Dexter Doria blessed with ‘Paki’ plus Sandino Martin’s role as straight, gay in ‘Changing Partners’
Playing a lead role in a movie is something that character actress Dexter Doria has never aspired.
“I was actually very blessed. At the back of my mind, I never dreamt na magkakaroon pa ako ng lead role. I was fine playing support, so it was a dream come true for me,” she enthused.
She’s also flattered that acting heavyweights, mostly award winners did not hesitate to support her in her first major outing.
“I have Eula and Shamaine as my daughters, Ricky (Davao) as my son in-law and Noel (Trinidad) as my husband in the movie as support. Sabi ko nga, I can’t believe that this is happening to me dahil fan nila ako. So, overwhelmed ako sa support nila,” she said.
It’s also her first time to do an honest-to-goodness kissing scene in Giancarlo Abrahan’s “Paki.”
“I’ve worked with Noel before sa “Abangan ang Susunod na Kabanata” but this is the first time na may kissing scene ako pero hindi siya torrid pero it’s short of like doing naked,” she told PSR.
She’s also said that she’s fascinated by her character in the movie.
“This is about a family, a matriarch na hihiwalayan na ang kanyang asawa of 50 years, dahil ayaw tumigil sa pambababae. It’s a family-oriented drama, a dramedy, mostly comedy . It’s for seniors or for the ‘nanays’ in the audience. Napapansin kasi nila na iyong mga pelikula ngayon youth-oriented kaya iyong medyo matanda na, hindi maka-relate,” she explained.
“First time na makakakita rin ng mga tao kung ano ang workings of the mind ng isang may edad na babae. She could be your mother or your lola, na akala mo martir, pero hindi pala. Here, I dared to go against the system. Hiniwalayan ko talaga even if my children are all up in arms,” she added.
She also admitted that being separated (from her husband) and a single parent, she can easily relate to her role.
“I have children. I’ve been married but nauwi rin sa hiwalayan, so, in that case, I can relate, pero, iyong maghintay pa siya ng 50 years, hindi ko kaya,” she declared.
She also said that it is a movie on women empowerment having a strong female character.
“It’s a movie about empowered women or mostly, for those seniors and in the twilight of their lives . If you can’t make a stand in a situation, you can still get out of the rut that you’re in. Mostly kasi they die suffering o pinababayaan na lang kasi titiisin na lang nila dahil matanda na rin sila. Kumbaga, may choice ka on how to end your misery,” she concluded.
“Paki” is an official entry to the 13th Cinemaone Originals that runs from November 13-21 at Trinoma, Glorietta, Gateway, UP Cine Adarna, Cinema ’76 and Cinematheque Manila with an extended run from November 22-28 at the Power Plant Mall.
Sandino Martin plays a gender-fluid character in “Changing Partners”
After winning his first actor award for Cinemaone Originals in 2014 for his bold portrayal of an ambitious cadet in Aureaus Solito’s “Esprit de Corps,” Sandino Martin is back in Dan Villegas’ “Changing Partners,” an entry to the film festival’s 13th edition.
“It’s a love story of May-December affair but it was interpreted by four genders. Actually, we’re just following one couple: si Alex at si Kris. Si Alex, iyong matanda, si Kris iyong bata. I am portraying a straight and gay version of Kris. Anna Luna is playing a straight woman and a lesbian role. We have also Agot Isidro and Jojit Lorenzo in the cast. Sila rin iyong mga kasama ko sa play na pinagbasehan ng movie,” he said.
Compared to his role in the play, his character in the movie has somehow evolved.
“Nag-iba na rin siya ng direksyon somehow. Kasi when we got Direk Dan to direct us for the film, nag-iba rin siya ng interpretation. Dati noon, it’s more psychological or internal pero dito pinush ng director namin na e-explore pa papalabas iyong mga character namin,” he explained.
He also said that the film version just like the play is worth seeing and not stagey.
“Mabilis ang pacing niya,mas nagkaroon ng stories at substories ang mga characters kung bakit sila nagkaganoon so hindi siya stagey,” he pointed out.
Playing both a straight guy and a gay role was also a big challenge for him.
“Ako kasi, ang interpretation ko sa gender, parang dapat wala na siyang fine line. Love is universal. I believe that gender is fluid, iyon ang interpretation namin sa role. Sa generation ngayon ng mga millenials we are confident about our skills. We are confident about our gender or sexuality. Hindi na kailangan that we act as gay o lesbian para ipakita ang external. Sapat na na naniniwala kami sa sarili namin at kilala namin ang aming sarili,” he quipped.
“In the movie, towards the end, you forget who’s gay and who’s straight,” he added.
He revealed that he had a kissing scene with Agot Isidro and it’s not awkward nor an uncomfortable one.
“I prepared for it. Siyempre, you have to earn her trust. It’s a good thing we’ve known each other for more than a year bago namin ginawa iyong pelikula, so comfortable na kami sa isa’t-isa,” he concluded.
“Changing Partners” is adapted from Vince de Jesus’ much-loved stage musical of the same title. It is a bittersweet exploration of a relationship coming apart as the huge age gap between two lovers starts to take its toll.
