Gov. Vilma Santos Pays Tribute To Rival Nora Aunor In A Key Scene In 'Ekstra, The Bit Player'

THE AWARD-WINNING Vilma Santos indie flick, “Ekstra”, really paid tribute to the extras who worked in the film as their names were all listed down in the credit titles, unlike in most movies where they’re ignored. Not only that, at the presscon at Dolphy Theatre, they made all the extras and supporting players join Ate Vi on stage, seated at the presidential table: Ruby Ruiz who won as Cinemalaya best supporting actress for playing the talent coordinator of the extras, Marlon Rivera as the director who berated Ate Vi, Rex Lantano as the boy who lost his cellfone on the set, Vince de Jesus as the assistant director, Ricky Pascua as the father sent home for having an ugly son, Tart Carlos as Ate Vi’s rival in applying for roles, Erlinda Villalobos as the old woman who fainted due to hunger, Hazel de la Cruz as the pretty new extra, Abby Niestra as Ate Vi’s kumare and neighbour, Antonette Garcia as the extra who makes a sideline selling various wares on the set, Olive Isidro Cruz as Tom Rodriguez’ mom, Jake Seneres as the guy who woos Hazel, and Marta Comia, Cynthia Teodoro and Raymond Renoza as other extras on the set.

We tell Ate Vi that she has many funny one-liners in the film, but the one that really brought the house down was when she said: “E, bakit si Nora Aunor?” We all know they’re the most intense and fiercest rivals in local movie history, so with her uttering a line that refers to Ate Guy is really something.

“Wala akong kasalanan diyan,” she says.
“Ayaw nga niyang sabihin yun,” says Direk Jeff Jeturian. “Pero maganda nga, e. Kasi it’s a confirmation na icon si Nora. Kasi pinag-uusapan nila mga artistang puro mestisa ang sumisikat, then she said ‘Bakit si Nora Aunor?’”

And it’s true. It’s really a tribute to Ate Guy who should be flattered that she’s being praised in “Ekstra”. Although the film pays homage to extras, Gov. Vi also praised the big name stars who agreed to do cameos in the movie. “Hindi mabubuo ang Esktra kung wala sina Piolo Pascual, Marian Rivera, Cherie Gil, Pilar Pilapil, Cherry Pie Picache, Eula Valdes, Tom Rodriguez at Richard Yap na hindi mga nagpabayad, pero nakatulong upang maging meaningful ang pagiging extra ko kasi hindi lilitaw ang pagka-extra ko kung hindi isasama ang big stars na gaya nila. Kaya nang sinabi sa akin na nanalo ako sa Cinemalaya, parang first time kong nakatanggap ng award. Kasi ang dami kong apprehensions sa pelikulang ito. Sabi nila, nakataya career mo diyan kasi ang indie, delikado dahil indi kikita, indi panonoorin. Hindi ka mananalo diyan, ibang criteria dyan, indi gaya sa mainstream. So, sobrang kaba ko talaga. Kaya nang manalo at maging topgrosser sa Cinemalaya, parang confirmation na tama yung decision ko to do an indie. Yung excitement, fulfilment ko, sobra, iba, biro mo, best actress ako sa Cinemalaya! Kaya malaking karangalan talaga ito para sa akin.”

What can she says that her rivals like Angel Aquino and Alessandra de Rossi quickly conceded that she’ll win as best actress? “Hindi naman dahil nanalo na kong best actress before, ako na pinakamagaling. May movies akong pinaghirapan ko, feeling ko, mananalo talaga ko, pero wala, talo. Meron naman akong ginawang wala lang, pero nananalo. So hindi mo talaga basta mape-predict. Nakagawa rin ako ng flops, like ‘Sister Stella L’, kasabay ng ‘Bukas Luluhod ang mga Tala’ ni Sharon Cuneta, pinaluhod talaga nito. But I’m proud na kapag nabanggit ako ngayon, kadikit pa rin ang ‘Sister Stella L’ na laging nasa list of best local films of all time. So it’s the prestige also. And for me, it’s still a learning process. No such thing as magaling ka na at ayaw mo nang matuto.”

“Ekstra” opens in theatres nationwide on Wednesday.