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| No limits for Emilio Author: Jerry Donato An artist is always on the lookout for a better medium of self-expression. Independent movie or indie tops the list of Emilio Garcia, who has done two indies Dilim and Rotonda. He is now sharing the bill with Ara Mina and Sid Lucero for Selda. The Paolo Villaluna and Ellen Ramos masterpiece is ongoing until Feb. 19 at Robinsons Galleria's Indisine. "There's no limit in exploring one's character," offers Emilio of the little joys of acting for an indie. "The actor has more artistic freedom. Unlike in mainstream/commercial movies, the story and the kind of acting should sell. You're not given enough time to study the character. The actor just digs a little in his role and has not fully immersed into the person he is portraying on the screen. " It's not surprising why Emilio has promised himself to do at least one indie a year. It's a breather from TV acting which needs different requirements. Besides, indie feeds the artist in Emilio and gives him a different high. Indie remains a new, uncharted territory for Emilio and he is willing to discover it more. Proof to that newfound interest is Selda where Emilio plays Esteban, a former inmate with special feelings for another inmate Rommel (Sid). "I'm the mayor in the selda and Sid's character is one of the inmates under my care," says Emilio of Esteban. "Rommel is young and lost. His life has no direction. He seems fragile and needs to be taken cared of. During his stay in the cell, he was raped. I feel for him. What my character has for Rommel is not gay love, but a brotherly love. When both are free, Esteban looks for the whereabouts of Rommel. He does this because he feels Rommel needs guidance. " It's up to everyone to find out the real motive of Esteban in his search for a former ward. "I think the characters are just sensitive to their feelings," replies Emilio when asked about the true identities of Esteban and Rommel. "They are just forced by circumstances. If Selda is a gay film, the closest it gets to that is, it has similarities to My Own Private Idaho. " But director Paolo Villaluna clarifies Selda is not a gay movie because it doesn't explore or present the lifestyle of the Third Sex. The movie is a journey of a soul to love and life. Many can compare it to Brokeback Mountain and My Own Private Idaho but what people should not forget is the story of friendship behind Selda that pushes cowboys Ennis del Mar (the late Heath Ledger) and Jack Twist (Jake Gyllenhaal) and street hustlers Mike (River Phoenix) and Scott (Keanu Reeves) to take the risk. It is the same reason why Joe Buck (Jon Voight) never left Enrico "Ratso" Rizzo (Dustin Hoffman) in the latter's dying moments in the 1969 movie Midnight Cowboy. "I felt awkward at first," recalls Emilio of his first on-screen kiss with a man (Sid). "My hands were shaking and my heart beat faster. The director noticed that. He even asked me if it was part of my characterization. It took me awhile to calm down. But I'm proud of what I have done in Selda. I think I was true to my character and never let go of him. " Is it possible for him to fall for another man? Emilio replies, "It depends on the situation. A man falls because the other man is always there for him emotionally. I think there are many reasons why that happens. " Source: The Philippine Star |
