Vic Sotto has decided to take the drama route for his Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) comeback with “The Kingdom.”
The veteran actor and TV host, best-known for fantasy-comedy roles like Enteng Kabisote, agreed to tackle a drama project for the first time because it presents an intriguing “what if” scenario: What if the Philippines was never colonized and instead became a monarchy?
According to the synopsis, Vic portrays Lakan Makisig, the ruler of the Kingdom of Kalayaan. He faces a dilemma over who among his three children — Magat Bagwis (Sid Lucero), Dayang Matimyas (Cristine Reyes) and Dayang Lualhati (Sue Ramirez) — should succeed him. Meanwhile, an outcast named Sulo, played by Piolo Pascual, saves Dayang Lualhati from an abduction. As they journey back to the palace, Lualhati starts to see the flaws in her father’s rule and tries to seek change. However, upon their return, Sulo faces accusations that endanger his life, forcing him to make a bold move that could alter the kingdom’s future.
Opening on Christmas Day, Dec. 25, the family drama is helmed by Michael B. Tuviera and produced by APT Entertainment, MQuest Ventures and Vic’s own MZet Television Productions.
“First of all, I like the concept,” Vic shared in an exclusive interview with The STAR. “Direk Mike called me up, asking me if I was interested in going back and making a film for the MMFF. I asked, ‘Do you have a concept?’ And then he told me about this concept and right there and then, nagustuhan ko siya.
“He told me, ‘This is a serious movie, no comedy, ni katiting (not even a tiny bit).’ All the more, I said yes.”
Vic further explained what drew him to the project: “If we were not colonized by the Spaniards, by the Americans, there is a big possibility na ganun tayo ngayon, a monarchy where there’s a king, there’s a kingdom. So, it’s a big ‘what if.’
“What if we’re a monarchy and not a democracy? And to just give you a hint kung ano yung bansa natin (in the film), maunlad siya (it’s progressive). So lumalaban siya, pwede siyang first world.”
“But being the king, the character Lakan… he has problems also. It’s a big ‘what if’ kung may ruler tayo. This film is a bit political,” he continued.
“Lahat ng pagkwentuhan ko, sabihin ko na monarchy siya, they will react, ‘Ano yan? Period film?’ No, ngayon (present-day Philippines). Nagugulantang sila.”
Asked about any lesson viewers might take away from “The Kingdom,” Vic said it carries a message about discipline. “It’s a very important factor for a country to survive and to achieve progress. Yun yung kulang sa atin ngayon,” he opined.
“Yes, we’re a democracy. We’re free to speak. Freedom of information, although wala pa yata — alam ko sa Pasig meron,” he quipped, referring to the Metro Manila city where his son, Vico Sotto, is mayor.
“In this film, the discipline is there. But how that discipline is being applied is also questionable,” he added.
Another major reason Vic agreed to the project was because he missed participating in the annual MMFF.
“Nakaka-miss din mag-festival. The last one I did was 2018, if I’m not mistaken. So six years ago before the pandemic,” he said.
That “The Kingdom” is one of the 10 official entries for the MMFF’s 50th edition makes it even more special. “That’s one of the things direk Mike mentioned to me when he called me up. He said, ‘Tito Vic, this is for the 50th anniversary. It will really be special to be a part of it.’”
While audiences might expect him in his traditionally comedic persona for his return to the MMFF, it was a refreshing change for Vic. “(It made me think,) kaya ko ba?” he said.
Although he has done serious material in the Lenten specials of his noontime show “Eat Bulaga,” he admitted that this was a completely distinct challenge because, in the decades he has been in the entertainment business, he had never done straight drama prior to The Kingdom.
“There were sequences that were a bit dramatic (in past projects). You know how it is in comedy — konting iyakan, tapos patawa ulit. But this is my first drama, from start to finish,” he said.
“Mahirap. Nahirapan ako (laughs). And to think na yung mga dialogue namin is bawal ang Spanish. Matalinhaga. Malalim na Tagalog. For example, you don’t say ‘gusto,’ which is Spanish. Instead, you say, ‘nais.’
“And it’s hard to memorize something that’s out of the comfort zone. These are not ordinary conversations. ‘Pag yung matalinhaga na, mahirap i-digest.”
Vic recalled that previous offers to do drama didn’t appeal to him due to the concepts. “I believe this will be an epic film. I mean, the production design, grabe siya,” he said of how “The Kingdom” was envisioned to be.
The production team also hired two historians so that whatever they did had a touch of truth and reality, and not just pure imagination.
As for the physical and emotional challenges he encountered while filming, Vic shared, “I really had to prepare — as in prepare. We have action scenes here, me and Piolo. We underwent training for the fight scenes para hindi lang basta-basta. With the (execution of) action scenes, it was more of choreography.
“I really had to prepare,” he reiterated, “from reading and memorizing the script to getting into the character. From the eyes to the hand gestures, everything was calculated. It was very challenging.”
Vic could now consider Lakan Makisig as his most challenging role yet. “This can be the most challenging as far as acting is concerned — how you immerse yourself in the character — and I have the director to thank for helping me out.”
He jokingly added, “Kung hindi siguro sa director, baka nabalik ako kay Enteng Kabisote (laughs). Yung acting Enteng.”
Nevertheless, Vic hinted that the iconic Enteng Kabisote from the “Okay Ka, Fairy Ko” franchise, where his now-ubiquitous Bossing moniker originated, is far from retiring.
He said, “In the future, we can come out (with a project). Ngayon, direk Mike and I are planning and talking about it. Pwedeng ibalik yung ‘Okay Ka, Fairy Ko.’”