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Interview With Jesus
Nebot
Tell us about your background in film and television. I've been a working actor for almost 15 years. I'm a graduate of The Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts of
Madrid (Spain) and The Lee Strasberg Theatre Institute of New York. After a successful career as an actor in Spain and Latin America I wanted to expand my professional horizons with new challenges and have the opportunity of working in projects that would reach a wider audience. That meant coming to the World Capital of Entertainment and improving my English in order to work in this language. Did the fact that you starred in a very well-known Spanish TV series make it easy for you to make connections in Hollywood? No. My prior career didn't help me much beyond allowing me to secure an agent. I had to prove myself again... from scratch, since this was a new and highly competitive market. Why did you decide to get into directing and producing? I wanted to have more creative control over my acting career and at the same time take to the big screen projects that, aside from being entertaining, were meaningful and had the potential of touching people's hearts. I believe that part of my responsibility as an actor and filmmaker is to make sure I'm contributing in making this planet a better place. Ultimately my fullfilment as a media artist comes from knowing that I am using all my talent to, at some extent, making a difference in other people's lives. That vision is the one that motivated me to become a producer, writer and director. Where did you find the story for your directorial debut film, NO TURNING BACK? NO TURNING BACK came to me in a magical way. A guerrilla journalist by the code name of SOID approached me to take to the screen a fascinating story that she had been covering with her mini-DV camera in the last ten days. Yet, she broke the law to do so and therefore, in order to protect her identity, we had to proceed with strict confidentiality. More information can be found on our web site www.noturningback.com. What was special about this story for you? Telling the story of the "underdog". Embracing the challenge of taking the audience into a journey where they could have sympathy for a guy who kills a child and runs away. I think it is important to awaken people's compassion for the so called "bad guys" of our society. Healing will never occur by demonizing them. What did you learn about the filmmaking process while working on this film? Everything. Most importantly that filmmaking is a collaborative art and therefore, not only do you need a vision, but also the ability to communicate to your team that vision to get the best out of them. In other words, beyond talent, you also need leadership skills that will allow you to listen to people, appreciate their work and then guide them towards the desired outcome. What were the most positive and negative aspects of making the film? The most positive thing was giving birth to the film itself. There is nothing more fullfiling on a creative level. I can't see negative things, only a lot of challenges that have helped me to grow as producer and filmmaker. What are your hopes for the film's future? I will be very happy if we can secure domestic theatrical distribution. In the meantime, my main goal is that this film is embraced by different audiences while playing in the film festival circuit. What kinds of scripts are you looking for now? Contemporary character driven stories that are written from the heart. Great scripts that, beyond being entertaining, have something to say. I'm also open to documentaries. Will you star in all of the films you produce and direct? Not necessarily. I actually think doing those three things at once is kind of crazy. Do you believe Hollywood is getting better at recognizing minorities and women? I think Hollywood cares about making money, period. This is a "for profit" industry to them and affirmative action is not part of their agenda. They will care more about women and minorities when projects like mine prove to be successful at the box office. What's something you wish you knew before you came to Hollywood? The importance of "perception" in this town. What is your dream role? Roles with dimension. It could be a spiritual master in crisis or a psychopath who has an opportunity to reveal his humanity. Characters who are intriguing in essence and speak with their eyes more than with their mouths. What are your plans for your future in the film business? Establish Zokalo Entertainment in the market place as a company that can succeed producing low budget character driven films with a strong humanitarian component. Films that entertain and enlighten audiences worldwide. Anything further you'd like to add? Follow your heart. Visit Zokalo Entertainment on the web at www.zokalo.com.
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Jesus Nebot
began his career as an actor in Spain. He is a renowned actor in Latin America
