After almost seven years in the industry, Hashtags member McCoy de Leon gets his baptism of fire as actor in a film on the future of intelligence and technology. McCoy de Leon The science fiction “Instalado” centers on Viktor (McCoy) who lives in a time when the dominant form of education is through installation, a process wherein bodies of knowledge can be installed directly on people’s brain using technology owned by big corporation. The movie is directed by Jason Paul Laxamana. Others in the cast are Francis Magundayao, Barbara Miguel and Junjun Quintana. “Instalado” was an official entry in the 2017 ToFarm Film Festival. It won six awards in the festival including Best Supporting Actor and Best Supporting Actress. In a recent chat with Bulletin Entertainment, McCoy shared what moviegoers who’ve not seen the film could expect from it starting Jan. 26 in theaters as part of the Film Development Council of the Philippines’ Cine Lokal. To begin with, McCoy went topless in a river scene while he was giving the carabao a bath. They shot in a far-flung area in Pampanga. Despite being a newbie, McCoy did not hesitate in accepting the role. “Hindi ako nag-worry, hindi ako nag-alanganin kung tatanggapin ko ba. Unang-una sino ba naman ako para tumanggi ’di ba? Ako naman, basta may opportunity to learn something new, hindi ko kayang tumanggi,” he said. “Kahit na medyo mahirap, tinake ko siya as a challenge for me, hindi ako natakot at thankful naman ako na maganda ’yung naging resulta.” Doing the film helped him appreciate the farmers even more. “Iba pala ’yung pakiramdam ng tumira sa probinsya na wala kang gadget (na magamit). Lalo ko silang na-appreciate kasi ang hirap ng buhay nila eh. Halos six days lang kami nandu’n pero na-realize ko na ibang-iba ang buhay du’n,” he shared. “Nu’ng ginawa ko ’yung pelikula, du’n ko naramdaman na artista na pala (ako). Masaya naman kasi kahit minsan sa buhay ko nagawa kong maging isang probinsyano.” Budding actor McCoy is one of the good-looking celebrities today. He has soft features, with fine-chiseled nose and thick eyebrows. He talks pleasantly, with nary a hint of braggadocio. A scene from ‘Instalado’ Despite this boy-next-door look, McCoy doesn’t want to be stereotyped as only “pang-kilig.” He wants to be known as a versatile actor, someone who can do either bida or kontrabida role. “Mas gusto ko ’yung paiba-iba ’yung character. Gusto kong mag-explore. Ayoko nu’ng paulit-ulit at pare-parehong role lang. So sana, mabigyan pa ng iba’t-ibang opportunities in the future,” he shared. Is he willing to bare more skin if required? Maybe but not now, he said. “Kasi bilang baguhan pa lang ako, parang dapat may limit din muna (’yung mga gagawin ko). Hindi rin namin natin alam ang pwedeng mangyari in the future pero sana if ever, ’yung maging kaaya-aya naman ’yung tipong pwedeng makita ng maraming audience,” he said. “Right now, hindi ko pa siya naiisip. Feeling ko sobrang bata ko pa para sa ganu’n.” In pursuing his acting dreams, the cutie said he keeps in mind the lessons he has learned from Coco Martin, who starred in several indie films before penetrating mainstream cinema and TV. It also helps that McCoy has a supportive love team partner. “Si Elisse (Joson) naman, kaming dalawa nagtutulungan kami na mag-improve ang bawat isa. Nakakatuwa lang din na she’s very supportive sa mga ginagawa ko. Masaya siya for me at ganu’n din ako sa kanya,” he disclosed. Okay. So what’s the real score, please? “Ganu’n pa rin po. Masaya kami together. Right now po kasi mas nakakatutok kami sa work. Du’n po ang focus namin.” Apart from “Instalado,” McCoy is part of the hit drama series “The Good Son.” He has been earning good notice on the show for playing the role of Obet. According to him, being an actor has always been his father’s dream. McCoy, naturally, is thankful that he’s finally fulfilling it. McCoy with Hashtags (Photos from Instagram) “Nagpapasalamat ako sa daddy ko kasi siyang ’yung nagpupursige sa akin na pagbutihan ’yung pagiging actor ko,” he said. “Nakakatuwang isipin na ako ’yung nagpapatuloy ng pangarap niya. At ako din mismo, sobrang nag-e-enjoy sa ginagawa ko. Hindi rin naman tumitigil ’yung mga opportunities, tignan po natin kung hanggang saan ako dadalhin nito.” Direk says “Instalado” director Jason Paul believes McCoy has a lot of potential. He thinks the heartthrob is perfect to play Viktor as the character requires a certain degree of innocence. “Actually hindi ako marunong magpa-audition (ng artista). What I usually do, tinitignan ko lang ’yung past works nila. In the case of McCoy, wala akong nakitang past works niya pero ’yung pagiging inosente, na-feel ko na makukuha ko lang ’yun sa isang actor na walang masyadong experience sa pag-arte,” he said. “Nakita ko ’yun kay McCoy, at hindi lang naman ’yun, ’pag tinignan mo ’yung mukha niya, mukha talagang inosente.” Jason Paul didn’t have a hard time directing McCoy, as he finds him to be a good listener. “In-explain ko lang minsan sa kanya ’yung difference ng acting sa teleserye sa acting na hinahanap ko for this film. Masaya naman ako at madali niyang naintindihan,” the director said. Jason Paul hopes to do another film with the 22-year-old actor. “Never naman akong naging ilag sa mga first timers. In fact, I love working with them. Si McCoy nakikita ko na may potential siya. Sana magkaroon kami ng isa pang project kung saan maso-showcase ’yung range niya as an actor.”