JERIC Gonzales’ career is on a roll. He stars in his first lead role in a movie in “Broken Blooms” and on TV, he’s part of the hit GMA primetime series “Start Up PH.” “Broken Blooms” has so far won him four best actor plums in international film festivals: Harlem International Film Festival in New York, then two awards from India at the Mokkho IFF and the Tagore IFF, and the Montellupo Fiorentino IFF in Italy.
“Dream ko talagang manalo ng award. Now, first time ko manalo ng acting awards and it’s sad na wala ako roon to accept them in person,” he says.
What’s his role in the movie?
“I play Jeremy, a physical therapy student who got married young and became a father,” he says. “Then the pandemic came at naging napakahirap ng buhay. I’m jobless so naging masahista ako to earn a living for my family. It’s first time for me to play a married man. I really gave it all my heart and soul and I’m so glad all our hard work paid off well. All the awards serve as an inspiration for me to continue improving my craft as an actor. I’d like to thank our director, Louie Ignacio, who recommended me for the role.”
What’s his most difficult scene in the movie? “May nude scene ako in the movie. Mahirap ‘yun but mas mahirap ang breakdown scene ko. Kasi my mother, Jaclyn Jose, got sick with Covid, my wife Therese Malvar left me, ‘yung motorcycle ko, ninakaw, so puro frustrations ang dumarating sa buhay ko and I break down. Very demanding, but thank God they gave me an acting workshop and with Direk Louie’s assistance, naitawid ko naman.”
He says the awards he won boosted his confidence and he is now also elated for the good feedback he is getting as Dave in GMA’s “Start Up PH.” How about his love life?
Is it true he has reconciled with beauty queen Rabiya Mateo? “We’re good friends, but right now, we’re both very busy so we are more focused on our careers. I’m not closing my doors kung ano ang darating, but ang ganda ng momentum ng career ko ngayon, so dito muna ako tututok ng husto and love can wait.”
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Ritz Azul and Myrtle Sarrosa are the only members of the big cast of the official Metro-Manila Film Festival, “Mamasapano: Now It Can Be Told,” whose roles are fictitious while the others play real characters. They portray TV reporters who come from warring networks.
Their assignment is to report on what’s going in Mamasapano on that tragic day of January 15, 2016 when 44 Special Action Forces police officer were ruthlessly killed by terrorists. Ritz plays Mary Ann del Rosario while Myrtle plays Gladys Rivas.
Atty. Ferdie Topacio, the movie’s producer, says the characters of Ritz and Myrtle are symbolic of the networks. “Nag-aagawan kasi ang top networks sa pagbabalita on what’s going on instead of trying to help in showing the truth,” he adds. “Mas importante pa rin sa kanila ang ratings kaysa ‘yung may mga namamatay na ngang policemen sa Mamasapano. Sila lang ang fictitious characters dito. All the rest are real people.”
“We actually play composite characters,” says Ritz, who is the only one present at the second press con of “Mamasapano” at Pandan Asian Cafe as Myrtle didn’t make it. “We represent various other news personnel who made reports about what’s happening at Mamasapano. I feel happy to be part of the movie which tries to show the truth about what really happened at Mamasapano and the ill-fated SAF 44.”
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‘This is Director Perci Intalan’s best work to date and it’s obvious the material is near his heart.’
Perci Intalan
If you want to forget your troubles, don’t miss the rollicking romp that is “Mahal Kita, Beksman.” It’s a true laugh-out-loud comedy that really works in tickling our funnybones. The viewers at the premiere night last Thursday at SM Megamall were in stitches and after all the feel-bad movies we’ve seen in Vivamax lately, this one is a feel-good movie that leaves you feeling refreshed and not depressed.
The story is about a gay make-up artist and fashion designer, Dali (Christian Bables), the son of a dressmaker, Gemma (Katya Santos), who has accepted the fact that Dali’s dad is really gay, Jaime (Keempee de Leon), and even has a current boyfriend, Boyet (Mico Aytona), who’s also openly gay. Dali’s co-workers in their beauty shop are also flamboyantly gay.
Trouble arises when Dali meets Angel (Iana Bernardez), a morena beauty and is immediately smitten with her. It’s a life changing moment for him when he realizes he’s not really gay. When he tells this to his parents and their co-workers, they are all shocked and in denial. The ways that Dali’s issues are all resolved in the most entertaining manner is part of the movie’s contagious charm.
This is Director Perci Intalan’s best work to date and it’s obvious the material is near his heart. He says in the press con that he once shocked all his gay friends when he courted a girl who became his girlfriend. His movie is actually a satirical take on all those movies about the coming out of a gay person who shocks all his loved ones.
Here, the lead character announces he is straight and all the gay people around him are appalled. Direk Perci gets a uniformly splendid performance from his very big cast. They’re all good, but the real stand outs here are, of course, the father and the son, who both figure in many absolutely funny scenes.
