ENZO PINEDA was discovered when he became the First Prince in Starstruck 2009.
He did several shows with GMA then moved to ABS-CBN. He also did indie films and last year, he won the Famas best supporting actor award for the movie “He Who Is Without Sin”.
He now plays one of the lead roles in the “barkada comedy” movie, “Call Me Papi”, written and directed by Alvin Yapan, a filmmaker who is best known for the award-winning film, “Sayaw ng Dalawang Kaliwang Paa”.
In the story, Enzo plays Sonny, a gym instructor who was fired when he had an affair with a client who turned out to be a married woman.
He then goes to stay with his friends who share an apartment and are all working guys: Royce Cabrera as Lito, Albie Casino as Ben, Lharby Policarpio as Mario and Aaron Concepcion as Roy.
It’s common knowledge that he is currently playing beautiful music with actress Michelle Vito. Is it true Michelle has told him to stop making sexy films?
“I understand naman where she is coming from. She’s conservative and just looks after my well being.
"She says kapag masyado akong na-typecast sa sexy roles, baka hindi na ako kunin for other kinds of films and I think that she has a valid point.”
He likes his role as Sonny in “Call Me Papi” as Sonny goes through a lot in the course of the film.
“My character here is sawi sa pag-ibig,” he adds. “He is searching for love.
"I am happy to be part of this movie kasi I can relate with all the characters in it. May bits and pieces sa mga pinagdaraanan nila na naranasan ko rin.
"But in the end, this is a feel good movie about friendship and family that viewers can easily relate with.”
Direk Alvin says that the producer, Feast Productions, got him specifically to do a film about five friends that is very light.
“Sabi kasi nila, we’ve gone through a lot due to the pandemic,” he says.
“Gusto nila, mapasaya lang ang mga manonood. The message of the movie is ‘Walang Iwanan’, anuman ang ating pinagdaraanan kahit pa pandemic yan, the important thing is we’re all in this together.”
What happened to him after his film “Oro” in the 2016 Metro Filmfest became very controversial for killing an animal?
“I did a movie, ‘Culion’, an entry in the 2019 Metro filmfest.
"And also a documentary about endangered languages, ‘Hulagway’, which is now being shown in various schools. And now, I’m glad to be back with ‘Call Me Papi’.”
But making “Call Me Papi” is not a picnic for him and the rest of the cast.
“The movie was shot in a span of three years because it was stalled by the pandemic.
"It’s really a miracle na natapos namin ito, kasi we started shooting it before the pandemic and each time we’d continue, we’re stopped by new lockdowns and restrictions because of the virus.
"So we’re now very thankful that after three years, natapos namin ito last July at ipapalabas na siya sa mga sinehan on December 7.”