General Discussion - Fisica O Quimica

[Liana]

Wow I love these pics. My fave is Javi with the wine glass. Que guay!

[Shiny]

firens, thanks a lot for sharing those photos with us!!!

[carmelabcn]

Thanks, Firens, we have a lot ot reviews to buy. This is the link with another one, the June issue of Must Magazine, with Ana Milán and Marc Clotet:

www.must-mag.com/024.html

[firens]

Yes, I've wanted to post the pictures of Marc for a while. Some may find this shallow, but frankly there is nothing shallow about this, he is really one of the handsomest men alive (and a wonderful actor too):

here's the "making of" of the photospread for Must Magazine



and a couple of spectacular photos:

4.bp.blogspot.com/-4t3rX0tXoZ8/TeuaoTq7RcI/AAAAAAAABoE/rNwkvuJZAAU/s1600/11.PNG

2.bp.blogspot.com/-CO-Kpu2SxgU/TeubGasYqwI/AAAAAAAABoI/Q7F9UHpAclk/s1600/12.PNG

4.bp.blogspot.com/-XjHrjw6Glp8/TeuadVafpfI/AAAAAAAABn8/fkwAPMldVOI/s1600/09.PNG

The rest is here:

foqnews.blogspot.com/2011/06/ana-milan-portada-de-must-magazine.html

[Liana]

sexy.

[mitsaso]

oooo I still have a Shangay issue from my trip to Madrid!!! I'll make my friends there pick up the new issue for me!!!

[firens]

So, I meant to discuss last week's videochat with Javier Calvo (Thursday, June 2). First let me give the link to the page on the official website, as those things tend to be difficult to get hold of after a while:

www.antena3.com/encuentros/fisicaoquimica/javier-calvo-han-sido-mejores-cuatro-anos-vida_2011060200164.html

The whole thing is really wonderful and it amply deserves to be subtitled, not to mention how adorable and genuine Javier is throughout. For now, though, I'll concentrate on a number of points:

- the sense of unfairness in the way Antena 3 handled the last season, with decisions that didn't even make sense economically: it's clear that if 75 had aired in primetime it would have made a killing (that's a poor choice of words), and Javier who was leaving the show anyway doesn't even have the motivation of his job at stake here to speak this way;

- the sadness at leaving the show and his coworkers, and at the show ending; he returned several times to the sense of nostalgia at seeing the set empty, after four years of bustling actitivity, of practically living there with all those friends (I wonder if this is what inspired Ruano for the "special" we'll see next Monday after 77 airs);

- this is because he has grown up with the show, having worked on FoQ from the age of 16 (actually he was still 15 when he started shooting) to the age of 20; as Andrea told him "we have become adults here".

- and he has grown up being Fer, with Fer in his body, so a lot of him got into Fer and vice versa; both have grown up together, Fer has brought him a lot, he has found himself playing and being Fer

- which is one of the reasons playing and shooting the death of Fer was so difficult, because, beside having never done this before in his acting career, it was also a part of him that was being killed and was dying, and when you act, you have to really believe to some extent in what you are playing. So this was a very strange experience, and he can't really explain it. His connection with the character was and is such that the aftermath has to feel weird.

(tbc)

[firens]

(continued)


- but this is not the only reason that's a problematic ending for the character. Javier explained that when he learned of the plans of the writers for his character's exit from the show, he was thrilled because it was a major challenge, in terms of acting, something new (also for the show, since the previous deaths had been suicide or accident, never homicide). He is convinced the sequence is very effective, they worked very hard, and they've created something beautiful, and unforgettable (indeed the whole world has been talking about it, and his kid sister's gym teacher asked her at school the day after, why Fer had died). Also this the most impressive exit by any character in FoQ: he added he preferred dying rather than going away on a trip to play football (meaning Cabano). But there still remains the problem that the gay character '"had to die" when for once he'd certainly deserved to be happy. So when asked if this was the "best ending" for his character, he cannot say yes: even though he is great friends with both Vaca and Ruano, the fact remains that Fer dies and that his death is totally undeserved. This reminds me of what Javi was saying last year about taking leave of a character when the time has come and that it has to be dignified. Well, this leave taking was operatic, spectacular and unforgettable. But it was unfair. So Javier repeats all the talking points supporting the writers' choice, that this death makes Fer and the FerVid love mythical, that it is a metaphor, that in effect signifies he will never be forgotten. But ultimately he is not entirely convinced and has a bittersweet aftertaste in his mouth.

