Rocky on nudity: It’s easier to cry or get angry

Rocky Salumbides

Actor Rocky Salumbides said that the most challenging part of portraying his character, Raul, in Mikhail Red’s QCinema entry “Neomanila,” wasn’t doing its complex action scenes, but stripping naked in front of the camera. Salumbides costars with current squeeze Eula Valdes and Timothy Castillo in Red’s edgy thriller.

“It wasn’t due to the fact that Eula was around, but because other people were there, too. It’s a lot easier to cry or get angry,” he explained, adding that this particular sequence was a prelude to his love scene with the actress.

“That one was easy. I didn’t have to brush my teeth,” he quipped. “I can’t tell you much about it, except that Eula was wearing a costume.”

For the role of a female assassin, Eula—who’s known for her dramatic portrayals—had to learn how to handle guns and ride the motorcycle, according to director Mikhail Red.

“She’s game! She even had a minor accident while she was learning how to ride the bike, but she eventually mastered it,” said Mikhail during a recent press conference for this year’s QCinema International Film Festival, which unreels from Oct. 19 to 28 in the following venues: Cinematheque Centre Manila, Gateway Mall, Robinsons Galleria, TriNoma and UP Town Center.

Rocky portrays Eula’s co-conspirator in the movie— which was no coincidence: “We got him so that the chemistry would be instant,” Mikhail pointed out.

“I’m the muscle of the group. I follow what Irma (Eula) says. She tells me who to kill,” explained Rocky.

Mikhail said it was in November last year when he developed the concept. “I saw a BBC interview of a female assassin who works in tandem with his husband,” he told the Inquirer. ”

Desiree del Valle

Desiree’s passion

For her part, Desiree del Valle spent long hours on a beach in Batangas for the filming of her underwater scenes for Pam Miras’ QCinema drama, “Medusae.”

She recalled, “We did the night scenes in the cold water and finished at 3 a.m. Carl (Palaganas, her young costar) and I were shivering, despite putting oil all over our bodies. It was a good thing that the crew was always ready with blankets, hot water and tea.

“There were snakes and jellyfish—and they were trying to bite us. Thankfully, professional divers were there to guide us and tried to ward off those creatures.

“Portraying my character didn’t just require me to express different emotions; it was also physically demanding. ”

But, the actress said she didn’t mind doing all those, “because I’d do anything for a good role. Acting is my passion. I’m also after experiences that can teach me new things. You learn from each role and from the people you work with. ”

In “Medusae,” Desiree plays a documentary filmmaker who travels to a remote island to investigate the disappearance of firstborns in the area. “She brought her son (Carl) along, thinking that this could be a great bonding experience for them. Then, she loses him, as well,” the actress related.

This film depicts “love, loss and hope,” said Desiree, who worked closely with first-time actor Carl, a boy afflicted with the congenital disorder called albinism. “For someone with zero acting experience, Carl takes directions well,” she observed.