Camila Mendes and Rudy Mancuso are highlighting the importance of Brazilian representation in Hollywood, with their new movie ‘Música.’ The two stars talked to HOLA! about their on-screen chemistry, and detailed the first time they met on the set of the project, which would later develop into a real-life romance.
The pair shared their experience growing up in the United States while being proud of their Brazilian heritage, and being part of their community, with Camila growing up in South Florida and Rudy in New Jersey. ‘Música’ explores Rudy’s neurological condition, synesthesia, which causes him to “feel shapes and see music.” Paired with a unique experience with music, this romantic comedy is a one-of-a-kind love story, now streaming on Prime Video. Watch our exclusive interview with the two stars!
“We felt like we had known each other for years. We were very culturally aligned. We have similar upbringings, we have similar creative taste, and it became our project. Up until we met, it was my project and then it became ours.”
How was the moment when you first met? Were you nervous?
Camila:
I mean, I kind of already felt the connection over Zoom… Months leading up to the film. And then once we met in person, it was very clear that the chemistry physically was there too. And we shot a screen test the first day that we met. Right after we shook hands, we just went and did the screen test and we still this two minute clip of the two of us talking for the first time, but there’s no audio. And now when I look back and watch it, I’m like, “Yeah, no, it makes sense.”
Rudy:
It was an immediate familiarity. We felt like we had known each other for years. We were very culturally aligned. We have similar upbringings, we have similar creative taste, and it became our project. Up until we met, it was my project and then it became ours.
So you were suggesting maybe some changes or ideas?
Rudy:
Oh, yeah. She had a lot of mostly dialogue and character changes and backstories.
Camila:
Yeah, very dialogue and character driven mainly just with the female roles. I just wanted to be that female voice. And Rudy was very, he was like, “Look, I’m not a woman. I can’t necessarily speak to the female experience, so please, by all means, let me know what we should change here.” So yeah, I was mainly focused on developing Isabella and Haley in particular.
During the shooting process, what did you learn about each other the most?
Camila:
I think I was just so impressed by you.
Rudy:
And likewise, honestly. I’d known her as an actor, but not as a producer, as a creator. So when we went page by page making changes together, at first I was worried because what if we didn’t agree? What if her ideas and notes didn’t align with mine? But every single one, not only did I agree with, I was challenged by them and they elevated the material, the characters, the film.
Do you know about his brain condition when you started filmng or were you surprised?
I mean, I only knew it because of the script. Yeah. I don’t know. I relate to Rudy in a lot of ways. I obviously don’t have synesthesia, but I have ADHD, which I feel like is my way of understanding that sort of scatteredness. So I’ve always empathized and understood his condition even though I don’t experience it myself.