Nicholas Gonzalez Brings Latin Realism to Hallmark Channel in "Playing Cupid"

For Gonzalez this project and the opportunity to join the Hallmark family came at the perfect time quotIt was a different step for mequot he admitted during an exclusive interview with MediaVillage quotBut I have to say it felt right and it was a first so saying yes to this project was easyquotBecause it was a partnership with Scholastic Books I felt the story even with the inclusion of an adolescent storyline had an element of 39Not in the Hallmark world of everytown USA39 to it that Hallmark doesn39t always doquot he continued quotWe were dealing with reallife issues the trials and tribulations of single fatherhood and divorce Yes the 39D39 word We actually say it in this movie So while there are a lot of real big dramatic topics I felt it had such heart at its base that it didn39t feel like a departure from the dramatic roles I usually doquotFor Gonzalez that realism was extremely relatable quotMy parents divorced when I was threequot he shared quotI grew up as a latchkey kid with a single mother trying to do everything I grew up with the arguments between two people who are trying to do their best to be there for their child which I feel we do in this movie What39s at the forefront of the film is my daughter39s wellbeing not only from her teacher but me and my soon to be exwife It39s very real to me as I remember these interactions and feeling like 39There39s something wrong with me and my family because my parents are unable to stay together39quotWe even deal with that theme which I felt very touched by as it was being toldquot he proudly added quotThis isn39t a fantasy of just watching two people fall for each other There are real issues of life that come into play to pull them apart even while all these forces are working to bring them togetherquotWhile the issues dealt with are real the film is steeped in lighter moments and the pairing of Gonzalez and Vandervoort photos above is a credit to Hallmark Channel39s casting quotI think Laura got there the day we started which I can39t even believequot he recalled quotI need a couple of days for wardrobe because I can39t be onset trying things on Laura was like a machine She showed up from another production probably still in her makeup and was game It was two people coming together to make this the best we could and have fun and we genuinely had really similar senses of humor I love working with people who are on top of their game and doing their thing it just really makes life pop on screenquotOne other important element of the film was the casting of David39s daughter Clara Quaranta De La Rosa Despite this being her first project she proved to be a natural quotI was like her big brotherquot Gonzalez laughed quotI39d pick on her just to get her going a bit I asked the director if it was okay with her mom I39d love to take them both out to dinner With COVID it39s hard but we had all the tests so we found the time She was captivating and such a fun interesting girl I said after our meeting 39You just have to be yourself39 That39s one of the most liberating pieces of advice I wish somebody had given me years agoquotWith its realistic depiction of a Latino family Playing Cupid also reflects Hallmark Channel39s efforts to explore more diverse storytelling quotThat was a huge part of me wanting to do thisquot Gonzalez declared quotThis is based on a book and with book adaptations there is sometimes a bit of a feeling like things were put in as a little sprinkling but I didn39t feel like that with this It all felt organic to the experience I was genuinely a restaurant owner and the recipes and things were garnered from my mom and my family who happen to be from Mexico That39s a world I know It was also important for David and Clara not to whitewash anythingquotThere are lots of little terms of endearment I added in scenesquot he elaborated quotLittle things like calling her 39mama39 at times that definitely weren39t written Our script supervisor would come around and be like 39You39re calling her Mina but it39s Clara in the story39 I was like 39No I39m calling her 39Mija39 which means 39my daughter39 She and I would laugh about it Everyone else on set was Canadian and kind of like 39Alright so just trust them39 We were very adamant about making the story very real for both of usquotPlaying Cupid will premiere Saturday February 13 at 9 pm on Hallmark Channel as part of the network39s annual Love Ever After programming eventClick 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 writers

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Nicholas Gonzalez Brings Latin Realism to Hallmark Channel in "Playing Cupid"

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Nicholas Gonzalez Brings Latin Realism to Hallmark Channel in "Playing Cupid"

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