Ben Madilynn
Paniniyak ni Tony Labrusca, marami ang makaka-relate sa psychological thriller film na pinagbibidahan niya na What You Did.
Kabilang ang pelikulang ito sa pitong full-length feature films na maglalaban-laban sa 2024 Sinag Maynila Film Festival na magsisimula sa Setyembre 4 hanggang 8.
Panahon ng pandemic ang timeline ng kuwento ng What You Did at ginagampanan ni Tony ang role ng isang lalaking may mental condition na nasa gitna ng panahong ito.
RELATABLE TO EVERYONE
Katulad ng kanyang character sa pelikula, aminado si Tony na siya man ay nagkaroon din ng mga alalahanin nung panahon ng pandemya.
Pahayag ni Tony, “It was nice kasi this movie kinda validates a lot of feelings that all of us experienced during the pandemic.
“So, you’ll get to see one of the characters there, you know, getting anxious not being able to leave the house. Or you will see na naiinip na yung isa kasi hindi niya alam kung ano yung nangyayari sa mundo, kailan matatapos.
“And yes, I think lahat tayo makaka-relate on that level, like, none of us knew when the pandemic would end.
“All of us had to pay for our bills, and always needed to work. The work landscape was changing. So, this film touches on some of those themes.
“And so it was nice. It was nice being able to act that out. Because I was like, ‘Hey, this was what I was going through,’ you know. So yeah, it’s gonna be very relatable.”
Natatawa pa si Tony habang inalala kung paano siya nag-audition para sa role.
“I would self-tape… yeah. So, tini-tape ko ang sarili ko and send it over. Hoping that direk wasn’t cringing while watching it. Ha-ha-ha!”
Nakausap ng PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal) si Tony kasama ang kanyang direktor at producer na si Joan Lopez Flores sa closed-door interview para sa mga kasali sa 2024 Sinag Maynila filmfest. Naganap ang interview sa Gateway, Araneta Center, Quezon City, noong August 8, 2024.
“ALL HAPPENED SERENDIPITOUSLY”
Directorial debut ni Direk Joan ang What You Did, at ayon sa kanya, hindi niya ine-expect na magti-take ng chance sa kanya at kay Tony ang co-producers niya sa The Jumpcat Experiment productions na sina Jocelyn Maclang Garcia and Wilbert Tolentino.
Sabi rin ni Tony, “Direk [Joan] took a chance on me. And honestly, I’m so grateful for it. Like, I think how me and direk got to work with each other, or how I got to work with her production company… all happened so serendipitously.
“As in someone is pulling somewhere where it just had… it had to be kami yung magkakatrabaho together.
“I mean, like people’s schedule wasn’t lining up. Like, this person wasn’t available, and then, also me, like, okey wanting to. You know… I was kinda apprehensive.
“I was very apprehensive to take this role just because honestly, I was so scared that if I didn’t do a good job here it would be just like… wala. Everyone would be like, ‘Tony is a terrible actor.’
“I mean, that’s scary, you know. It’s such a nice story kasi and thank you for writing this,” pasasalamat ni Tony kay Direk Joan.
Si Direk Joan din ang nagsulat ng What You Did at creative consultant ang National Artist for Film and Broadcast Arts na si Ricky Lee.
Kasama rin sa pelikula sina Mary Joy Apostol, Epy Quizon, Mercedes Cabral, and Ana Abad Santos.
SCARY, CHALLENGING, BUT REWARDING
Nakakatakot ba mag-portray ng role ng isang taong merong mental condition?
“Uhm… playing two different characters, I was, like I said before, natatakot ako. Kasi, paano kung hindi okey yung pagkagawa ko? Or paano kung walang difference? I was scared.
“Yung feeling niya is parang, I bit off more than I could chew, parang ganoon.
“This project made me appreciate these kinds of roles. ‘Cause ang dami kong projects na nag-yes lang ako just to say yes. And this one, okay, I said yes but I was like, ‘Wow!’”
Dagdag pa ni Tony, challenging pero rewarding daw ang pagganap niya sa kanyang role sa What You Did.
“Even more rewarding now, guys, kasi it’s been three years now. It’s been a three-year process for us to get here.
“But I’m really grateful for those three years because honestly, our film still evolved within those three years.
“So, I’m very happy it’s getting released now, honestly. You know, everything happens for a reason talaga.”
Sabi ni Direk Joan, Tony is an intelligent actor. Paulit-ulit daw niya itong sinasabi kay Tony pero di siya pinaniniwalaan ng Kapamilya actor.
Sa palagay ni Tony, pwede niyang masungkit ang best actor award sa Sinag Maynila this year?
Tugon ni Tony, “Uhm, I think we’re all our own worst critic, you know what I mean?
“If you’re the kind of person that is telling yourself, ‘Yes, I’m gonna win,’ there’s something wrong there,” ngiti ni Tony.
