“I’m really boring,” he confesses. “That’s my only hobby.”
In spite of his celebrity, Piolo insists on going to the movie house, so he can watch on the big screen.
He often goes to the cinema that’s in the same mall as the church he attends, but when he wants a little peace and pampering, he opts for a certain upscale theater. “When I go there, I feel as if I own the entire place,” he says.
How does he dodge intrepid fans’ “I go in the afternoon, when there are only a few people.”
Dream movie
Piolo talks enthusiastically about the movies he has seen recently - all foreign - starting with “The Holiday.”
“I liked it,” he says, “[though] it made me miss Los Angeles (where he lived for a while during his college years).”
He gives “Babel” a two-thumbs-up. “It was really good.”
Mel Gibson’s “Apocalypto” was a disappointment for him. “The buildup was good, but it took a nosedive towards the end. The ending was lame.”
Piolo looks up to Gibson as filmmaker, though. “There were glimpses of The Passion of the Christ in Apocalypto, specifically, the aerial and top shots. Cinematically, technically, execution-wise, it was impressive. One thing about Mel Gibson, he wants everything in his film to look as real as possible. I’m also like that,” he says. “I want to be involved in films like Babel and Apocalypto.”
He says his dream movie is now within reach.
Co-prod
“It’s a long-delayed international film called Wrinkles. It will finally push through,”he reports.
At one point, 1950s LVN stars Rosa Rosal and Lilia Dizon were also attached to the project, which revolves around a beauty pageant for senior citizens.
Star Cinema, Piolo’s home studio, is co-producing it with Hollywood-based Filipino-American filmmaker Romeo Joven, he relates. “I told my friend Romeo that I could do it only if Star Cinema is involved. I don’t want any trouble. Star won’t lend me to Romeo, unless it’s a co-producer.”
It’s a dream come true, Piolo enthuses.
“But it’s not just about being noticed by Hollywood; it’s about being finally allowed to do something for the international market,” he clarifies.
Challenging
As bonus, the role of an Am-Boy is ‘different and challenging,’ he says. ‘It requires me to speak English not only fluently but with an American accent. It’s quite a departure. I’m so Pinoy, but the character is born and raised in the US.”
He’s looking forward to the change of pace.
“I can’t get it out of my mind. That’s where the excitement comes from. To be able to do something out of the box. Something far from your real character. I’m all for that,” he points out.
Before he makes the big leap to Hollywood, he is shuttling between two ABS-CBN projects: the soap opera tentatively titled ìWalang Kapalit’ with Claudine Barretto and the movie with the working title “I Finally Found Someone,” with Regine Velasquez.
Also in the works is a movie with Angel Locsin, a prized talent of rival network GMA 7, to be co-produced by Regal and Star Cinema.
Nasty rumors
He also dreams of working with Sharon Cuneta. “I’m a fan,” he admits. In the meantime, he is teaming up with fellow Bench man Sam Milby for the tour and repeat of their Valentine concert “Heartthrobs.”
“We had a show in Pampanga and there’s a repeat in Aliw Theater on March 17,” he says.
As for nasty rumors (including the one that links him with Sam), Piolo is unperturbed.
“I’ve learned how to shrug off [gossip] and pray for the [rumor-mongers]. Maybe they just don’t know any better,” he says. [by diopatra]
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