Julia Montes’ commitment to her craft has been on full display in the action-packed film ‘Topakk’, which is part of the official lineup for the 50th Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF).
Despite experiencing an accident on set, Montes pushed through with filming without hesitation, showcasing her professionalism and dedication.
During an intense confrontation scene with co-actor Arjo Atayde, Montes accidentally stepped on a nail, injuring her knee. However, not wanting to interrupt the filming process, she chose to continue with the scene, quietly removing the nail from her knee when the camera was not focused on her.
“Kasi ‘yung eksena na yon, kapag napanood niyo, nagku-confrontation ang mga actor, ‘yun yung first meet up namin ni Arjo. So, medyo intense ang mga bagay-bagay,” Montes shared. “Eh medyo nahiya naman ako na ma-cut, na sabihin ko, sandali lang, napako ako, eh, intense nga ang eksena. So ang ginawa ko, nung wala sa akin ang kamera, hinugot ko lang yung ano (pako) sa tuhod ko.”
For Montes, this was her first experience filming intense action scenes, which was a departure from her previous roles that often required emotional depth. She explained that performing in action scenes requires a different level of coordination and rhythm with her co-actors.
“Pag kailangan mo gawin ang isang bagay, dapat attentive ka. Kasi sa action, napapansin namin, hindi puwedeng steady lang, tapos lutang ka. Kasi magkamali ka lang ng move, mamamali mo rin ang co-actor mo, eh,” she said. “So importante ang rhythm. Para siyang sayaw, na kailangan nagja-jive kayong dalawa.”
Coco Martin expressed his pride in her dedication to the role. Martin, who has been a mentor to Montes throughout her career, emphasized the importance of safety in action scenes, something he made sure to instill in the entire cast.
“Siyempre proud siya, kasi siya naman talaga ang nag-umpisa, siya naman talaga ang nagturo sa akin kung papaano…hindi naman sa gumalaw lang, kundi kung paano ang safety,” Montes revealed. “Kasi ang galaw, naaral naman ‘yon, pero yung safety kasi hindi mo masasabi, kapag nasa isang eksena ka na.”
“Siyempre, proud siya! Hindi mawawala yon. Proud talaga siya! Ang mga safety tips na tinuro niya, nagamit ko naman lahat. Sobrang proud talaga siya!”
‘Topakk’, directed by Richard V. Somes and produced by Nathan Studios, Fusee, and Strawdogs, has already made waves in international film festivals such as Cannes, Locarno, and Austin, Texas. Now, it is set to make its local debut at the MMFF.
While the local release will feature an R-16 cut with some action sequences trimmed for a broader audience, the full director’s cut, which was shown in international festivals, will not be available. Nonetheless, ‘Topakk’ promises to deliver gripping action and unforgettable performances when it premieres at the MMFF later this month.
