Carlos Diehz – Conclave

We will try to avoid spoilers, but we also strongly suggest you see the movie Conclave, which is in theatres everywhere. Every actor dreams about their big break. We spoke with Carlos Diehz about his journey towards that and beyond.

 

HNMAG: Are you in Vancouver right now? 

Carlos Diehz: Yes, yes here in Canada.

 

HNMAG: Carlos, what part of Mexico are you from? 

Carlos Diehz: Mexico City. 

 

HNMAG: What did you do for work before you came to Canada? 

Carlos Diehz: I’ve always been working in architecture. My mind was made up when I was eight years old to become an architect. 

 

HNMAG: Did you move to Canada to work in architecture as well? 

Carlos Diehz: Yes, in 2009. Our company’s office is in Manitoba. They asked me if I wanted to move to the Prairies, and I said no, thank you. So we set up a remote collaboration

  

HNMAG: When did you get interested in acting?

Carlos Diehz: I had an itch for acting when I was in high school. I have always been attracted to the arts, such as drawing, painting, and singing. I noticed that the guys in the drama club were very loud and outgoing, and I was more of a shy person. It was too much for me. When I was eighteen, I was a background performer in a French movie they were shooting in Mexico. It was fun, but when the camera was right in front of me, I felt very intimidated. I decided it was not for me! In college, I did get some multimedia voiceover work. We read some short stories and poems. 

 

HNMAG: When did you get back into acting in Canada?

Carlos Diehz: In 2020, I was looking for something new to do as an empty nester. So, during the pandemic. I remembered that I wanted to go into acting in high school. I got into online acting workshops and worked with some amazing coaches.

HNMAG: How did you find the workshop online? How did you decide which one to go to? 

Carlos Diehz: There was only one online workshop I found at the beginning of the pandemic. 

 

HNMAG: What was the name of the company? 

Carlos Diehz: A-Acting Studio with Waymon Boone based in Burbank. 

 

HNMAG: That’s fascinating because you came here with a full-time job and you were thinking of acting as a hobby at first right? 

Carlos Diehz: Yes. The first thing he told us was that if you are doing this just to feel good about yourself or as a hobby, don’t waste my time or your time. This is a business. It’s show business. You have to invest in yourself, or it won’t work. You are your own asset. 

 

HNMAG: What was your frame of mind at that point? It seems like before you took that particular workshop, you weren’t looking to change your career. Were you looking at it as a hobby or something as a secondary income? Was that the kernel that pushed you to be a serious actor?

Carlos Diehz: That’s right. I was looking for a hobby, but when he said that, I thought, yeah, I’m going to take it more seriously and really go for it. What’s the use of learning to act if you don’t go and act?

 

HNMAG: How long did you study with A-Acting Studio? 

Carlos Diehz: Eight weeks.

 

HNMAG: Not that long. Did you try any other acting classes after that? 

Carlos Diehz: I studied online too with Jessica Houde from Cleveland. I did her boot camp. There were a lot of working actors in her workshop. We did a lot of script analysis as well as the Meisner Technique. Then, I studied with Kristen Clarkson. It was a life goals workshop. It helps you with how to view your life as a hero’s journey. 

HNMAG: You did a lot of online studying and training. After that, you booked some short films, then you got an agent. 

Carlos Diehz: Yes, that was in 2022. I then had something to show on my demo reel while searching for an agent. 

 

HNMAG: The next year, an upcoming Edgar Berger project was looking for a very specific character. They did an international search. 

Carlos Diehz: Correct. I initially did a couple of self-tape auditions, and then I was flown to Rome for a callback. 

 

HNMAG: When you were doing your audition in Rome, were you reading with any of the talent in the film?

Carlos Diehz: I was reading with the casting director, Nina Gold. Edgar Berger was holding the camera. The audition took over an hour.

 

HNMAG: Did you go back to Vancouver?

Carlos Diehz: Yes. I stayed in Vancouver until I booked the part.

 

HNMAG: How long did it take before you knew you booked the role? 

Carlos Diehz: About five weeks.

 

HNMAG: Wow! So did you forget about it?

Carlos Diehz: No, (lol). You don’t forget about that. 

HNMAG: We don’t want to give away any spoilers because there are a lot of twists, and Conclave is really worth seeing. We recommend anyone who’s reading this to actually go to the theatre and see this movie. Did you have a connection with Benitez? How religious are you? Are you Catholic?

Carlos Diehz: I was raised Catholic but I don’t practice it anymore. I’m more spiritual.

 

HNMAG: That’s what I want to get to. Your character comes off as progressive and it’s moving more towards what Christ would want as opposed to what the church is telling most people.

Carlos Diehz: Benitez adheres to the basics. Love thy neighbour, forgive thy neighbour, love your enemy, because if you only love those who love you, there is no merit to that. Everyone, regardless of their beliefs, deserves the love of God. His mission is to be a vehicle for the love of God. He is so committed that he is willing to risk everything. These are the basics of not just the church but of Christianity itself. 

 

HNMAG: Benitez has something more that’s very progressive. Do you relate to that or was that something that you had to figure out as an actor?

Carlos Diehz: In society, there is always something that can make us feel out of place, strange, or that there is something wrong with us. It’s not because of what you do but possibly what you are or where you come from. Sometimes, you feel left out, and you feel like an outcast. It takes strength to feel strong about yourself and then feel the same about a religion. Being an immigrant in Canada, that’s the type of feeling you have for the longest time. 

 

HNMAG: Are you still working for the same architectural firm right now?

Carlos Diehz: Yes.

 

HNMAG: There is a good possibility that Conclave will be nominated for some major awards. Do you see yourself moving forward by making acting a full-time career?

Carlos Diehz: Yes, that would be great. This is a new passion. After working with some of the best professionals in the world, you see the passion and the joy that they get from the work. I want that! 

 

HNMAG: You’re inspired by some of the top actors in the world, which is very fortunate. Now you’re here in Vancouver. We have a lot of films that are shot here that are American. However, there are more and more productions that are set in Canada. Do you have any preference for working on productions that show Canada as Canada? 

Carlos Diehz: As an actor, I look for projects that are well-written, well-structured, that are meaningful. Where the story is set is a secondary thing. When the story is compelling and allows you to project all your skills, that’s the most important thing.

Conclave is one of the best movies of 2024. The script, the direction, and especially the acting are what make it stand out. Again, it’s a movie you need to see. Of course, Carlos Diehz was fortunate to play Benitez. It wasn’t a fluke, though. The production team did a very thorough search and found the perfect performer for the part. Carlos Diehz is a big reason for the success of Conclave and we are sure it will be a reason to look for him in other projects very soon.