Variety posted a news story on October 1st that said “SNL’s secret weapon Julio Torres brought his surreal comedy to TV screens with Los Espookys”, which Torres responded with “I’m more of a sapphire in a little box under the bed that you can look into from time to time to see how your reflection has changed since the last time you held me than a secret weapon but thank uuu”. And this exchange seems to be the only way I
Julio Torres is an immigrant from El Salvador who started his career in America after attending the New School in New York City. His childhood and roots influence his comedy greatly. His mother was an architect and fashion designer, her focus and precision on details has made him meticulously aware of every outfit and set design he creates. A great example of this is in the comedy stand-up My Favorite Shapes. The title sums it up, but does not. Torres does tell us his favorsite shapes one by one, but each one he describes an anecdote, an identity, or simply something this shape makes him think of. In the special Julio rejects the mundane clothes and typical stool and microphone set of other comedians. Rather he constructed a set that has the curves and look of Dr. Seuss, but the colors and polish of a science fiction utopia. His clothing reflects the set, with chrome outfits and hands covered in glitter because of how often the camera zooms in on them while he describes the shape. Julio Torres states that his creation in set and outfits is because he does not want you to feel like he is “just an ordinary guy” like so many comedian personas are. Rather he wants the comedy to feel like an experience, to feel like each bit in his stand up is a short story seeped in magical realism. It is a comedy special that feels never done before due to the unique setting and creative input he puts into such mundane items.
Another successful show Torres has created is his comedy show on HBO Los Espookys. A bilingual comedy, it
When people ask me to recommend a comic similar to Julio Torres or compare him, I come to a loss. His work is something I have never seen before and his style such a unique combination of genres that seem interwoven with his identity. This uniqueness and his push for new ways to consider how comedy is presented and how it can be spoken and understood in multiple languages easily makes him a Big-C creative for comedy. It is exciting to know that this young artist still has so many years ahead to continually create and change the comedy scene into something fresh and new.
It definitely seems as though Julio Torres is changing the domain of comedy, or perhaps even creating his own domain of comedic magical realism. It must be difficult to make the punchline of jokes funny in both English and Spanish...I wonder what his process is like to make sure the jokes land. Perhaps he focuses on the visual aspect of his HBO show (props, clothes, scenery, etc) as well as the acting to create a universally funny product.
ReplyDeleteJulio Torres seems to be changing comedy for the better. Comedy has often been dominated by white men, and it's really great to see other people succeeding. I really would like to know what goes on in his mind to make him think of his jokes. I find the idea of the special "My Favorite Shapes" so intriguing. I have no idea how anyone could come up with that.
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