McFarland USA: Meet the Actors

McFARLAND, USA  opens in theaters everywhere on February 20th!

Kevin Costner on What is a real american story

Kevin Costner was humble and candid during the interview. I did not know that he grew up on my backyard in Ventura County and it was great to hear that he learned a lot about the Mexican people and immigration in this movie.

"Um, I – you know, I've grown up in Ventura, and also in Visalia.  And I've driven down these roads. And I saw people working in those fields.  I've played and fought and had friends where their families were – were pickers in Saticoy, California, a little Mexican barrio school that I went to.  But again, I didn’t invest the way I did until Niki brought me this movie.  And bending down to work and seeing a field go forever, understanding that this is forever, this is every week, this is every day in all kinds of weather, um, the appreciation, um, of who these people are, this is as American story as you can possibly have.
There’s no – you think apple pie and baseball’s American?  No.  McFarland is way more American than any of those things.  Those are pastimes.  What’s American – maybe I'm gonna get real sentimental, here, because it’s getting dark and Maybe – maybe somebody didn’t want to hear this answer.  But there is no American story than parents who are willing to do anything to better their children, to give their children a chance.  There’s nothing more American, and it’s been playing out over the last 300 years, here.  And so McFarland is not some weird little town, you know, like oh, poor McFarland.  Poor McFarland?  No.  Number one, there’s a mythology around McFarland because their lives changed when they understood that they could be champions.  Uh, and repeat that idea.  But – but the simplicity – of – of – there’s nothing more noble than a father and a mother, uh, making an opportunity for their child, knowing that their life is gonna be hard.  And there’s something very noble about that, to me; something incredibly heroic about that."

Carlos Pratt on making movies for latinos

Sergio Avelar On How he got involved with the movie

"All right, real quick.  I mean I think for the longest time, we as Latinos have always, um, we just in general want to see ourselves in a better light.  And now we have that.  This film shows us that.  And everyone – I mean I think you look at a Jim White, he’s a part of it and everyone needs a Jim White.  And um, this film is it.  This is the truth.  And I just can’t wait to see more of it out there because we as Latinos are – you know, we’re – Kevin and I are the same.  I mean he’s got a lot more money, but you know? The only difference is the color of our skin, and you know, we came into this world the same and we’re gonna leave the same, so."

"Yeah, man.  Um actually, my cousin gave my mother a phone call saying that there’s a open casting call, and it was actually in Bakersfield, which is 30 miles south of McFarland.  And um, you know, he said, “You know, tell Junior to go out there, to, you know, see if he could get the movie.”  And you know, I thought of it as a joke, like aw, they’re not gonna get guys from, you know, the locals; they’re gonna try to get the guys that can act, you know?  Because acting was never – you know, I never thought of it.  Never came to mind.
And um, next thing you know, I mean I was just getting, you know, call backs on – to go and, you know, to talk to the casting directors, to – that way they could get to know me a little more and things like that.  And then there was a hiatus of just – it was about a year and a half or so when I didn’t hear – I didn’t hear anything about it.  Next thing you know, um, I get this call from the casting office, and they say, you know, “Would you like to continue the process on to trying to get to the movie – to try to get back into the movie in McFarland?”  I was like, “Oh, yes,” like I completely forgot about it.
And next thing you know, I mean, you know, coming out here to the auditions, and you know, it was very nerve wracking because I was going up against these actors, and you know, I've never acted in my life, I never took drama classes or anything like that.  So I thought I was no way into – you know, competing with these guys.  So uh, next thing you know, I'm at work, and uh, I get a call from Niki.  You know, and she’s like, “Oh, this is Niki Caro from McFarland, and uh, I was wondering if, you know, you would want to work on this project McFarland.”  Oh, my gosh, I was – that was the best phone call I just jumped up and down, I ran inside my – the job that I had, and I was like, “Oh, my God, I got the movie, I got the movie!”  And everyone was, you know, congratulating me.  I mean, but it was – you know, it’s amazing, you know.  I thank everyone."

JOHNNY Ortiz ON PLAYING THE REAL-LIFE COUNTERPART

"Well, my character actually didn’t get to meet him.  He was actually in the military, serving.  He’s still in the military.  I heard he’s coming tomorrow – I mean on the 9th to the premiere.  So I don't know that much about him, but I did talk to Niki, who gave me the directions and how she wanted it.  And going through the role, it’s a beautiful role because it’s about a young kid, you know, growing up by himself and how he goes through a struggle, and he’s um – he’s just by himself.  He’s trying to make it in life, he’s trying to do something, and how you know, he managed to go to school, go to fields and all that stuff. 
But all the characters have something in common because they all come from a different background, which show that, you know, this is happening out there; this is what happened and it’s just beautiful seeing this come to life."

