By: Ashmar Mandou

It is a surreal time for Bolivian native Reynaldo Pacheco who will soon step foot on the iconic red carpet next week in Hollywood to promote his latest and most high-profile role in Warner Brothers feature “Our Brand Is Crisis,” featuring Academy Award winners Sandra Bullock, Billy Bob Thornton, with producer George Clooney. “I am so grateful,” said Pacheco, who phoned Lawndale Bilingual Newspaper to talk about his experience on set. “I am so blessed. I am so lucky that I had the opportunity to work with such amazing people. It is amazing to be part of a story that is so important to my country and to me.” Pacheco, who stars as Eddie Camacho, Bullock’s moral compass in the movie, fell in love with the art of performance and theatre at a very young age growing up in La Paz, Bolivia. Pacheco began to perform in a theatre troupe on the cobblestone streets of Bolivia, Ecuador, Mexico, France, England, and eventually the United States. “Those experiences performing in front of crowds around the world helped me to develop my craft,” said Pacheco.

In “Our Brand Is Crisis,” Eddie Camacho aids Sandra Bullock’s character, Jane to help install a new leader in war-torn Bolivia and gauge the interests of the Bolivian people. “I did so much research when it came to the role,” said Pacheco. “I spoke to my parents, I spoke to survivors, I spoke to family members who were killed during that time, and I read so many books just so that when it came time to film I was prepared.” Pacheco’s hard work moved critics at the Toronto International Film Festival who applauded his performance describing it as “heart wrenching” and “moving.” However successful Pacheco becomes, he vows to continue to advocate for educational rights and awareness. He is the founder of the Hollywood Academy of Performing Arts in South American and the United States, a prestigious online acting program dedicated to advancing students’ knowledge in acting and performance art. Pacheco also co-founded and serves as the ambassador for Changing Stories, an international nonprofit production company that aims to educate and share the struggles of third world countries. “What is most important to me is the ability to educate and give children the same opportunities I was given.” “Our Brand Is Crisis” opens worldwide on October 30th.

Photo Caption: (Left to right) Actor Reynaldo Pacheco stars opposite Sandra Bullock in this month’s “Our Brand Is Crisis.”