An 'engkwentro' with Felix Roco

MANILA, Philippines - One look and you’ll know he’s intense.

Wednesday at the press screening of Engkwentro at the Podium, Felix Roco walked in without any fanfare, but immediately, his presence was felt. It was those eyes, those eyes that pierced through the screens as he played a doting brother out to protect his young brother from going to the dark side. The dark side is quite ironic, as most of the movie was spent in the darkness, with director Pepe Diokno’s camera running after Felix, ecounter after encounter.

The Felix you see onscreen at Engkwentro (showing at selected SM Cinemas on a limited run till December 13) is different from the Felix you see on noontime TV, and different from the one who was holding the trophy for the Orrizzonti prize at this year’s Venice Filmfest held a few months ago. Yes, it is the same actor, but this actor has so much to give, so much potential to soar, given the right projects that push his thespic buttons.

“Engkwentro was a hard film to do. We shot it like a stage play — one continuous take — so Felix had to memorize all his lines and do his own stunts — just narrowly escaping injury! And to internalize his character, Felix actually wore the same shirt — unwashed — for the whole three months of shooting! He’s that dedicated, that intense. And you can really see it in the film. I think casting him was he first correct choice I made as director.” So said Supreme pride Pepe Diokno when we talked to him before the screening of his award winning debut film.

That night at the Podium, dad Bembol Roco was also present at the movie house, watching his son’s performance for the first time. Legendary film man Celso Ad Castillo was also there, and so were other teenybopper actors of his generation, who, after the screening, were all screaming, “Felix! Felix!” alongside arthouse critics and industry insiders knowing full well that in the next generation of actors, a Felix Roco has come to rise. Engkwentro is his star turn.

Watching Engkwentro, even in the darkest of Blair Witch scenes, you would feel this young actor’s depth — a depth and intensity that reminds me of a Gael Garcia or Diego Luna. At this exclusive Supreme shoot, I realized why. Under the glare of Ramon Mangila’s camera, our team asked the GMA Artist Center actor to strip to his senses and show the camera a spectrum of emotions. One intense shot after another, Felix metamorphosed from a blank stare to an emotion-filled balloon so full it wanted to burst. His body is accented by inked colors of meaningful words and his gestures speak volumes about his character. Watching him behind the lens, I can see that there is more than raw talent emanating from his soul — he could exude innocence in one blink and scream with his eyes the next.

This is the Supreme-Felix Roco portfolio. Watch him and you’ll know why.