Hector duran on how is working with Kevin Costner

"Well, now that he’s in front of me, it’s a little more nerve wracking.  No, I'm just kidding.  Working with Kevin was obviously an amazing experience.  He’s such a humble guy.  And um, one of the greatest memories I have on set, which really shows his character for me, was we’re on set at like 4 in the morning, and it was really cold outside.  And Kevin’s like, “Hector, are you cold?”  And I was like, “Yeah.”  He’s like, “Do you want my jacket?”  And it really showed how much he cares about his fellow actors."

Niki Caro on what attracted her to the story

"I was inspired, simple as that.  Um, and – and not only and just by Jim White and the original team and the scale of their achievement, and the legacy that they – they left and the legacy that goes on.  But I was really inspired by the people, by how hard they work, by the commitment to their families, their faith, their community.  And it was great for me to be able to light that up.  Um, and films that I've made previously, I – I really enjoy – I get a big kick out of it, actually, working with real communities.  And this is a real story, it really is.
You drive to McFarland, you’ll see a bunch of people you see on screen.  It’ll look like it does on screen.  Um, and that’s deeply satisfying to me to – to go in and tell a story that is not only meaningful, but is true and real, and tell it with the real people.  And then if that weren’t enough, to go in with the likes of these people, um, this has been a deeply, deeply satisfying experience for me and I hope it will be for the audience, too."

Rafael Martinez on his impression of david diaz

"Uh – oh, there you go.  It’s on.  Morning.  Yes, when I met David Diaz, the first thing I saw was David’s smile and how happy of a person he was.  And it was just so ecstatic to meet my own counterpart that I was to play.  But what I understood about David Diaz is that he was a man of God, and what he did was he held his spirituality very close.  So I used that to portray David Diaz as much as possible in this movie.  Thank you."

Ramiro Rodriguez on the fitness of his character

"Um, well, honestly, I wasn’t like this until like my junior year.  Um, I had one year off of soccer because I – that’s what I do; I play soccer.  And after that, like I just gained weight.  And like ever since then, like I just can’t lose it, and like no matter what I do, like I try and I try.  And man, I could run like how I used to, but like I just can’t lose the wait, but.  I mean I'm pretty fit for myself, I think."

Michael Aguero on acting again in the future

"Yeah, honestly it was an exhilarating feeling to work in a film like this, especially with the cast we had, and um, portraying a guy I got to portray.  Overall, I'd like to say, that, you know, it was amazing and I do look to pursue acting."

Meeting the diaz brothers

David: "Personally, I – good morning, everyone.  I'm David.  Personally, I would think that, you know, there’s a - there’s a champion in each and every one of us, you know, and we just happened to be a part of a great program.  And we live in a very miniscule type of community, but it doesn’t matter where you come from, what you do.  All of us are – not are – can be, if we choose to be, a champion at whatever you choose.  And ours happened to be running.  So that would be my message."


Danny: "I would say that the number one thing a young person – a kid – in today’s world – I mean it’s different when we were growing up, with the amount of social media out there and the – just the negativity that’s out there, I would say that if you commit to something, give it your all.  Give it your best.  It doesn’t matter what it is.  If you give it your best try, at school, at work, with family, with your relationships, whatever it may be, just commit to it and do your best and good things will happen eventually, just like for us.  We ran because it was a lifestyle for us.  We never expected anything like this, and 20 years later, to see this coming to fruition, it’s such a humbling, yet very exciting thing to be happening for us."

Damacio: "And I would just like to echo what my brothers have been saying, and that hard work pays off.  And, you know, back in 1987 when we won State, that was a thrill for us.  Obviously, there’s been more state titles that – from other teams in – in other years.  But I was just so happy to see Disney portraying us how we really were.  We’re working in the fields, and I'm glad that the whole world is gonna be able to see that.  Because so many, you know, Latino families, Hispanic families, that’s our life.  We work in our fields, and we, uh, that’s – that’s gonna be our life. And if it’s not for Mr. White, obviously my parents that instilled in us that education was the door out, um, and for us it really was.  We hated working in the fields, and – and we, uh, we sought a better life.  But I'm so happy that Disney is portraying us, um, how things really were."

Coach Jim White on his wife being instrumental for them becoming champions

"Yeah, unfortunately, they didn’t portray her in the proper way.  Not that it was bad that they portrayed her, but she was more than they portrayed her.  She was a mother, she was a hugger.  She hugged their sweaty bodies when they came in from practice, yeah.  She was a provider, she cooked all the time for them.  Sometimes burritos – not as good as Mrs. Diaz, but when we’re on a bus and going to a meet, and they haven’t had anything to eat, then it’s – it’s still very good.  She provided cookies and just a love for the kids.  She loved them all, hugged them.  She was like a mom."

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This is a great movie,s the review is coming soon here on the blog. I will recommend you to make plans to head to the theaters and see it on Friday February 20th. It is inspirational and have  great message.I do have to advice you to take some kleenex with you. You will be touched and motivated. You will learn about immigrants and life.