Thanks to our friend and collaborator Karim Abu Nabaa'a we had the opportunity to get to know and interview one of our favorite actors in Hollywood (Valentino Morales), who participates next to Vin Diesel in the production of Fast and The Furious 4 of which were made some scenes in different locations of Dominican Republic, Mexico and California.
Mister Valentino, speak to the Dominican public that wants to know you, to know a little more about you in a general level:
Q. How and when does your participation in productions initiated in Hollywood?
I began to act since I was 12 years old in New York, after studying in several schools of acting and since then Vin Diesel and I are friends. We got to work together at nights in night clubs and during the day, we would look for acting roles. It was difficult in that moment to find someone to hire us, reason by which we decide to get all our friends together and make our own movie titled "Strays". This was the first movie made with our own resources. We had a participation in a film festival that called the attention of Robert Redford and Steven Spielberg prompting my career and that of Vin, opening doors to participate in other productions.
Q. Where do you live now, and specifically in what area? Los Angeles, California. Berverly Hills.
Q. We understand that you feel identified with the Dominican culture, ¿Would you be able to speak to us a little about your motivation and your feeling for The Caribbean?
I am working in this movie "The Fast and The Furious 4" as one of the main actors, but at the same time it was my dream to come to Santo Domingo and to film a big movie. Working in this project in Dominican, this idea and dream at the same time was made possible, previously I had commented to Vin of coming to this country and to do this for years.
Q. What is your role in the production of "The Fast and The Furious 4"?
I am one of Vin's friends in the movie, upon assaulting some gasoline trucks to give it to the poor people, I am who helps him; I belong to the group of friends and I am always with them in different scenes.
Q. How do you feel with the team and the Crew with which you are working in this movie?
Very well, beautiful. It was a movie with a duration of four months of filming and I can say that is one of the best movies in which I have worked. The last scenes of the filming in Dominican Republic finalized with several shots, specifically in the Zona Colonial and the Aereopuerto International de Las Americas.
Q. We know that it is not only camera and action; you were also in boxing, where did you develop part of your talent in this sport. What do you tell us?
I was a boxer and I got to fight in the Golden Gloves of New York to the Trial of the Empire State. There I lasted some ten years fighting.
Q. How would you describe your visit to Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic during the filming?
Super well, is great to be able to be here. I can say that I love Santo Domingo. Here is where I was raised, although I was born in New York. I came when I was one year old and I stayed here till I was twelve. Since then I continue visiting this country "I come and go", constantly.
Q. Do you have some message for your fans and admirers in Dominican about your path and talent?
Yes, I can tell them that all your dreams can become reality and what you want to achieve you can do it in life. I lived in Los Minas, in some very bad places and from there I got to Hollywood. Right now I am writing a movie that is based on that and I am going to call it "De Los Minas a Hollywood". ("From Los Minas to Hollywood")
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Qu Pasa? Thursday, July 13, 2006
Vin Diesel buys Sammy Sosa's Villa
The actors Valentino Morales and Vin Diesel have confirmed in exclusive to Qu Pasa!, the acquisition of the villa of Sammy Sosa in Casa de Campo, La Romana, for 2.5 million dollars.
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Valentino Morales lived in Los Mina, Las Americas and Ciudad Nueva. He studied his grade school in Escuela Paraguay.
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In spite of the confirmation, Morales and Diesel preferred to talk about the movie "Las Americas", that will be filmed in the country, set in neighborhoods of the avenue Las Americas of Santo Domingo, where Valentino grew up.
"It will be kind of similar with the film 'Scarface' and I will tell you in advance that I already have a Californian producer is finishing the script", said the Dominican actor.
He said that he is wrapped up in other projects in the country like the termination of the movie "Hannibal", in which he does the role of "Asdrubal", brother of the character of Vin Diesel, who directs and acts.
Right now they seek locations and for that they flew by helicopter over several zones of Saman and Puerto Plata.
He is proud to represent the Father of the Country, Matas Ramn Mella, in the movie "Duarte", of Trabucazo Films which has the support of his company One Race Films.
Valentino, who was a bodyguard, boxer, nightclub security, had a dream: to leave his mark. Thus he has done it.
Frank Valentino Morales was born in Washington Heights, New York and came to Dominican Republic with his mother Pilades Martnez, when she was separated from his father, the Venezuelan Frank Morales.
