TF goes all out in Tarima

MANILA, Philippines - It is no longer any secret to many in show business that one of TF or Fanny Serrano’s passions in life is acting for television and the movies. He returns to it from time to time when he feels the need to fulfill this passion.

His reputation as a good actor has grown through the years during which he would delineate role of gays in various persuasions. There would be the mothering gay, the battered gay, the gay undergoing a personal crisis. Among his unforgettable roles was that of a homosexual who had just undergone a sex change for Maalaala mo Kaya. There was this scene where he had to urinate and Fanny had to act out how painful it was after just having had the operation. To this day, Fanny recalls meeting people who would congratulate him on that scene.

Another memorable and inspiring role was that of an aging gay who mothers three homeless kids as his own in the Indie film Tulak. It was a role Fanny couldn’t pass up even if his schedule was very tight. This was where he met director Neal “Buboy” Tan and the experience was so fulfilling they became close friends.

Fanny’s performance was so good, he made it to the finals of the Philippine Movie Press Club (PMPC) Awards last March in the Best Supporting Actor category competing against Aldred Gatchalian for Bente, Luis Manzano for In My Life, Phillip Salvador in Ang Panday, and Dennis Trillo in Mano Po 6: My Mother.

It was therefore not a surprise for us to receive an invitation to preview a film he would star in. It was called Tarima, Spanish for a makeshift love nest where inmates are allowed intimacy with husbands, wives, and lovers including those of the same sex during conjugal visits. It is again directed by Neal and it appears that they are good for each other, bringing out the best in one another.

It was a different Fanny Serrano we saw in the film. He was an abused child who grew up with a cruel grandmother (Gloria Romero) who never spared the rod in her discipline she caused his blindness in one eye. But he loved her and tried to understand her, as did her friend Rustica Carpio. When a buddy (Chokoleit) ended in jail, Fanny would bring him food and catch the attention of a lonely inmate (Rocky Salumbides who rose to public attention as ex-Pinoy Big Brother and Eula Valdes’ squeeze) until they eventually fall in love.

The meticulousness with which Fanny attacked his role we had seen before. If in Tulak he would spend hours putting on uglifying make-up so that none in the crew would even recognize him, in Tarima he insisted on ordering from the US a special lens that had the appearance of an eye blinded by an accident. But we have never yet seen Fanny engage in passionate love-making (with Rocky) as he did in Tarima, or engage in physically exhausting scenes like riding atop a jeep and joining the Nazareno Good Friday crowd in Quiapo. Or for that matter go through emotionally draining sequences with Gloria Romero, Rocky, even the seemingly simple scene with Ana Capri who plays Rocky’s unfaithful wife.

Director Neal who has megged over 30 films can be proud of a handful especially Ataul for Rent which tells of a materialistic couple who rent out coffins for a living, and people dwelling in sub-human conditions. Ataul also had a superb cast of Joel Torre, Jaclyn Jose, Noni Buencamino, and Ronnie Lazaro. One important thing direk Neal has is the intelligence to pick the right people for his films.

In Tarima, he chose and convinced Fanny to take on the lead role and once TF accepted he had him hooked for the rest of the film. There was no way Fanny wouldn’t give his 200 percent to the project, from calling on friends Gloria Romero, Gina Alajar, and Oskar Peralta who played one of the inmates to perfection including shedding his usual signature wig. Direk Neal tips his hat to Fanny saying, “First time ko maka pag direk ng isang artistang talagang ganito ka dedicated, ganito ka professional, talagang hanggang sa pag buo ng materials katulong ko. Kaya yung kabuuan ng pelikula hindi ko puedeng solohin ang credit. Talagang ang laking bagay ni Fanny Serrano bilang isang artista and at the same time katulong ko sa pagbuo ng kuwento.”

Fanny’s dedication to his craft is admirable. There is no conflict between his job as an actor and his personal beliefs. That is why there is no conflict between playing a follower of the Black Nazarene in the movie and being a Born Again Christian in real life.

At the preview Fanny and direk Neal revealed they had three stories lined up for future production. But for the moment it is Tarima that occupies their time. The world premiere is set on Aug. 28 at the CCP Main Theater after which it may either participate in international festivals or have a local theatrical release. Others in the cast are Raymond Cabral, Tiya Pusit and child wonder Rap-Rap Leuterio. Theme song is sung by M.J. Ringor. Supervising producer is Gregorio Recuerdo III. Executive producer is Rey Maclang.

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