IT’S A TRIPLE treat for Backroom artists GB Sampedro, Arnold Reyes and Ina Feleo dahil nagwagi sila sa 2009 Cinemalaya Film Festival. GB won the Best Director award and Arnold received the Best Supporting Actor award for the movie Astig while Ina won the Best Actress trophy for her brilliant performance in Sanglaan.
Astig is GB’s first foray in film directing. “I think all the entries in Cinemalaya deserve to win because everyone gave their best efforts. I respect people’s opinions about the results. Everyone is entitled to his opinion. My Best Director award is very memorable. Malaking bagay ito para sa akin. This is my first indie movie. Ilang taon ko nang inasam-asam na makagawa ng pelikula. I am very thankful.” Saan ba niya inilagay ang kanyang award? “Nasa CCP ngayon kasi ini-engrave pero dinisplay ko siya noon sa bahay at sa opisina.”
Kung ito man ang unang sabak sa pelikula ni GB ay hindi naman baguhan si Arnold pagdating sa indie films. He is dubbed as “the independent actor” in the independent film circuit. Una siyang napanood noong 2006 sa Ang Huling Araw ng Linggo. He is an actor, singer, songwriter and commercial model. Hanggang ngayon daw ay parang nakalutang pa siya sa alapaap. “Noong pumunta ako sa awards night, I didn’t expect to win kasi ang gagaling ng mga kalaban ko. Astig is my biggest indie movie. Every time I do a project, I study my role. Gusto ko iba’t ibang karakter ang makikita ng mga tao sa mga papel na ginagampanan ko.” Arnold doesn’t mind showing some skin in his movies like what he did in Astig. “Hindi ako nag-alinlangan sa role ko kahit may bold scenes. Naghanda ako ng husto sa akting para hindi naman sabihin na katawan lang ang ipinakita ko. I’m happy that people appreciate my acting in Astig.”
Aminado naman si Ina na mas nahirapan siya sa Sanglaan kaysa sa Endo where she won her first Best Actress award. “In Sanglaan, my character’s emotions are confined at malayo sa personality ko.” Her parents Johnny Delgado and Laurice Guillen are her best advisers when it comes to acting. “My mom always says ‘Go for the truth,’ ‘No more, no less,’ at kung ano ang hingin sa script ay iyon lang ang ibigay ko. My dad wants me to show freshness in every character I portray.”
Masayang-masaya po ako because Astig was my first attempt at movie production together with my good friend Boy So. Noong una ay nangangapa pa kami kasi wala kaming karanasan sa pagpo-produce ng pelikula. Ang baon lamang namin ay lakas ng loob at ang kagustuhan na mas lumawak pa ang aming kaalaman.
Ipinagdarasal ko noon na sana kahit man lang isa ay may mapanalunan ang pelikula pero sumobra pa ang aming biyayang natanggap. Astig also won Best Editing and Best Sound. Ika nga, sulit naman lahat ng hirap dahil nagustuhan ng publiko ang aming pelikula.
Kaibigan, usap tayo muli!
Points of Boy
by Boy Abunda