Lived in Las Mina, Las Americas and Ciudad Nueva. He studied the grade school in Escuela Paraguay. He returned to New York when he was 12 years old and at that time he met and knew that would be his inseparable friend, the American actor Vin Diesel.
In one occasion, while they studied for a school play, Vin Diesel's dad, professor of theater, gave them some orientation and since then to "Val" -as he likes to be called-, began to like this art by the one that he feels a great passion for. Although it did not attract him a lot, he confesses, his friend always invited him to continue in the action.
The friendship grew with time and together they did nightclub security, while they continued their studies in the High School. During the weekends they worked in the nightclubs and the other days they studied in the Acting School of "FIT".
When they would leave work they would rent a camera and they would go and film what was their first short film of Vin Diesel: "Strays".
Diesel lived in Valentino's house and participated in the project that was very praised in the Sundance Film Festival, one of the most popular in the world, that is carried out yearly in Utah.
Valentino continued studying and he graduate on Criminology in the SUNY Rockland Community College. Now he is also a famous Hollywood actor, always working to leave his mark.
New movie
Valentino Morales received us in exclusive to speak to us about the works of the script of the movie "Las Americas", based on a real life story of a friend and that will be based also on the problem of the drug trafficking.
"It is a very personal project for me. It will be based on a reality that a nearby friend lived that was deported from the United States, a manuscript of his life delivered to me that shook me. Sadly he died", said Val, who also advanced that the script is almost finished by a recognized screenwriter in California on a millionaire cost.
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October 1,2005 Oh! Magazine-Where do you think you will be taping the movie about the fathers of the Dominican Republic?
Valentino Morales-80% will be filmed in Santo Domingo, making use of the time frame that is still conserved in the Colonial Zone. It will also be filmed in Venezuela, Haiti, the US and Spain. Other locations that are needed such as England, London, and Curazao, will be recreated with sets that will be constructed with miniatures made specially for this purposes.
Oh! We have heard commentaries that you will have the collaboration from the state for your project, is there any truth in this and what kind of help and collaboration are you expecting.
V.M.-Yes, the movie will receive the help of state institutions like the Commission Permanente de Efemerides Patrias, that at any time has been ready to help those with the initiative for the Instituto Duartiano. On two occasions we have had meetings with the Republican President, who is very enthusiastic about the project. Within the next few days we will see an official presentation with the participation of the President.
Oh! If you will be de Malta, who will be Duarte?
V.M. The part of Duarte was written with the thought of the Mexican actor Gael Garcia in mind, who seemed interested in the part when he visited the country when he filmed the movie Dreaming of Julia. Because of his likeness to the character, his talent and his familiarity of the language, I understand that he has the first option for the part. Though it is not confirmed, since other actors have been given the ***** and have shown an interest in the part.
Oh! If in real life Mella had the great physic you have would he have needed help to defeat his enemies?
V.M. I do believe that Mella had similarities to my physic. I do think he was even physically stronger than I am, and could have been more than able to take care of himself in any manner.
Oh!Why do you wish to have this part acted here in the Dominican Republic when you have it all over there?
V.M It is a dream that I would like to have come true here, leave my mark here.
Oh! You want to portray Mella, one of the fathers of our country, this will give one big boost to your career!
V.M. I believe so, since each part I play, each role I accomplish properly and well in a story is an honor. When I take on the part of Mella, it will be the consummation of several years of hard work for me.
Oh! We often see you in the company of Vin Diesel. Are you ready and able to go at it on your own without his help?
V.M. I have done many other movies without Vin. I am a professional actor, have worked in many diversified productions and parts both in Hollywood and for Disney Studios.
Oh! Taking on a part like this will surely bring you closer to your roots?
V.M. Yes. It will give me the opportunity to know a bit more about the history of the Dominican Republic, I will need to study a bit more about the things I do not know, the fact being I was not raised in this country but my mom is Dominican but I do have some very happy and loving memories and moments from my childhood. This is a wonderful dream for me.
Oh!They say sailors leave a love in every port, does this apply to every country also?
V.M. I always want to do my best, but in the end I am only one human man, and a woman is the most beautiful thing in the world. What can I say!
Oh!Do you believe your looks are the first thing producers see and take into account when assigning a part to you?
V.M. I try to see that they do not focus so much on my looks, but would like to think it is my talent as an actor.
