Michelle goes daring in first lead role

MANILA, Philippines - It’s been a decade since Michelle Madrigal kicked off her acting career yet no more than playing support or contravida role has come her way. It is only now that a lead starrer has finally landed on her lap. Thanks to director Edgardo “Boy” Vinarao who has nothing in mind but Michelle to perfectly fit in the role of Mayet in Oro de Siete Productions’ Bacao.

But unlike other actors who would instantly grab the opportunity to play lead, Michelle dilly-dallied for more than a week whether to accept the project or not. Direk Boy was beginning to feel dejected for not hearing any response from her so he met with the producers (among them are Felizardo Sevilla, Rolly Peñaflor and Marilyn Mariano) and told them that “if Michelle rejected the offer, then, we will not do it anymore because I can’t find anyone else who would suit in the role but Michelle. Tamang-tama talaga yung pagka-morena n’ya at yung personality n’ya sa karakter.”

Unknown to direk Boy, Michelle is eager to do Bacao. She is certain that it is a remarkable role. She’s also confident that she can very well deliver in heavy drama scenes. Problem is, she cannot convince herself to show much skin.

“But when I laid out my concern regarding some parts that I found too sexy, direk promised that we will only do what I can. And he kept his word, direk took shots that appeared sexy on screen; the sexiest thing I did is show my side, bare back and cleavage. And my love scenes with Arnold (Reyes, who plays her husband Abel) are but natural for our roles as husband and wife.”

Direk Boy adds that the love scene may seem to have gone overboard in footage but just appropriate in the story when one gets to watch it in full.

Bacao revolves around Mayet whose romance with her husband is mysteriously connected to their barrio’s soil condition for growing and harvesting corn (bacao in the tribal Yogad term in the remote province of Isabela). However, when she cannot give Abel a child, her marriage suffers and she almost loses her sanity.

Bacao is one of the four entries to this year’s Sineng Pambansa Horror Plus Film Festival to be exhibited by the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP). It will be shown from Oct. 29 to Nov. 4 at SM Cinemas nationwide.

According to direk Boy, the story of Bacao had been long sitting in his files but not until Typhoon Ondoy hit the country. All of his original manuscripts were soaked in floodwaters, except for Bacao which he discovered was left atop his cabinet. He then submitted it as an entry to one of FDCP’s contests recently and won. “I asked them (FDCP people) if I can make some revisions to it and they agreed. Then, I offered it to the producers to turn it into a film. The story caught their interest so we began filming it.”

Shooting for the film took place in Tarlac and Michelle was able to manage her time between work and school. She is presently taking up Culinary Arts in Café Ysabel.   

Asked if she considers Bacao as her biggest acting break, Michelle replies in the positive and she thanks the director for not giving up on her. “We all know that in the Philippines, mestiza is mostly preferred (in shows) buti na lang ang hinahanap ni direk ay morena. I’m also thankful that he believes in my ability to act.”

And how does it feel to have been given a launching movie after long years of waiting?

“It’s really good that all the hard work and patience have finally paid off. Of course, you know how it is in showbiz — actors come and go. That’s why I can say that I must have done something right because it’s been 10 years and I’m still here. I wish the movie will turn out good because the story is different at maganda talaga.”