Finding Epy

Experimental is probably the most used up word in the lexicon of Jeffrey "Epy" Quizon. Epy, who once said in an awards night speech that he'd rather bear the title of a jester than be king or queen of something, has tried out one offbeat character to another, deriving a natural high that feeds on his passion and imagination.

It's too premature to say that portraying a dead person could merit him an acting award, but I'd say it's tough and tricky to be bodily dragged around, tossed into a chilly pool, crashing down the stairs, and executing other somewhat death-defying stunts-and stripped off any right to react to an accidental bump or thump, because he's (supposed to be) dead, for crying out loud.

Assuming the titular role (a drug addict who meets his end via overdose) in Nasaan si Francis? finds Epy in a dark comedy of errors that boasts of a stellar cast that includes Christopher De Leon, Ricky Davao, Paolo Contis, Angel Aquino, Rita Avila, Tanya Garcia, Julia Clarete, Rio Locsin, musicians Rico Blanco and Karl Roy, Michael de Mesa, Mark Gil, among others.

Based on an Ilonggo play, which became a Cinemalaya finalist as well, Nasaan si Francis? is a film co-produced by Unico Entertainment, in association with Tony Gloria's ever-progressive Unitel Pictures, and Epy's own company, Crazy Angle and directed by newcomer Gabriel Fernandez, a protégé of Peque Gallaga. Epy, who described Gabby's storytelling as precise, said that working with Gabby was staying true to a promise he made to the latter, when they were classmates at a Ricky Lee writing workshop. Nasaan si Francis? premieres in theaters nationwide on March 8.

Acting revelations include the Rivermaya frontman, whose rock-stardom takes a backseat with a slightly dim-witted but largely naïve interpretation of his debut role as Sonny, best friend to Contis. Karl Roy is a scene-stealer too, spending majority of his onscreen exposure asleep. The hilariously delirious after effects Christopher de Leon, who effectively plays a big-time drug dealer, suffers from after unsuspectingly gobbling down a glassful of Ecstasy is another scene to watch out for.

Though I'm sorely tempted to play spoiler here, I'll just wax Aesop with the moral lesson of the story: if you're hooked on drugs, you're good as dead. Or even if you're spiritless and stiff, everybody thinks you're just smashed and wasted.

The first time I met Epy last year he was riding high on the fine reviews of his role in Boso, though he admitted that they reached to him by word of mouth, as he had never quite developed a liking for perusing reviews printed in the papers. He ranted a bit about Manila tabloids' tasteless predilection for prying into the personal lives of actors, sometimes creating the problem, when it was non-existent in the first place. And he went on to say that it helped that he was on to many things that's why he couldn't care less about such tabloid fare.

In a visit to Cebu last week, he was in his sociable element, mingling even with the fans that stood outside Pizza Hut at SM City Cebu where the informal meeting with local press was held. I found him still, indefatigably, on to many things on top of acting-ultra-violet photography, body painting, making music with his band Makata, film producing, writing, et cetera.

Here are excerpts from our interview:

On his latest role as Francis:

"Francis is a lost soul when he was alive-he was into drugs and didn't have goals in life. And even when he was dead, he'd never found his peace. The title speaks for itself. The movie starts and ends with Francis being a lost soul. And the movie will tell you that drugs could kill, but besides that, hindi kami nagpapakalalim. We're here to entertain for one hour and 20 minute-something of your time to just make you laugh. Hindi mo na dapat pag-isipan talaga."

On playing dead:

"Almost everyday I was like being beaten up. So everyday before I go to work, I'd really do some stretching. The good thing was I was given the freedom to choreograph the stunts. I studied how safe were the positions they gave me, or the way they'd drop me. The longest shot in the film is where you'd see me floating in the pool and my back was turned and my face was underwater.

At first, they wanted me to play the role of Paolo Contis or Rico Blanco, but after reading the script, I'm like I think I've done this role before, but playing dead, never. At first, Gabby was not convinced, pero kinulit ko siya ng kinulit."

On his choice of roles:

"When I see a character that really strikes my attention, whether I play gay, or a killer, or play stupid or a schizophrenic, or whether playing dead, I mean, when something triggers my mind and my passion, I'll really jump into it."

On Philippine cinema:

"I don't want to sound wrong, but the Philippine cinema is dying, from 200 films produced a year before, we're down to 30 a year, pinapatay tayo ng pirata at Hollywood movies, at dahil ang audience natin ay hindi na naniniwala sa pelikulang Pilipino. But for me, there's always hope. We can let it die a natural death, but let it be reborn, like a Phoenix rising, by opening a door to digital films and be glorious again. And I think we're on the advent of change. Hopefully, we'd be at par with other Asian film industries that made it to Hollywood."

On favoring work behind the scenes:

"I started acting when I was 17. When I was 19, I decided not to pursue it and decided to study art. At De La Salle University in Taft, I majored in Humanities, with a minor in Philosophy at first, then shifted to Communication Arts. Basically, it's more of the aesthetics of arts I've been exposed toThen afterwards, hands-on ako gumawa ng pelikula with my family; my training really has been more behind the camera than in front of it. Marami na ang akong nasulat na below the line, AVPs, pero pelikula, sinusulat ko pa siya."

On being the most experimental Quizon:

"That's what they say, and that's how I live my life. You learn from your mistakes, you learn from experimenting as long as wala kang nasasagasaan or tinatapakan or hindi mo sinisira sarili mo, there's nothing wrong with experimenting. But when you experiment, always think of your safety, the repercussions, you have to be aware of the dos and don'ts before entering into a decision."

On his dream project:

"Hanggang ngayon, I'd like to do a remake of El Pinoy Matador, ginawa ng daddy ko in the 1960s, when he was about my age. He went to Spain to fight a real bull, though it was a mestizo and sedated, still nilabanan pa rin niya. Yung ang dream project ko."

On the real Epi:

"I'm a very jolly person, I smile at my problems, but I'm a very serious person as well. If you want to talk straight with me, I'd talk straight with you without bullshit, I'd look at you in the eye. My eyes wouldn't wander if you talk to me-whoever you are. Kung seryosong usapan, seryoso tayo. Kung patawa tayo, patawa tayo. Siguro yan ang tinuro ng tatay ko na mga prinsipyo-kung makikipag-usap ka sa tao, dapat tunay at totoo."

On his dad Dolphy:

"The greatest lesson I've learned from my father is humility. Tatay ko always said na ang sarap lumipad. When I was receiving awards here and there, my dad would say ang sarap lumipad, bayaan mo lumipad ka, ramdaman mo yun because you deserve that, pero 'wag na wag mong kalimutan itali mo ang paa mo sa lupa, dahil kung lumipad ka, tapos tumingin ka sa lupa at sa sobrang taas mo, hindi mo na alam paano lumanding, baka masakit ang landing mo. [I don't feel pressured to live up to him] because nobody can live up to his achievements. I don't think anybody in the industry can."