INTERVIEW: Comedy hit from Beto Gómez to have U.S. premiere at Tuscon Cine Mexico fest
Photo: Me Gusta Pero Me Asusta, the new film from Beto Gómez, will play Tuscon Cine Mexico. Photo courtesy of Tuscon Cine Mexico / Provided by Cinema Tropical with permission.
Beto Gómez, director of Saving Private Perez, is back with a heartfelt comedy called Me Gusta Pero Me Asusta (I Like It, But It Scares Me). The film, starring newcomers Minnie West and Alejandro Speitzer, follows two people from vastly different upbringings who connect over a real estate deal and begin to fall in love.
Speitzer plays Brayan Rodríguez, the naive son of a wealthy family who are trying to make inroads in Mexico City. West plays Claudia, a young woman who doesn’t have too many cares in the world; she doesn’t want to work for her father’s real estate company and instead enjoys partying with her two roommates.
When Brayan and Claudia first see each other when transacting a warehouse sale, false first impressions and romantic overtures change the trajectory of their relationship. At one point, Brayan even serenades Claudia beneath her apartment window because he’s used to the old ways of love and romance. At the same time, Claudia believes the good-hearted Brayan may be caught up in his family’s questionable business practices.
Me Gusta Pero Me Asusta will have its United States premiere Saturday, March 24 at the Tuscon Cine Mexico festival, which celebrates its 15th anniversary this year. Gómez will be in attendance at the 4 p.m. screening.
Recently, Hollywood Soapbox exchanged emails with the director. Questions and answers have been slightly edited for style.
Brayan and Claudia are interesting characters who live unique lives. What inspired you to create these characters?
I was interested in portraying characters able to connect with the new generations. I was inspired by the actors themselves, my young daughter and my own youth. Like Brayan, I was born in the north of Mexico, and when you are young, you have no light about how to fulfill your dreams and the importance of [finding] the right way because many times you have no clue. And you will feel like ‘fish out of the water’ not only in your childhood and youth, but in your adult life as well. The challenge was then, use humor to think about [how] we judge people without knowing them.
Where did the filming take place? Was it a difficult shoot?
It takes place in Mexico City, Mexico State, Pachuca and Sinaloa. I’ve never been in a relaxed shooting, and I always think that the next shooting will be easier. But it comes harder, but I think that the adrenaline and playing against all odds keeps you passionate, alert and gives you the courage to seize the day. We were on a tight budget with a shooting schedule of only 28 days.
What was it like to work with that cast?
Casting is essential for me. The process thrills me, and I was lucky to find the perfect choices in Minnie West and Alejandro Speitzer who are great actors and the new blood of Mexican cinema. They are the perfect combination: good training and nice guys. I don’t like to work with complicated people. I rather actors with passion and dedication. In the case of Hector Kotsifakis, ‘the godfather,’ he’s an old-school actor, very intuitive and on the other side a great pal that can have a beer at the end of the day. I was quite happy with the acting ensemble that I call family.
When did you realize you wanted to work in films? Does it go back to when you were a child?
I never imagined that I would make movies. I grew up in a small city in the north of Mexico. I was a lousy student, and I just liked to go to the movies. That was a magical moment for me, but I was good drawing at school. I had my first film camera when I was very young and spent some time making little films with my friends, but it was just for fun. I never thought about becoming a filmmaker in those days. Then, I had a girflriend who was a film buff, and when she broke up with me, I began to study filmmaking in order to [get] her back. She didn’t, but then I fell in love with movies and the film techinque.
What do you hope audiences take away after watching Me Gusta Pero Me Asusta? What do you hope is in their mind as they leave the theater?
I want to give them a moment of genuine fun and enjoyment. I’m always thinking as a moviegoer. I make movies that I would like to see, movies that you can share with your friends and families, movies that you can talk about. This film shows one of the greatest strengths of Mexico: the family. No matter what, in Mexico you can always count [on] your family. Other pillars of Mexico are music and traditions. The movie pays homage to all of them.
What’s the state of the filmmaking scene right now in Mexico? Do you feel this is a generation of exciting filmmakers and film projects?
Mexico has always been a land of great filmmakers, actors and artists. I grew up in film theaters, and my first heroes were not Batman or Superman but the Mexican wrestlers like El Santo and Mil Mascaras. My favorite comedian wasn’t Chaplin but Tin-Tan. With the Mexican films, I fell in love with the rumba dancers. I loved to watch the curvy actresses, Pedro Infante’s movies and the music of Jose Alfredo Jimenez. Films gave the chance to dream and travel, feeling proud of my roots. I’m glad that the new generations are trusting in Mexican cinema.
By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com
Me Gusta Pero Me Asusta will have its United States premiere Saturday, March 24 at Tuscon Cine Mexico. Click here for more information and tickets.
