camera,
and just do the best. And if I get a role,
I just try to find the heart in that character,
because I really believe, like you know, the baddest motherfucker
out there, can I say the word, the baddest motherfucker
out there has a heart, of course, and he's human.
(38:25):
And that's it. You can't play a bag. I hate
watching movies where everybody's a bad guy and they're acting
like I'm a bad guy and they make a bad
guy face. You're like, dude, no, you You're just a guy.
Speaker 2 (38:34):
Like I was watching The Penguin the other day, exactly,
this guy is a bad motherfucker.
Speaker 3 (38:38):
Yeah. It's like it's like he's just in a situation,
and that's it. You know, I have cousins of mine
because I say him buying as whosah, I got you,
but who's just.
Speaker 1 (38:48):
I understand why they're doing badshit in the streets. But
he's not a bad guy.
Speaker 3 (38:51):
He's just.
Speaker 2 (38:52):
But then you go home and your dad and your son,
your husband, and those people don't kill them, kill their kids, dick.
Speaker 3 (39:00):
Exactly exactly, And that's about that. So I feel like,
you know, that's what that's what I do with my
acting and just make it real, make it just honest
and pure where everybody can relate to it. You know.
Speaker 2 (39:12):
So you are like the sweetest bad guy to have
ever lived. I don't know why I'm getting this from
you right now.
Speaker 3 (39:18):
Thank you. I am actually pretty kind. It's okay being
kind sometimes I can't think I'm okay, I will know, Yeah.
Speaker 2 (39:27):
People can't take advantage like, don't take my kindness for
weakness exactly definitely, But don't change.
Speaker 3 (39:34):
No, I won't.
Speaker 2 (39:35):
I won't do not change because you're one of the few. No, well,
thank you, you're one of the few. You know that's
super dope, talented, successful.
Speaker 3 (39:44):
And just good.
Speaker 2 (39:44):
People really come across people like that. Everybody's so like
high and mighty and up on their high horse. And
even the way me and you ended up here today
has built a newfound respect.
Speaker 3 (39:55):
I'm like, know what' same this is? I mean, really,
thank you so much. Honestly, this means so much to me.
It really does.
Speaker 1 (40:01):
Don't be lying, I'm serious, it means honestly, truly, this means.
Speaker 3 (40:05):
So much to me. Good.
Speaker 2 (40:06):
I'm glad you're here, and you know now we're connected
exactly alif and you know, just lean on each other.
I'm pretty sure you already have a big network, but
what's more one more person to be there for you know,
that is true, and that's me.
Speaker 3 (40:24):
That's well, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you.
Appreciate it.
Speaker 2 (40:28):
I really really appreciate you sitting down with me today.
Speaker 3 (40:31):
Well, thank you for having me and again we're like
brothers and sisters for life pretty much see pretty much.
Speaker 2 (40:42):
Well, thank you so much, Thank you, Gracia, and come again.
Speaker 3 (40:45):
I will. Don't play with me, I will, I will. Gracias.
Speaker 2 (40:57):
Come Again is a production of Honey German Productions and
partnership with iheart's my Kundura podcast network.
Gracias Come Again, a podcast by Honey German.
Speaker 2 (00:08):
Today we're sitting down with a true icon of Dominican
cinema and Hollywood actor, Manny Perez. From Santiago to the
bright lights of the big screen. Manny has carved out
a name for himself as one of the most versatile
and celebrated Latino actors of our time, and he's here
to give us the real behind his life, journey, the projects,
and what's next for the Pride of Black Republica Dominicana. Welcome,
(00:31):
Manny Perez, bim Menil. I've been following your career forever.
Manny Perez is here with us in studio today. How
are you feeling talk to me?
Speaker 3 (00:41):
Well, thank you for having me. Really, it is a
pleasure to be here. I most so, just so you
know we've I've known no view from a while while back,
really press, so when you hit me up, I was like, what, yeah,
let's do this.
Speaker 1 (00:56):
So thank you for having me. Really, this means a lot.
Speaker 2 (00:59):
I jump right in your DM, I said, and Manny,
I want to interview you because you know, life is
all about going for it, right of course, And I
made a wishless at the beginning of the season and
you are part of the list.
Speaker 1 (01:11):
Oh oh wow, well thank you.
Speaker 2 (01:12):
I was like, I want to sit down with many
press because there's so many different things I admire about you.
First of all, we're both Dominicans. Let's talk about it.
Speaker 3 (01:20):
There you go.
Speaker 2 (01:21):
Second of all, you're just so not afraid of speaking
your mind and really, you know, using your art for
the disenfranchised and the people that don't have a voice.
And that's super big for me. It's like, you're an actor.
That's great, so many actors in this world, but are
you making a difference as an actor? You are and
(01:42):
for that I admire you.
Speaker 3 (01:43):
Well, thank you, thank you. What's funny, you know, I
believe that, you know, if God gave me a talent,
and I feel like I don't want to be an
actor just to walk around with glasses and PRT and bay.
Now you know, I wanted to make a difference. And
I feel like the projects that I do, I do
them because they mean something to me or to the
(02:04):
community or to the world. And uh. And so what
I do is I take my money money I made,
create write my own stories that I want to make
a point, and I go and shoot them and and yes,
I've had problems with the films that I've that I've shot,
especially in the Minican Republic, with politicians who don't want
(02:26):
the world to know what's happening in their in their backyard.
