RIPE FOR THE PICKINGS
Undocumented workers focus of ‘American Crime’
AMERICAN CRIME Sunday, 10 p.m., ABC
THE third season of “American Crime” could not be more timely. Taking on the plight of the undocumented worker, it explores the issues of immigration and human trafficking through characters of various backgrounds. Benito Martinez, who had a wonderful role in Season 1 as Alonzo Guitierrez, a Mexican-American whose son becomes embroiled in a crime that sends him to prison, is back as Luis Salazar, an accountant from Veracruz, Mexico, who travels to America and masquerades as a farm worker to find his missing son, Teo. Martinez, 48, spoke to The Post about filming this season’s episodes. Your storyline seems very current. When you were filming the series, did you know that would happen? It was a complete fluke. As usual, [executive pro- ducer] John Ridley is on the pulse. As we were filming, immigration became more of a hot-bed topic.
What was it like to be back with the “American Crime” company?
John [Ridley] and [executive producer] Michael J. McDonald do a great job of coming up with a wonderful story. I usually get cast as politicians and police captains, but with John I play these characters. They’re difficult and messy. As part of a real ensemble, John and Michael bring with them a high level of respect for us and for our place on television. These are the stories that need to be told with the camera right in our faces and we embrace that. Let’s be raw. Let’s be imperfect. Let’s be human.
Did you work on a farm as part of your research for the role?
Yes. I picked tomatoes. I built the boxes [the tomatoes are packed in]. I tried to keep up with the workers. That was one day. I was in bed, exhausted, for two days after that. I’m a guy who works out, but my back hurt and I was tired from the sun, even though I was covered head-to-toe. I thought the experience was going to be more insightful, but like any factory worker, once you learn the ropes you do it with very little brain power.
How would you contrast Alonzo from Season 1 with Luis from Season 3?
Alonzo is a man who’s leaving his past in the past. He made his journey as an immigrant and he is going to raise his kids with a higher standard. He’s a widower and he just has his rules. When he tells his son to tell the truth, that trust in the rules is what gets [the kid] into a deeper situation. Luis is in the shadows. He doesn’t know what he’s walking into. He has a kid he has to find. Alonzo’s arrogance and determination to be a perfect citizen was a lie that was fed to him. They are different guys.