Sunday, September 03, 2017

Upcoming Telenovelas: Stevey Weighs In (Pt.I) - September 3, 2017

This Post comes from our beloved commentator Stevey, observer of all things telenovela, which fits right into all things CarayCaray. His discourse will be posted in three parts over several days: Part I—Behind the Scenes at Televisa (a must read, in my opinion); Part II—Upcoming Telenovelas (some sooner than you think); Part III—Telenovelas Farther Off in the Future (or never). Be advised the opinions expressed in this post are entirely Stevey’s and not necessarily those of the CarayCaray blog.
 
Note of caution: some of the narrative in Part II especially, contains information that could be considered spoilers, so use caution if you don’t want to read too far ahead (Anita has marked tell-tale storylines with a à.)

PART I - BEHIND THE SCENES AT TELEVISA
 
Hi everybody! First off, I'm SO sorry that this has been so unconscionably late in getting to you all (Stupid life! Slow DOWN a bit now and then, will ya??), but I really never DID forget about you, and I've actually been working on this for quite some time now (as you will, undoubtedly see), both as a result of my own loquaciousness (read: long-windedness, not knowing when to stop or shut up, etc.), as well as the fact that these situations are always constantly evolving, or at least changing. I also always want to make sure as much as I can, that anything I put out there for you guys is actually a verified FACT (no 'Fake News' here!), HOPEFULLY by contacts within the network, but if not, through viable sources, and this sometimes isn't always that easy to come by. There's actually been all kinds of network drama going on over at Televisa in regards to telenovelas, an inordinate amount, really…lots of unhappy actors, and a lot of producers gnashing their teeth and clutching their 'stress balls' more tightly than usual.  But I hope you'll enjoy what I've got for you all.

 

(Note: For anyone not interested in these things, wait for Part II – Upcoming Telenovelas, where I actually talk about the upcoming telenovelas.)



Rosy Ocampo is becoming, increasingly, a force to be reckoned with, and I don't mean that in a good way... I mean, like how Josef Stalin was. Or Cersei Lannister. Sra. Ocampo, for the record and for anybody who didn't know, is not just a producer of very colorful, somewhat successful telenovelas herself, but also holds the title of "Director of Creative Programming" for the network as well. In case you're wondering what that means, let's just say that there isn't a production that gets produced, or a cast that gets confirmed without the go-ahead from the “Director of Creative Programming.” Now, since she has had this gig, she has been accused—justifiably, of many a conflict of interest…after all, she's still producing novelas for the network. It is absolutely impossible for her to remain impartial in matters regarding her colleagues, competitors, and their casts, productions, and projects if she still has a vested interest in what is going on. But never mind that. Every once in a while something will happen, and people will grumble about Rosy acting like a petty dictator, but that's just the way it is. Unfortunately, lately, it's gone quite beyond that.
 
You see, she has been given more power of late, actually, her NEW “official” title and position with the network is of such bureaucratic pompous grandiosity that Kim Jong-Un would blush. She is now (are you ready for this) "Executive Producer of World-Class Content, Creativity, Innovation, and High Impact" (Productora Ejecutiva de Contenidos de Clase Mundial, Creatividad, Innovación y Alto Impacto... how the hell does she fit all that on a business card??), and she's certainly wielding her power in ways that will leave no one guessing who is boss now. Most egregiously, for me (as a socialist…I like to make sure that everybody is taken care of), is that in this month alone she has given the axe to a simply staggering number of quality, established actors and severed their exclusivity contracts with the network This is something actors strive to get because once you have it, you (HISTORICALLY) never LOSE it, as that wouldn't be a nice way to treat long-time employees, AND depend on.
 
To explain, 'exclusivity' with a network means that they are always under contract with that network, even when they're not working. The network wants you to be theirs and theirs alone—no looking at other jobs, no taking any side-projects, you work for the network and avail yourself to whatever casting the network offers that avail themselves to you and turn your crank. To keep you like this, the network will pay you a 'flat rate' year-round whenever you're NOT WORKING (so you won't get tempted to work for anybody else), regardless of whether you're actually in any productions. So, even if you're doing nothing, the network will still pay you, just so that you don't try and do anything else with anybody other than the network. And, of course, when you ARE working in one of the network's productions, you get paid a MUCH higher rate than your “not working” rate (which I kind-of liken to Unemployment Insurance, except in this case they DON'T want you to go out and try and find work). So, as long as you don't do anything to disgrace either yourself or the network, and avail yourself to be ready, willing, and able to work if needed, and don't go sniffing around any other networks or places, you get a guaranteed income, and the first crack at auditions and all castings for every project the network creates.
 
