Newbie actor Kent Gonzales feels flattered to be compared to actor John Lloyd Cruz.
Kent is cast as the son of Sharon Cuneta and John Arcilla's characters in the horror movie Kuwaresma.
Reality Entertainment bosses Dondon Monteverde and Direk Erik Matti picked Kent even though the 17-year-old newbie initially wanted to penetrate the music industry.
"Actually nag-audition po ako ng ano, may kinontact po akong audition, ano po yun singing audition. Then na-timing po na nandon si Direk Erik tapos nagkita kami ni Direk and then sabi niya, ‘Uy, okay 'to, ha.’
"Then pinapunta niya ko sa audition, so nag-audition ako sa kanya and then ayun po, nakuha ko po yung role. Naghahanap sila ng mga babae and then sabi ko may kapatid ako, kaya ayan po nakita po nila yung ate ko and siya yung kasama ko sa movie."
Kent bagged the role of Luis in the film while his real-life sister Pam Gonzales was cast as his onscreen sibling named Manuela.
In Kuwaresma, Manuela's ghost is haunting the Fajardo family as she seeks justice for her death.
Producer Dondon Monteverde previously compared Kent to John Lloyd for the depth that he showed in his scenes. What is Kent's reaction to this?
"First of all, it's an honor po na tawagin pong ganon. Masaya po siya, ang ganda po sa feeling na tawagin po ako ni Sir ng ganon."
Direk Erik recalled how impressed he was by Kent's abilities.
“Wala siyang experience sa acting. Commercials pa lang ang nagawa niya. Pero isang basa lang ng script, nakita ko na yung lalim niya at nag-iisip. Raw, organic ang acting niya. Malaki ang potensiyal!”
“First scene pa lang niya—homecoming, si Sharon ang ka-eksena. Iyakan. Hindi ito artista, ha! Hindi nagti-TV. Binigyan ko rin siya ng five-page monologue, panalo siya!”
Kent mentioned that he got bruises while shooting Kuwaresma. When PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal) asked him to elaborate on this, he narrated: "May mga stunt po kasi na like, for example, dinadrag po ako like sa hagdan, nagkapasa po ako."
Did he do the scene himself without a stuntman?
"May stuntman po pero may mga stunts din po kasi na kailangan ako po mismo yung gagawa kasi parang hindi na po siya madadaya. May mga scenes na kailangan ko bumagsak, bumangga sa pader kaya ayun po nagkakapasa po ako sa arms, sa legs po."