On March 28, actor Coco Martin recalled how he landed the role in Brillante Mendoza’s Apag after another actor backed out.
At the premiere night of Apag, which LionhearTV covered, Martin said he was the second option for the role after an actor decided not to go on with the project because of the filmmaker’s scriptless-directing style.
“Alam ninyo po ang totoo, second option lang po ako ni Direk Dante. Kasi hindi naman po talaga ako ‘yung artista dito eh. Tapos tumawag siya sa akin dahil kinukuha niya si Tito Roy Vinzon dahil casting sana siya sa pelikulang ‘to, sabi ko lang, ‘Direk di ko mabibigay si Tito Roy sayo kasi, that time magkasama kami sa FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano.
“And then sabi ko, ‘May ire-recommend ako sayong actors.’ Edi ni-recommend ko kay Direk Dante, tapos maya-maya, namomroblema kasi may nag-back out kasi nga hindi sanay na walang script eh.”
Martin revealed that Mendoza waited for his availability to take on the project.
“Sabi ko, ‘Alam mo Direk kung nasa Manila lang ako, ako na gagawa niyan eh. Gusto mo ba?’ Sabi ko, ‘Eh, kung mahihintay ninyo ako.’ Eh ginawan naman ng paraan dahil doon sa nag-back out ako ‘yung pinalit. Tuwang-tuwa naman ako dahil nagkaroon ng opportunity na makasama ko sila dito.”
He then highlighted the value of having the first-ever Metro Manila Summer Film Festival.
“Ako sobrang saya, kasi alam mo, napaka-importante nito sa amin eh. Lalo na ‘yung mga artista, kasi dapat talaga suportahan natin ‘yung industriya eh. Pag may pagkakataon na makagawa ka ng pelikula lalo na’t ganito sa ano– sa Metro Manila Film Festival, kahit na December ‘yan or Summer, talagang grina-grab ko ‘yung opportunity. Kasi ito ‘yung pamamaraan namin para makatulong kami sa industriya natin.”
As for their film, Apag stars Martin, Gladys Reyes, Jaclyn Jose, Shaina Magdayao, Julio Diaz, Carlos Canlas, Lito Lapid, Mark Lapid, Gina Pareño, and many more.
Under the direction of Brillante Mendoza, Apag opens in cinemas on April 8 during the Metro Manila Summer Film Festival.
