Jake Cuenca in search of ‘the perfect performance’

Jake Cuenca

Jake Cuenca, who began acting at age 10, said his objective these days is “all about searching for that perfect performance, whether it be in theater, film or television.”

For Jake, acting is a never-ending learning experience so he strives for perfection in every performance.

“I came from a youth-oriented show. In the beginning, just like everyone else, all I wanted was to become popular. But what changed my perspective in acting was the workshop I attended under (the late) Peque Gallaga. It opened my eyes to acting as a craft,” the 32-year-old actor said.

“From Direk Peque, my perspective also changed when I attended workshops … at Lee Strasberg (Theater and Film Institute), then those facilitated by (American acting coach) Ivana Chubbuck.”

From then on, Jake said he began challenging himself by accepting roles that intrigued him. “Fame, attention and everything that come with those, I consider them added bonuses,” he explained. “The farther the character is from my real personality, the better it is for me. Of course, while you’re starting, you gain confidence by playing roles that are tailor-made for you. But as you go along, you start looking for scripts that challenge you.”Preparing for a role is another matter, added Jake. “In local show biz, you get an offer to do a project that would start the following week. Sanay tayo na nagmamadali. One thing that I found very useful when preparing for character work is journaling,” the actor explained. “I get to write down the character’s experiences for many years as he journeyed to where he is now. These are the experiences that the audience don’t get to see onscreen.”

In theater, Jake said he discovered the importance of rehearsing before a scene.

“On TV or film, there’s no time for rehearsals. Also, you feel like you already have to give everything on the first take. Sometimes, when you need to do a second take, because of technical problems, for example, you’re no longer able to recreate the first take’s spontaneity,” he pointed out. “That’s what I learned from rehearsals. Through it, you become capable of recreating that spontaneity again and again. If you’re given the time to rehearse, take it. It’s a blessing.” INQ