For most actors, this is a boon. It's as close to job security as a performing artist can get, and as such it's treasured when gotten, and always respected by those who have it because as the years go on, and you've been with the network for some time, it becomes vital for your survival. Think of it this way--if you've been exclusive with the network for 25 years, you've been paid well for those 25 years, but it's come at something of a cost to your career. This is because the restrictions your exclusivity agreement puts on you has severely limited the amount of other work that you've done in your acting career, and thus your exposure and marketability as well. So, for most actors, the gentlemen's agreement is that as you age, you will segue into a different set of roles, guaranteeing that you will always have work and your time slaving away for the network wasn't all for naught now that you're getting older, and then you get a golden handshake and all of a sudden you're a 50-year-old starlet with hardly any film or television experience outside of the network, no contacts nor connections. Unfortunately that is what Rosy Ocampo is doing, but what she's doing is even worse... she's getting rid of people without even a golden handshake. So over the past couple of months we have been increasingly finding actors—some of whom have worked exclusively with the network for 30 years or so, who the network PREVENTED from working anywhere else, have been told that their exclusivity with the network is over and that they are totally "on their own."
 
This is the network saying, "OK, we know we've had you tethered to us for the majority of your career, and now you're approaching your twilight years, and we know that because you've been only with US, you don't have an agent or have ever needed anybody to help you find work, but we don't really want you anymore, so you're free to go find work somewhere else and we'll call you if we need you." Though, of course, with the network, it is the actors WITH the exclusivity agreements that get the first casting opportunities so, unless a specific producer comes and approaches you PERSONALLY, good luck landing any network roles. Basically, you've suddenly lost all your income (because, of course, no “flat rate,” nothing), without an agent (you never needed one), no back-up plan or severance package (you still work for the network, theoretically, you see, it's just a "whenever something comes up, you might get called”), you now have all the time in the world to explore other avenues and other opportunities that you were prevented from doing for the last (however many years). Unfortunately, because you haven't been to an outside casting in 30 years, you haven't much of a CLUE about how entertainment work that ISN'T Televisa even functions in terms of who is who and what is what. Oh! And you're also at the age where most people retire and, though you may be okay NOW, you don't plan on dying in two years so you’d better find some work—with no help—FAST. That's what Sra. Ocampo et al. have quietly and insidiously been doing at the network for the past few months.
 
Why this has now come to light was because of a group of actors who were all summarily given their pink slips for no reason whatsoever at around the same time (Lord High Ocampo is putting people on the chopping block faster than they did in the French Revolution), realized that they all were in the same boat, and decided to build something to not just help themselves and each other out, but to provide something for other actors who might find themselves in the same situation, so that those actors don't have to feel the crushing terror that these actors did. An agency, a resource centre, a support group, all in one, for actors who suddenly don't know what they're going to do.
 
So, the likes of Silvia Mariscal (Elisa in El Hotel de los Secretos), Patricia Reyes Spindola (Blanca in Un Camino Hacia el Destino, and Trini in El Color de la Pasión), Raquel Pankowsky (recently Concordia in El Bienamado and Isela in Que Pobres Tan Ricos), Irina Areu (a favourite of Emilio Larrosa, played Martina in Amores con Trampa), Otto Sirgo (most recently Rodrigo in Tres Veces Ana), and, this one REALLY pissed me off, Azela Robinson (who won the award for the Best Villain of the year last year, AFTER having been voted the year’s Best Villain the year BEFORE that) all, having been given their pink slips and suddenly finding themselves having to figure out how to find work and pound the pavement at their ages, formed a group to help each other, and other people to do just that. I've sort of likened it to a “Screen Actors Guild,” but more grassroots and peer related for mature actors who for whatever reason, now find themselves without a paycheck, work, work prospects, etc., and don't know what to do from here.  They're calling it "Talentos Libre Latino.” Here is a link to the commercial they made to introduce themselves to the world so you all can see it.
 
I find it personally heartwarming, to know that these people in their 50's, 60's, and even 70's who were given the axe with no safety net, after, in some cases, 40 years of service all of a sudden have to find work in an industry that the employer you spent the last 40 years of your life serving crippled you from knowing otherwise, have come together THROUGH the same awful experiences they've shared, and have come up with a way that they can help both themselves and each other while also creating something that other people can use for help moving forward. I think it's terrific and wish them every possible success both with it, as well as with their own careers as they move forward, away from Televisa.
 
Unfortunately, as Rosy Ocampo continues to assert her power and influence and, generally speaking, cements her role as Dictator/Tyrant for telenovela programming at the network, I'm afraid they won't be at a loss of people who will be requiring their services. The wonderful Rosa Maria Bianchi (Ursula in Yo No Creo en Los Hombres) was let go after over 30 years of faithful and terrific service to the network.
 
