Mia Maestro first came to attention as Jennifer Garners ass kicking little sister in the cult TV series Alias. Since then shes been grabbing up some pretty hefty roles in The Poseidon Adventure remake by Wolfgang Petersen, Walter Salles The Motorcycle Dairies and now the low budget digital video film, Secuestro Express.
Every sixty minutes a person is abducted in Latin America. In Secuestro Express Carla [Maestro] and Martin [Jean Paul Leroux] are a young upper-class couple fresh off of a night of partying when they cross paths with three men who make their living by kidnapping unwitting young adults to extort quick money from their wealthy parents. Most of the film takes place in a car where the three kidnappers drive around waiting for their ransom money.
Check out the official site for Secuestro Express
Daniel Robert Epstein: Keeping up the intensity level for this role must have been difficult.
Mia Maestro: Yeah, it was pretty intense. The level of fear and violence and aggression is huge in the movie. Also we were shooting in Caracas just after the coup. The government and the whole country were divided into the people that were against Chavez the president and the pro-Chavez group. While we were shooting, it was pretty violent and on top of it all, most of the movie was shot in a car. So we would stay inside the car for six hours straight and then you dont have time to walk it off. Normally you do a violent scene then you walk away so you can relax and move your body. But we were just locked in the car. Then when the day was over there was no place to relax.
DRE: For your character it was probably a good thing to never relax.
MM: Yeah but it was tough mad sometimes you need to relax. If you dont, you start acting strange and youre not yourself, youre reacting and very hypersensitive. But for the character it was fantastic. I think it came out well. It shows in the movie. All of the emotions are so real and so raw. The director always wanted to do the movie more as a documentary and I think it came out like that.
DRE: Its hard to do research on specific kidnappings, but would they normally have raped a girl that they took?
MM: Oh my God yes. Its a strange kind of kidnapping because its not planned, so anyone could be the target. So suddenly youre kidnapped, you have no money in the bank, theres nothing you can give them. Either they kill you or they rape you or they leave you alone. Normally when they kidnap you its just to get cash, a ridiculous, small amount. Maybe 700 bucks! Something thats so ridiculous compared to the cost of your life. Its normally drug money so they need that money right away to buy cocaine. Colombia is close by so drugs are very inexpensive. Most of the time the kidnappers are on drugs, so the thought process that they have are pretty sketchy so they just react to things and then on top of it the police are not very reliable. If the police find you, because someone had kidnapped you, they can do whatever they want with you. The police can rape or kill you. I dont know if an American audience can really understand a society like that because of the level of corruption. I grew up in Argentina and I was very young when the first Democratic government started in 1983. But I grew up with my mom telling me if you see a policeman, cross the street.
DRE: Did you have to get permits to be allowed to shoot in certain parts of the country?
MM: You get permits but its very complex because the whole city is divided in two as I told you before, so you have to get different permits from different people and the government police cant know that the other police have been helping you. Its so hard to explain because its such a ridiculous situation. Its as if the Tribeca police department is at war with the Upper East Side police department.
DRE: How was it shooting on video?
MM: We did a lot of takes. Also [director] Jonathan [Jakubowicz] wanted to have a lot of footage because many of the actors were not actors but hip-hop artists. They have these amazing improvisational skills so every take is very different. Jonathan just kept rolling and rolling so that we could have as much footage as possible.
DRE: I think the scariest part for me was when she sort of started to bond with the kidnappers.
MM: Yeah, we talked to a lot of people who had been kidnapped and the first two or three hours, youre in a state of panic. You cry and yell because youre in shock. Then by the fourth hour or the fifth hour, you start making a plan. If I befriend them, I can get out of this. I think thats what Carla decides to do and since shes a medical student shes used to dealing with people. So psychiatry helps her to get things from people. I think that skill keeps her alive. Her boyfriend doesnt have that and of course he gets killed.
DRE: What was the most difficult scene?
MM: The most difficult scene was the final scene because when they leave me on the mountain and the police come. That whole scene took five days.
DRE: This and The Motorcycle Diaries have a lot of political aspects to them. Are you a politically active person?
MM: Logically I am. Every movie you do, even if its a romantic comedy, is political, because either youre avoiding politics or addressing politics. I believe politics is in our lives. In Secuestro Express were addressing the issue of kidnappings and violence and economic difference within a society and demonstration of power and demonstration of richness and why that has to happen, why the gap has to be so big. I like Motorcycle Diaries because it makes you believe that that kid decided to travel and change the world so if he can, anyone can. I do believe that the arts, theater and music have that power.
DRE: With what Miramax is going through, do you think this film is going to get out there?
MM: I hope so! But you never know. Theyre doing a wonderful publicity campaign. Theres been so much press and it seems to be going well.
DRE: How did Secuestro Express come to you?
MM: It came to me through a producer. She told me about the script and I wanted to read it. She said, I want you to read it and let me know what you think. It was her first movie as a producer. I read it and I loved it and I called her right away and said, I want to do this part.
