Production's Aim for the Authenticity of the Bi-Telenovela

Úrsula Hilaria Celia de la Caridad Cruz Alfonso, better know as Celia Cruz the Queen of Salsa, endured a life that some may say mirrored a telenovela. From her exile from Cuba, rise to fame and relationship with Pedro Knight, Celia's life was filled with drama. Cruz's Grammy Award-winning vocal only add to why Fox TeleColombia would bring her story to small screens across the world. As we discussed production in class, I began wondering how the production team maintained integrity of Celia's life story while still maintaining the necessary elements of a telenovela to capture audiences.

To begin, the business side of production ,which includes Fox TeleColombia executives, need the rights to and proper contracts to even develop the telenovela. In an article from Billboard, it is mentioned that Fox Telecolombia worked directly with Omer Pardillo Cid, the sole executor of the Cruz estate to ensure all legalities were in place. The lessons on production heavily emphasize that writers and directors cannot simply develop stories based solely on their own creativity and imagination. Instead, they must take into account the needs, finances and legalities of the network. Furthermore, Pardillo has since expressed disdain in the series stating that the original contract stated, "conservar el buen nombre de Celia Cruz en la obra audiovisual". Although the contracts and legal rights provided the TeleColombia executives with access to associates of Cruz, Pardillo claims they were not used accurately. Although production interviewed numerous associates of Cruz, Pardillo alleges that they did not take into account the closeness of each relationship and their familiarity with Celia.

Dolores Cruz: The real Noris

As production continues to craft the story, writers then employ deep research into Celia's life to develop the storyline and subplots. Many of this research was expected to come from interviews and consultations with her associates, members of La Fania and more. In addition to her personal life, writer's must also think about the historical elements of Cuba and the United States in respects to politics, slang, dress and more during the 1950-70s. Production took on the challenge to recreate Havana, Cuba in Cartagena and Bogota, Colombia through the styles of houses, dance clubs and even the old-fashioned cars in the streets. A problematic situation was the changes made during production that stray from reality: the incorporation of Lola Calvo and the whitewashing of "Noris". In the midst of casting and writing, production may have felt a need to add more drama and traditional aspects of the telenovela. It is rare to have a cast of primarily Afro-Latinx actors and mainly happy events. For example, Lola Calvo, although based on La Lupe, becomes a breakout star as production writes her in as an abused, drug abuser with a powerful voice. Noris, based on her real sister Delores, takes on an antagonist role along with Simon, Celia's father, to ruin Celia's dream. Production, from the writers, director, producers and the executives need drama and these characters added it to the novela.

La Lupe v. Lola Calvo

Jeimy Osorio

Another interesting aspect of production is the accuracy of wardrobe and the mannerism of the actors. Possibly a mixture of cues from the series directors and actress Carolina Gaitan, Lola Calvo was an obviously inspired from La Lupe. From the "ayyys", tugging of the hair and clothing, licking of lips and spiraling career, production personified La Lupe on our modern televisions. Even in photographs for the show, hair and makeup recreated makeup looks and clothing to further develop the actress. However, a big question that caused tension between viewers and the show is the fact that Lola Calvo was not Afro-Latina. Why did production continue with a white actress? As stated, the majority of telenovelas feature a lighter skinned actress with traditional beauty and a life of hardship. Lola Calvo presented the audience just that and almost seems like a strategy for ratings from the directors and writers. Furthermore, Celia was also embodied well when glancing at specific details such as the style of nails and nail polish choices. The actress also implemented the use of "azucar!"and showcased the compassionate and caring attitude often said of the real-life Celia Cruz. The actress, Jeimy Osorio even mentioned in an interview with Billboard that production darkened her skin, gave her a gap through orthodontic prosthetics, broadened her nose, plucked her brows and gained weight to get into character. Multiple elements, both physical and through mannerisms, were implemented through wardrobe, casting, writing and the rules of the director to embody the era and the essence of each character.

Real family v. Fictional family

Lastly, although we mainly discussed tensions between the varying roles within production, Celia shows tensions between audience and production. Multiple articles regards Cruz's nephew, also the real life son of "Noris", Jesus Hernandez, said the show did not present Celia or her life in the correct light. He is quoting saying that the telenovela showed Celia as "endeble, timorata, sin mucha personalidad, con un padre extremadamenter abusador y un esposo violento, machista y mujeriego, cosa que no era asi". The issues between Hernandez and the show are the result of productions hits and misses to maintain the integrity of the real life person while incorporating the necessary drama, antagonists and multiple subplots within telenovelas.