Alfonso Espinosa de los Monteros, a poet in Hollywood: this is how they convinced the Ecuadorian journalist to copy ‘Dungeons and Dragons’

By Ángel Lechas

This story could not begin otherwise than by remembering the force with which the lapidary sentence spoken by Alfonso Espinosa de los Monteros on October 31, 2022 in that cafeteria resonated in our heads: “I don’t work for commercial brands, no. I advertise.”

And so he killed the ambitions we had to participate as a voice actor in a Hollywood blockbuster.

The first Ecuadorian given this opportunity and he turned it down. Martin Scorsese said, “Cinema is about what is inside the frame and what is outside of it.” There was something outside our photo and if it was in Alfonso’s photo we had little trouble spotting it and getting him to accept it.

Months of slow but steady progress could be coming to an end since October 12, when it all started. Lucía Navarrete, Marketing Manager of Paramount Pictures in Ecuador, received an email with very clear instructions.

“To dub five characters from Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves into Spanish, each country will propose its nominees by filling out the attached document with their information. These will be analyzed by the regional team and the selected ones will be sent to the headquarters in Los Angeles where they will make the decision.”

See you soon at Don Alfonso Espinosa de los Monteros, a day after his historic retirement from Ecuadorian television

The giants of Spanish-language cinema, such as Mexico, Argentina, Colombia and – if we are honest – almost all other countries compared to Ecuador, would have much more arguments, variety, experience and weight to position their candidates.

The document was filled with the most realistic data and always decorated with the positivity and enthusiasm of someone who, for the first time in the history of Ecuador, wants to achieve that a production company from the ‘Big 5 of Hollywood’ hires an Ecuadorian for a dubbing. There was a lot more faith and hope in the Excel sent than probabilities.

On the 26th of the same month

–these were times of athletic competition– Lucía told me how her proposed profile had been rejected. Ecuador lost its chances, or maybe not. She could propose another candidate, but she was sure that the best, the only viable one, was Don Alfonso.

Their starting point must have been, “I’ll make you an offer you can’t refuse,” because they agreed to review the candidate’s profile and scheduled it for the 28th. Time was getting shorter, the campaign had to be defined and they had to have everything closed by November.

Alfonso Espinosa de los Monteros fell in love in Guayaquil, during a game show

The day had arrived: he was scheduled to meet with Paramount Pictures executives for the region. I remember that morning she visualized what she was going to say, how, when and to whom. He wrote down ideas, crossed out, wrote others. That morning the whole house smelled of napalm (fuel).

I always say there are three types of fights you should have in life: the ones you should win, the ones you should lose, and the ones you should just start fighting. She stayed more with Rocky’s ‘Fight to Win’.

“I did well. They speak it in Mexico and they will give me an answer urgently. Now tight times are my best weapon,” he told me on the phone in another conversation that would last until he finished his sentence, and then he closed with “I’ll tell you more later tonight; I’m going to another meeting.” He hung up and went on with his day.

It was time to wait for Mexico to confirm whether Ecuador’s candidate would be sent to the Los Angeles studios for final approval; but in the meantime we had to go further to convince Don Alfonso, who still knew nothing.

I got the contact and made an appointment with him, according to Lucía’s instructions, to talk to him in person. We meet at 9:30 am. We saw the movie and later met in a nearby, simple cafeteria, without much discretion, of course.

Lucía broke the proposal into parts, taking the time to read to Alfonso what she needed to go into more deeply, avoiding what she felt was unnecessary and reinforcing the idea of ​​a great achievement: acting in Hollywood.

Alfonso Espinosa de los Monteros: “The idea is to be able to be closer to my followers and friends,” says the journalist about his Instagram account

After presenting the proposal, we are all waiting for your response. It was clear he was hesitant; His image has been requested many times for commercial purposes. Then he said: “I don’t work for commercial brands, I never advertise.”

I, hitherto mute, turned and looked at Lucía; Only when she had thrown her last stone would she be allowed to intervene. He returned a look that only an accomplice could interpret.

“In addition to everything we propose, I would like you to look at it from a different angle. “This is an opportunity that no one in Ecuador has had yet,” I interjected.

My messianic vision did not seem to faze him. Suddenly Alfonso tells a film anecdote: good, secret, old, relevant. I, who consider myself a good fan, listened to him attentively. Then I questioned him with the real curiosity of someone who has before him a person full of different lives, unknown worlds and professions accessible only to a few.

He felt heard and cared for, like those who welcome those who do not yet know their anecdotes. I knew that he had participated in some amateur production in his youth, together with a Spanish friend – a hustler who loved poetry, film and life itself, his running buddy, I understood at that moment. He also talked about his time on the radio, where he recited poetry, which he sang and sang, and about being awarded an honorary doctorate.

I didn’t make any effort. It was so natural for me to talk and agree that the conversation changed. It was no longer for everyone. I confessed secrets, I told anecdotes, I killed him. We talk a lot about cinema: the greats, the old, the divas. That day, in that moment, in that cafeteria, I think we were friends. I dared.

“Don Alfonso, I can assure you that all of us at this table respect you and that nothing will tarnish your image. This is a unique opportunity for you, but also a new path for many in Ecuador. Are we counting on you to become the first Ecuadorian dubbing actor in Hollywood? I will always think that it was the opportunity to open that door, for him and for others, that made him accept it.

He said yes, with conditions; We expected nothing less.

That same October 31, 2022, in the afternoon, a response came from Mexico: they agreed to send our candidate to Los Angeles. Lucia was happy; we were happy.

It was the 22nd of a hot, pasty November before Christmas when the breaking news arrived. My phone rang.

“I have already received the email: that I am sending them Alfonso Espinosa’s details to draw up the contract and that I am sending him a copy for him to submit for review.” What enthusiasm! It had been achieved! Paramount Pictures would sign a contract with Alfonso Espinosa de los Monteros. I didn’t have to tell this story, or even be a part of it, but I felt the desire to tell a movie story with a happy ending.

Who would say that what is right, what is fair, what is duty over what is desired – the principles that rarely trend today, much less manage to become box office – will emerge victorious; and at that moment when the Muses have whispered another and unknown name, I am overcome with a pleasant feeling of justice, of

victory or even improvement for the cinema when they see that Alfonso – the peaceful, the human –

earn your chance in this orgy of influencers, trends and hashtags.