Carla González Vargas of Gato Grande on Valiendo Madres: “We Need More Female Ensemble Comedies”

Gato Grande’s latest production for Prime Video, Valiendo Madres (7×30’), is a series made mostly by women. With sharp humor and a modern perspective, it tackles contemporary issues such as motherhood, marriage, and friendship—all from a distinctly female point of view. Gato Grande itself is a production company led by a woman.

“I believe we need more female ensemble comedies,” says Carla González Vargas, CEO of Gato Grande. “Although we have some series like this in Mexico, there aren’t that many. There are more films than series. Female-driven comedies that address women’s issues are always welcome.”

González Vargas co-directs Valiendo Madres alongside Javier Solar and Lorena Padilla. She highlights the key production values that make the series stand out: a carefully curated cast, its timely themes, and the candid approach to its storytelling.

The series premieres on April 16. Written by Mónica Herrera and Samara Ibrahim, it is based on the Argentine novel What’s Up, Mamis by Erika Halvorsen.

LAUGHING AT STEREOTYPES

“The series explores stereotypes, such as the expectations placed on mothers versus reality. It also delves into the complexities of being a mom in today’s world, where you may not have the traditional ‘perfect family’ structure. It even addresses the choice of not wanting children—one of the characters is not instinctively maternal. It’s an honest and direct exploration of motherhood,” González Vargas explains. She adds that the show also examines the intricacies of female friendships.

Carla González Vargas with part of the cast: Marcela Guirado, Paola Fernández, and Lidia San José

The adaptation is distinctly Mexican. While one of the key plot points involves a vibrator, the show remains a family-friendly comedy.

“Silvana D’Angelo brought us the project,” says González Vargas. Gato Grande acquired the book rights in 2019 through Glowstar Media, which represented Erika Halvorsen. Since then, the project has undergone extensive development. Originally written as a film script in Uruguay with Cimarrón, it then became a book in Argentina and is now a pan-regional TV series, demonstrating the content’s versatility.

Like in the novel, the series features four mothers. “But the book focuses more on their interactions in a school community chat, showcasing different types of moms in these groups. In the series, the chat plays a lesser role. Instead, we bring them together at a school camp, placing them all in the same setting. The camp doesn’t exist in the book,” she adds.

The novel explores each character’s journey, highlighting the different paths they take and the friendships that form. “In the series, which leans more into comedy, the main plot revolves around solving the vibrator dilemma. A deeper character exploration is something we might expand on in future seasons.”

A STANDOUT CAST

The show stars Marcela Guirado, Lidia San José, Verónica Bravo, Paola Fernández, and José María de Tavira—a cast González Vargas describes as unique. “It’s very well chosen. These are fresh faces on TV, and each of them was a great discovery. They built a strong friendship off-camera, which was incredible to witness,” she says.

The actresses don’t conform to conventional beauty standards or the usual TV stereotypes, making them more relatable to everyday women, something that is likely to resonate with audiences. Mercedes Gironela served as casting director, with input from Amazon Prime’s Yolanda Guillén.

Verónica Bravo and Carla González Vargas

FILMING IN THE RAIN

One of the production’s biggest challenges was filming in Mexico’s natural locations during the rainy season. “The camp where we filmed is in Ajusco, on the outskirts of Mexico City. We were at the mercy of the weather since rain can significantly disrupt shooting. We noticed it rained more in the afternoons, so we started filming early in the morning.” The shoot lasted a month and a half.

Filming in this camp was a strategic way to bring all the characters together, even if not all of them wanted to be there. “It also enhances the production value by shooting outdoors rather than keeping everything confined,” González Vargas notes.

She also shares that 2024 has been a busy year for Gato Grande. They are currently editing a series they produced in the U.S. with Amazon Studios, Gato Negro, starring Diego Boneta as a superhero. Additionally, they recently wrapped filming a Netflix documentary with Maite Alberdi, the acclaimed Chilean director of The Mole Agent and The Eternal Memory.

Trailer of Valiendo Madres