Pop Culturalist Chats with Snowfall’s Filipe Valle Costa

At seventeen, Filipe Valle Costa decided he wanted to be an actor. It’s a decision that his parents fully supported and they encouraged him to apply for a tennis scholarship in order to obtain a visa to study acting in the States. He went on to earn a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre from Graceland University and a Masters of Fine Arts in Acting from the University of Florida. This year, all of his hard work paid off when he landed a starring role in John Singleton’s acclaimed drama, Snowfall. It’s his first major project in the U.S. and it has everyone buzzing. We spoke to Filipe on his breakthrough performance.

PC: Tell us about Snowfall, your character, and what drew you to this project.
Filipe: Snowfall on FX is a drama set against the infancy of the crack cocaine epidemic in Los Angeles and its ultimate radical impact on the culture as we know it.

I play Pedro Nava. Pedro is the heir apparent of the Villanuevas, one of the Mexican crime families in Los Angeles. Devastated by the events of last season, Pedro fled from his cousin and their business, only to return with a new fiancé and a renewed commitment to the family, despite his cousin, Lucia, and Gustavo’s distrust of his motives.

PC: Tell us about the audition and how you learned you landed the role?
Filipe: I put myself on tape for Alejandro first, actually. I am guessing that tape sparked some interest because not too long after, I was asked to tape for Pedro. It was an incredibly bizarre and distant process. Because I was so far away, I never had the sense that it was at all real. Well, it was! It happened about two years ago now, but I still have such a vivid memory of it. I received the call that I got the part the same day that Portugal won the Euro Cup. At first, I froze, but when reality sank in I began running around New York City with my Portuguese flag, my wife, and some of my best friends. We had just come from a Portuguese restaurant and there were so many reasons to celebrate. It was crazy.

PC: How much of Filipe is in Pedro?
Filipe: Pedro is all the parts of myself I could use, find, and explore within me in order to serve him. His pride and sensitivity come to mind.

PC: It’s your first role as a series regular. How did you prepare? Was there any added pressure?
Filipe: Snowfall is set in such a specific moment in time; so much was shifting. I wanted to get inside the mentality of those years so that Pedro could resonate as true and honest as possible. I spent hours watching everything I could about it: documentaries, films, etc. There is so much information out there. I also went on some dark trips on YouTube. I know it sounds silly, but you would be surprised with how much you can find on there these days. One of the most helpful pieces of material I read was a book called Always Running by Luis Rodriguez. It is such a unique and magical testimony. It shed such a clear light on the danger of those years, but most importantly, it connected me to how much certain Latino families were being dragged into this problem by no fault of their own, but simply because society was very clear in that they had no other option. Then, as I began shooting, I sort of told myself to let it all go so I could be present. It was then that I had the realization that although filled with violence, drugs, and sex, Snowfall is really an internal drama about family. I re-watched The Godfather Parts I and II over and over again. I find that as an actor, these are the projects you really want to be part of: the ones where you can dig deep into research but also go back and find inspiration in the places that first triggered your passion. Most of the pressure came from not knowing what was coming next. When we were filming this season, I was learning more about my character each time I got my script for the next episode, and because this is an original story, it was hard to anticipate Pedro’s next move and what the consequences might be for his actions. In truth, this ended up being a great gift because I was able to focus on the moment and not play ahead.

PC: What can you tease about Pedro’s relationship with his father and their dynamic on the show?
Filipe: Pedro’s ambiguity, vulnerability, insecurities, ambitions, and ultimately, questionable actions, are all rooted in his relationship with his dad. He does everything he can to feel loved, to prove himself, to belong, but the tragedy is that he can never meet his dad’s expectations. This season is no different, even after his father’s death—especially after his father’s death.

PC: What was the collaboration like working with John Singleton?
Filipe: John Singleton is such a gentle, warm soul. There is an ease about him that makes it easy for you to trust him. He is so knowledgeable of the story we are telling (it is his story in so many ways, too), but at the same time, he is able to maintain this childlike, innocent energy. It is remarkable to just sit back and observe him at work. Especially in the season finale of season one, being directed by him, the excitement on his part was so palpable. Every moment meant the world to him. It then became easy for me to connect and make each moment count.

PC: What are you most excited for fans to see this season?
Filipe: The three worlds collide in ways we haven’t seen before. As a result, some major irreversible events end up taking place for all of the characters.

Pop Culturalist Speed Round

PC: Guilty pleasure TV show?
Filipe: The Great British Baking Show

PC: Guilty pleasure movie?
Filipe: Love Actually but actually, I don’t feel that guilty

PC: Favorite book?
Filipe: The Unbearable Lightness of Being by Milan Kundera

PC: A band or artist that fans would be surprised to learn is on your playlist?
Filipe: Hundred Waters

PC: Last show you binge-watched?
Filipe: Succession. So great.

PC: Hidden talent?
Filipe: I can draw Mickey Mouse in less than fifteen seconds.

Make sure to follow Filipe on Twitter and Instagram, and catch Snowfall every Thursday at 10/9c on FX.

Photo Credit: Riker Brothers Photography