WALA RAW kaso kay Tom Rodriguez kung ang pagpapakita niya ng hubad na katawan ang magting bentahe ng kanyang karaketer bilang si Sergio sa second Pinoy remake ng Marimar na pinagbibidahan nila ni Megan Young.
“I’m preparing for it. I’m already expecting,” sabi nga niya. “Just like in other material or roles that I may do. I’m preparing for the worst na inevitable. So, I’m really doing my best na… kung iyon man ang kailangan, I have to deliver. I have to do it. So I have to expect na lagi.”
He has no qualms when it comes to taking his clothes off?
“I grew up in Arizona. a ano lang… it’s a small farm. I have to say that I am expecting that. It would be that way. Para at least kung wala man, same thing siya. Sinabi ko nga na I have to prepare myself na there will be really intimate scenes na we (sila ni Megan) have to kiss each other, gano’n. I’ll prepare myself for that para if it’s asked of me I will do it. Kesa naman it’s the opposite na ini-expect mo… a, hindi ‘yon ipagagawa sa amin.”
So far, ano ba ‘yong nakunan nang pinaka-intimate scenes nila ni Megan na aabangan ngayong nagsimula nang umere ang Marimar?
“A… very early pa lang kami when it comes to shooting the materials, e. Pero ‘yong mga nagawa na namin like ‘yong materials sa plug, it had to be really intimate. Kaya we’re expecting it to really progress even more.”
Updated o makabago na ang tema ng istorya ng Marimar na tinatampukan nila ngayon ni Megan kung ikukumpara sa original nito na pinagbidahan ng Mexican singer-actress na si Thalia, at kahit sa unang Pinoy remake nito na pinagtambalan naman nina Marian Rivera at Dingdong Dantes. Ano ang pagkakaiba ng atake ngayon ni Tom sa kanyang role bilang si Sergio?
“Siguro iyon ang kailangan nating abangan. Pero ‘yon ang challenge, e. I’m doing my best to create the character even more human. And it’s still an ongoing process. Ang akala ko, preparing for it before when we started taping, iyon na, e. Pero there’s still changes along the way. Na parang kahit ako, kinikilala ko pa rin si Sergio na there’s still more to him that I’m finding out. And I like that. Na parang I’m getting to know him very well.”
In terms of his character as Sergio, how much of it is he in real life?
“Siguro when it comes to being adventurous in a way. Pero Sergio’s adventurousness is… to a different level. Na even I as Tom, I haven’t experienced it yet. And uhm… but definitely the heart. I think he has the quality na he longs for a connection. A real connection with someone na… parang sinu-suppress siya. It’s there. And I try to connect with it and try to live out in my life too.”
May pressure ba for him na ikatlong aktor na nga siyang magpu-portray ng karakter ni Sergio matapos itong gampanan ng original Sergio na si Eduardo Capetillo, at ni Dingdong nga sa unang Pinoy remake ng Marimar?
“Yeah. That’s very pressuring. Pero just like in life, we all have pressures. And it’s up to us to do the best we can with it. And to taken on the challenge and learn from it. Grow from it. Iyon ang pinaka-main goal ko. To do my best, learn from great material, and grow.”
Malaking bagay raw para kay Tom na ‘yong production people at crew ng Marimar ay same people na nakatrabaho niya dati sa My Husband’s Lover. It also helped him a lot daw.
“Parang isang malaking homecoming siya. Kasi I know I’m in great hands so wala ‘yong… nangangapa ka. I know that I’m in great hands na if there’s something I’m lacking in, I know that they will tell me and they will guide me. And they will help me.”
Ano ang masasabing niyang the best sa pakikipagtrabaho kay Megan?
“The great thing about Megan is ano, e… wala siyang ipinagbago when I first met her in 2011. With all the achievements na natamo niya, all the success… everything. All the praises, all the prestige she has brought to our country… she has remained very humble and very grounded. Talagang wala siyang ka-ere-ere. Na siguro kung wala lang camera or her job wasn’t in this industry na exposed sa mga cameras at sa mga tao… she would just be that girl na siguro naka-hoody or kumakain na nagkakamay. Talagang she’s very ano… very approachable. At saka sobrang napakakalog.
“Si Megan is very very attractive. And I’d like to think that in this early stage, we’re open with each other. Kasi there need to have a lot of trust lalo na no’ng nag-start kami ng familiarity workshop. ‘Yong guide sa amin ng aming naging facilitator was… in the show, it’s gonna be us. Kami ‘yong magka-team. So, kailangan at a very least… we have an understanding.”
Malaking bagay raw na nagkaroon sila ni Megan ng sensuality workshop.
“Yeah. That helped greatly. I have to say… that helped.”
Rubbing Elbows
by Ruben Marasigan