But I feel like, listen, man, God gave me this voice.
I feel like I'm gonna use it and I'm gonna
show the world, you know, what's happening.
Speaker 2 (02:36):
And that brings me right to Lasogadris, which is the
project that you're currently you know, promoting. Yes, I saw
so much in that movie and I was just like, wow,
he took a risk here. Not only do you talk
about you know, corruption, corruption in the government, you also
have you know, child pedophilia in there. Yeah, you have
so much you know, just family just going against family,
(03:00):
you know, just you know, crimes against journalists in our country.
And I was just like, wow, he really took a
risk with this one.
Speaker 3 (03:08):
Yeah, I did. You know, It's funny, you know, everything
you see in that film actually is based on true
events that happen in the dr that are still happening
in the DR And like I said, I feel like,
if I'm going to invest my own money, I want
to make sure that I leave a point so the
world can see what's happening. And that means a lot
(03:29):
to me as an artist, I really do. I just
don't want to act for the sake of just acting.
I want to just say, hey, man, this was going down,
check it out. Let's make a change, and hopefully maybe
it will change some people's mind and they'll look at
what's happening and they'll start a movement. I don't know,
but I feel like that's what I want to do
as an actor.
Speaker 2 (03:50):
And you're leading, that's what you're doing because you put
it in me. I'm like, this is happening because I
am somewhat disengaged being you know, I guess born and
raised in New York. I'm not they're something not experiencing
what the island is experiencing. But watching the movie, I
was like, she is real, Yeah, it's happening.
Speaker 3 (04:07):
Well, you know what's funny.
Speaker 1 (04:08):
I come from a small town in the dr right
called Baidoa.
Speaker 3 (04:11):
It's like in the mountains of Santiago San Diego. So
in this town, we still don't have electricity. Exactly twenty
twenty four, exactly what.
Speaker 2 (04:26):
Are you already, oh, Dominican Republican is the Dubai of
the Caribbean Maseratis Dubai.
Speaker 3 (04:32):
Is Punta ga is Santo Domingo, then everything else. So
I say to myself and say, well, man, that's what's happening.
And I feel like everybody has an iPhone there, everybody
drives the Borghini whatever, but there's no electricity to plug
your iPhone dude. So it's like, wait, are we you know,
let's let's focus on the basic and La Soga vengeance
(04:55):
three deals with let's get this. As a matter of fact,
the last message that I leave you is, hey, let's
focus on the basic education, electricity, uh Medica hospital medicare, Like,
let's deal with the basic.
Speaker 2 (05:09):
That is some basic ship.
Speaker 3 (05:10):
That is some basic ship that we need. But somehow
we're going I feel like we're going forward. By the
same time, we're going backwards with what's with with what's
happening in the island. And that's not cool, man, it's
not cool.
Speaker 2 (05:23):
And now when you said you got, you know, kind
of like backlash from some politicians, how did you receive it?
Was it a phone call? Was it the newspapers? Your phone?
Speaker 3 (05:32):
This phone, dude? It was crazy, can't on me? And
I had when I was promoting my film it opened there,
I went on national TV.
Speaker 1 (05:42):
I went crazy because I don't know.
Speaker 3 (05:47):
Exactly and I feel like I say what I say
and and I was like complaining about how my little
town has no water and I'm like, dude, twenty twenty four.
And then an hour later, I get a call on
this phone and can't said. He's like, listen, man, I
(06:12):
got the point.
Speaker 2 (06:16):
Our biggest actor internationally and at le we're not Louisa.
Speaker 1 (06:21):
He was like, I got the we got the point.
We're on it, on it, trust me.
Speaker 3 (06:25):
And I was like se. I was like, I'm like,
you're honest. He's like, I've been on it since. I'm like, well, dude,
since two years ago. I was I was told by
the last government that you guys were on it. Spent
two years nothing is happening, and still nothing happening. And
now I spend a year ago nothing's happening to this day.
And uh so he's like, you need to calm that down,
you know, just bring it down.
Speaker 2 (06:46):
Like listen, bro, you up, no many left? Yeah, you know,
but you know what, it takes a lot of courage,
you know, to exist in our own country and go
up against our own government, because nothing we want more
than to be loved by our people, and sometimes it
(07:08):
can take one politician to get everybody to want to
turn against us. So I commend you. You're a brave man.
Speaker 3 (07:13):
No, well, thank you. The thing is, I'm not trying
to be brave. I'm just trying to like be real
on the moment, and if you ask me, I'm going
to answer you in a real way.
Speaker 2 (07:23):
You're out here, like Spike Lee, doing the right thing,
right exactly.
Speaker 3 (07:26):
Do exactly. Great film, by the way.
Speaker 2 (07:29):
That is that classic. That is definitely classic. Now, speaking
of classics, let's go back to your beginnings, because you've
been doing this. I was watching your real like you're
acting real, and I'm like, I saw you, and I've
saw you like in your twenties and your thirties and
your forties. I said, this man has been eaten off
of acting his whole life. Have you ever had any
other job other than acting?
Speaker 3 (07:48):
No, listen, I've been blessed. I've been blessed. But after college,
I was a bartender. Okay, I was downtown Novachento, a
place called novachenta way way back bartender. Then I went
to l a bartender again, and.
Speaker 2 (08:06):
You went to l A to act, to act.
