Meaning for Mark
‘I don’t mind (doing support roles again) kasi even in England, I was a factory worker, newspaper boy, I was warehouse cleaner. It doesn’t really matter as long as I can expand my craft. Any role is a role, work is work.’
Mark Neumann thinks he has finally found “purpose” in his career through the movie “Kamandag Ng Droga.” Based on true events, it tackles possible reasons some young people get addicted to drugs. Mark plays the son of Christopher de Leon’s and Lorna Tolentino’s characters.
“Straight A student ako sa architecture. Good boy, masunurin pero malalaman ko ’yung past ng tatay ko, dahan-dahan, na user (ng droga) pala siya dati,” he said. “Dahil sa impluwensiya ng mga kaibigan, natuto ako mag-drugs kasi para i-deviate ’yung mind ko na maging masaya. Nag-droga ako lalo na nu’ng nalaman ko na drug user pa rin pala ang dad ko.” For Mark, “Kamandag Ng Droga” is an advocacy movie because the subject is “highly relevant” and “significant.” “Magandang advocacy siya and parang it’s good to watch with whole family para matutunan (’yung about sa mga droga),” he said. “I’m just proud that I was able to do this particularly as it is a big movie. Pero kaya rin naman namin nagawa ng maayos ay dahil sa tulong at advice na binibigay ng director at staff.” He promised that moviegoers will enjoy the film as “binuhos ko ang buong performance ko.”
Aside from lessons on the dangers of using illegal drugs, it has touching dramatic scenes.
“Kamandag Ng Droga” also stars Sarah Lahbati, Meg Imperial, CJ Caparas, Ronnie Lazaro, to name a few. The movie features some of President Rodrigo Duterte’s speeches against drugs, as well as inclusion of anti-crime crusader Dante Jimenez, Public Attorney’s Office Chief Persida Rueda Acosta and Senator Koko Pimentel.
The film is directed by comic strip creator and writer-producer Carlo J. Caparas. It’s a tribute to Carlo’s wife, Donna Villa, who passed away early this year.
No worries
Aside from the film, Mark is part of the ABS-CBN primetime fantasy series “La Luna Sangre” as an active member of Moonchasers, a group that fights vampires.
Prior being a Kapamilya, he was a runner-up on TV5 talent and reality show “Artista Academy.”
Before his contract expired with TV5 last July, he was one of the promising actors of the network. He was in a love team with co-finalist Shaira Mae dela Cruz and they starred on “Kidlat” and several installments of “Wattpad Presents.” He was tapped as the lead actor of TV5’s adaptation of the K-drama series “Baker King” which became his big break.
Now that he is with another network, Mark has to prove himself all over again. No problemo.
“Kasi I like working my way back up from scratch,” he said. ”I don’t mind (doing support roles again) kasi even in England, I was a factory worker, newspaper boy, I was warehouse cleaner. It doesn’t really matter as long as I can expand my craft. Any role is a role, work is work,” he maintained.
He divulged he doesn’t want to feel entitled as to be handed big roles on a platter. Instead, he prefers to get work through auditions.
His guiding principle: Earn the respect of colleagues.
Has he done it on “La Luna Sangre?”
“Ayoko naman mag-assume pero if any way they like me and they keep me in scenes then I’m really thankful and I’ll return it with a great performance.”
Good thing his experiences in Martial Arts and different sports is an advantage on the fight scenes he does.
He couldn’t ask for more with all the blessings he is receiving. He recalled that he started with roles that have no lines. “Well parang dumadami naman po
’yung scenes ko with lines and anything. And they told me naman... pinupuri
naman ako so I guess it’s a good sign,” he shared. Mark feels honored to be working with well-loved reel couple Kathryn Bernardo and Daniel Padilla. He describes the two as “napakabait” and “really chill lang sa set.” “Napaka-down to earth nila at masaya kausap, nagtatawanan lang minsan between the takes,” he shared.
Asked on his wishes for next year, Mark said, “Of course opportunities and guidance, and good health okay na ako.”
I don’t mind (doing support roles again) kasi even in England, I was a factory worker, newspaper boy, I was warehouse cleaner. It doesn’t really matter as long as I can expand my craft. Any role is a role, work is work.