‘Lam-Ang,’ rebooted

ROCCO Nacino: Role of a lifetime

Filmmaker Ana Agabin initially had misgivings about actor Rocco Nacino who auditioned for the lead role in her latest indie project, “Lam-Ang,” a modern retelling of the Ilocano epic by Pedro Bukaneg.

This was because Lam-Ang was a rough-and-tumble action hero. “Last time I saw Rocco was in the Cinemalaya film ‘Ang Sayaw ng Dalawang Kaliwang Paa,’ where he played a gay dancer. I thought he would be too soft,” Agabin said.

She soon realized her mistake. “During the audition, I asked Rocco to do several improvisational exercises and he did everything impressively. He had the right look and attitude to play the role,” she recalled.

Although Nacino is currently busy taping the new GMA 7 afternoon soap “The Good Daughter,” he promises to make time for “Lam-Ang.”

“Between tapings, he’ll train for our movie’s action scenes. His dancing skills will undoubtedly serve him well. I heard that he’s also into martial arts,” said Agabin, whose debut is the acclaimed Cinemalaya film “24 K” three years ago.

Nacino is set to undergo rigorous arnis training for the role. “I’m now into Muay Thai, Wing Chun, boxing and Jiu-jitsu,” he said. “I’m excited to learn a Filipino form of martial arts.”

He described his character Lam-Ang as “a role of a lifetime.”

The film starts shooting on March 31, just in time for the Holy Week break.

Also in the cast are theater stalwarts Shamaine Centenera-Buencamino and Art Acuña, along with young actors Alchris Galura, Nathaniel Britt, Kokoy de los Santos, Chanel Latorre and Miguel Vasquez.

Agabin waited for the right follow-up to “24K,” which tells the story of gold miners up North.

Back home

For her second outing, Agabin returns to her home province. “Ilocanos value our cultural heritage,” she related. “With the help of Saridandan Films and our producer, Ilocos Sur vice-gov. Deogracias Victor Savellano, we want to revisit an important part of our literary tradition and make it more relevant to the present generation.”

Apart from a regular theatrical run, “Lam-Ang” will be shown in various schools and institutions in the Ilocos region. “We want young people to know more about our local heroes,” Agabin explained.

Nacino has no qualms about roughing it as Lam-Ang. He doesn’t mind wearing a G-string, too. (He had done that already in “Sayaw” and when he guested in the GMA 7 historical series “Amaya.”) “I’ll be at ease wearing a bahag,” he said.

His girlfriend, Sheena Halili, who was in the cast of “Amaya,” helped him rehearse the long lines of dialogue in deep Tagalog. “She was very helpful,” he said.

New look

He changes his look with every role. For “Good Daughter,” he grew facial hair to portray a bad boy. “It’s kinda itchy, but I’ve gotten used to it,” he quipped.

For “Lam-Ang,” he needs to be clean-shaven, but he’ll have to grow his hair long: “I’d have to wear hair extensions, too. I’m also on a diet, to look lean and firm.”

Although he’s not from the Ilocos region, Nacino plans to adopt an Ilocano accent. “After studying the script, I’ll meet with Direk Ana to discuss how to tackle the role.”