In Starz’s latest show “Vida,” Two sisters played by Mishel Prada and Melissa Barrera face a shocking truth when they return home to the Eastside of Los Angeles.
The Knockturnal: How was it filming these intimate sister scenes?
Melissa Barrera: It was so fun!
Mishel Prada: It was super easy. Really the easiest part.
Barrera: We enjoyed every moment. We enjoyed, even more, the moments of love and chemistry and playfulness the sisters have. Because they do butt heads so much of the time, when you catch a glimpse of the love, it is so beautiful.
Prada: Melissa is so giving and so supportive that if there were any difficult scenes, I knew I was supported. We did it together.
Barrera: I think we were very lucky because we all got to work with such great actors, casting was so good that it’s effortless when you have people like that beside you.
The Knockturnal: Did you two meet beforehand?
Barrera: Only a week before. But the first day we hung out was epic. We were going out for coffee but it was closed so we went to the bar next door.
Prada: We had champagne, why not?
Barrera: We were out until 10 am next day.
Prada: The guy at the bar just kept giving us champagne. He even asked if we were sisters.
Barrera: And we said yes!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c0ttPSaqhF0
The Knockturnal: What were your first instincts about your characters?
Prada: I was terrified. I was looking at Emma and she is such a mystery … It was about figuring out what she is protecting, and why she needs to protect it so much. I know there is something soft in there but no one can see it because it might break her.
Barrera: For me it was how open Lyn is sexually. I was like why? I think it is amazing and one of her best qualities … We are normally slut-shamed and we’re taught women have to be more reserved … But I thought this woman who does all these things with her boyfriend has to have some kind of issue. That’s were I started exploring her inside.
The Knockturnal: Did you have a favorite part of filming?
Prada: The churro man that came by.
Barrera: Yes! I was going to say that. We had the best snacks: Tacos, Elotes, Raspados.
The Knockturnal: And food is such a big part of the show.
Prada: Yes! Maybe too much flan.
Barrera: What makes the show so authentic is that what you see on screen is what it was like off screen.
Prada: Minus the fighting, I guess.
Barrera: It did feel like home.
Vida premieres only on STARZ on May 6th, 2018 at 8:30PM ET/PT.
