“I’ve long been wanting to work with Direk Brillante whose indie films have won international awards,” he says. “E, sa indie rin naman ako nakilala at nanalo ng awards, di ba? So nag-audition ako sa kanya and I’m glad he got me for his projects.”
Doesn’t he aspire to do a mainstream movie? “Sa totoo lang, masaya naman ako sa indie films na ginagawa ko. Okay sa’kin ang subject matter ng mga ito na mas napapanahon at makabuluhan kaysa roon sa usual romances na ginagawa sa mainstream. Okay na ako sa indie at lagi naman akong may trabaho, so happy ako. Katatapos ko rin lang ng ‘Bomba’, directed by Ralston Jover who made such award winning indie films as ‘Bakal Boys’ and ‘Hamog’. Pipi ako sa story at may unusual relationship kami ng isang 16-year old girl, who’s played by Angeli Sanoy. Akala mo sa umpisa, anak ko siya, but as the story goes on, you’ll realize na lovers pala kami. Abangan nyo dahil naiiba ito.
May pagkakontrobersyal ang material. I will also start shooting soon a film with another award-winning director, Auraeus Solito, ‘Palawan’, the third in his trilogy of Palawan movies, kasama ko sina Assunta de Rossi and Sue Prado. Nag-audition din ako diyan and I’m glad akong napili.”
What’s his role in “Amo”? “Dito, mag-a-action ako as a policeman na superior ni Derek Ramsay. Yung batang bida rito, si Vince Rillon, pamangkin ko kasi kapatid ko yung father niya, si Dexter Macaraeg, na pulis din. You can imagine our dismay nang malaman naming drug pusher pala si Vince. Marami talagang action scenes at first time kong gumawa ng isang action series so enjoy ako. Puro takbuhan, habulan na may hawak akong baril, at car chase scenes, so naiiba ang challenge for me.”
So how is it working with Direk Brillante? “I’ve worked with him as a producer ng ‘Twilight Dancers’ for which I won a best supporting actor award and also ‘Imbisibol’, for which I won best actor naman. But this is the first time na direktor ko siya and I love his style kasi he gives freedom sa artista niya in interpreting your role. Gusto niya, yung natural lang, hindi yung umaarte ka. At yung shots niya, dito sa ‘Amo’, hindi pang-TV ang treatment niya kundi parang pelikula. I’m proud to be given the chance to work with him lalo na’t very timely ang ‘Amo’ about the drug menace in the country and the corruption in our government. Straight akong pulis dito sa umpisa, pero nakita ko yung boss namin, mas corrupt, so sumama na lang ako sa sistema kasi naisip ko, wala namang patutunguhan ang pagiging straight cop.”
“Amo” will start airing on August 20 at 9:30 PM on TV5.
