Acapulco: Bringing Latin Energy and Mexican Humor to Apple TV+ in the Face of Natural Disasters

2024-05-01 13:42:29

Few people notice it, but the expression “Meeh” from Eugenio Derbez is the particular actor in his comedy, one of the hallmarks he gives to his characters. In “Acapulco”, the ‘good-natured’ men from humble neighborhoods have these kinds of Mexican speech. Somehow, the third season of the series Apple TV + preserves the humor of Derbez, since the producers were committed to making the public fall in love with the Latin energy of the most touristic Mexican port which, unfortunately, is one of the most difficult for natural disasters in that country.

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Summary

“Acapulco” (2021-2024)

The millionaire Máximo Gallardo (Eugenio Derbez) remembers the best moments of his childhood and the beginning of his career in Las Colinas, a hotel in Acapulco to which he returns in the third season and where he sees an unrecognizable atmosphere. In 1985, ‘Max’ (Enrique Arrizon) continues to climb to success, but this can jeopardize all the relationships he has worked so hard to create, such as his courtship with Julia (Camila Perez), his friendship with Meamram ( Fernando Carsa ) and his Spanish colleague Héctor (Rafael Aranda) or his mentor Don Pablo (Damián Alcázar).

The series premieres on May 1 on Apple TV.

Skip Intro de El Comercio spoke with the producers of “Acapulco”, Austin Winsberg and Sam Leybourne, during a virtual press conference with the international media. “It’s not about removing funny lines from the text of the series, but about making more specific comedy that entertains people in a more loving and positive way,” said Sam Laybourne.

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The creatives are in charge of the comedy, which is too Mexican for the basically Latino culture of the North American producers. Winsberg thought that the word “fresa” meant fruit and not in the qualifying sense of “pituco” (the Peruvian version of the Mexican slang) with which they name young people from rich families in Mexico with a singing pronunciation. “We found out that that word referred to the youth from ‘prepa’ (high school, middle school),” Austin Winsberg told El Comercio.

Austin Winsberg and Sam Laybourne are the producers of “Acapulco.”

“The facial expressions of the Mexican actor Ramón Álvarez, we love him, he is Paco in Acapulco, they are so good and funny. All we have to do is shoot his face and that alone makes us laugh. Jaime (Camil) made a great performance with Jessica Collins, who plays Diane, there is a relationship, the energy of a romantic comedy. That was great. Every time we work with another actor, you learn from them and then try to write the script for that. “We look forward to working with them for the next 30 years, hopefully every season of the show,” Winsberg added.

Ramón Álvarez is Paco in the series “Acapulco”.

“Many of the actors may not be known in the United States, but they are big stars in Latin America. And a small part of the narrative of how to bring them into this world is exciting. “Austin and I have developed many shows and I will tell you that I continue to think of this cast for everything that follows in the future, because actors like them are just amazing talents,” said Sam Laybourne .

Mexico on Apple TV+

Jessica Collins, Eugenio Derbez and Jaime Camil appear in the third season of “Acapulco”, the Apple TV + series.

“I remember I had a very strong discussion with the producers at the beginning (of the project) about the amount of English and how much Spanish they were going to put in each episode, because if we were in Acapulco we had to speak in Spanish. as much as possible,” Eugenio Derbez told this newspaper. Because, in the advantages of the profession of the comedian, not only the words and the conversations are difficult, but also the merit of being recognized in Mexico for its original humor. “For me, it was important to be authentic, not like these Hollywood movies and you see, I don’t know, Agent 007 comes to China and everyone speaks English in China. Or they go to Russia and everyone in Russia speaks English,” explains the Mexican actor about “fighting for the language”.

“I remember having a very strong discussion with the producers at the beginning (of the project) about how much English and how much Spanish they were going to put in each episode, because if we were in Acapulco we had to speak in Spanish. as much as possible”

Eugenio Derbez, Mexican actress

Dressed in a light blue blazer and white shirt, attentive to the camera, though occasionally yawning and not pressing a single button, Derbez smiles at the awkward questions from Mexican journalists and is friendly when he speaks he about “Acapulco,” a series that – less time away from his family – is the second best achievement of his career after “CODA”, the Oscar-winning film in which he is a supporting actor and in which we remember Derbez sending a kiss to heaven on the stand from the Dolby Theater in Los Angeles in 2021.

