November 16, 2025 • 26 mins
Actor Raúl Castillo joins us at the kitchen table. Literally. He goes to Latino USA host Maria Hinojosa’s home to share chips and homemade guacamole. Since his last visit on the show five years ago, a lot has changed for Raúl. He’s gotten married, filmed one of the darkest scenes of his career on HBO’s Task, and will soon join the cast of The Walking Dead. But there are things that remain the same: Raúl’s respect for matriarchs, his rootedness in community and his moral compass.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hello, dear listener, did you know that you can join
futuro Plus to access extended interviews, bonus episodes, and even
live events. This episode is a conversation with my friend
actor Raul Castillo, and you can listen to the extended
cut of our interview right now by becoming a futuro
(00:21):
Plus member. And it's so good, so definitely sign up
at Futuromedia group dot org slash join plus e So raw.
(00:41):
I'm I'm not a big chef, but I do know
how to make a meaning cod money excellent.
Speaker 2 (00:49):
That's a good, that's a good.
Speaker 1 (00:50):
Uh credit and I just need to add some and
then you're gonna give me the taste meneses and you
have to just be honest.
Speaker 2 (00:56):
And the chips are from where it said you own.
Speaker 1 (01:03):
With tortillas from amazing.
Speaker 2 (01:07):
Amazing.
Speaker 1 (01:08):
All right, well you're this, I don't. I'm like, I'm
feeling a little something something.
Speaker 2 (01:12):
Well looks great, looks great. What are you talking about?
Speaker 1 (01:16):
I'm not sure it looks you're going to get to
taste it.
Speaker 2 (01:19):
It looks fantastic, all right, let's go.
Speaker 1 (01:24):
It may yeah, but it may need some more something.
Speaker 2 (01:29):
Mmmm.
Speaker 3 (01:31):
And then I'm not big on like, I don't need
tons of salt, but.
Speaker 2 (01:37):
But I think it's perfect right.
Speaker 1 (01:46):
From media, It's Latino USA. I'm Maria Posa today actor
Raoul Castillo. You know he's one of the stars of
the TV show everybody's watching now It's HBO's Task. Il
Castillo came over to talk over to Topos and Wakamole
at my very own kitchen table. So the reason why
(02:08):
is that I was curious to sit down with Raoula
again because I know a lot has happened for him,
really and for the entire country since we did our
last sit down interview five years ago. Back in twenty eighteen,
Raoul's star was on the rise. He landed a high
profile role in the film Weavy Animals, and when I
(02:28):
spoke to him back then it was our first interview,
it struck me how in touch he was with himself
as a Mexican American man raised in South Texas who
was now making it big in Hollywood. Now, Raoul's star
is not just because he's an HBO's Task. It's also
that he joined the cast of The Walking Dead, and
(02:48):
he got married not too long ago. We had a
lot to catch up on, so joined Raoul and I
dear listener at my kitchen table while we munch on
some wakamole, and we talked about his success, us, about
politics and what it means to be a Latino actor
now trying to tell stories that matter soul. We spoke,
(03:12):
Can you believe it? It was twenty eighteen and a lot
has happened for you?
Speaker 2 (03:15):
Yeah?
Speaker 1 (03:16):
Yeah, I mean you got married.
Speaker 2 (03:18):
Yes, thank you.
Speaker 1 (03:20):
So if you had to sum it up, you're like, Wow,
twenty eighteen to.
Speaker 2 (03:23):
Now hasn't built quickly enough?
Speaker 1 (03:28):
What does that mean?
Speaker 2 (03:29):
I want to be working more.
Speaker 3 (03:31):
I want to you know, I want to be I
want to be competing with my peers, my non Latino
peers who don't seem to have some of the struggles
that I that I deal with.
Speaker 2 (03:45):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (03:46):
In other words, from the outside, it looks like success, yeah,
but for you, it's like not enough?
Speaker 2 (03:53):
What does that?
Speaker 1 (03:54):
What does that do you? As an actor?
Speaker 3 (03:57):
It could be demoralizing, but at the same time it
I love telling stories, so nothing stops me. I kind
of keep going and I love collaborating, so I'm going
to continue to, you know, meet other artists that I
want to collaborate with. Well, I'm moving into producing now,
and I have several projects that I've been involved with
(04:18):
from the ground up, and finding the financing and finding
you know, the partners is incredibly difficult and seems almost
impossible at times. We are not there yet with a
couple of the projects, and I'm frustrated, but I'm but
I'm persevering.
Speaker 2 (04:33):
All right.
Speaker 1 (04:33):
So I'm on social media. You had been posting about
Task on HBO and I was like, well, I'm proud
of you. I'm like yes, also, Mark Ruffalo.
Speaker 2 (04:44):
Yes, totally what a story.
Speaker 1 (04:46):
So when you when you were asked to come in,
what did you think?
Speaker 3 (04:50):
Jeremiah Zegar my dear friend who directed me and we
the animals of which we spoke about when I first
met you. So Jeremiah, when he calls, I say, yes,
he's become a not just one of my best friends,
but a collaborative partner that I hope to continue to
work with for the rest of my life. So whenever
(05:12):
he calls about something, I'm all ears. He told me
that he had just met with Brad Inglesby, the writer
and creator of Mayor of East Town. My wife Alexis
and I were in lockdown and that was one of
the shows that we binged, so I knew we were
in for something special with the collaboration between Brad and Jeremiah,
(05:32):
and he sort of pitched it to me, told me
about the world and the inspiration for the story, and
I was in it.
