Ian Veneracion, Jake Cuenca on having the ‘best job in the world’

When a 14-year-old Jake Cuenca first met his “The Iron Heart” co-star some years back, Ian Veneracion was already an accomplished actor, primarily having made a name in the action genre. In the following conversation, Cuenca shares how that encounter opened his eyes on what he should aspire to be in the acting business.

Fast forward to 2022, the two would be co-nominees for Best Actor at the Metro Manila Film Festival for their stellar turns in out-of-their-norm roles: Veneracion for the political thriller “Nanahimik ang Gabi”, and Cuenca for the family drama “My Father, Myself.” This year, they got to star together in a series both are mighty proud to have been a part of.

Before the ABS-CBN primetimes series “The Iron Heart” airs its explosive final mission tonight, Veneracion and Cuenca talked about the country’s fighting chance with onscreen action given the right support, how they first crossed paths, and how they’d easily do their jobs for free.

Have you previously played a character similar to Menandro Sin in “The Iron Heart”?

Ian: I’ve been in the industry long enough that I think I have played bida, kontrabida, support, good buy, bad guy, sometimes it's a combination. Like the last movie I did was “Nanahimik ang Gabi” for last year’s Metro Manila Film Festival. Yun, yung start, hindi rin alam ng audience kung saan papunta. Eventually, ako pala yung pinaka bad guy.

What are some of the obvious differences in the way action for the screen is done now compared to before?

Ian: Just for context, I did my first action movie when I was 15, and back then we used film. It wasn’t digital yet and the lights and fight scenes were different. When the video assist came, it was magic. We felt so Hollywood. It was like, ‘What? We shoot now and we can watch it right now?’ Now with our phones and stuff, I think it’s also good for everyone. Because before, technology was only available in Hollywood. Big budget and stuff. Now we can use the same cameras, lenses, and lights. So technologically, we have a fighting chance. We can try to have a wider audience. Hopefully, that’s what will happen now that we have Netflix, Amazon, and all the other streamers. And that’s what we aspire to become: to have a wider audience. But I really believe in the Filipino talent. We have good directors, writers, and actors. We can do it, it’s just really the budget sometimes.

Jake: I think we just need the right place to showcase all our materials. But the Pinoy is very capable.

Ian: We also need the support of the Filipinos to keep watching our own. Like, for example, the Koreans, they all watch and love their own. Hopefully we can do that too so that our industry won’t die.

What was your impression of Ian when you first met him many years ago?

Jake: I was a 14-year-old, bug-eyed boy in a workshop with director Peque Gallaga. When Ian Veneracion entered the room, I’ll tell you the truth, I was starstruck. That workshop changed the trajectory of my career. It really made me look at acting in a more serious light because Peque Gallaga did that for me. But Kuya Ian, he showed me what an actor should be. I think I’m blessed to be working with Kuya Ian, because rather than telling me what to do, they showed me the way. They really showed me which path to take. When I saw him acting in the workshop, I wanted to be like that. I wanted to be a good actor like he was. It’s an honor to be here with him.

Ian: I remember Tito Peque called me and Tessie Tomas. He said we have a bunch of first-time workshoppers, aspiring actors. They just wanted us to come in, do scenes with them and throw them off.

Jake: For me, it was a dream come true. At that time, I couldn’t really call myself exactly an actor yet. I was still just entering. So to act across a legitimate actor like Ian Veneracion, that was an opportunity of a lifetime.

Did it bother you a bit that it was just last year that you won your first Best Actor award in the Philippines after so many years in the industry?

Ian: No, not at all. I’m so honored also because we were both there. We had entries, and I have very high respect for Jake as an actor. That’s why I honestly thought you [Jake] were going to win that MMFF.

Jake: That was your night.

Ian: I was lucky.

Jake: “Nanahimik ang Gabi” was so beautiful.

Ian: Thank you. It was a good script by Shugo Praico. Director Lino Cayetano was there and it’s a nice gesture because I’ve been in the movie industry for 40 years. It was the first time for me to win locally. I won before for another movie but it was in a cultural festival. It felt great.

Does having a Best Actor trophy make you stand a bit taller?

Ian: Actually, no. I just love the craft ever since. Me and Jake, we’re here because we enjoy it. We’re not really here to impress anyone. There’s no one to impress really but ourselves. It’s like challenging yourself constantly, trying different emotions. As actors, we don’t have the luxury to not think about certain things. For example, in our line of work, there are things that are really painful, that a normal person has the luxury to not confront. But for us, we have to go where it hurts, find out why it hurts and confront it. We were talking about it earlier, and it’s so intertwined with our experiences. The more experiences you have in life, the better you become as an artist – not just an actor – I think in any form of art. That’s where you draw “hugot.” You experience joy, pain, anything – it always makes you a better artist because there’s always something to draw from.

Are you now choosier with your projects?

Ian: At the beginning of my career, I grabbed anything. Eventually, it became more important for me kung gaano kagaling ang mga katrabaho ko. Kasi gusto mo makatrabaho si ganito, si ganyan. You want to have experience. Now, it’s more important for me kung gaano kasarap katrabaho yung mga katrabaho ko. Kasi marami na akong nakasama. Gusto ko enjoy. I think that’s where we shine the most – when we’re having fun. We take our work seriously, but it’s important that you’re having fun and you have good chemistry with the people you work with.

For “The Iron Heart”, you read books for the role, the gun you use was your own prop. Do you prepare like this for all your projects?

Jake: Not every role needs that much preparation. Some roles, let's say like my sitcom right now [TV5’s “Jack and Jill sa Diamond Hills”], don’t really require much repetition or reading the script and books. Certainly, when I fall in love with a character like Eros, I find myself putting in the extra work. I find myself hiring a team to train me for fighting. I find myself reading books about gangsters, about secret agents. But more than anything, those things for me are fun. Those things, I do on a normal day. I wake up at five in the morning, read my script, take in books, and apply it to what I’m reading in the script. But that’s all part of being like a little kid and creating a character. So it’s fun for me.

Ian: While we were waiting for the setup, I said to Jake, ‘Isn’t this the best job in the world?’ And we were like, “Yeah.” We get to be other people. It’s a rest from being yourself. It’s so boring to be merely yourself. You get to play different characters which is like being a kid. Play pretend. Sometimes you’re a soldier, sometimes you’re a good guy, other times you’re a killer. For my personality, it is the best job.

Jake: I totally agree. If you love it, 20 years pass by so fast. But then if you don’t, my God, it can be a misery. But for me, 22 years? Feels like yesterday. The workshop where we met? Feels like last week. I would do this for free because we enjoy. The appreciation and awards are bonuses.