The newest Kapuso artist Geoff Eigenmann doesn't care that he was JC de Vera's replacement in the 8-part late-night TV series SRO Cinemaserye, which premieres on March 26, after GMA-7's Telebabad.
"Being a replacement for JC, being the second choice, I really don't mind. Ang sa akin lang, sa akin napunta ang character, I'm gonna give justice to that role kahit na fifth choice pa ako or last choice, it doesn't matter to me," said the 23-year-old actor during the press conference for the new Thursday night show.
It can be remembered that JC was pulled out of SRO by his manager Annabelle Rama because she thought that her talent would only be a supporting character to Marvin Agustin's role.
Geoff did not think of it that way. In fact, he said, "Not necessarily [support]. We all have big parts on the story and we're all lead characters. Walang support sa amin at all."
As a lead actor, the young Eignemann said that a different Geoff will be seen in SRO.
"This is, I can say, the most mature role I've ever done. I can say na I graduated na from all the teenybopper stuff. I've done mature roles, but this, to date, is the most adult. Most mature kasi it's a very deep character, very deceiving, very conniving, marami siyang tinatago, marami siyang hinanakit na gustong ilabas.
"While watching that, parang 'Whoa!' This is the first time na parang hindi ko alam kung ano ang nangyari, I'm one of the audience members. So, just feeling that ibang pakiramdam, parang hindi ko nakita ang sarili ko. I guess that's a good transformation."
How did he manage to pull off his character as Kevin Rodriguez?
"Well, lahat ng mga tao, I guess, kahit gaano kabait, kahit gaano kasama pa, they always have two sides. For me, for this character, I kept reading the script over and over again. And, siyempre, when we're reading naman, may back story din siya. So, really that's in your head, na ikaw talaga 'yon. Lalabas na lang talaga, e. You're bringing a character to life, so lumalabas na lang siya automatically.
He added, "Well, hindi naman that my life has been an open book, but everybody knows what happened to my parents, what my family has been into. 'Yon, it's part of that. Of course, I have some friends na nangyari na sa kanila 'yon, so I can relate."
KEEPING THE EIGENMANN LEGACY. Geoff Eigenmann's acting skill may be attributed to his parents and their roots. He is a third generation of the Mesa-Gil clan of actors—his grandparents are Eddie Mesa and Rosemarie Gil and he is the second child of actors Michael de Mesa and Gina Alajar. His two siblings, Ryan and AJ, are also part of local show business.
As part of this family of actors, Geoff, who will turn 24 on Monday, March 23, admitted that it's a pressure to be a good actor.
"Of course, ang hirap no'n! Ang mahirap for us is ituloy namin ang kalye na ginawa na nila. Sana matuloy pa namin all the way to even our kids or grandkids, hopefully. Alam ko marami pa akong kailangang matutunan. Sobrang marami pa akong bigas na kakainin para maabot ang naabot nila!"
He always gets tips from his parents when it comes to his job as an actor.
He related, "Always, never nawawala [ang advice]. Each thing na mapanood nila sa akin, kini-criticize. Kahit 'yong simple magho-host lang ako, kakanta ng lip-sync, o kung anuman, may sasabihin sila.
"Like last Sunday, kumakanta ako sa SOP, I was covering my mouth. My dad, 'Huwag, don't cover your mouth. Hold the mic properly.' My mom din, ganun din. With each character, I think, ganun din kapag may hindi siya nagustuhan, never nawawala ang comment.
"I give my best in every role that I play—no matter how cheesy it is, no matter how boring it is, all out pa rin. This is for sure a different Geoff Eigenmann in SRO. I'm just watching the AVP [audio-visual presentation] kanina, medyo hindi ko naisip na ako 'yon."
GABBY LOOK-ALIKE. During the presscon, many noticed that Geoff resembles some of the physical traits of the former matinee idol Gabby Concepcion. On hearing this, the young actor went speechless.
When asked about it later on, Geoff said that he was surprised by the remark.
"Who wouldn't, di ba?" he said. "Siyempre, look-wise lang 'yon, physical. But as an actor, magkaiba kami. And 'yong na-achieve niya as an actor, marami pa akong kailangang pag-aralan, marami pa akong kailangang gawin para maabot ko 'yong ginagawa niya. So, just being compared to him physically is actually a great honor."
POSSIBLE LEADING LADIES. After SRO, Geoff is also slated to do a primetime television series, although he has no idea yet about the story of his new show.
Will he be paired again with Heart Evangelista, who was once his onscreen partner in ABS-CBN?
Geoff indirectly replied, "Like what I said, so far there's gonna be a show after this—I don't know which one, I don't know with who. I don't know, maraming puwedeng mangyari, bago pa lang ako. I'm gonna be here in a while, so things are gonna happen.
"I wouldn't mind working with her again kasi okey naman ang pinagsamahan namin, no bad blood between us. Maganda ang [relationship] namin before. Our fan base was there, meron na, so I guess puwedeng buhayin ulit."
He looks forward to working with other young Kapuso actresses aside from Heart. In fact, he said, "I'm willing to work with anyone, all of them, actually. I haven't met all of them yet. Ang dami, Marian [Rivera] is there, Rhian Ramos, Yasmien [Kurdi], and Jennylyn [Mercado]."
Now that he's back in GMA-7, Geoff can only feel "happy with it. I'm very happy, siyempre no regrets naman. I have no other feeling about this."