Ian Veneracion as leading man: ‘A part of you has to fall in love’
MANILA, Philippines — If there’s a manual on how to be an “effective” leading man, Ian Veneracion can very well write one.
The 47-year-old actor still enjoys romantic lead status on screen and continues to be paired with some of the hottest actresses today.
One of his upcoming projects, the 2022 Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) official entry Nanahimik Ang Gabi, sees the actor taking on another “romantic” lead role albeit the edgier, darker kind. He plays a corrupt cop who becomes the sugar daddy to the character of Heaven Peralejo who, in real life, is 25 years the actor’s junior. How does he make their pairing work?
“We have to be comfortable physically with each other (on set). Sometimes, intentionally, nakadikit kami, sometimes nakasandal siya, nakasandal ako kasi alam mo yun at makikita mo yun ‘pag may awkwardness, when there’s tension ‘pag first time on screen na meron kang kissing scene, and (when) you’re not comfortable. Kita yun eh (It’s noticeable),” he said during a recent interview.
To be comfortable with each other, he first talked about boundaries with Heaven. After all, the last thing he would want to happen was have his co-star feeling like she’s been taken advantage of.
“The first thing we discussed, between the two of us, was the boundaries. Because we really have to get comfortable with each other, you have to lay your boundaries. Because it’s very awkward, especially for a guy…. to be told that (your leading lady) was experiencing discomfort and might think you’ve taken advantage (of her). Things like that. It’s tricky. It’s a tightrope act.”
Asked if he ever felt afraid of the possibility of falling in love with actresses he plays opposite of, Ian who’s been married for over two decades now noted that no leading lady has been linked to him.
Nevertheless, when it comes to chemistry and “with attraction, especially with leading ladies, a part of you really has to fall in love,” he added. “For example, whether it’s with Heaven, Bea (Alonzo) or Jodi (Sta. Maria), yung part mo talaga, kailangan may love dun (there has to be love there) because makikita mo naman sa mata kung fake eh. But it’s the character falling in love with her character.”
He further cited the example of his work experience with Bea, his co-star in the hit 2017 romantic-drama A Love To Last.
“For example, with Bea, my character was in love na in love with Andeng, her character. But with us, we’re really super close friends. Up to now, we still message each other. We’re constantly updating each other about the goings-on in our lives. The respect is there because it’s clear how professional yung pagkakagawa (ng series).”
Meanwhile, Nanahimik Ang Gabi is one of the newest projects of Rein Entertainment, co-founded by Lino Cayetano, Philip King and Shugo Praico, the makers of the award-winning Bagman series for iWant and the LGBT-themed rom-com series BetCin for WeTV, among others. Last week, Rein Entertainment also entered into a non-exclusive partnership with Viva for a multi-series and movie deal.
Producers said Nanahimik Ang Gabi, which is directed and written by Shugo, is a cautionary tale.
Said direk Shugo: “This is a story of two lovers — a sugar daddy and sugar baby. One day, they go to an isolated place for a weekend getaway. What is supposed to be a passionate night of an illicit affair, suddenly turns into something crazy and a nightmare because there are secrets that will be exposed on this night.”
Also part of the cast is veteran actor Mon Confiado, the uninvited guest of Ian and Heaven’s characters as Chief and Me-Ann.
While it’s seen as a departure from the roles he has done, Ian said yes because of the material, first and foremost. How viewers will react to their film, he further said, will hinge on how open they are to “face layers of truth.” “Kung hindi ka ma-bother sa movie, there’s something wrong with you,” he added.
Asked how he prepared for this role, he said, “My preparation was internal because the script has so many layers and your appreciation of the script will depend on how much truth you’re willing to face because there are so many levels. It’s a social commentary also, but it’s not just it.
“You’ll be able to see yourself, when you dig deep enough, that ‘I also have that (similarity with) these characters.’ If you really look for it, you’ll realize you’re a bit like Chief (and think) ‘I’m kind of abusive, siguro if marami akong pera, siguro mamili ako ng babae,’ yung ganun. Or kung ikaw siguro si Me-ann, ‘I’ll also compromise my morals or something.’ Mahahanap mo sa sarili mo.
“Even with the character of Mon, you’re (also) protecting your sanity. You can see yourself in all the characters. And depends on how deep you’ll go with the characters of the story… you will realize how subjective morality is.”
According to Shugo, the idea and script for this horror-thriller came about at the height of the pandemic. “All of the sentiments and prevailing emotions, fears and anxieties during that time were poured into this script,” he said.
“I remember waking up not knowing what’s going to happen. There’s that fear of the unknown. You don’t know if there’s still work tomorrow or what. Zombie na ba tayo sa mga susunod na araw? Papasukin ba tayo ng kung sino mamayang gabi? Yung virus ba makakarating sa bahay mo and maapektuhan ka?
“Ang dami (questions). And so you try to grasp it with what you have by research, reading, observing your surroundings… and being a writer, dun nabubuhos yung lahat ng mga nararamdaman ko — the fears, anxieties — into the script,” he added.
The director readily admitted that the material is difficult. “It is challenging. But every day, we tried to hit the vision to be able to give justice to the material. Everyone aligned and decided to work together,” Shugo noted.
“We hope audiences realize that casting was very tricky. So when they agreed to do the film — Mon, Heaven and Ian – we somehow felt relieved because, again, there was work to be done.”
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