2024-10-31 05:50:00
to the actor Oscar Casas (Barcelona, 1998) finds it difficult to talk about the reaction of Olympic champion Gervasio Deferr (Premiá de Mar, Barcelona, 1980) seeing how he interprets it in The big leap, the fiction that Atresmedia debuts November 14th about the success and fall of the gymnast. But despite his modesty, he confesses: “He’s seen the first episode twelve times and loves it. The essence is completely what he felt.” And he adds: “Everything the real person tells you is something that blows your mind.”
Over the course of five episodes that will be released every Sunday, Casas plays Deferr his entire life: his beginnings in gymnastics, his successes as one of the most successful Spanish athletes and his fall into hell due to alcohol and drug addictions. Deferr was a two-time Olympic vault champion at the Olympic Games in Sydney (2000) – at just 19 years old, one of the youngest to do so – and Athens (2004) and silver on floor in Beijing (2008). In addition to Olympic medals, Deferr won medals at the world artistic gymnastics championships in 1999, 2000, 2007, at the World Championships in Glasgow (2000) and at the European Championships the same year.
His sporting successes earned him other awards: the Gold Medal of the Royal Order of Sporting Merit, the Olympic Order of the Spanish Olympic Committee, the Don Felipe de Borbón Award for the best Spanish athlete. While these successes were happening, his flirting with alcohol and drugs: three positive tests for cannabis anti-doping He was stripped of all sporting titles between October 2002 and January 2003, but continued to compete until 2011, when he announced his retirement and his addictions worsened.
Óscar Casas, center, and the rest of the team of the series ‘The Big Leap’, from Diagonal TV and Atresmedia, which will debut on November 14 on the platform. / José María Reyna / International Festival of Southern Series
Adaptation of the autobiographical book
The series starring Casas was presented this Tuesday at the South International Series Festival in Cadiz, where the first complete episode was seen for the first time. Him screenplay, written by José Rodríguez (also author of the adaptations of The gypsy bride or The purple networkis based on autobiographical book The big leap (Ediciones Península, 2022), written with the help of the journalist Ruggero Pasquale.
However, its publication was not the starting point for Atresmedia to become interested in translating the story into a fictional series. “The story begins with Deferr’s appearance in Lo de Évole,” explained Montse García, director of fiction at Atresmedia, in a press conference. This happened in 2022. “After seeing him, we were with him in Barcelona. He showed a lot of emotion and enthusiasm and we decided to embark.” Doing so wasn’t easy: “It’s true It was a great challenge because we didn’t just want to tell the story of this great Olympic athlete, we also wanted to reflect the descent into hell. “He had a very beautiful commitment and extraordinary generosity.”
Co-produced by Diagonal TV, Roger Gual directed a series which is structured like a puzzle in which there are continuous jumps in time interspersing the past and the present of the athlete. “It was decided to take advantage of a turning point in his life, the moment when Deferr’s mother has a heart attack and catches it in a After. This is what makes him want to change his life,” explained the director. “This helps us move from competitions to the present. Filming was very challenging, But I think this way of telling the story allows you to get to know the character more and more and empathize with him.”
double story
Óscar Casas, who plays Deferr in the fiction in both sceneshe was born just two years before Deferr won his first gold medal. Although he began his career as an actor playing the characters of his older brother, Mario Casas, When he was little, he already starred in several films and series, such as Instinct (Movistar Plus+, 2018) or Jaguar (Netflix, 2021). More recently he was also part of the cast of Dating Barcelonathe hit series on Amazon Prime Video.
To play Deferr he not only had access to the character, but also required a file thorough preparation for the difficulty of making two vital moments of the gymnast so different. “The most complicated thing is that there are so many years to interpret,” explains Casas. “Have everything well organised, understand it well and that each stage has its own body, its own soul, It was a complex job”.
Óscar Casas at the presentation of ‘The Big Leap’, by Atresmedia, about the life of the gymnast Gervasio Deferr this Tuesday in Cadiz. / José María Reyna / International Festival of Southern Series
He even wanted to do it work on your voice. “At first I saw that it was something very characteristic about him. The voice evolves over the years and it becomes something much more broken,” says the actor. What wasn’t difficult at all, he says, was the physical work, despite playing an elite athlete. “This was the easiest and most fun part, because I really like sports.” And he adds: “In the work of actors We always talk a lot about physical work, but those are really the easy parts.
