“This interview has been translated from its original language to English for your convenience“.

I am Jesús Villegas, and I play Carlos in “Un Tal Borges”. I fell in love with cinema as a child, and since then, I’ve directed my life towards telling stories in the most vivid and vulnerable way possible.

Discovering “Un Tal Borges”

What attracted me to the script of “Un Tal Borges” was its touch of science fiction, one of my favorite genres that I hadn’t explored before. I also felt disoriented when I finished reading it. Fernando Perezgil, the director, adapted it from a story of the same name to make you feel as lost as the protagonists, who move from routine to uncertainty in their relationship and the world they thought they knew.

I got involved in the project at a time of great uncertainty in my life, as I had been auditioning for three months without landing a job. I saw the casting call in a Facebook group, reached out, and they asked me to record a scene where the character feels desolate. So, I just poured myself into it (even with a tear), and they chose me.

Understanding Carlos

Carlos is a practical and resolved person, a perfect cog in society, until his world turns upside down. I found it interesting to see his life stop working, and no matter how hard he tries to get back on track, he can’t control what happens to him. He moves from logic to naivety, to loneliness, to denial, and back again, without achieving anything. He can only watch as his reality slips through his fingers.

Preparing for the Role

To understand this, my process was similar to what happens in the story. I started with practical work before shooting (listening to the director, readings, memorizing, getting into the situation, etc.), but during the filming, it felt like madness. Sometimes, my memory or intention would fail, and I started having intrusive thoughts. No matter how much I concentrated on the previous work, I felt disoriented, just like Carlos. It was like improvising but not really, because I was genuinely feeling what he was supposed to feel.

In retrospect, I realize it worked because film shoots are like that: they are alive, and although everything is planned, it doesn’t always go as expected. It helped that Fernando is a good communicator and that I had built trust with my co-star, Alicia Quiñonez (who plays Eileen), because we had talked a lot before meeting in person.

On-Set Challenges

One particular challenge during the shoot was a romantic scene. I had been crying all day for the dramatic scenes and felt down. No matter how much I tried to shake it off, I couldn’t feel romantic. So, I went to the bathroom and took a cold shower to snap out of it. If you’re curious, it’s the wine scene. You can judge if I looked romantic or just worn out.

The Most Gratifying Scene

Another difficult but gratifying moment was filming on the sand dunes. What a beautiful place! We were exhausted from the road trip and scouting the day before, had little sleep, and the sun was scorching, but filming in that location, with the sea on one side and the dunes on the other, made it all worth it. The shots turned out great. It’s days like that which make me love being an actor.

At the end of the shoot, we took selfies on the beach for our social media, and those same selfies were used in another scene. Spontaneity and creativity at their best!

Working with the Team

That last sentence sums up how it was to collaborate with Fer and his crew. We were all extremely dedicated. That’s often how film shoots go, since most of us make a living working in commercial areas or other jobs. When the opportunity to tell a story and create art arises, we give it our all.

Message to the Audience

I hope viewers enjoy “Un Tal Borges” as much as we did. I must warn you that this story might make you feel uncertain because the rules that apply in the real world don’t govern this story. After all, what is real?

Lessons Learned

To wrap up, I want to say that “Un Tal Borges” allowed me to release “negative” emotions and thoughts that I usually keep to myself. I’ve shed masks to be more present and lighthearted. To everyone who worked on the project, directly or indirectly: Bravo, artists! Bravo, nerds!

Social Media

Please follow my journey to the Oscars on social media: @villegasjjj