Coco eyes directing own indie, steps up helping the needy
It’s not enough for Coco Martin to be an accomplished actor. He still has dreams unfulfilled on his bucket list, one of which is directing his own film. This he revealed at the thanksgiving gathering he threw for the movie press recently.
He hopes to put things he’s learned in the industry so far to good use. “Kasi during indie days ko hanggang ngayon ay talagang nag-aaral ako. Matanong po kasi ako pagdating sa trabaho, very (meticulous) ako pagdating sa mga detalye. Sabi ko nga po, kung merong mag-aalaga at magpo-protekta sa bawat proyektong ginagawa ko dapat unang-una ako, kasi ako ang nakakaalam. Inaalam ko kung ano ang gusto ng mga tao at ’yun ang ibinibigay ko sa kanila,” he shared.
Noting “sa mundo ng TV at sa mainstream, mas kabisadong-kabisado ko
ang indie,” his concept for a project is “a drama about two brothers.”
He wants to be part of the cast as well, something he feels is not a problem since he’s directed himself before – albeit in more of an impromptu scenario.
“’Yung mga indie ko po minsan, kapag halimbawa sobrang ngaragan
na, hirap na kami, ang ginagawa ko kinukuha ko ’yung isang cam o isang
camera man. Talagang nagsu-shoot akong mag-isa para makabawas sa mga eksena. Kabisado ko pong i-direk ang sarili ko,” he related.
‘Beauty and the Bestie’ success
Coco is elated over the success of “Beauty and the Bestie,” the highest grossing film Star Cinema has produced. It already surpassed the record 556 million box office gross set by the movie “A Second Chance,” the film outfit announced via their Instagram account.
“Masaya po kasi sabi ko nga po naging
sulit ’yung paghihirap (namin),” the Primetime TV King said, lauding both Star Cinema and Viva Films for their support.
Still, the 34-year-old actor is not one to let success get into his head. “Bonus na lang po sa ’kin…’yung mga resulta,” he said of the box office figures.
The actor admitted he felt pressured before his MMFF entry came
out, especially since he was paired with Vice Ganda, whose films have always been box office top-grossers.
“Natakot ako na baka doon pa siya hindi maging number one or ’yun pa ’yung pinakamahinang kita ng pelikula niya,” said Coco, whose fears had since been proven unfounded.
On MMFF controversies
Despite their success, it saddens Coco that what was supposed to be a festive event turned out to be a hotbed of issues and conflicts.
Coco has made a statement debunking the alleged ticket-swapping issue that plagued last year’s festival, saying, “Definitely, hindi po totoo ’yun.”
He added, with humor, “Kung ano man po ’yang sinasabi nilang anumalyang ’yan, ’wag po kayong mag-alala kasi paiimbistigahan po natin ’yan kay Cardo.” Cardo is his character on “FPJ’s
Ang Probinsyano.”
All the fuss about having the number one film in the festival is also the least
of Coco’s concern. “Sa puso ko po, ayoko pong makipagcompete kasi para sa ’kin hindi ’yun ’yung rason kung bakit namin ginawa ’yung pelikula… Ang gusto po namin makapagpaligaya ng tao,” he said.
He added, “Sana ginagawa po natin ’to para sa mga tao kasi ang pangit naman po na nasa maliit tayo
na industriya at nag-aaway-away po tayo.”
Coco is open to do another MMFF film entry this year as a show of gratitude to fans for their undying support.
“Ang sarap po maging bahagi ng okasyong ganito lalung-lalo na ’pag nasa float kami at nakikita namin ang mga tao sa daan – ang sarap po sa pakiramdam,” he said. When asked if a sequel to “Beauty and the Bestie” is on the horizon, Coco said, “Depende po ’yon sa Star Cinema. Mahirap pong magsalita. Siguro sa ganda po ng kinalabasan, palagay ko po baka, baka. Napakarami pang puwedeng puntahan (ng pelikula).”
Beautiful Coco
In one of the episodes of “FPJ’s Ang Probinsiyano,” Coco took on a cross-dressing transformation into a woman. It turned out well and the actor could not thank his make-over team enough.
But more than successfully playing a beautiful girl, Coco said the experience made him appreciate women more.
“Alam n’yo po na-realize ko , ’ yung pagme-makeup ng isang babae two hours pala ’yon. Tapos kaming mga lalaki kapag nakikipag-date sandali lang (magayos). Hindi namin naa-appreciate na sobrang pinaghihirapan ’yon. Saka ’yung pagsusuot ng heels, ang sakit pala noon. ’Di ba natitiis nila kahit ang hirap-hirap. Tiis-ganda talaga.”
While playing a girl is something new to Coco, being asked about having a girlfriend is a common occurence in interviews.
When asked about plans to fill the romantic void in his life, he replied,
“Honestly, any time (now) kasi nasa 30-plus na ako, eh. Pero kung tatanungin mo kung hinahanap ko (ang babaeng pakakasalan ko), hindi. Pero (naniniwala ako) na one of
these days ay makakasalubong (ko siya). ’Yun ’yung pinaghahandaan ko, eh. Para saan ba lahat ng itong pinaghihirapan ko?”
Although busy with work, he is optimistic. “Ngayon po medyo naayos ko na po ang lahat,’yung family ko, ’yung financial matters, kaya sabi ko any time.”
A hero in his own right
Coco is known to play good, heroic characters. With the hype over the new Darna film, Coco also hopes for “Juan dela Cruz” to be adapted for the big screen as well. “Maganda ’yung kwento niya, magandang mapanood
ng mga bata,” he said. Aside from Juan, it’s another dream of his to play the Pinoy classic hero, Panday.
Coco may not be fighting aswangs or crimes in real life but the actor is a hero in his own way.
This year, the actor launches “Piyestang Pinoy ng Probinsyano” in collaboration with Dreamscape Entertainment. It aims to provide entertainment and relief operations to Filipinos in need nationwide.
“Sobra sobra rin naman ’yung pinagkakaloob nilang suporta sa
‘Probinsyano’ at ganu’n na rin po sa akin. Sa pagkakataong ito, kami naman po sana ’yung makapagbigay sa kanila ng tulong,” he said. For starters, Coco welcomed the year by giving out relief goods to more than 600 families in Tondo, Manila that have been victimized by a fire last Jan. 1. “Ako na ’yung ginagawang way
ni God para makatulong sa iba,” he said of his advocacy.
Coco, a Black Nazarene devotee who visits Quiapo church regularly, explained, “Hindi naman dahil nagpapaka-religious ako. Sabi ko nga, sa sampung hiningi ko, labinlima po talaga ’yung binigay Niya sa ’kin.” Thus, giving back is a true act of selflessness on his part. (With report from Jojo P. Panaligan)