The Blade Runner and Battlestar Galactica star tells why the message of Pixars great new movie is so important.
Edward James Olmos has just one scene in the new Pixar animated filmCoco, but its a crucial one.
They came to me and they said, Would you mind coming to Pixar?
says Olmos when we sit down to chat in Los Angeles recently.
We want to talk to you about something.
Then they told me about the character.
Of course, its the essence of the movie, he continues.
Its what happens to our loved ones that we dont think about them.
If you dont conjure them up, theyre gone.
You learn these stories and if you dont pass them on theyre gone.
(That) really was the key to my life, he affirms.
Parents, amazing sense of understanding, grandparents, more than parents.
Youre getting wisdom that you cant get any other way and you dont even know it.
You dont know what youre missing because youve never had it.
Very, very impactive.
My grandfather would not have said that to me.
I know what a stop sign is.
I was going to learn that anyway.
Olmos adds, Thats what this story is.
Its a tradition that has been around us for decades, centuries.
Centuries weve been celebrating the Day of the Dead.
We didnt have Halloween.
Every day you walk by the ashes of your parents and your grandparents and theyre right there.
I dont know that much except for the stuff I shot, he offers.
Hes got a dark sense of humor and it really works on this level.
He got some really good players too.
His casting was really amazing.
Very honored that he asked me to come on board.
Its very well done.
Cocois out in theaters this Wednesday (November 22).
