This is PAOLO CONTIS
FROM CHILD STAR TO COMEDIAN, TO ‘KING OF NETFLIX’
FROM an interview by Tessa Mauricio-Arriola on the online show, “The Manila Times CSI: Celebrity, Style, and Inspiration,” Thursday nights on The Manila Times Facebook, YouTube and Daily Motion accounts.
PAOLO Contis started out as a promising child actor on “Ang TV” and quickly transitioned to the big screen in a dramatic role as Aga Muhlach’s little brother in the latter’s 1995 blockbuster hit “Basta’t Kasama Kita,” with former Miss Universe Dayanara Torres. There, he skillfully turned the waterworks on as a loveable tween, landing him a role in the original “Mara Clara” soap opera starring Judy Ann Santos.
But as this steadily working actor was thriving in dramatic roles, he surprises all and sundry with a knack for comedy as he shuffled between the sets of primetime sitcom “Oki Doki Doc” and the iconic teen weeper “Tabing Ilog.” And even when it seemed he chose comedy over all other genres in adulthood, his long-running and ever-ongoing stint in gag show “Bubble Gang” is still dotted with surprises that only prove his innate versatility over and over again.
This is Paolo Contis. And this is why his fans triumphantly crowned him the “King of Netflix.”
‘Pandemic star’
With his easy-going personality, Contis could only laugh when a good friend from the press labeled him a “pandemic star” in the earlier months of the Coronavirus (Covid-19) crisis.
In July, his two most recent movies, “Ang Pangarap Kong Holdap,” and “Through Night and Day,” were released on top streaming platform Netflix and became the forerunner of Filipino movies prominently landing in the Top 10 mostwatched content. Both produced by the actor himself in 2018, the titles shot up to No. 1 and reigned there for weeks.
“Ang Pangarap Kong Holdap,” is described by critics as a rare, well- crafted comedy. It follows a group of friends who want to be known as the town’s best thieves but whose heists always end up as outrageous failures. Contis plays Nicoy, an undercover cop who joins the gang, in this Marius Talampas- directed movie.
“Through Night and Day,” on the other hand, follows a long-term couple nearing marriage but go through difficulties in their relationship as they take a trip to Iceland. Contis plays leading man Ben, opposite Alessandra De Rossi as Jen as well as his co-producer.
A huge hit on Netflix indeed, social media was all praises for the movie and the big surprise Paolo Contis gave them.
“I never expected Paolo Contis could make me cry” was a resounding tweet and post on the world wide web, which soon led to his fan-initiated coronation as the newest “King of Netflix.”
For Contis as an artist, he knows the importance of giving laughs and entertainment during this time. “That is one of the things I’m happy about,” Contis expressed.
“Feeling ko yung mga tao, akala comedy ‘ yung ‘Through Night and Day,’ kasi right after ‘Holdap.’ So medyo nagulat ako dun sa response,” Contis recalled.
“Feeling ko malaking bagay yung nasa pandemic nga, mas maraming tao sa bahay, mas maraming time. Pero thankful ako.”
With the two films quickly becoming a sensation, netizens rightfully dubbed Contis as the “King of Netflix.”
Grateful
“Natuwa naman ako na nabansagan ako [ bilang
‘ King of Netflix,’] pero ang tawag naman [ ng iba sa akin] ‘ Pandemic Superstar’ — parang pag may problema lang ako sikat, ganun yung dating,” the good- natured and humble actor joked.
“This was not expected. May tiwala ako dun sa product na ginawa namin at masaya ako ngayon na napanood niyo ( because those movies didn’t do well during their cinema run). That’s why hindi ko in- expect yung sobrang appreciation ng mga nanood and I’m very thankful for it,” Contis expressed.
He is all the more grateful that his movies came out on Netflix when people needed entertainment the most from the shock of the outbreak, and looming uncertainty in everyone’s lives.
“That’s one of the things I’m happy about,” Contis expressed. “And makakaasa kayo na mas lalo ko siyang pagbubutihin para sa next time na panoorin niyo ‘ko, na hindi ako mapahiya sa inyo.”
Still in disbelief every now and then, the actor related, “Feeling ko yung mga tao, akala comedy yung ‘ Through Night and Day,’ kasi right after ‘ Holdap’ siya na- stream. So medyo nagulat ako dun sa response,” he recalled. “I knew naman people would like it — syempre ginawa ko yung movie, alam kong maganda yung pelikula — pero hindi ko ine- expect na ganito ka- lakas yung pelikula on Netflix.”
