Reader Spotlight: Borja
Thursday, May 5, 2011 at 3:30PM Hey people! Sorry we missed the spotlight last week. This is a series where we get to know members of The Film Experience community!
This week I'd like to introduce you to Borja from Spain. He's a talent agent so if you're an actor or actress, maybe one day he'll be staring at your headshot or reel!
Nathaniel: Borja thanks for doing this. How did you discover The Film Experience?
BORJA: I was googling an actress two years ago and clicked over. I love your point of view Nathaniel and it's a place where people are passionate but respectful -- something rare on the web.
Thanks. Do you remember your first movie?
The first I remember vividly was Raiders of the Lost Ark and I left the theater changed forever. I was only six and it was my true favorite for a long time, the benchmark for all action and adventure movies. All the people involved became my heroes: Steven Spielberg, who is directly responsible of my love for movies, Harrison Ford and, of course, Karen Allen. Marion Ravenwood is still one of the most fascinating female characters of all time.
So underrated! I'm feeling generous so I'm giving you FIVE favorite actresses. Go.
I´ll try…
Sigourney Weaver: My first favorite. I discovered her for the first time in “Ghostbusters”, a movie where she is funny, sexy, dark and intelligent. The definitive love came with “Alien”, logically. There is nothing I can say about Ellen Ripley that hasn't been said before. The idea of a woman taking control, being brave, tough and credible at the same time… Ufff… too much for me, I was trapped. Weaver is much more than Ripley though. Highlights on her career: “Year of living dangerously” (my personal favorite at the moment), “Working girl”, “Gorillas in the mist”, “Death and the maiden” or “A map of the world”. One word to describe her? Unique. No one before, no one after her.
Penélope Cruz. To understand my passion you must live in Spain. She became a national star at 18, with two movies: “Jamón Jamón” and “Belle Epoque”. Since then, she has had a career with up and downs, but being the most successful Spanish actress in history, becoming a big star in Hollywood, having problems with the English language and finally being nominated to three Oscars and winning. During that whole time I was supporting her from a distance. In Spain, the coolest thing you can say about her is that she is a bad actress, she is not so beautiful and looks cheap. It´s so tiring! I think she has the screen presence only the greatest stars of all time have. 
Kirsten Dunst: The most underrated actress of her generation. I love how she takes the simplest way to create a character. You will never see her overacting or being selfish, she is always honest, transparent and clean. You can read everything through her eyes. I find her fascinating as a woman, I love the way she looks, the way she talks… everything ! She is not at the peak of her popularity these days but I´m sure that's temporary. Can't wait to see her work with Von Trier.
Michelle Williams: I was a "Dawson's Creek" addict and I remember being very mad because everything on the show was designed as a vehicle for Katie Holmes (nothing against Mrs. Cruise). But since the pilot I was in love with Michelle… in fact I remembered her from “Species”, that terrible Alien-with a hot blonde movie. Since then, she has proved not only that she is a versatile infinite actress but that she has taste and guts choosing projects. And it doesn't hurt that she is a class act in everything related with her exposed and difficult life.
Kate Winslet: Capable of everything. Period.
You work in the industry as an agent right? What do you look for in actors to decide to represent them?
Mmmm… difficult question. I could talk for hours about this and say nothing but I will try to be concrete: The perfect mixture of talent, intuition and charisma. Oh, and I try to work only with good people, this is fundamental for me.
That's SO under-discussed. Let this be a lesson to all budding film professionals: it's not only talent or looks. If you're not good people, who will want to hang around you all day on set?
OK, wrapping up. The movie of your life. Title? Star?
The title should be: “La camisa del hombre feliz” (“The shirt of the happy man”, kind of…) and who I want to play me? Uff… Must be short, with dark hair and a big nose. Ben Foster comes to my mind, or Emile Hirsch. Those could work.
Reader Comments (18)
Thanks Nathaniel!! I feel truly honored to be part of this series!!
Best from Madrid!
Love Madrid.. I can tapas bar hop in Plaza Santa Ana for every meal for the rest of my life and be content. :)
Also, Sigourney needs to work more....
Peter -- damn right.
Borja -- love what you said about Sigourney. I haven't really thought of her like that but it's true. It's tough to see a "slot" she's filling in terms of the ancestry of stars. She's her own alien creature. bless.
also astute comment on Dunst "clean" is an adjective i'd never think of there but it's totally correct about the precision of her acting lines if you will.
I want him! You have my email this shouldn't be an issue.
Damn it -- that would be wrong of you. Go Sigourney go!
I cannot agree more with your thoughts on Sigourney and Kirsten!
Kirsten is so underrated it hurts, I am glad she has a really interesting project coming up in Melancholia. She is also the only reason I would actually go out and see All Good Things.
"Kate Winslet: Capable of everything. Period."
You're going to have to explain this a bit more Borja because Kate Winslet has been boring me as an actress lately. It seems as if she thinks in her head, "I need to find a good drama about a woman (preferably a mother) stuck between a rock and a hard place, that can win me an award. It's gotten to the point where she even has the facial expressions mastered so she can recycle them role after role.
