MANILA, Philippines - The men of the indie film ?Imoral??Paolo Paraiso, Arnold Reyes and Edgar Allan Guzman?agree that the new drama directed by Adolfo Alix Jr. marks a departure for each of them.

?I wanted to prove that, more than making pa-cute, I could portray serious roles,? Paraiso said.

As a bisexual cabbie living with a woman (Katherine Luna) and his gay lover (Reyes), Paraiso has steamy scenes with both co-stars.

He has no qualms about baring his body and soul onscreen. ?I prepared myself mentally. I understood that I needed to show that my character Dante loves his wife and lover equally.?

He?s not worried about the reaction of former partner Mylene Dizon, mother of his 3-year-old son, Tomas Miguel.

?Mylene?s looking forward to this,? he said. ?She has always encouraged me to do more indies. She taught me that there?s a big difference between a celebrity and an actor.?

Guzman, who was initially built up as a matinee idol, admitted that he was daunted by the script written by Gerry Gracio, who also penned ?Santa Santita.? ?But I trusted Direk Adolf,? he said.

In one scene, he had to pretend that he was pleasuring himself. ?That was challenging.? In past roles, he said, he only had to ?make pa-cute.?

Models

Reyes consulted friends for his role as a gay engineer.

?I interviewed my friend, [TV host] Boy Abunda and his partner Bong Quintana,? he related.

He also worked closely with fellow stage actor and co-star, Angeli Bayani. ?We read the script together?that?s how we work in theater.?

It?s his first gay role on the big screen, he said. ?I?m happy that I get to play different roles.? On the [ABS-CBN] soap ?Iisa Pa Lamang,? I?m Gabby Concepcion?s assistant. On the [GMA 7/QTV] sitcom ?Camera Café,? I?m a wacky messenger.?

Screen sked

Reyes wrote and sang the movie?s theme song, ?Kung Ako Ba Siya,? which was interpreted by Piolo Pascual in the ?Himig Handog Love Songs? tilt in 2002.

?Imoral? is currently showing in Cebu and will be back in Manila (Robinsons Galleria and Robinsons Place) soon.

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