“José´s Wi-Fi Dogs” tells the story of a man that supposedly invented the business of the century: Internet sniffing dogs that help tourists find Wi-Fi on holiday.
The whole film was going to revolve around the character of José – so getting the casting right was crucial. This is how we imagined him in the casting briefing:
“José Fernando Domingo Sanchez is a man with a big belly and an even bigger smile. A high school dropout, he opted for the University of Life. Smart and extroverted, he loves meeting people – largely so he can tell a well-worn, romanticized story about his life. After years in the tourist industry some might call him a swindler, but this would be a cruel judgment; he’s a loveable rascal.”
Creative Execution
As this isn't a typical ad, we didn't want a typical actor. We needed someone genuine to play the role of our protagonist. So we stopped doing regular castings (they just didn't feel right) and started with street castings. There, we finally met the José of our dreams – Julio Cesar, a valet parker at an LA production company. It was his first acting experience, but he was clearly born to be the head honcho of Wi-Fi Dogs.
Picking someone with no experience for the main-role in this kind of production might seem risky – and, to be honest, it was. But no one else would have been able to deliver the authenticity and involuntary humor that turned the story into a genuine – although absurd – film.