We all want to see a compelling story on our screens, whether it’s a good telenovela, series, or film. Nowadays, there are many options, but some stand out for quality, the cast, and the plot; that is the case with “The Scoundrel’s Charms”, a series that has already premiered on ViX.
As part of the cast are the actors Manolo Cardona, Erick Elías and Daniela Álvarez, with whom we had the opportunity to chat and they shared details about the production and the work they did to bring their characters to life.
“It’s always a pride to be at the cutting edge, blending genres and, obviously, when we get involved in a project, what we seek first is quality not only technically, but also in taking care of the creative acting aspect,” said Manolo Cardona.
Manolo Cardona dives into a character whose personality is full of nuances, which became an acting challenge. Photo courtesy of ViX
“The level of detail that is cared for here is grand; we have nothing to envy from any production worldwide; I think in Latin America the only thing we need is the budget that other latitudes such as Europe and the United States have to reproduce that with our talent; we have a lot to deliver to our audience,” he added.
“The Scoundrel’s Charms” is an adaptation of the novel “Memorias de un sinvergüenza de siete suelas,” by Ángela Becerra, and tells the story of “Francisco Valiente,” the most cunning and handsome seducer, whose mysterious death unleashes a wave of secrets, passions, and suspicions.
From his coffin, “Francisco” receives condolences and demands from both lovers and enemies; with each visit he relives episodes from his past while trying to discover who killed him and why.
In parallel, a detective follows the clues of a case surrounded by intrigue, where everyone seems to have a motive.
“Not only did they give these characters a bit of three-dimensionality, they created a multigenre, because it has suspense, a love story, romance and comedy. It is very well produced and directed with an incredible cast. It’s a story that is marked by a classic melodrama, but with a contemporary narrative and wonderful characters that will give a lot to talk about,” Cardona shared.
Among actors, there is a well-known saying that it is easier to make people laugh than to make them cry, and for the cast of this series it was proven, as they had to work to blend drama and comedy.
“For comedy you have to have a lot of improvisation and precise timing. I hadn’t done it; it was interesting for me to try, especially having a character as dense as mine. It was very refreshing to do comedy,” Daniela explained.
Erik Elías also shares the same view; for him, preparation and rehearsals are one of the most important parts in shaping this story.
“That was a lot of table work; that is the part I enjoy most as an actor, figuring out how the characters will relate to each other and who the character will be. We gathered many rehearsals for each scene to figure out how to give them expression and presence. That process lasted several weeks. And since we were working outside of Mexico, we had plenty of time to dedicate to that.”
Another attribute of this series, which Manolo shares with us, is the visual and setting aspect, which he assures will reach not only the eye but also the heart of the audience.
“The Hispanic audience will identify with the story that takes place in a province; visually it is very rich to look at, I think everyone in the United States will feel an interesting nostalgia and the group of actors is unbeatable. It’s a luxury to have shared with such immense talent,” he concluded.
The series “The Scoundrel’s Charms” has already premiered on ViX.
