Hola!  I created a diego luna website recently (www.diegolunaloco.com).  I LOVE your avatars and wanted to ask if I could post them in my gallery. I'd give credit. But if you don't want me to, that's cool too. 

Heather~

“I am an actor because I like to tell lies on stage.”

March 2006

Mexican actor Diego Luna continues his assent with his career. On Saturday, the 25th of March, he came to Guadalajara to present his 21^st performance in national cinema: Sólo Dios sabe and he spoke with MagazineMX on his plans, opinions and development.

“If not for Y tu mamá también, my career would not have taken the courses I have now,” mentioned the young actor. Diego on having spoken about chances, luck and things of the future, subjects that touch his most recent performance in Latin cinema, the movie Sólo Dios sabe,  the same in which he plays along side Brazilian actress Alice Braga and under the direction of film maker Carlos Bolado.

In the lounge of the hotel in which he is staying, he sat in a chair. With feet widespread and restless body movement, he responded to each question, even those that don’t matter to him but that he wants to answer to give his opinion. He chats about the reasons he became an actor.

Although he should be more than acquainted with the flash and the accommodating pleas of photographers, this time he decided that none of them should enter the room, using his companions as an excuse, a little time that the actor had. Nevertheless, it can be said that he is kind in his manner. When he speaks, he seems to forget those that surround him, be it the person who handles his public relations or the girl who coordinates the interview. He does not stop looking at the clock in order to control the time of interview.

“It’s true that I grew up in a theatrical environment, because of my father (set designer Alejandro Luna), but it wasn’t until my adolescence that I decided to take it seriously. Let's say that I am an performer because I love the idea of going out on stage or on the screen telling an interesting lie that can be received well by the public,” he explains with anxious hands that he sometimes hides in the pockets of his coat or in his trousers, and he constantly takes them to his mouth while he listens to the questions.

About his 21^st movie of his filmography, in which he also takes part as executive producer, he mentions that he decided to accept it not only for the desires of working next to Carlos Bolado, but also for the interest that the story of the two young people generated. They meet each other because of a supposed coincidence of life or so-called destiny, in a city that they don’t live in, since both are passing through.

In the plot, the loss of the girl’s passport generates the meeting and coexistence of both characters, which discover similarities in their life stories. She is atheistic, he is mystical and in the drama of their romance they will have to mature more than what they think they can bear.

“I like the story because it speaks about the return to faith, death, laying down roots, of desires to want to know where you come from, to risk deciding what you want to do with your life, what path to take and with whom to walk,” he expresses.

“I believe that the lives of all of us are something like that, to go and come from faith, because we all believe in something. We need to place our love, needs and hopes in a belief. On the other hand, there are humans that leave a trace (sign). I do not believe that thing about that “a new worry helps take your mind off the old one”. Rather I believe that each one leaves a hole in our heart and person, so that we are a collection of small hole, made by each of the people that marked our life,” he adds. He met director Carlos Bolado many years ago. He knew him in the cinematographic world, but it was not until 1999, in Guadalajara precisely during the course of the so-called Trade Fair of Mexican Cinema, that both sat down to chat and drink more than one beer, ending with the promise to make something together at the first opportunity.

“I remember that three years ago Carlos' co-producer called to tell me that he wanted to do a new movie and he wanted me for the lead role. I told him that I would love to and would wait for the script to read immediately. But then something more entertaining and special happened, he confessed to me that there was no text; that Carlos only wanted to know if I was interested in being his actor, to sit down to write me a character,” he mentions smiling.

Mexican cinema is a topic that makes him move his body from the support of the chair to get closer to the interviewer, to place his elbows on his legs and to be able to say, “I’m always going to do Mexican movies, because I am from here. I belong to this country. I was born, grew up and fell in love here the first, second and tenth time. I had sex here the first time. I met my best friends here. I chose to be an actor in this place. In the end, I have a thousand reasons to be before the camera of national cinema all the time possible. Also, we have great talent here.”

