Nat Geo Premiere Event for "Genius: Picasso" Was Itself a Work of Art

The pilot had its world premiere in their hometown at the Teatro Cervantes a paleyellow building from 1870 amp160Gilt wreaths and leaves adorned each box of the four levels above the orchestra amp160The ceiling alone is a work of art with ornate oil painting on which is emblazoned amp8220Honor A Las Bellas Artesamp8221 Honor to the Fine ArtsIn Mamp225laga art is revered amp160And here the audience gave Banderas a heroamp8217s welcome amp160He is not a prodigal son amp160Rather Banderas keeps a home in town on a busy square and participates in Holy Week amp160Though Banderas is very much an international movie star his roots in this Andalusian city are as the son of a police officer and a teacherIntroducing Banderas and the pilot in this storied theater Courteney Monroe CEO National Geographic Global Networks with a translator next to her welcomed everyone amp160Later she told me that of all the speeches and presentations she has ever given this was a first amp160Monroe explained how the first season of this anthology series from producers Ron Howard and Brian Grazer created by showrunner Ken Biller had been the networkamp8217s bestreceived show amp160Monroe left and Biller right are pictured with Banderas at top amp160Season one of Genius about Albert Einstein garnered 10 Emmy Award nominations as well as multiple nods from the Hollywood Foreign Press Golden Globe Awards and the Broadcast Television Journalists Association Criticsamp8217 Choice AwardsThis is a complete story following Pablo Diego Josamp233 Francisco de Paula Juan Nepomuceno Maria de los Remedios Cipriano de la Santisima Trinidad Ruiz y Picasso from his birth on October 25 1881 to his death on April 8 1973amp160 The 10 episodes chronicle the prodigy who recreated masters when he was a youth amp160Just like with Genius Einstein two actors play the title role Alex Rich portrays Picasso from 17 to 40 and Banderas from 40 on Both actors had their heads and eyebrows shaved to accommodate different wigs and makeup and wore the itchy wool slacks and stiff corduroy suits of the timesOnamp160Wednesday when the pilot was screened for Spanish journalists and Thursday at the world premiere and glittery party that followed the actors looked more like themselves amp160Rich was a dandy in a cranberry velvet dinner jacket on Wednesday on Thursday night Banderas wore a tux with black velvet lapels amp160The premiere also served as a global press junket with more than 75 journalists from around the world in attendance amp160Speaking in a lyrical Spanish Banderas who was often on set at 230 am to start the aging process thanked everyone amp160And on this evening when the role he was born to play was finally being shown to the people who arguably know the most about Picasso Banderas looked nervous Ultimately all was perfect amp160Itamp8217s not as if this audience would be fickle amp160Rather where Picasso is so important and his influence in Mamp225laga cannot be overstated had National Geographic erred this is where it all could have gone down in flamesInstead a standing ovation and lightningquick Andalusian clapping greeted the actors amp160Banderas looked relieved the others looked thrilled amp160From there guests returned to the Gran Hotel Miramar Mamp225laga pictured above for a party that could inspire a paintingWith the Mediterranean stretching in front and the storied hotel with Moorish influences lit bright the famp234te had a magical feel amp160Lights danced on old trees the long rectangle of a pool was illuminated green with delicate fountains in full spray amp160Down a grand staircase inlaid with mosaics a 50piece band played a present from Banderas amp160The Madridbased party planners explained they are not professional musicians but a municipal band that plays at town functionsIt was a cool enough evening that Samantha Colley borrowed Poppy Delevingneamp8217s cashmere pullover and slipped it on over her red satin gown amp160The two had become friends as Colley played Picassoamp8217s muse and lover surrealist photographer Dora Maar and Delevinge played MarieThamp233ramp232se Picassoamp8217s muse and lover and mother of his daughter Maya amp160In the series the two have a fistfight amp160On this night it was nothing but hugsAs waiters ferried trays of champagne a DJ from Marbella Spain mixed tunes amp160Two men and two women wearing little more than cubistinspired body paint struck poses amp160It was 8 pm and they had begun getting painted including their hair at 10 amParty guests also struck poses framed by the iconic yellow rectangle allowing them to be on the cover of their own National Geographic magazine Guests also were encouraged to pick up paintbrushes don smocks and decorate a canvas that said amp8220Geniusamp8221As waiters offered cheeses dried fruits Jamamp243n Ibamp233rico and other delicacies three female flamenco dancers in black with white ruffled trim tore up the stage while one man partnered themPeople lingered at the party as a giddiness tinged with melancholy settled on the guests amp160They were reluctant to part after working together for months in Spain Budapest and Malta amp160And except for upcoming press events this was the endBut what a finishamp160 Under that crescent moon with the hint of orange blossoms wafting over them they hugged goodnight at a party that should have been captured on a canvas for the agesGenius Picasso will premiere April 24 on National GeographicClick the social buttons above or below to share this content with your friends and colleaguesThe opinions and points of view expressed in this content are exclusively the views of the author andor subjects and do not necessarily represent the views of MediaVillagecomMyersBizNet Inc management or associated writersamp160amp160amp160amp160

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Nat Geo Premiere Event for "Genius: Picasso" Was Itself a Work of Art

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Jacqueline Cutler

FEMA and the Ad Council Encourage AANHPI Communities to Enhance Disaster Preparedness in New PSAs - Ad Council InSites

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Nat Geo Premiere Event for "Genius: Picasso" Was Itself a Work of Art

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Jacqueline Cutler

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