News:

Indie actor Perry Escaño and the state of his steady career

As J03 Balikas in the movie Ranchero

    “Slowly but surely,” this is what Perry Escaño considers his guiding principle now that he is inching his way into the world of entertainment. Escaño, who aside from being a theater actor (a junior member of Gantimpala Theater Actors’ Company) belongs to this elite roster - a poll billed as the top-twenty independent film actors. He is very busy with the projects he is currently undertaking for film and television.

    His independent film projects include Michael Cardoz Ranchero, a Cinemalaya Finalist where he portrays the supporting role JO3 Andy Balikas, a sympathetic jail guard and friend of Ricardo (Archi Adamos). The film focuses on the story of two convicts who prepare the meals inside a jailhouse and how the food they cook affect the very lives of the inmates they serve.

    Ranchero is one of the films set for showing in the Paris Film Festival this month and it is the only one permitted for pitching to possible French film market buyers.

    In the can and for submission to the 2008 Cine Manila International Film Festival is Magkaibang Direksyon (Different Direction) where Perry essays the lead role of Father Gary, a former womanizer turned priest. The film plays with the idea of how criminals are sometimes more religious than people living “normal” lives and presents a parallelism between the lives of the young priest and a colorful pimp. Directors of the film are Christian Fabros and Jamieson Lee.

    By the end of this month, he starts shooting Green Lantern: Pinoy, another leading role for him as Hal Jordan, under the direction of John Wong, this film pokes on the Pinoy’s super hero fixation.

    To all these indie film projects, Escaño says, “I am very pleased that I get to different kind of roles. It does not matter whether the part I play is supporting or lead. What is important to me is the character that I will portray. I see these characters giving me the opportunity to explore the many facets that I have as an actor.  It feels good that you can be a priest, police, super hero and give life to the role assigned to you. . I love filming. I am a real film animal. I just hope that the public likes what they see.”

    Escaño has mainstream projects as well. He is Lim Hang (with the voice of Cesar Montano) during the live mall show performances of Urduja, the first digital Filipino animation film that got an A rating from the Cinema Evaluation Board. It is still showing nationwide.

    He will portray Chief Police Calderon, a corrupt police officer in the prime time ABS-CBN soap Iisa Pa Lamang and Attorney Bernal, the defense attorney hired by Gerry (Emilio Garcia) to defend the case of Victor Henson, the father of Rod (Dennis Trillo) in the afternoon GMA-7 soap opera top-rater Magdusa Ka.

    His last prime time television appearances were as Emil Buenaobra in Joaquin Bordado and Wilson Corres in Babangon Ako’t Dudurugin Kita.

    “I am very thankful that my career is moving steadily. To be given all these opportunities, to work in independent films and to be in soap operas are indeed blessings for an actor like me. I would continue to do my best, work diligently and professionally,” concludes Escaño.