KEEMPEE DE LEON is glad to do a new movie, “Mahal Kita, Beksman”, as he has not done a movie for more than ten years.
“Na-miss ko rin, kasi mostly, TV series ang ginagawa ko,” he says.
“And I’m glad that Viva ang producer nito kasi sa Viva naman talaga ako nag-start and I did a lot of youth oriented movies with them before.
"When this movie was offered to me by Direk Perci Intalan, natuwa ako kasi light lang siya.
"E sa soaps, puro drama ang ginagawa ko, so nakaka-drain ng emotions. Dito, nag-enjoy talaga ako kasi masaya lang kami lagi during the shoot.”
Doesn’t he mind playing a gay dad to Christian Bables in “Mahal Kita, Beksman”?
"“Not at all. In real life, I have a daughter who’s now 25 years old.
"Kapag kasama ko nga, sinasabi ng mga tao, ang bata ng girlfriend mo, so I have to tell them na, anak ko yan.
"I’m now 49 years old, si Christian daw is 27, so puede ko na talaga siya maging anak.”
How come he’s very good in playing gay roles?
“E kasi, kinalakihan ko na ang daddy ko (Joey de Leon) na gumaganap ng Barbie sa movies niya, so at home na rin ko sa gay roles.
"I played a gay role as Harold in the GMA-7 sitcom na ‘Bahay Mo Bato’ at natuwa sa akin ang viewers doon kasi effective sa kanila ang pagbabading ko.”
How did he interpret his role in “Mahal Kita, Beksman” who is a swishy parlorista but married to Katya Santos in the story?
“Wala, ine-enjoy ko lang. Marami akong gay friends na pinaghalo halo ko na lang ang mga nakuha ko sa kanila para sa character ko.
"May mga kilala naman talaga tayong gays pero may mga anak, di ba?”
How is it working with Christian Bables who’s now the young actor best known for playing gay roles?
“Nagkasundo kami agad. Sa rehearsals pa lang namin, na-build up na agad ang rapport namin ni Christian at pati ng characters namin.
"During shooting breaks, kuwentuhan kami and he’s very receptive kaya we got along fine.
"Maganda ang naging connection namin on and off cam, and you can see that in our scenes together in the movie.”
He says lots of friends and people texted him when they learned he’s part of “Mahal Kita, Beksman”.
“They’re all happy for me and they really congratulated me kasi sa trailer pa lang, kita mo nang masaya ang movie.
"Even si Donna Cruz, she sent me a message at natuwa rin siyang ginamit namin sa movie yung song niyang ‘Kapag Tumibok ang Puso’.
"This is really a feel good movie so tinitiyak namin sa inyong mage-enjoy kayo sa panonood nito sa mga sinehan starting November 16.”
Direk Perci Intalan says it’s a joy to work with both Keempe and Christian.
“Pareho silang magaling, they give more than what you ask for,” he says. “They both make a director’s work easier kasi, imagine, both of them they know alam nila ang purpose nila sa eksena.
"Maski ang adlibs nila, tama ang bato nila ng lines nila. Alam nila kung paano ipasok ang mga hirit nila.
"Tawang-tawa kami sa set, lalo kay Keempee na kwelang-kwela talaga, so be sure not to miss this movie.”