COMING BACK
‘Outlander’ delayed by COVID; ‘New Amsterdam,’ ‘Manifest’ return
You have questions. I have some answers.
Q: Help! Have you heard anything about “Outlander”? Love the series, but I know COVID-19 has probably slowed filming this year.
A: It did. What was originally planned as a production start almost a year ago was delayed until just recently. And as you can imagine, production under COVID-19 protocols has been challenging for this as well as other shows.
“Outlander” star Sam Heughan, in a recent New York Times interview, said this about acting in the COVID-19 age: “It’s not so much the protocols that are difficult — you have to wear a mask, you have to social-distance where you can — it’s more the psychology of it. Certainly when you first start a job, everyone’s very tense, very aware. Of course the protocols are there for your own good, but everyone struggles with feeling like you’re being repressed or not being yourself, or going against your own instincts as a human being. When you see somebody you haven’t seen for a while, you want to give them a hug or touch them or get closer to them. You’re having to go against your instincts as an actor on set, where you’re supposed to use your instincts to portray a character. So it is a really weird situation, but you get used to it.”
Q: Three shows I have enjoyed but have not heard anything about returning are “Deputy,” “New Amsterdam” and “Manifest.” I am hoping you might know.
A: “New Amsterdam” begins new episodes on NBC on March 2. And, as I mentioned before, it has been renewed for two more seasons beyond this one. “Manifest” will start its new season on April 1. “Deputy” has been canceled after one season on Fox.
Q: I fell in love with “Sanditon” on “Masterpiece.” Will there be a second season?
A: I mentioned a year ago that the series based on an unfinished novel by Jane Austen was at best in limbo. ITV, the company behind the series, had decided not to continue the drama, but the creative team hoped someone else would finance a continuation.
After months with no good news, “Sanditon” fans found hope in the success of “Bridgerton,” the costume drama that has been a huge hit for Netflix. Maybe, they thought, Netflix or another service would like its own series in that style. And maybe someone will. But at this writing, there’s no announced deal anywhere.
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“I am a recovering addict. Four years sober. And I try to make it a thing and pray to my higher power for a better day tomorrow.”
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“I am not a practicing Catholic, but I was raised Catholic.”
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“I used to be a wrestler in Greco Roman. I went to state and regionals.”
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“I get up really early before the sun rises. 5 a.m. on the dot. This is something my dad taught me.”
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“People wouldn’t know that I played piano before guitar. I started writing music in piano as a child.”
Editor’s note: Venue Plus continues “In Case You Didn’t Know,” a weekly feature with fun tidbits about
New Mexicans and their projects.
Live shows haven’t happened in nearly a year. It’s been a struggle for Gabriel A. (Gaby) Fuentes, who makes his living as a musician. But that doesn’t keep the Albuquerque-based neo-flamenco guitarist down.
During his time off from performing, Fuentes has kept busy producing new music.
In fact, he’s made trips to El Paso, where he’s recorded at Star City Studio & OM gallery.
“Hopefully, I’ll be able to put it out this year,” he says. “I’ve had to keep my focus on music and keep a level head while working on it. I’m trying to get the track list together and figuring out the masters.”
Fuentes is toying with the idea of releasing singles until the album is released.
“We also have two music videos ready,” he says. Fuentes has also been writing with a music friend on another project.
The pair write in their own respective spaces and then come together in socially distanced meetings to hear each other’s parts.
“It’s based on being home alone,” he says. “There are no vocals, and it will be a sonic album. It’s really helped both of us to step outside of our usual routine in music. We also want to do some features with cello. It will be two cellos and two guitars. It’s going to sound amazing.” Fuentes, 29, has been playing guitar since he was 7. He continues to push his skills all while trying to stand out in the music industry.
“The music market is so oversaturated right now,” he says. “As a musician, I’m always having to think of what makes me stand out. How do I sound different? All of this while maintaining my artistry. It’s at a tipping point, and I think the new projects are helping show my evolution as an artist.”
For the first time, Fuentes is using a producer.
“It’s been an interesting process for me,” he says. “It’s also been very healing to let someone else take over and guide the music to where it needs to be.”
As Fuentes continues to work on his music, here are five things you probably didn’t know about him: