Running With The Bull

It seems like a million years ago, but I have memories…memories of the last day and a half in Mexico City.

After we wrapped, we got back to the hotel around six in the morning and I got a few hours sleep. Enjoyed one final meal of chilaquiles, a great Mexican dish that’s basically breakfast nachos: tortilla chips cooked in a spicy sauce, covered with cheese and cream, eggs on top. It rules.

That night was the wrap party, and I’d heard rumors that we’d be going to a restaurant that features real bullfighting. This proved to be completely accurate. The restaurant itself was closed, but they had a beautiful outdoor patio with a bar and buffet. We got there a little late, and after one quick drink, everyone piled into the seating area of a mid-sized bullfighting ring. Before I knew it, a small group of volunteers were down in the ring: this included Jieho, Christopher, Walt (our DP), Emilio, Paul (our Associate Producer) and Brendan, the only member of the cast still in town. Everyone was handed bullfighting capes and next thing you know, a bull-calf came racing into the ring. It was very cute, weighed about five or six hundred pounds, and everyone laughed and cheered as it took aim at our fearless bullfighters.

Then, the bull-calf slammed into Walt, a hit that lifted him up in the air and spun him around, dropping him to the ground like a rock. A moment of genuine worry, and then, Walt popped up, a big smile on his face, and the crowd cheered. Only later did I learn that Walk’s smile was masking very intense pain. This bull-calf was out to kill. The match continued as everyone took turns using their capes to “fight” the bull-calf. Everyone did well, but I noticed that tall people had a distinct advantage, which means that Brendan looked like a rock star.

I was watching safely from the crowd…which didn’t last. For the second round, I was grouped with Emilio and about a dozen Mexican guys I barely knew and next thing I know, we’re split into two teams to play soccer in the ring. Picture it: me, never very good at soccer, playing against a bunch of guys who’ve been playing since they were, oh I dunno, ONE YEAR OLD. Needless to say, I wasn’t much help to my team. After about ten minutes, I was panting, beyond exhausted, and that was when they let a new, fresh bull-calf into the ring. So now I’m playing soccer, completely overmatched, while having to avoid a bull-calf intent on knocking me out. At one point, my concentration lagged as I went for the ball and next thing I know, the bull-calf was chasing me down, butting me in the…uh…posterior, as I ran like hell straight for the edge of the ring. I jumped for the top of the wall, something I’d seen some of the other guys do, gripped the top of the wall with my fingertips…and promptly lost my grip and slid back down. The last thing I remember is gazing up and seeing Walt looking down at me from the railing above, grinning ear to ear as he shouted, “DEROSA!”

Luckily, the bull-calf let me live. Afterwards, we shared our adventures over margaritas and then the music started up. I’m about as good at salsa dancing as I am at playing soccer, but I have to tell you, it’s so much more fun to learn. I asked every girl on the crew to dance, each one teaching me something new. The more I learned and the more they drank, the better I SEEMED at salsa dancing. And that was good enough for me….

At noon the next day, a group of us managed to actually get out of bed and meet for brunch, one final meal in Mexico City. Afterwards, I quickly packed, somehow fitting six and a half weeks of life into three bags. I shared a flight with Christopher, Paul, Walt, and Brendan. We looked like soldiers returning home from battle, and I suppose we were. We boarded the plane, took our seats, and finally left Mexico City.

It’s funny how in these blogs I’ve written about Jieho and Christopher, all the producers and key members of the crew, as well as our amazing cast. But there are so many other friends that I made while making this movie: Magali (my best friend in Mexico City), Paola, Luis and Melissa, Joceline, Norali, Lisa, Chile, and so many others. You don’t know them, and there’s really no time to write about them all. But everyone who worked on this movie is a part of my heart now. And so is Mexico City. I miss them all, I really do.

This movie will honor them, my friends and their city. Just wait and see…