EPY QUIZON is the second son of the late Comedy King Dolphy with former actress Pamela Ponti to join showbiz as an actor. The first is his more famous Kuya, Eric, who is now also an established director. Through the years, he has made many films where he managed to shine, like the comedy “Nasaan si Francis” where he played the title role, “Markova, Comfort Gay” where he won a best supporting actor award as the young Markova and “Lastikman” where he played villain to Vic Sotto.
But Epi is best remembered for playing the role of the Sublime Paralytic, Apolinario Mabini, in “Heneral Luna” and “Heneral Goyo”. He now gets to play a lead romantic role in “The Art of Ligaw”, produced by CoreMinds of Davao and written and directed by Jourdan Sebastian. He plays Jake Esguerra, who stars in his own webseries called “The Jake Chronicles”, which shows his mastery of the art of “landian” or seduction where his character is an expert practitioner through the years.
But as the movie starts, Jake is shown to be having a mid-life crisis and feeling the emptiness of his life. He then decides to make the right thing to do: which is to have a long term and meaningful relationship. He aims to do this by practising the Art of Ligaw, which seems out of place now for young people for whom it is so easy to get into a relatrionship through dating sites on the internet where having a date is readily availabe with just one swipe away of your finger.
This is where he meets Carisse, a call center agent played by singer KZ Tandingan in her first acting role. Jake is intrigued by her being uptight and fierce. He makes advances to her but she is just repulsed by his over confidence. Is there hope for Jake now that the object of his affection is turned off by him?
“Maganda ang pagkaka-develop sa romance ng two lead characters,” says Epi. “The movie is very entertaining from start to finish and we’re sure maraming makaka-relate sa situations dito about an odd couple whose relationship start on a negative note.”
How would he rate KZ Tandingan’s acting considering she’s better known as a singer? “She was really a big surprise for all of us,” he says. “She reminds us of Ate Guy, maniwala kayo’t hindi. Kasi pareho silang petite, but both great singers, nagsimula sa pagkanta, and they both have expressive eyes. Si KZ, hindi mo iisiping first time niya lang at wala siyang previous na karanasan sa pag-arte kasi nakuha niya agad ang nuances ng role niya. Pinaiiyak siya ni Direk, pero kailangan, sa isang mata lang, nakuha niya agad!”
“Naku, huwag nyong sabihin yan!” KZ squawks. “Baka masyadong mag-expect ang mga tao, sabihing ilusyonada akong kinokumpara sa isang Nora Aunor.”
“Well, tingnan na lang natin kapag ipinalabas na ang movie,” adds Epy. “I’m sure marami ang magugulat kapag napanood ka nilarito and they will agree na hindi ka lang good singer but also a good actress.”