Marc Abaya admitted that doing the rape scene with co-star Janine Gutierrez was the most “troubling” part of his role in GMA-7’s new afternoon drama, Legally Blind.
He elaborated, “In my case, I had to objectify her. ‘Cause I have never done it. And wala naman akong balak i-method acting ‘yan.
“I had to actualize it as much as I could. I guess that’s where the job comes in.”
The 37-year-old rock star/actor further shared that Janine kept reassuring him that they would act out the rape scene in a professional manner.
PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal) was able to interview Marc at the presscon of Legally Blind, which was held at GMA Network Center last February 11.
“Pinag-usapan namin sa workshops yung issues ko kasi mahirap. Na-stress ako everyday sa pagganap ng role.
“Mabuti na lang tinutulungan niya ako every step of the way. Kinakausap niya ako, nirereassure niya ako, ‘Trabaho lang ‘to.’
“She’s very professional. Mas napadali yung trabaho.”
Asked to describe how the rape scene was finally shot, Marc said that it was actually a step-by-step process.
“It was a dance for me because every movement was counted 1-2-3-4-5-6.
“Yung reassurance before the take, I told her, ‘I’m gonna breathe on you. I’m gonna be this close.’
“Para ‘pag action na, kahit na autopilot na, it has to be true. You can’t fake it.”
THE "ICEBREAKER." Legally Blind’s director Ricky Davao also attested that Marc was every inch a gentleman with the way he treated Janine for the intimate scene.
“Actually, baliktad yung nangyari sa eksena. Dapat yung inaalalayan yung babae.
“Dito si Marc ang inaalalayan. Napaka-gentle na rapist.
“Yung unang rape scene ko noong araw, mommy niya ang director ko. Ni-rape ko si Chin-Chin Gutierrez sa Ipaglaban Mo The Movie.”
Direk Ricky was referring to the late multi-awarded director Marilou Diaz-Abaya.
Marc, for his part, agreed that Direk Ricky’s trivia motivated him to deliver what was required of him.
The vocalist of Kjwan said, “That was the icebreaker. He made me feel comfortable that he did it too.
"Feeling ko nga, like Direk said, ako yung babae.
"Janine was a wonderful, generous human being. So I was very comfortable."
In Legally Blind, Janine’s character will be raped by an unknown assailant, who would later turn out to be the older brother of her love interest (played by Mikael Daez).
HEAVY DRAMA. At Legally Blind's presscon proper, Direk Ricky Davao said that the team behind the Kapuso teleserye worked hard to make the story as authentic as possible.
"Ang challenging dito, of course, palagi kami dapat may kasamang abogado on legal matters. And of course, the owner of the network is a lawyer so kailangan careful kami sa mga legal matters."
"Mahirap din yung pagiging blind ni Janine kaya pumunta kami sa school for the blind.
"Iba't ibang klaseng bulag ang makikita natin—nakapikit ang mata, kumikindat ang isang mata, dalawang mata kumikindat, nakasarado, nakatitig lang... Marami, e. So hindi talaga mapapako sa isa.
"Since dito, she’s a lead actress, kailangan maganda pa rin."
The actor-director also credited the cast members for portraying their characters really well.
Direk Ricky added, "It's easy to work with all my actors. Yun lang talaga, mabigat yung storya. All drama."