DRE: Youre also doing a play where youre on the trapeze, right?
MM: Im doing a play at Lincoln Center Festival called My Life as a Fairy Tale which is based on Hans Christian Andersons stories and his life. Its an amazing cast with Fiona Shaw and Blair Brown.
DRE: What do you do on the trapeze?
MM: I play the little mermaid and the trapeze is a hook.
DRE: What do you play on Alias?
MM: I play Jennifers younger sister.
DRE: I hear that show is a lot of fun to work on.
MM: Yeah, its such a great group of actors. We have a blast. Jennifer is so wonderful to work with and she is the most generous human being Ive ever met. Ron [Rifkin] and Victor [Garber] are such pros and amazing actors. The guest actors like Isabella Rossellini, Ethan Hawke and Quentin Tarantino are wonderful.
DRE: Are you still a regular cast member?
MM: I was a regular cast member last year but this year I started a movie, so Im going to be back on Alias for a few episodes.
DRE: Are you going to be in Mission Impossible Three?
MM: No.
DRE: Youre also in the remake of The Poseidon Adventure, are you playing a part from the original movie?
MM: No its a new role, a stowaway.
DRE: I always hear that productions with water are tough.
MM: We havent started with the water part and so far its been easy. Im sure its going to get more wet.
DRE: Im sure you know you were ranked number 67 in Maxim's 100 Sexiest Women.
MM: Whatever.
DRE: Who is number 66?
MM: Lists of people are so random. I wish people would stop quoting that. It seems like a stigma.
DRE: Well at least its not the 100 Ugliest Women.
MM: I know, I shouldnt complain.
DRE: What do you do to relax?
MM: I think I took a vacation just at home. I was very homesick during the shooting of Secuestro Express. Normally I like to scuba dive or stay at home in Argentina.
DRE: How is it living in Los Angeles now?
MM: Its so much different but Ive gotten used to it. My boyfriend is from New York and we live together in LA. New York is like a third home to me, we come here once a month or something.
DRE: Is your boyfriend an actor too?
MM: Hes a wonderful writer.
DRE: Does he write movies or books?
MM: Movies.
DRE: Is he writing something for you?
MM: Not yet.
DRE: Would you want him to?
MM: Yeah, it would be nice to work together.
DRE: Since you had a big workout regimen with Alias, what do you do now?
MM: When I was doing Alias I did boxing. Now I do trapeze! From that I have bruises everywhere. I had no idea the trapeze was that tough. I have this whole routine on hook where I have to go down and back and change positions.
by Daniel Robert Epstein
SG Username: AndersWolleck
Every sixty minutes a person is abducted in Latin America. In Secuestro Express Carla [Maestro] and Martin [Jean Paul Leroux] are a young upper-class couple fresh off of a night of partying when they cross paths with three men who make their living by kidnapping unwitting young adults to extort quick money from their wealthy parents. Most of the film takes place in a car where the three kidnappers drive around waiting for their ransom money.
Check out the official site for Secuestro Express
Daniel Robert Epstein: Keeping up the intensity level for this role must have been difficult.
Mia Maestro: Yeah, it was pretty intense. The level of fear and violence and aggression is huge in the movie. Also we were shooting in Caracas just after the coup. The government and the whole country were divided into the people that were against Chavez the president and the pro-Chavez group. While we were shooting, it was pretty violent and on top of it all, most of the movie was shot in a car. So we would stay inside the car for six hours straight and then you dont have time to walk it off. Normally you do a violent scene then you walk away so you can relax and move your body. But we were just locked in the car. Then when the day was over there was no place to relax.
DRE: For your character it was probably a good thing to never relax.
MM: Yeah but it was tough mad sometimes you need to relax. If you dont, you start acting strange and youre not yourself, youre reacting and very hypersensitive. But for the character it was fantastic. I think it came out well. It shows in the movie. All of the emotions are so real and so raw. The director always wanted to do the movie more as a documentary and I think it came out like that.
DRE: Its hard to do research on specific kidnappings, but would they normally have raped a girl that they took?
MM: Oh my God yes. Its a strange kind of kidnapping because its not planned, so anyone could be the target. So suddenly youre kidnapped, you have no money in the bank, theres nothing you can give them. Either they kill you or they rape you or they leave you alone. Normally when they kidnap you its just to get cash, a ridiculous, small amount. Maybe 700 bucks! Something thats so ridiculous compared to the cost of your life. Its normally drug money so they need that money right away to buy cocaine. Colombia is close by so drugs are very inexpensive. Most of the time the kidnappers are on drugs, so the thought process that they have are pretty sketchy so they just react to things and then on top of it the police are not very reliable. If the police find you, because someone had kidnapped you, they can do whatever they want with you. The police can rape or kill you. I dont know if an American audience can really understand a society like that because of the level of corruption. I grew up in Argentina and I was very young when the first Democratic government started in 1983. But I grew up with my mom telling me if you see a policeman, cross the street.
DRE: Did you have to get permits to be allowed to shoot in certain parts of the country?
