BALIK-TELEBISYON NA naman si Gina Alajar sa Kambal Sa Uma nina Shaina Magdayao at Melissa Ricks. Habang nasa set, maraming masasayang kuwento kaming napag-usapan – dekada ’80 at ’90 na nagbalik sa aming alaala. Naging sentro rin ng usapan ang anak niyang si Geoff Eigenmann na nagbalik sa bakuran ng GMA 7.
“Geoff naman stayed in ABS, long time after his contract expired. He had a two-year contract which expired in 2006, after that, he still with the network. May ibinibigay naman sa kanyang proyekto, paisa-isa, but the last project he did which was a very very good project na para bang na-reinvent ‘yung sarili niya is Lobo. After Lobo, he was so excited Moon River will follow, after a month lang may project na agad siya.
“Kailangan daw mag-revise ng script, ganoon, ganyan. Hindi naman natin masisisi ang network, kasi they have their standards also. Kung kailangang i-revise nang i-revise ang script para ma-satisfy sila, so be it! But the thing is, he needs to work. After Lobo, it’s been seven months from the time up to now. It’s been seven months he didn’t work. Sabi ng manager niya, wala namang project, siguro which we understand. Napakaraming artista ng ABS-CBN .”
Happy ba naman si Geoff sa terms and condition ng contract niya sa GMA-7? “It’s an exclusive 3-year contract, it’s an offer that we can’t refuse. Two soaps a year, one after the other, lead role or one of the bida.”
As an actress, subok na ang kakayahan ni Gina, as a director, kailan naman kaya? “Hindi ko pa alam, alhough I wanted to direct, but for now, if it’s acting that’s been offered, I welcome it. It’s more relaxing to act than being a director, kaya pa-relax-relax lang ako.
“I miss acting in film, I did Fuschia with Direk Joel Lamangan with Gloria Romero, Iza Calzado, and the other one is Dead Na Si Lolo. Ang director naman si Soxy Topacio, kasama ko d’yan sina Roderick Paulate, Elizabeth Oropesa, Manilyn Reynes, Dick Israel. I miss doing it, iba rin kasi ang proseso ng pelikula, iba rin ‘yung challenge sa isang artista, because they are using one camera. In Fuschia, I did crying scenes with Gloria, siyempre one cam lang, kung ano ‘yung ginawa ko sa master shot, kailangang gawin ko sa close-up. Sabi ko, Direk I miss this kasi, ‘yung proseso as an actor, ‘yun ‘yung nagagamit mo talaga, because kailangang i-match mo ‘yung other shot.”
Lalo na siguro kung si Gina ang director, mas matindi ang challenge na mae-incounter niya sa mga baguhang artista. “Yeah, pero mas nananalaytay sa akin ‘yung pagiging artista, ‘di ba? When I direct, and then and I envision something kung paano ko gustong gawin ng artista and they don’t get it, I feel frustrated, very very frustrated! Parang bang… ako naman mahaba ang patience ko kaya lang, I just really feel frustrated lalo na’t maganda ‘yung role. Kino-compare ko rin naman ‘yung mga artista ngayon at sa amin noong araw, ‘di ba? Kasi, at the age of 20 or 21 , kami nina Amy (Austria), LT (Lorna Tolentino), we’re doing matured and meaty roles talaga. Like I did Salome when I was 21, ‘yung ganu’n . I do not know kung a 21-year old actress would be able to do Salome? Amy did Hinugot Sa Langit, I think she was 19 or 20. I do not know if a 19 or 20 years old can do an Amy Austria. We did Brutal at the same time, in between 20-22 ‘yun, so, mabibigat ‘yun. I was wondering kung may artistang makagagawa n’un. During our time, wala namang big network noon, ‘di ba? Gawa lang kayo ng pelikula, pagalingan naman noong araw.”
Kung sakaling i-remake ang signature movie ni Gina, ang Salome, at siya ang direktor. Sino sa mga young actresses ang puwedeng mag-portray ng role? “Angel (Locsin) is perfect for the role. ‘Yung sensuality ni Salome, Angel has that. Excited nga siya sa project at pinanood pa niya. Kaso mo nga, hindi pa siya ready for that kind of role. May image siyang pinoprotektahan, nasa GMA pa si Angel noong time na inalok ko sa kanya ang Salome. Noong tinanggihan niya, I have a producer already, who is willing to produce the film. Nakausap ko na si Ricky Lee, sitdown na lang kung ano ‘yung gagawin namin sa Salome. After noong tinanggihan niya, I was thinking of other actresses to play. We consider Alessandra De Rossi kasi kung pag-uusapan naman natin, she can act! Takot din ang anak kong ‘yun. I considered Iza Calzado, pero parang she’s too old for the role, matured. I considered Maja (Salvador), pero hindi pupuwede, hindi talaga pupuwede so, impossible. Sabi ko na lang, it’s impossible to remake it now.”
AYAW Paawat!
by Eddie Littlefield
