Paz Vega Keynote at the Iberseries on 'Rita', Acting, Direction, Ferrari

The Spanish actress and director Paz Vega (Spanglish, Sex and Lucia, Rambo: The Last Blood, The OANetflix heist drama Kaleidoscope), which he wrote and put behind the camera for his directorial debut Ritahaving its world premiere this summer at the 77th edition of the Locarno Film Festival, he loves writing and directing, adding another layer to his creative endeavors. And he thinks more actors should feel empowered to direct.

He made the comments during a keynote interview Tuesday at the Iberseries & Platino Industria conference and market in Madrid titled “Changing Roles: Paz Vega and his transition from the art of acting to the art of directing.” He recently said in a THR interview that Billy Wilder, Francis Ford Coppola and Federico Fellini were among his role models.

Vega wrote, directed and executive produced Rita and even plays a small part in it. “In a way, I had the idea of ​​becoming a director when I first went to the filming set,” she told Iberseries on Tuesday. Now “I'm ready because I have something to say”.

When asked about balancing the roles of actress and director, Vega described her role as Rita's mother as “small.” By comparison, “kids are in every scene,” he said, but he knew that having his name in the cast would be “very convenient” for selling the film.

“Seville, summer 1984. Rita and Lolo are brother and sister, aged seven and five, and live in the heart of a humble working-class family,” reads the film's plot description. “Rita dreams of going to the seaside, but at home her father's word is law, always. For the first time, Rita begins to wonder why things are the way they are. He also begins to realize that his home is becoming less and less safe, especially for his mother.”

Vega previously praised its young star Sofía Allepuz who plays Rita in her THR interview. He touted her abilities on Tuesday, comparing the eight-year-old to a sports car. “Sofía has a natural talent. It's because she's a girl who listens. She is present there. She trusts you,” Vega said. “And luckily I got to shoot with her. I got to shoot with a Ferrari. I mean, it's like a Ferrari. It's incredible.

How easy was it to switch from the double role of director to that of actor on set? “I never got to take off my director's hat,” but she also had to work with the character she played in 22 out of 28 days of filming, Vega shared.

And she said this might be too much for her for future projects. “Maybe I won't do it again. I'm not going to be in front of the camera and behind the camera at the same time, because I think that's too much work,” Vega told Iberseries. “And I think there's something that really doesn't help us get there.”

With limited filming time, especially with children, Vega shared that she often had to think ahead about scenes at home to be fully ready for whatever the next day of filming would bring.

On Tuesday, Vega encouraged other actors to follow his lead and try sitting in the director's chair. “We shouldn't be afraid of an actor who says he's ready to direct,” he explained. “We have something to contribute.” She also said that she enjoys directing other actors and believes that the actors they direct can deliver at least solid acting performances. “So many hours on set… you have to adapt, and that really gives you an important experience. I have an advantage over any first-time director,” concluded Vega.

The star also provided some behind-the-scenes insights into her acting career in her appearance on Iberseries during which she was interviewed by Televisa journalist Omar Reyes. “I always questioned the director's decisions,” with some directors echoing her ideas or, otherwise, her internal dialogue as an actress, Vega said, concluding: “I've always had a director in me.”

He said it before THR who was writing the screenplay for a film set in the Dominican Republic. “It's a very Dominican story,” Vega said. “And I won't be playing any of the characters.”

'Rita'

Courtesy of the Locarno Film Festival

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