Scene from “Here Comes the Groom”
For Chris Martinez, writer-director of the comedy film “Here Comes the Groom,” finding the right actor to play the groom was the most important part of preproduction work, because “after all, he is in the movie’s title.”
In a recent virtual chat with Inquirer Entertainment, he shared his thoughts on how he ended up casting Enchong Dee for the role of Junior, a guy whose soul gets magically swapped with that of a transgender woman’s a day before his wedding.
“I was thinking, ‘Where can I get an actor who will agree to play a man who gets possessed by the soul of a transwoman?’ I was nervous that we wouldn’t be able to get the actor with the right characteristics, and who is popular at the same time,” he began.
“When Atty. Joji (Alonso, producer) told me she got Enchong Dee to say ‘yes,’ I couldn’t believe it. I sent her several messages after that, like ‘Is Enchong really in?’ and then days later, ‘Is Enchong still in?’ I was worried that even though Enchong agreed, that his management would still say ‘no.’ When Enchong was officially attached to the project, I felt confident that I’d finally be able to complete my cast,” he said.
Versatile actor
Martinez pointed out that he didn’t want to get a guy “who is overtly a sex symbol” to play Junior. “We needed someone who is cute, wholesome and looks like an altar boy. While Enchong is a heartthrob, he is very versatile. I’ve seen some of his films. He can effectively play both a rich and a poor guy, both good and bad. He’s very malleable,” the director explained.
We then asked Martinez to recall how he completed the rest of the cast, which eventually won a Special Jury Prize at the recent 1st Summer Metro Manila Film Festival Gabi ng Parangal (the film is one of eight entries to the festival that will conclude its run on April 18). Martinez said the next person he spoke with was comedian KaladKaren (Jervi Li in real life) to play the transgender woman Wilhelmina.
“I told her that if she says ‘no’ and I end up hiring a straight actor to play the role of a transwoman, I will get criticized. People will say I should have gotten a real transwoman, especially when there are transgender actors around. This could ruin the movie. Kukuyugin nila ako. I told her, ‘Jervi, I need you and no one else.’ She said she understood why this was important to me,” Martinez recalled.
KaladKaren ended up making history by being the first Filipino transwoman to win the best supporting actress award.
In the film, drag queen Xilo, as Wanda, swaps souls with Keempee de Leon, who plays Junior’s homophobic father Rodrigo. “I also needed a drag queen with a distinct look to play Wanda. When I saw Xilo, I thought he stood out from among the drag queens. This particular ‘look’ is important to me because he is to possess Keempee, who will eventually wear straight black hair and heavy makeup,” he explained. “I know Xilo already has a background in filmmaking. He is a costume designer by profession. He was also the stylist in my movie ‘Extra Service.’”
Highly recommended
De Leon, meanwhile, was “highly recommended” by Alonso, the director added. “At the time, I had yet to see Keempee in a gay role, so I simply took Atty. Joji’s word for it. Keempee did an amazing job,” he said.
Keempee also won the best supporting actor award for the role.
Director Chris Martinez
Maris Racal plays Junior’s sister Blesilda, a church choir member. She also wishes to enter the convent and become a nun someday. She swaps souls with Awra Briguela’s character, Whitney, who is in training to eventually join Wilhelmina as a gay beauty contestant.
“My younger staff members suggested that I check Maris out. She wasn’t on my radar, to be honest, because she’s young. I had to do research on her. I learned she has so many followers on social media and on her Tiktok account, her followers would sometimes refer to her as ‘Maris, baklang kanal.’ When I googled her, naglabasan ang kabaklaan ni Maris! I thought, ‘She’s perfect! She has an angelic face, but when she dances, baklang bakla!’ The community has embraced her fully, especially those of her age. She has been iconized,” he pointed out.
Martinez said he already knew Awra well after working with the young actor in the movie “Mga Batang Poz.” He added: “I already know his capabilities as an actor. I also know that he is in training with (dance coach) teacher Georcelle (Dapat-Sy). He is really serious about dancing. He has the skills and energy for it.”
Anchors
Gladys Reyes plays Junior’s mom Salve, while Iyah Mina plays Mama Wendy, manager of the gay contestants. “I didn’t make them swap souls anymore because the audience might get confused. Their main purpose is to be the audience’s guide in all the confusion. They served as anchors,” the director explained.
“Here Comes the Groom” is a follow-up to Martinez’s 2010 hit comedy “Here Comes the Bride.” He said the sequel is “more pointed toward the conversation on gender identity. It is trying to say that more than tolerating each other, we should all try to coexist—not just exist—and that we should do this by living together peacefully and happily,” he pointed out. INQ