Jeffrey Hidalgo reinvents himself as a movie director
by Archie Liao
Una siyang sumikat bilang isa sa mga miyembro ng internationally renowned group na “Smokey Mountain” noong dekada 90’s kung saan nakasama niya sina James Coronel, Geneva Cruz at Tony Lambino.
Nang magsolo siya, nakilala siya bilang isa sa mga pinakamagaling na balladeers sa bansa na nagpasikat ng mga awiting “Can This be Love?,” “Baby, Be Mine” at marami pang iba.
Bilang composer naging finalist rin siya sa 2000 Metropop Song Festival.
Naging abala rin siya sa paglabas sa entablado, telebisyon at pelikula.
Naging director rin siya sa telebisyon nang pangasiwaan niya ang reality TV show na “Gusto Kong Maging Beauty Queen” para sa Studio 23.
Ngayon, buo na ang kanyang loob na i-pursue ang kanyang career bilang director sa pelikula.
Noong 2014, nagsumite siya ng iskrip sa Cinemalaya ngunit hindi pinalad na mapili ang kanyang entry na maging finalist.
Na-discourage ka ba dahil na-reject ang entry mo sa Cinemalaya?
“Yes. There is this heartache of rejection, pero nakapag-move on na ako.”
Itong full-length directorial debut mo na “Silong,” saan nanggaling ang inspirasyon?
“Naisip namin ni Darlene Malimas, iyong co-producer, bakit hindi na lang kami ang mag-co-produce ng pelikula, probably coming from that heartbreak of rejection. Mas na-inspire kami since we have a good material naman. We approached Piolo (Pascual) about the project at nagustuhan naman niya.”
What basically is the story of “Silong?”
“It is a love story about two lonely souls who find comfort in each other’s company.”
Ano ang karanasan mo sa pagdi-direk kina Piolo Pascual at Rhian Ramos, na galing sa rival networks?
“Una kasi naming inayos iyong kay Piolo. Noong na-secure na namin siya, everything else followed smoothly.It’s also fun working with them. Magaan silang katrabaho. Okay iyong working relationship namin. Kung maganda kasi iyong rapport mo sa actors mo, half of your work is done. The shooting went smoothly at bilib ako sa professionalism nila.”
Sa palagay mo ba, “hot” ang chemistry nina Piolo at Rhian?
“Definitely. Ang pinaka-bentahe namin dito ay iyong magandang kuwento namin. I believe, hindi lang sila bagay, kundi maganda ang chemistry nila.”
Do you consider your orientation as mainstream or indie?
“I don’t want to label my orientation as mainstream or indie. If you have a good story kasi, no matter what, good storytelling is good storytelling”.
Aside from directing, would you entertain the idea of acting again for the movies or television?
“Priority ko ngayon ang directing, but I also entertain the idea of acting depende sa role. Tulad dito sa “Silong”, I did a cameo role bilang assistant ng chief of police. Then, I have this 30-minute documentary where I played the role of Apolinario Mabini.”
Nanalo ang ex mong si Cris Villonco sa Cinemalaya noong 2014 as best supporting actress para sa “Hari ng Tondo,”willing ka bang makatrabaho siya sa isang proyekto?”
“Oo naman. I would be willing to direct her, kung may naiisip na akong project.”
How are you and Cris?
“Okay naman kami. Bata pa kasi kami noon kaya siyempre, marami nang nangyari after that. Kaya naman kasi naging close kami ni Cris ay dahil pareho kaming galing sa teatro.”
How about directing for theatre?
“That hasn’t crossed my mind yet. Pero sa acting, I was a comic relief in Atlantis Productions” “Tarzan” which was staged last year. That would be the first and last time I’ll be a comic relief in a play.”
How about mounting a reunion concert for “Smokey Mountain”?
“Why not? Maybe kailangang i-plano pa iyon dahil iyong ibang members namin ay based na sa States. It’s a pleasure to be reunited with Geneva, James and Tony.”
Sa “Silong” na released ng Star Cinema at produced ng SQ Laboratories at Black Mamba Films, co-director ni Jeffrey si Roy Sevilla Ho with Angelo Santos, Darlene Catly Malimas and Piolo Pascual as executive producers.
Kasama rin sa cast sina Angel Jacob, Guji Lorenzana, at Raymond Concepcion.
