PAOLO BALLESTEROS admits he’s somehow unnerved by the fact that his two movies that will be shown one after another are up against tough competition. When “Trip Ubusan: Lolas vs. Zombies” opens today, it will still be facing the extended showing of the hit “Justice League”, while his solo project, “Barbi, D’Wonder Beki”, will be up against the Sharon Cuneta-Robin Padilla movie, “Unexpectedly Yours”, on November 29.
“Pero kung may Wonder Woman sa ‘Justice League’, e ano? D’Wonder Beki naman ako,” he quips. “Palagay ko, hindi rin kayang pataubin ng superheroes ng Justice League ang tatlong lolas ng ‘Trip Ubusan’. Daanin na lang sa paseksihan ang labanan at tiyak na mas tatawa ang audience sa movie namin nina Jose Manalo at Wally Bayola. Maski sumali kaming lahat sa beaucon, talo ibang candidates sa ganda namin. As for Ate Shawie, megastar yun. Wala namang nagsabi na ang movie ko lang ang puedeng ipalabas sa November 29, at birthday ko sa araw na yun, kaya birthday gift sa’kin ng viewers na ang movie ko ang mas unang panonoorin nila.”
What can he say to predictions that his triumvirate with Jose and Wally will replace Tito, Vic & Joey in “Eat Bulaga”? “Naku, walang makakapalit sa kanila, no? Sila yun, e. Kami ito. Hindi porke tatlo sila at tatlo rin kami, kami nang papalit sa kanila. Sila pa rin yun. May kanya-kanya kaming atake sa mga bagay-bagay at tigilan na lang ang comparisons.”Isn’t he scared he might be typecast in gay roles? “Okay lang naman sa’kin kung habambuhay akong magiging beki. Puede ka namang maging creative kung paano mo iiba-ibahin yung characters na gagampanan mo. Open naman ako sa ganyang challenges. Pero siempre, gusto ko rin namang mag-try ng ibang roles? Marami pa naman akong puedeng kayang gawin, ibigay at ipakita.”
How does he feel when folks say he might end up like BB Gandanghari who played nothing but gay roles since he came out of the closet? “For me, there’s no comparison kasi magkaiba kami ni BB. Nag-out siya at pinili niyang lumabas kasi doon siya masaya, hindi para magkaroon siya ng mas maraming offers o trabaho. So I’m happy for her.” So does he intend to come out himself? “Ay,
wala naman akong i-a-out kasi wala namang nakapasok sa’kin. So anong i-a-out ko?” he laughs. “Dito nga sa ‘Barbi, D’Wonder Beki’, pinatunayan kong kaya kong maging action star sa scenes na naging superhero ako. Abangan nyo dahil ginawa ko lahat ng fight scenes ko nang ako mismo, wala akong kadobol. Ang tapang ko, e.”How did he feel when Christian Bables backed out from doing Barbs in Director Jun Lana’s “Born Beautiful” for Cignal TV? “Siempre, nagulat at nawindang ako when I learned about it. Nakakalungkot kasi nakilala kami as Trisha and Barbs in ‘Die Beautiful’. Tapos, biglang pinalitan siya ni Martin (del Rosario) as Barbs. E, ganun talaga sa showbiz, di ba? May mga biglaang nangyayari so I just wish Christian all the best.”
