Carlo Aquino on the sidelines of the Star Magic Spotlight press conference. Image: Courtesy of Star Magic
For Carlo Aquino, portraying the role of Manuel Hidalgo in the action thriller film “Crosspoint” allowed him to look back at his roots, including the time when he thought of migrating to the US for good.
“Crosspoint” tells the story of the struggling, “washed-up actor” Manuel Hidalgo (Aquino) who teams up with a bankrupt Japanese professional Shigeru Yamaguchi (Emmy-nominated actor Takehiro Hira) to hunt down a mysterious serial killer.
Aquino, who was recommended by his co-star Zeppi Borromeo to be part of the film, said that accepting the project was a no-brainer for him since it checks a lot of things off his acting bucket list.
“First time kong maging washed-up actor, mag-action, and thriller. Dati gusto kong gumawa ng ‘Borne Identity’-like series pero nalilinya ako sa family dramas and romance. So noong inoffer siya sa’kin, ang daming na-check sa checklist ko,” he said during a Star Magic Spotlight media con.
(It’s my first time to star as a washed-up actor and take on the action thriller genre. I wanted to do something like “Borne Identity,” but I would be usually cast in family dramas and romances. So, when it was offered to me, a lot of things were checked off my bucket list.)
Aquino also described Manuel as someone passionate about his craft but struggling to get by. When asked if he went through his character’s hardships, the actor briefly recalled that he, too, thought of giving up acting and considered migrating to the US at one point.
“One-time lang ‘yun. Ang dami nang nangyari sa karera ko na [ups and downs]. May isang beses na gusto ko nang mag-Amerika or kahit saan… Then [inisip ko na] maghintay na lang ako [ng opportunity] kaya bumalik ako sa Star Magic,” he said.
“D’un ako nag-start ulit, pina-flashback nila ako, and sinama ako sa ‘I Will Survive’ ni Melai [Cantiveros]. Then, hindi na nag-stop. Hindi na nag-stop ang passion ko sa kinalakihan kong craft dahil sa nabigay na opportunity,” recalled Aquino.
(That was one-time. A lot of ups and downs happened in my career. There was one time when I wanted to go to the US or other places. Instead, I decided to wait for an opportunity to come, which is why I returned to Star Magic. It is where I restarted. They allowed me to look back at my career and I was cast in “I Will Survive” with Melai Cantiveros. Then, the opportunities didn’t stop. My passion for the craft I grew up in didn’t stop because of these opportunities.)
With this, the actor noted that this point in his career reminded him about the importance of being grateful.
“Kailangan mo ng appreciation, gratitude, at nagpapasalamat sa lahat. Ultimo sa maliliit na bagay tulad ng nakakapag-kape ka sa umaga, pasalamatan mo ‘yun. Kaya kahit ilang beses na mawala at bumabalik ako, malaki pa rin ang biyaya na [natatanggap] ko,” he said.
(You need appreciation, gratitude, and to thank everyone around you. Even the small act of drinking coffee in the morning is something to be grateful for. Despite the many times I thought of quitting, I still returned. And the blessings I receive are still great.)
Aside from Hira and Borromeo, the Donie Ordiales-helmed film also stars Kei Kurosawa, Sho Ikushima, Kei Kurosawa and Sarah Jane Abad. It will be released in theaters on Oct. 16.