John Arcilla shares “Heneral Luna” dramatically changed his career; proud of his new film “Birdshot”
ACCLAIMED and AWARD-WINNING actor John Arcilla does not deny the fact that Heneral Luna dramatically changed his career.
It did not only elevate him to leading man status but also made him a sought-after actor and a box office star.
To date, Heneral Luna remains the highest grossing Pinoy historical film of all time.
“That’s very true. Nagbago naman talaga. Kahit papaano iyong confidence ko naragdagan kasi before, kahit alam kong gumagawa ako ng quality films may question pa rin ako sa sarili ko if I’m on the right track or what,” he opened up.
He says the movie is his legacy to the Filipino people.
“Kumbaga, ito iyong pagbabasehan ko sa mga susunod na projects not necessarily na malampasan siya. Sabi nga sa akin ni Uge (Domingo), ‘John Arcilla, congrats dahil puwede ka nang mamatay!’ Kasi, ito kasi iyong pelikulang puwedeng panoorin ng lahat ng henerasyon at first version pa lang siya ng Heneral Luna at hindi remake. It’s really a legacy film at ang sarap ng pakiramdam,” he said.
After being noticed in “Mulanay” and “Ligaya ang Itawag Mo sa Akin” in the late ‘90s, he says the movie about the infamous, ill-tempered general, in a way, revitalized his acting career.
“Totoo namang sa talent fee, nag-iba kesa dati. Totoong iyong confidence ng mga producer to get me as one of the major characters sa film,na-boost. Totoong tumaas ang confidence nila. Somehow, napapansin na rin ako sa mga TV shows dahil may name na nga si John Arcilla, si Heneral,” he pointed out.
According to John, he also wants to play other Filipino heroes on screen.
“Gusto ko ring lumabas na Marcelo del Pilar, mas poetic siya. Gusto ko rin ng Juan Luna, iyong kapatid ni Antonio na kilala sa kanyang Spoliarium,” he remarked.
He also clarifies that he has not been picky in his roles ever since, even after the success of “Heneral Luna.”
“Hindi naman ako nao-offer-an ng hindi ko gusto. Hindi pa naman ako tumatanggi sa trabaho. Nakikita kasi nila iyong tipo na bagay sa akin. Prinsipyo ko kasi as an actor na pagbutihin ang trabaho ko in whatever role I have to take. Challenge rin siya sa akin, kaya hindi ako nagiging picky,” he said.
John is proud of his latest movie “Birdshot,” an entry to the first Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino.
“I play a policeman, pero jaded version siya ni Domingo played by Arnold Reyes. He’s not corrupt per se but he lets it happen. Wala akong ginagawa so, parang corrupt na rin. Sa atake ko, I made it as human as possible. Hindi ko siya ginawang caricature. Kasi, importante sa akin ang survival. I need a salary to have food on my table,” he told PSR.
He says the movie is morally ambiguous.
“Somehow, it has statements about the environment. Kasi it touches on the extinction of Haribon, the biggest eagle in the world. But the movie is more concerned sa extinction of truth. May parallelism siya kung ano iyong social reality. Iyong social truth na nagiging extinct na rin. That society is also endangered dahil nako-cover up iyong truth and that also means corruption na ginawang undertone sa movie,” he concluded.
Aside from John, “Birdshot” features an ensemble cast led by a dynamic new actress Mary Joy Apostol and screen veterans Arnold Reyes and Ku Aquino.
Directed by Mikhail Red, the film made its world debut at the 29th Tokyo International Film Festival where it bagged the Best Picture award in the Asian Future Film Section.
“Birdshot” is currently showing in cinemas nationwide as part of the first Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino.
