Legendary Brazilian rodeo presenter Waldemar Ruy dos Santos will have his story told in cinema: the film Asa Branca – The voice of the arenareleased in theaters this Thursday 18, pays tribute to him, who died in 2020.
With the direction of Guga Sanderproduced by Marcos Araujo and João Queiroz Filho and with the actor Felipe Simas In the lead role, the film freely inspired by facts tells the life of the one who revolutionized the diffusion of rodeo in Brazil and wants to take it beyond those who know the universe represented. “I want to attract a universal audience, not just the rodeo-related one,” Sander explains to Stadium.
Waldemar Ruy dos Santos had a complicated childhood. On his journey, he rose to the top, reached “rock bottom” and had his redemption, his chance to start again. “We chose a softer approach. We decided to tell the story of a dream interrupted by an accident, and the new meaning of life of this character, which was the voiceover.”
Felipe Simas, who debuts his first solo protagonist (he played in The Adventures of José and Durval alongside his brother Rodrigo and recently featured in the series Tremembe), says that bringing Asa Branca to life asked a lot of things. “It was very intense. We had little time to film – and it was good that it was far from home, in the sense that we were very immersed in the project. We went to the hotel thinking about the next day, there were no distractions. I realized myself as an actor,” he said.
Simas also says that preparing the recordings took a lot of work. “Running in the arena is not easy. I play foot volleyball, so I was a little more used to it, but I run barefoot, not with boots,” he joked. “Running around the arena, wearing boots and speaking into the microphone was the big challenge.”
“Without Felipe Simas, I don’t think the film would be what it is today. His performance was way, way, way above my expectations,” praises the director.
Between real and fictional characters
In addition to the legendary Asa Branca, other characters are highlighted in the plot, such as the announcer’s sound technician friend, Jibóia, played by actress Camila Brandão; the pawn friend Miltinho, played by Ravel Andrade; businessman Jotapê, played by Fabio Lago; and Wandão, played by Carlos Francisco.
“Asa Branca’s dream come true is worthless in itself. He needed the whole team with whom he built this dream. And it’s cool that these characters show all his sides,” says Simas.
“We have a relationship with Miltinho, a very playful Asa, almost childish in the sense of friendship. And with Jibóia we have a professional partnership. And I had a great meeting with Fábio Lago, for whom I have immense admiration. We met on stage, which was my wish as an artist.”
The adrenaline of rodeos
Shot in 20 days, in several locations in Fernandópolis (SP), the film had a security system for the scenes recorded with the bulls, which can weigh up to 800 kg. “We filmed everything separately (the actors and the animals),” Sander explains. “We have been careful to prioritize safety.”
Asa was also known for daring to arrive at the arenas by helicopter, which also presented several challenges for the film crew. “Firstly because not just any pilot flies a helicopter inside an arena,” notes the director. “Second, because the real White Wing was hanging from the helicopter and obviously we couldn’t hang our actor. It was very intense work.”
When asked what his favorite scenes from the new film are, the actor and director have the same answer: “Yes, when everyone has already abandoned him and he has nowhere to go and suddenly the deputy goes there and gives him one more chance, after Asa has let him down so much. It’s a very beautiful message, as if it were an angel saving a human being,” says Felipe.
What to expect from “Asa Branca – A Voz da Arena”?
“I would really like the public to be inspired,” confesses Felipe. “Asa Branca was a big dreamer – like many Brazilians – and he spared no effort to make his dream come true. But above all, he realized that a dream come true in itself is worthless.”
For Guga Sander, Asa Branca – The voice of the arena It’s a film about “second chances”. “It’s about always giving a second chance to those who deserve it, to those we love, so that that person has the chance to start again and that’s what they did with Asa Branca: Sandra (the announcer’s partner), Jotapê, Miltinho, Wandão, the characters who surrounded him and didn’t let him sink,” he says.
Asa Branca – The voice of the arena It is produced by Sentimental Filme, in co-production with Ventre Studio and Claro, and distributed by Paris Filmes.
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