Rez Cortez gets elusive top billing in sexy flick

Rez Cortez

For Rez Cortez, being an actor doesn’t end at landing a starring role in a film or having a hit soap opera. If longevity is what the younger generation of celebrities is really after, then they have to take it upon themselves, he said, to keep learning beyond their job description.

“Let’s continue studying and honing our craft. Just because you starred in a film or played a big role doesn’t mean that effort for self-improvement should stop. Because what else will you be able to offer aside from your natural talent?” he said at a press conference for his movie “Mang Kanor,” which is now available on the streaming platform AQ Prime.

Being acquainted with the basic technical aspects of filmmaking or production will only benefit aspiring actors in the long run. “It may pay to know the difference between digital formats and 35, 16, or 8 mm film. They should know how the lights work… how editing, scriptwriting, etc. are done. Because they will encounter these things along the way,” he said.

Welcome developments

But more importantly, Rez said, actors should also be aware about issues that concern the industry, like their rights to a safe working environment.

As president of the Movie Workers Welfare Foundation or Mowelfund, Rez lobbies for bills that aim to protect entertainment industry workers. Last year, the Philippine Creative Industries Development Act, which seeks to strengthen frameworks that support and protect creative industry workers, was signed into law.

Meanwhile, the Eddie Garcia Act, which provides safeguards against unsafe working environments and unreasonable working hours, was recently passed by the House of Representatives on third and final reading.

These are welcome developments, Rez said. “We should do what’s right and know our rights as filmmakers or actors. We should be able to contribute as artists.”

Directed by Greg Colasito, the erotic drama “Mang Kanor” has Rez playing an old businessman whose kink is recording his exploits with sex workers. He then finds himself in hot water after his videos leak and turn viral.

New platform

While the 67-year-old actor has done films of such nature in the past, this one, Rez pointed out, may just be his most daring yet. The good thing, he said, was that the sensitive scenes were handled with the actors’ comfort or limitations in mind. “We didn’t do anything that wasn’t discussed beforehand,” he said. “We were allowed to do what was comfortable for us.”

Rez also looks forward to the further expansion of the digital space in entertainment. “We welcome these new platforms. It only means more movies and more work for people in the local industry,” he said.

Over the years, Rez has built a reputation as one of show biz’s most iconic villains and dependable character actors. And while his character in “Mang Kanor” still hews closely to what he usually portrays onscreen, this time, he gets the elusive top billing.

“Getting top billing rarely happens to me because I usually play supporting roles or villains. My name is always below the title of the movie; now it’s above. That’s something I’m happy about,” Rez said. INQ