Gerald Anderson gets down to business

Gerald Anderson is proof that you never know where the next Cannes-worthy actor is going to come from. It could be that 17-year-old Pinoy Big Brother housemate who joined because “subok-subok lang” and just to “go with the flow” one summer — a guy whose first claim to fame was merely his good, maamo, mestizo looks. And true to the nature of his bait, he starred in light romantic comedies as that guy whom girls were meant to scream and fawn over.

Gerald admits that it was two to three years into his career, during Tayong Dalawa, that he started to take acting seriously. “Kasi na-enjoy ko na, naintindihan ko na.” And in his latest movie, On The Job, which premieres on Aug. 28, we see the clean-faced heartthrob portraying an inmate who is regularly taken out and hired to kill — a gritty, “barumbado” character entrenched in what is perhaps one of the darkest realities in this country.

People have been quick to notice this sudden shift in roles, and consequentially, his image. But for Gerald, it isn’t about transforming from lovey-dovey to edgy, or going from kilig to the heavily real and political. At the end of the day, it’s all about the craft for him.

“The image I want to project is that I’m an actor, and whatever role they give me, I’m gonna do my best. Gagawin ko ng tama. I want to show different sides and to show people what else I can do. I’ve done rom-coms, I’ve done drama. Now I’m doing action-drama. I can always go back to the kind of roles I did before if it’s a good movie and a good story. Right now, I’m just showing them that I can do more.”

In this interview, Gerald fills Supreme in on the ugly truths he tackles in OTJ, how he went beyond being just another reality show fad, and the importance of, well, getting down to the job.

SUPREME: You started out as a PBB housemate. Did you ever imagine your acting career growing and evolving this far?

GERALD ANDERSON: Of course not. When I was in Cannes, I was recalling the time nung PBB pa lang ako. Ni hindi ko naisip na makakarating ako dun because of acting, because of a movie. I was at the biggest film festival in the world and (the movie) was well received. It was a very surreal moment. And I learned a lot, being in a city that was all about movies and acting. You could see that the people there were very passionate about it.

Tell us about your character, Daniel, in OTJ. What’s he like? What drives him?

Well, isa siyang preso. Isa siyang presko, mayabang, at barumbado na 24-year-old. But despite himself and despite being behind bars, he’s very ambitious. He has many dreams, so when he meets Tatang (Joel Torre), he sees an opportunity to help himself, to help his dream, to help his family.

Daniel is so different from the roles you’re used to playing. How did you prepare?

I had to research a lot. I watched a lot of movies and films about hit men, about prison. It was about really focusing and really getting into those situations. There were a lot of emotions that I’d never had to express until that movie, because of course the situation was really different. I was in prison, maraming tao na gusto akong bugbugin. It was very challenging and at the same time very exciting.

You’ve mentioned that you used to play basketball in Gen San, and you would meet characters whom you’d later find out were hit men. What was it like meeting these people?

It’s shocking at first when people tell you, “Yan, isa yang hit man.” But when you see them, they’re very quiet. Hindi mayabang, hindi nagpapapansin. You get the feeling na parang wala lang. But when you really look them in the eye, you see something different. I think hit men are really like that. Actually, there are scenes in the movie where Daniel develops an ego from the money he makes killing people. And his mentor, Tatang, tells him not to be like that. So parang ganun. Ang dami kong mga nakita na katulad ni Tatang sa totoong buhay.

What issues are tackled in this film?

Govermnent issues. Some scenes were based on true events. It’s also about family. What can you do, ano yung kaya mong itaya para sa pamilya mo, para sa sarili mo? At trabaho. We all have to work. That’s why we’re here, right? How far will you go for work?

Why do you think people should watch it?

Well, for one, it’s internationally acclaimed. And we’re just a small industry compared to the others shown at Cannes. Filipino talent was acknowledged because of this movie. Second is the movie and the story itself. Napakaganda. It’s something very different. Like most other movies, it tackles love and family, but in a different way. Other movies focus on the love story. This is focused on everything. It’s about what actually goes on dito sa Pinas. If you want to have more knowledge about those incidents that we don’t get to see, I think that’s one reason to watch. It’s also beautifully shot, beautifully directed. Si Direk Erik Matti yan. It’s another masterpiece from him.

Going back to you, what’s the secret to staying? You know, going beyond the fad heartthrob phase and having the chance to grow and evolve in the industry?

I think just being a heartthrob, being a matinee idol, there are limits to that. (Strive to) be a matinee idol. Someone who can do so many roles na kahit heartthrob ka, babagay ka pa rin dun. I just want to be a good actor.

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Photo by RXANDY CAPINPIN

Produced by DAVID MILAN

Grooming by HANNA PECHO of Shu Uemura