Speaker 3 (08:09):
Bett became a but rolled and say, and then I
got I booked, h It's funny. Before that, I booked
this indie film called New York Cup with Mirosovino, Chad
McQueen and then Little Me, you know, as like the
(08:31):
bad guy, and I thought when that came, I'm like, well,
it's gonna be the film that is it? Not another?
Speaker 1 (08:41):
And I was like, well, back to bartending. So I
went back to bartending.
Speaker 2 (08:44):
Do you remember how to make any drinks?
Speaker 3 (08:46):
Of course, youngo and says, I went to l A,
didn't book anything, came back and I booked one hundred
Center Street with Sidney Lumett and that was an amazing
show for any where. I play this Dominican lawyer, defense attorney,
(09:12):
and that really changed my career. Then I took that
money and then wrote with a friend of mine, Washington Heights,
the film Washington Heights, and that really took my career
to a different level.
Speaker 2 (09:26):
How good do you feel about the fact that you've
always been able to exist as a Dominican man, as
a Latino telling our stories, playing characters that are like
like you haven't had to fake it, you know, because
we have some Latinos that play black, that play white,
that do anything but play but you do. How good
does that feel that you never had to fake who
(09:47):
you weren't?
Speaker 3 (09:47):
Well, I feel like that's what I am. I feel
like as actors, we got to show who we are.
Speaker 1 (09:52):
And I believe that.
Speaker 3 (09:53):
I believe the acting is is is living you in
a situation. So I truly believe that, and I've been
blessed again. You know, I've always played the bad guy,
mostly the bad guys. But what I do is I
try to find the heart in these characters and just
give him a different point of view from my angles
(10:13):
as what many Perez would do. So and I always say,
you know, you see Denzel Washington as Denzel Washington in
every film, You see Robert de Niro's Robert deniroll in
every film, because that's what they're special, that's what they do,
that's what they bring. So I feel like I'm bringing
what many Perez will bring to that situation that he's
involved in, in whatever character he's playing.
Speaker 2 (10:34):
And I love you for it because anytime I watch it,
like that's manny, that's how Many moves his mouth that's
how many moves his hands. It's like you're playing a
different character, but it's still you. Even the way you
move your mouth to the side.
Speaker 3 (10:46):
Exactly, that's it. But that's what it's you. But the
thing is, you know, as actors, that's what we got.
We have nothing as I can't be you because it's
impossible to be you. You know you're special. You do you,
I do me in a situation. That's what I believe
what acting is about. Not everything else is just extra
layer that people don't need. Complicate stuff. Feet.
Speaker 4 (11:08):
Oh yeah, feet, that's a picular meter.
Speaker 2 (11:13):
And let me tell you what you know. If you
if you're listening and you've never watched Ponchao, you have to.
It's just such a hilarious flick.
Speaker 3 (11:21):
It's a funny. And you did a.
Speaker 2 (11:22):
Great gay role well pretend gayrol. You were so good
at it. I loved it. It was just like it
just felt that also felt so natural. Feet, I'm like,
how did this link happen?
Speaker 3 (11:33):
Feet? That is the most beautiful woman I've ever met
in my She deserves that anymore.
Speaker 1 (11:46):
And she's all about the business.
Speaker 3 (11:48):
She's like, look man Loago, And I was like, I
was like, I love you. Let's do it inside that.
Speaker 1 (11:58):
But she was amazing, really, she's she's amazing.
Speaker 3 (12:00):
I we still child, we still talk, and I'm so
happy they made this film about her life. You know,
she's just an amazing talent and and and then and
icon in our our music industry, Dominican music industry.
Speaker 2 (12:15):
And you know what's great that we idolize her if
we give her her flowers.
Speaker 3 (12:20):
You know.
Speaker 2 (12:20):
Yeah, we joke around about how old she is and
if she's seventy or eighty or one hundred. You know,
but we love her. And she's on a pedestal for Dominicans,
of course, and that's super important for us to do
with our people. And that's why you're here today, you
know that.
Speaker 1 (12:33):
Kind Well, thank you, thank you, thank you.
Speaker 2 (12:36):
And she's getting her movie. Now, let's talk about Benano.
How did ben come about? Is that something you came
up with the idea to do.
Speaker 1 (12:43):
No, Actually, it's funny. When I did the Hoyo, that's.
Speaker 2 (12:47):
That's my favorite movie, well that you've done, it was
just so gretty. It was just so real. It was
just so raw. Yeah, that was the hair was doing
this thing in that movie too. You have good hair,
but good hair, but that week.
Speaker 1 (13:01):
You know what's funny, that's based on a real guy.
Speaker 3 (13:03):
That's based on a real narco guy in the d
R fairly Phelix Felie, Well, it's based on a real
If you look.
Speaker 1 (13:16):
Up Narco, Dominican Narco, his name pop up.
Speaker 3 (13:20):
It's based on his life, how he was sent to prison,
but in prison he was out and about every other week.
Speaker 1 (13:29):
So it's based on that.
Speaker 3 (13:30):
So the guy, the producer who who produced that film
so sorry, the producer of Jack nan.
Speaker 1 (13:41):
And say, hey man, you look exactly like Jack.
Speaker 3 (13:45):
All your local put on me. And I was like local.
So then I was like, okay, well let's meet up.
And he was real. He's like, listen, I own the rights,
he's the deal. You look exactly like him. Let's start.
So then I started doing Researcher and Jack Benano because
I knew who he was. I grew up watching him,
(14:06):
but I had no idea how to imitate him with mannerisms.
