A late bloomer of an actor

MANILA, Philippines - Years ago, Lance Raymundo never thought he’d love acting more than singing. Most people knew him as Rannie Raymundo’s younger brother. It didn’t bother Lance that people mentioned his name only after that of Rannie. Lance adored his kuya, and tried singing because he wanted to follow in his footsteps.

Then, his long-time manager, Angie Magbanua passed away. She wanted Lance to try acting, but singing drove thoughts of another career away. Until director Elwood Perez approached Lance at Angie’s wake last year and talked about a comeback project.

“I know this is not the right time to talk about it,” Elwood told Lance that night. “But I’m looking for a leading man for my future project. I’m still scouting for a story.”

A light bulb flashed in Lance’s mind. He said it’s worth a shot.

As if by design, Lance’s friend, Charlotte Dianco told him about her story Fidel, a moving tale about a male OFW sentenced to death for killing his own employer in the Middle East (it was later entered at the 2007 Cinemalaya filmfest where it was proclaimed one of the finalists). Direk Elwood liked the story and directed its movie version.

Eventually, the movie was turned over to then debuting director Mark Shandii Bacolod.

And Lance, as Fidel, couldn’t get over what he considers is his biggest role yet.

Lance did not shed a single piece of clothing in his rape scene, but the agony in his eyes said it all. He need not bare his gym-toned body anymore. His pained face was more than enough.

“I grew as an actor,” relates Lance. “I also found out that you learn more about yourself as an actor. Now, acting is not just a hobby. It’s a job.”

He recalls a time when he and his Kuya Rannie were children.

“ I would act while Kuya Rannie sang. Singing was my way of showing Kuya Rannie how much I held him in high esteem.”

Acting, he also found out, makes him more creative as a musician.

To prove his point, Lance crows that he has 12 new songs which he wants to release as an album someday.

That day may still be far off, since Lance has yet to get over the encouraging reactions Fidel got at the First Filipino International Film Festival (FIFFLA) held at the prestigious Los Angeles Theater Center last Oct. 18.

“Despite a technical glitch which cropped up just when the movie was reaching its climax, everyone who watched Fidel in L.A. stayed till the last scene,” reports Lance.

Rob Schneider who viewed Fidel together with Hollywood filmmakers, directors, actors and others, was impressed. He showed interest in redoing Fidel on a larger scale because he believes in its international appeal.

Schneider even likened Fidel to the Irish film Once, which won Best Foreign Film in the 2007 Independent Spirit Awards.

Schneider also announced plans to direct and to shoot a Hollywood movie in the Philippines in late next year.

His Los Angeles experience turned out to be a test of character for Lance.

“We didn’t realize the disc we used in screening Fidel had a scratch,” he relates. “Because of this, no one could make out the images in the film, just when the story was about to reach its climax.”

Lance acted fast. He knew there was no time to lose. He went to the screening room next door, introduced himself, and asked the one in charge of the Spanish filmfest which they were then watching if a technician can lend a hand.

Luckily, someone overheard Lance and volunteered to lend his copy of the Fidel screener shown just the night before. That saved the day for Lance.

“I was the sheltered one, since I’m the youngest in the family,” muses Lance. “That incident in Fidel showed me I have an inner strength I can draw on when needed.”

Fidel (which will run starting Dec. 2 at Robinsons Cinema) is Lance’s fourth film to be shown abroad in the span of one year. The others are Ang Nerseri with Jaclyn Jose, shown at the Roman Film Festival; Panahon Na, screened in Boston and exhibited at the 2009 Cinemanila Film Festival; and the Korean war drama The Forgotten War.

Lance may be a late bloomer of an actor. But he doesn’t mind. After all, he’s having the time of his life.