Angelique Boyer had her exclusivity agreement terminated by the network. She retaliated by withdrawing completely from the project she was working on (she was to be the lead in Angelli Nesma Medina's latest project, Me Declaro Culpable) and walked away from the network ENTIRELY so as to better demonstrate her annoyance with the network and her objections to what she sees is going on with her and other actors there now. Go Angelique! Sebastian Rulli also had his exclusivity yanked (although, in an annoying display of ego, he refuses to admit it publicly himself, in spite of the fact that not only the network but his own fiancée, Srta. Boyer, have confirmed it). I guess he still wants people to think that he's still Mr. Big Shot Actor That Everyone Wants. Other names, it could be said to be somewhat obvious, had their exclusivity terminated for primarily financial reasons. William Levy is out, so is Jacqueline Bracamontes (but when did you last see either of them do anything with the network?). It thus kind of makes sense that the network executives wouldn't want to keep paying them if they don't see much chance for their investment to prove worthwhile.
 
Two “aging” galans are also now “free to pursue other ventures”—Eduardo Yanez and Eduardo Santamarina. Two other actors who have also lost their exclusivity with the network leave me with the same feeling of "WTF COULD OCAMPO ET AL BE THINKING??" that I had when I found out about Azela Robinson. Silvia Navarro and Gabriel Soto (both of whom are about to be the leads in perhaps the network's biggest production of the year, Caer En Tentación, roles they took SPECIFICALLY for and because of the producer involved, Giselle Gonzalez, and not the network).
 
Marjorie de Sousa is also on the "no longer wanted" list, although this could also be because she is currently going through the NASTIEST of custody cases EVER (and that’s saying something!) with Julian Gil, and perhaps the network just wants no part of that. Other actors who have been given their papers and are now "free to pursue other ventures" (whether they want to or not) seem like just slaps in the face for no reason after all they have done for the network. Why Ana Patricia Rojo (Mariana in Un Camino Hacia el Destino, who I thought was going to experience something of a renaissance after she proved that she really CAN be a villain like nobody's business)? Is Sergio Goyri REALLY past his “sell-by” date, as with the aforementioned Sra. Bianchi, and WHY, oh WHY the actress that in the past few years has shown herself to be probably the best comedienne the network has got, Ingrid Martz (recently as Minerva in Qué Pobres Tan Ricos)? The names go on—Galilea Montijo (though, really, what HAS she done for the network lately?), Alejandra Procuna (who, sadly, is now reduced to driving for Uber to pay her bills). Nailea Norvind (and oh, what a run as Teresa she’s had in La Candidata) has gone to Azteca, having said to herself, "F**k this shit." But in general, it must be a scary time to be a Televisa actor right now.
 
For the others, however, it's still a boon. In spite of (or perhaps BECAUSE of) all these things being done "strictly for financial reasons," cost-cutting, etc., Renata Notni has recently signed an exclusivity agreement to become the property of the network, as has, and this with much fanfare, Sara Corrales (the RealEstela in La Doble Vida de Estela Carrillo). I'm guessing she'll be their new “villana in waiting.” I guess in this new “Rosy's World” of Televisa—it’s a case of "out with the old, in with the new," or at least, that's how it seems.
 
One last story in this regard I'd like to relate, only because I know that a lot of you will find this one particularly interesting, and I think also rather vividly demonstrates what a force-to-be-reckoned-with this new, greatly empowered Rosy Ocampo can be. It involves everyone's beloved Fernando Colunga, who is in the 'highest possible' of exclusivity agreements, one they DON'T offer to just ANYBODY.
 
The story goes that one of the new productions coming up (that’s Papa a Toda Madre that I'll be talking about in Part II) is an ensemble production by a producer new to everybody, Eduardo Meza. For the lead male role, Producer Meza called up Sr. Colunga. He, not having the slightest clue who the man is or what he's talking about, just ignored the calls. Well, Eduardo Meza has been Rosy Ocampo's right-hand for her entire CAREER, dating back to her very FIRST EVER Executive Producer job (El Diario de Daniela in 1998). Since then, he has been her Associate Producer for every one of her productions. So, with Lord High Ocampo now omnipotent, in something that is ABSOLUTELY, POSITIVELY, NOT ANYTHING LIKE that nasty word "cronyism," former Associate Producer Meza now found himself green-lighted for his first ever Executive Producer role. Having been told who this Sr. Meza is, because of his connection, and actually NOT someone you would particularly want to ignore, Sr. Colunga met with him and was offered the lead male role in his production. Sr. Colunga turned the role down, for no other reason than (in a tacky, but well earned, display of ego) it was an ensemble production, about fathers, and assumed he would be sharing billing with three or four or five other gentlemen (like, <gasp!> Raul Araiza). Even though Producer Meza assured him that—absolutely, unquestionably, he WOULD be given top billing, Sr. Colunga said, “Thank you, but I'm not interested.”
 
