ALFREDO CARLOS BIRABÉN
California, 1931
When I fell in love with the movies,
I left my home in Argentina and arrived
here in Hollywood, eager to play
any challenging role,
but the film studio
changed my name
to Barry Norton,
urging me to pretend
that I am not
myself.
While movies were silent,
I felt successful, but now
that sound has been added,
my accent prevents me
from being offered
good roles.
So while someone else plays Dracula by day
in a famous English-language version
of the film, I have to wait for night,
the only time when Spanish-speaking
movie crews are allowed to use
the studio.
Any role I play will be powerful,
because
of my authentic
anger.