Nov 20, 2008

TO OVERCOME AND LIVE


Studying telenovelas has allowed me not only to study how these melodramas are produced, but also to get to know well those who work "making" them. I've received a lot from everyone who works behind and in front of the cameras. They have opened their homes, dressing rooms, TV studios and offices to me, so that I could understand how a telenovela is made, a character is constructed, and the way these serials take over the lives of those who work in them. 

Behind the glitter that covers everything on the television screen are real human beings who work their magic so that we believe the stories and characters they're telling us. But, there are occasions in which their real lives teach us important lessons. 

Early in 2007, actor Daniela Bascopé was diagnosed with non-Hodgkins lymphoma at the age of 24. After months of treatment, Daniela recovered and is back on television as Natalia in telenovela La Vida Entera. And this week, Daniela presented her book Vencer y Vivir (To Overcome and Live), in which she shares her experience with her illness. 

In La Vida Entera we can also see Lourdes Valera, who has taped her character Rosa Coronel as she underwent treatment for cancer.

Here's a video of the morning show Portadas in which telenovela La Vida Entera was promoted. In addition to being an example of how a telenovela is promoted in Venezuela, you will be able to watch Daniela and Lourdes as they explain the characters they play and give us their message of courage. (The video is sort of stretched, I don't know why. At the end of the Portadas' sequence, there is an example of a promotional of La Vida Entera).






2 comments:

Ashleigh Speir said...

Dr. A - is Daniela the actor we spoke to in our Telenovelas class last fall? I am so glad to hear that she is doing well and I would love to take a closer look at "To Overcome and Live" or "Vencer y Vivir!" I hope you're doing well!

Dr. Carolina Acosta-Alzuru said...

Ashleigh! It's SO good to find you here! Yes, we spoke with Daniela last Fall. She's doing well and back at work. She asked me to write the text that is in the back of her book, which I did. It was such a privilege!
All the best to you and yours this Thanksgiving!