“Nag-audition po ako,” says Harvey at the solo presscon hosted by his dad at Salu Restaurant on Sct. Torillo St., which is owned by his Tita Harlene. “Marami po kami at akala ko nga, di ako nakuha, pero ako raw po ang personal choice ni Director Dan Villegas kasi natural daw pa ang acting ko.”
Harvey started as a child actor at ABS-CBN’s “Goin’ Bulilit” when he was 7, but he graduated last year when he turned 12. He’s now in Grade 8 at Multiple Intelligence School at Katipunan Ave. How does he feel that his first film is a horror flick?
“I never imagined nga na gagawa ako ng horror movie, but my dad says the first acting award he won was also for a horror movie, the first ‘Shake Rattle & Roll’ in 1984 as a manananggal killer. If you love scary movies, you’d enjoy ‘Ilawod’ po kasi maganda talaga siya. Mapo-possess po ako rito nung Ilawod, water elemental, pero hindi yung parang ‘Exorcist’ possession kundi iko-kontrol lang yung mind ko through a girl, si Isla, played by Therese Malvar. Ako lang ang nakakakita kay Isla at yung sister ko, si Xyriel Manabat. Yung parents namin di siya nakikita and ilalayo niya ang loob ko sa mga magulang ko. Tatakutin po niya kayo sa mga gagawin niya sa movie.”
Does he like his acting? “Napanood ko na ang maraming scenes sa movie and, honestly po, I cringe because I don’t want to watch myself. Maski sa ‘Maalaala Mo Kaya’, parang nakukulangan ako. Pero lahat ng kasama ko sa ‘Ilawod’, puro magagaling. Si Iza Calzado is an amazing actress. I enjoyed working din with Ian Veneracion. Masaya siyang katrabaho. At si Direk Dan, he really guided me well, very hardworking but during breaks, nakikipagkuwentuhan siya sa’kin about superheroes.”
What would he like to take up in college? “I want to take up filmmaking kasi gusto ko pong maging director.”
How about on TV? Any plans? “May popular book po akong nagustuhan, ‘Si Janus Silang’ ang title sa novel at sa internet. I presented it sa ABS-CBN at sana magustuhan nila yung material at ako ang kuning gumanap doon.”