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GENESIS RODRIGUEZ (IDENTITY THIEF) Talks To WAMG
The number one comedy blockbuster IDENTITY THIEF is ready to steal a space on your Blu-Ray and DVD shelf, and in support of its June 4th release, WAMG was invited out to Dodger stadium to watch star Genesis Rodriguez, who plays Marisol in the film, throw out the first pitch against the St. Louis Cardinals. While there, I got the chance to speak to her about the film. I might have also watched my home team Cardinals win. What can I say? You can take the girl out of St. Louis, but you can’t take the St. Louis out of the girl. Check out my interview with Genesis below!
Jason Bateman (Horrible Bosses) and Melissa McCarthy (Bridesmaids) lead an all-star cast in this hilarious blockbuster hit. Unlimited funds have allowed Diana (McCarthy) to live it up on the outskirts of Orlando. There’s only one glitch: she’s financing her shopping sprees with an ID stolen from Sandy Patterson (Bateman), an accounts rep who lives halfway across the U.S. With only one week to hunt down the con artist before his world implodes, the real Sandy Patterson is forced to extreme measures to clear his name.
First off, how long did you practice that pitch?
GR: I practiced two days, about a week apart. If I made a fool out of myself, fine – but at least I tried, in my head. I don’t know what I did. I have no idea. (Laughs)
You play quite the badass in this film. How did you become involved with this film?
GR: The producers had seen CASA DE MI PADRE, and really loved it, and they asked if I would be willing to read for a part. I was like “Yeah, sure!”. I had no idea what they wanted, really, so I just kind of winged it. I came in with a super heavy accent – they didn’t ask for an accent… I came in “batshit crazy”. I remember, in my audition, I had this part where I was just talking, and I throw my things… I just went all out with it, and they were like “Ok. We really like this! You got the job!” and I was like “Ok. I had a really great time!” If I have a great time auditioning, I know I’m going to have a great time in the movie. That was the case. I had a great time. I’m not a badass. I mean, I can hardly throw a baseball for crying out loud. (Laughs) I like to be able to do that and push myself, and act, because that is total acting. I could not be like that.
You get to play around with guns in some of your films. Did you have to do any sort of training for that?
GR: I had done THE LAST STAND right before, so I had a little bit of gun training, then I jumped into this one right afterwards, so I was like “Sure. Yeah. Why not man?” They’re fun.
You’re known for your roles in soap operas. How was the crossover for you into film, and comedy?
GR: Well, I never really trained for comedy. I trained for saying ridiculous things very seriously. Like, my whole life I would have to say things like “I lost my vision” and be dead serious about it. That shit doesn’t happen! Excuse me for saying shit.
Oh no, you’re fine. I have the mouth of a sailor. You’re great! (Laughs)
GR: That was my training for comedy. To take it very seriously, and to deliver as intensely, and seriously as possible. That was pretty easy for me to do. That’s kind of what I’ve been doing in all the comedies like CASA… It was just “say ridiculous things very seriously”. This one was super intense. She didn’t even know how to pronounce her J’s (laughs) so, it was just a very easy transition.
You got to spar a bit with Melissa McCarthy in this. Did you get to improv with her, or with Tip (T.I.)?
GR: With her, no. With Tip I did. All the time. With Melissa we had to be more on book. She got to improvise a little bit more, just because of the way the story had to be told and played out.
This is his first comedic performance. He’s mostly known for his music career and his drama roles. What was your relationship with him like on set?
GR: At first I was like “How is he going to be?” because he’s this huge hip hop artist. “Is he going to be a diva? Is he going to be obnoxious? Is he not a team player?”. He was awesome. Just so easy to work with… He’s an actor! I didn’t know to how full of an extent I was ready for improv. So smart, so quick – just giving you something to feed off of. That’s what he should be doing. He should be doing more comedies. He’s hilarious.
You said you were worried about it. Have you ever had a problem with someone on set? Have you ever encountered someone being a diva?
GR: More so in my Spanish soap opera work. That was brutal. The biggest divas in the world were there. I probably had myself a diva moment there too because it was just horrible hours. You kind of get fed up. The 18 hour work days Monday through Saturday – about 7 months in you’re like “Ok, I gotta go! Let’s get this take done!”. That’s the type of attitude you start getting, but in movies it’s totally different! I don’t know. I never meet anyone like that. I certainly don’t have those feelings. It’s a Monday through Friday job, a 12 hour day – It’s pretty awesome! You get a trailer! You get to read books! You can eat candy and catering! It’s like “Dude, I don’t have to work today if you don’t want me to. I’ll wait!” I could not care!
You grew up with a singer/actor father, and a model for a mother. Do you feel like you were destined to do this? To be a part of the entertainment world? Or, was there something else you envisioned yourself doing?
GR: You know, I thought maybe I was going to be a lawyer, which is kind of acting as well. (Laughs) I was really good in school. I was in the honor program, I was in robotics, I was good in sciences… Honestly, I never took myself seriously. I never realized that I was in the public. My parents were the most humble and simple people ever. So, I never thought of myself as anything really different. I thought it was normal, what they did. I never was really interested until I took a drama class, and I realized “Holy moly! I can be different people?”. My drama teacher noticed. He never really told anyone this in class but he said “Gen, you should really consider this as a profession.” I said “I never really thought about that.” and he said “Get some training. Get some training. Go do that. I think you’ll be ok.”
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