MANILA, Philippines?In its fourth year, the digital film festival Cinema One Originals continues to attract reputable actors to roles in the entries.
Five of this year?s seven features have mainstream stars in the lead cast, says Ronald Arguelles, channel head and festival executive producer.
? Roman Carlo Olivarez?s ?Upcat? has the father-and-son tandem of Bembol and Felix Roco.
Olivarez recalls being daunted working with veterans Mark Gil and the elder Roco. ?I was nervous and excited as hell, but I tried to act cool.? He describes Felix as ?a discovery ... charismatic.?
? Ron Bryant is grateful to his cast, led by Gil and Eula Valdes, for remaining committed to his film ?Alon,? set on a secluded beach in Sabang Point, Agno, Pangasinan.
?We shot for six days straight, at the peak of the rainy season,? Bryant recounts. Even so, he notes, collaborating with Valdes and Gil was ?a breeze.? Teen star Charee Pineda, Bryant adds, was just as ?professional, always prepared,? like the vets.
? Jon Red, who directed ?motorCYCLE,? commends his cast, led by Jason Abalos, Nonie Buencamino and Shamaine Centenera. ?Everyone was cooperative and dedicated; it was no different from their work in bigger films.?
? Richard Somes says he also gathered a dream team for ?Yanggaw?: Ronnie Lazaro, Joel Torre and Tetchie Agbayani. ?The best thing about working with them is the element of surprise they brought to their characters. I never knew what they would do with every take.?
? Ruelo Lozendo?s ?Kolorete,? a period drama about agrarian conflict, boasts indie regulars Roeder Camañag, Perry Dizon, Chiqui Xerex Burgos, Coreen Chan, Jean Judith Javier, sexy star Althea Vega and Cinemanila Best Actress Angeli Bayani.
Says Lozendo of his cast: ?They?re professional, open-minded and patient. Since most of them are from theater, they had to tone down their acting to fit the film medium.?
? ?Yul Servo and Emilio Garcia needed very little coaching,? Senedy Que points out? even in the five-minute final scene of ?Dose? that was entirely wordless. ?They acted only with their eyes. It?s my tribute to Ishmael Bernal.?
Alessandra de Rossi, he says, accepted the role ?gratis... because we worked together in Gil Portes? ?Mga Munting Tinig? (which he co-wrote with Adolf Alix Jr).?
Also a revelation, says Que, is its titular star, 11-year-old newcomer Fritz Arvhie Chavez. ?He stood out among those we auditioned?especially in the last tryout held in a crowded fast-food restaurant. He ignored the people around him and simply gave his best.?
? Sherad Anthony Sanchez?s ?Imburnal? similarly top-bills unknown lead actors? ?real-life street children.?
Cinema One Originals will screen in schools (Far Eastern University on Nov. 19, UP Diliman on Nov. 20) and in malls (IndieSine Robinsons Galleria). Awards ceremony is on Nov. 28.
