Talk deep passion for craf and actor Mon Confiado must figure in the topic. Mon Confiado (Photos from Instagram) He has been the industry for 25 years now but still in never-ending quest to reinvent himself. In an interview with Bulletin Entertainment, he revealed using method acting, a technique` where the actor tries to replicate the life circumstances, mannerisms and emotional feelings of the character he portrays to give realism, legitimacy and dramatic strength to his performance. Admitting he does not have formal schooling as actor, Mon gets inspiration from Hollywood stars he idolizes, citing Tom Hanks, Gary Oldman, Jared Leto and Christian Bale, among others. Like them, Mon gets deeply involved with his roles to the point that he changes his appearance and even physique to achieve faithful portrayal. “I guess, hinubog na ako ng panahon bilang actor. Sabi ko kung ‘yun ang hinihingi (para sa karakter ko), bakit hindi ko gagawin ‘di ba? Sa tingin ko, matured na kasi ako bilang isang actor na tipong ganu’n na ako kalalim mag-immerse para sa pagganap ko,” he said to that effect. Once, he shed 40 pounds for his role in the film “The Diplomat Hotel.” He also spent the night st the alleged haunted ruins of a hotel in Baguio City. “At napagkamalan ns rin akong drug addict dahil sobrang payat ko (preparing for a role)!” he said, laughing. Then there’s that film wherein he played "taong grasa." Mon shared that as he tried to get into character, he slept on the street without cash in his pocket. He even walked from home to his shoot location. He did the same for the independent film “Stateside,” which was shot in the West Coast, USA. “Before mag-start ang shooting, nagpunta ako du’n sa isang area na parang squatter. Du’n ako natulog na wala akong dalang pera ni singko tapos ang damit ko na dala, tatlong piraso lang,” he recalled. In the film “Heneral Luna,” where he played Emilio Aguinaldo, the actor spent the whole day at Aguinaldo Shrine trying to imbibe the character of the country’s first president. Of course, he also had his hair cut like Aguinaldo’s trademark flat-top. “Meron pa na minsan nagpakalbo talaga ako. Tapos mayroon na dalawang linggo akong hindi naligo na tipong iritableng-iritable ka na,” he said. That’s not all. Mon learnd languages as well accents if he had to play non-Tagalog speaking character. In fact, he even enrolled in a Chinese school when he played a Chinese criminal on the action teleserye “FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano.” The actor doesn’t have qualms baring for the cameras. He once did full frontal in a play. When it comes to sexy, daring scenes, Monlikes it sans camera trick or plasters. While some might raise their eyebrows over his “strange” sacrifices, Mon said he did it all because of his undying dedication to the craft. Mon even calls himself “may saltik (crazy),” believing he is the only local actor who goes to such extents. “Kung kailangan ngang kumain ako ng putik, gagawin ko eh!” he exclaimed. “I think ganu’n ako kalalim kasi hindi lang ako isang actor, artist ako.” According to Mon, he doesn’t aim to become a big star. “Hindi ko nga pina-publicize masyado ang mga ginagawa ko. Kumbaga hindi ko ginagawa ‘to para magpasikat. Gusto ko lamang maging actor,” he shared. “Katulad nga ng palagi kong sinasabi, hindi ko ginagawa ko ‘to para sa ibang tao, ginagawa ko ‘to para sa sarili ko.” Mon added, “Ang achievement ko bilang actor ay ma-i-portray ng maayos, kapani-paniwala ang mga roles ko. Kung maa-aappreciate ng mga tao, masaya ako. Hindi ko gustong sumikat, hindi ko gustong yumaman. Ito lamang ay isang paraan." On a roll Mon has done at least 300 films in the last 25 years, many of these in kontrabida roles. He even joked that he has already mastered "the art of raping,” having portrayed it in numerous films and TV series. Still, he finds the role challenging. Mon with ‘El Peste’ director Richard Somes “Yan ang pinaka-mahirap na role kasi kailangan ay dapat magmukhang totoo na ginagawa mo yan. Pangit naman kung makikita ng audience na peke ‘di ba? At the same time, nakakahiya sa co-actor mo na baka maramdaman niyang pinagsasamantalahan mo siya.” He doesn't remember when he started doing independent films. But, he believes those films set him on the road to where he is now. “Bilang isang actor, gutom ako eh. Gusto ko ng bago. Nagsimula ang mga indie films, I think 1999 since then naka-support na ako dyan,” he said. “Dito ako mas nabibigyan ng mga lead roles, dito ako mas nabigyan ng chance na hindi lang kontrabidang karakter.” He thinks the film “Stateside” is his biggest break so far as indie actor. “Stateside” is about the journey of an undocumented Filipino immigrant struggling to survive in the US. “Nagkaroon ng special screening sa isang studio sa L.A. ‘yung pelikula tapos nagustuhan ng consul general. Ang sabi niya, i-e-endorse niya sa lahat ng consul general ng buong America. So baka this year, magkaroon kami ng US tour,” Mon shared. Locally, the actor plays lead in the Sinag Maynila Film Festival 2018 official entry “El Peste.” The film co-stars Leon Miguel, Alvin Anson, Jim Libiran, and Tikoy Aguiluz. The festival is from March 7 to 15. “El Peste” is about Abner (Mon). He lives a drab, downcast, solitary existence. His wife has abandoned him for good. Working for pest control company Panther, his job remains his sole connection to the outside world. It seems going nowhere until he meets Viola, a client whose existence is as sad as his. As sexual tension between Abner and Viola turns to illicit affair, he devices something that will eventually lead to a tragedy that will change their lives forever. It is directed by Richard Somes. Mon has good words for the director. “Bukod sa kaibigan ko siya, fan ako ni direk eh. Nakita ko ‘yung evolution niya from being an art director, production designer hanggang sa naging filmmaker na talaga siya,” he divulged. “Kumbaga kabisado ko na si Richard eh, ‘yung way of filmmaking niya. Lalo na he is very collaborative, ine-explain lang niya ‘yung situation, tapos ikaw na ang bahalang mag-execute kaya very casual lang ‘yung mga linyahan.” Goes daring Mon said “El Peste” is of the erotic genre. He said it is Richard’s way of paying tribute to the erotic films in the ’80s as “Scorpio Nights.” Mon did sexy scenes in the movie with theater actor Jean Judith Javier. Apparently, he had a hard time convincing her to do those things as her auntie is a preacher from a certain religious group. “Dalawa o tatlong beses akong pumunta sa bahay nila para i-convince siya,” he shared. He told Jean’s family that despite the genre, the film tells a deeper story. “I trusts Direk Richard Somes lalo na ‘yung vision niya sa pelikula. Alam namin na hindi ito magiging bastos o malaswa,” he explained. “Sa tingin ko ang value ng erotic films ay ‘yung relationship eh na kumbaga, at the end of the day, palaging may storyang ipapakita.” “Iba naman itong pelikula na’to sa mga X-rated films na nagkalat diyan na ang intensyon lang ay magpa-arouse. Hindi ito ‘yung usual na erotic na makapag-bold lang ba, may makukuhang aral ang mga manunuod nito,” he added. At his age, doesn’t he feel awkward doing love scenes? “Maaaring mayroong magsabi na ‘Kung kelan ka tumanda, tyaka ka nag-bold…’ na baka ‘Pagbayaran ko ito in the future.’ Pero as an actor, kailangan kong mag-grow eh. Kumbaga hinubog na ng panahon ‘yung pag-iisip ko at matured na ako bilang isang aktor.”