Sa unang pagtatangka ni Dionne Monsanto na mag-co-produce ng isang indie film, tanggap niya kung hindi man pumalo sa takilya ang unang project.
Bida at co-producer si Dionne sa Visayan film na Kaaway Sa Sulod na idinirihe ni RB Barbarona, at kasali ito sa tumatakbo ngayong QCinema Film Festival.
Paliwanag ng Kapamilya actress sa pagsabak niya sa pagpu-produce ng isang indie movie, “I believe in this project and because I’ve been acting for quite a while, I wanted to do something different naman.
"I believe that this is a perfect opportunity kasi it’s ninety percent Cebuano and ten percent Tagalog. Coz I’m Cebuana, I speak both in this film.
Patuloy niya, “Ahm, I understand that and the sentiment also.
“But then again, money is not the right motivation in what I do. I’m not an actress naman because I’m after the money. I don’t think I would have stayed long in this industry if I was after the fame or the money.
“Kasi para sa akin, maling motivation yun. So, you should really love what you do. Love your craft for you to last this long.”
Exclusive na nakapanayam ng PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal) si Dionne sa afterparty sa opening night ng QCinema Film Festival na ginanap noong October 13 sa Novotel Manila hotel, Araneta Center, Cubao, Quezon City.
DIONNE AS MOVIE PRODUCER
Nilinaw ni Dionne sa naging bahagi niya bilang producer ng nasabing movie.
Aniya, “Hindi naman walang bayad pero let's just say, very minimal. Nag-share din ako ng funds.”
Itinanggi niyang mayaman na siya kaya kahit magtapon siya ng pera bilang producer ng indie film, balewala lang ito sa kanya.
“Mahal ko lang talaga ang trabaho ko,” nakangiti nyang pahayag.
“Our movie kasi has a very important message. And hopefully, people will watch and also try to send out stories about our brothers and sisters in Mindanao.
“Sa synopsis, there are two women who have different goals and then magkikita sila sa isang mission. And then they discover na magkamukha pala sila. Nandun yung conflict ng story.”
AIMING FOR WORK-LIFE BALANCE
Dahil sa indie project at sa iba pang personal activities ni Dionne, tinanggal agad ang character niya sa isang serye.
Kuwento ng 33-year-old Kapamilya artist, “The General’s Daughter last ko.
“I had to get out from there kasi I was filming Kaaway sa Sulod. We shot it in Mindanao, sa Davao, sa Nabunturan. So, I had to cut short my stint there [General's Daughter], kasi we had to start filming na.
“And then after I shot the movie, I came back to Manila and left after one day for Switzerland.
“Hindi na talaga ako nakabalik ng General’s Daughter.”
Hindi ba siya nanghihinayang sa kanyang showbiz career?
Ani Dionne, “I would like to think na I’m at the point in my life na I crave for work balance.
“So, I work hard and I play hard also.
Ang kasintahan niyang si Ryan Stalder ang dahilan ng pagpunta ni Dionne sa Switzerland.
Lahad niya, “My boyfriend is based there, he’s half-Filipino, half-Swiss.
“Nakailang uwi na kasi siya sa Pilipinas at parang nagtatampo na kasi siya kaya, 'Ikaw naman ang pumunta dito.'
“I was there for more than a month. And we just went to Italy, Germany, gala-gala.”
Kailangang palampasin ni Dionne ang mga acting projects niya para sa kanyang personal life.
Paliwanag niya, “Of course, it’s a sacrifice for sure.
“But then again I’ve come to realize na opportunities will always come and go, and I love my job, of course. There’s no question there, but also I want to be able to do things like traveling while I’m still young.
“When I went to Switzerland, nag-boating kami, nag-mountain hiking. I wouldn't be able to do that if I do that when I’m older.”