Speaker 2 (05:39):
I was sold.
Speaker 1 (05:40):
And the thing is is that you don't play on Latino.
No Cliff Broward, which I guess could be Latino also yeah,
and also likes he's a guy who collects, he picks
up garbage. Yeah, Rob's drug houses, has tough friends. But
you play him with this so worried about him all
(06:01):
the time, your character because you're he's seen and doing
all these terrible things and then he's like, God, this
is terrible what we're doing. It's like you really brought
like a lot of kind of warmth to him. Why
how I.
Speaker 2 (06:13):
Think that's a testament to Brad's writing.
Speaker 3 (06:15):
You have to understand and you have to see their
humanity through you know, all of their faults. It was
such a lovable character from I mean, I just think
his loyalty to his friend was something that I felt
I connected with from the get go.
Speaker 1 (06:32):
Sadly, the friend is like, hey, let's go, let's go
rob some people that are not good people, and also
we might end up shooting some people.
Speaker 3 (06:40):
Yeah, I don't think they I don't think they intended
to kill anyone. I think they enter them this endeavor
feeling like it's a just caught, like they have a
just cause. So yeah, that's that's what anchored me in
terms of the story.
Speaker 1 (06:56):
And after episode four, I was like, oh my god,
the scene of your so yeah, so what is it?
How we have to tell people fast forward if you
haven't seen it? Yeah, yep, your murder. Yeah, it's not
just a murder. Yeah, it's a full blown torture. And
(07:19):
I was like, oh, oh my god. I just remember
texting you like this is insane, and your response was
it was I think you said it was the toughest
scene you've ever had, the darkest, darkest Yeah. Yeah, And
then I said make sure your mother doesn't watch.
Speaker 2 (07:36):
You were still.
Speaker 1 (07:40):
So what can you tell us about that? Also the production?
Speaker 3 (07:44):
Yeah, I mean there's you know, I've died countless times
at this point on screen. I've been eaten alive by
zombies of you know, been blown to bits as an android,
I've dehydrated in the desert. But there's an uber realism
to task that you can't hide behind. I was flown
(08:07):
down to Atlanta from Philadelphia where we shot, and my
head was cast and they did a life like casting
of my head in order so that they could build
the prosthetic pieces that would be the formations of Cliff
Broward's face in this scene. Sat in the makeup chair
(08:34):
for nearly four hours while they applied these pieces. I've
been through some, you know, some prosthetics works in my career,
but never quite as gruesome, never quite as realistic. It
was blood sweat, just all kinds of layers to bring
about that level of realness of realism.
Speaker 2 (08:55):
That we show in that scene. The half hours.
Speaker 3 (09:01):
For camera and lights and I've seen partners for everyone
to be ready so that I can finally go sit
in that chair and we can figure out the mechanics,
the pragmatic elements of shooting the scene, which.
Speaker 2 (09:15):
You know was a tricky scene.
Speaker 3 (09:17):
Those several elements beyond the makeup that went into telling
the story that we had to figure out. And I've
never been on a set that somber. This was a
torture and a murder, and you can feel it. It
was a testament to our our crew and my castmates
(09:38):
that everyone was very reverential to the story. People just
took really great care and reverence to the story we
were telling, and like everyone got the memom. It was
a really somber set.
Speaker 1 (09:59):
So what was that like for you, like to finish
the scene?
Speaker 3 (10:03):
It was it was very surreal and I almost didn't
have to do much work because the makeup did a
lot of the work for me. Sometimes you have to
get in the mental space because you have to protect
the story you're telling.
Speaker 1 (10:17):
People care about your character because in the end, in Task,
it's all about like family friendship. That's really what I
think what's connecting with Tasks? Yeah, talk a little bit
about that.
Speaker 2 (10:30):
Yeah. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (10:31):
We were deep into production and they sent me episodes five, six,
and seven to read. Even though I'm not in them,
I wanted to read. I wanted to know, you know,
the whole story. And I was reading them and I
was talking to my wife and I was telling her,
you know, I'm reading these scripts. I'm like bawling my
eyes out. I'm just like just with you know, just
(10:53):
with the words. I'm just I'm weeping. And I thought
it was fascinating that Brad chose to have the male
characters sort of dominate the narrative for that to be
the the emotionally.
Speaker 1 (11:06):
Charged and these are just men. These are like yeah,
like tough guys. Yeah, you know you don't want to
see them alone.
Speaker 3 (11:14):
Yes, yes, I think that's such a testament to Brad
because I think like he's it's funny because his stories
are so dark and muscular, but he's such a sweet,
kind gentle man.
Speaker 1 (11:32):
When we come back, that opens up about the stakes
of speaking up in Hollywood and taking a stand on injustice.
Speaker 3 (11:39):
Right now, I run into people in our industry, colleagues,
actor colleagues of mine who get you don't want to
rock the boat.
Speaker 1 (11:50):
Stay with us. Yes, hey, we're back with actor Rawud Gustio.
Before the break, he told us about filming the scene,
(12:10):
one of the darkest scenes he's ever filmed in his
entire career. We're going to pick up our conversation talking
about the latest show he's on HBO's task. So, what
has it been like to be in a show that
is getting like Hella talked about mm hmm, people are
reviewing it. It's like the thing you got to binge.
