Malaking hamon kay Ian Veneracion ang pagganap na sugar daddy ng 22-anyos na si Heaven Peralejo sa MMFF 2022 official entry na Nanahimik Ang Gabi.
“This is a first time for me,” lahad ng 47-anyos na si Ian sa set ng horror thriller nitong Hulyo 26, 2022, Martes ng gabi, sa isang mansion sa Tagaytay City.
“Ahhm, sobrang layo siya sa tingin kong personality ko. So, matrabaho. Pero when I read the script, the script is so refined.
“And it’s a story that has to be told. So, sulit lahat ng trabaho na ginagawa naming lahat dito.”
Read: Coco-Jodi, Vice-Ivana, Ian-Heaven, Joey-Toni movies pasok sa MMFF 2022
OFFBEAT ROLE
Ang Nanahimik Ang Gabi ay isinulat at idinirek ni Shugo Praico.
Hindi lang basta sugar daddy yung karakter dito ni Ian na si Chief kundi isa ring tiwali at abusadong pulis.
Pagbuntong-hininga ni Ian, “I think kasi as actors, we don’t have the luxury of not opening certain doors in our minds.
“Kasi we have to, di ba? Kung hindi natin trabaho yun, puwedeng there are doors you don’t wanna open, it’s fine.
“Pero as an actor… hindi, e. Kailangang pasukin mo yun and deal with it whatever you find there.
“And sometimes, it’s not… what you see is something you don’t particularly like. Sometimes it’s a hard pill to swallow.
“Kunwari ahhm, when my character as being an abusive, corrupt guy… and then to see that… oh men, I have that in me also?! Somehow.
“Kasi, we all have that, di ba? But when you open those doors na parang… shhhh, nakakaano, nakaka-cringey.
“But you have to tackle it. Because you have to be able to justify the character. Hindi ka dapat apologetic.
“Kasi, sa paningin ng karakter, tama siya, e, di ba? So, yun… yun ang mga difficult parts.”
HEAVEN'S "SUGAR DADDY"
Kumusta si Heaven bilang Me-ann na sugar baby ni Chief?
Napangiti si Ian sabay tingin sa katabing young actress, “Ako kasi, I’ve never worked with Heaven.
“Pero ahhm, I’ve never told you this because baka sabihin mo, binobola lang kita. Pero you earned my respect as an actor.
“Kasi, really she’s very professional. And it’s obvious that she does her homework. She knows her lines, she knows what’s gonna happen.
“She comes on time every single day. And yung output, dun mo makikita, e. Dun mo mahahalata kung nag-homework o hindi, e.
“Pero grabe… grabe yung dedication. Grabe yung hard work na nilagay niya dito.”
Pagsisiwalat ni Direk Lino Cayetano na isa sa producers ng movie, Heaven and Ian spent so much together bago pa nag-umpisa ang shooting.
Read: Lino Cayetano, tiniyak na may "sex and violence" ang pelikula nina Ian Veneracion at Heaven Peralejo
Pag-ayon ni Ian, “We had to. Yun ang unang usapan namin, e. Sabi namin, ‘We have to be comfortable physically with each other.'
“So sometimes, intentionally, magkadikit kami. Sasandal siya, sasandal ako. Because… alam mo yun, e.
“Makikita mo yun pag merong awkward, you know. May tension pag first time mo on screen, na meron kaming kissing scenes, tapos hindi kami komportable. Kita mo yun, e.
“Ako naman, internal yung akin, yung preparation. Kasi, the script has so many layers.
“And actually, your appreciation of the script will depend on how much truth you’re willing to face.
“Kasi, ang dami niyang levels and it’s not about what you see na… ahh, yung ibang tao, it’s a social commentary of course also.
“Pero hindi lang yun, e. Makikita mo rin yung sarili mo if you dig enough na, ‘May ganyan din ako, e.’
“In these characters, pag hinanap mo talaga, makikita mo — may pagka-Chief din ako, e.
“I’m kind of abusive, e. ‘Siguro, kung maraming-marami akong pera, siguro mamimili rin ako ng babae,’ yung ganun.
“O kaya, kung ikaw naman yung si Me-ann, di ba, parang… I think I would also compromise my morals for something.
“Mahahanap mo yan sa sarili mo, e… Yun nga, it depends how deep you’re willing to go with the story.
“Mare-realize mo how subjective morality is.”
SETTING BOUNDARIES
Pinag-usapan agad nina Ian at Heaven ang boundaries kung hanggang saan ang pagiging comfortable nila sa isa’t isa sa maseselan o intimate na eksena.
“Kasi, we have to really get comfortable with each other pero you have to lay your boundaries,” pagmamatuwid ni Ian.
“Kasi nga, sobrang awkward especially for a guy na ayaw mong masabi sa ‘yo ng ano na… magkaroon siya ng discomfort na sabihin niya, ‘Nagte-take advantage ‘to!’ Yun ganun.
“So, it’s a tricky ano.”
Marami naman talagang nagpo-fall sa kanya, di ba, at umaasam na maging sugar baby niya?
“Nagpo-fall sa akin? Akala ko, mga titas ang market ko!” natatawang pagbibiro ni Ian.
“Hindi, ahhm, I mean… with the attraction kasi lalo na with leading ladies, a part of you really has to fall in love.
“For example, whether it’s with Heaven or with Bea [Alonzo], with Jodi [Sta. Maria], yung part mo talaga, kailangang ma-in love dun, e.
“Kasi, makikita mo naman sa mata kung fake, di ba? Pero it’s the character falling in love with her character.
“Pero… for example, si Bea. Ahhm, my character, talagang in love na in love dun sa Andeng character niya.
“Pero kaming dalawa, we’re really super close friends up to now. We still message each other.
“We’re constantly updating each other sa mga buhay-buhay namin. Nandun yung respect because malinaw kung gaano ka-professional yung pagkakagawa.”
Nakatambal ni Ian si Jodi sa Kapamilya teleseryeng Pangako Sa ‘Yo (Mayo 2015-Pebrero 2016), at si Bea sa A Love To Last (Enero-Setyembre 2017).