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🇨🇺 Cuba /Technology

“Without our culture firmly established, we are easy prey”

From Granma · (1d ago) Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • Cuban director and actor Roly Peña emphasizes the importance of culture and national identity in his work, aiming to educate and engage audiences, especially youth.
  • Peña views acting as a tool for communication, complementing his directorial vision by allowing him to embody characters and understand the actor's process.
  • He seeks projects that are not only entertaining but also useful, believing that a strong cultural foundation makes a society less susceptible to external influences.

Roly Peña, a prominent Cuban director and actor, champions the power of culture and national identity in his artistic endeavors. He asserts that his work aims to reach those who are "contrary" or "doubtful," seeking to provoke thought and foster understanding. Peña’s journey into acting stemmed from a deep-seated passion for expression, evolving from an early interest in sports to a profound connection with the stage and screen.

No trabajo para convencidos

— Roly PeñaExplaining his approach to engaging audiences with his work.

Peña distinguishes between his roles as an actor and director, viewing the actor as an integral part of the director's broader vision. While both aim to communicate ideas and emotions, the director orchestrates all elements—visual, auditory, and spatial—to convey a message, whereas the actor embodies a specific character within that framework. He finds value in acting during directorial projects, seeing it as a means of "decompression" and a way to maintain a keen awareness of the actor's craft and energy.

El que no conozca del tema, ese es mi público, o el que lo niegue, ese es mi público. Al menos a uno lo hago pensar y al otro, conocer

— Roly PeñaElaborating on his target audience and artistic goals.

For Peña, a project's worth lies in its ability to captivate and impart knowledge, adhering to the principle of "entertaining while teaching." He expresses a strong need to transmit Cuban culture, emphasizing that a firm grasp of national identity is crucial for a people's strength and resilience. He believes that without this cultural anchor, a society becomes vulnerable to external manipulation, making the preservation and promotion of national heritage a vital artistic and social mission.

Tanto el actor como el director tienen la misión de comunicar, de transmitir ideas y emociones.

— Roly PeñaDescribing the shared mission of actors and directors.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Granma in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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