Indie films push Paulo Avelino’s craft as an actor

MANILA, Philippines - Paulo Avelino reached his tipping point as an actor via the Cinemalaya Film Festival entry “Ang Sayaw ng Dalawang Kaliwang Paa.” The film gave him two acting awards, including a Gawad Urian for Best Actor last year. This year, he appears in two Cinemalaya films: Alvin Yapan’s “Debosyon” for the New Breed category and Jerrold Tarog’s “Sana Dati” for the Directors Showcase category.

Is he expecting to win big in the next awards season for his two new independent films?

“Hindi naman,” Paulo told members of the press during the launch of LG Mobile’s Optimus G Pro smartphone at the Ayala Museum in Makati City on Thursday, July 25.

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He explained, “Ang akin lang din, ang gusto ko sa dalawang pelikulang ito ay sana maraming makanood. Sana maging popular. Kung pwede buong Pilipinas, manood.”

Paulo has starred in his fair share of independent films and mainstream movies. And while he can’t choose which between the two he prefers doing, the Kapamilya actor said indie films enable him to push his skill and craft as an actor in a way mainstream movies and TV projects can’t.

“Hindi ko masasabing mas at home sa indie pero nakakagawa ako at nakakaportray ng characters na di ko nagagawa sa mainstream,” he said.

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Taking cue from the theme of his film “Debosyon” the entertainment press asked Paulo what he is currently devoted to.

The tight-lipped Paulo said, “Marami, eh. Sa trabaho, sa pamilya.”

“Ako kasi, when I do something I like or when I really want something, I really work hard for it.”

He added, “Kumbaga, gagawa ako ng pelikula, binibigay ko talagang yung halos buong sarili ko sa pelikula sa ikagaganda nito.”