- to emphasize this dimension, Jonathan insisted on Fer's monologue and final words, the now famous "cuanto tiempo perdido", how much time have I lost (and when they started talking about this, people in the studio started to cry again), this amazing moment of lucidity from the character, as he is dying, about his major failing, what he was unable to see his whole life: "this hour when I see it all clearly, now is when I know I've been at my worst lately, that I was not heeding you, was distracted by other things instead of telling you the whole time that I loved you; but how incredibly sad this is, really, for everybody and particularly all the fans of this couple, this ending, it's just so cruel (the Spanish word is atroz), it destroys you, right?" I thought Javier looked particularly down at this point and that's when he mentioned the final sequence of 76, which is sweeter and where the tears may be less bitter. Javier looked unsure until he came up with his anecdote about Adrián.

- it's about that final sequence of 76: "Adrián is... this is to make one love him your whole life, and, fuck, we were shooting a sequence in which Adrián had to cry, Fer and David saying goodbye, and all of a sudden, they cut, and I see he's still crying his heart out, and so I: 'But, love, what's wrong? come on, it's ok' and he says (and here Javi imitates Adri's voice) 'Fuck, I don't like this, I don't like this, I don't like this' and he was really pissed off, 'why do you have to die? I don't like this' and I 'come on, it's ok, I'm here' and I had to calm him down and comfort him, because, shit, the fact is, this affects us tremendously. I mean, I am dead, but think about him, he's left all alone" and Jonathan segued with describing Adrián's incredible concentration when they were working on Fer's death: he was alone, walking around, apologising to Jonathan for not talking to him; and just before they started shooting, he erupted into tears . Javier approved: "He is fantastic".

- This probably explains why Javier says the most emotional moment in 75 is for him the silent epilogue with the shirt, and he gave a brief analysis of Adrián's gestures, sitting on the bed, removing his dress shoes and looking tired.

- all this, and the particular involvement Javier has with his character, explains why he calls himself "the biggest Fervid fan". He took advantage of the opportunity, when Jonathan was revisiting Fer's journey to point out a couple of things regarding Seasons 5 & 6. Fer had never fallen in love with Yoli: he was confused and didn't know what he was doing ; as to Borja, his sense is that Fer had never stopped loving David, that he was lying to himself and was behaving in denial.

- this is also why he pointed out he was very much aware of the international impact of Fer and FerVid, mentioning he knew of forums dedicated to gay characters in international TV shows ( ) and how during his stay in NYC (where he had a young Australian TV actor for a flatmate), he'd also realised Fer and David were known in the US, including by creators and deciders in Hollywood.

- and how he, along with Montero, Vaca and Ruano, had wanted to achieve something by telling the story of Fer and Fervid. That's where the consistency is between the beginning with the suicide of Rubén, whom Fer loved, and his death, in the arms of his love and to protect his love.

PD: one of the very cute things in the chat is how Javier keeps saying David when he should be saying Adrián (it even happens with Israel and Borja). "¡Es que David es mi David!"

[Liana]

awwwww I really like the story about him comforting Adrian during the filming. Poor everyone!

[Shiny]

I don't know how we can thank you enough, firens!!
That's great what you're doing for us!!!!

And the video-conference was even greater than I thought!

[dots80]

Jun 9, 2011 19:35:21 GMT -5 firens said:

(continued)



- this is also why he pointed out he was very much aware of the international impact of Fer and FerVid, mentioning he knew of forums dedicated to gay characters in international TV shows ( ) and how during his stay in NYC (where he had a young Australian TV actor for a flatmate), he'd also realised Fer and David were known in the US, including by creators and deciders in Hollywood.

- and how he, along with Montero, Vaca and Ruano, had wanted to achieve something by telling the story of Fer and Fervid. That's where the consistency is between the beginning with the suicide of Rubén, whom Fer loved, and his death, in the arms of his love and to protect his love.

