TWO OF VIVAMAX reigning queens, Angeli Khang and Azi Acosta, are cast together in lead roles for the first time in one movie: “Sila ay Akin”, story by National Artist Ricky Lee and directed by internationally acclaimed filmmaker Mac Alejandre.
And what is Azi’s role in the movie? “Ako po si Josie, asawa ni Vince Rillon as Pao,” she says.
“Si Azi naman po as Marites is paired with Victor Relosa as JC.
"Yung mga asawa namin, parehong macho dancer sa gay bar and tanggap namin kung ano yung klase ng trabaho nila, pati yung gay lover ni Vince na si Gerald Madrid.”
Complications occur when the gay lover offers to take Vince to America, but he has to leave Angeli behind. Azi will also face her own problems in her relationship with Victor.
How is it working and sharing topbilling with Azi who is said to be her rival as Vivamax Queen?
“Azi and I have worked before in ‘Selina’s Gold’ and ‘Balik Taya’ but we have no scenes together,” says Angeli.
“Dito, we live in the same house so marami kaming eksena together. Magaan ang feeling ko sa kanya.
"At bilib ako kasi magaling siya umiyak. She really knows her craft and she exceeded all expectations. We really had fun working together.”
She has done three films with Direk Mac, “Silip sa Apoy”, “Selina’s Gold” and “Bela Luna”, and one series, “Wag Mong Agawin ang Akin”. How does she find working with him?
“The first time I worked with him, kabado ako as I know matagal na siya sa industry. But it turned out, hindi siya terror.
"He really wants to help you grow as an actress. I can feel yung pag-aalaga niya, kasi tuturuan ka niya kunsaan mo huhugutin ang iyong emotions needed for a scene.
"So he has my complete trust. Kahit ano ipagawa niya sa akin, I will do it, as I know hindi naman niya ako ipapahamak.”
Direk Mac says he just loves Angeli.
“After this, we’re doing another movie, ‘Ganti-Ganti’. Angeli has really developed her acting skills to the point that she knows the right nuances na ibibigay niya sa isang eksena. I love both her and Azi.”
So who is more daring and the better actress?
“They’ve both become my favorites. Their my muses. Here, they are both very daring. As to who’s better, we cannot quantify it.
"Magkaiba ang roles nila. As the film’s narrator, mas maraming dialogue si Azi.
"Angeli has minimal dialogue but she shows all her emotions in her acting.”
He says that when Ricky Lee and he wrote the film, they quickly thought of Angeli and Azi in the lead roles.
“Sila agad ang nasa isip naming pagsamahin and we’re glad that Boss Vic del Rosario approved it.
"The story is about macho dancers, na nagawa na ni Ricky in his past films.
"But this time, the story is told from the viewpoint of the women in their lives, si Angeli, si Azi and also their mother, played by Angie Castrence who’s so good here.
"The movie is really about family. Kasi when you love a person, mamahalin mo hindi lang siya kundi pati buong pamilya niya, so you should not say ‘ikaw ay akin’ but ‘sila ay akin’.”
What can he say about the charges if indecency filed by a group of guardians of morality called Social Media Broadcasters for doing explicit scenes in her films?
"There will always be self-proclaimed guardians of morality. 70s pa may ganyan na, di ba?
"I don't know about the legalities, but I've always known that what is truthful and just, that is what will prevail.
"Art will always have more impact in the public's consciousness. History has already proven that through the years."
Angeli and Azi are supported in "Sila ay Akin" by Andrea Garcia as a bar girl in love with Victor, Cess Garcia as a rape victim traumatized when she was violated by her own father and his friends, Gerald Madrid as the gay lover and newcomers Chad Alviar as another macho dancer, VJ Vera, Vino Gonzales and G-Boy Pablo as the rapists of Cess Garcia.
“Sila ay Akin” will stream on Vivamax starting this Friday, October 27.