To go filming in other countries like Spain where he filmed Soldadso de Salamina in 2001 or the United States, where he already earned a name with titles like Open Range, Havana Nights and Criminal.  It is also attractive to him because “it allows me to have an outlet to my curiosity, I am a very observant man. I love walking down the street and more than knowing people, to look at them; to understand something about them, to make use of it the first opportunity that it’s called on me to reinterpret it in a theatre, movie or TV scene,” he points out.

And he is not equivocal when he listens to what they say. His eyes have sufficient time to see the notebook and eyes of the reporter while he takes the glass with water that they have brought over and sometimes he cannot avoid smiling if the question has provoked a bit of nostalgia. But his features harden when it is a question of a topic of opinion or that has to do with this future plans; such is the case of his desire to increasingly get evolved in the trades of cinema. “For me it’s clear that I love movies and at the same time that I enjoy taking characters. Also, I very much want to get into production and in time into directing,” he points out.

In his opinion, producing allows you to ensure that a story takes its course towards the big screen. “I do not believe in the author's cinema. I believe in cinema that occasionally can be done by people that also write it; that film is done by a head (leader) and many arms “so-called actors, photographer, illuminator, among others,” he explains.

His work agenda includes the efforts that the producing house Canana needs, of which he is proprietary together with his friend and partner Gael García Bernal. The same that at the beginning of this year promoted a tour of shorts (short films) in the most noteworthy cities of the country [Mexico].

For what is left of the year, there is contemplation of his participation in the Mexican film Amapola (Poppy), written by Vicente Leñero and directed by Luis Mandoki. In addition to the movie Toto, in which he’ll return with García Bernal, under the direction of Carlos Cuarón. And the English work Fade to Black, that’s already in the post-production stage.

Translated from: http://www.buscajalisco.com/bj/bjfiles_archivo/diego/diego.htm

12 September 2006

In cinema Diego Luna has been a hacker, a cowboy, a vampire hunter, a “charolastra” and a dancer. This weekend he will appear as a journalist in the film Sólo Dios Sabe (Only God Knows) by Carlos Bolado and in a few more months we will see him in the shoes of Michael Jackson in the film Mister Lonely, for which he learned some steps of the so-called “king of pop”.

“Being Michael Jackson the whole day is not so easy... It was very exciting for the whole process of characterization. It is a movie that is a little schizophrenic because I, me the actor, play a guy that does not want to be himself and wants to be another person. And the character that he chooses (Jackson) is a guy that does not want to be himself and wants to be another person, and he shuts himself up in a strange world and wants to live like a child throughout his whole life,” Diego explained with humor.

The film, shot this summer in Paris, France, will also have other celebrity appearances like Marilyn Monroe (Samantha Morton), Charlie Chaplin (Denis Lavat), James Dean (Josheph Morgan) and film maker Werner Herzog (" Aguirre, God's anger ").

Besides the premiere of Sólo Dios Sabe, in which he is also the producer, Diego perfects the last details of his documentary on Mexican boxer Julio César Chávez.

Q: What is Mister Lonely about, the movie by Harmony Korine that you have just filmed in Europe?

Diego: It’s about the story of a Michael Jackson impersonator. It is one of the craziest scripts that I’ve done. It’s very entertaining and is a nice story. Basically it tackles the love between two impersonators, one of Michael Jackson who lives in Paris, he does nothing well, and one day meets a Marilyn Monroe impersonator who convinces him to go live in a commune in where only impersonators live. He takes the trip with her and comes to a wonderful world where they all share the same need to want to be another person.”

Q: You had to put yourself in Michael Jackson’s shoes?

Diego: Yes, I got to. I took to the dance and learned the steps and all that. It was very intense. One does not try to be Michael Jackson, only an imitator. That is to say, a guy that does not want to be the same. It was not a question of being as good as Jackson, because my character is a guy that has no job or money.

