Asu mare! Friends: Does Carlos Alcántara appear in the film? What scene was deleted? What character does Susel Paredes have?

“I had been preparing that part of my career for a long time, without realizing it; Well, when I did soap operas, I loved getting into the switcher to see how the director punched out the cameras. In the theater, I also liked to see what the subject of directing was like, and in the last 10 years, in all the “Asu Mare” films, I was present in the co-direction. I discovered that I really liked post-production, sound editing, musicalization…, all these things that are sometimes not valued so much when one goes to see a movie”, highlights Alcántara.

The shooting of “Asu mare! Los amigos” began on September 12, 2022 and ended on October 9 of the same year. The premiere is scheduled for February 9, 2023 nationwide.

The spin-off of the film trilogy Asu mare! revolves around Cachín’s friends. After overcoming various obstacles, an inheritance will put El Culi’ (Andrés Salas), ‘Lechuga’ (Franco Cabrera), ‘Poroto’ (Emilram Cossío) and ‘El Chato’ (Miguel Vergara) to the test. It will confront them with funny situations and dark characters.

“All the “Asu Mare” movies are a recreation of my life, they are not exactly my story. ‘El Culi’ (Andrés Salas) does exist, he is my best friend, but life has taken us down different paths, unfortunately we haven’t seen each other for a long time”, comments the national artist.

─How about the experience of directing for the first time?

Now that we are almost in the final processes, I understand why there are so many crazy directors, because you have to be a little crazy to take responsibility for so many people and so many times. Sometimes I have had to direct from my home, involving my family.

─Is it true that now you feel more passion for directing than for acting?

In fact, we always like a new toy more. As a director I feel that I am in control of everything and my creativity does not stop. But as an actor I have a good time, I’m happy, I’ve been acting for 36 years, and I’m looking to do more things outside, share, learn, and gain more experience.

─How did you prepare to assume this new facet?

I’ve been watching tutorials by famous directors on YouTube for two years, such as the Mexicans Guillermo del Toro, Alfonso Cuarón and González Iñárritu. I have nourished myself with their experiences and the recommendations they share on networks. I have also seen movies. And more than learning how it is directed technically or by reading, I have the experience. I put a bit of everything together and tried to achieve a cool, entertaining product, without being blown away by a complicated director. What I did was trust the heads and give in to any suggestion, but always staying firm with my personal flight. The director must be consistent with what he wants to tell. If everyone starts to pitch in, it becomes a hybrid thing. This film is going to have a totally personal stamp.

─Was this the right time to start directing?

For me if. I will not tell the details of why I assume the direction. I have enjoyed this stage, I have put a lot of love into it and I am sure that this will be perceived in the film.

─In addition to directing, are you going to act?

I’m not physically there, but, although it sounds contradictory, it is the “Asu Mare” movie in which I am most present. When you see the film you’re going to even listen to me because, in addition to directing, I also have fun making voices, noises… That’s my other vacilón.

─There are those who still hope to see you in the movie.

There is a surprise there. And to those who at some point thought that I was going to be there, with all due respect, I apologize. I got to do a scene, but I realized that it was impossible to act and direct at the same time. The decision not to act, I made with great humility. Also, I’m not young anymore, my face can’t stand to play a 30-year-old. When I saw myself on the screen, I looked like the father of ‘El Culi’ (Laughter).

─If the “Asu Mare” trilogy worked very well with Cachín as the protagonist, why not continue on that path?

My friends have been my support in all three movies. And when directing I have entered into the memory again, in the stage of my childhood, in which we played happily, free, despite the shortcomings. And, precisely, that freedom is what I want to show in this new installment.

─Why isn’t Ricardo Mendoza in the film?

I do not want to go into details because it is a delicate subject. We did not reach an agreement at the time it should have been reached, a long time passed and we did not reach anything. I can’t tell you the details, the only thing I can say is that there are no victims, although it seems that he was the victim. In any case, they will have to ask him why he is not in the film. This is a team and when a player doesn’t want to sign a contract because he has other proposals, he doesn’t like it or he doesn’t like it, he goes to another team.

─How did Emilram Cossío come in?

The film had to be made, so a casting was done, and Emilram was finally chosen, a super actor who fit perfectly into the team of friends, a machine for generating humor and funny situations.

─The female figures from the previous seasons, such as Anahí de Cárdenas, Emilia Drago or Denisse Dibós, will they be in this sequel?

They are not there, but we had to find the female characters in this story, so we did a casting and we got two actresses who have been a great discovery: Fiorella Luna and Ximena Palomino.

─Susel Paredes was also announced as part of the cast. She hadn’t acted for 30 years. Did it cost you to convince her?

Very few know that Susel studied acting at La Católica, did theater, was in “Patacláun in the city”, went out singing. There is a song that my son Lorenzo loves, he listens to it every day. In one part he says like this: “I brought my tamales from the hacienda to sell, but the municipal people ran around, listen to you. You have to show your buttocks if you want to work”. Ironically, that’s what Susel said 30 years ago, and that’s what he’s done recently: chasing the informals, bringing order. And his participation in the film has to do with that, he’s very funny. They called her from production, I didn’t call her. She always had the courage and willingness to participate. She was happy, she brought her own clothes. She was very cool.

─How did Josi Martínez join the film?

I met him in “The Year of the Tiger, he seemed like a cool guy, fun, popular and much loved. In Santo Domingo everyone greeted him and not even the cat recognized me. He is a star, he has 24 million followers. In the movie, he has a small part, but he has done it super well.

─In addition to directing, did you write the scripts?

This story is written by Rasec Barragán, Renato Fernández and Marco Rubina. I restructured some things, I added others and I generated text based on my experience about the story. I am not a person who writes, but in this film I have written more than in all.

Do you plan to continue directing?

I liked it a lot, the bug bit me, I’ll try to keep up with my acting career.

─ Will the next film you direct also be about the story of your life?

I no longer plan to write anything autobiographical, I would no longer use my story.

─ Do you have proposals to perform this year?

I have three proposals. One is to star in an adventure film, of treasures, of natural settings, under the sea, in the Dominican Republic. I will also be in “Travesuras de la niña mala”, the series based on the book by Mario Vargas Llosa, and there is something to do in Chile, but there is nothing concrete yet. In addition, this March 30th the film “The Year of the Tiger” will be released and in the middle of this year, “La casa del snail”.

─Did “Asu Mare” change your life?

My career, my story, my wife, Pataclaun, changed my life; but, above all, my mother, my family, my neighborhood and my desire not to sit still.

─At this stage of your career, do you consider yourself a successful artist?

Yes, and I have to say it with all his words because I have done several things that have been forceful, successful at the audience level, at the box office and I can name them. I’ve been acting for 35 years, and nothing has been easy for me. At first the doors I knocked on did not open for me, I returned home frustrated because they did not even accept me as an extra. Imagine if I had collapsed, if I had not continued. As I am stubborn, I kept going, and here I am, venturing into new facets and making big dreams come true.