MANILA, Philippines - Having lived in Los Angeles for over eight years now, I am still delighted to meet fellow Filipinos who are pursuing their Hollywood Dream. I first met Cliff Banagale at a Pilipinos in Entertainment (PIE) get-together at Oliver Tolentino’s beautiful home in McCarthy Circle when Andrew Caruthers invited him. PIE is a network of Filipino-Americans in the entertainment industry in Hollywood who are actively working and creating paths to forge a Filipino identity that represents our sensibilities as a culture.
With our “bobas” on-hand on a sweltering hot Southern Californian afternoon, we discussed his excitement to come back to Manila for the premiere of his critically-acclaimed film, Busong. Here’s a snippet of our kuwento:
GTW: When did you know that you wanted to pursue being an actor in Hollywood?
CB: I’ve always had the bug in me since the time of That’s Entertainment. Hollywood came to me during my early teen years, but my parents reacted like typical Filipino parents. Of course they preferred me to become a doctor, nurse or dentist. But I really saw it becoming a reality when I saw Ke Huy Quan (Indiana Jones) and Dante Basco (Pan) on the big screen. That’s when I knew I had a shot at this, although I did not start professionally pursuing acting in films and TV until 2007. That’s only four years ago. But I went in this hardcore.
It’s only been four years and you’ve achieved so much! Considering you’ve done a lot of stage work and musicals as an actor, you also have done films and television. What roles and which mediums have you done in the past that you consider really close to your heart?
Roles that were never meant to shine. Tidbit roles that so many people, and sometimes even myself easily throw away. Those are the roles that really test your star potential. Many people cast me here in America because I said a one-liner that had them falling down to their knees from laughing or I just stood out without even speaking. Those roles helped me explore the possibilities of other roles that helped elevate the capacity of my talents. They remind me of humble beginnings.
Well from humble beginnings, you now are part of a film that has been praised at Cannes, the leading film festival in the world, where Busong has received critical acclaim. Can you tell us about your character in the film and how you developed your character?
I play Aris, a young man who is searching for himself. I am playing director Auraeus Solito’s alter ego. Aris’ story is based on his real-life coming-of-age story. Aris finds out that his mother has a direct bloodline to shamans in the indigenous Palawan tribes. She was ashamed and hid her past. In his path of discovery, he learns a really big lesson. It’s a really beautiful ending. In preparation for Aris I watched and studied. Auraeus’ past films, spent intimate moments with him, researched Palawan history, lived with his tribe in the mountains of Palawan, and studied my own past and how I can connect all the dots. Auraeus and his family were very gracious and loving. That helped make my research more successful and more genuine.
The mark of a true thespian is the preparation research done for a role. I totally respect that! Why was it so important to you to be part of Busong? What about the project spoke to you as an artist?
It became evident that the world needed to discover Palawan. The Philippines needed to rediscover the rich vastness of its people and their culture. The film’s voice is a silent, powerful force that it would’ve been my busong to have turned it away. As an actor, I believe you are only given so many chances for golden roles in your career. Aris is a goldmine role. Aris is a role that most like-minded actors would fight for. He is complicated, troubled, lost, incomplete, unsettled. He’s everything that I was growing up as a Filipino boy in America. There are no words that can describe my gratitude towards Dir. Auraeus Solito. He trusted me to tell his story only after seeing me in Bruno.
It’s amazing how much influence an artist has in the shaping of a culture! That’s a reponsibility that should never be taken lightly. So, tell us whats in the works for you this Summer?
I am working on a film starring Jessalyn Gilsig of Glee. I just finished filming for Comedy Central. I am currently in development for a new musical set in current times. I also have other work that have been offered and on the table for me to read and discuss with my management and agent for stage work and upcoming films. I have also completed my website (www.cliffordbanagale.com) available now for everyone to see! I actually started Tweeting now, gocliffordgo. Follow me!
* * *
And with that said, There is no denying that the Filipino in Hollywood is on the rise. Catch his film, Busong, directed by Auraeus Solito at Cinemalaya next week.
* * *
For questions or comments, tweet the writer @gtongi on Twitter.