Q: What was the most interesting thing about the experience (the filming)?
Diego: To work with really cool people. Werner Herzong acts, Samantha Morton who I believe is the best English actress, and French actor Benny Lavant. It’s a small, low budget movie, but with really good people.

Q: In Sólo Dios Sabe you play a journalist. How did you prepare this character?
Diego: Damián is a person very near to Carlos Bolado. And I was inspired by Carlos Puig (emerging journalist from Proceso), not of now, but in his earlier stories. That is to say, a guy that’s not sure what he wants to do in his life, but has a need of knowledge and this is what it takes for journalism. He’s a guy that is capable of driving to Tijuana in a depression, from perhaps where can come his best piece, his best writing.

Q: In the movie there are topics that touch you deeply?
Diego: Yes indeed, like the loss of the mother; the idea that orphans go through life looking for family. I share that very much and that's why I devote myself to what I devote myself to.

Q: Do you look much like Damián's character?
Diego: There are things that I understand very well. People believe that it is easier when you interpret yourself, but when it feels so personal and deep for you, sometimes you have a mental block and that happened during the shooting, because I am speaking about personal topics. I met Carlos Bolado long ago in the Guadalajara Festival and we chatted a lot about our things. We found many similarities in our stories. And one day Yissel Ibarra, his producer, said to me that Carlos was writing a script and wanted to known if I wanted to do it, for he was writing it with me in mind. It was a little strange, but it was not very difficult for me to say yes and hence it was put together.

Q: There are two very important topics that the film touches on; the first one is abortion...
Diego: Abortion should be a topic that we talk about more. And that should also be legislated to protect violated women. It is a very delicate subject and I believe what my character says: it does not matter what we decide, the only important thing is that we decide together. There must be a law that protects mothers who are not ready; that cannot have a child; that must not have a child; to violated mothers. I believe that legally there should be the option for many cases where abortion should be legal.

Donde Ir (Where To Go) Magazine

April 2006

I am Diego ~ Diego Luna Increasing (Developing)

The actor discusses his new film roll as a journalist in his new movie. About learning ways of acting as diverse as cinema, theater and television and the characteristics of a great work.

Diego Luna Alexander is an actor who learned the love to the acting profession on stage. From childhood he shared the world of drama with his parents, and with time this experience helped him appear on television and further on in cinema. In this latter setting he met an important person who marked his life decisively: Alfonso Cuarón. Diego speaks to us briefly about his learning to act and about his new cinema work in Sólo Dios sabe (Only God Knows), the film directed by Carlos Bolado.

Is it difficult to play a Mexican journalist?

Diego: As a matter of fact, I am going to the put the name of your profession in a high place. No, it’s not difficult. There is no difference with any other character. It is to understand a profession, to find the reason of the person. Damián is a reporter who is beginning; he goes to Tijuana to carry out a report. He’s a guy that loves driving in highway and to travel around his country. It fascinates him to take photos and write about these trips. He is a guy that’s very curious about life. I believe that it is a very important quality for people that do journalism, to never loose curiosity.

How was the construction of the character?

Diego: Damián looks like many people that I know. In fact, he is very much like our director. Carlos Bolado, only you can’t tell him, it is a secret, although he will have found out already. In this precise moment of life, the guy is losing faith. He’s an individual who knows that love is the most important thing, very centered in this sense, someone adorable who commits many mistakes.

What were your reasons for accepting the character?

Diego: I took the role for several reasons. The first is the admiration of Carlos and because when I saw Bajo California and Promises so much, his two movies, I enjoyed them very much. They stayed in my head a long time. That’s the main reason. And the second for the rhetoric of the movie, it has a lot to do with me. Especially for a subject that is very important, in the movie it talks about a brotherhood (association) of orphans. And this is a subject that comes to me and sticks to me very much. It is a film where I share many concepts with Bolado.

What are you left with at the end of the movie?

