Hi, Stage 32!

Today, we’re back with Part 2 in our Behind the Scenes series on the making of the international feature film ALIX, created by a remarkable group of Stage 32 members in collaboration with Catalyst Studios. Over the next few weeks, we’re continuing to spotlight the incredible creatives behind the film- producers, directors, and talent- through exclusive blog interviews, AMAs in the Stage 32 community, and special features across social media.

As you know, at Stage 32, we celebrate artists who use their craft to tell bold and socially impactful stories. That’s exactly why we’re so proud to spotlight ALIX, the powerful and visually stunning feature from writer-director Ana Maria Hermida (The Firefly). Set in the Colombian jungle, the film follows a 12-year-old girl forced into child soldiering and the complex, haunting relationship that forms between her and a weary soldier named Conejo. The result is a harrowing and deeply human story told through a lens of resilience, trauma, and hope.

What makes ALIX especially meaningful to us at Stage 32 is that it was made by our very own community members, in partnership with Catalyst Studios, a company fiercely committed to supporting female and non-binary filmmakers. Our CEO Richard Botto and Managing Director Amanda Toney proudly served as Executive Producers on the film, continuing our mission to elevate independent voices and projects that make an impact. Many of you may recall our announcement last year about our screenwriting contest with Catalyst Studios—a first-of-its-kind initiative to develop socially driven feature films (read more on Deadline HERE). Since then, the partnership has only grown, and ALIX is a beautiful representation of what’s possible when creatives from around the world come together with a shared vision.

To learn more about Catalyst Studios, click here.

Shot entirely in Colombia with a local crew, and made possible in part by the country’s 30% production rebate, ALIX is not just a film—it’s a triumph of international collaboration, purpose-driven storytelling, and cinematic artistry.

You can now stream ALIX on-demand through:

• Amazon Prime
• Google Play Store
• Apple

Part 2 of this blog series focuses on the actors who brought this unforgettable story to life—Cristal Aparicio (Sound of Freedom) in the role of Alix, and Roberto Urbina (Narcos, Snowpiercer) as Conejo. In this exclusive interview, we hear directly from Cristal and Roberto about what drew them to the script, what it meant to film such an emotional story in the heart of the Colombian jungle, and how they prepared for roles so rooted in pain, survival, and transformation.

Now, let’s dive into today’s Q&A with Cristal Aparicio and Roberto Urbina as they reflect on the emotional depth, challenges, and inspiration behind their performances in ALIX.

A Q&A with the Leads of ALIX, Cristal Aparicio & Roberto Urbina:

WHAT ABOUT ALIX MADE YOU WANT TO TELL THIS STORY?

Cristal: When I read the script, I was very excited that I had the opportunity to portray a character in a story that told so many realities in my country Colombia and at the same time showing how beautiful and powerful it can be. I showed the story to my mother and she really felt moved because in her childhood, she experienced a lot of the armed conflict in our country and I really felt the necessity to be a voice in this theme.

Roberto: When I first read the script, I was struck by how Alix balances the harsh reality of child soldiers with the escapism of imagination and magical realism. I’ve always been passionate about Colombia’s history and unique reality, and the film is deeply rooted in those elements. However, while the film is grounded in a tough reality, it’s also a universal story about resilience, survival, and finding hope in the darkest places.

My character, Conejo, is a complicated man—both a soldier and a survivor—who is searching for a better life. Exploring his humanity, contradictions, and the dynamic between him and Alix was something I couldn’t turn down. I felt this film had something important to say, and I wanted to be part of telling that story.

HOW DID YOU PREPARE FOR THE SHOOT? HOW LONG WAS THE SHOOT?

Cristal: For this role, I prepared months prior to the shoot, where I had an acting coach and a personal trainer because it was a really challenging character for me. In the actoral part, the challenge was to be able to see the world in Alix's eyes because I really went out of my comfort zone even having a lot of things in common with her. Her world was something I have never experienced before. Sharing with animals and analyzing the connection she had with them, it was the most interesting acting I did. I trained for 1 month in Medellin, and I shot 2 months in Rio Claro, with all the amazing crew, my beautiful director Ana Maria Hermida, that allowed me to play this character with a lot of passion and respect.

Roberto: The shoot lasted around six weeks, and a lot of preparation went into it. Physically, I trained to build endurance because we were filming in tough jungle conditions. I was already trained in weapon handling and tactical work from previous projects, which helped create a more authentic character.

Before shooting, we spent two weeks rehearsing with Cristal and an acting coach to develop the physicality of the characters and the nuances of their relationship. This was a change of pace for me personally because I usually like to leave certain aspects of a scene to unfold organically on the day of the shoot. But for this particular movie, the rehearsals were incredibly helpful.

