Award-winning actor Christian Bables on Thursday, October 7, was honest enough to admit that he was a little bit frustrated whenever a project he prepares for gets canceled.
“Well, nakakalungkot kasi s’yempre hindi lang kasi oras ang ginugugol mo para mag-prepare ka eh. You put a lot of heart, a lot of yourself dun sa character na pine-prepare mo,” he admitted during the virtual launch of Star Magic Workshops.
In 2020, Christian was part of the now-shelved teleserye Kahit Minsan Lang that supposedly stars now-Kapuso Bea Alonzo.
He then recalled the teaching of Direk Rahyan Carlos, the head of the Star Magic Artist Training Workshops, that an actor must be prepared before coming to the set.
“Bago tayo pumunta set, tinuro sa’tin ni Direk Rahyan, kailangan prepared ka, kailangan handa ka. ‘Wag kang pupunta sa set nang hindi ka handa at hindi mo kilala ang character mo. So that’s what I’ve been doing.”
The actor then reiterated his frustration but understood that it is a cycle of life and it might be “God’s plans” for him.
“No’ng hindi s’ya natuloy, ‘pag merong mga projects na hindi natutuloy, medyo frustrating.
“But lagi akong andoon sa thinking na merong magandang plano si God kung bakit nangyayari ang mga bagay-bagay.
“Baka hindi pa ngayon yung tamang panahon or baka meron pa S’yang ibang mas gustong gawin para sa akin, doon ako kumakapit. Pero s’yempre tao lang tayo, medyo nalulungkot na sayang, sayang,” explained Christian.
Meanwhile, as part of the acting workshop, Christian stressed that it is important for artists to do workshops even if they have earned awards or have been in the industry for quite some time.
“Kasi once na tinigil ko yung pag tanggap ng bagong learnings, everyday may bago kang nadi-discover sa sarili mo eh.
“And yun ang turo ng workshop. To help you be grounded kumbaga.
“In Layman’s term, tutulungan ka ng workshop na panatilihing tapak ang mga paa mo sa lupa, na makaramdam ng bagay-bagay, iyan ang mga kailangan naming mga actors eh.
“Once na kami mismo ang lumayo sa learnings, eh end na namin ‘yun. Kumbaga parang katapusan na namin yun. Hindi na kami makakapagbigay ng truth sa aming ginagawa.”
Direk Rahyan also said that “acting is a lifestyle of learning” hence the necessity of workshops in an artist’s life.
“Ang acting kasi hindi parang paggawa ng tinapay na pare-pareho, hindi paggawa ng chair na pare-pareho na kinarpintero.
“Parang iba lagi ang sukat n’ya. Yung artista ang nagpapabuhay no’n eh. ‘Di ba ang writer at ang director, s’ya ang nagbibigay ng blueprint. Pero yung artista ang animator, s’ya ang nagpapa-buhay.”
He then explained that being a good artist does not happen overnight, describing that training is like a gym for actors.
“Yung pagiging mahusay ng artista, it takes time eh, it takes time. So parang yung workshop namin po is like gym for actors. Na habang tumatagal sa training, lalong humuhusay kasi we keep on discovering ourselves.”
He also had his own take about how Christian felt when a project of his was canceled.
“Para kang buntis na nakunan. Kasi ‘Ay inalagaan ko! Nag-prepare ako tapos nagkaroon ako ng miscarriage!’ Eh ‘di ba yung mga nagkakaroon ng miscarriage, ‘Okay let’s do it again charge it to experience.'”
The director also expressed his admiration for those award-winning actors and actresses who still take workshops despite their achievements in their own careers.
“Kaya ako, hands up ako dun sa mga artista na kahit award-winning na, kahit na mga beteranong artista na, nag-woworkshop pa din,” lauded Direk Rahyan.
