Newcomer to watch

MANILA, Philippines – Eighteen-year-old Chase Vega is set to conquer the big screen as he stars in Peque Gallaga’s newest film entitled Agaton & Mindy. Inspired by the classic story of Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet,” the film is a coming-of-age story about two 15-year-old dance scholars. There are no feuding families at all, except for the two star-crossed lovers whose hearts fight the complexities and craziness that love brings them. 

Agaton & Mindy is one of the six films to be showcased under the Sine Direk Series project through the partnership of the Directors Guild of the Philippines Inc. (DGPI) and APT Entertainment Inc.

After going around the modeling circuit for quite some time, Chase finds himself portraying an important role in Gallaga’s film project. The search for Agaton was not easy, but Gallaga already knew that he wanted someone not famous, someone who can provide a fresh look for the film. “He doesn’t want the audience to have a preconceived notion of the actor,” shares co-writer Lore Reyes. “With a new actor, there’s no show biz gossip to deal with. The audience can just watch the film from a fresh perspective.” 

Rigid And Intensive

When the casting call was set, a good crop of artists went to the audition. “It wasn’t just like any other cattle call,” Reyes recalls. “We had a good one that time. But usually you already know who to cast the moment that actor comes in. If he has the personality, the star material and the X factor, then he’s the one. And Chase has these qualities.” 

When Chase auditioned for the role, he didn’t have any idea as to who he’d be working with. “I really didn’t know who they were,” he says smilingly. “It was not until I was talking to my mom and she asked me who the director was.  I told her that it’s Peque Gallaga and she was like telling me that he’s a very good director and all those stories. And I was amazed and felt really excited.” 

Coming from a completely blank slate, Chase had to undergo an acting workshop under Gabby Fernandez for two months and a dance workshop under Denisa Reyes for more than a month. “The trainings were rigid and intensive,” Chase claims, “but they really helped me a lot especially when they made me open up about personal things. I began to loosen up more.” 

Chase really made a very good impression on Gallaga and Reyes. “We already shot one of the most difficult scenes with Chase on day one,” Gallaga reveals. “We started the first scene with Audie Gemora who’s playing the father of Mindy. Then we moved to the second scene that was full of high emotions, and Chase was able to deliver it well. We were impressed and confirmed that we didn’t go wrong with casting him as Agaton.” 

Reyes, who served as the acting coach of Chase, is also very proud of him. “That’s how Peque and I divided our duties. He takes care of Mindy’s character while I handle Agaton’s,” adds Reyes. “Also, given that we only had seven days to shoot the film under a three-million-peso budget, and provided that he had no acting experience and had to go through a series of workshops, Chase’s performance was really outstanding,” ends Reyes who is also line producing Agaton & Mindy.

Many new actors have been shaking up the indie scene and the film industry in general. And Chase is sure to be one of them as he brings life to Gallaga’s non-formulaic teen romance Agaton & Mindy that is slated to hit Philippine theaters on May 27.