But that’s a scene where he’s tortured, unlike in “Silong” where he’s doing a romantic scene with Rhian. “I trusted my director, Jeffrey Hidalgo, who’s been a friend for a long time. When he and co-director Roy Sevilla pitched the project to me, I liked it right away as I haven’t done a romantic thriller like this before. I play Miguel, a doctor with a mysterious past. I meet Rhian as Valerie by chance. She’s badly beaten by her abusive husband and I help her and take her home, without knowing she has secrets of her own. There’s a big big twist in the story that will surely surprise viewers.”
He has done indie films before, “Chopsuey” and ”Maynila”. Aside from “Silong”, he has completed another one for Direk Lav Diaz, “Hele sa Hiwagang Hapis”, with John Lloyd Cruz. He seems fascinated with indie films.
“What’s good about doing indie films is you have a bigger playing field and you can cross the line and experiment. Ang laki ng talon from mainstream movies. Maraming concepts na magandang paglaruan, like ‘Silong’, which also gave me the chance to work with an actress from another network. After watching the finished film, I really told myself na mabuti, ginawa ko ito.”
How’s it working with Rhian? “It’s such a breeze working with her. She has no limitations. She knows we’re doing a delicate love scene and she’s willing to give it all. May commitment siya sa role niya.”
The feedback in social media to his reconciliation with KC Concepion in London is very positive. He and KC even topped a poll about ex-sweethearts who folks want to kiss and make up. “Actually, it was just magnified in social media, but the truth is matagal na kaming okay. When her Lola Elaine passed, I reached out to her and since then, kapag nagkikita kami, we say hi to each other. In London, we were able to talk lengthily, no longer about the past. It’s a happy moment and it’s like a thorn off my chest. We move in a small circle, we work in the same station, ayoko ng may issue. At the end of the day, it’s best kung wala kang kasamaan ng loob.”
