Richard Somes, director of the upcoming action movie "Topakk" under Nathan Studios, praised internationally-acclaimed actor Arjo Atayde and Julia Montes for their professionalism and acting skills.
This was revealed by Somes and fellow director Will Fredo during a roundtable discussion with select members of the entertainment press in Quezon City recently.
"The guy is really a serious actor and I think Arjo (Atayde) is truly a remarkable artist. Unlikely yung character niya, kung ikukumpara sa iba, he's not buff, slim, soft-spoken, and well-mannered. So when Arjo came into the picture, Will and I discused about it, sabi ko where do we see Arjo as a character in the movie?
"Until such time, we realized, sa Topakk ito, dapat may sira ang ulo. Sabi ko ang bagay kay Arjo na character, balikan na lang natin 'yung 'Taxi Driver' ni Robert De Niro. So ganun siya. Robert De Niro is an ordinary guy who rises above in everything na nangyari sa buhay niya. So ganun.
"The way Arjo attacked his role, sobra rin exciting, because he's internal. He's a thinking actor. He analyzes and absorbs every scene. Magugulat ka na lang naibibigay niya yung eksena. So sabi ko sa kanya, yung role niya is parang kay Robert de Niro but yung pagka-fragile niya or pagka-sensitive niya, he reminds me of the young Heath Ledger.
(The way Arjo attacked his role is also very exciting, because he's internal. He's a thinking actor. He analyzes and absorbs every scene. You will be surprised that he delivers in every scene. So I told him, his role is like Robert de Niro's but his fragile or sensitive nature, he reminds me of the young Heath Ledger.)
"Yung tipong kahit hindi siya nagsasalita, malakas ang presence niya at nararamdaman mo. Lahat kasi ng ipinapakita ni Arjo may depth. That's what makes our shoot exciting kay Arjo kasi he's also very unpredictable. He's one of the few na talagang brilliant na bida natin," said Somes.
"He's the type, even if he doesn't speak, his presence is strong and you can feel it. Everything Arjo shows has depth. That's what makes our shoot exciting with Arjo because he's also very unpredictable. He's one of the few who is really brilliant as a lead star.)
Somes also cited the competence of Montes in doing action scenes.
"Ang kagandahan din natin, si Direk Wil ang nakakita na para ito kay Julia Montes. Sabi ko kay Direk kung may link siya sa kanya. Sabi niya I'll find a way. He gave the script to her manager. We were anticipating and she's a big star. After a week, we got a call that Julia said yes.
(Director Will saw the role of Julia Montes. I told Direk if he had a link to her. He said I’ll find a way. He gave the script to her manager. We were anticipating it and she’s a big star. After a week, we got a call that Julia said yes.)
"Ang pinaka-gusto niya sa script is to do something challenging that will surprise everyone - internally, mentally and physically. Yung sinulat ni Will would be the most anti-hero na character ni Julia na gagawin niya. Kung na-windang kami kay Arjo, we were all surprised din sa binigay ni Julia. 'Yun ang importante kasi eh. Malakas yung bida at malakas din ang babaeng bida.
(What she likes most about the script is to do something challenging that will surprise everyone - internally, mentally and physically. The one written by Will would be Julia's most anti-hero character that he would do. If we were thrilled by Arjo, we were also all surprised by what Julia gave. The hero should be strong and the heroine is also strong.)
"Julia is super amazing as a person and as an actress. That I could really say for her. She knows her work, she knows her job, she came prepared, you don't need to take care of her.
"Sinabihan niya talaga yung isang stuntman 'kuya, pagtakbo ko mamaya sabunutan mo talaga ako ha?' It took three takes at sa gubat pa ang shoot nun. Kung yung ibang artista magagalit yun. Pero sabi niya talaga sa stuntman 'kuya, gawin mo talaga 'yun para lumaban ako sa'yo.'
(She actually told a stuntman 'when I run later, you should pull my hair.' It took three takes and the shoot was in the jungle. Other artists wouldn't like that. But she really said to the stuntman, 'pull my hair so that I can fight you.')
"So now yung mga stuntman, comfortable sa kanya. At kaya ganun ang lumabas sa mga eksena na maganda because of the energy everyone shared. I'm like a coach on the set. I need to keep people running. So I need to push them to a certain level of professionalism," said Somes.
(So now the stuntmen are comfortable with her. And that's why the scenes came out beautiful because of the energy everyone shared. I'm like a coach on the set. I need to keep people running. So I need to push them to a certain level of professionalism.)
Fredo believes this is the right time to revive the action genre in the local entertainment industry.
"Wala ng bumabalik sa sinehan ngayon. Even the action films ay nasa streaming services na. One of the goals is to bring back moviegoers to the theaters kasi part pa rin 'yan ng the whole experience sa cinema. For now we cannot create those Marvel type of movies kasi masyadong mahal yan. So we need to find a way na maibalik ang mga taon sa sinehan and I think action films would bring the moviegoers back to the theaters," Fredo also said.
(No one is coming back to the cinema today. Even the action films are now on streaming services. One of the goals is to bring back moviegoers to the theaters because that is still part of the whole experience in the cinema. For now we cannot create those Marvel type of movies because that is too expensive. So we need to find a way to bring back the years to the cinema and I think action films would bring the moviegoers back to the theaters.)
Topakk is the story of an ex special forces operative (Atayde) suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), who – in his bid for redemption as a security guard – attempts to save the life of a woman (Montes) who is being hunted by a corrupt police death squad working for a drug cartel. The twisted narrative finds Atayde’s character waging a war between his own inner demons and those that exist in reality.
With Ria Atayde at the helm of Nathan Studios, Topakk is co-produced with Wilfredo Manalang of Fusee, director Richard V. Somes’ Strawdogs Studio Production, and Michaelangelo Masangkay and Fernando Henna of Toronto-based post sound house Theo & Atlas Productions Inc.
“Topakk is a gritty, bad ass, top-to-the-core action picture with uncompromising violence that depicts the true image of our society today. The vision has always been to extend the reach of the film to global audiences, and now that is becoming a reality so that we could show the world that we have our distinct interpretation of the action genre in cinema,” says Somes about the movie.
“I wish to show the world real true-blue Filipino talent – from our dedicated actors to our creative efforts in our filmmaking style – from cinematography and production design to stunts and action performances from Tag Team Stunts under Erwin Tagle. These are collectively world-class talents that need to be showcased in the global stage – pure Filipino talent.”
This early, Topakk as it is set to go international with the support of Canada-based production company, Raven Banner Entertainment.
And this comes after another stellar global reception of Nathan Studios’ maiden foray into MIPCOM Cannes, where they successfully screened the pilot episode of their first ever series, Cattleya Killer, before an audience of international industry decision makers.