ABOUT DRAGONBALL EVOLUTION & “WEAVER”
• Luis was able to create the wonderful character of “Weaver” in the film Dragonball Evolution.

• Luis was not a fan of Dragonball before starting the film, so he studied all the information he could find on the phenomenon, and now he has become a fan.

• In Dragonball, Luis’ character “Weaver” is a nerdy guy, who thinks he knows absolutely everything and his classmates do not like him much.

• Luis says what he loves about his character, is that he was a nerd in his youth so he was able to identify with him some. He says he loved that he was able to change his look for the role, dying his hair yellow [not blonde, it is bright yellow.]

I will be honest with you, my character is small in the film, but I do think it is important to the movie.  He won’t be fighting alongside Goku, but I wish he were! 

Dragonball is very action oriented. Did you do some of your own stunt work during the film? Was it dangerous?

Unfortunately I had no fight scenes – they needed to make me do some stunt work, I would have loved it!

Weaver, the character you play, is a friend of Goku’s but a completely original character created for the film.  What can you tell viewers to expect of Weaver? Will he be fighting alongside Goku?

I will be honest with you, my character is small in the film, but I do think it is important to the movie.  He won’t be fighting alongside Goku, but I wish he were! 

Dragonball is very action oriented. Did you do some of your own stunt work during the film? Was it dangerous?

Unfortunately I had no fight scenes – they needed to make me do some stunt work, I would have loved it!

Did you have to learn any martial arts? If so, what was that like?

No, I didn’t learn any martial arts. 

Dragonball is an animation and comic book originally from Japan. How does it feel to be in a live action version of a show that has so much history and an international fan base? Any worries?

I feel very lucky to be a part of something this big. I am excited!  After being an actor for almost 8 years in my country, sometimes you get horrible criticism so you have to learn not to take it personal. I always try to do everything the best I can and with great responsibility.

What was the best part about filming the movie?

Knowing that I am going to be in a movie that Chow Yun-Fat is in.

How does working on a Hollywood film compare to the work you’ve done in Mexico?

The work environment is basically the same. People love doing movies in Mexico, so is great to be on set. There are sometimes tensions, but is part of the deal whether you are in the US or in Mexico. The big difference is in the production. In Mexico you have one camera and two campers, one for girls and one for boys. In the US you can have as many cameras as you want and each actor has their own camper. 

What was your favorite cartoon growing up? Are you an anime fan?

The Simpsons. I like it because the series is written in a very intelligent way. As a kid I loved cartoons like Thunder Cats, Fantastic Four, Los Pitufos, Tom and Jerry, Scooby Doo. It has been a long time since I watched any cartoons!

You have four films coming out in 2009 which include Love Equation, the much anticipated film in Mexico, Paradas Continuas (Contiunous Stops), Borderline, and the 20th Century Fox live action movie Dragonball Evolution. You also will be making your debut as a writer and producer for your film Antes Del Invierno (Before Winter). Is writing and producing more where you want to focus your efforts in the future? Have you had any chance at all to take a break with what must be a hectic schedule? What do you do to unwind?

I love to act and to write. I am producing now as well, because it is tough to make it on the acting side of the business, and producing is another way to let the creative side of me show.  I will love to act and write for the rest of my life but when you are first starting out, things are not that easy and you have to make things happen. You are going to laugh at me when I tell you that to unwind I go to the movies. Those are my breaks. I love fiction and imagination so I try to stay away from reality as much as possible. I know that may not be the healthiest thing to do, but I do it so I will not go crazy!

Is there any message you would like to share with Dragonball fans?

I would tell them to go into the film with an open mind, there will be a lot of people who are die hard fans who may not like it because of the changes the filmmakers made to the original Dragonball, or they may love it.  After you see it, you can love it or hate it but at least you went into it with an open mind.

Thank you so much for your time.

No, thank you! 

Best of luck in all your future endeavors,
Holly Ellingwood

About Luis Arietta

Comparable to Shia LeBeouf here in the US, Latino heartthrob Luis Arrieta was born and raised in Mexico City, Mexico. Diverse and multitalented in not only acting, but in writing and producing, Luis has been carving his way through the heart of the Mexican entertainment industry with leading roles in top Mexican films over the past five years.

In 2001, Luis was accepted to CEFAC, a prestigious acting school in Mexico. After finishing his studies he went on to star in three plays in Mexico: The Butterfly, The Infinite Sonata, and The Last Island of the World. In his time spent acting in Mexico, he went on to appear on over ten television shows, most notably Belinda [270 episodes/Azteca TV, Latin America, Europe] and Ride My Motorcycle [170 episodes/ Azteca TV, Latin America Europe].

Luis dreamed of coming to the US to pursue his career further, and after he completed working on the show Belinda, came to Los Angeles to not only pursue acting, but also further his education in his craft. He studied at the Lee Strasberg Theatre Institute and also at the Warner Loughlin Studios, where he honed in on his skills, while looking for work. His knack for theatre landed him roles in The King of the Lighthouse and The Bald Soprano at the Lee Stage, and The Obsession of Luna at The Complex Theatre.

He also landed roles in several short films, including Luke Day, El Ride, The Point of No Return, Without My Coat, Restless, Celluloid Filth, The Nephilim, and The Goodnight Kiss. In 2007, Luis appeared in the film The Prince of the American Dream II, where he played the lead role “Manny Munoz.” The film went on to have nationwide distribution in DVD across the states. After some time spent in LA, Luis went back to Mexico, and landed his most notable and important roles to date.

With four films to be released in 2009, including Love Equation [Luis plays the lead role of Estebanthe film has been accepted into festivals in Spain and Argentina], Paradas Continuas [“Continuous Stops,” set to be one of the biggest films of 2009 in Mexico- Luis plays the supporting lead of Emilio], Borderline [a Mexican/American production- Luis plays the supporting role of Arturo], and 20th Century Fox’s highly anticipated film Dragonball Evolution, Luis Arrieta is set to become the next Mexican star to capture the hearts of audiences across the US. In Dragonball Evolution, Luis plays Weaver, a nerdy guy who knows all the answers. The film is set to be released nationwide on April 8, 2009.

In addition to his US release of Dragonball Evolution, Luis is filming the Disney film Sin Ella (Without Her) for Latin America. In the film he plays the lead character of “Andi.” He is also currently working on his debut as a writer and producer in his film Antes Del Invierno (Before Winter.) The film is set for preproduction in late 2009.