By
JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin
In 2011, Lester Avan Andrada, a Communication
Arts majoring in Theater student at the University of the Philippines in Los
Banos (UPLB), became an exchange student at the Far East University (FEU) in
Korea.
As he was training at FEU-Korea's Theater and
Acting Department, he saw an ad for a role in a Korean film posted by a talent
agent in March last year. He tried his luck and auditioned the following month.
"During the audition, I acted out a
scene taken from the script which I got five days prior to the audition day. In
the scene, I tried asking some Koreans to help me find a particular address. My
speaking lines were all in Filipino. I sometimes spoke English but in a
fragmented way," Andrada told Bulletin
Entertainment in his first media interview.
He passed the audition and started filming in
May 2012 which ended in October under a contract with entertainment agency
Sidus HQ.
On Aug. 15, Andrada's dream will be fulfilled
with the release of the Korean movie "The Flu" in Korea.
"The Flu," starring popular
celebrities Jang Hyuk and Soo Ae, is about a deadly respiratory disease that
infects people in Bundang in Seoul. The epidemic infects about 2,000 per hour
and death is expected within 36 hours.
In the film, Andrada said he played the role
of Mongssai, an illegal overseas Filipino worker (OFW) who was smuggled into
Korea along with other illegal workers from other countries.
He said he will attend the premiere of the
movie in Korea scheduled on Aug. 5 and 6.
Before the film's release, "The
Flu" has already gained interest from buyers from 38 countries after the
trailer was shown at the 66th Cannes Film Festival last May.
Andrada is graduating this semester from
UPLB. He's the only child of Gina and Cesar Andrada from Calamba, Laguna. He
said that after his father died when he was only 13, he started helping his mom
with the family expenses.
"The Flu" is his first acting job
although he participated in different theater productions at UPLB and
FEU-Korea.
Andrada, 21, talked about his experience
working in the film and with Korean stars, and his future.
Bulletin Entertainment: How many people auditioned for role?
Andrada: "I'm not sure of the exact
number but the assistant director told me that about 20 people submitted
resumes applying for the same role."
How did it feel to work with Korean stars
like Jang Hyuk and Soo Ae?
"It was an incredible experience to have
worked with famous actors like Jang Hyuk and Soo Ae. They are awesome people.
Everytime I hear from my Korean and Filipino friends how famous they are in the
industry, I just can't help but be amazed and dumbfounded. I didn't realize
that I have worked with such big stars until I saw the promotional materials.
Although they are famous actors, I didn't feel awkward during our shootings.
They were all very approachable and like any other normal friend, they'd love
to mingle with us especially during the breaks and when there are production
dinners or parties. We always talked during breaks and I actually had the
chance to tell them about the Philippines. I even invited them to pay a visit
to our country and have tropical summer experiences in our white beaches and
other tourist spots. They said they'd love to."
Did they require you to learn the Korean
language?
"Actually, the moment I auditioned, I
can already speak Korean. I learned Korean when I went there for the student
exchange program. I always read Korean scripts and texts and tried to translate
and analyze them. I also love to watch Korean film which might be the reason
why I learned the language very quickly. The director said that it's an
advantage for me that I can speak their language because it can help me to have
a better understanding of the industry. Although the director can fluently
speak English, he said that it's better that I can understand their language
because he thinks that he can express or convey himself better through Korean.
The director often gave his directives in Korean. If I didn't understand
something, I would tell the assistant directors and that's the moment an
interpreter would do his job. The movie script and even my lines were also written
in Korean. I translated it word per word and tried to have a good grasp on it
by reading it often."
Are you going to pursue your acting career in
Korea, or here in the Philippines?
"As of now, I have future plans of
pursuing my acting career in Korea since I started it there. I have been well
exposed to their film and performing arts industry and I see a lot of reasons
to pursue my dreams of being a professional actor in a country with thousands
of accomplished actors and artists."
What are your talents and hobbies?
"Acting is my first love and singing is
my second. I've been dreaming of becoming a famous actor since I was a kid. I
play the piano and organ. I am an organist in our Church. I love to watch
movies, specifically Korean movies. I also love to read novels and other
literary pieces. Since I am a student of Theater, I always expose myself to
different theatrical forms. Korean theater is one form which I find interesting
and fascinating."
Who are your favorite Korean and Filipino
stars?
"My favorite Korean actors are Jang Dong
Geon, Won Bin and Ha Jeong Woo. They are really great actors of Korea. In
Filipino films, my favorites are Dingdong Dantes and Maricel Soriano."
What are your future plans?
"I want to pursue my acting career and
be successful in this industry. When I earn enough, I plan to build an Art
Academy here in the Philippines which will help young and talented Filipinos
hone their crafts and talents. I want to help them achieve their dreams and
prove the world that we, Filipinos, can."
(Andrada's next project is the Filipino film "Ang Sugo" starring Richard Gomez, Bong Revilla and Albert Martinez)
Link to my original article
on Manila Bulletin online:
Email me at
sangchusan(at)gmail.com
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