Emotionally, I did a deep dive into the psychology of guerrilla fighters—watching documentaries, reading testimonies, and trying to understand the layers of trauma, desensitization, and survival mechanisms that come with that life. I was fortunate enough to interview two former guerrilla members, which was a game-changer. Being able to dive into that reality to such an extent was eye-opening and allowed me to fully commit to the role. I also had extensive discussions with Ana Maria (the director) to get a deeper sense of Conejo’s inner conflicts.

THERE WAS A LOT OF TIME SPENT IN THE JUNGLE—HOW DID YOU PREPARE FOR THE ROLE AND STAY IN CHARACTER WHILE DEALING WITH THE ELEMENTS?

Cristal: For this role, I lived almost 2 months in the jungle and it was not an easy experience. I didn’t have a lot of signal, it was difficult to communicate and live how I live on a daily basis. It was like the whole ambient of the shooting really made me stay in character and immerse myself into the movie’s world. That’s why it was so special for me and my work as an actress. I am grateful that I was able to live the nature of my country. Sometimes we really don’t appreciate the resources that we have, and experiencing our fauna, our rivers, knowing our animals and actually feeling them was really beautiful for me and for the development of the character.

Roberto: Filming in the jungle was brutal—the humidity, the bugs, the exhaustion—but surprisingly, it didn’t bother me that much. On the contrary, it helped me ground the role even further. I used those physical challenges to fuel Conejo’s tension and inner conflict. His life is one of survival, and in a way, so was ours on set. I didn’t try to fight the discomfort—I let it shape my performance.

ANY ADVICE FOR ACTORS PREPARING FOR MATERIAL THAT TOUCHES ON MAGIC REALISM?

Cristal: I had the opportunity to act in two magic realism projects and thanks to them, I really learned that for this kind of role, you have to trust your imagination. Creativity is always allowed in our lane so don’t be afraid to really play and experiment with your character. Sometimes we have to perform with objects that aren’t there, with really fantastic situations, so don’t close your mind and stick just to your lines. Play, imagine and really give yourself the opportunity to immerse in the wonderful worlds that our minds can create. That’s how the best stories are made. That’s how Alix was made.

Roberto: Magical realism is tricky because it’s rooted in reality—it’s not fantasy, but a world where the extraordinary coexists with the ordinary. The key is to approach it with absolute sincerity and treat it as real as possible. The magic comes from the context, not from the character.

Acting itself is a form of magic—you have to suspend your disbelief in the real world and commit fully to the character’s reality instead of questioning it. If the character believes in the magic, then the audience will too.

HOW DO YOU TYPICALLY PREPARE FOR AUDITIONS, AND WHAT STRATEGIES DO YOU USE TO CONNECT TO A ROLE?

Cristal: I think that it’s really important to have a previous preparation and understanding of the character. Look for references, talk to your director, your crew, understand the vision, listen a lot, so you can deliver a great performance. I also think that confidence is a great factor. Don’t doubt your talent and give yourself the chance to surrender to the character.

Roberto: This is a great question because, honestly, I’ve had a tough time adjusting to self-tape auditions. I don’t think it’s an ideal way to judge an actor’s abilities. We’ve been given responsibilities that have nothing to do with acting: camera work, lighting, finding the right reader, choosing the best take to send, etc. I miss the days when you’d walk into a room and audition in front of real people, there’s a certain magic in face-to-face chemistry that’s been lost.

That being said, I now treat every audition as an opportunity to perform, that’s it. I don’t dwell on whether I’ll get the role or not because that kind of thinking would drive me crazy.

I break down the scene by beats, and if I have access to a full script, I read it to better understand the character’s journey. I try to memorize my lines as much as possible and then interpret what I see on the page.

ROBERTO'S FAVORITE MEMORY FROM THE SHOOT:

Despite the intensity of the story, shooting Alix was a really fun experience that created so many memorable moments and friendships.

One moment that stands out (and I think Natalia (Reyes) will kill me for telling this) is from the very first day we met. We had to jump straight into a scene where Conejo and Marta reunite and share a passionate kiss. It was basically, “Hi, nice to meet you” and then straight into making out.

After a couple of takes, Natalia assumed we were done and went off to eat a tuna sandwich. A few minutes later, she was called back to set to continue the same scene… and, well, you can imagine how that went. Let’s just say, Conejo definitely noticed. We all cracked up at the situation and from that point on we had a little inside joke where I would ask her: What are we eating?

Please support your fellow Stage 32 filmmakers and watch ALIX on demand:

• Amazon Prime
• Google Play Store
• Apple

Watch the full trailer of ALIX HERE, or click on the image below!

Have you ever worked on a project that pushed you emotionally or physically like this one? Share your experience and how you handled it on set or in your creative process in the comments below!

Got an idea for a post? Or have you collaborated with Stage 32 members to create a project? We'd love to hear about it. Email Ashley at blog@stage32.com and let's get your post published!

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