“Sayang nga’t hindi ako nakapunta pero hindi ko talaga maiiwan ang shooting ng pelikula ko,” he says at the press con of “Turning Cradle” held at his own Belissimo Restaurant on Sct. Rallos St.
We tell him Direk Mac Alejandre and his co-stars have nothing but praises for his performance in “Never Say Goodbye” as Javier, the man who is torn between Nora Aunor as Marta and Alice Dixson as Criselda. “I’m really giving it my all kasi first soap ko sa TV5 at ayoko silang ma-disappoint.”
He’s also proud of “Turning Cradle” that took several months to finish due to the extensive research it required and the careful execution of all its scenes. “We started shooting in November and we’ve been working non-stop, shooting almost every day, since then. There was also the search for the perfect leading lady and we’re glad Alex de Rossi was our final choice kasi napakagaling niya. Mahirap din for me kasi doble trabaho ko. As director, I’ll block all the scenes for the cinematographer first and then I’ll go before the camera to act in it. I was in constant communication with Mayor Alfredo Lim since we both want the film to be truthful and authentic.”
Mayor Lim says he has the highest respect for Cesar’s talent and vision so he gave the actor-director full liberty in deciding how the movie unfolds.
“The movie shows a more human side of me,” says Mayor Lim. “It has a back story and starts when I was still a baby, given up for adoption by my mother at the Hospicio de San Jose after my dad died when I was only a few months old and my mom was about to remarry and relocate in Baguio kaya nilagay ako sa ‘turning cradle’ ng Hospicio de San Jose for unwanted babies.”
The big cast of “The Turning Cradle: The Untold Story Of Alfredo Lim” include Gloria Romero, Jackie Lou Blanco, Ara Mina, Noni Buencamino, Gina Pareño, Alvin Anson, Rommel Montano, Tirso Cruz III, Marc Abaya, Isabel Granada and Richard Quan. About his personal troubles, Cesar wants to stress he has no instagram account and someone is just impersonating him there. He chooses to keep mum about the news that wifey Sunshine Cruz is reviving her acting career in ABS-CBN’s new action soap, “Dugong Buhay” starring Arjo Atayde, so she can pay for a new house she wants to move into with her three daughters.