PD: one of the very cute things in the chat is how Javier keeps saying David when he should be saying Adrián (it even happens with Israel and Borja). "¡Es que David es mi David!"

YAY! I bet he knows about us. I just know it ! ;D


I'm really going to miss watching both Javier and Adrian again

[firens]

A "special FoQ" videochat is announced for Tuesday, June 14 at 18:00. The guests: director Javier Quintas, Fernando Andina, Sabrina Garciarena and Víctor Palmero. Clearly Frida was otherwise engaged, or else she would be on this list. No idea for now if more FoQ encounters will take place in the following days.

[david90]

Hopefully one encuentro more for Adrian and Javier together. This is what the fans have been wating for forever. Please!!!!

[Shiny]

I hope so but I don't believe it will happen...

[firens]

Last year, the last videochat took place two weeks after the season finale, so, who knows?

[Shiny]

Yes! Hopes die last!

[firens]

A kind soul has already copied the Shangay Express interview on the Spanish forum. Coming soon here.

[firens]

Javier Calvo and Adrián Rodríguez rediscover Madrid. (Cover story and interview for Shangay Express Magazine)

(it's now online there:
www.shangay.com/nota/25850/javier-calvo-y-adrian-rodriguez-redescubren-madrid
with pictures! This one didn't make it on the show's site, I wonder why



Introduction

Javier hails from Las Rozas (a Madrid suburb) ; Adrián, from Cornellá de Llobregat (a Barcelona suburb). Together they've already had lots of experiences in Madrid, whether while shooting Física o Química or during their moments of leisure. Today, they're saying goodbye to the series, in which they have played a couple who've won the hearts of millions of viewers. We follow them on a free day, as they set out to discover the most attractive areas recently refurbished in the centre of Spain's capital city, i.e. Madrid Río and the Mercado de San Antón (a new downtown shopping mall, see here www.mercadosananton.com/ ).

Our appointment with Adrián and Javier is set just days after the antepenultimate chapter of Física o Química aired on Antena 3 to a surprising and by now unexpected surge in its ratings, considering its usual average results in its seventh and final season. Why? Fer's tragic death. Fer was the character played by Javier since the show premiered in October 2008 (that's a mistake ;D). A shooting caused by an unbalanced student at the Zurbarán high school thus broke up for ever the couple brought to life by Adrián Rodríguez (David) and Javier Calvo (Fer) through the last two years. Theirs is the relationship which has caused the greatest buzz, out of all those offered to the audience of the show, in the four years of its run. And they have become a reference for many homosexual teenagers who've been thankful for the normalcy with which its ups and downs have been shown in the series.

Javier and Adrián are the first not to have yet recovered from the shock of seeing how their relationship on the show will be cut short. It's even weird for them to talk of the show in the past, because production is almost over. For Javier, these have been four years of intense work; only half of that time for Adrián. The time they were together on the show, they barely spent any time apart, and it's been a pleasure. Four seasons in the show, and two years of real life during which Madrid has turned into the privileged stage of their life experiences.

(TBC)

[firens]

(continued)

Javier Calvo : Madrid is very important for the two of us, it's been fundamental to the whole FoQ experience. Adrián came from Barcelona, and he settled here, and I, being from Las Rozas, still live there, even though I am really dying to move out from my parents', and I began to get to know the magic of downtown after and because of the show. You take buses and taxis to meet friends and colleagues and you end up discovering a ton of places and little known corners. We've often shot on location on the plaza Vázquez de Mellá as well as in Rosales. Now, what I want is go live in Melasaña or La Latina. To me, Madrid is the perfect city.

Adrián Rodríguez : To me, it's cost some effort to get its point. I came here at 20, and it's now (at 22) that I'm having the best of times. Well, I'm still something of a mess in my kitchen, I can't quite get used to it. Same thing for traffic, so much stress is eating up some of my energy. At the same time, I love that Madrid is a city where things are moving so much, at any time of the day. As I am so little of a morning person, I'm freaked out that the streets are so busy on a Monday morning, before twelve o' clock.

Javier : And I love it that, being a capital city, it looks like a huge neighborhood, where it's easy to run into the people you know. In the end, you feel like we're all in the same places always.

