INAMIN ng aktor na si Raymond Bagatsing na sobrang honored siya sa pagkakapiling gumanap bilang si President Manuel Luis Quezon sa pelikulang Quezon’s Game, handog ng Star Cinema, ABS-CBN, at Kinetek Productions, na mapapanood na sa Mayo 29.
Nag-audition daw si Raymond para sa role.
“I auditioned for the role and after I was informed that they’re getting me, I researched on Pres. Quezon, read books about him and watched, studied his speeches that are available on YouTube, observing him and absorbing him. I had about a month to prepare before shooting started,” kuwento ni Raymond.
Pagpapakasal dahil lang sa anak, 'di bet ni Janella Salvador
“Quezon is a very lively speaker, he really gives his heart and his whole body when he speaks. He smiles, he jokes. No doubt he’s a great man, but we also showed that he loves to drink scotch, he’s a good poker player, he smokes tobacco, in other words, taong-tao rin siya.
“But he really works hard and is very serious with his job as a president. I’m really thankful to be given the opportunity to portray him on the big screen.”
Maging ang gumanap na asawa ni Manuel L. Quezon na si Rachel Alejandro ay nag-audition din.
“Like Raymond, I had to audition for the part. And thank God, I got it.
And filming it, proved an ultra nice experience to remember. May role as President Quezon’s wife was not handed to me on a silver platter,” kuwento ng mang-aawit.
Anyway, sinimulan ang kuwento ng Quezon’s Game noong 1938, habang may bantang giyera ang Amerika. Bale ba may nagaganap na pag-uusap na puwedeng magkatrabaho sina Pres. Quezon at future U.S. Pres. Dwight Eisenhower.
Ang Quezon’s Game ay nanalo ng iba’t ibang international awards mula sa WorldFest Houston International Filmfest on April 13. Nanalo rin itong Best Foreign Film at tatlong Gold Remi Awards para sa Best Art Design, Best Producers, at Plum Best Director si Matthew Rosen, an award-winning TV commercial and music video director.
Bukod sa Houston International Film festival ay nanalo rin ang pelikula sa Cinema Worldfest Awards sa Ottawa, Canada, awards for excellence para kay Raymond bilang lead actor at kay Rachel as lead actress sa karakter na Aurora Quezon.
Kasama rin sa pelikula sina David Bianco, Paul Holme, Billy Ray Gallion, at James Paolelli, habang si Audie Gemora ang gaganap na Vice Pres. Sergio Osmeña.
Ang Quezon’s Game ay kuwento ng buhay ng dating Presidente ng Pilipinas, na hindi nababasa sa history books kaya hindi alam na siya ang dahilan kaya naligtas ang Jewish refugees mula sa ghettos ng Germany at Austria noong 1938.
-REGGEE BONOAN