Then Colunga got a call to come into Lord High Ocampo's office. There, he was sat down and asked, basically, what he was doing. When he explained his position and rationale, Rosy Ocampo brought out his contract, explained that he is at the highest level of exclusivity agreements with the network AND has a production owing the network, so now that this production has come up, and this role has been offered to him, it is not optional that he accept this role or not, it is obligatory. Well, Sr. Colunga was in no way to be told what to do.  He said he'd wait for the next one. This, apparently, was not an option.  Rosy brought up that his level of exclusivity means that he gets paid two million pesos a month in HIS DOWN TIME (that's over $100,000 in USD) and he should realize that such an agreement is not a right, it's a privilege. He was of the opinion that, "Well, that's what they offered me, that's what I signed, that's what we agreed on. That's the way it is." They both have a point, actually…tempers rose, a screaming match ensued, Sr. Colunga told Sra. Ocampo what he thought of her and her demands and walked out.
 
The new and more powerful Rosy is DEFINITELY not one to take an affront to her power lying down.  She met with the Big High Up's, told them that Sr. Colunga had been rude, obdurate, arrogant, and inflexible. She brought up her own salary and how, with her obligations to the network with her new Executive position, she has only been able to produce one novela every two years. The rest of the time (if it weren't for her fancy new Executive salary), she would be living on the flat rate or down time that exclusives get with Televisa. She then brought up examples of other actors (I have no information on “who” she brought up…her latest darlings, I guess) and about the good service they provide for the network at a fraction of the price. She then compared them with Sr. Colunga's agreement—at the top of the top—and, having drawn parallels between what HE gets paid in his down time, compared to these “other actors,” what SHE gets paid (again, we'll forget about the Fancy Executive Salary for the time being, apparently), said she thought it criminal that he is going to go around turning down roles AND talking to his bosses (HER) like that! They said she had a point.
 
She next arranged for a follow-up meeting with the Big High Up's, where she presented the results of her FOCUS GROUP she had done on Fernando Colunga since her last meeting with them. The results showed that his profitability, according to her focus group, is now vastly overinflated by the network, to the networks extreme financial detriment. Her focus group results revealed that, because of his age, he was not as well liked by women (their main focus when determining the value of the exclusivity agreement that he signed), his Q-rating has significantly decreased over the years and as such an exclusivity agreement such as the one he has currently is no longer deserved nor viable. Of course the cost-cutting/penny-pinching network agreed with, and gave her a freer rein to determine the narrative between Sr. Colunga and the network.
 
Emboldened by this, Lord High Ocampo called Sr. Colunga into a meeting once again with her. She told him that, based on his recent behavior, she is considering drastically reducing his current exclusivity agreement with the network but that the final decision had not been made. She said, "Perhaps something could be worked out…and, oh…about that role in the Eduardo Meza production…what about that?  And did I mention that I haven't made a final decision in regards to your exclusivity agreement?" Seeing where the ball is bouncing, Sr. Colunga demurred to read the script/think it over (something like that).  The next day he goes back into Lord High Ocampo's office. NOW, I don't know WHAT he said, or WHO said WHAT first, but the gist of the matter is that when he got in there, Rosy Ocampo told him that in the time (less than 24 hours) since their last meeting, Sebastian Rulli has been cast in the role for the new Meza production and that, because of Colunga’s ongoing intransigence, his exclusivity agreement has been drastically reduced (no more two million pesos a month down time). Perhaps anticipating a fight, she beat him to the punch by sharing with him the results of her Focus Group (about him losing his desirability and profitability and not being as well-liked by his target audience of women as he's aging) and offered up the advice that, as her Focus Group showed, he should consider himself lucky to even HAVE an exclusivity agreement with the network and that in the future, at his age (OUCH!!), he shouldn't be the kind of person who feels that he can just turn down any role that might come his way. "Game, Set, Match, Rosy Ocampo!"
 
NOW, one can only IMAGINE what that must have done to a raging ego like Fernando Colunga's, but the end result was that it wasn't pretty, and whatever was said between the two of them from that point on, the long and the short of it was that Fernando Colunga's exclusivity agreement with Televisa was terminated, entirely, that day. The press was saying that "he was fired", but it's really not as simple as that.
 
