Christian Bables tells why pain is an actor’s ‘friend’

Christian Bables

For actors like me, pain is a friend,” said award-winning thespian Christian Bables when asked to share the process he goes through as he takes on various roles on TV and the big screen.

“Saktan n’yo ako. That will be my fuel. I will become better as a result of that,” said Christian, who is one of the products of Star Magic Workshops, which incorporates in its training the 12-step acting technique of American acting coach and author Ivana Chubbuck.

The Chubbuck technique encourages an actor, among other things, to find the appropriate personal pain to help him effectively portray his character.

This is also why in a recent virtual media gathering, Christian willingly admitted to feeling “sad and frustrated” when a certain project he prepared so much for eventually did not push through.

“You don’t just spend a lot of time to prepare for a character, you also put in a lot of heart into what you do,” he explained. “What Direk Rahyan (Carlos, head of Star Magic Artist Training and Workshops) kept telling us was to never go to the set unprepared.”

Christian did not reveal what the project was, but show biz scribes knew he was referring to the teleserye he was supposed to do with actress Bea Alonzo, who recently transferred to GMA 7.

‘God’s plan’

“(Finding out that a project got canceled) had been very frustrating. I just told myself, ‘Maybe God has a better plan for me.’ I know He always has a better reason when things don’t turn out the way I expect them. Maybe it wasn’t the right time for that particular project. He still wants me to do something else,” he said.

Christian was also asked to share his thoughts on the notion that accomplished actors like him shouldn’t attend acting workshops anymore, and should already be teaching younger talents.

“The two things I learned from Direk Rahyn that I always remember are these, ‘Acting is a lifestyle of learning,’ and ‘You’re only as good as your last work.’ For me, these are very true,” he pointed out.

Learning never stops

Christian won the best actor award from the 5th Hanoi International Film Festival for his performance in Chito Roño’s “Signal Rock.” He also received a Gawad Urian best supporting actor trophy for Jun Robles Lana’s “Die Beautiful.”

“I can impart my knowledge as an actor to others at any time, but I shouldn’t stop learning as well. Once you stop taking in new knowledge—since you’re supposed to learn new things from every experience every day—that will be the end of you as an actor,” he declared. “The Star Magic workshops I’ve attended helped me stay grounded. They remind me to always make sure my feet are planted firmly on the ground, to remain sensitive and observant of my surroundings, to always strive for truth and sincerity in what I do.”

Enrollment for the Star Magic Summer 2021 Workshops is ongoing. Courses offered are acting (for adults and kids), dance (jazz-funk, hip-hop, and urban), voice and language. Classes will start in November on a first-come, first-served basis. Visit www.facebook.com/Starmagicworkshops or the Instagram account: @abscbnstarmagicworkshops.