“I really can’t say,” he says. “Basta I’m very happy to be given the chance to do so many things. So, dahan-dahan lang. Let’s see how we go. As of now, enjoy akong nagawa ko itong action movie kong ‘Tupang Ligaw’. This is one of my dreams, to try doing action, so blessing itong naging offer sa akin ng BG Productions. Wala itong CGI or camera tricks. I myself did all the stunts dito and all the fight scenes. I had friends who helped me in hand-to-hand combat, like a former CIA agent who blocked yung fight scene namin ni Paolo Contis. Bugbugan talaga. Pasa-pasa kami after the shoot. First time ko to do it at ibang Matteo ang mapapanood dito kaya I’m so excited with this. I just hope it will help bring back the interest of local viewers in action films.”
Matteo says 2016 starts really well for him as, aside from this movie, he also has a new soap on ABS-CBN, “Dolce Amore”, shot on location in Italy with Liza Soberano. Will he invite girlfriend Sarah Geronimo to the movie’s premiere night on February 3? “Yes, of course. I know she’s now very busy promoting her new album, but siguro naman, pagbibigyan niya ako when I invite her to attend the premiere night with me.”
Sex video scandals seem to be common these days. Isn’t he scared he might get involved in one? “It’s scary ha. But I’m sure wala akong dapat ikatakot kasi alam kong delikado ang social media, so we have to be careful about what we post because the whole world can now see it. At ako, alam naman ng lahat na faithful ako sa girlfriend ko.”
How will he describe his relationship with Sarah these days? “Let’s just say it’s getting stronger and stronger every day.”
Dennis Evangelista, resident line producer of BG Productions, says that although Matteo was just a second choice, they’re very pleased that it’s him who got the lead role in "Tupang Ligaw". “Masarap siyang katrabaho dahil mabait siya, very professional,” adds Dennis. “Kaya nga may next project na kami for him. Dahil he’s from Cebu, we’ll shoot the movie there on location to be filmed using the Visayan language and to be directed by a Visayan director. He’ll play the role of a fisherman and he’ll always be shirtless.”
Most of the movies produced by BG Productions are shown on limited screening in film festivals, small theaters or in campuses nationwide. How come they now choose to have a theatrical run for “Tupang Ligaw” that opens on February 17? “Kasi yung ibang movies namin cater to special audiences like ‘Child Haus’ about children with cancer or ‘Bigkis’, an advocacy film about breast feeding. ‘Tupang Ligaw’ has more commercial possibilities at ang kabuuan nito, mainstream ang dating. With Matteo being a star of ABS-CBN, matutulungan din niya itong i-promote sa shows nila roon. But aside from this, we’ll have another movie for theatrical release, ‘Iadya Mo Kami’, to open on March 9 as a pre-Holy Week presentation. This is the story of a young priest, played by Allen Dizon, who’s accused of being involved in a crime, with Diana Zubiri, Aiko Melendez, Eddie Garcia and Ricky Davao, directed by Mel Chionglo.”
