Meryl Streep Hosted ‘Emilia Pérez’ Screening, Q&A With Selena Gomez (Exclusive)

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As a seasoned observer of the world of entertainment, I must say Selena Gomez’s journey in “Empress of the North” is nothing short of captivating. Her transformation from a beloved pop star to a critically acclaimed actress is a testament to her versatility and dedication.

On Wednesday evening, Meryl Streep oversaw an illustrious viewing of the film “ Emilia Pérez” at the San Vicente Bungalows. This was followed by a question-and-answer session with her co-star from “Only Murders in the Building“, Selena Gomez. According to exclusive information obtained by The Hollywood Reporter, this event took place.

At the cozy get-together were some of the stars from “Only Murders,” such as Martin Short, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, and Jesse Williams. Additionally, Nia Vardalos, Jeremy Piven, Jason Bateman, Annette Bening, Rita Wilson, Pom Klementieff, Thora Birch, and others were also in attendance.

Following Streep’s series of inquiries towards Gomez, the three-time Academy Award recipient opened the floor for questions from the spectators. Initially, Bening and Wilson were selected to ask their queries. The entire Q&A session is detailed in the transcript provided below.

In the film titled “Emilia Pérez,” directed by Jacques Audiard, Gomez joins forces with Zoe Saldaña, Karla Sofía Gascón, and Adriana Paz. The story revolves around a powerful cartel leader who seeks the help of a lawyer to vanish while pursuing her aspiration to become a woman. At the Cannes Film Festival in May, the film was honored with a jury prize, and Gomez, Saldaña, Gascón, and Paz were recognized with the best actress award. France has submitted it for the Oscars in the best international feature category, and the movie is considered a strong contender in numerous other categories as well.

Many prominent figures in industry A have praised Emilia Pérez. For instance, Guillermo del Toro, following a screening at the Directors Guild of America in October, led a Q&A with Audiard and expressed his admiration by saying, “It’s a joy to watch a film that is truly cinematic,” and added, “I believe he’s one of the most exceptional directors working today.

Various individuals have organized events for Emilia Pérez, with Michael Mann describing it as a “modern masterpiece”. Notable figures such as Tom McCarthy, Taylor Hackford, Madonna, America Ferrera, Naomi Campbell, Leslie Bibb, Jeremy O. Harris, Ashley Park, Daisy Ridley, Jayson Shetty, Eva Longoria and Jason Reitman have also publicly praised her.

See below for a transcript of the Q&A.

MERYL STREEP There’s so much in this movie. I just want to know how you did it.

SELENA GOMEZ Essentially, when I initially received the script, I found it incredible. I thought it was profound, bold, and this role seemed like it would be something extraordinary. However, those minor details were essential, and much of it could change based on the director, Jacques Audiard’s vision, which might shift in just a couple of seconds. He wanted to disorient us, and I appreciated every bit of it. I don’t believe there was any other way for me to approach this. I simply had to be thrown into it. The first scene I ever filmed when I stepped onto set was the movie’s conclusion.

STREEP’s PERFORMANCE It was breathtaking, indeed. A blend of beauty, smudge, sensuality, and sheer brilliance encapsulated it all.

GOMEZ I can’t believe she’s saying this. Thank you. 

STREEP Just gorgeous, gorgeous. And that song, I want to be myself…

GOMEZ “Mi Camino.”

STREEP “Mi Camino.” Yeah! 

GOMEZ It was intriguing as initially, another song was planned for my character, one that was more confrontational and fierce, much like “Bienvenida”, which was my debut number. However, after meeting Jacques, he suggested to the composers, Clément [Ducol] and Camille, that it didn’t quite fit my personality as they met me. So, they were asked to watch my documentary. Upon doing so, they drew inspiration from it, which I can connect with the song. It was a unique experience, feeling like it was tailored for me, and we had a wonderful time creating it. And I must say, it’s a beautiful piece of music.

STRIPPED DOWN VERSION: Is that a lovely tune? … Did you manage to spend some time preparing, or did you get a preliminary look at it along with the sheet music?

GOMEZ I didn’t have much time to prepare, which made it a bit more nerve-wracking for me since Zoe had already mastered the role, having worked on it for a longer period. It turned out that I actually had the part, but I wasn’t aware of it until later. This was quite perplexing. I’ve been promoting this project with my fantastic team for months, and then during one of our last interviews, Jacques jokingly remarked, “I can’t understand why you keep saying you auditioned and waited. You had the part.” From that point on, whenever I see him, I can’t help but think about the nine months I spent anxiously waiting to find out if I was accepted for this film. It was a whirlwind – I was in Paris just a month later. Incredible!

STREEP I remember when you said, “Yeah, I’m going to Paris.”

GOMEZ Yeah, you were there! 

STREEP I thought, “Oh, that’s exciting.” I had no idea you were doing this. 

GOMEZ I don’t think I did either. I’m very proud of it. I’m so grateful for you doing this.

STREEP Oh, I’m thrilled. I’m still reeling with it, I am. And your work is exquisite.

Could you share some insights on how Jacques came up with the idea? You mentioned that he doesn’t speak Spanish, right?

Gomez shares an interesting observation about Jacques. Despite having starred in numerous films in various languages, he only speaks French and a bit of English. What truly astounds me is his unique methodology. In his own words, he explains, “I find the rhythm or melody of the language so captivating.” He further adds, “When I act in French films, I’m more attuned to the words rather than the actor’s emotions.” Our scripts were written in English, Spanish, and French, but Jacques grasped the intended emotions. He would listen for the rhythm or melody, which he felt was his target. This approach truly fascinated me.

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2024-11-23 01:25