I looked at my watch, it was already 8:00 p.m. The wind brought by typhoon Cosme was getting stronger. It was able to blow some of the rain into where we were seated while earlier I felt secured in that spot.
Another ”kasama sa raket” for a long time already, Gil, joined me and the talent wearing a security guard costume in our small talk. Gil asked me what my role will be. I told him Jenny told me I will be the boss. He said probably he will be my staff! Bryan – the talent caretaker was already “harassed” walking back and forth looking for Rico, another talent. I reminded Bryan for a copy of the script because I wanted to memorize my lines while I have plenty of time to do it. Bryan said that the production people told him that they will give it to me later. They were still very busy for the take they were doing then.
A production staff approached Gil and asked him if he could deliver lines. Gil casually answered he could not. When the production staff left, Gil told me he had enough of that kind of deal. Several instances in the past, he was called in for a taping as a mere talent without lines and of course with a very low budget. Then, he would be asked to do roles with lines with a promise to increase his budget. He would agree but after the taping, he was paid with the original low budget.
The wind and the rain were getting stronger. We begun to worry when will the taping be packed up so we could go home to Manila. The production staff returned with the assistant director. They were looking at me. The production staff told the assistant director that I would be playing the boss. The assistant director replied that it would be better for them to worry who could play the boss later and instead they will let me act the role of an adviser of Dingdong Dantes.
Just like a good soldier, right then and there, I stood up, picked up my costume bag and joined the staff as we rushed into the comfort room to dress up. I was putting on my long sleeves, while the staff in-charge for the dialogue was feeding me the lines so I could start memorizing. I look at the script, it was hand written, one full page. As I put on my neck tie, I was already on the second long line of what I thought was an improvised additional scene not in the original script, an insertion.
I was dressed up in less than five minutes, the make up artist was putting make up on my face while I was memorizing the third long line. We rushed up to the second floor and entered into an office. Dingdong was seated on the executive chair of what could be a table for a company president. Direk Joyce Bernal was with Dingdong. When the staff told her that I was now ready, Direk Joyce gave me the instructions. I was suppose to give Dingdong the advise on what to do with a kissing scandal involving him and a Isabel – a janitress. After giving me the instructions, Direk Joyce had a camera rehearsal, then we had the take. I had one cure. Then, a safety shot. We reviewed the take and we were done!
(to be concluded)