Diego: With the wonderful journey that we made for Mexico and Brazil, the pleasure of working with many people that I like and admire. And the pride of having a movie ready to show.

Of the actors you collaborate with, what can you tell us?

Diego: The cast is solid and I met several Brazilian actors who impressed me with their work.

And of Alice Braga?

Diego: I am grateful having worked with her. The truth is the public will go away pleasantly surprised with her work. She’s a bad-ass!

You have acted in cinema, theater and television. Where do you come across best?

Diego: They are so different from each other, they are incomparable. Perhaps where I have liked it least, along my career, is in television. There you have less time, as an actor, to develop your character, to prepare yourself, to achieve a work more handmade. This does not want to say that it should not be possible to do good television. This is not to want to say that one cannot make good television. There are some attempts to make it. In theater and cinema the process is more organic. It is the process for which I go. To have to choose between theater and cinema would be like choosing between the salty thing and the sweet thing.

What learnings have performance in theater and in cinema left you?

Diego: In theater, the affection and love for what I do. I was in theater since I was a child, my dad devotes himself to that, and half my life, when finishing school, was to be in a theatrical enclosure. It was there that I decided to do this, but there I also set out that wanted to do many things. There I grew, I owe it very much. Besides, as an actor, it is the best place to practice. In Mexico one cannot count on a school of acting in cinema, all that want to do cinema had to start in theater. There are some exceptions. I believe that the stage and the experience you take in the theater. The cinema gives you much less opportunity.

To cinema, what do you owe to it?

Diego: Cinema is much trickier. In theater you are standing in front of the public, you depend on text, light and someone opposite you that listens and sees you. In cinema there are many more elements. Cinema is more than one specific point of view, it is a story that only one person tells. There it is the director. One becomes a tool so that he can extract his story. It is the point of view of this eye, with the personality of the director. Hence, an assembly is created to help him. In cinema there is a boss. Well, in good cinema there is a boss.

What directors have left you an education?

Diego: It is going to sound pretentious, but I try to learn from everyone that I work with. Everyone can grab hold of something. There are directors that I admire very much, and that has to do with the project and the process that they take. Undoubtedly, working with Alfonso Cuarón has been something which marked me more in all respects. Therefore, he, as a person and as a director, he is someone that is going to always be there.

What are your plans for the future?

Diego: First, to be happy. Next, to be able to keep on working with the people that I admire. To speak seriously with the Pumas’ board of directors to sort out some contracts and structural problems of my team. [Pumas de UNAM – a Mexico City soccer team.]

PROJECTS

Sólo Dios sabe (Only God knows)

Director: Carlos Bolado

Cast: Diego Luna, Alice Braga, Damián Alcázar

The paths of a Brazilian student named Dolores and Mexican journalist who answers to the Damián name, cross in the border town of Tijuana. Dolores, on her way to San Diego, loses her passport, for which she will have to travel to Mexico City to obtain another. In this trip her new friend Damián accompanies her, in whom she will find an almost magic relationship. Behind this dream there will be several obstacles.

Origin: Brazil – Mexico

Fade to Black

Director: Oliver Parker

Cast: Danny Houston, Paz Vega, Diego Luna, Christopher Walken

In order to recover from his divorce with actress Rita Hayworth, director Orson Wells travels to Italy, where he will be surrounded by a series of intrigues and murders.

Amapola (Poppy)

Director: Luis Mandoki

Cast: Daniel Giméz Cacho, Diego Luna

Written by Vicente Leñero, it is based on a true story that deals with the topic of friendship, ambition and the loyalty of two friends that devoted themselves to organize the cultivation of the poppy to provide morphine to American soldiers during the Second World War. The actions of both will have repercussions in the future and in the life of anti-drug agent, Saúl Garza, who investigates an organization of drug traffickers in San Diego.

Toto

Director: Carlos Cuarón

Cast: Diego Luna, Gael García Bernal

Film debut of scriptwriter Carlos Cuarón; a drama on of the world of the professional football (soccer).