Defer involvement
The athlete was present during filming and very involved in providing the help the team needed. For the director this was an advantage: to make a biopic about someone who is alive. “I repeated it a lot during the recording,” Gual says. “I told him: the beautiful thing is that you are alive. And he always answered me: barely!
For Casas, this work has helped him understand what Deferr went through, but he states that this is learning that can be applied to all people. “I was also able to understand myself more and dive into my soul,” he says. “In the end, every success and every failure depends on where each person places them, and sometimes they hurt us greatly and destroy us. I am left with this series with that balance that must be sought.”
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Interview between Time.news Editor and Oscar Casas on ‘The Big Leap’
Editor: Welcome, Oscar! We’re thrilled to have you here to discuss your upcoming series The Big Leap, which explores the life of the Olympic champion Gervasio Deferr. Can you start by telling us what drew you to this role?
Oscar Casas: Thank you for having me! When I first learned about Gervasio’s story, I was captivated by the complexity of his life. He experienced incredible heights as a two-time Olympic champion and then faced dramatic challenges with addiction. It was important for me to authentically portray both his triumphs and struggles, making his journey relatable.
Editor: That’s a fascinating angle. Gervasio himself has seen the first episode multiple times and has expressed his approval. What was that feedback like for you?
Oscar Casas: Honestly, it was mind-blowing! Knowing that he can connect with my portrayal and feels it reflects his essence is incredibly rewarding. His emotional response gives me confidence that we’ve captured the highs and lows of his life accurately.
Editor: Speaking of capturing his essence, the series is structured with time jumps between Gervasio’s past and present. How did this narrative style impact your performance?
Oscar Casas: It was quite a challenge! Each period of his life demanded a distinct energy and mindset. I had to navigate not just the physicality of Gervasio as an athlete but also the emotional depths of his challenges later in life. It’s like piecing together a puzzle. Each fragment reveals more about who he is.
Editor: With Gervasio’s life story including the significant struggles with addiction, how did you approach portraying that aspect without losing the audience’s engagement?
Oscar Casas: That was certainly tricky. We aimed to show the reality of his descent, but also the humanity behind it. We wanted viewers to empathize with him rather than simply see him as a cautionary tale. The key was to balance the darker moments with the inspiring aspects of his life. After all, it’s a story of resilience.
Editor: You mentioned the preparation required to take on such a multi-faceted character. Can you dive deeper into what that entailed?
Oscar Casas: Absolutely! I spent a lot of time researching Gervasio’s life, not just watching footage of his competitions but also understanding the emotional landscape he navigated. I worked with coaches to replicate his gymnastics movements and with psychologists to delve into his mental health struggles. It was immersive and often intense!
Editor: The series is adapted from Gervasio’s autobiographical book. How involved was he in the creative process, and what insights did he offer that helped shape your portrayal?
Oscar Casas: Gervasio was genuinely involved! His stories were invaluable. He shared personal anecdotes and emotions that we wove into the script. The adaptation sought to honor not just his achievements but his character. I felt his spirit throughout the filming, which pushed me to dig deeper.
Editor: As someone younger than Gervasio, what challenges did you face in relating to his experiences and emotions?
Oscar Casas: Great question! Though our backgrounds differ significantly, I found commonality in themes of ambition and struggle—elements everyone can relate to. Ultimately, I approached his experiences with empathy, aiming to channel those universal emotions into my performance.
Editor: as we anticipate the premiere on November 14th, what message do you hope viewers take away from The Big Leap?
Oscar Casas: I hope they see the importance of resilience and understanding the complexity of success. Gervasio’s journey reminds us that life is not just about accolades but also about learning from our failures and the redemptive power of change. Ultimately, it’s a story of hope.
Editor: Thank you, Oscar! We’re excited to see The Big Leap and to witness Gervasio Deferr’s inspiring story through your eyes.
Oscar Casas: Thank you! I can’t wait for everyone to experience it.