A few years ago, director Paul Soriano experienced what we so sadly often read about on the front pages and watch helplessly in TV newscast — yes, kidnapping. Paul witnessed the kidnapping of a neighbor and that’s what inspired him to recreate the harrowing experience in Star Cinema’s Dukot (not to be mistaken for Joel Lamangan’s Dukot), showing nationwide starting tomorrow, July 13.
The movie marks the meeting of the “old” and the “new” generations, the former represented by Christopher “Boyet” de Leon as the down-on-his-luck military man turned kidnapper and the latter by Enrique Gil as the victim.
Seldom does Boyet play a bad character and, versatile an actor as he is, he’s still very good even when he’s very bad. It’s Enrique’s second movie with direk Paul (after the critically-acclaimed Thelma with Maja Salvador in the titular role) and…what a relief!...he is said to have caught up with Boyet.
The role proves challenging to Boyet who is in real life a protective family man whose house is equipped with CCTVs, all doors are locked and every security measure followed to prevent another akyat-bahay in which the culprit was collared.
So how do the “old” and the “new” measure up to each other?
Boyet
In real life, you are a good family man, how well do you identify with your role in Dukot?
Boyet: “I try to be a good family man, I really try. Well, Mang Johnny, my character in that movie, is also a family man forced by the gang to kidnap Enrique’s character because he badly needs money to bail out his imprisoned son. My character is an ex-military man, and since he is not making that much as a soldier he decided to join a gang of kidnappers.”
How is it to be directed by a new director?
“He inspires me, eh, and I guess especially the young generation of actors like Enrique. The new directors have fresh ideas, they have the drive and the passion. I believe that the director is the captain of the ship, so I am cooperative.”
Do you give inputs or suggestions?
“Direk Paul is very specific about what kind of performance he wants; even the execution is as organic as possible. What he says, I just do. But if meron akong konting changes sa attack, I would tell him, ‘Can I do it this way?’ Napag-usapan naman namin yon.”
You are into your late 50s and you are still fit. How do you do it? How’s your diet?
“I don’t eat pork. I stay away from frustration. That’s about it, aside from that, I eat anything na. Halos no breakfast. I’m not a morning person; the only time I wake up early is when I am working. When I’m working, I take breakfast consisting of pancake with turkey bacon or pancake with blueberry. I don’t use na talagang homemade. Otherwise, I take tapa with fried rice, the usual.”
What vitamins do you take?
“I take vitamin C and multivitamins, and then in the evening, Omega. I don’t use sugar anymore for my coffee; coffee is a must in the morning or in the afternoon, or after eating. I take my usual Barako coffee with ginger and honey.”
What workout do you do?
“I have my own gym in my basement with a universal machine, the real deal. I do dumbbells also, free weight. And then I do 150 push-ups. Ina-alternate ko; I’m a night rider.”
Part of your body that needs improvement?
“I have to do crunches and sit-ups. Lumalaki na tiyan ko, hehehehe!”
What part of your body is most vulnerable?
“What do you mean vulnerable? Inside or outside? I don’t know.”
What part of your body is your favorite?
“I try to take care of every part of my body. That’s what I do, that’s actually my job. Kailangan maayos because you know we deal with actors. You must be clean; you must smell good all the time. Maski na gusgusin ka, you have to smell good.”
How much sleep do you get?
“I try to get eight hours. Pag nagshu-shoot ako, I sleep for only five hours.”
Favorite sleepwear?
“Shorts and T-shirt.”
How many pillows do you sleep with?
“Three. One large and long for hugging.”
Do you snore?
“Yes, when I am tired. I once slept in my son’s room. I asked him, ‘Did I snore?’ He said, ‘Yes, you were snoring like the whole night’.”
Do you talk in your sleep?
“Yes. I don’t know why. I’m the kind of a person who talks and walks in my sleep. Buti na lang I don’t mention names, hehehehe!”
Last thing you do before you go to sleep?
“Of course, pray. Now I have this habit of turning on my cellphone and listening to my iPod.”
First thing that you do as soon as you wake up?
“Right away, I thank God for another day. And then I stretch before I sit up.”
Do you smoke?
“Only once in a while.”
Do you drink?
“Yes. I like wine. I drink anything. Pero, lately I’ve been trying to cut down my drinking. I drink like two glasses of wine at almost every night.”
How do you cope with stress?
“I work out. I go to my house in Batangas. I bike. I watch movies. Batangas is my hideaway where I swim, scuba-dive or snorkel.”
Three women that you find sexy and beautiful?
“I can name only one…Jennylyn Mercado. Nung panahon ko, sila Vilma Santos yan.”
Enrique
In real life, you are known to be a Mama’s Boy. Did it help make your performance in Dukot much easier?
Enrique: Oo naman. When you are in the same situation as my character, Carlo, you can’t help but feel the way he does. Sabi nga ni direk Paul, ’Just imagine, pag-aalis ka na hindi mo alam kung last day mo na ito, hindi mo alam kung yung hinihingi nila mabibigay ng parents, kasi mahal mo ang pamilya mo kaya gagawin mo ang lahat para sa kanila. It helped a lot lalo na kung close ka sa mom mo and your dad.”
Did you get acting tips/pointers from Boyet?
“No specific tips or pointers. All I did was watch him, especially when we had scenes together. He was so good so I really tried to catch up with him. Ang galing-galing niya! In our scenes, his face was scary and you get the same feeling ng takot kapag pinagagalitan ka ng tatay mo. Magaling siya wala akong masabi.”
What kind of diet do you follow?
“Sandwich ako, eh. I’m more of a sandwich person.”
What’s usually for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and snacks between meals?
“Sandwich, smoked salmon, meat, soup and vegetables. I’m cutting on carbs which I take sa morning lang. Chicken salad sa gabi.”
What vitamins do you take?
“Stresstabs and biotin.”
How much water do you take per day?
“A lot. If you see my jug, I refill it many times in one day. Can you imagine how many liters I take every day? Tsaka pawisin kasi ako, kaya ang dami kong mag-intake ng water.”
What workout do you do?
“Actually, lately hindi na, kasi busy. But after this movie, I’m going back to the gym.”
What part of your body needs improvement?
“Abs, hahaha!”
What part of your body is most vulnerable?
“Siguro likod ko, hahaha!”
What part is your favorite?
“Siguro yung pwet ko, kasi sabi nila malaki daw, hahaha!”
What part of a girl’s body do you look at first?
“Siyempre siguro yung mukha.”
And what turns you off?
“Siguro yung magde-date kayo tapos yung oorderin niya ay salad lang.”
How much sleep do you get per night?
“Five to six hours.”
Favorite sleepwear
“Boxers?”
How many pillows do you sleep with?
“Three.”
Do you snore?
“Yeah…a lot!”
Do you talk in your sleep?
“Hindi ko na alam yon, hahaha!”
Do you sleepwalk?
“Yes, when I was a kid. But not anymore.”
Last thing that you do before you go to sleep?
“FaceTime.”
First thing that you do as soon as you wake up?
“Toothbrush.”
Do you smoke?
“No.”
Do you drink?
“Occasionally.
How do you cope with stress?
“Music.”
Favorite hideaway?
“Beach house.”
How’s your love life?
“Solid.” (With girlfriend Liza Soberano. — RFL)
Lights on or lights off?
“Depende, pero in general lang ba? Lights on.”
Three women that you find sexy/beautiful?
“Liza, Hope, Soberano.”
Using only body language, how would you make a girl know that you admire her?
“Siguro smile lang.”
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