The team of “CODA” won an Oscar Award in 2021.

“The thing that hurt me the most and maybe I didn’t appreciate it, when I was just starting my career and they demanded a lot from me, was to be there on important dates, like birthdays, with my children and my mother, because I was them they had to work,” recalls Derbez, who has a special affection for Aislinn, José Eduardo, Vadhir and Aitana, all appointed in different commitments and who the public can enjoy the trips of the Prime Video and Vix+ reality show in different seasons, “On a trip with the Derbez”.

Members of the third season of “On a journey with the Derbez” (Photo: Aislinn Derbez / Instagram)

“At some point, the idea of ​​having one of my children in ‘Acapulco’ came up, which I would have loved, but the producers didn’t accept it and, the truth is, believe it or not, I don’t like to mention it. them, because I don’t want to feel forced. I try not to let those thoughts come from me, because I don’t like to push my children to employ them in my productions, but I suddenly want one of them to be a guest, be it my children or even Alessandra . (Rosaldo, my wife) and Aitana,” he said.

Enrique Arrizon and Damián Alcázar

Eugenio Derbez plays Máximo Gallardo, the adult version of the character. The young Mexican is famous for being the protagonist of the Apple TV+ series, a platform for potential employers for figures awarded at the Oscars, Emmys, Golden Globes, etc. In the story, ‘Max’ is Don Pablo’s apprentice, in the role of the Mexican Damián Alcázar, main actor in the Peruvian films “Magallanes” and “El Caso Monroy”.

Damián Alcázar and Enrique Arrizon are Don Pablo and Máximo in the series “Acapulco”.

“I feel something like Máximo, my character: we see Damián as a mentor. He is like a father figure, who shows what I want in my career. And he sees himself in me as the actor he was a few years ago. We have a special bond,” Enrique Arrizon tells Skip Intro. “We love Damián very much, because he is a person with values, a professional, his heart is huge and he is a great example to follow. “I take a lot of lessons from him.”

Arrizon slows down his answers, but pronounces the words “challenge” and “effort” naturally, the basis of his progress as a famous actor at the Cannes Festival for the film “April’s Daughters” and, before that, as a driver as a teenager Programs Cartoon Network and Television. “I feel that being close to my family, my friends and knowing what my values ​​are has been crucial in my life. If you are focused on your work and if you remember why you do it, you stay in a very peaceful state and you don’t have any distractions,” he tells this newspaper.

Hurricane in Acapulco

In the series, Puerto Vallarta (Mexico) imitates the city of Acapulco, a destination of coliseum viewpoints and movie beaches where the fictional hotel “Las Colinas” is located. The Apple TV+ production decided to film outside the port for a number of reasons. The truth is that the destination is affected by natural disasters, such as Hurricane Otis, which occurred on October 25, 2023.

Damage caused by Hurricane Otis, which hit the port of Acapulco, Guerrero (Mexico) in October 2023. (Photo: Óscar Guerrero / Amapola Periodismo)

Derbez moved with previous events in Acapulco, which donated more than $1 million equivalent to a single weekend box office for the film “No Refunds Accepted” to the government of the Mexican port years ago. That donation was a well-kept secret by the actor until Alessandra Rosaldo, his wife, revealed it to the The Sun Comes Out programme to protect her husband from criticism from Mexican groups against Televisa productions and other programs.

“(Hurricane Otis news) surprised us, we had just finished the third season of ‘Acapulco’. It was very sad for us to see how the city had turned out. I hope the series comes out and inspires tourists around the world to visit Acapulco. Of course, he is recovering, he is not 100% yet, but I hope that the series helps in some way to make it faster,” said Eugenio Derbez to during the Zoom press conference.