'Cartel thugs forced me to act with their prostitutes and they were best at it'

10 March 2024 , 08:00

759 0

Ian Halperin as Pablito with some of the local 'actresses' (Image: Ian Halperin)

An ambitious director hoping to film in Colombia was forced by local cartel thugs to use prostitutes in his film but they ended up being better than the professionals, with one of the ladies going on to act in a soap opera.

Ian Halperin, who also starred in the film about Pablo Escobar 's fictional illegitimate Jewish son, set his heart on filming in Medellin, , the once-home of the drug kingpin. But choosing to film in the more dangerous neighbourhoods or a city with a dangerous reputation, had its problems.

Ian explained the lengths he had to do to keep everyone on set safe. He told TheMirror.com : "We filmed in some very dangerous places, because we wanted to really capture the essence of Colombia, of the barrios. We were threatened several times but we were able to get through it all. Very dangerous places, where people just disappear forever."

READ MORE: 'My dad shot my rapist karate instructor dead on live TV - people see it as act of love - not hate'

'Cartel thugs forced me to act with their prostitutes and they were best at it' qhidqxirziqduinv

Ian wrote the film during the pandemic (Ian Halperin)

“Don’t F With Pablo” follows the fictional Pablito, a Jewish son of notorious cartel boss Pablo Escobar. After getting sick of stacking shelves in Walmart, Pablito travels to Medellin to connect with his paternal heritage and found his very own “Kosher Cartel," the trailer shows.

Russian soldiers must be on drugs to commit 'very violent acts' seen in Ukraine

Ian was worried about safety until a local thug came to him with a proposal. Ian explained: "The cartel approached us. One of the members approached us and said: 'Look we see you filming and it's dangerous to film here but we'll guarantee your safety. There's beautiful women in this country who have no other means but to sell their bodies to put food on their table. They're beautiful and smart and you put them in the movie and I guarantee your safety.'"

'Cartel thugs forced me to act with their prostitutes and they were best at it'

Ian with some of the women on set (Ian Halperin)

Ian continued: "I've shot many movies, but this was very different. We had to be very careful with the safety issues. We didn't want to make a film and not live to see it.

"We had problems with security, there's no doubt about it. But by putting the real prostitutes into the film as real actresses. We were able to guarantee our safety."

For all the latest news, politics, sports, and showbiz from the USA, go to

Ian said they were approached by local cartel members to get the women included in the film (Ian Halperin)

But the women the cartel suggested proved to be acting powerhouses in their own right. Ian said: "Honestly, almost all the women were better than the real actors. We must have hired 60 actors for this film and the working girls who turned into real actors were fabulous. It was really amazing to watch.

"They were natural, they needed less coaching than the real actors. They were extremely diligent and cooperative, never late. We filmed 18 hour days and we weren't disappointed at all. And one of them was cast in a soap opera based on her performance in this. I think she starts there in a few weeks."

More scenes from the movie (Ian Halperin)

Ian speculated as to why they were so good at acting: "I guess because they're used to acting a lot. Telling guys 'oh you look great, this and that'."

The crew, which included a lot of local Colombians as well, took working with cartel prostitutes in their stride. Ian continued: "This is how it works out there. If we had said no to the offer we probably would have all ended up dead."

Ian in the movie (Ian Halperin)

The film also had a small role for Pablo Escobar's brother - Roberto. The 77-year-old served over 10 years behind bars for his role as the accountant and so-called “chief of the hitmen” for his younger brother’s Medellín Cartel when it was at its most powerful in the 1980s and 1990s.

Ian, who is based in Miami, explained the idea of the film came from a fevered dream he had during the Covid-19 lockdown.