Arnold is a Cinemalaya ‘suki’

Since the Cinemalaya Film Festival started 10 years ago, Arnold Reyes has had an entry every year.

Last year alone, he appeared in four independent film productions. “Meron akong FDCP (Film Development Council of the Philippines) project, ‘yung kay Gil Portes, ‘yung Isang Tag Araw ni Twinkle, may dalawang Cinemalaya entries ako last year, ‘yung Purok Siyete and The Liars, and I also did Sitio by Mes de Guzman for Cinema One,” he says. “Nag-sunod-sunod, kaya napagod ako. It’s tough doing indie. The working condition is different compared to mainstream, kaya sabi ko pahinga muna ako.”

This year, he was planning to take a break. But like what they say: If something is meant for you, then it’s meant for you. So even if Arnold said he was going to lay off indie projects this year, some very irresistible offers came his way. “May dumadating na magandang projects na hindi ka naman makatanggi, kasi sayang,” says Arnold.

One of those was the offer to star in Kasal, an indie film by Jay Altarejos, whose previous works have included Ang Lihim ni Antonio and Ang Lalaki sa Parola. Like the aforementioned two films, Kasal, penned by Zig Dulay who wrote the indie film Ekstra starring Vilma Santos, is openly gay-themed. It is about the relationship between a gay couple — Paolo, a film director, and Sherwin, a lawyer — whose relationship becomes complicated when one of them sounds off about wanting to get married. They are accepted as a couple in Paolo’s family, but in Sherwin’s, they are not. When they attend a wedding of one of Sherwin’s relatives (hence the title of the film), that’s when their troubles start.

Arnold plays Sherwin, while the character of Paolo is played by former teen actor-singer Mhyco Aquino of the all-boy group Anime (to which the brothers Rodjun and Rayver Cruz also belonged), although he now goes by the name Oliver Aquino and is all of 23 years old.

Arnold is actually the third actor to be chosen to play Sherwin. First it was Polo Ravales, then Mike Liwag. “Nagka-problem,” is how Arnold describes the way the role suddenly landed on his lap. “Actually, medyo kinakabahan ako kasi sabi ko, baka hindi din ako magustuhan.”

It is Arnold’s third time to play a gay role. The first was in Imoral by Adolf Alix, where his screen partner was Paolo Paraiso. The second was in Muli, where he co-starred opposite Sid Lucero, also directed by Adolf from a script by the Palanca award-winning Jerry Gracio.

Kasal has daring scenes between Sherwin and Paolo. Director Jay made sure that both actors understood exactly what was required of them. “Jay wanted our scenes to appear realistic,” says Arnold.

All of them had wanted the scenes to be realistic. Oliver actually sought Arnold out and talked to him before they began shooting the movie’s love scenes. He told Arnold: “Brader, ayusin natin ang love scene natin para hindi magmukhang fake.” Arnold would later understand why. “Kasi nakapanood na siya ng ganoon, at na-fa-fake-an siya. Kaya gusto niyang pag-usapan. Pareho kaming kinakabahan sa love scene, so nag-usap kami, nag-agree kami and we talked to each other, sabi namin, ‘Since gagawin na natin, gawin na natin ng tama para ’pag pinanood natin, no regrets.’ So nagkasundo kami. Maganda naman lumabas.”

Arnold has high expectations for Kasal, which is getting a lot of buzz. It will be screened at different venues, including Trinoma Cinemas, to make the Cinemalaya films more accessible to the public. Arnold hopes that people will be affected by the film. “Every time we watch the playback, we’re happy how the scenes were beautifully executed,” he says. “Sana matuwa din ang mga manonood. Sana mapag-isip sila sa buhay nila, sana maapektuhan sila.”