Adrián Rodríguez arrived in Física o Química for a brief guest starring spot, playing an episodic character, David. Little by little he ended up shooting more and more scenes with Fer, and he became another member of the permanent cast. "We've had lots of stories during all that time " Adrián remembers. "We've known it all, god knows, and we've been tested on every level. Because each of us has his temper, we spent many hours working..." Javier only sees the positive side of what his costar points out: "I already miss the fact we were practically living on the set. We made up a big family, and to me it felt like being home when we were shooting." He knows what he's talking about, because Javier Calvo really has grown up in Física o Química. "I started rehearsals at 15, I've had my adolescence on the show." Adrián lived something similar when at 17 he integrated the team of another successful show, Los Serrano.

Q: How do you manage not to go crazy when celebrity comes at such a young age?

Adrián : The fundamental thing was that my family and my folks kept treating me the same as ever. They made me see that this is a job like any other, and being popular doesn't make you bigger or smaller. I grew up in a regular working-class neighborhood, and I've never put on airs.

Javier : You have to have it clear in your head that if popularity goes to your head and you go stupid, you'll get your comeuppance.

(TBC)

[firens]

(continued)

A "MYTHICAL" COUPLE

The relationship of Fer and David went through lots of tribulations through the history of Física o Química. Sometimes romantic, some other times dramatic, crazy a few times, always intense. "I love it what they say, that it is the most mythical relationship in the Zurbarán", Adrián points out with a smile. "It's had its ups and downs, Javier continues, but it made it to the end. That we are so comfortable with each other, and that we are such good friends, that's visible. I trusted Adrián a lot, from the beginning, even though we'd just met." They are the first who cried their hearts out when seeing that their love on the show wouldn't climax with a wedding, as it had at first looked it would. Javier jokes: "We should have shot two endings, like they did in Sin tetas no hay paraíso, one with the death and one with the wedding. But it didn't happen. And I'll never forget how after we shot the sequence of my death, Adrián just kept on crying, and no one could stop him." The aforementioned nods his approval: "I was so involved in the story that I felt really miserable! I really wanted our characters to get married, damn it! A happy ending would have been tops." Javier launches himself again: "It's significant that we felt so bad when our characters were suffering. But I have to say that I am something of a masochist and I liked it when Fer suffered."

Q: Were you ever influenced by the pressure of the fans and Internet posters who criticised every new turn in your story?

Javier : The thing is, people were discussing things that we've no influence upon, but are up to the writers. What we did notice was that we had a responsibility, when we read comments by all those people saying Fer has changed their lives, our story has given them courage to fight every day to be respected. I love it that the couple has so many fans who call themselves "fervidistas".

Adrián : Every time we would be about to shoot a nice and super-important sequence, Javi would tell me: "Come on, we're gonna do it right, and it will show up in the compilations of cool moments that fervidistas upload on "youtube". And it never missed, when we checked on "youtube", the ones he told me were always there.

Javier : I am eager to see the compilations that they will compose once the show is over. They will serve to make this relationship even more mythical.

Q : Do you also enjoy compilations with moments of gratuitous exhibitionism?

Javier : They're not so important. Plus the fact that Adrián is much less shy than I am. But if I have to shoot a nude scene for any project, I do it without problem.

Adrián : I've really taken it all off in the show! And I don't mind that it's everywhere, for anyone who wants to see it, that's one for the memories (laughter)

(TBC)

[firens]

(continued)

Q : Fer's death has given rise to all sorts of comments. The most critical complain that, once again, the gay character on a show ends up being a martyr...

Javier : We knew a lot of people were going to be angry. In a very selfish way, I did want to play his death, and I also thought that by dying he'd become the best remembered character. Besides, at the start of Física o Química, there was the death of the boy who was then Fer's big love. And it ends with Fer giving a monologue which is dedicated to the love of his life, before he dies. This was a good way to close the circle. I understand the criticisms which have been published, even though I'd like it if people could see that from day one Fer was treated on the show like just another character. So this was not about "let's kill the gay", this was about the death of a much loved character, and it was necessary to give him a grand finale. That he was gay was just one more characteristic, and this is something I've been thankful for.

Q : Do you think the show has contributed to change the way many viewers see relations between gay teenagers?

