SID LUCERO was present at two zoom presscons last Friday.
First for GMA-7’s new afternoon series that starts airing on June 6, “The Fake Life”, and a bit later for Vivamax’ new sextravaganza, “Virgin Forest” that streams on June 24.
What are his roles in two projects?
“In ‘The Fake Life’, I play the main antagonist, Mark,” he says.
“He used to be the boyfriend of Beauty Gonzalez but he left her to go abroad, so she married Ariel Rivera and they have a happy, peaceful family life.
"But I come back and mess it up as I’m obsessed to get back Beauty at all cost, kahit may asawa’t mga anak na siya.”
How about in “Virgin Forest”, which starts streaming on June 24? Incidentally, this is not a remake of the 1985 Peque Gallaga costume movie, but is an original material set in modern times.
“I play Francis, a photo-journalist commissioned to take pictures of the largest flower of genus Rafflesia in the jungles of Bukidnon known.
"While traveling in the mountains with Vince Rillon as my guide, I discover more than what I bargained for: an illegal logging operation and a prostitution ring headed by Alma Moreno.”
This is where he meets Angeli Khang as Carla, a captive prostitute who runs away to look for her missing sister, Katrina Dovey as Angela.
He tries to help save both girls but puts his own life in danger when some thugs hunt them down to get the girls back.
“Virgin Forest” is directed by Brillante Mendoza.
“I’ve worked before with him in ‘Captive’, exactly ten years ago, first movie ni Vince Rillon and now we’re together again here in ‘Virgin Forest’. I love working with him.
"I know there’d be no script, so I just opened up myself and got ready for what he’d tell me on the set.”
His most talked about scene in “Virgin Forest” is the orgy scene under a waterfall which is seen in the trailer.
He is surrounded by six women and they are all naked. How was it shooting this controversial scene that will surely make him the envy of most male viewers who’d watch it?
“Honestly, mahirap siyang i-shoot. It’s painful kasi the rocks are sharp so masakit humiga. We all had bruises as we’re all naked.
"The falls is also so noisy so you can’t understand the directions. It’s not easy as we’re standing there on that small rock and there’s nowhere to rest any part of your body.
“As an actor, ang naglalaro na lang sa isip ko is that we’re all in this together so sama-sama kami sa hirap. I really wish we were all more comfortable sana. But we’re all naked, so respetuhan na lang. Anumang sexual fantasy ang nasa isip, it just died. Gusto ko na lang matapos ang shoot.”
But Direk Brillante is so happy with the scene.
“Whatever he wanted was captured by the camera and the effect on screen is truly erotic.
"It was written that way and I’m sure some people would like to have a fantasy like that.
"That scene was shot towards the end of the movie. And the six girls, I don’t even remember all their names.
"We just have to be relaxed with each other even if we were stepping on each other since we have such a narrow foothold.”
He says “Virgin Forest” is the sexiest flick he has done.
“I’ve been doing sexy love scenes in a lot of movies, but I don’t think I’ve exposed myself as much as I did in this film.
"Ewan ko lang if Direk would show all of it in the final print. I just did every scene that he asked me to do.”
This is his second film with Angeli Khang after “Silip sa Apoy”, which was a big hit on Vivamax.
“Yes and I’m happy to work with her again. I love supporting Angeli as she’s so generous. She was already a formidable actress before in ‘Silip’. Her courage in doing delicate scenes is uncanny.
"She’s so fragile looking but she’s amazingly brave and tough even in very demanding scenes. So it’s nice to work with her again as she has so much to offer as an actress. I am willing to work with her anytime.”