Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/1512164
F L A M I N ' H O T | P E R S P E C T I V E 8 9 similar backgrounds. At one point, I even lent old images of my father and our family for reference. Eva later introduced Cabot and I, and invited us to meet up in Albuquerque, New Mexico, to design the Flamin' Hot production together. Soon, Eva, Cabot, cinematographer Federico Cantini and I became a creative hydra tackling every challenge together. We spent day and night discussing the story, collaborating, generating ideas and presenting them to one another. Our aim and a keyword we used throughout production was something Eva Longoria preached, authenticity. From Richard's world to our corporate environments to the bustling business of the factory, it needed to feel natural and relatable, which we depicted through the Montanez family's storyline. Aside from being authentic, we knew Flamin' Hot's design needed vibrancy or else it would fall short. Our goal was to achieve this through keen attention to details specific to recreating each era and its settings. There was an emphasis to highlight the importance of having diverse voices while shedding light on the community's struggles and triumphs. Cabot and I worked together every day prepping this film. We knew that to Devon, Eva and many others, this wasn't just a script, it was a story our cast and crew were passionate about and believed in. The energy was infectious. To understand the real Richard Montañez, prior to preproduction, Cabot and I sat down with Richard, Judy and their kids. We spent hours at their house getting to the root of their story and who Richard was. Looking through old photos from his early adulthood with Judy, to the birth of their children and his days at Frito-Lay, each picture was a beginning piece of the story we would tell. This insight allowed us to be thoughtful about our decisions on set. Richard invited us into his creative space to walk through the original Flamin' Hot Cheetos designs. It was a dream museum of product development—a laboratory of pre-generative creations, drawings, and ideas stamped in time. After working through the relics, we reached the original Flamin' Hot bag. We were starstruck thinking about the impact that bag has on generations today. A. RICHARD MONTAÑEZ (JESSE GARCIA) ON THE FACTORY FLOOR ADDRESSING HIS CO- WORKERS. PRODUCTION STILL. B. FLAMIN' HOT CHEETOS BAG. GRAPHIC DESIGN BY MELISSA SHEPARD. B