Hot ‘Rod’-riguez
By YADIRA SANCHEZ OLSON
You may have seen 29-year-old Puerto Rican actor Ramon Rodriguez in movies such as the critically acclaimed independent film “Bella” and the cop drama “Pride and Glory.”
He’s currently in the action flick “The Taking of Pelham 123.” And he starred in HBO’s fourth and fifth season of “The Wire.”
This weekend, you can catch Rodriguez in one of the summer’s biggest blockbuster, “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen.”
In the highly awaited sequel to the 2007 Transformers movie by director Michael Bay, Rodriguez plays Sam Witwicky’s college roommate, Leo Spitz.
His character sees government conspiracies in every corner and soon discovers that there really is something out there.
Reporter Yadira Sanchez got a chance to speak with Rodriguez via phone and get the full scoop on the star’s role in the movie, and his plans for the future.
Sanchez: How did you get involved in acting?
Rodriguez: I started out by entering a competition by NIKE and I won. I got to be in a commercial and then more; then roles in shows.
Sanchez: I understand that you are a dancer and a basketball player. Has that helped you in your acting career?
Rodriguez: Totally! It helped me with the NIKE tour and I now run a basketball performance group called Project Playground.
Sanchez: What is it like to be a part of this movie?
Rodriguez: It’s pretty amazing. I loved the cartoons. I remember watching them when I was little, at 8 a.m. while my sisters were getting ready.
Sanchez: So, this is like a boy’s dream come true?
Rodriguez: Absolutely. ... I was like a little kid.
Sanchez: Are you anything like your character, Leo Spitz?
Rodriguez: Well, I am a conspiracy theorist, in some ways. I don’t believe everything I read. So the doubt aspect of it, yes. But he’s so controlling. I like the journey that the character takes.
Sanchez: What did you like best about being a part of this fim?
Rodriguez: Oh! ... so many things. I got to be on top of a pyramid in Egypt. I was in an aircraft carrier; fly in a Blackhawk helicopter. Michael Bay is amazing that way. He can get things other people can’t do. He gets open arms from all the military.
Sanchez: What’s in the works for the future? Anyone in particular you’d like to work with?
Rodriguez: Well, I’m really glad with the roles that I’ve gotten. But I would love to work with Johnny Depp, Benicio del Toro, and Javier Bardem.
And I’m working on a script. It’s a casino drama about a father and son.
Sanchez: Is that based on your relationship with your father?
Rodriguez: Yeah, it’s personal; I’ll say that.