And it's different the way how I speak his his
his his Dominican is very elite.
Speaker 2 (14:16):
My Dominican is a real person. So that makes it
even harder.
Speaker 3 (14:19):
Right exactly, So I studied that guy for about four
years via YouTube. Then I had to learn about learn.
Speaker 2 (14:28):
You did stunts.
Speaker 1 (14:29):
I did stunts.
Speaker 2 (14:33):
I was like, that was all shot in dominic.
Speaker 3 (14:38):
That was all shot in Dominican Republic.
Speaker 2 (14:40):
And what do you do when you do these movies?
You relocate to the art.
Speaker 3 (14:43):
I relocated to d R and I'm there for three
four months. No, and I and I work it out.
Speaker 2 (14:52):
So how are you so humble and like so real?
I'm like, I'm like blown away. And I was talking
about that before you came, because when I ask you
how many people are coming, it's just you. And I'm like,
if he would have been a rapper, it would have
been twelve people. I said, this is an actor, This
is like a Hollywood actor. This is like the biggest
Dominican actor ever.
Speaker 3 (15:10):
Well, thank you, But you know what's funny. I see
the thing is I don't believe. That's why I said
to me, being an actor is not about fame and
about about the glory and the glasses, about just me
doing great work. And I feel like these guys who
walk around with twenty hulums and twenty dudes behind them,
I feel like they got issues of just them being
them and nothing.
Speaker 1 (15:32):
I'm not talking about anyone else. I'm just saying in general.
Speaker 2 (15:34):
Plus, you get to save all your money, right, and
you don't got to pay a publicist and a manager
and a stylist and a hairstylist and a water bottle getter.
You don't got paid twenty people, right exactly.
Speaker 1 (15:47):
So you're.
Speaker 4 (16:02):
This so soga though for your personamas okay, but finaldia.
Speaker 2 (16:17):
Okay, Michell, you are yaga, Laudio will be there, Okay,
I guess yea ben am I getting a second part?
Do you make it come more like?
Speaker 3 (16:36):
Yeah? No, everyone is asking a sad question. No, well,
no that I don't know. I don't know.
Speaker 2 (16:43):
It's like a cliffhanger where you was The idea was
to make Vanana two and three. Okay, okay, I knew
it because I'm like that was the idea. What is
happening right now?
Speaker 3 (16:53):
Is it pause or is it not pause? Right now?
The producer is working working out the details regarding script
that help help well, exactly right, I mean it. No,
it's true and we should you know, But he says
that maybe by the end of the year we can
we will start.
Speaker 1 (17:11):
I don't know, okay, I don't know.
Speaker 2 (17:14):
What are you working on for twenty twenty five. What's
in post production?
Speaker 3 (17:17):
Talk?
Speaker 2 (17:17):
Well, okay, well you can share.
Speaker 3 (17:19):
I will well for my own projects. I wrote something
that I want to do, another film that I want
to shoot, but this one will takes takes place in
the United States that deals with Dominican corruption in the
New United States.
Speaker 2 (17:33):
Is corruption, of course there is from everywhere.
Speaker 3 (17:36):
We We're crazy.
Speaker 1 (17:38):
So that's what I want to do. But with that,
I need my funds. It's not gonna be enough.
Speaker 3 (17:43):
I need you need really, yeah, said no, I'm looking.
I'm looking for like three hundred thousand dollars.
Speaker 2 (17:51):
I can't help. Sorry, I'm gonna have to call about Pittman,
the CEO.
Speaker 5 (17:56):
But hey, days it will be amazing.
Speaker 3 (18:02):
So I have I have that and I and I
have a film that I that I worked on as
an actor that might come out this year, A Cold
Final Hour where I play a priest that was shot
him down in Atlanta. It's interesting, interesting story.
Speaker 2 (18:19):
So father John, Father John movie, that's right right on that.
How did that come about? And you're playing a priest?
Speaker 3 (18:30):
I played the priest.
Speaker 2 (18:31):
I could see it.
Speaker 3 (18:32):
Yeah, one of the producers saw my work.
Speaker 1 (18:35):
It's funny. He saw my work in a sooga and
he's like, listen, man, I need.
Speaker 3 (18:38):
A priest who has a priest who's not afraid to
face his demons, because the whole story deals with him,
uh going to prison. He gives the last rights to
the prisoner, and this prisoner happens to be the guy
who killed his family, so there's like a conflict of
(18:59):
all guys and stuff.
Speaker 2 (19:00):
He's got to be really gritty.
Speaker 3 (19:02):
So he has to be like a priest who who's
not afraid.
Speaker 2 (19:05):
He's a badass.
Speaker 3 (19:05):
Yeah, yeah, you're bad priest. So that's the idea you're.
Speaker 2 (19:08):
Doing and you're bad ass and all. Now, were you
a badass kid? No?
Speaker 3 (19:14):
I was actually no a kid, were you? I come
from a family of eleven kids.
Speaker 2 (19:21):
Things jud because I didn't know no, no.
Speaker 3 (19:26):
Together my momy went down. We didn't have electricity, so
it's like impossible eleven. I'm number ten of eleven. Okay,
So so I was the clown in the family. So
I always wanted to like make people laugh. So I
was like when I came to the United States, I
(19:46):
was like, you know what I'm going to do it here? Guys.
