ALTHOUGH HE IS a regular fixture on the small screen, mahirap para kay Arnold Reyes na talikuran ang pag-arte sa pelikula. At may basehan naman talaga kung bakit siya ay tinaguriang “The Independent Actor” in the independent film community. Iba’t ibang mukha at kuwento ng buhay na ang kanyang ipinakita sa mga independent films gaya ng Condo, Huling Araw ng Linggo, Vendo, Pisay, Pera-Perahang Lata, Big Time, Adela, Imoral, Independencia, Manila, The Forgotten War at Astig. And it was in his brilliant performance in Astig as Ronald, a Chinese mestizo from Zamboanga who goes to Manila to sell a decrepit building which he inherited from his father that earned him the highly-coveted Best Supporting Actor award last year in Cinemalaya.
Para kay Arnold, walang maliit o malaking roles para sa isang aktor. Ang mahalaga raw ay kung gaano siya kahusay sa kanyang naging pagganap at kung nagmarka sa mga manonood ang papel na kanyang ginampanan.
Sinabi noon ni Arnold sa isang interview na nag-e-enjoy siyang gumawa ng mga indie films. “I like the fresh, creative and edgy ideas of our young filmmakers. Marami akong natututunang bago. Young directors are brave in exploring new themes and techniques.”
Ngayon ay panibagong Arnold na naman ang ating mapapanood sa Cinemalaya entry (Full-Length Category) na The Leaving which is directed by ni Ian Loreños. The movie is set during the Chinese Hungry Ghost Festival. Gumaganap si Arnold bilang William, isang Tsinoy businessman na hindi maligaya sa piling ng kanyang asawang si Grace (LJ Reyes) na isang konserbatibang Filipina-Chinese housewife. Dahil sa kanyang pagrerebelde sa kanilang fixed marriage ay nagkaroon ng affair si William kay Joan, (LJ Moreno), a charming and independent woman with whom he finds passion and a connection he never had with his wife. Things go smoothly until Joan decides to leave and this is when William is faced with a decision from which there is no turning back.
It was challenging for Arnold to play the character of William. Ano ba ang pagkakaiba ni William kay Ronald, ang papel na kanyang ginampanan sa Astig? “Ito ang una kong horror-suspense film at ang character ko rito ay ibang-iba kay Ronald. Bilang si Ronald, I was most of the time quiet and helpless about my situation but William is impulsive, a control-freak and hates it when things don’t go his way. Finding myself playing almost antithetic characters, I knew that I had to push myself further in exploring the role of William. Bilang isang aktor ay alam ko ang aking obligasyon sa aking trabaho at sa mga manonood. Each time I approach a role, no matter how small, I study and do my homework. I did it for Ronald in ‘Astig’, and now, for William. I do it for all my films, and each time, I tell myself to take it one notch higher.”
Ang regular screenings ng “The Leaving” ay hanggang July 17, Saturday. Para sa mga tickets, maaaring tumawag sa Ticketworld 891-9999 o sa CCP Box Office 832-1125 local 1405-06.
Kaibigan, usap tayo muli!
Points of Boy
by Boy Abunda
