Lopez also stars in the indie film as Lavoe's wife Puchi and her husband, singer Marc Anthony, plays Lavoe. In a clear indication of what a passion project this has been for the couple, Lopez devoted five years of her life to developing "El Cantante" (during which time she broke up with another famous boyfriend and ended up marrying Anthony). No doubt part of that devotion comes from the rare chance to see a bona fide Latino legend portrayed on screen.
But if she's nervous about how the public will respond to such a personal project it doesn't show. Looking happy, relaxed and still glamorous, the chatty star sat down to discuss the challenges of producing and starring in "El Cantante," working with her husband, the status of her music career and whether or not she'll step into Jane Fonda's space boots in a certain highly anticipated remake.
Why is "El Cantante" the first film from your production company?
For Nuyorican productions and what we stand for, being a New York Puerto Rican, I couldn't have found a better story to start with—doing the story of Héctor Lavoe, Salsa icon, musical icon in the Latino community. Also, I think for what I do in my own life—this being a movie that had music in it, it just kind of fit all the things that I'm really passionate about.
What do you remember about Héctor's legacy and his impact on Latino culture?
Just like when I did "Selena," I knew the music, I knew about her but I didn't know about her. I wasn't following her. It was the same thing with Héctor. I grew up with the music, it was the soundtrack to your life being Puerto Rican and living in New York. It was at every birthday party, every Christmas.
Why do you think Héctor's story in particular has to be told today?
He's like the quintessential artist. It's a real examination of what an artist is. Somebody who's put on this Earth, has this amazing talent, a personality that is funny and touches so many people. But then again they have this deep vulnerable side, and they're meant to suffer a certain amount of pain so they can put that into the music or the painting or whatever it is that they do and it touches millions of people. It helps them get through their lives. In a way I see him as a sacrificial lamb, he did not have an easy life. If you listen to the lyrics in the music and the lamenting in some of the instruments, I don't know that he would've been able to do that if he didn't lead the life he lived.
How difficult was it to find financing for the movie?
It was tough. It's hard getting independent films made but also one about somebody that nobody knows. In the Latin community he's so well known. For us it was like "what do you mean you don't know Héctor Lavoe?" I have to say that the people who financed it just believed. They said "You want to do this? This is your passion?," I said "Yes, this is all I want to do" and they just said OK. It was that type of blind belief. At the end of the day we found someone who believed in me, Marc, my company and the whole idea that we were so passionate about this project.
Are there any advantages or disadvantages to working with your husband?
Well an advantage is you're very comfortable together. You don't have to put on any airs. We can tell each other anything, we can push each other past the limits and know that everything is gonna be ok at the end of the day. As for disadvantages, I have to say it was a real blessing to be able to do this with Marc. When I first wanted him to be in the movie five and a half years ago, I never thought that we'd be together at this time. Who knew that? But we were and it actually helped. I guess everything is destiny and fate and all that kind of stuff.
What was the most challenging aspect of this movie?
The whole thing was very challenging. These types of roles don't come around every day. It's like "Selena." Being able to play someone who really lived gives you an extra added pressure and responsibility because people really knew the person. They can be like "that…sucked, that was so not who she was." There's a real responsibility to come to the table with your game right. I think it was the hardest but also the best part about it.
This story spans several decades, what was it like playing your character as an older woman and wearing the age makeup?
I felt weird in it. It was strange to get aged up like that. But I loved being that Puchi in the movie. I loved the rest of it too, but there was something about being able to think about everything that happened and being at that point in her life looking back on the glory years that was really interesting. I was able to use my own thoughts about it, the examination that I had of the experience.
Puchi and Héctor's relationship was very tumultuous, why do you think they stayed together?
I think they loved each other. At the end of the day, as much as they were killing each other, they loved each other. I mean the door's right there. We all know. Everybody's been in relationships. They were together for 20 years. No one can tell you to stay when you don't want to stay, the same way no one can force you to go when you don't want to go. It has to be something that comes from you. They would be bad to each other, good to each other. Either one of them could've walked out at any time and neither one of them did.
What do you hope audiences will learn from "El Cantante"?
One of the great joys of the movie is to bring Héctor to the screen. If you just listen to the music it speaks for itself. Even for me, when I was trying to get the movie made, sometimes it was like "Why am I pushing this boulder uphill? This is crazy!" Then I'd listen to the music or go back and watch the performances and see Héctor just bring the crowd down and think "This is why." It was an important time in musical history. To this day, when you see Daddy Yankee or Fat Joe with a picture of Héctor Lavoe on their chests, you know why now. He was a tragic figure but, like Billie Holiday or any great artist who leaves something behind, he touched a chord in the lives of humans. Once you see his life, you understand the music even more.
What about your own music career, don't have you an English language album coming soon?
Yes, in a couple of weeks I have the first single coming out called "Hold It Don't Drop It." I think we're doing a dual single with that and another song called "Do It Well."
Any truth to the talk that Robert Rodriguez has approached you to star in "Barbarella"?
No! Is he making "Barbarella?" I didn't know that. That'd be fantastic. It's so funny because my video is going to have a "Barbarella" thing in it. Maybe he'll shoot the video! [laughs]
