Velho Chico

Production

In 2009, Benedito Ruy Barbosa gave the direction of Rede Globo the synopsis of on the São Francisco River; but in 2012, after evaluation by the network, the story was considered too political. Barbosa hoped to shoot it the following year in the 9pm time slot. Eriberto Leão was considered in the starring role for the first phase but was replaced by Rodrigo Santoro.

In 2015, the project was approved by Rede Globo and was set to premiere just after Êta Mundo Bom! at 6 pm timeslot.

Rogério Gomes was later announced to direct but on request of the show's author and O Rei do Gado reprise's success, Luiz Fernando Carvalho was offered to direct.

Initially, a telenovela by Maria Adelaide Amaral was supposed to replace A Regra do Jogo but due to its heavy political themes and it being an election year, Velho Chico was moved to the primetime timeslot and Amaral's show moved to late 2016.

Scenography and set design

Although set in Bahia, part of the early scenes were recorded in other locations of the Brazil's Northeast, like Baraúna in Rio Grande do Norte, São José da Tapera and Olho d'Água do Casado in Alagoas. Other locations that represent the fictional town of the plot are the Alagoan other municipality: Piranhas. In the State where the telenovela, Ilha de Cajaíba, in São Francisco do Conde, the municipality of Cachoeira and Raso da Catarina were used as locations. In total, about 562 scenes were recorded in northern locations and about 60 to 70% of the actors cast were from the region. The set design was made from recycled objects, such as incandescent lamps used in old rebuilt reflectors. The costume design in the first phase was composed of regal robes from residents in location. Passing through tissue discoloration, dyeing and natural aging, the costumes of the bushmen are made in pastel colors, while those from Salvador are inspired by Tropicália.

Casting

The director, Luiz Fernando Carvalho, opted for a Spanish actress to portray the character Iolanda. Due to great importance of the character to the storyline, Carol Castro and Christiane Torloni were cast nonetheless. Before Castro was considered, Ana Paula Arósio was cast but dropped out due to scheduling conflicts. After Arósio, Maria Fernanda Cândido was then considered but she also turned down the role. Letícia Sabatella was also considered to play Maria Tereza but due to her other commitments in films and theatre, Pitanga was cast.

Plot

Defined by the director as a Shakespearian family Saga, counting a history of love framed for social critics, the plot is initiated in the end of the year 1960, when Afrânio, son of a powerful Colonel Jacinto is obliged to return from Salvador for the fictitious Grotas de São Francisco, to assume the place of the father, who commanded the politics and the local economy. He even got passionate for Iolanda, but obliges to his mother Encarnação, that still suffers for the loss of her oldest son, who died in waters of the São Francisco River. Afrânio leaves in a trip for the region to reaffirm alliances that his father kept. In his trip, Afrânio gets involved with Leonor, hence, the father of the young woman compels them to marry. Leonor is received with disdain by Encarnação, for the fact she is of a lower class, that is, incapable to be wife of her son. When Maria Tereza is born, Encarnação rubs on Leonor that she should have conceived a son. On the other hand, the rival family of Ribeiro, since the Colonel Jacinto aspired its lands, Captain Ernesto Rosa is a man married to Eulália, but they have no children. They adopt Luzia, a baby abandoned on the road side on the way to their cotton plantation. At the same time, the couple receives, the retirante, Belmiro and Piedade - parents of Bento and Santo. With the passing of time and growing together, Luzia starts to nourish a passion for Santo. That disrupts of the feelings of the brother and sister. It is in a procession of Francis of Assisi, under waters of the Old Chico, that the path of Santo and Maria Tereza are crossed. But the love affair between the son of the retirante with the daughter of the Colonel is discovered. Maria Tereza is sent to a boarding school in Salvador. Through sending letters for Santo, she discloses to be pregnant and these is not taken well by Luzia who is still in love with Santo. Some time later, Miguel is born. A fruit of a forbidden love. Soon after Maria Tereza returns to the farm and marries Carlos Eduardo even though he is not in love with him but still dreams to leave a reunion with Santo.

Orchestras

Velho Chico Música Original de Tim Rescala was released on 10 June 2016. It contains instrumental soundtracks produced by Tim Rescala.

Ratings

The first chapter of the Velho Chico, according to consolidated data of São Paulo, registered 35.4 points with a maximum of 37, achieving the highest ratings for a premiere of the 9pm telenovela since Amor à Vida (2013). In Rio de Janeiro, the premiere recorded 38 point average. The second chapter registered 33.9 points in São Paulo and 37 points in Rio de Janeiro, representing a reduction of one point in both regions.

The last episode registered a viewership rating of 35.2 points in Greater São Paulo, one of the lowest indices in a 9pm telenovela coming after Babilônia.

Generally, Velho Chico had a viewership rating of 29 points, surpassing both Babilônia and A Regra do Jogo with 25 and 28 points respectively.