Speaker 2 (19:50):
You started with your church, right, Yeah? To moon though listen,
I am a stalker slash journalist. No.
Speaker 3 (19:57):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (19:57):
I started in a church just down the block from
where I lived.
Speaker 3 (20:02):
No Catholic, I guess it's Christian Catholic Catholic and they
do Saturdays plays like afternoon kids. Uh theater theater. So
I was like seeing that. I didn't know English, by
the way I had. I had no idea how to
speak English. So I was ten and then I was
like what is that? And then you know, like all
they're doing place, So I went in there. The lady
(20:25):
took me on. She's like, okay, you you stay there.
You're the tree. So I was the tree.
Speaker 2 (20:31):
Acting careers popped off.
Speaker 3 (20:33):
I was the green tree, and and uh, what was it?
Peter Pan?
Speaker 2 (20:37):
Was it?
Speaker 3 (20:38):
Well? I played the tree, no lines, no lines, and
I was smiling.
Speaker 2 (20:44):
If life was only that silvil, right, And I was like, oh,
I love this.
Speaker 3 (20:49):
So I couldn't wait for Saturday to get.
Speaker 2 (20:51):
What did you like about it? Was it being on stage?
Was it being creative? I think was making people happy?
Speaker 3 (20:56):
I think it was a touch of all or the above.
Just because I was it was it was a different
world for me. I was like, Wow, this is beautiful,
this is great, and yeah, I said. So when I
graduated high school, I decided to move to New York
to pursue acting.
Speaker 1 (21:15):
I went to.
Speaker 2 (21:19):
Young Acting. I told you, you need to go to
New York. Somebody did no, It's just I did research
and there was New York l A. And I was like, well,
you could take the bus in New York.
Speaker 1 (21:30):
I could take yeah. So I so basically I took
the bus in New York. You didn't mind you.
Speaker 3 (21:33):
My dad and my mom you OK.
Speaker 1 (21:37):
They were like, no, I do that here in my classes,
but I said me, and I was like, oh my god.
Speaker 3 (21:45):
So then I said me always dreamed of one of
us amons to go to college. And then I owned diploma.
Speaker 2 (21:54):
Because I was of course Dominican parents get so memo.
Speaker 3 (21:59):
But none of my eleven brothers and sisters, they all like,
were factory workers and they went to high school, quit
high school, went into factory. And I was like, you
know what that I'm gonna get you that. So I
need to get body. But if you let me go
to New York, exact me. So I met Janco York
and then.
Speaker 2 (22:16):
That's how I That's how I managed to up because
nobody need commented I.
Speaker 3 (22:22):
Got a scholarship.
Speaker 2 (22:23):
You did, okay, so do we need.
Speaker 3 (22:29):
Just to act?
Speaker 1 (22:30):
No?
Speaker 3 (22:30):
Yeah, I came to study. So then I came and
did an audition and they gave me a scholarship.
Speaker 2 (22:35):
And I was like, what then, what you're surprised about?
Speaker 3 (22:40):
It's like case. Honestly, I had no idea. And then
I was like, oh, and then they gave you like
somehow they gave me extra money on the side.
Speaker 2 (22:49):
Learning expenses, and so I was happy, and so.
Speaker 3 (22:54):
I was like, this is perfect. And then that's how
I got my my my college degree, a BA in
Bachelor in in uh in acting from Marry mind. I
love it and I was very thank you. And then
represent see Peral. He passed away three months before I graduated,
and that really broke my heart. That like, I know,
(23:19):
but you you cure okay at the old fast you're
gonna go HINTI friends of mine who are way better talent,
and you know they speak way better English and all
(23:39):
this and logo it's hard to you know, Papa, are
you the man? Megi? I met you the final This
is not This is a hard career, dude. It's not
for everyone. I honestly that's why I say that. You know,
I meet actors who are like, yeah, and I want
to be an actor. Uh overnight and bro overnight, you
(24:00):
gotta you gotta work your ass. Bro, you gotta like
learn how to take ka tatis workshops and classes and
figure this out.
Speaker 1 (24:08):
You know, it's now an overnight thing.
Speaker 2 (24:11):
So now, what role were you most surprised that you got?
Like you were like, I'm not getting this. I'm not
getting this, and you went home you were like, ye see.
Speaker 3 (24:21):
Oh you know what I'll tell you.
Speaker 1 (24:22):
I'm gonna tell you a little story because it's comical.
Speaker 3 (24:24):
Ship. I went to La when I was in my
l a bartender, see and uh, they were doing a
remake of love Boat, the love Boat the show, the
show and you know the black dude, Hey the bartender.
I was a bartender, Like, this's my job. They were
looking for a Latino bartender for that role. Them the
(24:47):
min Latino actor who can play a bartender in a role.
So I go in, got a call back and I
was like, whoa there me winning again. Got another call
back and they were like, now you're going to go
meet the executives, the the the suits where you do
the test, the pilot test and things where you signed
the contract and they say exactly how what you're getting.
Speaker 1 (25:07):
Look, and I saw so many numbers.
Speaker 3 (25:08):
I'm like, it's great, this is this is prior to
you doing your last uh screen test. So it's me,
m blanquito. You even.
Speaker 1 (25:26):
An Asian guy. So the Asian guy goes in and
I hear him. I'm like, they didn't they let him go?
Speaker 2 (25:33):
Okay, no, Champagne, no, no.