What's that experience been like for you right now.
Speaker 3 (12:32):
It's like you don't have to prove yourself as much
because you're part of something that has a kind of
cultural cachet that's numbers. It's not just the quality of
the work, but it's the number of people that are
seeing it. Because I'm proud a lot of a lot
of the work that I've done, but none of the
(12:54):
work that I've been done has been seen at this magnitude.
So there's a power and that and I don't take
it lightly. I've been getting messages from friends from all
walks of life, from people back home in South Texas,
people I went to college with in Boston, my wife's
(13:15):
family in Portugal, you know, people in Miami, people from
all over the you know, all over the place.
Speaker 1 (13:21):
So you talk about like the freedom of this moment
as an actor being seen, the attention, etc. It's also
happening at a time when artists, actors freedom of speech,
like almost like the more public you are, the more
possibility of you coming under attack. Jimmy Kimmel, what's going
(13:42):
on for you as you're seeing what's happening in the
world of the arts, and as a Latino man from
South Texas, it's.
Speaker 3 (13:51):
My job to speak out for those who can't. It's
funny because I run into people in our industry, colleagues,
actor colleagues of mine who gets.
Speaker 2 (14:06):
Don't want to rock the boat.
Speaker 1 (14:08):
That's the wait, wait, get dude, I haven't heard that
one in a long time. They want to make the
party peaceful.
Speaker 3 (14:18):
And it's you know, Latino artists, people who I care
a lot about. But I just don't subscribe to that.
You know, I grew up on bad brains in the
clash And you know it's funny, man. I like Range
against the Machine, the rock band debuted when I was
in high school and I was playing in bands at
(14:39):
the time, And I think about all the young men
who were listening to Zach de Larocha when we were
all teenagers, and it baffles me that a lot of
those young men grew up to be fascists or pro fascists.
All they heard was fuck you, I won't do what
you tell me. They didn't hear the rest of the song,
you know, they they weren't listening to Zach Delta Watch
(15:01):
has other lyrics and like.
Speaker 2 (15:03):
I just don't. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (15:04):
So I come from a long lineage of artists who
speak out, speaking of Mark Ruffalo.
Speaker 1 (15:07):
Right, I mean you were. Even though you didn't shoot
any scenes with Mark Ruffalo in task, the two of
you are connected now in a way, and he is
the most outspoken.
Speaker 3 (15:18):
Absolutely, And then as I continued to follow his career
and I saw how how outspoken he was, he inspired
me in new ways.
Speaker 1 (15:26):
So you're feeling inspired politically to be even more honest
and vocal because of someone like.
Speaker 2 (15:33):
Mark Yeah yeah, yeah yeah.
Speaker 1 (15:36):
But at the same time, so the guys that you're
talking about that you were growing up with, who were
listening to rage against the machine Latino.
Speaker 2 (15:44):
Yeah, yeah, I grew up in South Texas.
Speaker 1 (15:46):
It's like predominantly imagine, So what what are you hearing?
Because the numbers are showing that even though they overwhelmingly
the Latino men in that region South Texas went for
Donald Trump, that there some softening there. What are you hearing?
What are you seeing? What do you understanding about?
Speaker 3 (16:09):
I think that, you know, the scary part about fascism
is that if people can join the dominant party in
any way, they will at the end of the day.
That's like and I think that's what we're seeing in
South Texas. I grew up with a commemorative plate of
JFK in my dad's office. My dad wasn't even an
(16:30):
American citizen when JFK was president. He didn't even live
in the United States when JFK was president. But JFK
meant something to Mexicans, especially Mexicans on the border.
Speaker 2 (16:42):
And you know, we are like a very familial culture.
This current like.
Speaker 3 (16:50):
Regime that spouts a lot of quote unquote family values
I think has appealed to a lot of Latinos, and they,
in my opinion, don't know how.
Speaker 2 (17:04):
How deep they are.
Speaker 1 (17:15):
I know that you don't spend a lot of time
back where you grew up in South Texas, and I
know you're super busy, right, Like we had to wait
for weeks to try to just get a couple of hours.
But I could see a situation where Raoul Castillo returns
to South Texas. Actually the propongo I would actually go
(17:36):
down with you and interview you in front of a
live audience and watch how many people come to see
you because you are a megastar. I mean, would you.
I mean, you're like, but I'm an artist, I'm an actor,
Like I don't really like talking publicly. But I had
this vision of like lets get people would listen to you.
(17:57):
You are from there.
Speaker 3 (17:59):
I think in new ways people are becoming aware of
me down there. I think some people have been following
me for a long time or and more people throughout
the time have caught on. And then with Task and
even with Hand that Rocks the Cradle that came out
this month, that was also there was a lot of
people in tell Texas watching that movie, which is really exciting.
Speaker 1 (18:20):
I think they would listen.
Speaker 3 (18:21):
Yeah, any opportunity I get to go home is very
meaningful for me.
Speaker 1 (18:25):
Over We'll be right back. Hey, we're back. And here's
the last part of my conversation with He tells me
(18:48):
why he always wants to surround himself with matriarchs. Then
the Rocks of the Cradle reboot also very Latino. Yes, right,
you play the husband, Miguel Morales. Tell me a little
bit about why you were drawn to this particular film.