MM: You get permits but its very complex because the whole city is divided in two as I told you before, so you have to get different permits from different people and the government police cant know that the other police have been helping you. Its so hard to explain because its such a ridiculous situation. Its as if the Tribeca police department is at war with the Upper East Side police department.
DRE: How was it shooting on video?
MM: We did a lot of takes. Also [director] Jonathan [Jakubowicz] wanted to have a lot of footage because many of the actors were not actors but hip-hop artists. They have these amazing improvisational skills so every take is very different. Jonathan just kept rolling and rolling so that we could have as much footage as possible.
DRE: I think the scariest part for me was when she sort of started to bond with the kidnappers.
MM: Yeah, we talked to a lot of people who had been kidnapped and the first two or three hours, youre in a state of panic. You cry and yell because youre in shock. Then by the fourth hour or the fifth hour, you start making a plan. If I befriend them, I can get out of this. I think thats what Carla decides to do and since shes a medical student shes used to dealing with people. So psychiatry helps her to get things from people. I think that skill keeps her alive. Her boyfriend doesnt have that and of course he gets killed.
DRE: What was the most difficult scene?
MM: The most difficult scene was the final scene because when they leave me on the mountain and the police come. That whole scene took five days.
DRE: This and The Motorcycle Diaries have a lot of political aspects to them. Are you a politically active person?
MM: Logically I am. Every movie you do, even if its a romantic comedy, is political, because either youre avoiding politics or addressing politics. I believe politics is in our lives. In Secuestro Express were addressing the issue of kidnappings and violence and economic difference within a society and demonstration of power and demonstration of richness and why that has to happen, why the gap has to be so big. I like Motorcycle Diaries because it makes you believe that that kid decided to travel and change the world so if he can, anyone can. I do believe that the arts, theater and music have that power.
DRE: With what Miramax is going through, do you think this film is going to get out there?
MM: I hope so! But you never know. Theyre doing a wonderful publicity campaign. Theres been so much press and it seems to be going well.
DRE: How did Secuestro Express come to you?
MM: It came to me through a producer. She told me about the script and I wanted to read it. She said, I want you to read it and let me know what you think. It was her first movie as a producer. I read it and I loved it and I called her right away and said, I want to do this part.
DRE: Youre also doing a play where youre on the trapeze, right?
MM: Im doing a play at Lincoln Center Festival called My Life as a Fairy Tale which is based on Hans Christian Andersons stories and his life. Its an amazing cast with Fiona Shaw and Blair Brown.
DRE: What do you do on the trapeze?
MM: I play the little mermaid and the trapeze is a hook.
DRE: What do you play on Alias?
MM: I play Jennifers younger sister.
DRE: I hear that show is a lot of fun to work on.
MM: Yeah, its such a great group of actors. We have a blast. Jennifer is so wonderful to work with and she is the most generous human being Ive ever met. Ron [Rifkin] and Victor [Garber] are such pros and amazing actors. The guest actors like Isabella Rossellini, Ethan Hawke and Quentin Tarantino are wonderful.
DRE: Are you still a regular cast member?
MM: I was a regular cast member last year but this year I started a movie, so Im going to be back on Alias for a few episodes.
DRE: Are you going to be in Mission Impossible Three?
MM: No.
DRE: Youre also in the remake of The Poseidon Adventure, are you playing a part from the original movie?
MM: No its a new role, a stowaway.
DRE: I always hear that productions with water are tough.
MM: We havent started with the water part and so far its been easy. Im sure its going to get more wet.
DRE: Im sure you know you were ranked number 67 in Maxim's 100 Sexiest Women.
MM: Whatever.
DRE: Who is number 66?
MM: Lists of people are so random. I wish people would stop quoting that. It seems like a stigma.
DRE: Well at least its not the 100 Ugliest Women.
MM: I know, I shouldnt complain.
DRE: What do you do to relax?
MM: I think I took a vacation just at home. I was very homesick during the shooting of Secuestro Express. Normally I like to scuba dive or stay at home in Argentina.
DRE: How is it living in Los Angeles now?
MM: Its so much different but Ive gotten used to it. My boyfriend is from New York and we live together in LA. New York is like a third home to me, we come here once a month or something.
DRE: Is your boyfriend an actor too?
MM: Hes a wonderful writer.
DRE: Does he write movies or books?
MM: Movies.
DRE: Is he writing something for you?
MM: Not yet.
DRE: Would you want him to?
MM: Yeah, it would be nice to work together.
DRE: Since you had a big workout regimen with Alias, what do you do now?
MM: When I was doing Alias I did boxing. Now I do trapeze! From that I have bruises everywhere. I had no idea the trapeze was that tough. I have this whole routine on hook where I have to go down and back and change positions.
by Daniel Robert Epstein
SG Username: AndersWolleck
VIEW 3 of 3 COMMENTS
cineman:
Alias is a great environment; I wish I did it more often myself!
chino_4q:
Gotta love my Argentine women, aight!