Speaker 3 (25:36):
I went in. They were like, hey, do you give
me a note? Go outside? And then they took the
other the white guy who's that you.
Speaker 2 (25:44):
Know, the white guy person.
Speaker 3 (25:45):
Yeah, they were he went in and I'm like.
Speaker 1 (25:47):
Wow, he's sound horrible. That's me judging that.
Speaker 3 (25:50):
So I'm thinking. So I go in and they're like
house great, blah blah blah, and it say twenty or
thirty suits inside this room, a lot of people crazy.
So then they're like thank you for coming, and I'm thinking, okay.
So then I see that the white guy who went
and it's not outside anymore. So I'm like, well, I
guess I'm gonna let him go. So then I go
(26:13):
home and I'm thinking, this is my job.
Speaker 2 (26:14):
Man.
Speaker 3 (26:14):
They called me back and it's like, yeah, I go in.
They called me and they were like, listen, man, my
agent calls me. He's like, it's not going to go
any further. They went with the other guy, the white
guy who passed Latino. Oh yeah, you got in a pistol.
I was crying.
Speaker 1 (26:29):
I started praying. I was like, this shit is crazy.
I broke my heart.
Speaker 3 (26:35):
But you know, I got up from there like two
hours later, and I was like, man, I'm gonna, I'm
I'm now I'm really gonna get strong and I'm really gonna,
you know, go for what I for what I want.
And that made me stronger. But my point is, at
that point they were looking for Latino. They went with
some white dude who looks Latino to get the job,
and he got the job. They show got canceled after
one season. But the point is, you know, I really
(26:58):
thought I was gonna get that one didn't happen. But
then I came to New York and I book literally
I booked one hundred Central Street with Sidney Lumett, which
is like for me, it's like a legend in the
industry of filmmaking. And I played like amazing role. And
that's why you didn't get your bartending gig and that's why. No,
it's true. Well, something's meant meant for you. It's meant
(27:19):
but at that point it hurt me that I didn't
get it because I was like, man, they're looking for
a bartender who's an actor, who's in the show Latino.
It's just like yo, you know, bat.
Speaker 2 (27:32):
With jobs where it's you and you're the creative, when
they don't pick you, they don't pick you.
Speaker 3 (27:38):
Yeah, and that's hurtful.
Speaker 2 (27:39):
It's just like even when I do something with voice,
it's like they hated my voice, they didn't want to
hire me. Or if I do something for interviewing or
the one with somebody else, it's because they didn't like me.
So I understand where you kind of like came from.
It's just like, what did he have that I didn't have?
And I bet you that has to do a lot
with acting.
Speaker 3 (27:57):
Yeah, h has to do with the fact that you know, he's.
Speaker 1 (28:02):
Doesn't have an accent, you know, have to do well,
thank you, I did too.
Speaker 3 (28:07):
He's white and he's not.
Speaker 1 (28:10):
I don't know.
Speaker 3 (28:10):
I mean I look at all those factors, you know,
and I'm thinking, well, could be that I don't know.
Speaker 2 (28:15):
I don't but you know what, your career has been
so amazing, and I'm a strong believer in God, and
I feel like the roles that you've landed and that
you've played, you have killed. And it's because those were
the roles for you, the ones that you didn't get.
Speaker 1 (28:29):
No, I think you're right. I think something that's meant
for you, it's meant for you.
Speaker 3 (28:32):
But you still go through that journey of heart of
the heartbreak and whatever you go through to figure that out.
Speaker 2 (28:39):
You know, how does your family see you at home?
Speaker 3 (28:45):
When it's true? That's exactly what they say, dude.
Speaker 1 (28:59):
See the thing is my family, oh, factory workers except
my little brother.
Speaker 3 (29:02):
My little brother.
Speaker 1 (29:03):
I mean, he's amazing.
Speaker 3 (29:04):
I love him. He's he actually was the second family
member to graduate from college. And he's working down in Miami.
Beautiful house.
Speaker 2 (29:14):
He's chilling.
Speaker 3 (29:15):
He's chilling making some dough and it's beautiful and I'm
so proud of him. But everyone who's a factory worker
so like, they expect you to be like traditional, Yeah,
goot a job, dude, what are you doing job? I'm
like they're like, yeah, but since I haven't seen you
work with Donald Schwartz Nigga oh, Charles Bronson exact. So
(29:36):
you're like, man, what the hell is wrong? But that's
what that's how they see life. And I understand because
it's hard to explain to someone who doesn't know the
industry how it works to get a to get one
line in a in a TV show. Dude, it's hard.
It's hard.
Speaker 1 (29:51):
I mean, it's some hard ship to get one one
line in a TV show.
Speaker 3 (29:56):
But they don't get it.
Speaker 2 (29:57):
It's family. Yeah, but don't I give make um a
memy familiar.
Speaker 3 (30:02):
Something. Yes, but that's exactly what I feel like. That's
part of the culture. It's part of the Dominican culture
or the Latino culture.
Speaker 2 (30:19):
But your.
Speaker 3 (30:22):
My regular.
Speaker 2 (30:22):
I'm like my table and regular. No, no, no, no, no, no,
don I'm like, come said, you're okay?
Speaker 5 (30:31):
Twitter, Mama? Is it deliverate the mama? Like you you
know what I'm saying, mamablicative?
Speaker 3 (30:37):
You know you create your that's very funny.
Speaker 2 (30:44):
Uh what's your house?