So Rosy is kind of getting scary. One thing about this new "Rosy's World" of telenovela production I think is kind of cool relates to how she manages her producers and their upcoming productions. If a producer’s most recent production was a ratings success, their next project gets “upped,” as does their profile with the network—they will have more leniency in regards to their next project and if their last project is a failure, expect EVERYTHING to be vetted SEVERELY by her, and more attention (better time slot, better marketing, press tours) will be given it. Apart from that, however, her management style reflects that of the worst of dictators—amassing an army of sycophants who swear devotion to her and her alone (i.e. Eduardo Meza, Lucero Suarez, and Juan Osorio). She and they speak the same language, all considering themselves "the old guard"/defenders of the genre. Perhaps most alarmingly, she is effectively blocking out anybody at the network that she does not like, most egregiously, Carla Estrada, whom she does NOT like. (I've always thought it jealousy on Sra. Ocampo's part. The biopic on Silvia Pinal that Carla Estrada had been working on was scuttled directly due to Sra. Ocampo. Isn't that icky?) That's just a little bit of anecdotal information to help fill you guys in on the wonderful world of what goes on behind making these wonderful little shows that bring us all together here on CarayCaray!
 
END PART I

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Comments:
Thanks Stevey and Anita!
Wow these are incredible and sad stories. This is how big networks fall. I'm not big on exclusivity deals but that doesn't mean I don't feel pity for our dear actors(Fernando Colunga not being attractive to women?!). Micromanaging is terrible but forcing actors to participate in products that they don't personally approve of is despicable. This is pure monopolism and elitism.

"Oh hey look at me with all the power. I'm better than all of you. If you don't kiss my feet get ready to get FIRED!". That is Rosy's mindset right now.

Altough I could understand her choice of nabbing exclusivity. There's no reason why actors should get trapped by a certain director while receiving royalties for years without doing anything. This puts Televisa in extremely large debts of over hundreds of millions dollars. That money could be spent on equally large shows. Why should a corporation pay you for simply existing?
 

Televisa is having budgeting problems ?
 

Thank you Stevey, for this labor of intense love and passion, worthy of the best commentaries on the telenovela industry anyone can offer our inquiring minds. I had the privilege of reviewing it before posting and you can tell Stevey does his homework and we are the beneficiaries.

Yes, Steve it seems Televisa is having budget problems. Who isn't, these days. Even little ole me. CountxAlacran, I feel for the industry as they compete against technological advances in the field delivering entertainment into our homes. They are suffering from bloated payrolls and production expenses, just as government bureaucracies everywhere, but that was their fault to begin with. Surely there are other ways to attract and keep top notch actors.

But shame on them for treating their long-term "fettered" stable of actors who have slaved all their careers to deliver quality performances.

It's like the teacher, firefighter or police officer who is let go "for cause" just shy of retirement dates, denying them their full pensions. Meanwhile, the employers shrug their shoulders and look away, declaring they had the authority to do so.
 

OMG Stevey this is amazing. I don't follow the goings on within Televisa but wow.

What surprised me the most was terminating Angelique Boyer. Tres Veces Ana was great and AB one of the best actresses on tn's, in my opinion. SR is a fav of the ladies and a decent actor. Actually, not be under contract gives the younger actors better chance at better projects and more money.

FC may not be big with the younger set but I tend to think it is the middle to older set keeping tn's going and FC is still popular.

It's funny that Televisa operates like the old Hollywood studio systems with stock of actors.

 

I hope the older actors got a settlement to buy out their contracts.
 

One other thing I might say, not necessarily in defense of the Mexican system, but with a Hollywood studio system, as Carvivlie defines it, we have had the privilege of seeing the best of the best in the acting field in or out of Mexico. The actors have been able to flex their professionalism by taking on roles that are so often counter to their personalities and allowed to stretch their abilities by taking on roles that are so different in each telenovela. We almost always look forward to how a certain actor is going to interpret a role when they were completely opposite in the last one.

Some do get typecast, but maybe it suits them personally and they get a kick out of playing tough guys, loose women, or manipulative men and women. More than once I've heard actors say it's so much easier to play a thoroughly bad, evil character than it is a good one--the good ones are so much more nuanced and the bad ones--they can just let fly with the role.

I could make a list, but you all know what I'm talking about.
 

Stevey, thanks for an inside scoop on what's happening at Televisa. Anita, thanks for posting. Very interesting.

Televisa may have done AB a favor if she winds up working on different types of projects with other producers. She's the most talented young actress Televisa had AND she pulled in high ratings. I like the way Itati Cantoral is managing her career. One moment she's zany in Una familia con suerte for Televisa, next she's a fragile, calculating mafiosa in El chema for Telemundo. Itati may not be getting the big $$$bucks, but she's doing stellar work with diverse roles. I hope the same for AB.

I'm loca for Yanez, so I'm sorry he won't be back in a TN with Televisa. But surely these actors will turn up elsewhere.
 

Thanks for all the great info. I will miss seeing these people acting in the TNs.
They did great work. I was hoping to see William Levy and Maite Perroni in another
TN, but that looks like that won't be happening. Looking forward to reading all the
other info. Keep up the good work.
 

