Jun-Jun takes things one day at a time

MANILA, Philippines - Promising young actor Jun-Jun Quintana believes that everything happens for a reason.

After being unfairly eased out from one of the entries of the ongoing Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival two weeks after he was told that he landed a major role, Jun-Jun auditioned for another film and bagged an important second-lead role. The movie is Quick Change and going into the few days of the festival, Jun-Jun’s affecting performance in the movie is making a strong buzz among local cinema aficionados, cinema bloggers and critics that he can be a strong contender for Festival Best Supporting Actor plum.

“It’s still too early in my young career to think of awards,” he said. “I feel that I should focus on being a good actor first, and make the most out of every role that comes my way. Quick Change is a good learning vehicle for me and I feel blessed to be part of a good movie.”

Even if the filmmaker is a man of few words, Eduardo Roy Jr. is also known to very straight forward. For him to tell us that he was impressed with Jun-Jun in the film only means that the new actor truly made his mark. “Despite being a relatively new actor, Jun-Jun is a natural. He comes to the set prepared, and sits quietly in a corner while getting into his character.  He is deep and his range is amazing. He listens, and that’s very important. I am very pleased I trusted my instincts in giving him the role of Uno.”

Jun-Jun eases so naturally into Uno, the lover boy of the lead transvestite character Doreen (wonderfully essayed by real-life transsexual Mimi Juareza). Together with Doreen and her nephew Hiro (endearingly played by Miggs Cuaderno), they create a pseudo-home that will later on be wrecked by major relationship conflicts.

For the movie, Jun-Jun worked closely with his director to achieve the core and nuances of Uno. “It was not an easy role and the actor has to be both strong and vulnerable at many instances. Jun-Jun was both brave and brilliant in breathing life to Uno. He blew me away,” Roy enthused.

For his part, Jun-Jun is grateful for his director’s guidance. “I owe it to direk Edong (the filmmaker’s moniker). He was very patient with us and he knew his story and its characters by heart. All the actors in his main cast are not popular or seasoned actors, and it did not matter to him. All he wanted was for his characters to be truthful.”

This early, Jun-Jun already knows that show business is not for the faint-hearted.

“It takes some time to get adjusted to the realities of the business. The challenges can be daunting, especially for a newcomer like me. They say that the first step is the most difficult, and I can’t agree more.”

It is never easy for a newbie to get inside that big showbiz door, more so to get accepted into the industry by co-actors, filmmakers, producers and the powerful decision makers who call the shots. Except perhaps, if you’re a son or daughter of celebrities or you are being groomed by the big networks.

Jun-Jun is slowly getting accustomed to the realities.  Coming from very humble beginnings, he and his older brother had to stop school in order for their five other younger siblings to continue regular school.  Aside from his meager income as an indie actor, he helps his family by working as a building administrator for a distant relative. He also dabbles as a band vocalist if there are gigs.

“I have learned responsibility at an early age, that is why I take every new acting job very seriously. Who knows that someday? I will also become a sought-after actor who is known to be competent and reliable.”

Having his share of rejections, Jun-Jun has taken into heart many priceless lessons. “I have learned to be realistic. It’s perfectly alright to acknowledge one’s emotions after every disappointment, but I try not to dwell on these for long in order for me to move ahead.” He adds, “For sure, rejection hurts, but pain oftentimes makes you a better person, and it can push you to work harder — just like my Cinemalaya experience.”

After Quick Change, Jun-Jun will start working on a film for a come-backing director for the CinemaOne Film Festival in November. “I just received the good news that I bagged a very good role. For now, I am just taking things one day at a time, and I’m very thankful that there is always something to look forward to.”