On December 18, two-time MMFF Best Actor Dingdong Dantes revealed having a 4-day shoot for an action scene in A Hard Day.
During the media conference for his Metro Manila Film Festival movie, A Hard Day, Dantes recalled the intense action sequence he filmed with his co-star award-winning actor John Arcilla.
“‘Yung pinaka-memorable na eksena sa akin siguro ang masasabi ko ay ‘yung ending.
“Literal na hard execution talaga ‘yun dahil apat na araw naming ginawa ‘yun. So apat na araw akong binabalibag ni Heneral [John Arcilla] sa mga dingding. At grabe sobrang intense talaga noon.”
He then shared that he had to explain to his daughter Zia Dantes why he came home bloodied with practical effects from the movie.
“Minsan nga dahil apat na araw naming shinoot, kailangan ‘yung continuity ng dugo medyo hindi siya nagbabago. So, may marka pa siya ng mga pula-pula so minsan umuwi ako nagtanong ‘yung anak ko si Zia [Dantes], ‘bakit mayroon kang ano, anong mayroon sa mukha mo.’
“Sabi ko blood effect parang ketchup kasi I’m doing this role and then there’s this person who kept on throwing me sa mga pader talagang sobrang lakas niya.”
He then clarified that A Hard Day is also a suspense drama flick.
“Pag sinabing matinding scene, sabi ko nga kanina, four days namin talagang shinooting ‘yung isang eksena, ‘yun lang. More than it being a hard action film. Talagang suspense siya. Suspense drama kaya exciting siya.”
A Hard Day is a Filipino adaptation of the 2014 Korean movie of the same title.
Dantes clarified that despite their MMFF entry being a Pinoy adaptation, they stayed true to the core of the characters.
“I just told myself that I will be true to the core of the character and everything else eh kumbaga Filipino style na, kung paano natin siya ma-interpret. And I guess ‘yun din ‘yung beauty ng pelikula dahil it allows us really show the realities of ‘yung current situation natin.”
The action-packed thriller, directed by Lawrence Fajardo, is Viva Films’ official entry for Metro Manila Film Festival premiering on December 25.
‘A Hard Day’ stars Primetime actor Dingdong Dantes and the 2021 Venice Film Festival’s Volpi Cup Best Actor John Arcilla.