Donde Ir

Abril 2006

Yo Soy el Diego  ~  Diego Luna creciente

El actor comenta su nuevo rol fílmico como periodista en su nueva película. Del aprendizaje actoral en medios tan diversos como el cine, teatro y televisión. Y de las características de un gran trabajo.

Diego Luna Alexander es un actor que aprendió el amor a la profesión actoral sobre un tablado. Desde niño compartió con su padere el mundo dramátic, y con el tiempo esa experiencia le ayudo a figurar en televisión y más adelante en el cine. En este último entorno conoció a un personaje que marcó su vida decisivamente: Alfonso Cuarón. Diego nos habla brevemente sobre su aprendizaje en la actuación y de su nuevo trabajo para cine en Sólo Dios sabe, cinta dirigida por Carlos Bolado.

Es difícil interpretar a un periodista mexican?

Diego: De hecho, voy a poner en alto el nombre de tu gremio. No, no es difícil. No hay diferencia con algún otro personaje. Es entender una profesión, encontrar un porqué al personaje. Damián es un reportero que empieza, se va a Tijuana a realizar un reportaje. Es un tipo al que le encanta manejar en carretera y viajar por su país. Le fascina tomar fotos y escribir sobre esos viajes. Es un tipo muy curioso por la vida. Creo que es una cualidad muy importante, para la gente que hace periodismo, nunca perder la curiosidad.

Cómo fue la construcción del personaje?

Diego: Damián se parece a mucha gente que conozco, de hecho se asemeja mucho a nuestro director. A Carlos Bolado, sólo que no se lo puedes decir, es un secreto, aunque ya se habrá enterado. En ese preciso momento de la vida, el tipo está perdiendo la fe. Es un individuo que sabe que el amor es lo más importante, muy centrado en ese sentido, alguien adorable que comete muchos errores.

Cuáles fueron las razones para aceptar el personaje?

Diego: Tomé el papel por varias razones. La primera es la admiración a Carlos y porque, cuando vi tanto Bajo California como Promises, sus dos películas, las disfruté mucho. Se quedaron mucho tiempo dando vueltas en mi cabeza. Ésa es la principal razón. Y la segunda por el discurso de la película, tiene mucho que ver conmigo. Sobre todo por un tema que es muy importante, en el filme se habla de una hermandad de huérfanos. Y éste es un tema que a mí me llega y me pega mucho. Es una cinta donde comparto muchos conceptos con Bolado.

Cuáles son esos conceptos?

Diego: Carlos es un tipo muy apasionado e impulsivo, mi personaje tiene mucho de eso. La idea de una hermandad de huéfanos me encanta, eso y el viaje que hace uno como espectador por Brasil y México en esta peli.

Con qué te quedas al final de la película?

Diego: Con el maravilloso viaje que hicimos por México y Brasil, el placer de trabajar con mucha gente que quiero y admiro. Y el orgullo de tener una película lista para enseñar.

De los actores con los que colaboras, qué nos puedes decir?

Diego: El reparto es sólido y conocí a varios actores brasileños que me impresionaron con su trabajo.

Y de Alice Braga?

Diego: Agradezco el haber trabajado con ella, la verdad el público se va a sorprender muy gratamente con su trabajo. Es una chingona!

Has actuado en cine, teatro y televisión. Dónde te desenvuelves mejor?

Diego: Son tan distintos uno del otro, que son incomparables. Quizá donde menos me ha gustado, a lo largo de mi carrera, es en la televisión. Ahí tienes menos tiempo, como actor, para desarrollar tu personaje, para prepararte, para realizar un trabajo más artesanal. Esto no quiere decir que no se pueda hacer buena televisión. Hay algunos intentos de hacerla. En el teatro y en el cine el proceso es más orgánico. Es el proceso por el que voy. Tener que escoger entre el teatro y el cine, sería como elegir entre lo salado y lo dulce.