I'm kind of confused here. So Rosy forbade them from working with Televisa again because they don't like her or did she simply relieve them from previous contracts? If the latter I think its quite beneficial for growing stars like AB, SR , Flavio Medina, Renata Notni etc to get acting roles on equal standards. The only problem is is with those who have a decade spanning career like Colunga or those who count on retirement plans. I don't feel pity for those complaing about having to drive an Uber. With all the connection one has you should be able to find work where you want. Unless of course Rosy blacklisted them.

Williiam Levy was able to find work in a movie. IDK how it is called but it was about some woman with a rape fantasy(?). It was on Netflix I believe. Sergio Goyri also starred in movies, his most famous being the one with Rebecca Jones. Most recently Ana Brenda Contreras starred in Blue Demon which is not a Televisa production.
 

NVM, Blue Demon is a Televisa production. But my point still stands.
 

Thank you for the update on what is going on. What has happened to my absolute favorite Juan Angel Esparza? Haven't seen him in anything for some time. Am eagerly waiting your next post.
 

Thanks for all the news on what is going on . I just goggled Rosy OCampo. Times Delusions of grandeur. This whole crazy tale would make a very good telenovela...starring Fernando C. And all those other actors and actresses you named on Rosy's short list.
 

Where are Carla Estrada and Monica Miguel? They were a fantastic team .
 

I bet the Rosy story could get a movie series :)

Televisa Wars: A New Hope
Televisa Wars: Revenge of Rosy
Televisa Wars: Caray Caray Awakens
Televisa Wars: The Last Snark
 

This is horrific. Another inferior producer flexes the muscle of a title she neither merits nor will honor.

To fire Angelique Boyer is pure insanity, along with what she is doing to the other actors mentioned. This feels like Peter Gelb and the Met. While I don't think Gelb will kill opera, Ocampo could kill telenovelas within the next two years.
 

Definitely this is a very difficult time for traditional TV, and the executives are thinking about money savings in a format that is not longer profitable. Exclusivity Contracts worked very well for years... they made Stars, and the Stars made them win a lot of money... but then ratings keep falling and now everybody has Netflix, Youtube, etc. with a very large and multinational menu...

However, the people who used to work for them deserve respect, preference and oportunities. It is a shame Carla Estrada's projects are always rejected, postponed, etc. and Mónica Miguel forced to work in the very bad Mejía´s productions.

It´s important remark that most of Televisa actors (the good ones, the very talented) used to work in theater or in independent movies in their free time with no big money, just for the love of art. That´s why it was comfortable for them the exclusivity contracts, they used to feel safe.

 

He was in Mi Adorable Maldicion and Mujeres de Negro
 

Wow Anita,this woman really isa legend
In her own mind. I wonder if anybody
Would get away with pullin something
Like that in Hollywood?
That deal that they have"you work for us as Long as you're good acting material, When you're no longer viable,chopchop.
And fernando's and her royal highness'
Egos are like "clash of the titans". He got outclashed by her.
And they're some pretty good actresses that were cut loose. And they didn't have agents? I think the first thing tell the future actors, actresses here
Get yourself an agent, get some good
Reps.These guys at televisa were flyin
Without a parachute. Well the best them all.
Thank you for that imfo. I wonder if
What's going on over there has anything to do with the fact that there is no closed caption? Well we'll
See once the smoke clears.
 

Nina, et al, these are great comments. The BIG thank you should go to Stevey. I hope he stops by to read the posts and has another comment or two.

Tquir, you echoed my earlier sentiments exactly. Monica always loved to play parts in the novelas she directed--Maria Isabel, Alborada, Sortilegio, La Fuerza del Destino, La Tempestad. And she and Carla were legendary as equal partners in productions. I was quite surprised to read she was also a singer and actually released an album early in her career. She is now 81 and probably has decided to slow down (????!!!!)

Yes, many of these actors have been in full-length films and on stage, even FC with his Manos Quietas. We've enjoyed him on screen in Ladron Que Roba a Ladron, Jorge Salinas in La Otra Familia, Ana Brenda Contreras in Divina Confusion and Silvia Navarro in a whole slew of them.

These are hard-working people who love their profession, but this is a new world - one where more mediocracy is tolerated, probably because there is so much out there to overload our senses--kittens and puppies on YouTube notwithstanding.


 

Thank you Steve how you can get all of that I'm do hold on to it long enough
To get typed out is just amazing. Just
Thank you. Now on to part 2.
 

Part II will have to be broken up into IIA and IIB to get the full effect of the Upcoming Telenovelas Stevey has prepared for us. It will be posted tomorrow, but I hope new visitors will continue to comment on Part I.
 

Stevey, thank you! Your fire and passion are evident and appreciated. "it’s a case of "out with the old, in with the new" sums it up sadly and succinctly.