With his surprise success on streaming, Contis hopes that not only his movies but Filipino films will shine on this digital platform and be seen and enjoyed by more and more people around the world.
“I hope [ streaming] will do well not only for my next films, but also for other Filipino movies; na ma- realize ng mga tao [ outside our country] na we have good films. And sana, sa mga Pinoy, sana tangkilikin nila ang local movies hindi lang sa Netflix. Siyempre pag nagbukas yung mga sinehan, sana ma- prioritize muna nila yung mga local films kasi maganda naman talaga. Pero syempre rin, responsibility natin sa industriya na gumawa ng magandang pelikula.”
Family man
With everyone’s life mostly on pause during the pandemic, Contis’ family — daughter Summer Ayana, stepson Ethan Akio or Aki, and longtime partner LJ Reyes — have also basked in their patriarch’s success.
On Instagram, Reyes expressed how proud she was to see Contis become the best version of himself and how she is very excited to share his hard work with their children, “I’m so happy that now people will see how good of an actor you are and so much more!” Reyes wrote.
Taking everything in stride, Contis acts like no king even with his new reputation.
“Nasanay na ko na I’m just here to work. For me, showbiz is my work and siguro nakita [ ni LJ] na I work hard,” he happily shared.
“And sanay ako wala sa spotlight. Siguro ngayon na I’m there, I think alam niya na nai- inspire na ako to do better, na I’m mature enough to take the responsibility of carrying a project. Malaking bagay na nandun siya sa tabi ko to tell me all the time na I can do it, na hindi ako susuko.”
Young daughter Summer was very happy just to see her dad on TV, but according to the family man, the Netflix success was much a redemption for him as his eldest son Aki.
“He already remembers the time ‘ Night and Day’ came out and I knew he felt my
disappointment [ over the box office returns]. But sa nangyari at nakita niya ngayon, he’s so happy for me.”
All the same Contis took the opportunity not to gloat but to teach his son a lesson, “That it’s not always about being number one and that these projects are not a race.”
He advised, “Just do your best and eventually, people will take notice. Hindi man sa unang pagkakataon just like what happened now, pero laging may second chance kapag you do your best.”
According to Contis, his craft today is inspired by and dedicated to his family.
“To be honest, sila lang naman yung inspiration ko eh, yung pamilya ko more than anything. I want them to be proud of me.
“Of course, masaya ako na masaya yung mga tao for me, masaya ako na napapansin ako, pero number one on my list is for [my family] to be proud of me.”
Still steady
Through these challenging times, Paolo Contis remains the steadily working actor he has always been. To keep going and to make a difference in people’s lives, he has been regularly appearing albeit from home on “YouLOL,” a GMA Network channel on YouTube which complies original material from the network’s top.
Simultaneously, together with his “Bubble Gang” co-stars and goof friends — Antonio Aquitania, Rj Padilla, Roadfill, Boy 2 Quizon and Sef Cadayona — Contis revived their Pard Studios pages on Facebook and YouTube after a long hiatus from their beginnings.
“Siyempre ngayon, mas madali na mag- maintain ng pages with new content since lahat natigil muna sa trabaho,” he related. “Since nagka- time nga kami, we all got together for an eight-day locked in shoot for the [mini-series] we uploaded.”
Moreover, Contis is kept busy with the return of new episode for Bubble Gang every Friday night, as well as variety show “All Out Sundays,” most of which are done virtually and with limited set visits.
“I’m not a techie person at all but buti nalang LJ is so she’s been helping me all this time [at home]. We also have our own YouTube channel as a family naman. Siyempre I’m grateful for her help but I also appreciate even more the work done by crew members [in production] kasi ngayon nalaman naming mga artista na hindi siya madaling gawin,” he shared.
And rather than be swallowed in by the uncertainties of the pandemic, Contis has chosen to see the glass half full.
“I see this time as an opportunity. An opportunity to show people who you are, how you work and what you deliver, kasi nga lahat ng trabaho nahinto, halos lahat ng napapanood natin were replaced. Digital is a good venue to stay in touch with your audience kahit na by showing people you’re okay, kung paano ka sa bahay, and maybe even assure them na pare-pareho lang tayo. But with all the changes, this is the time to be more creative on how to entertain people and think of something new.”