‘Selena’ Series Star On Playing Chris Perez & His Love For Selena – Hollywood Life
Jesse Posey stars as Chris Perez, Selena’s bandmate and the love of her life, in ‘Selena: The Series.’ He spoke EXCLUSIVELY with HL about Chris’ love for Selena, what he realized from the present, and extra.
Selena: The Series is likely one of the most-watched reveals on Netflix proper now, and Jesse Posey is a part of the unbelievable ensemble solid. He performs Chris Perez, Selena Quintanilla’s bandmate who later turns into her husband. HollywoodLife talked EXCLUSIVELY with Jesse about taking over such a serious function.
Jesse admitted that he wasn’t too accustomed to Selena earlier than signing on to the sequence, however he beloved the “freedom” that gave him as he embodied Chris. He additionally opened up about how a lot he’s realized about music from Selena: The Series, his easy bond with Christian Serratos, and extra. Read our Q&A beneath.
How familiar were you with Selena and her music before playing Chris Perez?
Jesse Posey: To be honest, I didn’t know a lot. My mother’s aspect of the household is Mexican, so I grew up on that aspect hanging out at my grandparents’ home, and there was at all times mariachi music enjoying. We had a bit little bit of a Mexican tradition in there, however we didn’t get into Selena that a lot. I actually didn’t begin studying about her till after I acquired the function, however I’m type of glad that it occurred that approach. Because for my character, I feel I solely wanted to know a few issues: that he beloved the guitar, and he beloved his lady. He wasn’t in love with the legacy. He was simply in love with the individual. So it gave me the chance to essentially study their love, study Selena the individual, and never simply the icon. I type of love that it occurred that approach. It gave me a variety of freedom to do what I wished with the function and what they wished me to do with it. But now I’m an enormous fan as a result of I do know a lot about it.
There’s a lot info on the market about Selena and Chris. What was the analysis course of like?
Jesse Posey: I watched a variety of movies on YouTube from when he was youthful. There’s this actually lengthy interview he did that I went again to so much, and I feel it was his first time speaking to anyone publicly after her demise. I wished to get that one as a result of it simply appeared just like the rawest type of him that I might discover. It was actually insightful. It confirmed a variety of feelings. When Selena was alive and so they had finished interviews, it might need been type of onerous to understand how he actually felt about her and the state of affairs, however if you see him and the way he was following her demise, you actually get a good suggestion of how he felt and what sort of influence it had on him. So I checked out that one so much. I additionally checked out stuff of him from earlier than her demise, simply to see the happiness in him and the way a lot he beloved music and type of get a gauge on how he talked and the way he interacted with individuals. It was principally YouTube movies. He wrote a guide that I learn and that was actually insightful. I used to be fortunate sufficient to know a number of individuals who have come throughout him personally prior to now, so I requested them about how he was.
You aren’t any stranger to music. What was it like so that you can dive deep into Selena’s music?
Jesse Posey: It was so cool. It was actually, actually, actually fascinating. I’ve been surrounded by music my complete life. I’ve two older brothers who’re actually good guitar gamers, one who’s in a band. I used to be in a band a few years in the past. Something that my brother instructed me that I didn’t actually discover whereas I used to be watching the present is that it’s so instructional about how music is finished, how concepts are provide you with, and the way the recording course of goes. We type of present each facet of singing. It’s actually cool for people who find themselves concerned with music, and I’ve realized so much from being on the present, from working with our music academics, from speaking with my castmates within the band. Just being up there studying about timing, studying about why a sure a part of the track goes a sure approach, it’s been actually instructional for me. I’m certain it has been for the remainder of my castmates, and hopefully for everybody watching the present.
Was there something you realized about Chris’ expertise with the guitar and his musicality that you simply’ll take away from this expertise?