It appears most of the actors and actors listed here are victims of ageism. Likely one or two are under the age of 35. I am familiar with almost all of those named. Amazing skill and versatility. Surely, all deserved better.

Could it be anything other than sheer stupidity that Angelique was included? Ingrid Martz, Eduardo Yanez (I sigh along with you Niecie), Azela Robinson. I could go on and on.

And of course while they have lost much, we will have to see what talented actors will no longer grace our screens.

What a loss.

Diana
 

I am just flabbergasted.

There is a bright side to this, though. Sort of. I think most of these actors will do just fine. Maybe better than fine. Televisa's loss will be everyone else's gain.

And it will indeed be a loss. Most people would find it exhausting to alienate so many people as quickly as Ocampo has. It would seem that Ocampo has enough stamina to chase away or alienate every competent telenovela professional inside of Pluto's orbit within the next year.

I know Televisa (and all of the networks and media companies) need to adjust to the changing whims of the viewing audience, but Ocampo is probably a step in the exact opposite direction.
 

Goodness, I hope that they change the format back! I can't stand ANYTHING that's on right now. I've been watching the old stuff. There's way too many characters in Ramon and I HATE the lead male in that Family one. I stopped watching. Someone email me when everything goes back to normal.
 

Rosy freaking Ocampo
 

But isnt losing your best stars detrimental,Fer might be aging true but he still holds all sorts of appeal,i am from Nigeria and telenovela lovers here in Africa love him...after seeing him in Esmeralda,MLDB,La Usurpadora,MEPS,Alborada and so on.I can fathom cutting Fer but SILVIA NAVARRO is gold to be honest...if she leaves for another network that might be the worst thing they could ever do,her following is immense all over the world #NavarroTeam...no offense to the other stars in Caer En Tentacion como Adriana Louvier,Gabriel Soto,Arath De La Torre and the very talented Carlos Ferro but Silvia is one of the main reasons the novela is generating so much publicity...simply put people adore her...i love her,think she is the best novela actress right now,azteca probably regret losing her.Well Televisa better sort this out and all before they see their stars making it elsewhere and making other networks flourish.
 

Tayo, Colunga might be aging, but so are we... so I can forgive him!

Of course losing your best stars is detrimental. Because it's not as though they'll cease to exist - they'll go to work for Televisa's competitors. People will still tune in to see them, but Televisa will not benefit from their star power.
 

True
 

Hi everybody!!

I'm really thrilled by everybody's comments, and wanted to thank you all for reading, and a special thank you for those of you who chimed in with your thoughts and opinions on the matter here!

It IS rather shocking, what's going on at Televisa right now, isn't it? I am somewhat buoyed by the fact that your collective reactions to the madness that's going on seems to be the same as mine. In the time since this was posted (THANK YOU, Anita!!! :-) , I've tried to see if I could get even just a number, even just a 'guess-timate' of the number of Televisa actors that have been affected by. this great purge (i.e.- been fired, had their Exclusivity Agreements yanked, or had positions or demands imposed upon them to the point where they have chosen to walk away of their own accord (cf. Angelique Boyer)). While exact numbers seemed to be pretty much impossible to get (for me, at least), if I take the input of the four sources that I have spoken to who have inside information about this matter, and calculate the mean number (meaning, 'calculated central' or 'average'), the figure would hover around 400 on-air personalities.

Can you believe it? Scary times, apparently... :-(

But, I do have to say that I hope you all don't think that all of this may mean that this will be the last that we may see of actor A) or B) or C), because that's definitely not the case! One example of how this might happen might be great for us, their fans, but not so good for the actor... this would be when an actor who had an exclusivity agreement with the network who, at the time of its' termination BY the network, still owed the network a production. Then, you can bet your bottom dollar that the network is going to get that production out of that actor come hell or high water! If they've paid before they show him the door. This is the case, right now, with the actor Eduardo Santamarina, whose last project was 'Que pobres tan ricos', filmed in the latter part of 2015. They yanked his contract effective now, but he still owes them a major role in a production... and thus explain-eth why he'll be the father in the upcoming Esmeralda remake, by Ignacio Sada, 'Sin tu mirada'.
Likewise, if a producer has his or her heart set on an actor or actress, they can try and force the network's hand and, no matter HOW much Rosy, et al. might consider actor X), Y), or Z) a financial burden or liability NOT worth the investment, if the producer sticks to their guns, they WILL get their way (cf: Giselle Gonzalez with both Silvia Navarro AND Gabriel Soto in her upcoming 'Caer en tentacion')

There was something else that happened recently which might prove to be interesting, might not...
 

Producers have been noticeably reticent to comment on the axe swinging going on all about them (perhaps because they're just thankful it's not swinging in their direction), but it's commonly acknowledged that nobody really LIKES it, especially when a producer sees it happening to their friend who they've worked on (whatever) projects with in the past. But nobody's really presented an ACTIVE affront to the actions that the 'powers that be' have undertaken, however much they may be against them....