Speaker 3 (30:59):
Then?
Speaker 2 (30:59):
Now who do you live with? If you don't myss?
Speaker 3 (31:02):
I'm married. Okay, she's cool. No, she's cool. No, she's
not to deal with the business, okay, which is great
in Santiago. Oh yeah, no, no, no, no, I know.
Speaker 2 (31:22):
Dominican Okay, no, you know you know, No, no, you don't.
Speaker 1 (31:29):
But me, I'm like real to you know, I'm real
to my my culture and.
Speaker 2 (31:32):
My probably my existing talent of course. Okaylor is okay, Okay,
you know what I'm saying.
Speaker 3 (31:42):
Oh yeah, man, we have a we have an issue
in the d R which is so crazy and it
has to do with our color color and it's crazy.
You're like, man, listen, we're not back in the time.
You know, this is like the real deal here.
Speaker 2 (31:54):
And it's very preleavent. Still, like it's still I see
it on my Facebook with my family members, you know,
sometimes like are we still stuck on this?
Speaker 3 (32:04):
No, it's crazy. Well, if you see, if you see
primetime TV in the DA, you don't see Dominican. No,
in prime time you don't.
Speaker 2 (32:13):
All you see is Big POPPI is not on TV.
Speaker 1 (32:15):
Big Poppy is not on TV, not in the deal
unless it's Big Poppy.
Speaker 3 (32:18):
Yeah, but exactly because Big Poppy became Big Poppy. Big
Poppy was just the Santiago Nicastle as po all of
a sudden, he's a because he became Big Poppy, Big Poppy.
Speaker 2 (32:32):
We don't care to color his skin now right exactly.
Speaker 3 (32:34):
It's crazy, dude. We have issues, huge issues, you know,
and it's sad, but that's how people, man.
Speaker 2 (32:41):
It isn't and you know we gotta love them. And
all we can do is what we do. You know,
put Dominicans, you know la bandero, you know, represent for
our people and speak when we do see an issue
because us staying silent when we see an issue with
our government, with our people with issues like colorism makes
us part of the problem.
Speaker 1 (32:59):
No, of course, of course, and it's sad.
Speaker 3 (33:03):
Listen, man, I wish sometime, I wish I could become
a president, like you know, run the country.
Speaker 2 (33:08):
Would you ever consider politics?
Speaker 3 (33:10):
No, I can't, because they will. They will hire someone.
They will hire a hit man to take me down
because they were like, we got to shut that dude down.
Because I'm very I'm very good, I'm very passionate, passionate man,
and very vocal, and.
Speaker 1 (33:26):
I would put half of whomever is in charge under
the jail.
Speaker 3 (33:31):
Everybody got to go.
Speaker 2 (33:33):
You want to jail, You're going to jail.
Speaker 3 (33:34):
You're going to jail because I know you corrupt, you
corrupted somehow, but anyway, No, but I'm not into politics.
That's why I'd rather just shoot stuff and with my
camera and uh and show show it to the world
and hopefully a change will happen.
Speaker 2 (33:49):
You're definitely making a difference because when I was watching
La Soga three, I was like this, I see the messages.
I saw them, you know, from the children, from the
family member, from the journalists, from the government, from your
own you know, perspective. I saw your character change. You
were a different person in this movie. I was like, yeah,
this is not as I'm.
Speaker 3 (34:10):
Used to exactly. He's just an older man who's been
through it and he's learned from it, and now he's
just trying to just live his life and that's it.
And nobody want to leave you alone, and nobody wants
to leave him alone, which is crazy.
Speaker 1 (34:23):
Though I did, I got my ass kicked to me.
Speaker 3 (34:26):
In real life. We rehearsed that ship for like a month.
Speaker 2 (34:29):
Guys, in the bathroom, I said, this looks dangerous.
Speaker 1 (34:34):
Right now, we rehearsed that for a month in the bathroom.
Speaker 3 (34:37):
I still got my ass beat. But but yeah, it's
pretty cool. Though it's a good it's funny. You know,
doing an action flick is very different than doing a
drama or doing a comedy, because you got to really
make that real.
Speaker 1 (34:50):
Like it's like a dance. Do you get your dance? No,
it was crazy. It was crazy, but we have some
great stunts.
Speaker 3 (34:56):
Guys who from there were from there, and we like
just everything was sort of it was like a dance
set up, like a dance moving fast.
Speaker 2 (35:04):
How do you feel about the fact that so many
women find you so attractive? Really?
Speaker 3 (35:10):
Yes, let me tell you.
Speaker 2 (35:14):
Let me tell you. Oh my god, man, I told
a couple of my friends. I was like, I'm gonna
interview them. Oh my gosh, somebody is big.
Speaker 1 (35:22):
I'm like, really, well, thank you very kind. You know
what's funny is the hair?
Speaker 3 (35:26):
What do you think it is? I don't know.
Speaker 2 (35:27):
You gotta know something I got.
Speaker 1 (35:29):
I got that George Clooney ship going on in my head.
Speaker 3 (35:32):
Maybe George had good hair.
Speaker 2 (35:33):
Who's responsible for this head of hair?
Speaker 3 (35:35):
It's my dad. Actually, I'll show you because you know
he has amazing hair. I mean, my dad was like,
let me show you who this guy is. He's amazing Antonio.
