Screens 7:00PM at the HOLA Film Festival Friday, May 8th
Interview with the Director of Gloria
The feature film Gloria, the magnificent biopic of international Mexican pop icon Gloria Trevi closed the Havana Film Festival NY in April and opens the HOLA MEXICO Film Festival in LA on Friday night, May 08th. I was able to sit down with the Swiss-born and first-time Director, Christian Keller who made a stellar Spanish-language feature film that wowed the audience in New York City and undoubtedly will elicit the same from Los Angeles.
Sofia Espinoza as Gloria Trevi
Trevi’s career fell apart in the 1990s when she and her manager were accused in an international scandal of corrupting minors, sexual abuse, and kidnapping
Gloria Trevi Now
Here were Keller’s insights on tackling a bigger-than-life icon whose life was engulfed in a major international scandal, producing a first film against all odds; securing the rights that were contested half-way into the project and assembling a cast and crew. But the coup was attracting the movie’s accomplished star, 25-year-old, Sofia Espinosa who knocked the ball out of the park with an impeccable acting ability and for the first time singing in a movie, which in its entirety renders a must-watch, mixed-media, cinematic and musical experience.
Whether you are familiar with Gloria Trevi or not, you will be touched and transported by the storytelling, acting and execution of this fine movie.
Tio Louie : What’s a nice Swiss guy like you telling this Mexican story about Gloria Trevi in the feature film, Gloria.
Christian Keller: When I first read an article in the LA Times when she was first released from prison – and all the scandal surrounding her and an overview of her life – I had no idea who she was. However, I was intrigued and fascinated. I started investigating and felt that I wanted to make a film about it. I thought it would take a year – it took ten years. As I learned more about her, I fell in love with her music and her rebellious, fighter spirit – but more than anything, her strength. I find it amazing that after everything she’s been through that she’s back at the top of her game.
TL: As a first-time director were you prepared for what you were undertaking in telling this story on film?
CK: One of the other issues behind putting this film together was that I did not have any experience and did not know anyone. What was key was finding the right team, producers, crew and cast. Finding Sofia Espinosa who played Gloria Trevi was key. Sofia actually sang all of Trevi’s songs herself and she had never sung before. I feel that Gloria has this unique energy and to get someone to evoke that was really like finding a perfect match.
TL: So how was it working with Sofia Espinosa?
CK: It was brilliant. We were great partners in crime. We always knew what the other was thinking. She was a great partner in the process. I don’t think that anyone else could have done it.
TL: Now that you’re a veteran having graduated from an arduous 10-year process, what 10 cent reality-based advice would you give a first-time film director who wants to achieve their dream project?
CK: The first is to find something you love and be honest with yourself why you want to tell a specific story. Chances are it’s going to be extremely difficult and you’re going to need to a good reason to stick to it.
TL: What surprised you most in making this project that you had not anticipated?
CK: One of my biggest take-away’s is that if you believe in something it can happen – even if it takes 10 years – even when the odds appear against you. This movie was an unlikely venture that could have possibly never seen the light of day, but it got done.
Stay tuned for an interview with Gloria’s lead actress, Mexican-born, Sofia Espinosa…
TíoLouie video interview with Director, Christian Keller & star, Sofia Espinosa of the biopic film, GLORIA on Gloria Trevi
Interview with Gloria Trevi (Spanish) about what really happened to her daughter:
TIO LOUIE/Louis E. Perego Moreno
President of Skyline Features, he is an interactive content producer and educator who for the past 33 years has owned a bilingual (English and Spanish-language) multimedia and educational production company developing documentaries, television programming and advertising commercials featuring Latinos, Blacks, Women, Urban Youth and LGBT. He is also the Executive Producer of PRIME LATINO MEDIA, the largest network of Latino multimedia-makers and actors in the metro-New York area that gather once a month to interview proven leaders in the community.
SOCIAL MEDIA CONTACT FACEBOOK Group: Prime Latino Media Twitter: @PLMSalon Instagram: PRIME_LATINO_MEDIA LinkedIn: www.LinkedIn.com/in/louisperegomoreno
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