Romnick Sarmenta at Elijah Canlas
HINDI nasayang ang effort at oras namin sa pagpunta sa Gateway Cineplex kagabi para panoorin ang pelikulang “About Us But Not About Us” na isa sa mga official entry sa 1st Summer Metro Manila Film Festival.
Ito’y pinagbibidahan ni Romnick Sarmenta at ng award-winning young actor na si Elijah Canlas, written and directed by Jun Lana. Yes, silang dalawa lang ang lead stars ng movie at wala nang iba pa.
Sa totoo lang, excited kaming mapanood ang “About Us But Not About Us” na isang thriller-drama dahil na-curious kami nang magkuwento sa amin si Elijah about it, kung gaano siya ka-proud sa kanilang project ni Romnick.
Naichika nga ng binata na umikot lang ang buong pelikula sa mga karakter nila ni Romnick at kinunan ang kabuuan nito sa loob lamang ng isang restaurant.
Pero in fairness, nagawa ni Direk Jun Lana na maging kaabang-abang ang bawat eksena sa pelikula mula simula hanggang ending dahil sa mga pasabog na rebelasyon sa karakter nina Romnick at Elijah.
Sa pagbibitaw pa lang ng mga dialogue ng dalawang bida na hugot kung hugot pati na sa kanilang mga tinginan ay mararamdaman mo na ang kanilang mga emosyon na talagang tatagos sa inyong mga isip at puso.
Napakagaling nina Romnick at Elijah, perfect na perfect sila for their roles – walang nanglamon o nang-agaw ng eksena dahil pareho silang nag-shine sa kabuuan ng pelikula.
Grabe sila! As in super grabe sila! Hindi na kami magtataka kung humakot ng awards ang “About Us But Not About Us” sa 2023 Summer MMFF Gabi ng Parangal. Napakalaki rin ng laban nina Elijah at Romnick sa pagka-best actor dahil sa ipinakita nilang acting sa movie.
Samantala, pagkatapos ng screening ay nagkaroon pa ng maikling presscon kung saan ibinahagi ni Elijah kung paano siya naghanda for his role bilang si Lancelot, na isang estudyanteng may madilim at nakakalokang past.
“The time of preparation for my character involved a lot of script analysis and one-on-one meetings with Direk Jun Lana. This is one of the most difficult characters I’ve played kasi Lancelot is a flawed character that has many layers.
“But he is a survivalist who did everything just to keep himself afloat. Kasi andami talaga niyang pinagdaanan. Lancelot was also the victim of a pedophile.
Baka Bet Mo: OK lang ba kina Agot, Nikki at Romnick na magkaanak ng bading o lesbian?
“Yes, at 10, he was even abused as a child by a pastor with the permission of his own mother. Also, at one point, I assume the persona of another character who is older than me, so I had to change even the way I look and talk.
“It’s a dream role for any actor. I have to empathize with my character to be able portray it well. And with the guidance of Direk Jun the whole time, I think naitawid ko naman yung character ko,” aniya pa.
Kumusta katrabaho si Romnick? “It’s nice kasi he opened up kaagad. First time namin to work together at nakipag-usap siya agad sa akin. Kaming dalawa lang ang magka-interact, so it’s important for us to have good rapport.
“It’s good that he also does theatre, kaya nagkasundo kami during the entire shoot which is in just one location,” sabi pa ni Elijah.
“I’m so grateful na napasama kami sa MMFF summer line-up. Honestly I didn’t expect our movie, a movie like that to be included in the MMFF and it’s a good platform to showcase you know this type of story, and this type of filmmaking to the Filipino audience.
“And sana tanggapin ng mga tao nang maayos. Ako, nae-excite ako, hindi ko pa napapanood, e. Pero memorized ko ang script na yun. Kasi parang theater play siya e. So, mine-morize ko siya even before we started shooting,” sabi pa ni Elijah.
Nanalo na ang “About Us But Not About Us” bilang Best Film sa Critic’s Pick competition ng 26th Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival noong nakaraang Nobyembre, 2022 sa Estonia.
Eleksyon hugot ni Romnick: Paano ba pumili ng kandidato? Gusto n’yo ba ng barumbado o pilosopo?