“MY CANDIDATE” stars Derek Ramsay, Shaina Magdayao and director Quark Henares. PHOTOS BY ALANAH TORRALBA
EXACTLY a week before the 2016 presidential election, actors Derek Ramsay and Shaina Magdayao paid the Inquirer office in Makati City a visit to campaign not for a particular presidential aspirant, but for their coming film, “My Candidate.”
The full-length feature, megged by Quark Henares and produced by Quantum Films, will be shown in theaters nationwide starting May 11.
“We don’t want to take the piss out of any candidate with this… [movie]. We actually want to show that while there are a lot of negative things happening in politics, and that they’re getting worse every day, there’s also a positive side to it. There are many good politicians out there,” said Derek, adding that he studied all the presidential candidates to make sure his character would not be associated with any of them.
Shaina, who got teased for wearing something similar to candidate Grace Poe’s signature white button-down shirt during the interview, said: “I will not endorse anyone, but I will support those whom I think are deserving.”
The actress added: “I think the world of politics is more chaotic. I have not had the chance to ask… [the candidates] why they’re running for a certain position, but I guess it’s because they want to help people.”
Quark, who is the son of dermatologist Vicki Belo, added: “I can understand why some people would want to run for office. My mom wanted to, but I discouraged her, so you don’t have to worry,” he quipped. “It’s just that there’s so much work involved.”
Excerpts from the Inquirer’s hour-long chat with them.
Do you see yourself marrying a politician?
Shaina (S): If ever I do, it will be because of how he is [as a person] and not because he is a politician.
Derek (D): I don’t think I’ll be able to sleep peacefully at night if I do. When you’re in politics, your life is in danger 24/7. You can’t please everybody even though you’re trying to help everyone.
I will not put my would-be family in a situation where their lives would be in danger. Of course, it would be easy to fall in love with an honest politician.
Tell us about your character in the movie.
D: I am Congressman Sonny Suarez of Bulacan. I come from a family with a long history in politics. I’m the laid-back type and more content in serving my people. It is, however, my father’s (Tirso Cruz III) dying wish to see me become a senator—or at least try to become one.
That’s when I bump into Shaina’s character, Billie Pono. I need a life coach because I don’t have great communication skills. I come across as very arrogant. Billie needs to make me more likable to the crowd. That’s when our love story begins.
Quark, this is very timely. What made you decide to do something like this and what’s so significant about it?
Quark (Q): It actually started as a joke. Director Dan Villegas got a whole bunch of us together. On our way home, I thought, “What if a very awkward candidate hires a life coach, who also cannot get her life together.” We know a lot of known personalities who help other people organize their lives, but can’t help themselves. I really wanted to explore that character.
So Billie is like Sandra Bullock in “Our Brand of Crisis?”
Q: I saw that film, but I think the Sandra Bullock character was more of a crisis management person. There’s no crisis here. It’s more like teaching people how to speak and be charming.
D: This film is a lot lighter. This is not even a rom-com (romantic comedy). It’s a com-rom. It’s really funny.
What is it about your respective characters that you can relate to? What did you have to work on?
D: People don’t know me as someone who is arrogant and antipatiko. I’m my character’s complete opposite, because I’m a clown and I’m easy to talk to.
S: My life isn’t as colorful as Billie’s. She used to be a drug addict. She has tattoos. She’s a survivor. I’d like to think that I am, too.
For her, a woman doesn’t really need a man—she has to want the man to be with him. Amen to that!
SHAINA’s character is an ex-druggie.
You became so impassioned all of a sudden. Where is that coming from?
S: I’m sober, not like Billie who became an addict. I’ve never been around someone who was high on drugs. There’s a scene where Billie is so high and is about to be taken to rehab. I said “Direk, how do I do this?” He made me watch some videos.
Q: Yeah, videos, because I can’t know anything about being high (laughter). We wanted to make the antistudio rom-com through this film. You’ll notice that a lot of rom-com films these days have characters who say, “I need a boyfriend” or “I’m defined by my need for a boyfriend.”
There’s such a thing called the Bechdel Test. We have two scenes in the film where there are women talking—and it’s not about a man. Only a few films pass that test.
What does Billie teach?
S: Body language, eye contact and how to be more sincere. She does research, too. She’s a communications coach not only to politicians, but also to show biz celebrities. Her last client was Joker (Ketchup Eusebio), who has a sex scandal. Billie taught him how to save face by working his way around the situation.
Q: She’s like Mr. Miyagi (in “Karate Kid”). She makes Sonny do all sorts of things, like get him drunk. His campaign manager got really angry.
D: She’s the type of person who is good at giving advice but cannot apply it to her life.
Derek, you acknowledged that you needed help from somebody like her?
D: Yes, she points out some truly disturbing things about my character. But what’s cool here is that, I am also able to teach her just by being myself. She’s trying her best to make me likable, more appealing to people, but when she sees how I am as a person—someone who is principled and strong-willed—she starts looking at me in a different light.
