The story of a young couple from Mexico that decide to come to the U.S. in search of the “American Dream”, Por Mi Hija features a superlative performance by actress Daniela Vidaurre. We spoke to the Texan about the movie and her interest in being a part of it.
Congrats on a very moving film! what that appeal in doing it?
Thank you so much! I genuinely loved the screenplay – the pace, the story…every single part of it. I wanted in the moment I read it. Additionally, growing up in a border town (McAllen, TX) allowed me to meet so many wonderful people who lived in fear because they were undocumented. I felt a pull and a responsibility to tell this story.
I imagine just getting to visit those beautiful locales in San Diego wasn’t too deterring either!?
And the restaurants, too! On our day off in California, we visited Coronado. I fell in love with it! I am definitely going back!
There’s some great moments in this – favorite moment? What’s the big ‘gotta include that in my demo reel’ moment for you?
I am particularly fond of the flashbacks to Leo’s childhood. Those are my favorite moments. For my reel, I would probably include the latter part of the film and that’s all I can say because I don’t want to give away too much (wink wink)!
How do you psyche yourself up for some of those more emotionally grueling scenes?
For every character I play, I create a playlist of music they would listen to when they’re in love, happy, sad, or just going about their day. I am a very upbeat person, so when it comes to filming emotionally gruelling scenes, I isolate myself from the crew and cast in order to get to the mental space the character would be in in that particular moment. I usually listen to Hans Zimmer and Nick Cave & Warren Ellis for the heavier scenes. Music plays a big part in my preparation.
Were you encouraged to contribute and improvise?
Always. Fernando Rodriguez (writer & director) had a clear vision but he trusted us to go with what felt right. I enjoyed the collaboration and I sincerely appreciated the trust and creative freedom he gave us.
Did you know any of your co-stars?
I did not!
Have some time to get to know them before the shoot?
Zoom saved us! I had the opportunity to meet and chat with Luciana once or twice. Chris and I would meet on a bi-weekly basis to rehearse and to get to know each other. This was incredibly helpful because when we met in person, it felt like we knew each other for years!
The chemistry between you all really clicks. What do you attribute that to?
I attribute the chemistry to the time we spent on Zoom and our easy-going personalities. We were eager to work and happy to be on set!
How was Fernando as a director?
He was focused, patient, and a lot of fun! He took care of the cast and crew like nothing I had experienced before. Fernando would take us out to dinner, spend time with us, and laugh with us. We became a family. I cherish every single person and moment from this experience.