Jesse Posey: I do know that he was an enormous rock and roll man, and he type of needed to put that apart whereas he was with Selena as a result of enjoying the guitar in Selena’s band isn’t a lot of a way of life that Chris was actually accustomed to. It’s admirable to look at anyone who’s so into one type, into shredding and enjoying steel and rock music, and put that apart for a bit bit whereas he does this factor with Selena. We get into a component the place that type of comes out that he needs to dive deeper into his type of music and who he actually is and what he actually needs to do.
Especially over the course of the primary a part of Selena: The Series, the present showcases how Selena and Chris needed to preserve their relationship a secret. As you researched their relationship, what was probably the most touching facet of their relationship to you?
Jesse Posey: I feel what was most touching was how a lot he revered Abraham. He actually did. It reveals in how he wished to be very cautious about this relationship. He was type of caught between a rock and a tough place. He has a lot love for this lady that he needs to be with, however then he actually respects the man who’s giving him this nice alternative to be with this huge band. Chris actually admired how he raised his household, how he put the band collectively, and all the pieces he’s finished. I don’t assume Chris would most likely be as old style as Abraham was in elevating a household or having a spouse, however he beloved what he did with the household. So Chris was strolling a skinny line of how do I preserve this relationship whereas making an attempt to respect this man as a lot as I can? I can solely think about how hectic that was. When we have been filming, I felt that on a regular basis. We have been at all times making an attempt to only tiptoe across the huge elephant within the room and never let our love present. Finally, after we have been in a position to within the second season, there was no extra stress. It was type of straightforward to do our factor. But it’s onerous, and I’m certain it was actually onerous for him in actual life.
Even after nearly 30 years, there’s nonetheless a lot love for Selena. With enjoying Chris, did you’re feeling any stress enjoying a real-life individual?
Jesse Posey: There was positively stress to start with. I feel everybody most likely felt this, however I got here in late, and all people already knew one another. There was already camaraderie on set, and I used to be type of a brand new man. So I had doubts. I used to be questioning if perhaps I wasn’t the precise alternative and if I needs to be right here in any respect. There have been a variety of these feelings happening. But after we type of acquired rolling and I acquired to know all people, I felt actually comfy on the set. I felt assured that I used to be the precise alternative. I do know that there’s going to be a bit little bit of negativity right here and there for various causes, and that’s okay. As lengthy as I do know that my mates dig it, everybody on the set digs it, and actual Selena followers dig it, then I’m completely happy. I feel I can say that I did it justice.
What was it like establishing Selena and Chris’ bond with Christian Serratos?
Jesse Posey: Our relationship was very easy. For some purpose, we simply type of clicked. We labored nicely collectively as actors. We each needed to put our heads collectively so much and take into consideration the best way to make a scene higher and the best way to make it work. And it was simply very easy. We beloved one another’s opinions and ideas. Plus, on high of that, we’re actually good mates. We can chortle outdoors of the work and simply speak about various things. Just her as an actor impressed me each single day simply to return in and produce my A-game. We each had enjoyable with one another. She’s so dedicated to each alternative that she makes and all the pieces she’s doing, it actually did encourage me to return out and do my finest each single day. I’ve by no means seen anyone work the way in which she does.
I’ve recognized your brother Tyler Posey for years with Teen Wolf. Have you at all times been concerned with performing, too?
Jesse Posey: My dad can be an actor. He’s been performing for years. I feel he acquired each me and my brother concerned with it after we have been youngsters. At one level I didn’t actually need to do it anymore, so I had a profession enjoying baseball till I used to be about 21. But clearly, my brother caught with it. I at all times admired simply each of them the way in which they dealt with themselves on units the way in which they deal with individuals, and the way a lot work they put into what they do. I at all times knew that if I used to be going to return again to this, I’d have two superb function fashions to look as much as. And I do. As quickly as I finished enjoying baseball, I type of thought, what the hell, I’ll get again into it. I’m very, very fortunate to have them in my life. The work that they each do actually evokes me. For somebody type of simply breaking into this, I’ve two those who I can go to for something I would like. They at all times have the precise solutions, so I do think about myself very fortunate.