Speaker 3 (19:04):
Michel Garsabera, the director of the film, is an artist
that I think the world of these young women who
were experiencing these psychotic breakdowns, and the world is telling
them that they're just crazy, and they know truthfully that
they're not crazy. That's something sinister and otherworldly is happening
(19:26):
to them. And I'm always paying attention to filmmakers coming
out of Mexico because I think, you know, we I
think we both know there's a lot of great stuff
coming out in the last thirty years. And then, you know,
my agents told me about this reboot of Handed Rocks
of Cradle was being helmed by the director of Wesceta
(19:46):
and would I be interested in meeting with her? And
I said absolutely, so she had seen my work and
we just met as kind of equals and got along
really well.
Speaker 2 (19:56):
And I love the script.
Speaker 1 (19:57):
Also, Okay, I don't watch The Walking Dead. I don't
like it's too fun, it's too just too scary for me.
But congratulations because now you're also gonna be a series regular.
Speaker 2 (20:10):
Thank you so huge.
Speaker 1 (20:12):
Yeah. But I feel like Raoul, like when I watch
you as an actor, I'm just gonna be honest, because
I always am. I'm like, yes, Raoul is doing amazing work,
Yes he's getting recognized, et cetera. But when is Rao
We're going to be able to play the leading man,
(20:34):
Like when is Raul Castillo're gonna have his star moment?
Not off on episode four?
Speaker 3 (20:42):
I feel proud that I honed my teeth on character roles,
so to speak. But even you know, even my character
Onlooking was romantically. That's what I always love about Richie
is like, and not that a leading man is necessarily romantically,
but that was, you know, even though I wasn't the
(21:04):
lead on that show for me, Whichie was a romantic.
Speaker 1 (21:07):
Lead, and many people of both sexes did completely fall
in love with you because of that.
Speaker 2 (21:14):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (21:14):
Yeah, so I feel like I've I've been able to
sprinkle leading man in there throughout my career, and I
I keep hoping that the roles will come through. I
sort of thumb my nose at the American theater people
who ask me from time to time when they find
out that I do theater or I did theater, they'll say, well,
(21:34):
do you want to do theater again? And I a
couple of years ago I started saying, well, no, because
they're not writing the roles for me, the leading man
for me in the theater. And no one needs to
see my Stanley Kowalski.
Speaker 1 (21:51):
I would love to see your Stanley, but you know,
I don't want to do a classic. I would love to.
Speaker 3 (21:57):
See yeah, you know, but like, when is someone going
to write like an original role and there I say
that's worthy of my talent. And in the case of film,
you know, I have several projects that where I would
be leading, where we just cannot get the financing for
and doesn't stop me. We're still trying and we will
(22:21):
get there. I know we will.
Speaker 1 (22:22):
So so finally I will to that young Latino actor
in McAllen, in Tulsa, Jackson, Mississippi, Omaha, Nebraska, all places
where young Latinos are living, arriving and wanting to be actors.
(22:43):
What do you say to those young men in this
moment in history.
Speaker 2 (22:50):
I mean, the thing that.
Speaker 3 (22:52):
Always worked for me, I think is that I listened
to the women in my life. I always surrounded myself
with women, matriarchs, the esprima's friends who taught me to
be a better man. I think young men should, you know,
need to listen to the women around them and surround
(23:14):
themselves with caring, loving, smart women, nurturing women and men
you know, and their and male friends that nurture and
love them just as much. I think that's important. You know,
sometimes it's Latinos in this industry. I feel like there's
like this older generation that came up when times were
(23:37):
really hard, and people there's tradition of not supporting one
another because everyone's struggling for I try to surround myself
with people who lift me up and I trim out
the people who don't.
Speaker 1 (23:57):
I'm so happy you congratulate on all of it, and
thank you for being just a great artist.
Speaker 3 (24:05):
Thank you for celebrating. Thank you for being a light
always in the dark for us. You've always been and
you continue to be, and I appreciate that. So when
you call it listen, I'm really proud.
Speaker 2 (24:16):
To be here.
Speaker 1 (24:22):
Remember you can listen to the whole interview by becoming
a Futuro Plus member. Sign up today at Futuromedia group
dot org, slash Join plus. Gracias Baye yas Chao. This
(24:45):
episode was produced by Adriana Rodriguez. It was edited by
Maria Garcia. It was mixed by JJ Krubin. Fact checking
for this episode by Roxanna Guire. Fernande Echavari is our
managing editor. The Latino USA team also includes Julia Caruso,
Jessica Ellis, Recca Vara, Renaldo Leanoz, Junior, Stefanie LAbau, Luis,
(25:06):
Luna Gioi, mar Marquez, Julieta Martinelli, Monica Moreles Garcia, and
Nancy Trujillo. Penilee Ramirez and I are executive producers and
I'm your host Maria jo Josa. Latino USA is part
of Iheart's Mike Uldura podcast network. Executive producers at iHeart
are Leo Gomez and Arlene Santana. Join us again on
our next episode and in the meantime, I'll see you
on all of our social media And dear listener, don't
(25:28):
forget to join Futuro Plus. You know I've told you
so many times to become a member, but really just
do it. Now you get to listen to everything ad
free and you get pulled, cheese made and behind the
scenes stuff. Also, you're gonna support Futuro, which we know
you love. A stelapproxima notte ba yas Chao.
