As a favor, the international music artist agreed to look at a movie script that a friend of his gave him.
I didn’t intend to act. I wasn’t trying out. The singer whose song Despacito became a worldwide sensation stated, “It wasn’t something that was next on my to-do list.” I imagine that after page 10, I would be thinking, “Nope, I’ll just stick to the music thing.”
However, he told NBC News in an interview that he could relate to the film’s protagonist after reading the script during a lengthy journey from Miami to Madrid.
Fonsi is now making his feature film debut as the lead in Say a Little Prayer, which releases on Friday at AMC and other theaters across the country. The film chronicles the romantic journeys of three closest friends in San Antonio, with a cast that is almost entirely Latino.
The three friends repeat an old prayer to St. Anthony, the patron saint of misplaced items, in their quest for true love, but the outcome is surprising.
Playing Rafael, an art curator, excites Fonsi. It’s my very first movie. He said, “It’s a really relatable rom-com with a great story.”
He thinks that after watching the film, viewers will remember their own upbringing, friendships, and romantic relationships.
He stated that he wanted people to either remember the happy or sad moments or simply get up and dance and forget about everything. And it’s fantastic to be able to accomplish it in a movie.
San Antonio, a city with a large Latino population, and its rich history are featured extensively in the movie, to the point where it may be considered a love letter to the city. Many sights will be familiar to locals, including the San Fernando Cathedral, the Centro de Artes Gallery, and the westside pub Jaime’s Place.
Fonsi stated he had a great time filming in San Antonio, calling it “awesome,” adding that the city embraced us wholeheartedly.
Additionally, Fonsi composed and sang a song for the currently available movie Prayer in Your Eyes.
In addition to Vannessa Vasquez, Jackie Cruz, and Vivian Lamolli, Say a Little Prayer also features appearances by Chris Kattan, a former cast member of Saturday Night Live, and the renowned Mexican actor Ang lica Mara.
According to Vasquez, who plays Adela, the audience went crazy at the movie’s San Antonio screening because it features so many iconic locations and objects, such as the River Walk and the horse-drawn carriages.
According to Vasquez’s role in the movie, she felt compelled to join something greater, so she left her small town for San Antonio.
According to Vasquez, these feelings were one of the reasons she identified with the part. I had to learn to believe in myself and realize that I’m deserving of my aspirations after growing up in Houston and developing an interest in performing, she added.
Vasquez, who is well-known for the East Los High series on Hulu, said it was unique to be working on a project with so many Latinos once more.
It is similar to spending time with your extended family at a backyard barbecue, or carne asada. She stated, “There is music, and it’s very joyful and festive like we are.”
According to Vasquez, everyone was thrilled to be a part of this movie, particularly since our culture and lives aren’t frequently revealed to the outside world—I believe the last time that was the case was in Selena.
Unique in its depiction of Latinas
Because a large portion of the film’s funding came from Latina investors, Say a Little Prayer’s producer, Cristiana Nava, noted that the film is rare in showing Latina professionals leading lives free from immigration or economic issues.
There is a certain kind of pressure that comes with filming a Latino-themed film because its box office success or failure might have an impact on other similar projects, Nava added. “It is extremely hard not just to make a movie independently, but to make one that has predominantly Latino stars in it,” Nava said.
“The industry and our communities are scrutinizing us,” she remarked. However, I have hope. For the benefit of future generations, we must cultivate a positive perception of Latinos.
Say a Little Prayer’s themes are universal to Nava. This is a tale about friendship, family, and falling in love. “We hope people have fun and leave feeling like they know our community a little better,” she said.
Entertainment entrepreneur Jeff Valdez, actor and activist Edward James Olmos, and Sol Trujillo, co-founder of the Latino Donor Collaborative, are among the film’s executive producers.
Olmos advised followers in an Instagram post to support the films made by Latinos and Latinas if they want to see more films with them as the main characters.
The consulting firm McKinsey & Company found that Latinos attend the most movies per capita each year. However, as recently as 2023, Latinos only accounted for 7.2% of film roles.
According to a 2024 analysis by McKinsey & Company, if Latino representation in Hollywood increased, the entertainment sector might make an extra $12 billion to $18 billion annually, or around 7 to 10 percent of its current $179 billion.
Life after ‘Despacito’
One component of Luis Fonsi’s diverse career is his role as star of Say a Little Prayer. El Viaje (The Journey) won him his sixth Latin Grammy Award for best pop singing album on Thursday. He is presently traveling throughout Latin America, the United States, and Spain as part of his 25th anniversary tour.
More than seven years have passed since Fonsi’s song “Despacito” (featuring Daddy Yankee) became a worldwide hit. It was the most popular song of the summer of 2017 and the first YouTube video to receive five billion views.
Fonsi thought back on that hectic period of life, saying, “I had already experienced ups and downs and had previous hits.” In my opinion, I was prepared, and I valued every aspect of it. This song truly brought people from all around the world together.
“I was able to represent my language, my culture, my color, and my rhythm, and I was really proud to represent my island, Puerto Rico,” he said.
As a result of his global travels, Fonsi is aware that many people believe they are living through a sensitive historical moment. However, he is dedicated to a positive view of life.
In actuality, my work is creating music that connects people through melody and lyrics, which is a gift. According to Fonsi, that is a blessing.
“I really intend to be the person (who), via music and art, makes those who are going through it happy,” he continued. due to the fact that music serves as medication. Music is medication to me. It is my responsibility as an artist to make people happy.
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