TJ Trinidad: Indie man

What do you do besides simply wishing for a dream project to materialize? You take matters into your own hands. TJ Trinidad is an accomplished actor often portrayed as a dashing leading man, but for his directorial debut he scrubs off the gloss and gets down to business as a one-man production team.

TJ wrote, produced, directed and starred in his original screenplay Mga Kinahinatnan ng Aking Kabalbalan or MKAK, which premiered during the Sixth Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival and based, on the audience reaction that evening, TJ nailed it. The story of an ambitious yet promiscuous lawyer who is misdiagnosed as HIV-positive — as part of a conspiracy for a co-worker to get ahead in the corporate game — touched on raw emotions and focused on the lies, deceit and manipulation that goes on in the real world.

Drafted from his imagination, TJ was prepared for the bumpy road ahead when he started production. Handling budget pains and a grueling schedule, he let’s us in on what it takes to make it all happen.

YOUNG STAR: Where did you draw inspiration for your first film as a director?

TJ TRINIDAD: For the technical aspect of the film, I drew inspiration from Lars von Trier, a Danish film director known for his exploration of controversial subject matter, specifically his film, Breaking The Waves. The film’s grainy imagery and handheld photography added to the rawness and catharsis brought about at the end of the film, which had a very profound effect on me. 

How were you able to balance your acting career while directing an indie film?

At the time, I was working 40-hour days straight while shooting for Zorro. From the GMA set and location in Bataan, I would drive back to Manila and go straight to my own set with hardly any sleep. While it was physically grueling to keep up this pace, the emotional satisfaction of directing my own film spurred me on, and the significance of this professional milestone remains incomparable to anything I have accomplished to date.

The budget usually plays a complicated part in producing your own movie. How did it affect you?

As with most, let alone first-time, independent film directors, the most challenging part is the budget. It was a daunting task to try and look for funding, which I knew would influence my choice of locations and ultimately the selection of actors that I could work with. But in the end, with much gratitude to my amazing line producer Elaine Lozano, absolutely everything fell into place. I found funding and got the cast and locations I was initially gunning for. It was such a blessing and I will remain indebted to everyone who helped make it happen.

You play a young lawyer who’s promiscuous and a party boy. How close is your real persona to that of your character John?

In reality, the protagonist’s character, John Mendez, is the antithesis to how I see myself. But since I wrote the script and created all the characters from my own imagination, I know each like the back of my hand. I established their personalities and distinct nuances so I could have played any one of them. Since John’s character is not similar to me at all, it was more difficult to embody him, but I knew I could pull it off.

Which film made an impact on your life?

There have been many but the ones that tend to stand out, as I mentioned earlier, are Lars von Triers’s Breaking the Waves — what an amazing film — and Tarantino’s Pulp Fiction, The Star Wars trilogy, Danny Boyle’s Trainspotting and Richard Kelly’s Donnie Darko.

What’s your favorite movie quote?

That infamous phrase now considered part of Philippine cinematic history “You’re nothing but a second rate, trying hard, copycat!” said by Cherie Gil.

Whom would you like to collaborate with?

I would love to direct and act alongside Maricel Soriano. If Mike De Leon or Carlitos Siquion-Reyna would consider doing another film, I would like to work with them as well. Right now, I would also love to direct actors I have worked with in GMA and collaborate with their creative team.

Aside from acting, writing, and directing, what other skill do you have that most people would be surprised you can do?

I can play the guitar and the ukulele!

If you could invite any five personalities to a dinner, who would they be?

Mel Brooks, Dolphy, Chris Nolan, Eddie Vedder and Cate Blanchett.

Who has the sexiest brain for you?

Definitely, my girlfriend (Marga Valdes).

What’s your biggest regret?

I have none.

Which fictional character do you most identify with?

The ugly duckling. Funny enough, it was a character created by another Dane, Hans Christian Andersen. I must have been seven or eight, and I remember it being the first and only movie that made me cry as a child. Richard Kelly’s Donnie Darko was also someone I could really relate to.

After singing alongside Regine Velasquez in the primetime show Diva, will we see more of you in the music scene?

I am working on it. While it is a side project that I hope kicks off soon, I am not in a rush and expect it to take about a year to accomplish.

Which artist could use a little more respect from the industry?

That’s a great question. Definitely, our more senior veteran actors; they have so much to offer in terms of wisdom and experience and are so underutilized. There should be more roles and avenues created to celebrate their accomplishments and contribution to Philippine TV and cinema.

Who is the most overrated person for you?

More often than not, it’s usually the noisiest one in the room.

What’s your drink of choice?

Beer.

What do you look for in a girl?

Intelligence and a sense of humor. Basically, every trait my girlfriend has.

What is the ultimate dream project for you?

Like anyone else in this industry, to be part of a Hollywood film production.

How do you think our local movie and TV industry can be further improved?

By taking bigger chances and venturing away from formulaic scripts and concepts. We could also do with better laws against piracy and enforcing those across the board. I also believe that the consumer should make an effort to not support piracy. 

If you were to join a reality show, which would it be?

I detest reality shows. Survivor is probably the only one I was interested in because its novelty piqued my curiosity when it first came out.

What’s next for TJ Trinidad?

I hope to direct more quality films, be it mainstream or independent in nature. And continue to do meaningful projects for GMA.

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MKAK will have screenings in UP until Sept. 2 and in Ateneo on Sept. 17.