But recently, Rosy Ocampo overstepped her boundaries.

Carlos Mercado barged into Rosy's office, you see... Carlos Mercado is the creator of "La Rosa de Guadalupe", which is a frankly quite detestable show that has been the anchor of their afternoon line-up for the past 10 years. It's frequently derided by pretty much everybody in Mexico (it's a procedural show, with each stand-alone episode being allusive to the Catholic faith, wherein whatever is going on can only be solved by the intercession of the Virgin of Guadalupe, who manifests herself in a variety of ways). It is considered the most controversial show that Televisa has ever produced, primarily because of the exaggerated view of Christianity and Catholicism that it touts, one in which xenophobia, racism, the subjugation of women, homophobia, drug use, and a generally speaking 'Old Testament' approach to the modern world is encouraged (I also must say that the production values- from the script-writing to the effects, to the acting, to the often-times appalling lack of research done on a subject- are probably among the worst that a human being could ever find on any show, ever). Still, it has it's niche audience and, even if they are somewhat radical right-wing Pentacostals or Uber-Catholics (and I'm not saying anything against either of those groups, for what it's worth... hell, who am I to judge??), in Mexico there are still a helluva LOT of them, so for the last 10 years, 'La Rosa de Guadalupe' has been a fixture, and a staple of Televisa's afternoon line-up....
But then Carlos Mercado barged into Rosy's office. It seems that he found out that Rosy had authorized something in regards to 'La Rosa de Guadalupe' "sin derechos". Meaning, something that she had NO business authorizing unilaterally. So, Carlos Mercado barged in to her office and a screaming match ensued. From what I understand, Rosy tried to assert her authority and her justification for what she had done (I think the actual term I was given was "envalentonado"), but Sr. Mercado called her bluff, said that he would have absolutely no problem 'killing' off LRDG, effective immediately, leaving a HUGE gap in Televisa's afternoon market. Rosy, of course, backed down but apparently Mercado (smelling blood), went even further, telling Rosy that she and she alone was responsible for this mess and she should consider herself lucky if he doesn't go to the 'higher ups' with his story, and his threats, and demand her head because he knows that he would get it. Rosy, apparently, backed down and capitulated to everything that Carlos Mercado wanted. That, apparently, was how it began...

 

... So, 'Envalentonado' ("emboldened" in English), several producers (unfortunately, I have not been apprised of who, specifically), presented themselves to the network to voice their displeasure, even so far as to demand Rosy's head (a smart decision on their part, I think, as anything less would leave them marked for destruction in her minds eye). For all of you Spanish speakers out there, what was said to me, verbatim, was "que casi todos los productores se han quejado ante los altos ejecutivos sobre Rosy Ocamp y han pedido su destitucion o se van de la empresa". This, of course, shocked the 'higher ups' in their glass towers, and all I know is that this past week, Rosy, now aware of how much she is hated and resented for her "pretonencia" (their word), and afraid that these sentiments may make her position increasingly untenable as far as the network is concerned, is apparently walking about humbled, sanctified by the knowledge she has been given (as to how much people hate her, as if she didn't know before) and determined to be a 'kinder, gentler' dictator. Now, butter wouldn't melt in her mouth, and her peers are somewhat bemused by how, really, afraid she now is for her position, now that she is aware of how many people are against her and what she has done.

This all happened last week, mind you... what this will foretell for the future is anybody's guess, but....

(Am I alone in thinking that this shit going on 'behind the scenes' at the network is, like, 10 TIMES more dramatic and involving than anything that they're currently airing???? (lol))

Anyway, thanks again, everybody and, as always... my continued best wishes to you all. :-)
 

Ingrid Martz and Silvia Pasquel are in a new comedy novela in Azteca title Tres Familia
 

I'm posting this late but hope that Stevey is still reading the comments and can answer the question:

Who the hell is left with an Exclusivity Agreement at Televisa?

It seems as if the Dictator booted everyone from the previously untouchable FC, to the beloved SN, to the fantastically versatile AB, and guapísimo SR.

Thank goodness for YouTube.

I now spend my time watching previous novelas I missed at the time of their original airing and that I find worthwhile and, at times, re-watching some of my favorites which never seems to bore me.

Also, I'm sure I'll go back to reading real books--NOT listening to some irritating voice trying to narrate twenty-some odd characters. And thinking along those lines, how I miss the sound and feel of page turning !!
 

Victoria Deanne: Me too! I liked love (romance) stories, if I wanted to watch people coming out of the closet and narcotics stories, I'd watch regular tv. Geez, I don't care about that crap. There's always someone that effs up everything.
 





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