She has yet to prove she is capable of everything so I'm not sure how you came to this conclusion. Could you see Kate as Fannie Brice in Funny Girl or Matty Walker in Body Heat? I simply cannot.
Is Borja his first name or last name? It's my last name, so maybe we're related. Hopefully not too closely related because I think he's hot.
Raul -- Borja is his first name. you're safe.
Borja: I really like the praise you gave to Weaver. She is so cool, tough sexy, funny and intelligent. My two favs roles of her are Aliens and The Ice Storm. And the comments about Penelope Cruz are exactly the same thing most of Norwegians talk about Liv Ullmann. Its such a shame. When it comes to Dunst Im not that big of a fan, but ooh man she was good in The Virign Suicides
JayJ: I totally agree when it comes to Winslet. But she is young and has lots of future projects to prove us wrong
This series is so obviously a hotness parade it's ridiculous ;)
"In Spain, the coolest thing you can say about (Penélope) is that she is a bad actress, she is not so beautiful and looks cheap. It´s so tiring! I think she has the screen presence only the greatest stars of all time have. "
That is sooo true!
Here in Spain everyone I know hates her guts and says she has no talent at all. Sometimes I feel I'm the only one defending her. The fact that she has this phobia towards spanish press doesn't make it easier to love her. She comes up as arrogant. And then she shows up in US talkshows and she is all smiles. Here people hate that. I really think she has "it" but boy, does she need a good publicist!
Hey JayJ, I can explain my POV about Winslet, of course.
First I want to clarify that this was one of the most difficult things to do for me in my entire life... only five actresses? Are we crazy? I love many more that are not included in my selection.
About Kate Winslet. I really think she can do anything. I remember the first time I saw her, in Sense and sensibility (I catch Heavenly creatures after) and I thought she was both brilliant and beautiful and since then I root for her and I can´t say I´m disappointed at all: Hamlet, Titanic, Jude, Iris, Heavenly creatures, Holy smoke, Quills, Llittle children, Eternal sunshine... You can see the range she has. I´m aware she has not explored comedy as much as drama but the way she portrayed Clementine or her contribution to Extras make me feel she could be so good doing comedy than in her dramatic turns. As per the last movies, I haven´t seen Mildred Pierce yet bur I think she was perfect in Revolutionary road and totally Oscar worthy in The Reader (forget the terrible make up!). I feel anything but bored with her and I always feel something rare when she is in the screen... like she is more alive than the rest... It´s something difficult to explain for me but you can feel it rewatching Jude (my favourite), Eternal Sunshine or Titanic.
So, these are the reasons why I love Kate Winslet but of course, with actors and actresses is everything subjective.
And SEISGRADOS... Do you really think Penélope is different with the Spanish than with the foreign press? Mmm... It´s a delicate question but I have a different opinion. I think she treats differently the yellow/pink press than the rest, and in Spain she is more than ok with the serious media but on TV there is no programs to go... everything is yellow press!! The only program you can compare with an american talk show is Buenafuente and Hormiguero and she was in Buenafuente some years ago and I´m sure she will go to El Hormiguero to promomte POTC4... so I can´t see the difference. I just can see the trash Spanish programs slamming her because she never will give them what they want... her entire life. JMO
Un abrazo!!
Hot and worships Sigourney?! He's my new boyfriend!
Borja what is yellow and pink press? i don't get this.
Ups... Sorry Nath! My fault, I was translating directly from Spanish... THE GOSSIP PRESS!! You know, the media that is obsessed with the private lives of the celebrities!
I know what you mean, Borja. I guess this is not the right forum to debate this but I remember when Pe was promoting Nine she gave an interview to Elvira Lindo for El País, a serious newspaper. Lindo, a friendly and prestigious spanish writer, was puzzled to find Cruz so unconfortable with the questions and so secretive about her life. She wouldn’t share anything. You just have to find a balance. There is gossip press and then serious and respectful journalism. You must be able to treat them differently. Thats why I said she really needs a publicist, to help her decide which is which.
I remember the Elvira Lindo interview and I agree with you, many times she seems too closed to talk about anything related with her private life. My point is that she does the same in the States... there are many examples in prestigious mags. like Vogue, Vanity Fair o whatever, when she is asked about something personal she becomes like a closed shell. She doesn´t talk about personal matters there neither.
Maybe she could be more relaxed but I guess her position is the result of years of misunderstandings with the press. As you say, this is not the forum to talk about this, anyway, but is cool to find another Penélope suporter from Spain... My friends are mocking me all the time! ;o)
Yeah, the Team Penélope is a rare breed in Spain!
I also love your choice of actressing. Sigourney would make my top 5 also. I love the Winslet but I was disapointed with her Mildred Pierce. I couldn't believe her vsuffering. It's like she was pretending (reminded me when Bette Davis played a good character, you couldn`t buy it).
By the way you are way hotter than Ben Foster. I would cast Chris Messina for your biopic.