João Pedro Delfino, 16 years old, plastic artist, currently plays the character Pinóquio in the soap opera Poliana Moça on SBT. He has also acted in musical theater as Freddy in School of Rock and Charlie in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Art lover, sings, acts, dances, dubs and plays some instruments like drums, piano and cavaquinho.
Alongside the soap opera, João Pedro embarks on a new project for social networks, “Exploradores de Mistérios”, a series full of curious episodes, where the character of JP Pedrinho, together with his sister, unravels several mysteries that haunt the neighborhood. The work aimed at children and young people rescues the magic in children, who participate in the discovery of clues in an investigative scenario, where the outcome of each episode helps the little ones to lose their fear of myths and legends. Check out the interview!
João, you are in the soap opera “Poliana Moça”, which, in addition to being very successful, you also play a very remarkable character, Pinocchio. How has it been to live this experience of participating in a title that has attracted so much young audiences?
Participating in Poliana Moça was the best experience of my life! And make Pinocchio the greatest gift! It was a period in which I learned a lot, I worked with incredible people at a station that welcomed me very well!
Pinocchio’s profile was not very well defined, so there were very diverse profiles on the test day. It was the first time I worked with Sophia Valverde, who I was already a fan of other works, so it was really cool and exciting!
Speaking of the soap opera, there was a post you made that made me very nervous just seeing it, which was the process of molding your face to play Pinocchio in the soap opera. How does this production process work to bring the character to life?
The mold process took about 3 hours. I couldn’t move anything and I was left with only my nostrils uncovered to be able to breathe. But I was so happy I didn’t even bother! From this mold, the characterization team developed a “hood” that I wore and a prosthesis that was glued on every day that I recorded, a process that lasted about 2 hours.
You’re 16 today and you’ve collected a lot of television and theater work, but before we delve into that, I’d like to ask you a little more about your background – how did acting come to you and how do you assess the significance of art in your life today? ?
I’ve always been passionate about the arts, even though I don’t have any artists in my family. She loved doing plays and movies at home, dancing, singing and playing instruments. I started studying music at the age of four and theater at the age of eight and never stopped.
On stage, you even did several projects, such as the “Escola do Rock”, where Freddy lived, and a reinterpretation of the classic by Roald Dahl – “Charlie and the Fantastic Chocolate Factory” – how was the responsibility of doing it a character that is already so recognized by the public, like Charlie?
I always try to watch all versions of movies and musicals to get inspired and build my characters.
In addition to acting, you can also sing, dance, lip-sync and play instruments such as drums, piano and ukulele. How did all these talents come together in you and especially, how do they help you in productions?
I started playing the drums at the age of four and then I learned the other instruments. At the age of 10 I started dancing and at 11 I started singing. I love everything: acting, singing, dancing and playing! And having those skills allowed me to do Broadway productions that required all of them! Freddy even played drums live in the musical Escola do Rock! An actor today must be as complete as possible to stand out.
Something that is in evidence now is his new webseries project, “Exploradores de Mistérios”, which is being shown on social networks. It is no longer today that producers have been investing more and more in streaming, including some broadcasters. What has it been like to produce professionally for this format and what do you think of the feedback?
It’s been a really cool experience making this web series and we have another really cool project that we really want to do for streaming. I actively participated in the process where I had a lot of freedom to build the character Pedrinho.
Developed with children and young people in mind, the series ends up rescuing the magic in children involved in discovering clues in an investigative scenario, where the outcome of each episode helps the little ones to lose their fears. Could you talk a little more about the conception of this series and especially the decision to follow the path of this “Sherlock style” mystery?
We had the idea of making a web series aimed at the whole family, with cool content that is unique to all children, which is facing fear. I loved playing detective and I looked for a lot of that for Pedrinho.
Despite the fact that the series started production before the soap opera, you were very participatory behind the camera, and even helped by giving tips for creating the characters. When many people watch it, they end up having no idea of the study behind this creation process. What is your vision of this world that exists behind the scenes and would you have any curious stories to tell us?
I was always very curious to know what happened behind the camera. When I watched a movie, I would immediately look for videos of how it was produced. So it was really cool to play Pedrinho and be able to participate behind the scenes in the recordings.
Still regarding this part of production, you commented that this was the first time that you were really involved with this part. Besides being in front of the camera, do you think about trying to invest in these other areas of production? In your opinion, what makes an ideal character and how does the actor know that he has achieved it?
I intend to make cinema because I also want to produce, in addition to acting. About the other question, an ideal character is one that moves the audience in some way. The actor knows if he has reached the character when the audience feels the emotions along with him, be it joy, sadness and even anger.
Including Pinocchio and Pedrinho, his character in the web series, we know that the actor ends up having to separate his personality from the character he is living, but, even so, can you see any resemblance with his characters?
Pedrinho is very similar to me when I was a child. As for Pinocchio, I’m a dreamer like him.
Despite the series dealing with fears and everything else, it ends up being free for all ages, being super-recommended for the family to be able to watch. At the moment, one of the subjects that has been discussed in discussions on the internet is precisely the responsibility for content that is aimed at children, including with many parents blaming only the creators for the material. How is this responsibility when creating stories for children and what is your opinion on this relationship with the family?
I think we have to be very responsible in what we do, because, in an increasingly digital world, we end up influencing people on social networks and in TV, theater or streaming work.
Very playful and creative, the series encourages a lot, through Pedrinho, the use of technology in favor of recycling, scraps that he ends up transforming into incredible things and that help him solve the mysteries. Regarding the influence of these good attitudes, what do you believe to be the real power of this type of entertainment in influencing children?
There is no escaping the technological world these days. So we have to use it in favor of good, and one example is this: through history, teaching that play can also be fun by creating your own toys with scrap metal.
As soon as we announced this interview, several fans of the soap opera came to us, so taking advantage of the hook, I would like to ask about your relationship with social networks and how is your interaction with the public?
The soap opera changed my life a lot in relation to social networks. Fans of the soap opera also like to know the routine of the actor who is behind the character. And I try to share with the fans a bit of work and my personal life as well.
To finish João, you started acting at a very young age and today you are conquering your space on television, in the theater, and in other areas of art. What tips would you have for those who dream of being where you are? With SBT’s investment in children’s soap operas, do you believe that young people’s dream of following the profession has increased?
I think you can never give up on your dreams, but you need to study a lot and improve every day so that you are prepared for the tests, when they appear.
Follow João Pedro Delfino on Instagram