Velho Chico

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. Ilha de Cajaíba, in São Francisco do Conde, the municipality of Cachoeira and Raso da Catarina were also used as locations.[24] In total, about 562 scenes were recorded in northern locations and about 60 to 70% of the cast were from the region.[25][26][27] The set design was made from recycled objects, such as incandescent lamps used in old rebuilt reflectors.[28] The costume design in the first phase was composed of regal robes from residents in location.[29] 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.[30]

Eriberto Leão was considered in the starring role for the first phase but was replaced by Rodrigo Santoro.[31][32][33] 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.[34][35][36] Before Castro was considered, Ana Paula Arósio was cast but dropped out due to scheduling conflicts.[37][38] After Arósio, Maria Fernanda Cândido was then considered but she also turned down the role.[39] Letícia Sabatella was also considered to play Maria Tereza but due to her other commitments in films and theatre, Camila Pitanga was cast.[40][41]

Veteran actor Umberto Magnani, who played Father Romão, suffered a stroke (CVA) while preparing to record in the afternoon of 25 April 2016 at Projac.[42] He was hospitalized at Hospital Vitória, near the studios' complex in Barra da Tijuca, in a deep coma. Ana Julia, daughter of Magnani, said that the actor underwent a six-hour surgery and suffered a cardiac arrest. As the character was considered important to the plot, several scenes had to be rewritten.[43] At the time, without the possibility to return to the plot, Magnani was replaced by Carlos Vereza, who went on to interpret Father Benício. Magnani eventually passed away two days later.[44][45]

With only two weeks to the final episode, on 15 September 2016, actor Domingos Montagner, who portrayed the protagonist Santo, drowned at the São Francisco River, located in the Canindé, Region of São Francisco, in Sergipe. Montagner was swimming along with his co-star Camila Pitanga before being dragged by a strong current. The actor was found four hours later, lifeless.[46][47][48][49] While Montagner was missing, Globo's management requested that Velho Chico's recordings set to run until 18 September, to be halted. With the confirmation of the actor's death, the technical team and the cast that were recording in the Northeast were asked to return to Rio de Janeiro.[49] The network also requested that the cast or crew not comment on the matter to the press.[49]

Benedito Ruy Barbosa lamented on the death of Montagner and said in an interview with UOL about the uncertainty about the outcome of the actor's character in the plot:

It is very difficult to have to change an actor like him for any other, it should not be the solution. At the same time, I have to do justice to him and the wonderful work he has been doing."[50]

Consulted by the blog of Patrícia Kogut , for the newspaper O Globo, Barbosa also admitted that he did not know what he would do at the time, that his aim was to honour Montagner.[51]

According to reports the Legal Medical Institute (IML) of Sergipe, the result of the autopsy performed Montagner's body pointed out that the actor died of mechanical asphyxia by drowning.[52] The Brazilian version of online magazine The Intercept speculated that the strong currents where the actor drowned were caused by the hydroelectric dam, the Xingó Dam, upstream.[53] The dam lies approximately two kilometers upstream, and the flow rate allowed through the dam can affect currents.

At the time of his death, the filming of Velho Chico was just a few days from completion. Only five episodes were ready to be aired and there was uncertainty whether the show would remain on the air or the ending would be advanced.[54] On 16 September 2016, it was confirmed that production would resume on 18 September, and that the telenovela would end on the scheduled airdate. UOL also revealed that the character of Montagner would be carried to the end, without a substitute.[55][56][57][58][59] However, climactic scenes for the finale, in which Montagner was the main character, hadn't been filmed yet. Production decided to complete filming as scheduled. Scenes in which Montagner's character, Santo, would have appeared would be shot from the character's point of view. Thus, Santo would be present in the scene, but would not be seen.[60][61][62]

Weeks prior to the casualty, Rede Globo aired a scene where Santo would be saved by Indians, who found him unconscious floating on the São Francisco River, having been shot by his enemy. The river was the same where the actor lost his life.[63]

Velho Chico Música Original de Tim Rescala was released on 10 June 2016. It contains instrumental soundtracks produced by Tim Rescala.[110][111]

Velho Chico (Música Original de Tim Rescala)
Soundtrack album by Tim Rescala
Released	10 June 2016
Label	Som Livre