Speaker 2 (25:47):
Latino USA is made possible in part by the Ford Foundation,
working with visionaries on the front lines of social change worldwide,
the Tao Foundation, and the Heising Simons Foundation, unlocking knowledge,
opportunity and possibilities. More at hsfoundation dot org.
Hello, dear listener, did you know that you can join
futuro Plus to access extended interviews, bonus episodes, and even
live events. This episode is a conversation with my friend
actor Raul Castillo, and you can listen to the extended
cut of our interview right now by becoming a futuro
(00:21):
Plus member. And it's so good, so definitely sign up
at Futuromedia group dot org slash join plus e So raw.
(00:41):
I'm I'm not a big chef, but I do know
how to make a meaning cod money excellent.
Speaker 2 (00:49):
That's a good, that's a good.
Speaker 1 (00:50):
Uh credit and I just need to add some and
then you're gonna give me the taste meneses and you
have to just be honest.
Speaker 2 (00:56):
And the chips are from where it said you own.
Speaker 1 (01:03):
With tortillas from amazing.
Speaker 2 (01:07):
Amazing.
Speaker 1 (01:08):
All right, well you're this, I don't. I'm like, I'm
feeling a little something something.
Speaker 2 (01:12):
Well looks great, looks great. What are you talking about?
Speaker 1 (01:16):
I'm not sure it looks you're going to get to
taste it.
Speaker 2 (01:19):
It looks fantastic, all right, let's go.
Speaker 1 (01:24):
It may yeah, but it may need some more something.
Speaker 2 (01:29):
Mmmm.
Speaker 3 (01:31):
And then I'm not big on like, I don't need
tons of salt, but.
Speaker 2 (01:37):
But I think it's perfect right.
Speaker 1 (01:46):
From media, It's Latino USA. I'm Maria Posa today actor
Raoul Castillo. You know he's one of the stars of
the TV show everybody's watching now It's HBO's Task. Il
Castillo came over to talk over to Topos and Wakamole
at my very own kitchen table. So the reason why
(02:08):
is that I was curious to sit down with Raoula
again because I know a lot has happened for him,
really and for the entire country since we did our
last sit down interview five years ago. Back in twenty eighteen,
Raoul's star was on the rise. He landed a high
profile role in the film Weavy Animals, and when I
(02:28):
spoke to him back then it was our first interview,
it struck me how in touch he was with himself
as a Mexican American man raised in South Texas who
was now making it big in Hollywood. Now, Raoul's star
is not just because he's an HBO's Task. It's also
that he joined the cast of The Walking Dead, and
(02:48):
he got married not too long ago. We had a
lot to catch up on, so joined Raoul and I
dear listener at my kitchen table while we munch on
some wakamole, and we talked about his success, us, about
politics and what it means to be a Latino actor
now trying to tell stories that matter soul. We spoke,
(03:12):
Can you believe it? It was twenty eighteen and a lot
has happened for you?
Speaker 2 (03:15):
Yeah?
Speaker 1 (03:16):
Yeah, I mean you got married.
Speaker 2 (03:18):
Yes, thank you.
Speaker 1 (03:20):
So if you had to sum it up, you're like, Wow,
twenty eighteen to.
Speaker 2 (03:23):
Now hasn't built quickly enough?
Speaker 1 (03:28):
What does that mean?
Speaker 2 (03:29):
I want to be working more.
Speaker 3 (03:31):
I want to you know, I want to be I
want to be competing with my peers, my non Latino
peers who don't seem to have some of the struggles
that I that I deal with.
Speaker 2 (03:45):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (03:46):
In other words, from the outside, it looks like success, yeah,
but for you, it's like not enough?
Speaker 2 (03:53):
What does that?
Speaker 1 (03:54):
What does that do you? As an actor?
Speaker 3 (03:57):
It could be demoralizing, but at the same time it
I love telling stories, so nothing stops me. I kind
of keep going and I love collaborating, so I'm going
to continue to, you know, meet other artists that I
want to collaborate with. Well, I'm moving into producing now,
and I have several projects that I've been involved with
(04:18):
from the ground up, and finding the financing and finding
you know, the partners is incredibly difficult and seems almost
impossible at times. We are not there yet with a
couple of the projects, and I'm frustrated, but I'm but
I'm persevering.
Speaker 2 (04:33):
All right.
Speaker 1 (04:33):
So I'm on social media. You had been posting about
Task on HBO and I was like, well, I'm proud
of you. I'm like yes, also, Mark Ruffalo.
Speaker 2 (04:44):
Yes, totally what a story.
Speaker 1 (04:46):
So when you when you were asked to come in,
what did you think?
Speaker 3 (04:50):
Jeremiah Zegar my dear friend who directed me and we
the animals of which we spoke about when I first
met you. So Jeremiah, when he calls, I say, yes,
he's become a not just one of my best friends,
but a collaborative partner that I hope to continue to
work with for the rest of my life. So whenever
(05:12):
he calls about something, I'm all ears. He told me
that he had just met with Brad Inglesby, the writer
and creator of Mayor of East Town. My wife Alexis
and I were in lockdown and that was one of
the shows that we binged, so I knew we were
in for something special with the collaboration between Brad and Jeremiah,
(05:32):
and he sort of pitched it to me, told me
about the world and the inspiration for the story, and
I was in it.
Speaker 2 (05:39):
I was sold.
