I love La Catrina—the story, the characters, and the refreshing presentation of contemporary Mexican culture. (And I must admit I especially like Esteban Soberanes, who plays the role of Carlos!)

Our goal in producing La Catrina was to provide a motivating tool that would help students really enjoy Spanish while expanding their language skills. And we wanted to include it with the second level of our Spanish program, Paso a paso, because it has always seemed that students lose their motivation somewhere during Spanish 2. What could be more motivating than to complete a telenovela in second year Spanish? Why, students might even hang around for level 3!

Well, it worked. Students and teachers from across the country tell us they love La Catrina. Students are walking from Spanish class imitating the characters ("La Catriiiiiiiiina!"). They beg to see the next episode. Teachers have sent us ideas students have come up with for a sequel (more on that in a minute!). But most important, teachers are telling us that they are finding an increased energy level in their Spanish 2 classes. And teachers have asked us for a sequel.

You've got it. La Catrina: El último secreto is available! When we decided to do a sequel, the entire development team agreed that it must be different from the original—and better. And we think we've done it.

I had the opportunity this fall to spend a week on the set of La Catrina: El último secreto. What was it like? Well, I wasn't prepared for the hard work and long hours. Let me tell you about one of the days in Querétaro.

11:00 a.m.:

Production meeting in the Restaurante El Arcángel (Yes, it does exist!). Review of scenes, locations, camera angles, scripted lines, and props for the day's shoot. Crew sets up (in this shoot, the office of Don Silvestre).

12:30 p.m.:

Carlos, the scene's only character, arrives for makeup and costume. Review of his lines.

1:30-4:00 p.m.:

Filming of Carlos' breaking into Don Silvestre's office and finding something that will help Jamie discover el último secreto. I was amazed at how many takes were needed, different camera angles, extra shots for protección.

4:00-7:00 p.m.:

Crew strikes the set and moves to the next site at La Casa de la Marquesa, where one of the most important scenes of the sequel will be filmed—a flashback with Doña Josefa de González and Pedro Aguilar, the abuelo of Don Silvestre. The scene is a ball at which La Catrina arrives, dances with Pedro Aguilar, and suddenly leaves. The scene involved many extras, beautiful music and period costumes, and the feeling of excitement, mystery, and intrigue.

7:00-10:00 p.m.:

Actors and extras arrive. Make up, costumes, sound and light checks, script revisions, walk throughs.

10:00 p.m.«1:30 a.m.:

Filming, filming, filming. Takes, retakes, different angles. "Prevenido, corre, acción, . . . corte."

1:30-3:30 a.m.:

"Dinner" arrives in the form of sandwiches. Crew strikes set, moves everything outside for exit shots (very important to sequel). Evangelina Sosa (Jamie) walks back to her hotel to rest; Luis Mario Ganuza (don Silvestre—y su abuelo) remains. Set-up includes putting enough lights on top of neighboring buildings to completely illuminate the plaza—plus a crane to hoist the cameraman 200 feet up for a better camera angle!

3:30-5:00 a.m.:

Jamie returns. Filming begins again, take after take. Toward 5:00, actors and extras are finished for the "day" and leave. Crew remains to film a few more special effects.

5:30 a.m.:

Crew strikes the set (another two hours of work). Next call is for 12:00 noon. Not much sleep for anyone.

What were some of the actors like?

Esteban Soberanes (Carlos) is performing the lead in a play in Mexico City at the same time the filming of La Catrina is going on. So he is commuting from the capital to Querétaro or Oaxaca weekly, arriving late Sunday evening and leaving Thursday morning. He is delightful in person, very funny and very professional. He is seen in Mexico as one of the up-and-coming stars of Mexican theatre, television, and cinema.

Evangelina Sosa (Jamie) is as sweet as her character of Jamie. She is petite, softspoken, and a real pro. She takes this role very seriously and carries the major burden of La Catrina: El último secreto.

Luis Mario Ganuza (Don Silvestre) is the "elder" actor and is warm, dignified, and very kind. He has the ability to transform himself into the character of Don Silvestre with a nod of the head and a shift of his eyes. Don Silvestre was the first "bad guy" he's ever played and he loved it!

So the filming of La Catrina: El último secreto was a blast! The actors were wonderful, the crew extremely organized and efficient, and the days (and nights) invigorating and exhausting. But it is worth it!