Edward James Olmos discusses Miami Vice's legacy, his character, being cast, and his first day - EMMYTVLEGENDS.org

[Vice Immersion]

Found these clips (Miami Vice related) on YouTube of an interview Olmos gave, that were posted by EMMYTVLEGENDS on July 28.  Enjoy! 

 

 

He talks about how he finally accepted the role (he explains what he was doing beforehand and why he was very reluctant to accept the offers), the changes he made to his character and the set (Castillo's office), how he clashed with Don Johnson, and the tension on the production set.

 

Edit:  After looking a bit further, the full interview was done around June 2013.  ...Whoops.   Sorry if these clips were posted elsewhere on the forums.

Edited August 23, 2015 by Vice Immersion

[vicegirl85]

I think this is the same interview I referenced recently in this thread:  http://miamiviceonline.com/index.php/topic/8463-dj-throws-open-castillos-doorwhat-ep/ My post is #24.

 

It's a very interesting talk by EJO.  He's very complimentary of the other cast members, and whatever tensions may have existed between them in RL, he doesn't bring personal conflicts to the interview clips.  I had the impression he appreciates MV's contribution to TV and social culture, and also that there was a benefit to his own career.   I highly recommend watching, if anyone hasn't already seen the interview.

 

Thanks for the new post and links, ViceImmersion!    

[DJAngel]

Everything Eddie talks about regarding Lt. Castillo was exactly the way it should be.  The tension from his character was perfect with Crockett and Tubbs.  Nothing in the office but a bottle of aspirin on his desk.  It all worked.  He knew how he wanted to play it, and Michael Mann clearly could see what he could bring to it.  Perfect

[miamijimf]

Great videos.  Very diplomatic and professional of EJO.  He took the high road in this interview and didn't criticize anyone, he just told what happened.

[vicegirl85]

Great videos.  Very diplomatic and professional of EJO.  He took the high road in this interview and didn't criticize anyone, he just told what happened.

I agree!

[Vice Immersion]

I think this is the same interview I referenced recently in this thread:  http://miamiviceonline.com/index.php/topic/8463-dj-throws-open-castillos-doorwhat-ep/ My post is #24.

 

It's a very interesting talk by EJO.  He's very complimentary of the other cast members, and whatever tensions may have existed between them in RL, he doesn't bring personal conflicts to the interview clips.  I had the impression he appreciates MV's contribution to TV and social culture, and also that there was a benefit to his own career.   I highly recommend watching, if anyone hasn't already seen the interview.

 

Thanks for the new post and links, ViceImmersion!    

Your post was the same interview.   I guess the Emmy Legends site decided to edit the video for particular highlights and then posted them on YouTube in July.

 

By the way, do any of you know which episode Olmos is specifically referring to about Johnson slamming open Castillo's office door open with the blinds rattling?  ...Particularly, the "second scene" Olmos is referring to when he first arrived on the Miami Vice set, because it wasn't the same episode ("One Eyed Jack") as the "first scene" (when Castillo tells Tubbs to never come close to his face).

 

Just to mention, that second scene that Olmos is describing and how he said John Nicolella was speaking with Don Johnson, apparently according to "E! True Hollywood Story" (it's Part 2 if you search for it on YouTube ), either Nicolella or someone else on production informed Johnson about Olmos's special contract (being non-exclusive and having creative control over the character of Castillo), and then Johnson finally returned, and thus created the subtext scene with the blinds.

Edited September 3, 2015 by Vice Immersion

[vicegirl85]

I'll have to look for that E! True Hollywood Story  Thanks!

[Spyder]

By the way, do any of you know which episode Olmos is specifically referring to about Johnson slamming open Castillo's office door open with the blinds rattling?  ...Particularly, the "second scene" Olmos is referring to when he first arrived on the Miami Vice set, because it wasn't the same episode ("One Eyed Jack") as the "first scene" (when Castillo tells Tubbs to never come close to his face).

 

I'm pretty sure the incident with the blinds is One Eyed Jack, Castillo's first episode on the show. EJO also talks about the scene by the lake where he tells Tubbs "Don't ever come up to my face like that again," and how it was totally improvised and threw off PMT and DJ. 

[Vice Immersion]

I'll have to look for that E! True Hollywood Story  Thanks!

Just to quote what "E! True Hollywood Story" stated, "Johnson eventually returned to the set, but only after he was informed about Olmos' special contract."

 

 

I'm pretty sure the incident with the blinds is One Eyed Jack, Castillo's first episode on the show. EJO also talks about the scene by the lake where he tells Tubbs "Don't ever come up to my face like that again," and how it was totally improvised and threw off PMT and DJ. 

 

Thanks Spyder, I'll have to rewatch it again.

Edited September 4, 2015 by Vice Immersion

[airtommy]

 

By the way, do any of you know which episode Olmos is specifically referring to about Johnson slamming open Castillo's office door open with the blinds rattling?

 

 

We are discussing that scene in this thread:  http://miamiviceonline.com/index.php/topic/8463-dj-throws-open-castillos-doorwhat-ep/

[AzVice]

great interview, thanks for posting it. interesting why he built the character that way, so he could not be dismissed.

if you notice as time goes on Castillo's door does remain open a lot of the time though

[PalmTree]

Yet again my only response is there never was before nor ever will be after a television show that had the overall impact as MV.  Music, clothes, cars, architecture, how tv shows were made, produced, marketed, etc.,etc..  I'm just glad to have been a part of the hysteria.  The first (3) seasons was nothing I'd ever seen before or since.  It was simply incredible.

[Kavinsky]

if I may add to this, I think they did this as well

 

[vicegirl85]

Thanks for this clip, Kavinsky!  Very interesting to hear Thomas Carter's comments.

[damrod]

EJO is a very inspiring man.  Even in BSG when he started with "So Say We All", it was all ad-libbed and added later and that the surprise was real.

[MTVcops]

 

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Edited March 18, 2016 by MTVcops