19 May 2005

Rebelde with a cause - Rebelde en Canada

Rebelde

Hot Mexican TV soap opera becomes an ad for Alberta tourism

By David Agren

When Lorena Rochin, a university student in Guadalajara, Mexico, flipped on her television set recently to watch her favourite telenovela (soap opera), images of the snow-capped Canadian Rockies flashed across the screen.

"It's gorgeous," she says of the Lake Louise scenery, used as a backdrop for a clandestine make-out scene.

Through a partnership deal with the Canadian Tourism Commission, the hit teen telenovela Rebelde (Rebel in English) filmed episodes in Calgary and the Canadian Rockies in early March, which aired in Mexico in late April.

The show is so popular, even guys are into it, says Rochin. "(At least) 80 per cent of my friends watch it."

The show's success and audience demographics captured the attention of the Canadian Tourism Commission, which saw it as a vehicle to launch Canada's immense popularity to even greater heights in Mexico.

"Rebelde has a very nice peculiarity… middle classes are watching, also (upper-class) Mexicans, including parents," says Jorge Morfin Stoopen, Mexican director for the Canadian Tourism Commission, who is based in Mexico City.

More than 10 million Mexicans watch the show weekly and it's aired throughout Latin America. "This is exactly the target we are looking for," says Morfin Stoopen.

More than 173,000 Mexicans visited Canada in 2004, making it the nation's sixth largest source of tourists. "In 2004 we increased our number of Mexican travellers to Canada by 22 per cent," says Morfin Stoopen. "For Canada, Mexico is a very important market."

In the Canadian-made episodes, Rebelde actors frolicked in powdery snow, skied in the Rockies and rode on dogsleds. Along with capturing Alberta landmarks like the Banff Springs Hotel, Lake Louise and downtown Calgary in Rebelde episodes, cast members posed for Maxim-style photo shoots – complete with bikinis and fur coats – and filmed a music video.

Some of the cast members recently formed a pop group called RBD, whose sappy hits top the Mexican pop charts. In Alberta, the RBD members donned western duds for their videos: jeans and leather trench coats for the guys and a pink cowboy hat for the female lead singer. The show's theme song is incessantly played on the radio and in clubs in Mexico.

Set in an exclusive private school, the show captures the melodramatic antics of teenagers often locked in class-driven feuds and delivers a heaping dose of eye candy in nearly every scene.

Take, for example, Diego, a baby-faced kid whose dad thought his son was gay.

"He's super hot," gushes Rochin, adding she would watch the show less often if Diego weren’t a cast member. In a typical telenovela twist, the father set his son up with his trophy girlfriend – who, says Rochin, "looked like a slut" – to ensure Diego wasn't gay. Predictably, the pair fell for each other, creating a rather bizarre love triangle.

Rebelde also exposes class schisms in Mexican society, pitting the fresas – snobs from rich families – against the becados (scholarship winners). Never mind the nacos, the newly rich who try too hard to fit in with the old-money set and come across as gauche in the process.

Rebelde naturally draws comparisons to popular teen series like Beverly Hills 90210, Dawson's Creek and The OC, but surpasses them all in sheer tackiness. Only in a telenovela would the school uniforms consist of short denim skirts, super high boots, white- or blue-collared shirts, red neckties and jackets for the girls. The guys' uniforms, which feature a similar necktie and jacket combination, are somewhat bland in comparison. Even the heartthrob teacher resembles a rebel, with his long hair and casual work attire.

Besides the racy plot lines, the show sets trends for young Mexicans. Shortly after premièring last fall, guys began wearing red ties similar to the show's school uniforms. Girls put star stickers on their foreheads, mimicking Mia, Rebelde's lead fresa. Both genders began sporting yellow Lance Armstrong Livestrong bracelets after some characters on the show donned the bands.

Canadian Tourism Commission officials expect to capitalize on the show's incredible trend-setting ability, increasing Canada's lustre among young Mexicans, who already possess positive attitudes towards the country.

