Michelle Alexander and Chascas Valenzuela
Leche de Tigre, the first collaborative project between Del Barrio Producciones (led by Michelle Alexander) and Malule Entertainment (led by Ignacio “Chascas” Valenzuela), has recently joined América Televisión del Perú. The goal is to begin filming in the second half of next year.
The producers will attend Iberseries & Platino Industria 2024 to showcase this well-advanced project. It’s an 80-episode telenovela designed for Peruvian open television and the international market. The series boasts a unique quality: it seamlessly blends melodrama with the essence of Peruvian cuisine.
“Leche de Tigre incorporates the familiar elements and resources of melodrama, but also something entirely different: the emotional connection that Peruvian food evokes. This is something truly new,” explained Valenzuela.”
Leche de Tigre is a love story set in a world permeated by Peruvian cuisine from start to finish. “It’s a captivating, unique, and universally appealing project,” said Alexander.
Secrets that alter lives, forbidden romances, social disparities, deceptions, impersonations, and rebellious characters are the key elements in the story of Toño and Rafaela. Toño is a dedicated worker, while Rafaela is the heiress of an iconic restaurant. Their paths will converge unexpectedly and surprisingly through the kitchen.
“From a writing standpoint, food serves as the ideal sublimation of romance, passion, and eroticism. A writer constantly seeks metaphors to convey the emotions of characters, which isn’t always straightforward. Through cooking, feelings can be expressed visually,” said Valenzuela.
“Food is not only the backdrop but also a character in itself, as evidenced by the telenovela’s title, Leche de Tigre. The food is intrinsically connected to the dramatic action unfolding in the scenes, presenting a challenge that is beautifully reflected in the script and will also pose a challenge during production,” added Alexander.
On the other hand, Peruvian cuisine has already achieved global recognition. This universality is a result of the deliberate efforts of the country’s chefs. “My favorite cuisines worldwide are Mexican, Peruvian, and Japanese. However, Peruvian food has a unique element of novelty in my life, as I wasn’t exposed to it as a child and witnessed its culinary explosion. It was almost a collective decision by Peruvian chefs to showcase their cuisine internationally and transform it into a kind of national symbol. In this sense, there’s a rich narrative and epic quality that deeply captivated me as a writer,” said Valenzuela.
The majority of the scenes will unfold in a spacious kitchen, where not only is food prepared but also where the action takes place.
“It’s crucial to have a well-equipped studio and set, and América Televisión’s Pachacámac studio is perfect for our needs. We’ll also shoot exteriors, possibly starting in the Peruvian mountains where our protagonist’s family originates before moving to Lima. We’re already working on the cast, but it will also depend on the partners who join our project,” said Alexander.
Michelle and Chascas first met at Content Americas 2022. “I had heard of Chascas and watched Who Killed Sara? But I heard him speak at a conference, found him intriguing and intelligent, and wanted to meet him. Along with Hugo Coya, we contacted him and invited him to Lima to conduct a masterclass for young university students studying communications and for our team of writers. During a lunch in Lima, Chascas expressed his surprise that I hadn’t created a fiction centered around Peruvian food. That’s when I suggested we collaborate on such a project!” explained Alexander.
This is how their partnership began. Both are prolific creators of successful stories.
With his production company, Del Barrio, founded 18 years ago, Alexander has produced and/or directed over 50 fictions and documentaries. His telenovelas consistently top the Peruvian ratings.
Valenzuela has authored books and penned scripts for film and television. Amor a Domicilio, Dama y Obrero, and the acclaimed Who Killed Sara? are among his notable works. In November, Las Hermanas Guerra will be released on Netflix, where he was previously commissioned to create stories. He co-founded his production company, Malule, in 2021 with Argentine actor Lucas Akoskin.
