Enchong learns to take chances

Stars come and go. The few who do stay are those serious enough with their work to choose their roles, and fling their heart and soul into it. They don’t care if their beautiful faces turn grotesque. What they care about is creating an impact with the audience.

Enchong Dee is one of these celebrities. I’ve interviewed him on my show, and I’ve seen his sincerity, his burning desire to do good as an actor and as a person. Having been in the business for 10 years, he’s not afraid to be scrutinized and cross-examined about the most personal questions.

He’s brave enough to take risks. He stayed away from the camera for two years to focus on personal, though still showbiz-oriented projects. He tested his limits as an entrepreneur again by producing his own album, EDM (Enchong Dee Moves) and concert. Enchong didn’t mind knocking on friends’ doors to sell tickets for his “baby.”

As if these and real estate investments aren’t enough, Enchong also opened his own restaurant.

“I know that at a certain point, I’ll lie low in this business and move on. I’m just preparing myself,” the ever-practical Enchong points out.

He’s actually more than prepared for the rainy days. And yet Enchong chooses to work hard — especially in showbiz. He did something totally absent in the script for his scene with leading lady Kiray Celis in Regal Entertainment’s I Love You to Death, which opened this week in cinemas nationwide.

Kiray stood there, stunned, as Enchong got some mud from the ground they were standing on, and smeared it all over his face. Everybody, including the production people, was caught flat-footed during that early morning shoot when rain fell on the mountaintop and the rarefied air made them shiver like quivering leaves shaken off a tree.

“Even if the production designer or the wardrobe people don’t ask some things from you, (as an actor), you have a vision of how the scene will go. So I just told them they don’t need to stand up. I’ll be the one (to apply mud on my face). You see, these scenes will be there for the rest of our lives.”

If that’s not love for work, I don’t know what is.

Enchong feels he owes fans only the best.

“Sa pag-arte nila ako minahal, and I won’t let them down,” he vows.

Enchong isn’t just thinking of the fans. His sense of duty also extends to showbiz newbies, who need to look up to someone older and more experienced. Enchong has appointed himself guardian of these aspiring actors.

“There are so many who want to become actors,” he notes. “I want to show them that Kuya Enchong is serious with his work.”

Enchong knows how it feels to be a newcomer looking for a role model to show him the way 10 years ago. Turns out some of them weren’t role model material, after all.

“They’re now virtually non-existent,” he laments.

Enchong hates to see the new breed of actors fail for lack of good role models. So he’s leading the way by treating everyone on the set well. When he sensed how awkward Kiray felt about their kissing scene, he promised her he’ll do most of the work. Did I hear Kiray heave a sigh of relief?

Neither does Enchong mind leaving his comfort zone to play roles he hasn’t done before, like the one he’s doing for I Love You to Death.

“I want something new, something experimental.”

The good news is Enchong is getting his heart’s desire. And he goes to bed with a smile on his face and dreams of even more hills to climb.

MMFF’s new rules   

Here’s more good news, this time for movie lovers. This year’s Metro Manila Filmfest (MMFF) changed its rules to make the annual event from Dec. 25 to Jan. 8, 2017 even bigger and better.
Emphasis is on overall excellence more than commercial appeal, as story, audience appeal and overall impact make up 40 percent of submission criteria. Cinematic attributes and technical excellence account for 40 percent, global appeal is 10 percent and Filipino sensibility, 10 percent.

Producers will have more time to promote their work as deadline for submission of finished film entries is moved to an earlier date — Oct. 31.

Why submit finished products, and not scripts the way it’s been done in years past?

Look at it this way. You can judge a film better by seeing it unfold before your eyes, not just by reading its script. That’s quality assurance for you.

Indie will no longer be considered alternative cinema, as they will be on the same footing as mainstream films.

The awards night is no longer set midway through the filmfest, but on its last day — Jan. 8, 2017. This way, viewers will not base their choice of movies to see on awards night results, but on what they think is worth spending their hard-earned Christmas bonus on. Winners will not get cash prizes but trophies.

The MMFF will also have a new logo and theme song, a traveling installation, interactive galleries and a fancon where everyone can meet producers, artists and directors.