Danny Trejo & Mark Christensen – North by El Norte

By: Jamie Steinberg

Q) What are the recent projects that you are working on, Danny?

Danny: A busy man has time to do anything! That was told to me when I first got into this business and I love what I do and I do what I love. So, I worked last night at 2am and here I am doing this at 9am. Like I said, I love the work I do. I just finished a film in Canada called Dead Again in Tombstone and then last night I did a film called Tales From The Crypt. Now, I’m doing publicity for North by El Norte, a movie that is really close to my heart.

Q) What made you want to be a part of the film North by El Norte?

Danny: It was the fact that it was all about family and perseverance. It was about hope and that anything is possible with God.

Q) Mark, talk about the casting process with Danny.

Mark: It is interesting. When Danny first came to set, I wasn’t quite sure. I had to get a couple of lines of dialogue out of him before I really knew what it was. I had seen some of his films, but not a lot with dialogue. So, I needed to get that experience. What comes through in his voice and his demeanor was much more than what I would have done redirecting him. Really, Danny just came and produced and that was the guy we got.

Q) Was there instant chemistry when the cast began working together?

Mark: We have eight great people who had a chance to bond. What was nice to experience was that all the white guys wanted to do a Latino script. I didn’t know what to expect and everyone really enjoyed what the story does for Latinos and also for America as the politics evolved. Everyone enjoyed it. I think the script did most of the paving for me.

Q) Danny, what direction did Mark give you that you took to heart while filming?

Danny: Yeah, he said be real. He wrote the character a little different so when we got together and he saw me he said, “Hold on.” He directed me to be as real as possible and that it was okay to do this character the way I saw him. I just saw him as a caring person, but will take care of business when it happens.

Q) What was your most memorable moment from filming?

Danny: Fishing in a barrel and catching a gold fish. [laughs]

Q) Mark, what is a moment or scene that you are most looking forward to receiving fan feedback on?

Mark: I’m not Latino so I really have to be very open to the response of the story. Hopefully, I’m saying something right for the culture. I think I am, but you have to wait for your response to find that out.

Q) What do you hope resonates with viewers or that they take away from the film?

Mark: It’s really based on human perseverance and making your dreams come true no matter how difficult it is. Striving through the difficulty you encounter and becoming very resourceful on the spot in order to obtain your goal. I’m hoping that will be transposed through the story.

Danny: How important faith in yourself is and in God or a higher power.

Q) Is there anything else you want to be sure fans know about North by El Norte?

Danny: I just want them to really feel that it is better to shoot for the moon and miss then aim for the gutter and make it.

Mark: Working with Danny was quite surprising. I approached him with his last line of dialogue and he caught me off guard. He said, “I ain’t gunna say it!” I thought, “What?!” He said, “You’re trying to make a fool out of me!” I had to explain to him that the line of dialogue was very unique transposed over each one of the characters to finalize who the bad guy is. So, I said you have to analyze it and by the end of the night he said, “I could say it all night long!”