The Beautiful Allure of Telenovelas Crossed with Reality

     Telenovelas are a type of melodrama filled with the lust of romance and desire. Oftentimes, the audience can feel this deep desire and chemistry amongst the actors and actresses to such an extent that it almost feels real. Since viewing my telenovela, "La Reina Del Sur," I have become captivated by the chemistry between Mendoza (Kate del Castillo) and El Guero Avila (Rafael Amaya). Little did I know, the chemistry portrayed in most telenovelas is not actually as real as it seems, but instead there is a lot of behind the scenes that glamorize and put a facade over what goes down in steamy scenes between the two actors. 

    For example, the main actors don't actually make out, and often they aren't actually fully nude, but it appears that way to the audience due to costumes and makeup. The actresses and actors that portray the main characters involved in the love story also have to possess prime acting skills and natural talent, in order to make the fictional drama come to life in such a way that entices the audience and persuades them to feel it themselves. The producers and the crew members must also have talent to edit the film in such a way that makes it seem more realistic between the love interests, so as to make the chemistry in the film immaculate.

     Delving into the fact that telenovelas are able to portray love and the joy and happiness that comes with love, even if a lot of it is edited and glamorized, telenovelas also capture a whirl wind of other emotions including, but not limited to, heartbreak, revenge, devastation, loss, and isolation. These negative emotions are often consumed by the audience to spark a feeling of empathy among viewers, which is achieved through the significant screen production teams, along with the natural talents of the actors and actresses. 

    In my telenovela, for example, "La Reina Del Sur," the mother is able to portray her emotions of loss to seem real toward her daughter's kidnapping. The daughter on the other hand reveals her strength, which she learned from her mother, to overcome the "bad guys." This mother daughter relationship illustrates real life in that a bond between a mother and a daughter is like no other. However, the production of the telenovela is so well done, that what goes down behind the scenes is neglected or not thought about much by a common viewer. It's amazing how in a telenovela, there can be so many different scenarios that go down, where if someone were to watch the bloopers or the takes on each scene, they would see that these scenarios aren't actually as smooth in real life as they were filmed. 

    Thanks to all the talented actresses, actors, crew and production teams, telenovelas can be looked upon with great respect and artistry. The intense portrayal of emotions of love and loss, along with the steamy romance scenes and the set designs/makeup/costumes, a telenovela puts together a whole fictional masterpiece unlike other genres of film. They capture and analyze simple and difficult situations, dilemmas, and the ups and downs of ordinary life, while bringing in an element of enchantment that makes them so likable in the first place. They create an environment that makes the viewer feel as though they personally know the characters and feel included in their society, which is part of why telenovelas are so powerful. 

    On a thoughtful note, I'd really like to know more about the aspects of production that go into creating a telenovela. I want to explore how every scene is created to perfection, and how the actors and actresses are able to create such a melodrama that is so persuasive and alluring. I think it would be really interesting to learn more about this!