words. Juan Martí
issue 8. behind the scenes
Now that we’re talking about celebrations, parties are the protagonists of your new film: Disco, Ibiza, Locomía about the Spanish group Locomía that triumphed in Spain during the 80’s and 90’s. How did you become part of this project?
I hardly knew anything about Locomía besides hearing his most famous song. Once I did the first casting, I started to watch videos and investigate and found a world full of fantasy. I remember that they sent me a dossier about the film with information about the cast and crew and they organized an audition for me with Jaime Lorente because our characters share a love story and they wanted to see the chemistry we had together. It went very well, to be honest.
What is the first thing you look at when you are offered a new project?
This is my job and I have to make a living out of it, that’s the main thing for me. But beyond that,I look a lot at the stories and what the script tells. Doing something interesting is what motivates me. I have just finished shooting the new film by Alauda Ruiz de Azúa called “Querer”. I had seen”Cinco Lobitos” and I loved it. When I was asked to do the casting, it was clear to me. I really like social stories because I empathize with them, but a science fiction story, for example, can also motivate me. “Disco, Ibiza, Locomia” interested me a lot because of the physical aspect of the role, as I had to dance and play with those big fans that the band was carrying.
Locomía was a band that danced a lot and their choreography looked complex. What was your first day of rehearsal like?
It was a disaster because dancing like that is quite complicated. Coordinating the dance with the movements was very difficult. We also had to do playback, dance, turn… but once you learn it’s like driving, you don’t forget it.
Do you remember when you first rehearsed the main cast together?
We met at a rehearsal. In the film, the dance part doesn’t get a lot of screen time, but we spent a lot of time rehearsing.
Did any of you dance particularly well?
Each of us has our own style. I especially remember Pol Granch giving his touch to each dance step, but as a singer, he had more practice.
Did you get to talk to any of the members of Locomía?
Some of them were able to talk to their real counterpart of the project but not me. I prepared for the role through the music, observing the way they danced. I watched a documentary I liked a lot about the band and read a lot of interviews they did when they were young. But the key thing for me has been learning the dance. Corporeality has been very important. I have to tell you that I’m partly grateful that I didn’t know Manuel Arjona, the real person behind my character because that has allowed me to create my own character with freedom. There is always a certain amount of pressure when you play someone real and I was able to go my own way. “Disco, Ibiza, Locomía” is not a biopic but more of a tribute to the essence of the band and what they achieved.
Your character and Jaime Lorente’s character live a love story in the film. How did you work on the chemistry you have in the film?
We didn’t need to work on the chemistry in a specific way, it came about by itself. We spend a lot of time together but because we get along well.
Do you understand the fan phenomenon that Locomia unleashed?
Think about the 80s, the costumes Locomía had, the way they danced, because they danced very well, the self-confidence they had, they got a lot of things from Ibiza, where a lot of European people went and so on. I would have taken 100% notice of them.
And who do you admire in the world of cinema?
I love Laia Costa as an actress. She expresses herself in a way that I find fascinating. And XavierDollan is my favorite director.
words. Juan Martí
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