Jake Cuenca describes Coco an “actor’s director”
For award-winning actor Jake Cuenca, playing Lizardo, the arch nemesis of Flavio in Carlo Caparas’ “Ang Panday” poses a very big challenge.
As the immortal son of an evil spirit who’s incarnated as a human and living among the living to achieve his father’s goal to rule the world, Jake’s able to pull it off with flying colors.
Many would even say that he’s just as effective as Joker, a psychotic anarchist mastermind and agent of chaos in Batman’s Gotham City.
“Iyon ang pinakamahirap. Ang hindi ko gayahin si Joker. Idol ko si Joker, si Heath Ledger pero ang pinakamahirap sa pelikula ay ang hindi ko gayahin si Joker and I feel naman that I came up with that performance,” he said.
He admitted that he had to guard himself against tumbling over into stereotypes.
“Minsan kapag nakikita ko na jumo-joker siya. Sabi ko sa sarili ko, O, my God, may Joker moment. Why so serious moment? So, I said ten times: ‘Jake, huwag. Jake, huwag. Huwag mong gagayahin si Joker,” he enthused.
He even had to refrain from watching the performances of his villain-predecessors in previous “Panday” movies by FPJ and Bong Revilla in order to come up with his own.
“Hindi kami nanood kasi may tendency na gayahin ko siya. I just have to come up with a different performance of my own. Then, afterwards, saka ko lang nakita iyong stereotype at pinanood iyong performance nina Max Alvarado at Phillip Salvador at masasabi kong ibang-iba naman siya. Ibang hain sa tao,” he declared.
For him, working with Coco is a learning experience.
“Marami akong natutunan kay Coco. Iyong passion niya at dedication sa trabaho,” he said.
“Masaya lang ako kasi kami ni Coco, ang dami na naming pinagdaanan, Sa mga teleserye behind us. Sa mga milestones at achievements behind us na ginawa namin together. I’m happy that I starred in his first film as a director,” he added.
He even called Coco as an actor’s director.
“I love Coco. He’s an actor’s director. Lahat ng actors, pinangarap na makatrabaho ang actor’s director. Lahat gustong makatrabaho ang actor’s director and Coco is one,” he pointed out.
“Naiintindihan niya on a screen to screen basis ang pinagdadaanan ng isang artista. Kung ano ang kalidad na kayang ibigay ng isang artista. He knows what an actor undergoes in a scene. Sometimes, hindi alam ng director iyong pinagdadaanan ng actor sa isang eksena. Only an actor knows that. For me, hinayaan lang niya ako in this movie,” he quipped.
Jake is also happy that his teleserye “Ikaw Lang ang Iibigin” with Kimerald enjoys high rating and continues to receive positive feedbacks.
Aside from Coco, “Ang Panday” also stars beauty queens turned actresses Mariel de Leon, Bb. Pilipinas International 2017 and Kylie Versoza, Ms. International 2016.
Also in the cast are Gloria Romero, Jaime Fabregas, Awra, Julio Diaz, Mc Coy de Leon, Elisse Joson, Julio Diaz, Nayomi Ramos, Enzo Pelojero, James “Paquito” Sagarino, Ronwaldo Martin and a lot more.
Providing able support are Agot Isidro, Albert Martinez, Eddie Garcia, Ejay Falcon, Jhong Hilario, John Medina, John Prats, Joonee Gamboa, Lester Llansang, Lito Lapid, Marc Solis, , Mark Lapid, Michael De Mesa, Onyok Pineda, Phoebe Walker, PJ Endrinal, Rhian “Dang” Ramos, Shantel Crislyn Layh “Ligaya” Ngujo, Benj Manalo, Smugglaz, and Bassilyo.
“Ang Panday,” Coco’s directorial debut is graded “B” by the Cinema Evaluation Board.
An entry to the 2017 Metro Manila Film Festival, the movie unreels in cinemas nationwide starting on December 25, Christmas Day.