What is Iza Calzado’s character like?
D: Vera is the halimaw (monster) here.
Q: Iza’s plays the character you love to hate—she’s a b*tch, but she’s always smiling. They (she and Derek) are passive-aggressive toward each other. There is a Grace Poe element in her, [but] the b*tch comes out [despite her] … smiling façade.
Derek what’s with the hair? Was it a conscious decision to grow it long?
D: I did it for the role, and I hate it. I go to the bathroom in the morning, see myself in the mirror and really shock myself. I’ve had a buzzed hairdo for over a decade now.
On the set, I brought my own brushes—three of them—and I actually brushed my hair. All the while, I was thinking: “Never again! I will just wear a wig next time.”
Another rom-com film will be shown this week. Aren’t you worried that the market will become saturated, or are you thankful that you’re trying something different?
D: Rom-com is where I thrive on. Yes, we are all competing but I also see it as giving the audience more options. I’m a risk-taker; that’s why I jumped on board. There’s a bit of concern, of course.
S: I’m thankful that Quantum Films is taking a risk. I can’t work with Derek on TV because we belong to different stations. Our team-up is what makes this project unique.
DEREK always heeds his dad’s advice.
Derek, you have remained busy and in demand despite the network shift. How did you manage to do that?
D: My dad always tells me to believe in myself and my capabilities, to never give up. That’s what I did—I stayed positive.
My motivation is to help TV5 grow from what it was in 2011 to being, maybe, an ABS-CBN someday.
Aren’t you worried about the recent changes in TV5’s entertainment department, especially with Viva Communications coming in?
D: Not at all. I was like, yes, please come in! We need more good people. Not one person can turn the network around. We need more talents, so we can come up with better and more creative shows.
Quark, your comment on Facebook sparked the discussion about the length of work hours in show biz. Now even the DOLE (Department of Labor and Employment) is involved. Do you feel happy about this development?
Q: DOLE still needs to talk to industry people about this. It says eight to 12 hours, but I think 14 hours is ideal, especially for TV because work there is more difficult.
D: I believe that we can do it even on TV, but there will have to be a lot of sacrifices in the beginning.
S: I wish the cut-off would not just apply to actors, but also to the staff.
D: You try to observe the people you work with when you start a teleserye or a movie. They all look different at the end of the project—some (of them) don’t look healthy, and even the mood changes.
But celebs are afraid to voice out their opinion.
S: I don’t think that’s the case now, after the series of deaths at work. This is a wake-up call for many of us.
D: I’ve seen somebody die on the set. He was a stunt man. He did a short scene where he was supposed to swerve an owner-type jeep. When he stepped out, he fell over and died. It turned out that he has been working for five straight days.
The infuriating part was that taping still continued. At the time, I really lost my mind and said my piece! I had to remind everyone that a man just died—and it was wrong for us to keep working.
Do you think a union needs to be formed?
D: I hate the saying, “Kung kaya naman sa Amerika, bakit hindi natin makaya dito?” But for this, I’ll use it. Once you’ve seen what I saw—how people change physically and emotionally—it will really bother you.
Q: Of course the naysayers will comment, “Ginusto ninyo ito, e!” But what’s wrong with following your dreams, doing what makes you happy and living a healthy life?
QUARK Henares returns after business school abroad.
Quark, what has changed in your directing style since the last project?
Q: After making “Rakenrol,” I went to business school in the States. I really missed directing, so while I was in school, I did a couple of parody videos.
Someone posted a comment on Instagram that struck me: “’Di ko alam kung matutuwa ako na nagdi-direct ka pa rin or maiiyak na ito na lang ang dini-direct mo.” I said, “It’s time to do it again.”
“Rakenrol” was very personal. It’s the story of my life made over six years. This one is more streamlined. We (with Chris Costello and Mikael de Lara Co) wrote the script in December, and now it’s May and we’re coming out with it.
Mikael works in Malacañang as a speech writer. We also did a lot of improvisation here. The other cast members are from the improv comedy group, Spit.
What have you learned from this particular project?
D: I believe comedy is a talent you’re born with. I’m not a comedian. Shaina isn’t, either. If you have the right script, and you’re able to effectively bring these characters to life, then the whole thing becomes funny. I realized that I can actually be funny because of the situation my character is in.
S: I wanted my portrayal of Billie to be sincere. I didn’t want to just “act” her. I had to really be Billie, and it took me a while.
The timing of this movie is perfect. Are you worried, scared or optimistic about the coming elections?
S: For sure, the elections will be stressful to all of us. I always tell people to attend our premiere night on May 9 after casting their votes. We all need to de-stress.
Q: I’m hoping for the best for the country.
D: I’m very worried about it. I just think that six years isn’t long enough for anybody to turn our country around. The effort has to come from all of us. I hope we elect a leader that will inspire us to help change the country.
S: Let’s all vote for Congressman Sonny Suarez!
E-mail mcruz@inquirer.com.ph.