A couple of weeks ago I screened all ten episodes of Netflix’ upcoming series, Gentefied. I enjoyed every episode for what it was and hope others will too. There’s so much that’s relatable with the characters in the show. They are likable for many different reasons. My fave is the Afro-Latinx activist, Yessika (Julissa Calderon).
For me, it’s personal. I live in Northeast Los Angeles. Through my teenage and college years, I spent A LOT of time in Boyle Heights. Mind you, Northeast Los Angeles is a very large area with many wonderful communities within it, and I’ve seen a lot of changes. Gentrification is real; sometimes it’s good…and sometimes it isn’t. That’s why I think this series hits a nerve within me.
L-r: Joaquín Cosío, Joseph Julian Soria and Carlos Santos
Gentefied is ambitious, in a good way. It tries to show different facets of the Latino/Latinx community in one area of the city, because we all know we aren’t all the same, just as Starz’ VIDA (Tanya Saracho) has been doing in their two seasons (with a third on its way in April).
Gentefied was created by two Chicano first-gen writers, Marvin Lemus and Linda Yvette Chávez, who are credited as executive producers alongside Monica Macer, Aaliyah Williams, America Ferrera, and others. America Ferrera even directed a couple of the episodes. The half-hour dramedy premiered on February 21 on Netflix. It stars Joaquín Cosío as Pop, Karrie Martin as Ana Morales, Joseph Julian Soria as Erik, Carlos Santos as Chris, Annie Gonzalez as Lidia Solis, Felipe Esparza as Crazy Dave, Rafael Sigler as Pancho Solis, Jaime Alvarez as Javier Fernandez, Bianca Melgar as Nayeli Morales, and Michelle Ortiz as Connie.
I had a chance to talk with some of Gentefied’s stars just a few days before its premiere on Netflix. They gave us some real insight into what the series is about, and what a joy it’s been to be part of it.
Joseph Julian Soria, known as JJ, plays Erik. Erik is all about family, even though things don’t seem to always go his way. I asked JJ how much of Eric’s love of family and ambition is like his own. “I understood Eric’s love for family quite well,” he told me. “I myself am very close to my family.
Karrie Martin and Julissa Calderon
I also wondered what it felt like to be in a series that’s all about the Latino/Latinx life experience, warts and all. “It’s a true honor to be a part of a show that I believe is groundbreaking and impactful to the Latinx community,” JJ said “A show where they can finally feel represented. I believe this show will inspire many and show them that they matter.”
I also had a chance to talk with Carlos Santos, who plays Chris. Carlos has been working for many years, and I asked him how satisfying it was to be on a series that has relevance to the Latino/Latinx experience in our city of Northeast L.A.—Boyle Heights? “It is fulfilling to a degree that I’m still processing,” Carlos said. “The fact that all of the people in charge of the show have full ownership of telling a story like this one is a true blessing, and having the opportunity to play a three-dimensional character that also happens to be Latinx is beyond special. Usually, it’s very hard to find all those pieces come together at the same time, so I am extremely grateful that I get to be a part of Gentefied.”
Annie Gonzalez and Joseph Julian Soria
“Your character Chris is ambitious and has good intentions.” I said to Carlos “And he’s growing. What about his character you relate to?”
“I think that his need to be accepted and validated in the community and his career is something that I know too well,” he said. “I’ve always been the youngest of my friends and family and that created a “mascot” mentality growing up. So, I’m definitely tapping into that for Chris. I also moved to California from Puerto Rico by myself at 18 to pursue my dreams, so I’ve been away from my family for a long time and that naturally made me want to find that comfort and acceptance out here to varying degrees of success. Chris left Boyle Heights at a young age, and then came back in his late twenties, but Boyle Heights no longer feels like home, even though he desperately wants it to.”
If there’s a second season of Gentefied, I asked Carlos about how he would like Chris to evolve. “Chris has a very complicated relationship with his father,” he said. “I would love to see where that leads to. For better or worse, He’s going to have to face that head on and I think he’s going to come out of that a different man. A ver que pasa.”
I talked to Alejandro Patino about his character, Chuey, as well. ‘He’s a bit of scoundrel—not in a bad way but he goes with the flow of things. Are these qualities you find endearing in him?”
“Definitely,” Alejandro said. “In fact, I’ve worked with one of the writer, Marvin Lemus, on three or four projects, comedies. So I think he’s writing for me in that respect. And yes, that character is very endearing.”
Carlos Santos and Karrie Martin
I asked Alejandro what he thought the Gentefied’s audience will take away from the series. “I would like the audience to take into account the people that are in the city and rich, lush communities that we have,” he said. “Let all of America see the reality of who we are and not just what Hollywood perceives. I think the writers got it right. What they’re showing is truthful, and the audience feels like they can relate to these people, to get into these people. When that happens, we have success.
Finally, I spoke with Laura Patalano, whose character, Beatriz, is tough—no butts about it. Still, when you get to know her, you understand her more than ever…though it’s still hard. I asked Laura if she found the ‘Beatriz’ character endearing?
“I do find these qualities endearing,” Laura said, “because Betty is trying her best to raise her daughters to be successful. She is a very hard-working single mother who is being exploited at her job. Betty sees Ana’s passion as a hobby rather than a career; she doesn’t think Ana could make a living by being an artist, so she’s always on her case about getting a real job. Betty comes off as a mean mother but she means no harm by it. She only does it because she wants the best for her daughters. I also believe these qualities allow her to survive during tough times.”
All episodes for Season 1 premieres on Netflix on Friday, February 21. We here at Se Fija! are ready for a season 2. — A.O.
