Talking with Miguel Angel Garcia from Blue Miracle

If you haven't had a chance to check out my review yet for Blue Miracle, give it a look and then head over to Netflix and stream this new family film based on an inspirational true story.  Set in Cabo San Lucas following a hurricane, the story tells the tale of Casa Hogar - an orphanage for boys - that is fighting to survive financial crisis.  Papa Omar, who runs the orphanage with his wife, and the boys work together and find an unconventional way to raise funds and save their home.  Ahead of its release, I had the chance to talk with Miguel Angel Garcia who plays Moco in Blue Miracle.  

Moco's character is introduced in the film after having stolen a watch from a fishing boat captain.  Omar takes Moco under his wing and teaches him about taking personal responsibility and the power of love.  Moco is hesitant at first to trust Omar and the boys at Casa Hogar, but when given the chance, he joins the fishing team and begins to break down some of the barriers that he has built to protect himself over the years.

Blue Miracle. Anthony Gonzalez as Geco, Dennis Quaid as Captain Wade Malloy, Miguel Angel Garcia as Moco, Jimmy Gonzales as Omar in Blue Miracle. Cr. Carlos Rodriguez/NETFLIX © 2020

Blue Miracle is based on a true story.  What was it like bringing this story to life?  Did you have a chance to meet any of the people portrayed in the film?

Garcia shared how excited he was to be a part of this project as soon as he heard about it.  Like any one of us would likely do, Garcia took to Google and YouTube to immediately start doing his research about Casa Hogar and those portrayed in the film.  While he didn't have a chance to meet any of the boys from Casa Hogar, Garcia did get to talk with Omar and his wife - an experience he called "absolutely incredible."  Learning about the Brisbee Fishing Tournament was another highlight of the background research.

What was it like bringing Moco's character to the screen?  Any challenges in playing the role?

Garcia acknowledged the complexities of Moco's character as we talked about this question, referring to him as "dynamic."  Moco has difficult and complex relationships with people who are "supposed to show you love," which has dramatically impacted his life.  He "has all these walls built up," but learns throughout the movie about trust and love.

What do you hope families walk away learning from Blue Miracle?

At its heart, Blue Miracle is a movie about "perseverance, hard work, and love."  Garcia shared how these values underpin the whole story in a way that is accessible for families.  Kids and adults alike can relate to, and hopefully be inspired by the idea, that "you can achieve your dreams."

In the film the boys of Casa Hogar are one big family.  Tell me about what it was like on set.  How about working with Dennis Quaid?

I think we could all relate to Garcia when he shared that he was a little nervous at first working with Quaid, but those nerves quickly faded as filming began.  He said that throughout production, he learned a lot about "professionalism and fun" from the experienced actor and commented that it was that combination of traits which "relaxes you" on set.  As far as the younger actors, he said that they bonded quickly and described his fellow cast members as "kind and fantastic."  

Find Blue Miracle quotes from Garcia's character Moco and more here!

Garcia is already busy working on his next project, a pilot for an ABC drama called Promised Land.   It's easy to see in his portrayl of Moco in Blue Miracle that Miguel Angel Garcia's future is bright and I look forward to seeing him in the future!  For now, don't miss Blue Miracle streaming on Netflix beginning May 27, 2021!

About Blue Miracle (From Netflix)

The local boys orphanage Casa Hogar is about to go bankrupt and their director Papa Omar (Jimmy Gonzales) is desperate to find a way to save it. With all avenues closed, he turns to a local fishing tournament with hopes of a miracle. There’s one small problem, neither he nor his boys have ever fished. They team up with the reluctant Captain Wade Malloy (Dennis Quaid), a previous tournament champion, hoping he can steer them to victory. Unbeknownst to them, Molloy is fighting his own challenges. Once out on the open ocean, unexpected friendships are created, strengths are tested, and with the power of faith, we see miracles do come true. BLUE MIRACLE also stars Anthony Gonzalez, Raymond Cruz, Nathan Arenas, Miguel Ángel García, Isaac Arellanes, Steve Gutierrez, Dana Wheeler-Nicholson, Fernanda Urrejola, Silverio Palacios with Bruce McGill and is directed by Julio Quintana.