‘Capitol Barbie’ tackles gender, race, politics
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Riley Del Rey is taking some inspiration from the time she spent working in Washington, D.C., to create a television pilot she hopes will get people talking about gender, race and politics while showcasing New Mexico’s talent.
Del Rey, an Albuquerque-based filmmaker, and her all-New Mexico cast and crew will begin filming in the coming days.
Directed and produced by Del Rey, “Capitol Barbie” is described as a “’Mean Girls’ style political thriller” about aspiring Latinos working in Washington. It takes a page out of Del Rey’s life while co-writer Violet Martinez infuses some dark comedy reminiscent of “Mean Girls” and “Jawbreaker.”
Del Rey and Martinez said in an interview with The Associated Press that the outcome was a “really good script that a lot of people believed in.” Now, they said about 70 people are attached to the project.
“The characters in the script are fictional but obviously having worked in politics I had a perspective about being a trans woman and a Latina on Capitol Hill that I definitely put into these characters too,” Del Rey said. “So some of the topics in this thriller may be controversial but of course it’s how people really feel in their politics and ideology, just how they feel about women in the work place, how they feel about abuses of power, how they feel about gender and race and politics.”
Del Rey said in election year, the aim is to create a show that will engage different political philosophies and inspire debate.
The mini-series stars native New Mexican Elese Jones as Dolly, an intern who dreams of working on Capitol Hill. She ruffles the feathers of a politician vying to become the first Latina president and realizes that pursuing her dreams won’t be easy.
Jeanette Aguilar Harris, a lifelong New Mexican and a series regular on CBS’ “Under Suspicion,” will play Melissa Lopez-Gaffney, the politician gunning to become president.
A former congressional intern, Del Rey in 2017 filed an ethics complaint against then-New Mexico Congresswoman Michelle Lujan Grisham over allegations that she was fired from her internship over her transgender identity. At the time, Del Rey said she was coming forward with her story because of the wave of news reports about harassment and discrimination.
Lujan Grisham, who is now serving her first term as governor, denied the allegations.
But for Del Rey, Martinez and the others behind the project, it’s more about showing Hollywood that New Mexico’s film industry has more to offer when it comes to above-the-line talent such as writers and directors.
Netflix has a bustling production hub on the southern edge of Albuquerque and NBCUniversal is planning to unveil in the coming days its new studios just north of downtown, but locals say the door has yet to open to some opportunities within the industry.
“There’s a lot of pressure to really deliver considering that we’re not only taking on these issues but taking on the Hollywood industry and some of the larger productions here in New Mexico,” Del Rey said. “We’re confident about leading the project. I want to make sure that the big production hubs have some eyes on our local talent.”