“I WANT to see myself as one of the global actors!” Ito ang isa sa pinapangarap ng award-winning actor na si John Arcilla na pangunahing kontrabida ni Dingdong Dantes sa Metro Manila Film Festival movie ng Viva Films na A Hard Day.
“We’ve seen already on an international screen and we got the citation. Inilinya nila tayo sa mga popular and great actors across the globe like sina Brad Pitt. So parang I want to see myself to really do explore and see myself as a global actor.
“Ang dami na rin kasing American-Filipino na somehow nagkakaroon na ng posisyon sa global cinema, pero ako I wanna sell myself as a Filipino in somebody’s society. Like a Filipino in America, a Filipino in China, a Fillipino in Russia and playing a major role or significant role in their society, in their films. Parang yon yung gusto kong i-explore ngayon,” pahayag ni John sa PUSH.
Si John ang kauna-unahang Filipino actor na nakatanggap ng Volpi Cup para sa pagkakapanalo niya ng Best Actor sa 78th Venice Film Festival noong September 2021. Kinilala ang husay ni John bilang aktor sa pelikulang On the Job: The Missing 8 ng Reality Studios na idinirek ni Erik Matti.
Sa palagay ba niya ay ano ang mabuting naidulot ng pagkakapanalo niya ng international acting award sa Venice?
“Well, I think nagdagdag yon ng confidence for all of us Filipinos. We are now being seen by the whole world, ngayon lang tayo nakikita kasi nag-o-open up na at naghahanap na ng mga bagong mga content ang mga festivals,” tugon ng aktor.
“But we’ve been there for so long, it is just the validation that, yes, we were actually growing together with all the filmmakers and the pioneers of the film industry global-wise,” diin niya.
Ibinahagi rin ng Star Magic artist na wala siyang itinuturing na dream role o dream project.
“Ako, kung ano yung dumating. Wala akong dream role. Wala akong dream project. Kung ano yung project at character na nandiyan yon yung favorite ko, yon yung character na tinatrabaho ko,” lahad niya.
“But you know what, now medyo ang gusto ko talagang i-explore, I wish I can join a film project with those iconic heroes on DC or mga ganung klase.
“If I can also play one of those villains sa Batman and the first Filipino villain, parang yon ang dream ko ngayon. If not, siguro one of the freak people in X-Men. Parang ang sarap lang niyang i-explore, mas ganun pa yung nai-imagine ko, eh, na gusto kong gawin,” wish list pa ng aktor.
Pangatlong MMFF movie ni John ang A Hard Day. His two previous films were the top grossing MMFF film in 2019 na Miracle In Cell No. 7 na sinundan naman ng Suarez: The Healing Priest last year na ipinalabas lang virtually.
Ano ang reaksyon niya kapag sinasabing strong contender siya for best actor sa MMFF para sa pagganap niya sa A Hard Day?
“Lahat naman kasi kami na entry sa MMFF ay may chance na ma-nominate. I cannot deny that all actors na part ng festival are actually expecting to win. So those kinds of predictions are really very exciting to play on.
“But hindi na ako masyadong… Kumbaga, parang kung sino man ang mapili I can always respect that kasi parang kanya-kanya yan ng timing at saka ng panahon.
“It makes me excited and it can actually add colors and excitement to our audience and to the fans,” katwiran ng award-winning aktor.
