Veteran actor Eddie Garcia is aware that most of the independently produced films now are being included in major film festivals here and abroad. However, the actor-director says he doesn't think about this fact when he accepts a movie project.
For Eddie, "Ako kasi, kapag gumawa ng pelikula, hindi ko na ina-aspire na [mapasama] for the festival. Para sa akin, panoorin ng tao para kumita 'yong pelikula at 'yong producer mabawi ang puhanan niya."
Although the number of films produced has dropped compared to past decades, the former action star still managed to show off his award-winning skill in acting through several independent films. These include ICU Bed #7 (2005), which was shown in the first Cinemalaya Film Festival in 2005. This also earned him another Best Actor award. He also appeared in indie films such as Birhen ng Manaoag (2005), Pinoy Blonde (2005), Fuchsia (2009), at ang Buenavista (2010).
Eddie again proved that he still has it in the movie Ika-Sampu (Malapit Ka Na), which premiered last night, November 30, at Cinema 1 of SM Megamall in Mandaluyong City.
"Ang pinaka-role ko dito ay isang Spanish general na siyang may-ari ng 10 moneda at 'yong isa ay nawawala kaya doon umikot ang istorya," he added further. "This movie is a basically a period movie. But there are portions, the present time and the flashbacks are period. It happened during the Spanish time. The gist of the story is about ten monedas or ten huge coins and one was missing that's why it's titled Ika-Sampu."
In this movie, viewers will see a cruel Eddie Garcia, who uses his power to get whatever he wants. However, this will lead to an accidental death that will haunt his descendants.
But Eddie was quick to clarify, "It's not a horror. Ito 'yong pinarurusahan ko dahil siya ang napagbintangang nagnakaw. Nalagay siya sa torture chamber kaya akala mo horror pero hindi." He was referring to the movie poster that showed a lady that is almost similar to several horror movies.
MIXING HISTORY WITH THE PRESENT TIME. In a separate interview with the newbie movie director Val "Macky" Derpo, he mentioned that the plot revolves around a Spanish girl named Alexa Nicole dela Vega.
He described, "It's about a young Hispanic girl na descendant ng rich family in 1800s, na nag-inherit ng bahay. Ever since then, when her father died, it still remains a mystery. She inherited 'yong company niya. 'Yong company niya is losing na and she finds out na 'yong na-inherit niyang house ay may treasure. When she investigated the house, nalaman niya 'yong dark past ng family niya and na-figure out niya why all these recurring dreams happen to her."
Since this is his first full-length project, Direk Macky considers Ika-Sampu as one of his experiments on filmmaking.
"I guess it's never been done before. Gusto ko pang i-explore ang history natin. I want to experiment if we can put history at the same time, see how we can tweak it."
Other cast members of Ika-Sampu are Boots Anson-Roa, Maria Isabel Lopez, and Priscilla Meirelles.
Watch OptiCred Motion Pictures' Ika-Sampu (Malapit Ka Na) in major SM Cinemas, Robinsons Indie Cine, and in select cinemas of Ever Gotesco malls starting today, December 1.