Qué enseñanzas te ha dejado la actuación en el teatro y en el cine?

Diego: En el teatro el cariño y el amor por lo que hago. Estoy en el teatro desde que soy niño, mi papá a eso se dedica, y la mitad de mi vida, cuando terminaba la escuela, era estar en un recinto teatral. Ahí fue donde decidí hacer esto, pero ahí también dispuse que quería hacer muchas cosas. Ahí crecí, le debo mucho. Además, como actor, es el mejor lugar para ejercitarte. En México no se cuenta con una escuela de actuación en cine, todo aquel que quiere hacer cine tiene que haber empezado en el teatro. Hay algunas excepciones. Creo que las tablas y la experiencia las tomas en el teatro. El cine te da mucho menos oportunidad.

Al cine, qué le debes?

Diego: El cine es mucho más tramposo. En el teatro estás parado frente al público, dependes de un texto, una luz y alguien enfrente de ti, que te escucha y que te ve. En el cine hay muchos elementos más. El cine es más de un punto de vista específico, es una historia que cuenta una sola persona. Ahí es el director, uno se convierte en una herramienta para que él saque su historia. Es el punto de vista de este ojo, con la personalidad del director. De ahí se crea un ensamble para ayudarle a él, en el cine hay una batuta. Bueno, en el buen cine hay una batuta.

Qué directores te han dejando enseñanza?

Diego: Va a sonar pretencioso, pero trato de aprender de todo el mundo con el que trabajo. De todos puedes agarrar algo. Hay directores a los que admiro muchísimo, y eso tiene que ver con el proyecto y el proceso que llevan. Sin lugar a dudas, trabajar con Alfonso Cuarón ha sido algo de lo que más me marcó en todos los sentidos. Por ende, él, como persona y como director, es alguien que va estar ahí siempre.

Cuáles son tus planes a futuro?

Diego: Primero, ser feliz; después, poder seguir trabajando con gente que admiro. Hablar seriamente con la directiva de los Pumas para arreglar algunas contrataciones y problemas estructurales de mi equipo.

PROYECTOS

Sólo Dios sabe:

Dirige: Carlos Bolado

Actúan: Diego Luna, Alice Braga, Damiaán Alcázar

Los caminos de una estudiante de are brasileña llamada Dolores y de un periodista mexicano que responde al nombre de Damián, se cruzan en la ciudad fronteriza de Tijuana. Dolores, quien se dirige a San Diego, pierde su pasaporte, por lo que tendrá que viajar a la Ciudad de México para conseguir otro. En este viaje la acompaña su nuevo amigo Damián, en quien encontrará una relación casi mágica. Detrás de este sueño habrá varios obstáculos.

Origen: Brasil – México

Estreno: vie. 28

Fade to Black

Dirige: Oliver Parker

Actúan: Danny Houston, Paz Vega, Diego Luna, Christopher Walken

Para recuperarse de su divorcio con la actriz Rita Hayworth, el dierector Orson Wells viaja a Italia, donde se verá envuelto en una serie de intrigas y asesinatos.

Amapola

Dirigue: Luis Mandoki

Actúan: Daniel Giméz Cacho, Diego Luna

Escrita por Vicente Leñero, está basada en una hirtoria real, que trata temas como la amistad, la ambición y la lealtad de dos amigos que se dedicaron a organizar el cultivo de la amapola para suministrar morfina a los soldados estadounidenses durante la Segunda Guerra Mundial. Las acciones de ambos tendrán repercusiones en el futuro y en la vida del agente antidrogas, Saúl Garza, quien investiga a una organización de narcotraficantes en San Diego.

Toto

Dirigue: Carlos Cuarón

Actúan: Diego Luna, Gael García Bernal

Cinta debut del guionista Carlos Cuarón un drama sobre del mundo del futbol profesional.

http://community.livejournal.com/diegolunaloco/

Reforma newspaper ~ Mexico     August 2006