Our very own Ziva was invited to a round table discussion last night with cast members of The Lost City, including director/star Andy Garcia. She'll have a full report soon, but I thought I'd post her thoughts as related to me via email:

What an experience, and not because I took part in a "Hollywood" event, I used to work at a radio station and I've had industry exposure. There were about ten of us, seated around an oblong table. The actors came in one at a time and spent about 20 minutes each talking, answering some questions.

While we were waiting for the first actor, Enrique Murciano, I got a chance to eavesdrop on the press reps in attendance. Acouple of them were joking about the movie and admitted to falling asleep. Frankly I was pretty put off by their attitude. With one exception no one at the table seemed to have much knowledge about Cuban history, the subject of the film. Shoddy jounalism if you ask me. How can you go see a film that you know the actor has spent 16 years of his life trying to make and not take the time to learn a little background on the films topic. Mindboggling.

We each had the press notes whiich included bios on the actors and a personal statement. Enrique Murciano was first, his personal statement started with the first verse ofVersos sencillos.

Yo Soy un hombre sincero
De dondecrece la palma,
Y antes de morirme quiero
Echar misversos del alma.

Also in English, followed by a political statement a page and half long. It is like reading our posts on the Blogs. Enrique spent almost his whole 20 minutes talking about real Cuban politics. He's very animated and high energy.

He was followed by Nestor Carbonell. His personal statement is less strident but also political. He talked about his experience working on the film, he answered questions, including a couple of mine. I can't remember which ones. I stopped taking notes because to me, the exact words didn't matter, for me it was like Babalu, family. He talked about the reality in Cuba, using the same words we use everyday.

Next up was the lead actress Inés Sastre. She was much more low key, very pleasant, answered a few questions, spoke of how moving she found the Cuban actors family stories. Her Father was a musician and she grew up listening to Cuban music. Then came Andy.

The reps from the large outlets dominated his time, but I did manage to ask him if he hoped that ¨The Lost City¨ would help to clear up the misconceptions regarding Cuba and its current government. His repsonse was an emotional "I hope so" and he talked about that. I also managed to personally thank him on behalf a few friends making this film, for telling the truth about their experience. He thanked me and told me how much that means to him, he was getting emotional and he talked about the music, about Cachao, the mambo, for all the time he was talking to me about the music, I had the feeling he was fighting for composure.

He talked about what the screening of the film in Miami was like for him, how emotional. He spoke about Infante. He spoke about the scene from the film at the airport and how that was like his own families experience, about his sisters rings (bracelets) that the soldiers cut off becuase she´d grown and they were stuck, how scary it was, he thought they were going to cut off her hand.

As you can see, I'm filled to overflow from this experience. I don't think I'll be able to blog it for a day or two. I need to let the emotions settle.

I waited for my car with Nestor Carbonell and someone who looked familiar but couldn't place. We spoke a little about Cuban politics and I told him about Babalu. He asked me if I was Cuban, I told him no of course, that I had Cuban friends. His car was retrieved first, he leaned over said something and kissed my cheek.

The afternoon felt like a visit with Cuban friends who just happen to be actors. All of them are down to earth, warm, friendly and passionite about their love for Cuba.