There is no VIP treatment for veteran actor-director Andoy Ranay when he auditions for an acting project.
This was what he told PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal) when he was interviewed on PEP Spotlight with About Us But Not About Us co-star Kobie Brown.
Direk Andoy was part of the first run of the stage adaptation of About Us But Not About Us last February to March.
He reprised his role for the second run this October.
He is alternating for Epy Quizon's role as Markus, while Kobie is alternating for Elijah Canlas's role as Lancelot.
But during the audition, Direk Andoy was gunning for Romnick Sarmenta's role as Eric.
"I was doing another play [for] VLF [Virgin Lab Fest] in CCP when I got a call na they were asking me to audition, to read for a part. Sabi ko, 'Oh my god, of course. Game. Anong role?'
"So I was thinking the role of Romnick. And then I asked and they said, 'No, Romnick and Elijah, they're doing it already.' Okay. So, anong role?
"Kasi wala naman yun doon sa original the character of Marcus. It was there, but pinag-uusapan lang siya. Hindi siya na-physicalize.
"So when I read the script, sabi ko, 'Ah, okay. Damn.' English. Inglisan tayo dito! Kasi, di ba, sa pelikula hindi, e. Taglish sila.
"Sabi ko, 'Okay, sure. Game, game.' Bago ito. I'm so excited.
"So when I read the first time through Zoom, so parang okay na, tapos na. So I was told, 'Sige, I will get back to you. Don't call us, we'll call you.' Di ba, parang ganyan? Okay."
Then Direk Andoy got a callback for a face-to-face audition.
A theater veteran, he still felt the nerves when he learned that Jun Robles Lana, the writer and director of the original film, would be present.
"So sabi ko, 'Oh my god, nakakakaba,' kasi siyempre he's the creator, e. I know the director. I know the artistic director of IdeaFirst Company. They are my colleagues since college pa.
"Pero si Direk Jun kasi... Of course, I know of Direk Jun Robles Lana.
"Kaya lang, pero siya kasi yung nagsulat, yung he created the film, you know. So, parang kinakabahan ako talaga."
The original About Us But Not About Us premiered internationally at the Black Nights Film Festival in Tallinn, Estonia, in 2022 before it was shown in the Philippines for the 2023 Summer Metro Manila Film Festival
Lana won Best Film in the Critics' Picks Competition in Estonia; fielded 10 awards from MMFF including Best Director, Best Screenplay, and Best Picture; and brought home Best Screenplay at the 47th Gawad Urian in 2023.
Direk Andoy has his share of notable movies and teleseryes, but he said it hits different when he is the actor.
Continuing: "I still get overwhelmed because I always treat projects, especially this, na talagang fresh. Yung I don't have that ego or anything na, 'Ah, I did that already.'
"This is another project and I have high respects for the creator, Direk Jun Robles Lana. So parang I don't wanna f*** up, you know?
"And sobra akong kinakabahan because I really wanted to get the part."
Andoy got more excited when he learned that he would be alternating with Epy.
"So sabi ko, of course, I have high respects for those three actors [Romnick, Elijah, and Epy] already who's in.
"So ako, okay, I know it's my turf. I know I'm a theater actor. That's where I came from.
"But hindi ko naman siya napa-practice yearly or [hindi naman siya] laging meron, di ba? So I got really excited."
During auditon day, Andoy went on to say that he tried to break the ice by engaging Direk Jun with small talk.
"So yun, bida-bida pa ako nun. Sabi ko kay Direk Jun, 'Uh, Direk Jun, so this was originally written for a play, 'no?' Sabi niya, 'Hindi.' Ganun," said Direk Andoy, who recalled the encounter with much humor.
Direk Jun kept a professional stance and treated him like any other actor auditioning for the role, which he totally understood.
"You have to put limits and boundaries na you are still an actor auditioning for the part, you know.
"Pero siyempre, bida-bida ako, ganun. Siyempre colleague naman kami ni Direk Jun, di ba? So, parang puwedeng, 'Ah,' yung ganun. But no. No, I cannot. Hindi pala.
"So yun, after that, siguro after a week, they called me. So I'm in, ganun. Sabi ko, 'Okay, game.'"
It was until much later, when the first run took its course, that Direk Andoy received praises from Direk Jun for bringing to life Marcus so well.
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ANDOY RANAY PLATE FULL OF OTHER PROJECTS
The next challenge was his preparation for the first run of About Us But Not About Us as he got busy with other work commitments.
After doing Presidential Suite #2 for Virgin Lab Fest, Direk Andoy headlined another play, 13th of September, in Monaco.
"After nung Monaco, well, when I came back, I thought I'm going to rehearse na, but no, I did Roja."
To which, Kobie interjected, "And that's where he met me."
Roja was the defunct Kapamilya primetime series headlined by Donny Pangilinan and Kyle Echarri. It ran from November 2025 to March 2026.
Direk Andoy was tapped to do the last four days of the first cycle of taping for the series. Then he was asked again to join the second cycle of lock-in taping in Bicol.
"So, yung buong process ng rehearsals especially nung binubuo nila yung characters, silang tatlo lang [Romnick, Elijah, and Epy]. Wala ako," Direk Andoy recalled.
"And we weren't just in Bicol. We went to Subic pa. We went to Pampanga. We were all over the place, so medyo nakakaloka."
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ANDOY RANAY ON RANDOM THROW LINES WITH KOBIE BROWN
By the time Direk Andoy was taping for Roja in Pampanga, he endeavored to squeeze in some study time for About Us But Not About Us.