Speaker 1 (05:40):
And the thing is is that you don't play on Latino.
No Cliff Broward, which I guess could be Latino also yeah,
and also likes he's a guy who collects, he picks
up garbage. Yeah, Rob's drug houses, has tough friends. But
you play him with this so worried about him all
(06:01):
the time, your character because you're he's seen and doing
all these terrible things and then he's like, God, this
is terrible what we're doing. It's like you really brought
like a lot of kind of warmth to him. Why
how I.
Speaker 2 (06:13):
Think that's a testament to Brad's writing.
Speaker 3 (06:15):
You have to understand and you have to see their
humanity through you know, all of their faults. It was
such a lovable character from I mean, I just think
his loyalty to his friend was something that I felt
I connected with from the get go.
Speaker 1 (06:32):
Sadly, the friend is like, hey, let's go, let's go
rob some people that are not good people, and also
we might end up shooting some people.
Speaker 3 (06:40):
Yeah, I don't think they I don't think they intended
to kill anyone. I think they enter them this endeavor
feeling like it's a just caught, like they have a
just cause. So yeah, that's that's what anchored me in
terms of the story.
Speaker 1 (06:56):
And after episode four, I was like, oh my god,
the scene of your so yeah, so what is it?
How we have to tell people fast forward if you
haven't seen it? Yeah, yep, your murder. Yeah, it's not
just a murder. Yeah, it's a full blown torture. And
(07:19):
I was like, oh, oh my god. I just remember
texting you like this is insane, and your response was
it was I think you said it was the toughest
scene you've ever had, the darkest, darkest Yeah. Yeah, And
then I said make sure your mother doesn't watch.
Speaker 2 (07:36):
You were still.
Speaker 1 (07:40):
So what can you tell us about that? Also the production?
Speaker 3 (07:44):
Yeah, I mean there's you know, I've died countless times
at this point on screen. I've been eaten alive by
zombies of you know, been blown to bits as an android,
I've dehydrated in the desert. But there's an uber realism
to task that you can't hide behind. I was flown
(08:07):
down to Atlanta from Philadelphia where we shot, and my
head was cast and they did a life like casting
of my head in order so that they could build
the prosthetic pieces that would be the formations of Cliff
Broward's face in this scene. Sat in the makeup chair
(08:34):
for nearly four hours while they applied these pieces. I've
been through some, you know, some prosthetics works in my career,
but never quite as gruesome, never quite as realistic. It
was blood sweat, just all kinds of layers to bring
about that level of realness of realism.
Speaker 2 (08:55):
That we show in that scene. The half hours.
Speaker 3 (09:01):
For camera and lights and I've seen partners for everyone
to be ready so that I can finally go sit
in that chair and we can figure out the mechanics,
the pragmatic elements of shooting the scene, which.
Speaker 2 (09:15):
You know was a tricky scene.
Speaker 3 (09:17):
Those several elements beyond the makeup that went into telling
the story that we had to figure out. And I've
never been on a set that somber. This was a
torture and a murder, and you can feel it. It
was a testament to our our crew and my castmates
(09:38):
that everyone was very reverential to the story. People just
took really great care and reverence to the story we
were telling, and like everyone got the memom. It was
a really somber set.
Speaker 1 (09:59):
So what was that like for you, like to finish
the scene?
Speaker 3 (10:03):
It was it was very surreal and I almost didn't
have to do much work because the makeup did a
lot of the work for me. Sometimes you have to
get in the mental space because you have to protect
the story you're telling.
Speaker 1 (10:17):
People care about your character because in the end, in Task,
it's all about like family friendship. That's really what I
think what's connecting with Tasks? Yeah, talk a little bit
about that.
Speaker 2 (10:30):
Yeah. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (10:31):
We were deep into production and they sent me episodes five, six,
and seven to read. Even though I'm not in them,
I wanted to read. I wanted to know, you know,
the whole story. And I was reading them and I
was talking to my wife and I was telling her,
you know, I'm reading these scripts. I'm like bawling my
eyes out. I'm just like just with you know, just
(10:53):
with the words. I'm just I'm weeping. And I thought
it was fascinating that Brad chose to have the male
characters sort of dominate the narrative for that to be
the the emotionally.
Speaker 1 (11:06):
Charged and these are just men. These are like yeah,
like tough guys. Yeah, you know you don't want to
see them alone.
Speaker 3 (11:14):
Yes, yes, I think that's such a testament to Brad
because I think like he's it's funny because his stories
are so dark and muscular, but he's such a sweet,
kind gentle man.
Speaker 1 (11:32):
When we come back, that opens up about the stakes
of speaking up in Hollywood and taking a stand on injustice.
Speaker 3 (11:39):
Right now, I run into people in our industry, colleagues,
actor colleagues of mine who get you don't want to
rock the boat.
Speaker 1 (11:50):
Stay with us. Yes, hey, we're back with actor Rawud Gustio.
Before the break, he told us about filming the scene,
(12:10):
one of the darkest scenes he's ever filmed in his
entire career. We're going to pick up our conversation talking
about the latest show he's on HBO's task. So, what
has it been like to be in a show that
is getting like Hella talked about mm hmm, people are
reviewing it. It's like the thing you got to binge.
What's that experience been like for you right now.
