Jake Cuenca dives into film production with 13th Cinemalaya finalist ‘Requited’

There’s really no stopping for Jake Cuenca as far as keeping with his passion for self-improvement and acting is concerned. This time, the highly-regarded star is dipping his hands into movie production with the Cinemalaya 2017 finalist Requited, which also stars himself and Anna Luna.

The romance-drama film directed and penned by Nerissa Picadizo centers on the journey of ex-lovers Matt and Sandy, who rode their bicycles from Manila to Mt. Pinatuboin order to fulfill thedying goal of the former, who is suffering from Parkinson’s Disease.

"You'll really root for them eh. Talaga nga asa ka na magkabalikan sila. Ang daming hirit at patama sa isa't-isa,” shared Jake about their characters.

Jake’s first co-production project and his second Cinemalaya entry after Nuwebe, Requited took almost two years to create. But prior to joining being an official film entry into this year’s Cinemalaya, the film has already been selected as a finalist at the 2015 Manila Film Financing Forum and the 2016 Cinemalaya DGPI Film Pitching.

“I saw such a beautiful script eh and nasakyan ko ang vision ng director ko. And I just wanted to help even more sa financial,” he said.

The Ikaw Lang Ang Iibigin star revealed that he opted to waive for his talent fee for the film.
“I more or less gave my whole talent fee and plus more money on top of that to make this movie even better than what it was,” he said.

Aside from being the movie’s producer, Jake is also one of the film’s stars. According to him, his character Mattactually goes against his usually intense roles.

“My director doesn't want me to give that kind of acting. She doesn't want intense and explosive. She wants me to portray the character as human as possible. Kasi in this scenario ako ang hiniwalayan, ako ang iniwan and ako yung kawawa,” Jake described.

Jake is also no stranger to his leading lady, whom he has spent time with at the Ivanna Chubbuck workshops.

“Hindi ko maiwasang matawa sa ibang ginagawa niya. Sobrang laughtrip niyang tao kahit na motivated nako. I'm very impressed and very happy,” he said about Anna Luna, who actually came along with the thousands who auditioned for the character.

Aside from Matt, Jake can also be seen in the big screen soon enough as Lizardo in the upcoming Metro Manila Film Festival entry AngPanday, which is to be directed by the film's lead actor Coco Martin.

The 13th Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival will be held on August 4-13, 2017 at the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) and selected Ayala Theaters.Requited’s Gala night, meanwhile, is happening on August 8, 9pm at the CCP Main Theater.