Colombian Rock Star Juanes Makes Film Debut in Prime Video Drama ‘Pimpinero: Blood and Oil’; Trailer Bows Ahead of Toronto World Premiere (EXCLUSIVE)

Colombian rock star Juanes, winner of 26 Latin Grammys and three Grammy awards to date, is making his big screen debut in Prime Video drama “Pimpinero: Blood and Oil,” by Andrés Baiz (“Narcos,” “Griselda”), which bows its trailer exclusively in Variety ahead of its Toronto Film Festival (TIFF) world premiere.

'Emilia Pérez': Clément Ducol and Camille On Crafting an Emotional Music Arc for Selena Gomez and Zoe Saldaña

Juanes stars alongside Alberto Guerra (“Griselda,” “Narcos: Mexico”), Alejandro Speitzer (“The Head of Joaquin Murrieta”) and Laura Osma (“Goles en contra”) in the dramatic fact-based thriller set along the border of Colombia and Venezuela.

Set to a pounding soundtrack, the trailer shows quick cuts of mounting intensity. The story co-penned by Baiz and Maria Camila Arias (“Birds of Passage”) takes place in the unforgiving desert between these two countries where gasoline smugglers known as “pimpineros” risk their lives transporting illegal fuel across the border. Among them is Juan, the youngest of three brothers deeply involved in this dangerous trade. When he’s coerced into working for a menacing rival, the dark and deadly nature of the business is exposed, leading to devastating consequences. Driven by a need to uncover the grim secrets hidden in this lawless region, Juan’s girlfriend, Diana, sets out on a determined quest for the truth.

The film is produced by Andrés Calderón, CEO and co-founder of Dynamo, among the leading production companies in Latin America with such credits that include ”Narcos,” “The Head of Joaquín Murrieta,” “American Made,” starring Tom Cruise, and the much anticipated “100 Years of Solitude.”

In an exclusive interview with Variety , Baiz talked about casting Juanes and the making of the film.

What made you think of including Juanes in a key role in the movie? How was it working with him as an actor?

I wanted a cast that felt unique, fresh and bold and one day, Juanes came to mind, so I reached out to him: I really like his stage presence. He accepted the challenge of acting for the first time with complete commitment. I knew I had to surround Juanes with excellent actors who could provide him with comfort and confidence on set. The bond that he formed with Alberto Guerra, Alejandro Speitzer, and Laura Osma was very deep and collaborative. Juanes is also a very generous person with a big heart.

It seems like the movie was primarily filmed in the desert. What challenges did you face during the shoot?

'They Will Be Dust': A Daring Right-to-Die Musical by Goya Winner Carlos Marqués-Marcet World Premieres at Toronto

We spent nine weeks filming in the deserts of La Guajira, in very remote and rugged locations, with a lot of dust and sun. The logistics of transporting, housing, feeding and hydrating so many people were very demanding and complex, especially in a region that is so unpredictable and has such little infrastructure. To that, you have to add the difficulty of dealing with so many on-screen vehicles, which are a fundamental part of the plot. Another huge challenge was for the art department, which did a monumental job in the desert; 90% of the sets were entirely built or heavily modified, and the result is admirable.

You directed several episodes of “Narcos”. What did you learn from that experience?

I worked on ‘Narcos’ and ‘Narcos: Mexico’ for seven years, as a director and creative producer. I had the opportunity to collaborate with many of the most talented and demanding people in the Hispanic film industry, both in front of and behind the camera. The learning was immeasurable because people with so much experience expect the best from you, and you can never let your guard down. In the end, I am a series of small victories and great defeats, and it is precisely that which helps you grow as a director.

What inspired you to write about this particular phenomenon at the Colombia-Venezuela border?

In 2014, while directing the first season of ‘Narcos’ in the town of Palomino, Colombia, I came across a “death caravan”: daring kamikaze drivers transporting illegal gasoline from Venezuela. The image of a long line of Renault 18s loaded with fuel canisters speeding down the road stayed in my mind and became the genesis of this film. Later, together with Maria Camila Arias, we wrote a script that delves into the more human and complex aspects of what happens on this unsettling border.

Do you hope that this film will draw attention to this issue and have an impact on border security?

What interests me most is that the audience can find truth and beauty in the images, the storytelling, and characters. However, I would like the film to contribute to the dialogues and debates surrounding the current crisis in Venezuela and the effects it has on neighboring countries and the world.

Rookie Helmer Durga Chew-Bose on TIFF Debut 'Bonjour Tristesse' and the Special Bond of the Female Characters and Producers