At this point, Kobie was not yet cast in the stage play.
But the young actor happened to be one of the cast members of Roja that Direk Andoy got to work with.
"We were in Pampanga that time. So we were in a hospital. I was waiting for the other actors to come in dahil nasa kabilang unit sila.
"I was in the system. Nandun ako sa harap ng monitor. Nagbabasa ako ng script. Nagme-memorize ako ng mga lines.
"Tapos nakita ko si Kobe nandoon, walang ginagawa, nagse-cellphone. Sabi ko, 'Anong ginagawa nitong si Kobe? Patawag mo nga si Kobe.' 'Ah, bakit Direk?' 'Magpapa-throw lines ako. 'Di ba, Inglesero ka naman?'"
Kobie, for his part, thought Direk Andoy got impressed with his performance and was checking him out for a possible project.
"I texted my mom pa. I said, 'I think Direk's auditioning me for something," Kobie recalled with a laugh.
It was far from Direk Andoy's intention, but he did see something in Kobie.
Direk Andoy continued, "Nag-read na ako ganyan, ganyan. So blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. Ta's parang I can hear something from him."
"Pwede ito," he thought to himself.
Direk Andoy explained: "Because I remember that time they were still looking for an alternate for Elijah.
"So piniktyuran ko siya. Sinend ko doon sa director. Sabi ko, 'Ito, parang puwede rin ito, e.
"Sabi ni Direk, 'Ay, oo nga, 'no? Puwede siya. And then it ended there, and then we moved on. Ginagawa na namin ang Roja."
Tuxqs Rutaquio is the the director for the live adaptation.
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KOBIE BROWN ON LANDING THE PART OF MARKUS
Kobie was not part of the first run of About Us But Not About Us, but he remembered watching the play thinking, "I hope I can be part of something like this one day."
Kobie elaborated: "Honestly, the reason I fell in love with acting was because of theater. Kasi I did a theater play nung 2023, Tabing Ilog.
"I really wasn't passionate about the craft before that. Kasi I came from PBB, and I felt like, at the time, I didn't know what I was getting myself into. And I knew that to myself."
The 23-year-old actor joined showbiz after his stint on Pinoy Big Brother: Connect in 2020.
He was part of the roster of artists of Star Magic, the talent management arm of ABS-CBN, then transferred to Sparkle GMA Artist Center in May 2026.
"But when I auditioned for my first theater play, Tabing Ilog The Musical, and I didn't even want to go, I didn't want to do it.
"I remember my mom said, 'Go, just try it out. You're not gonna lose anything.' So sige."
When Kobie finally did the rehearsals and shows for Tabing Ilog, he learned to appreciate his chosen profession.
"I was, like, 'Wow, this is good. This feels good. This is something I want to do."
The opportunity fell on his lap when he got in for the rerun of About Us But Not About Us.
"I'm so happy na I get to be in this space once again. It's a great feeling, and I definitely want to try out more theater after this," Kobie said.
Direk Andoy quipped, "At least the delusion paid off. It did."
Then Direk Andoy added that he encouraged Kobie to get into theater even when they were still doing Roja.
"Sabi ko, 'You know, you should also try theater. Because you will get the skills that no other film or TV actors can have.
"Because iba talaga yung training, e.
"And I am so proud to say that during our rehearsals with Kobe, nakita ko yung growth niya talaga.
"Na parang, ang kulit nitong batang ito. Ang likot-likot. Tumatakbo, tapos chika nang chika, ganon. Cellphone.
"Yung umiinit yung ulo ko, e. Kasi nga parang, 'Guys, ang hirap nitong ginagawa natin, di ba?"
DIREK ANDOY RANAY ON MOTIVATING YOUNG STARS
Reacting to a time when he got reprimanded by Direk Andoy, Kobe commented, "With Direk Andoy, like the funny thing about working with him at that time was that, and I always say to everyone, 'I don't know if he's angry or he's just, like, messing with me.'
"Like when he gets angry, parang, 'Is this totoo ba?' Kasi seryoso siya."
Direk Andoy clarified that he was just trying to keep the young stars in line.
"Hindi naman talaga totoo. Angry-angry-han nga ang tawag doon," said Direk Andoy.
"Of course, they are not going to get the best of me, okay? So, maggaagalit-galitan lang ako. Acting ko lang yun.
"Pero ipapakita mo sa kanila na parang galit ka para ma-convince sila na, 'Ay, s***, galit siya. So gagalingan ko. Magme-memorize ako ng lines, quiet na ako, gano'n. Kasi galit na siya, e.'"
The veteran director went on to say that he's not the type to bear grudges on set.
"Pero hindi nila alam, 'Huh? Ba't ako nagagalit? Unang-una, matatapos din ito.
"Pangalawa, pagka nagpaapekto ako sa inyo, dun talo ako. Kasi ang dami niyo, e.
"So, parang ganun. Ina-acting-an ko lang sila. Yun ang hindi nila alam."
As for Direk Andoy's compliment that his acting has improved, Kobe acknowledged that he's flattered with such validation from a mentor.
"Grabe. I mean, it's Direk Andoy. He's one of our best directors in the Philippines.
"Coming from him, it means a lot. But you know, siyempre you still have to keep working hard doing your best.
"I'm just very happy that I get to be able to work with him."
Watch: Full episode of Direk Andoy and Kobie's interview on PEP Spotlight: