Diether: Straight, without any chaser

If he were to believe all the profuse laudatory remarks hurled at him by some overly zealous fanatics, it would be so easy to bask in the glory of his success. After all, he has only been in the business for four years but has reinvented himself well – shedding his matinee idol trappings for more serious acting outings. And thanks to his wholesome packaging, his string of product endorsements continues to grow at a frantic pace.

Rather than succumb to any form of self-congratulatory fascism, Diether Ocampo would rather believe his harshest critic: himself. Here is a guy who would not be ashamed to admit his rather forgettable roles from previous films, uttering mushy one-liners and going through those clumsy romantic charades for the heck of it. Up to now, the mere thought makes him cringe.

His conversational style is pretty direct. No frills, no fancy contrivances. It‘s an adage he learned well during his struggling days tending bar – the most potent brews, the finest ales are best savored straight, no chaser.

Hearing him talk about his latest movie makes one notice the absence of superlatives commonly utilized by his contemporaries. In Gusto Ko Nang Lumigaya, Diether co-stars with Pops Fernandez, Albert Martinez, Bojo Molina, Anton Bernardo, Alysson VII and Patricia Javier.

"For this project, I play the role of a private detective hired by a congressman (played by Albert Martinez) to spy on his wife. The covert operation soon grows more complex as I uncover a more elaborate and deceptive scheme," he explains.

What was it like working with fellow ASAP co-host, Pops Fernandez? "We’re really good friends. As most people know, we started in ASAP, which is maybe four years now. It’s our first movie together and yet, there were no adjustments. Normal lang," Diether confides.

Despite his easygoing image, few people know that Diether is serious with his craft. As part of his regimen, he pores over acting books by Martin Scorsese, Marlon Brando and Paul Newman. "They’re mostly about method acting, but then, I try not to pattern myself on their styles. I just try to digest the salient points and try to get more new ideas from them," he proudly asserts.

"I also remember the highlights from my workshops with Peque (Gallaga) from a long time ago. That was about four months, and I can say that I’m fortunate that after those sessions, I got to apply everything right away. Then, I did some drama in TV shows. I guess I just progressed from there. And now, I can see the big difference," he recounts.

Had it not been for his hectic schedule, Diether would have ventured into theater. "Sayang, ‘coz I was offered to do two plays: one from UP and another from UST. Maybe after my next movie, I’ll have more time to do that."

Part of the credit for upgrading his acting mettle should go to his more influential peers, such as Lara Fabregas. "Whenever we do get to talk shop, she encourages me to watch certain films, like Run, Lola, Run. It’s too bad that I don’t get to see her much these days coz I think she’s involved with sports."

He also admires Marlon Brando, and has quite a collection of his films, including the classic, A Streetcar Named Desire.

In the local arena, Diether admires Richard Gomez, not so much in the acting mold, but rather as a model for success. "I look up to him coz he was able to package himself well. He had a good transition from matinee idol to more serious acting and later on, he managed to acquire good business savvy," he says, unmindful of the fact that he has already trod upon the same path.

After all, it was not too long ago when he invested a huge chunk of his savings for Cilantro, a theme restaurant in the bustling Tomas Morato circuit which to this day continues to enjoy a steady clientele.

He has also just completed a TV commercial for Pizza Hut, which promotes the Chicken BarBQ flavor of its Stuffed Crust Pizza line.

If he had his way, he would also love to work behind the camera. "I tried it before and loved it! You see, I did an MTV for one of Gimik and soon after, Troy (Montero) and I did a script for a movie. It was based on my own experiences and I still write and add something on a day to day basis. We’re still waiting for the right time to release it. It’s an action-drama about two good friends who work for a gangster and there’s a girl involved and she’s torn between the two friends," he asserts.

Would he like to write about his own success story then? "Oh yes! As I’ve said before, the long road getting to where I am now has not been without its twists and turns. I’ve met a lot of people, and it’s interesting how I’m now getting respect from the very same people who used to criticize me when I was just starting out," he says regretfully.

Through all these, Diether has not changed a bit. He still keeps in touch with his old chums, playing a mean game of basketball or just hanging out in a bar. Having come from the school of hard knocks, he’s wise enough to know that the glitzy world of showbiz is just one fleeting and illusory road trip.