In a recently published magazine profile, Diego – played by Christopher Uckermann – called Calgary his favourite city. After reading the piece, Rochin says, "It's my favourite (city), too. That's where I'm going next year."

Actually, her student exchange will land her in Edmonton in January.


Published in FFWD (Calgary).

UPDATE: Rebelde went off the air in Mexico, but it continues in other countries.

24 comments:

Anonymous said...

You are absolutely right! I just can't understand how a private school would allow such attire as its official uniform.

Anonymous said...

oie sou do Brasil!(^;^) não entendi nada q estava escrito mas axo q vc e fan de rebelde me responde vc ja foi em algum show deles!
vlw

Anonymous said...

what up nate dogg

Anonymous said...

im the chiPPiEst cHIp tHE aRouNd

Anonymous said...

Rebelde sucks but the girls look good

Anonymous said...

Hi my name is RENNAN I`am live in BRASILIAN.
I love rbd, please give me the pictures.

could you tell me a little about your self ?

HOW IS CANADA ?

kiss

Anonymous said...

If in REBELDE that is the uniform, well it looks good and shows the tittle of the soap REBEL*!!*.
So stop critizising and SHUT UP*!!*

Anonymous said...

who is with me? rebelde rules!!! from Gabriela P and who ever is not is a loser behind dorks!! VIVA LA RAZA !!!

Anonymous said...

oi somos do brasil
amamos os rebeldes
assistimos todos os dias a novela deles
vc deve ser fã numero 1 !!!

Anonymous said...

Hi! my name is Natalie I just want to say that RBD is the best I am the #1 fan of rebelde and I get mad at the people how say that rebelde sucks I just want to hit them were ever it hurts the most well got to go I'll write when ever Ihave time bye.

write back too O.K

Anonymous said...

REBELDE IS THE MOST AWSOME MEXICAN SHOW EVER!!!!!I LOVE REBELDE IT IS OF THE TEENS FOR THE TEENS. IT ROCKS!!!I LOVE REBELDE!!!!!!!!!!

Anonymous said...

OLISS SOY DE CHILE ME LLAMO PAULA Y ME ENKANTO LA NOVELA ME ENCANTO EL PERSONAJE DE MIA Y MARTZA SOY 0 KE USTEDES DE PERSONALIDAD BUENO ADIOS XAU¡¡¡¡¡¡¡

Anonymous said...

You couldn't have found better words to describe the Rebelde fever, congratulations on this article, it seriously touched every single detail that i would have highlighted if i were to explain the whole impact that it has had in english.

bravo.

Anonymous said...

NOSSA AMEI O SEU BLG
BJS
BRASIL!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Anonymous said...

reblde fan

OMG!!!! I absolute;y adore RBD!!!!! i have both of their cds!!!!! and RBS doesnt suck!!!! k bye!!!

Anonymous said...

Oiiee.
amei o seu blog ..
se puder da uma passadinha la no meu flog
www.flogao.com.br/carolboiteux
Beijos
Carol=]
Brasil

Anonymous said...

I love Rebelde!!!!! Yo Soy Rebelde!!!!! , and Rebelde dosen't suck!!!!!!!!

Anonymous said...

Everyone has a little Rebelde said to them " Rock on Rebeldes"

Anonymous said...

rebelde lo mejor buenisimo

Anonymous said...

REBELDES ROCK ON !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Anonymous said...

y love rebeldeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee







soy rebelde d+

Anonymous said...

aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa. achei coisa do REBELDE!


olha, pra quem não gosta do REBELDE é melhor começar a gostar hein?


BEIJOS PARA TODOS OS ATORES DE REBELDE!!!!



leonardo!!!

Anonymous said...

RBD IS THE BEST!!!=0)

Anonymous said...

HI
I am from SLOVENIA(EUROPE) and I LOVE RBD, they are very cool!!!!!!!!!!!!
By
katarina