Meet Niki
played by Santiago Ramos Ramirez
We talked to one of our lead cast members, Santiago, about his role as Niki in the film, his time on set, and what the film means to him.
Can you tell us a little about yourself?
My name is Santiago Ramos Ramirez. I am a Mexican-American citizen born in Woodland Hills. Both of my parents are from Mexico. I started doing theater when I was about 9 years old and started working on sets when I was about 13. Some formidable moments that got me into acting were just being on different sets and in different films, learning and picking things up from each one I was on.
Tell us about your character, Niki. What three words would you use to describe him?
I would describe Niki with these three words: strong, family-oriented, and protective. The most important things to Niki are loving, caring, and supporting his family. Also, having a strong bond with his brother Beto and his older cousins Tomi and Ernie. [He] puts his familia before everything. He's a very loyal person. And like, if you need him, he'll be there for you and never leave your side. Even though he is the youngest cousin, he is still pretty tough and strong. And protective. One of the main things he does in the film is look up to Ernie. Ernie is the older cousin and [Niki] hopes to be like him one day.
What was it like being on set, working with the actors and the crew?
It was a hustle trying to get filming, dressing, makeup, editing, and everything done in a short amount of time. Also, I learned you can create a great bond with the people around you. People are working with you and are right next to you. It was really a great period of time. We were basically like a little family—everyone was so connected. Everyone had so much chemistry with each other. I think that's why we fit so well. That was definitely one of my favorite parts of being with [the cast and crew] and spending time with them.
What were some challenges you faced with this role?
The emotions. At times, Niki was very vulnerable and at other times he was very aggressive. So, it was a little challenging to stay in between those emotional states and to keep going back and forth. [continued below]
Hopes for the film.
What do you think people will enjoy about the film? What do you hope audiences take away from it?
What I think people will like most about Niki•Tomi•Beto are the moments when it’s high or low, sad or happy, aggressive or vulnerable. I think they will like this, but what they will enjoy most is definitely the storyline and how it is based on the Hispanic community and the struggles that they go through.
What I hope the audience will take away from Niki•Tomi•Beto is that family is very important. Family is always there for you, whether you're feeling down or super happy, they’re with you [during] the roller coaster of your life. [And] seeing the struggles for the Hispanic community—everything they go through along with what they can share with the world. I think that is a very important thing.
Can you share one of your favorite moments from production?
One of my favorite moments was when we had a scene where we were dancing with wigs, pretending to be famous female Mexican icons. It was fun because we were just having fun with it. We weren't being serious at all, but it was just super fun because we just got to be ourselves and let loose for a while. It was really cool.
Is there anything else you wanna share about the film?
Niki•Tomi•Beto is going to be a film that will stick with me for the rest of my life. It has impacted me so much as a person and as an actor. In this film, I got to know more about where my roots came from and also about my culture. I got to work with a ton of talented, hardworking, and amazing people on this film and be with amazing costars.
To keep up with Santiago and his upcoming projects please follow him on IG @santiago.ramos.ramirez
