Luis Gerardo Méndez On New Film "Skincare," Netflix's "Technoboys" & More - "Paltrocast" Exclusive

Photo byIFC Films

Per the new film Skincare -- due out to theaters on August 16, 2024 via IFC Films -- famed aesthetician Hope Goldman (Elizabeth Banks) is about to take her career to the next level by launching her very own skincare line, but her personal and work lives are challenged when rival facialist Angel Vergara (Luis Gerardo Méndez) opens a new skincare boutique directly across from her store. She starts to suspect that someone is trying to sabotage her reputation and business, and together with her friend Jordan (Lewis Pullman) she embarks on a mission to unravel the mystery of who is trying to destroy her life.

Skincare was directed by Austin Peters and written by Austin Peters with Sam Freilich and Deering Regan. Peters' distinct docu-drama style of filmmaking can be seen in his work with artists like Orville Peck, Diplo, Chvrches and Rae Sremmurd. His feature documentary Give Me Future about the free Major Lazer concert in Havana, Cuba that drew half a million fans premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and was one of the first films acquired by Apple as they moved into the entertainment space. Skincare is his narrative feature-length debut.

In August 2024, I had the pleasure of interviewing Skincare star Luis Gerardo Méndez via Zoom, as embedded above and set to air via the Long Beach, New York-based Paltrocast With Darren Paltrowitz television series. In addition to Skincare, we discussed his upcoming Netflix series Technoboys.