Javier : No doubt about it. I know it, from all those who write to me. Although things have changed more in big cities. At the end of the day, we were reflecting the reality of Madrid. Who knows what still goes on in the high schools of small towns in the middle of nowhere? I believe there are still lots of people who think "I respect gay people as long as I (only) see them on TV."

Q : Have you had cases when you were disrespected because you played two gays on the show?

Javier : I have been called a f*g**t (maricón) a few times. But it's only been two or three times, no more.

Adrián : Well, my experience has been different. Sometimes, I have been asked if I was gay, and when I answered no, I was congratulated on my work. But most teenagers who've come near me have done it to insult me "So you play teh gay, huh? Fucking f*g**t!" (Maricón de Mierda) I got into a big fight with one of those, and I ended up with a broken nose. It's a good thing that when I have had contacts with teachers and members of gay groups, they are extremely thankful to you for the work you have done.

(TBC)

[firens]

(continued)

IN THE RHYTHM OF THE NIGHT OF MADRID

It isn't difficult to meet Javier and Adrián enjoying the Madrid night life. Together or separately, they usually go out at night, and being famous, with all that it carries doesn't inhibit them. Furthermore, Adrián is professionally interested in the club scene, as he's slowly been making his way into dance music. His days with Santa Justa Klan, the teen band he belonged to in its days, along with costars from Los Serrano, are long gone. Now he is very much into house music, and he's preparing the release of an album which he'll be introducing very soon, in the MADO Madrid Orgullo (the Madrid Gay Pride festival). He won't forget his single "Ready" which he wrote with Josepo one year ago. The night before our interview, he had been performing it in Kapital, one of the downtown dance clubs where it isn't difficult to run into him.

Javier can be found, from time to time, DJing with his friend photographer Pepino Marino, in "Indies" clubs or parties like "Es una fieshta!" "But I am no DJ, he makes clear. It's for that reason that if I play music, it's at parties organised by friends. I find it fun, but of course, not everybody understands." Because Javier is one of those amateur DJs who play what they like, and they don't feel timid when the time comes to mess around from inside a booth, when the mood is right to go over the top. It's been a while he hasn't done it, but no doubt now he's going to have more free time, he'll get into it again.

Q : It's now time to leave the school of Física o Química, isn't it ?

Adrián : Well, yes, we've lived a whole life in the Zurbarán. My mother enjoyed it, she's always liked seeing me with a backpack (laughter). She would say, "Hey boy, you're going back to school!" Since I wasn't exactly a straight A student...

Javier : I'd been craving for a change for some time. And new faces had been replacing the old ones, one after the other, because it had to be. But I needed for the history of Fer to have an ending, I didn't want to just leave like this.

Q : Any projects in view?

Javier : A project for a play that looked very good has fallen through. But there are other things going around...But nothing certain, that's for sure.

Adrián : For now, I am going to be able to focus again on music. I am preparing a record which I will release myself, and I want to come out with new singles little by little. Music brings you different things than acting, and it's good to go back and forth.

Javier : It's an interesting moment. You don't really know what's coming your way, and this makes this new stage the two of us are getting into very attractive.

[jos87]

beautiful interview.Thanks firens to put our guys's interview in this forum. What can i say? That i love them. They are great and i'm sure that they are so amazing in real life. I like that Adrian would have preferred that Fervid was over with the marriage (i'm sure that this is what all Fervidistas wanted).And i love how they feel their characters like a great part of them. So is confirmed that Adrian will be in the Orgullo Gay;maybe Javier can go with him to make happy all the gay fervidistas that will go at the Pride.However i wish them the best for their career (that i will follow;and for this i hope that when FoQ will end this forum can continue to be "alive" with all the news connected to Adrian and Javier;i really enjoy this forum)
A last thing; i like that Adrian had an argument with a guy that call him "maricon de mierda" (how many stupid people exist in this world?);David is part of him and he had to protect this part

[firens]

There is a little more, actually, and one of your wishes just came true!

[jos87]

Jun 10, 2011 19:06:06 GMT -5 firens said:

There is a little more, actually, and one of your wishes just came true!

wow there is another part? How wishes? i'm curious