MULING napanganga ang mga umattend sa katatapos lang na awards night para sa 29th Tokyo International Film Festival nang tanggapin ni Paolo Ballesteros ang kanyang Best Actor award.
Humarap kasi sa audience si Paolo bilang si Julia Roberts, isa sa mga sikat na sikat na female celebrity sa Hollywood. Inamin ng Eat Bulaga host na isa sa mga pinaka-challenging na make-up transformation na ginawa niya si Julia Roberts.
Nakuha ni Paolo ang kanyang international award dahil sa napakagaling na performance niya sa pelikulang “Die Beautiful” kung saan gumaganap siyang transgender woman, sa direksyon ni Jun Robles Lana.
Bago pa masungkit ni Paolo ang best actor award, naging crowd favorite na si Paolo sa nasabing filmfest dahil sa pagrampa niya sa red carpet as Angelina Jolie.
Narito ang ilang bahagi ng speech ni Paolo na ipinost sa Facebook page ng Film Development Council of the Philippines sa pamumuno ni Chairperson Liza Dino.
“I thought today was just going to be a red-carpet day which is why I wore a dress.
“First, I would like to thank the Tokyo International Film Festival and the members of the jury for embracing our film….I thought I was up for Best Actress,” natawang pahayag ni Paolo.
Dugtong pa niya, “To the organizers, to the programmers, to the volunteers, you hve been very helpful and gracious to us during our stay here in Japan. To the man behind the film, Direk Jun, thank you very much for entrusting to me Trisha’s character.
“To our producer Sir Perci, our staff, and the whole production, thank you very much for your professionalism and the gift of new friendship. To Ms. Liza Dino-Seguerra, thank you for your support. To my family, my daughter Keira, my cats and my dogs, this is all for you.”
“To my manager, to all my Dabarkads, and to my fans in Manila and all around the world…Best Actor. Especially to all of you who came and watched our film, I will never forget you. Thank you very much.”
Samantala, isang malaking sakripisyo raw para kay Paolo ang um-attend sa awards night ng TIFF, lalo na ang panggagaya sa mukha ni Julia Roberts.
Aniya sa ginanap na presscon para sa mga winners ng nasabing filmfest, “You know, every time I do a transformation, it takes me about three to four hours, all by myself.
“So you could just imagine I just flew in this morning, around 12 midnight and I have to wake up at around 7 a.m. to do my makeup so it’s challenging. And the Best Actor award means so much to me because, first, it’s my first movie that I’m the lead and the first showing was here in Japan.
“I mean, it’s international, not in the Philippines and I got the best actor award so I’m so happy and I’m so honored,” sey pa ng comedian.