Check him out. Head of hair. Like he's the man,
(35:56):
you know, and now you're the man. Well, hopefully I'm
trying to be like my dad. You know, it's funny,
you know, I feel like my dad was my idol.
It's still my idol.
Speaker 2 (36:04):
Do you have children?
Speaker 1 (36:05):
No, but I want to working on that now.
Speaker 2 (36:07):
You're working on it now.
Speaker 3 (36:08):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, look at you.
Speaker 1 (36:10):
Yeah yeah, I don't know.
Speaker 2 (36:12):
I know your character. I'm like, he would be a
tough dad.
Speaker 3 (36:15):
It would be a sweet you would be a sweet dad.
Speaker 2 (36:17):
It's crazy because it's like I'm so used to all
your characters and like, who have seen you portray it.
I'm like, you might be hard.
Speaker 1 (36:23):
No, I think it would be exactly like my dad.
Speaker 3 (36:25):
My dad was like softy at the end, softy, but
he was rough, but deep down in his side he
was softy.
Speaker 2 (36:33):
Eleven kids and you know, probably going through it and
the Dominican Republic, you can't be soft. You can't be
on No, I know I can a discipline.
Speaker 3 (36:45):
Yeah, he was very disciplined, that's well say. And we
were like like for like half hour exactly, but you
know what's fun. He never really made the correassle, but
it hurt a lot more. Bro.
Speaker 2 (37:00):
I was like, yeah, you're kneeling there forever.
Speaker 1 (37:02):
I was naving there for like half hour. Yes, in market,
did you eat Mama?
Speaker 3 (37:14):
She didn't give a look.
Speaker 2 (37:15):
She said, it's some own sip. No, that's so dope.
I want you to know, man, you know we're so
proud of you. Well, thank you everyone. Dominican's here to
manic Latinos as a general because the way you portray us,
(37:36):
and you know, just the fact that you play a Latino,
you're not faking it. You're bringing us to life. You're
giving us a voice. You're putting us on the big screen,
you're putting us, you know, on TV, in movies and series.
You're giving our people a voice, and you're sharing our
story and that is so important. And just for that,
(37:58):
I love you.
Speaker 1 (38:00):
Really, You're very kind. Really thank you.
Speaker 3 (38:02):
That's beautiful words. And and again I'm just trying to
do the best I can with whatever element I have
in my hand, if it's a pencil, if it's a camera,
and just do the best. And if I get a role,
I just try to find the heart in that character,
because I really believe, like you know, the baddest motherfucker
out there, can I say the word, the baddest motherfucker
out there has a heart, of course, and he's human.
(38:25):
And that's it. You can't play a bag. I hate
watching movies where everybody's a bad guy and they're acting
like I'm a bad guy and they make a bad
guy face. You're like, dude, no, you You're just a guy.
Speaker 2 (38:34):
Like I was watching The Penguin the other day, exactly,
this guy is a bad motherfucker.
Speaker 3 (38:38):
Yeah. It's like it's like he's just in a situation,
and that's it. You know, I have cousins of mine
because I say him buying as whosah, I got you,
but who's just.
Speaker 1 (38:48):
I understand why they're doing badshit in the streets. But
he's not a bad guy.
Speaker 3 (38:51):
He's just.
Speaker 2 (38:52):
But then you go home and your dad and your son,
your husband, and those people don't kill them, kill their kids, dick.
Speaker 3 (39:00):
Exactly exactly, And that's about that. So I feel like,
you know, that's what that's what I do with my
acting and just make it real, make it just honest
and pure where everybody can relate to it. You know.
Speaker 2 (39:12):
So you are like the sweetest bad guy to have
ever lived. I don't know why I'm getting this from
you right now.
Speaker 3 (39:18):
Thank you. I am actually pretty kind. It's okay being
kind sometimes I can't think I'm okay, I will know, Yeah.
Speaker 2 (39:27):
People can't take advantage like, don't take my kindness for
weakness exactly definitely, But don't change.
Speaker 3 (39:34):
No, I won't.
Speaker 2 (39:35):
I won't do not change because you're one of the few. No, well,
thank you, you're one of the few. You know that's
super dope, talented, successful.
Speaker 3 (39:44):
And just good.
Speaker 2 (39:44):
People really come across people like that. Everybody's so like
high and mighty and up on their high horse. And
even the way me and you ended up here today
has built a newfound respect.
Speaker 3 (39:55):
I'm like, know what' same this is? I mean, really,
thank you so much. Honestly, this means so much to me.
It really does.
Speaker 1 (40:01):
Don't be lying, I'm serious, it means honestly, truly, this means.
Speaker 3 (40:05):
So much to me. Good.
Speaker 2 (40:06):
I'm glad you're here, and you know now we're connected
exactly alif and you know, just lean on each other.
I'm pretty sure you already have a big network, but
what's more one more person to be there for you know,
that is true, and that's me.
Speaker 3 (40:24):
That's well, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you.
Appreciate it.
Speaker 2 (40:28):
I really really appreciate you sitting down with me today.
Speaker 3 (40:31):
Well, thank you for having me and again we're like
brothers and sisters for life pretty much see pretty much.
Speaker 2 (40:42):
Well, thank you so much, Thank you, Gracia, and come again.
Speaker 3 (40:45):
I will. Don't play with me, I will, I will. Gracias.
Speaker 2 (40:57):
Come Again is a production of Honey German Productions and
partnership with iheart's my Kundura podcast network.
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