Speaker 3 (12:32):
It's like you don't have to prove yourself as much
because you're part of something that has a kind of
cultural cachet that's numbers. It's not just the quality of
the work, but it's the number of people that are
seeing it. Because I'm proud a lot of a lot
of the work that I've done, but none of the
(12:54):
work that I've been done has been seen at this magnitude.
So there's a power and that and I don't take
it lightly. I've been getting messages from friends from all
walks of life, from people back home in South Texas,
people I went to college with in Boston, my wife's
(13:15):
family in Portugal, you know, people in Miami, people from
all over the you know, all over the place.
Speaker 1 (13:21):
So you talk about like the freedom of this moment
as an actor being seen, the attention, etc. It's also
happening at a time when artists, actors freedom of speech,
like almost like the more public you are, the more
possibility of you coming under attack. Jimmy Kimmel, what's going
(13:42):
on for you as you're seeing what's happening in the
world of the arts, and as a Latino man from
South Texas, it's.
Speaker 3 (13:51):
My job to speak out for those who can't. It's
funny because I run into people in our industry, colleagues,
actor colleagues of mine who gets.
Speaker 2 (14:06):
Don't want to rock the boat.
Speaker 1 (14:08):
That's the wait, wait, get dude, I haven't heard that
one in a long time. They want to make the
party peaceful.
Speaker 3 (14:18):
And it's you know, Latino artists, people who I care
a lot about. But I just don't subscribe to that.
You know, I grew up on bad brains in the
clash And you know it's funny, man. I like Range
against the Machine, the rock band debuted when I was
in high school and I was playing in bands at
(14:39):
the time, And I think about all the young men
who were listening to Zach de Larocha when we were
all teenagers, and it baffles me that a lot of
those young men grew up to be fascists or pro fascists.
All they heard was fuck you, I won't do what
you tell me. They didn't hear the rest of the song,
you know, they they weren't listening to Zach Delta Watch
(15:01):
has other lyrics and like.
Speaker 2 (15:03):
I just don't. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (15:04):
So I come from a long lineage of artists who
speak out, speaking of Mark Ruffalo.
Speaker 1 (15:07):
Right, I mean you were. Even though you didn't shoot
any scenes with Mark Ruffalo in task, the two of
you are connected now in a way, and he is
the most outspoken.
Speaker 3 (15:18):
Absolutely, And then as I continued to follow his career
and I saw how how outspoken he was, he inspired
me in new ways.
Speaker 1 (15:26):
So you're feeling inspired politically to be even more honest
and vocal because of someone like.
Speaker 2 (15:33):
Mark Yeah yeah, yeah yeah.
Speaker 1 (15:36):
But at the same time, so the guys that you're
talking about that you were growing up with, who were
listening to rage against the machine Latino.
Speaker 2 (15:44):
Yeah, yeah, I grew up in South Texas.
Speaker 1 (15:46):
It's like predominantly imagine, So what what are you hearing?
Because the numbers are showing that even though they overwhelmingly
the Latino men in that region South Texas went for
Donald Trump, that there some softening there. What are you hearing?
What are you seeing? What do you understanding about?
Speaker 3 (16:09):
I think that, you know, the scary part about fascism
is that if people can join the dominant party in
any way, they will at the end of the day.
That's like and I think that's what we're seeing in
South Texas. I grew up with a commemorative plate of
JFK in my dad's office. My dad wasn't even an
(16:30):
American citizen when JFK was president. He didn't even live
in the United States when JFK was president. But JFK
meant something to Mexicans, especially Mexicans on the border.
Speaker 2 (16:42):
And you know, we are like a very familial culture.
This current like.
Speaker 3 (16:50):
Regime that spouts a lot of quote unquote family values
I think has appealed to a lot of Latinos, and they,
in my opinion, don't know how.
Speaker 2 (17:04):
How deep they are.
Speaker 1 (17:15):
I know that you don't spend a lot of time
back where you grew up in South Texas, and I
know you're super busy, right, Like we had to wait
for weeks to try to just get a couple of hours.
But I could see a situation where Raoul Castillo returns
to South Texas. Actually the propongo I would actually go
(17:36):
down with you and interview you in front of a
live audience and watch how many people come to see
you because you are a megastar. I mean, would you.
I mean, you're like, but I'm an artist, I'm an actor,
Like I don't really like talking publicly. But I had
this vision of like lets get people would listen to you.
(17:57):
You are from there.
Speaker 3 (17:59):
I think in new ways people are becoming aware of
me down there. I think some people have been following
me for a long time or and more people throughout
the time have caught on. And then with Task and
even with Hand that Rocks the Cradle that came out
this month, that was also there was a lot of
people in tell Texas watching that movie, which is really exciting.
Speaker 1 (18:20):
I think they would listen.
Speaker 3 (18:21):
Yeah, any opportunity I get to go home is very
meaningful for me.
Speaker 1 (18:25):
Over We'll be right back. Hey, we're back. And here's
the last part of my conversation with He tells me
(18:48):
why he always wants to surround himself with matriarchs. Then
the Rocks of the Cradle reboot also very Latino. Yes, right,
you play the husband, Miguel Morales. Tell me a little
bit about why you were drawn to this particular film.
