Mercedes Cabral on UAE mag’s list of 100 influential people in the Gulf

She apologizes for her use of curse words, but not for stating an opinion, indie actress Mercedes Cabral told the Inquirer during her visit on Tuesday.

The “Oro” cast member was recently the target of online bashing because of a comment she posted on Facebook-which has since been deleted—criticizing an earlier statement by Regal Films’ Lily Monteverde about the Christmas season being “not the time for indie films” and calling the producer a “f–king idiot.”

Asked what provoked her to say that, the actress said: “It’s a personal opinion based on an article I’ve read on the issue. It said that Christmas is not for indie films—that’s what made me snap. People would have ignored my post if not for the curse words. I’ve read other posts that had the same content, but didn’t get the same reaction from people.”

Cabral added: “Some say I was disrespectful. I apologize for the cuss words, but I don’t regret having said what I said. If I apologize to Mother Lily, I’m not going to do it publicly. The conversation will just be between us. What about those who treated me badly? Will they also apologize?”

The actress said she felt hurt when the comments turned into personal attacks. “I’m affected because my parents are hurting. I told my mom not to read the posts anymore, that she knows the truth about me more than anyone else. I guess this is the result of my being vocal about industry issues,” added Cabral of what she has learned from the experience. “I realized that if I criticize one person, I have to be ready for the 100 people who will retaliate.”

Mark Shandii Bacolod (left) and Mercedes Cabral at PDI.

Cabral’s manager Mark Shandii Bacolod, who is also the producer of “Oro,” denied that the controversy was merely a scheme to promote the movie. “We will never play dirty, especially for this kind of film. I guess what Mercedes has failed to realize was that she has already become an influential personality in the industry that’s why people listen to what she has to say. She now has a responsibility to her followers. She’s no longer here just to be an actress.”

“Oro,” directed by Alvin Yapan, is an official entry in the 2016 Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) which begins on Christmas Day.

Good news

Bacolod said he was angry with Cabral, but this “disappeared” when they recently received the good news. “Illustrado magazine from UAE (United Arab Emirates) e-mailed us to say that Mercedes is among the 100 influential people in the Gulf.

“This is because of her work in ‘The Bamboo Stalk’ and ‘Rosita.’ The magazine, the Middle East’s counterpart of Vogue, is coming out this month. They will send us copies. I told her, ‘You’re already influential, that’s why you’re getting bashed.”

Mercedes Cabral

Excerpts of Inquirer’s chat with Cabral (C) and Bacolod (B).

Why are you so emotional about “Oro?” C: The movie is based on the true story of people who are still fighting for justice two years after a massacre happened in their community.

Do you have to like the characters you portray?

C: That’s important for any actor because he or she will eventually become the character.

 How did you prepare for your “mentally challenged” character in “Dog Show?”

C: When I agreed to do the project, I knew that Direk Ralston (Jover) would guide me every step of the way. I’m  lucky because I got to observe the real Nelia for almost a month before we started shooting. She’s 35, but her mental age is 6 or 7 years old. I studied her mannerisms.

Do you find anything fulfilling about doing mainstream work? “Oro” can now be considered mainstream because it’s part of the MMFF.

C: Yes, it will now be seen by a wider audience. Moviegoers should give this new batch of MMFF entries a chance.

B: Maybe this time we will prove Vic (Sotto) and Vice Ganda wrong. Their films aren’t the reason the MMFF is a big thing. It’s the other way around; it’s the festival that makes them big. It’s tradition.

Mercedes, can you tell us your experiences in making “The Bamboo Stalk?” C: It’s the worst production I’ve ever been a part of. It was  disorganized. It was my first time to take part in a Middle Eastern production, so I was very nervous. I was told that I’d have few lines in Arabic. When I got the script a day before the shoot, it was 20 pages long and in Arabic—with no translation! It was a good thing that my English-speaking coactors were very helpful.

I had a lot of scenes with the lead actress, who is considered the Meryl Streep of the Gulf. In the beginning, I was nervous. I thought she must be really good because she’s an icon in Middle Eastern cinema. In a scene with her, my character is being driven out of the house, so I am required to cry.  The camera was focused on the two of us.

Before the take, she spoke with the director…asking if I was good enough to take on the role. We finished the scene and were preparing to reshoot it for a different camera angle when the cinematographer told me that Madam had instructed him to ignore me and just focus the camera on her. He said Madam was intimidated. Every time I was in a scene with her, she’d talk to the director in Arabic, then change what we have  rehearsed.

Mercedes Cabral —Leo Sabangan II

Most-viewed clip

B: Mercedes said people there used to think less of Filipino actors, but this changed when they saw her perform.  Suddenly, she became their queen. Her scene (with Madam) became their most-viewed clip on YouTube.

The show became the most successful series during Ramadan. It’s a Cinderella story about a Filipina maid and an Arab prince.

It’s a subversive story.

What was it like doing “Rosita” in Denmark? I had a hard time because the actors I worked with were all good. In Denmark, you can’t be given acting projects if you’re not a graduate of an acting course.

It’s really a profession there. They’re very technical. The two actors (Jens Albinus, Mikkel Boe Folsgaard) I worked with were very patient with me, as well as the director (Frederikke Aspock). He’d go to my apartment and discuss the story with me, scene by scene.

I was there for almost three months. I was given the apartment with the best view, and the spot with the strongest Wi-Fi. I would also get invited whenever my director would have dinners with his family. They were so accommodating.

What was it like working with Park Chan-wook in the Jury Prize-winning 2009 film, “Thirst?” C: It was a different kind of pressure then because I was just starting as a film actress. I just did “Serbis” with Direk Brillante (Ma Mendoza). He recommended me to  the production of “Thirst.” I felt overwhelmed because I had just come from doing an indie, and “Thirst” was a big production.

The only problem was the language barrier. Very few of them knew how to speak English, but my coactors were  kind and helpful. We were provided everything we needed, including our costumes. The director is known for his attention to detail.

Any new foreign project in the works? C: Yes, the new one will be shot in Texas. Like “Rosita,” it’s also about a mail-order bride, but the story is a lot darker.

We’re very proud of you. We can now say that we’ve met and spoken with Mercedes “f–king” Cabral. C: I like that! (laughs)