Some say it’s dying, some say it’s still doing, while some don’t care at all even if they’re a part of it.
We can’t really tell exactly what we lack, but there are definitely a lot of things we can do better in this industry.
Just last weekend, while we were shooting an independent film, I was caught up in a conversation with veteran actors.
They were talking about how the real stars from back then were not being recognized anymore.
It’s ironic how the longer you stay in the business, the less people pay attention or even appreciate the things you’ve accomplished.
They always say you’ll never be successful if you don’t learn to appreciate where you came from.
They say it’s a shame that veteran stars who made this industry come to life are not even acknowledged these days.
They’re put in a position where they have to catch up with the "new trend" of "showbiz."
This could be one of the reasons why the industry is dying. The "real" substance of the industry has changed.
I’ve come across quite a few veteran actors and totally look up to them.
Just the other day, I learned of Johnny Delgado’s passion for acting. He is one of the very few devoted to his craft.
Tito Johnny is also a part of the independent film I’m doing; he plays my father.
I was chatting with him the other day about his 35 years in showbiz.
"In the beginning, I was just there for convenience. I enjoyed the first three years. May kotse na bago, mga girls, sikat ka... but you reach the point where you start asking yourself, ‘What am I?’ ‘What is my purpose in life?’"
He left the business a few years ago and took some time off in the States to really try and figure out what he wanted to do.
"I went to the States and I tried to ask myself these questions. Ang nangyari, I decided I wanted to be an actor, but I didn’t want to be the kind of actor that I was... "
He came back and bought books about acting. Unfortunately, it didn’t work out for him so he decided to get into theater.
He became a character actor. Then one day, Tito Johnny saw a character actor who had all the fancy and flashy things.
Tito Johnny wanted to be like him, so he observed him and he learned that to be able to make it in the business, he had to be predictable.
"I realized that it was easy to be a star. I observed that if you wanna be a star, be predictable... but once you’re a star, you fight predictability and become a real actor. "
He had to set a character for himself to make it easier for producers to cast him.
But how will you know if you’re a star? " You’d know because you’ll have so many offers. You would be in demand, " Tito Johnny says.
He never thought of becoming a director because of his passion for acting. He has no patience for directing. He told me that me that he is far from content with his work, and that acting is never enough. He wants to share his craft,
"As an actor,I feel na hindi pa ako nakakagawa ng isang role na nagawa ko to my standard. Maraming factors eh... 75 percent of the role, nagawa mo. But in some scenes, you know na hindi lahat tama., " he adds.
I was so surprised to hear such a thing from him because Tito Johnny is a very good actor. I thought he would’ve been happy or content with his roles.
Maybe that’s the key to success. I should try that. He has been in the business for such a long time that we would think he’s probably fulfilled his dreams.
"I’ve been in this business for a long time but when I returned from the States and decided I wanted to become an actor, the process of becoming one began. Until now, I’m still trying to become the actor I want to be: someone working at perfecting his craft."
Tito Johnny is the first person I’ve met who is very devoted to acting. He taught me how to place the fingers on the breast to make it seem like they’re touching it, even when they’re not. It was so cool when he taught me how to make it look so realistic.
Tito Johnny had a metaphor for showbiz these days. The new actors bloom like caterpillars turning into butterflies. The old actors, on the other hand, are left behind.
Tito Johnny’s ultimate dream is "to really be able to make this industry professional para gumaling ang mga actors natin at para makapag-compete tayo sa ibang bansa. But deep in my heart, I really want to establish a school for acting."
He adds, "Gusto kong makatulong ako sa ibang artista... na magkaroon ng paraan na maging magaling sila. "
He says that he still has a long way to go in fulfilling his dream. I was overwhelmed with Tito Johnny’s passion for acting. I’ve learned so much from him.
If there were more people like Tito Johnny in the business, I’m pretty sure our status would be much better. Being in this business just for fame and money won’t get us anywhere.
Tito Johnny deserves a lot of appreciation for his concern for other artists. I wish that as time passes by, we would have more actors like him.