Dennis Trillo on a roll: Size of role not a hindrance for any actor to shine

Dennis Trillo

For “On the Job: The Missing 8” star Dennis Trillo, the movie being chosen as the country’s official entry to the 95th Academy Awards’ best international feature category is already an honor.

“The fact that our hard work is being recognized, not only here but also abroad, is already a big deal. I’m not expecting anything—I just know that we have something good,” he told the Inquirer in a recent interview.

Directed by Erik Matti and produced by Reality Entertainment, the crime thriller follows a journalist, Sisoy (John Arcilla) who—despite his conflict of interests—investigates the suspicious disappearance of eight of his colleagues in a local newspaper.

As he uncovers the mystery, he unwittingly connects with an inmate, Roman (Dennis), who occasionally gets released to carry out assassinations together with other hit men prisoners.

Recognition

“It has been quite a while since we completed this project, but it continues to earn recognition. I’m thankful because the hard work we put in it has paid off,” Dennis pointed out, adding that he hopes the movie’s success can also serve as an inspiration for other filmmakers to chase after their dreams.

The movie premiered at the 75th Venice International Film Festival in September 2021, where it won for Arcilla the Volpi Cup for Best Actor award. Dennis likewise earned raves from critics for his performance.

“It’s overwhelming of course when people recognize your work. It feels good. You get more motivated to work even harder and improve your craft,” said Dennis, who gave his full trust to his director during the filming. “Grabe ang tiwala ko kay Direk Erik … because I know that he knows what he’s doing.”

The movie is having a limited theatrical run in select Ayala Malls until Nov. 8. “Direk Erik has long envisioned this movie. And now, he gets to share his vision with the people. I have seen the film three times now, but I’m still excited. I’m happy that people will get a chance to see it [in cinemas],” he said.

‘The Missing 8’

The GMA 7 star considers “The Missing 8” as one of his show biz career’s most important projects. “Its story is unique. It’s not just a story of one person, but of a whole town and the questionable way it’s run. It’s one of the most important projects I have done in my career,” he said. “The movie is relevant because it reflects things that happen in our country, past or present.”

Dennis is no stranger to projects with cultural or sociopolitical relevance, like his past television series “My Husband’s Lover” and “Legal Wives.” His ongoing hit drama with Barbie Forteza, “Maria Clara at Ibarra,” on the other hand, promotes historical literacy and love for the country.

“It would be much better, if I get to do projects that have relevance; projects that viewers can relate to, not only when it comes to their personal lives, but also with what’s happening around us,” related Dennis, who’s also delighted by “Maria Clara at Ibarra’s” success.

“I’m surrounded by great actors. That’s why the reviews are also great. We do our best. It’s important to love your job,” he said. “It doesn’t matter if you get a big or small role. If you give it enough importance, it will still give you a chance to shine.”