- Title: USA: Danny Trejo leads cast at "Machete" premiere in Los Angeles
- Date: 26th August 2010
- Summary: LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES (AUGUST 25, 2010) (REUTERS) DANNY TREJO ARRIVING AT PREMIERE ON A MOTORCYCLE FOLLOWED BY THE FILM DIRECTOR AND HIS CO-STARS IN LOW-RIDER CARS DON JOHNSON GIVING A THUMBS-UP SIGN WHILE BOUNCING IN A LOW-RIDER CAR CHEECH MARIN ARRIVING AT PREMIERE IN A LOW-RIDER CAR LOW-RIDER CARS IN FRONT OF ORPHEUM THEATRE WHERE PREMIERE BEING HELD FANS TAKING PHOTOS AND PULL WIDE TO LOW-RIDER CARS QUENTIN TARANTINO DECLINING TO BE INTERVIEWED DANNY TREJO WEARING A "MACHETE" VEST AND PULL WIDE TO DANNY TREJO TALKING TO MEDIA DON JOHNSON TALKING TO MEDIA WIDE SHOT OF DANNY TREJO TALKING TO MEDIA AND PUSH TO DIRECTOR ROBERT RODRIGUEZ TALKING TO MEDIA SARAH SILVERMAN DECLINING TO BE INTERVIEWED JESSICA ALBA TALKING TO MEDIA
- Embargoed: 10th September 2010 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Usa
- Country: USA
- Reuters ID: LVA3KZ4A14W8CJO1MDBJWKZ2ZKNM
- Story Text: Danny Trejo led the cast of "Machete" to the Los Angeles premiere of his new action movie on Wednesday (August 25, 2010) night.
He thundered by reporters and camera crews driving a low-rider motorcycle followed by cast and crew members being transported in a colorful assortment of vintage low-rider cars.
In "Machete," Trejo portrays a Mexican vigilante fighting for justice after nearly being murdered by a drug lord.
Trejo has been a popular character actor for 25 years. He landed his first film role in 1985 after serving time in San Quentin State Prison. This is his first leading role.
According to Trejo, director Robert Rodriguez first started thinking about making "Machete" 16 years ago on the set of another film.
"We were doing 'Desperado,' explained Trejo, 66. "We were in Acuna, Mexico and, and nobody knew who Antonio Banderas was, you know. And, you know, he's a guy from Spain. And, we were in Mexico. So, everybody just kind of-- they had kind of seen me in movies, so they kind of gravitated towards me. So, I'm taking pictures and signing autographs. And Robert kind of says 'They think you're the star of the move,' and I said, 'I am!' And, he says, 'You know, I got this idea.' And he told me about 'Machete' then. He says, 'He's a guy of the people. You know, he's a guy that fights for justice.' And I said, "Well, that's good. Because I was in justice for a long time."
Cheech Marin talked about Trejo getting cast as the first Latino film hero in a film fans were clamoring to see before it was even made.
"Danny Trejo. Who would have thunk?," smiled the 64-year-old actor. "This was the movie-- this was the first time it's ever happened for me. The movie that the fan base demanded be made. You know, I would go out on the street--cause it started off as a faux trailer--and people would be 'So when's 'Machete' coming out? I want to see that movie.' And you felt that buzz keep building and building until they made the movie. Wow."
A fake movie trailer for "Machete" ran as part of the 2007 "double-feature" film "Grindhouse" directed by Rodriguez and Quentin Tarantino.
Rodriguez, 42, described why Trejo was the perfect actor to play his the leading man in his latest film.
"He just has this strength, you know. You see it in his face and his persona. He just reminded me of a Clint Eastwood, or a Charles Bronson. And there are so few men like that today. And I just thought for people, and even for the Latin community, too, to have somebody like that, a pillar of that kind of strength, was the character I was really trying to write. Because the character comes from Mexico and I was looking for somebody who could just carry that. And he was just obviously, obviously the guy."
Don Johnson, who cast Rodriguez for a bit part in his popular "Nash Bridges" television show, said he enjoyed working on a film with him.
"He's a joy. He's an absolute joy. And I don't--you know, I don't pass around compliments. It's--! was just telling someone down the road there that I'm so grateful when somebody comes in and says. 'Okay. Here's an idea. Do it like this.' Cause I don't have to think about it. I just, you know, I just follow the dots, you know, connect the dots, and it was great. It's a joy. Really."
Johnson, 60, has also acted alongside another "Machete" cast member in the past: He and Marin played police investigators on "Nash Bridges" for six years.
Jessica Alba plays Machete's love interest in the movie despite a 37-year age difference.
"I was excited to jump on board, frankly, because--I mean that's why we make movies," said the actress, 29. "We make movies for an audience. It's not just for ourselves. And, Robert is so loyal. And it just came from just a genuine place. I was excited to jump on board and go for the ride."
In addition to talking about the film, Trejo also shared that he hopes "Machete" will have an impact on the drug war being waged at the border of the United States and Mexico.
"Everybody talks about immigration. This movie deals with the corruption, not about the guy who's crossing the border to try to support his family. This deals about the corruption on that side. The drug lords, you know, and the cartels, and the politicians on this side. That's what it deals with. You know, it's kind of like every time the politicians around the border need their constituents to start voting, boom, they immediately shoot on immigration. So this might prod the Feds to say 'Let's do something. Let's figure it out.'"
Lindsay Lohan also stars in "Machete" but did not make an appearance at the premiere.
Quentin Tarantino and Sarah Silverman were among the celebrity guests to attend the screening. Both declined to be interviewed.
"Machete" will open in theaters across North America on September 3, 2010. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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