Speaker 3 (19:04):
Michel Garsabera, the director of the film, is an artist
that I think the world of these young women who
were experiencing these psychotic breakdowns, and the world is telling
them that they're just crazy, and they know truthfully that
they're not crazy. That's something sinister and otherworldly is happening
(19:26):
to them. And I'm always paying attention to filmmakers coming
out of Mexico because I think, you know, we I
think we both know there's a lot of great stuff
coming out in the last thirty years. And then, you know,
my agents told me about this reboot of Handed Rocks
of Cradle was being helmed by the director of Wesceta
(19:46):
and would I be interested in meeting with her? And
I said absolutely, so she had seen my work and
we just met as kind of equals and got along
really well.
Speaker 2 (19:56):
And I love the script.
Speaker 1 (19:57):
Also, Okay, I don't watch The Walking Dead. I don't
like it's too fun, it's too just too scary for me.
But congratulations because now you're also gonna be a series regular.
Speaker 2 (20:10):
Thank you so huge.
Speaker 1 (20:12):
Yeah. But I feel like Raoul, like when I watch
you as an actor, I'm just gonna be honest, because
I always am. I'm like, yes, Raoul is doing amazing work,
Yes he's getting recognized, et cetera. But when is Rao
We're going to be able to play the leading man,
(20:34):
Like when is Raul Castillo're gonna have his star moment?
Not off on episode four?
Speaker 3 (20:42):
I feel proud that I honed my teeth on character roles,
so to speak. But even you know, even my character
Onlooking was romantically. That's what I always love about Richie
is like, and not that a leading man is necessarily romantically,
but that was, you know, even though I wasn't the
(21:04):
lead on that show for me, Whichie was a romantic.
Speaker 1 (21:07):
Lead, and many people of both sexes did completely fall
in love with you because of that.
Speaker 2 (21:14):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (21:14):
Yeah, so I feel like I've I've been able to
sprinkle leading man in there throughout my career, and I
I keep hoping that the roles will come through. I
sort of thumb my nose at the American theater people
who ask me from time to time when they find
out that I do theater or I did theater, they'll say, well,
(21:34):
do you want to do theater again? And I a
couple of years ago I started saying, well, no, because
they're not writing the roles for me, the leading man
for me in the theater. And no one needs to
see my Stanley Kowalski.
Speaker 1 (21:51):
I would love to see your Stanley, but you know,
I don't want to do a classic. I would love to.
Speaker 3 (21:57):
See yeah, you know, but like, when is someone going
to write like an original role and there I say
that's worthy of my talent. And in the case of film,
you know, I have several projects that where I would
be leading, where we just cannot get the financing for
and doesn't stop me. We're still trying and we will
(22:21):
get there. I know we will.
Speaker 1 (22:22):
So so finally I will to that young Latino actor
in McAllen, in Tulsa, Jackson, Mississippi, Omaha, Nebraska, all places
where young Latinos are living, arriving and wanting to be actors.
(22:43):
What do you say to those young men in this
moment in history.
Speaker 2 (22:50):
I mean, the thing that.
Speaker 3 (22:52):
Always worked for me, I think is that I listened
to the women in my life. I always surrounded myself
with women, matriarchs, the esprima's friends who taught me to
be a better man. I think young men should, you know,
need to listen to the women around them and surround
(23:14):
themselves with caring, loving, smart women, nurturing women and men
you know, and their and male friends that nurture and
love them just as much. I think that's important. You know,
sometimes it's Latinos in this industry. I feel like there's
like this older generation that came up when times were
(23:37):
really hard, and people there's tradition of not supporting one
another because everyone's struggling for I try to surround myself
with people who lift me up and I trim out
the people who don't.
Speaker 1 (23:57):
I'm so happy you congratulate on all of it, and
thank you for being just a great artist.
Speaker 3 (24:05):
Thank you for celebrating. Thank you for being a light
always in the dark for us. You've always been and
you continue to be, and I appreciate that. So when
you call it listen, I'm really proud.
Speaker 2 (24:16):
To be here.
Speaker 1 (24:22):
Remember you can listen to the whole interview by becoming
a Futuro Plus member. Sign up today at Futuromedia group
dot org, slash Join plus. Gracias Baye yas Chao. This
(24:45):
episode was produced by Adriana Rodriguez. It was edited by
Maria Garcia. It was mixed by JJ Krubin. Fact checking
for this episode by Roxanna Guire. Fernande Echavari is our
managing editor. The Latino USA team also includes Julia Caruso,
Jessica Ellis, Recca Vara, Renaldo Leanoz, Junior, Stefanie LAbau, Luis,
(25:06):
Luna Gioi, mar Marquez, Julieta Martinelli, Monica Moreles Garcia, and
Nancy Trujillo. Penilee Ramirez and I are executive producers and
I'm your host Maria jo Josa. Latino USA is part
of Iheart's Mike Uldura podcast network. Executive producers at iHeart
are Leo Gomez and Arlene Santana. Join us again on
our next episode and in the meantime, I'll see you
on all of our social media And dear listener, don't
(25:28):
forget to join Futuro Plus. You know I've told you
so many times to become a member, but really just
do it. Now you get to listen to everything ad
free and you get pulled, cheese made and behind the
scenes stuff. Also, you're gonna support Futuro, which we know
you love. A stelapproxima notte ba yas Chao.
Speaker 2 (25:47):
Latino USA is made possible in part by the Ford Foundation,
working with visionaries on the front lines of social change worldwide,
the Tao Foundation, and the Heising Simons Foundation, unlocking knowledge,
opportunity and possibilities. More at hsfoundation dot org.
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