NOEL COMIA, JR. PORTRAYS A GAY ROLE IN HIS NEW CINEMALAYA FILM (A VERY SPECIAL INTERVIEW)

noel: impressive

noel comia, jr. with blogger robert

noel with his dad

From the glass circle moving doors of the entrance of Promenade Mall in Greenhills, he saw him. He was wearing black leather jackets and a rather rugged pair of pants, walking side by side with his father.

He followed him, as he walked fast in a separate glass entrance door of the Promenade. He never noticed that someone was following him already. And as he and his dad looked around looking for someone, he called their attention.

His mom and elder sister soon appeared, and they became a complete family, together with a lone guest- out to bond and eat supper altogether.

A rather naive and gentle but unassuming boy, he smiled upon seeing his guest.

And the rest of the running minutes and clicks of time seemed to be just like ETERNITY.


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Noel Comia, Jr., the lead star of the upcoming Cinemalaya film entry entitled Children of the River, was every inch an actor of distinction, style, poise, breeding and intensity. At a young age, he knew the proper ways and manners of creating such a good and lasting impression upon his guest, who was out to interview him at that time. He was never harsh, he was always gentle when he spoke, and in between, his boyish ways could be cutely felt.

"Shooting the film was masaya, it's so much fun, too", came Noel's first answer to a question. "It was a great shoot for six days, far from the pollution of Metro Manila. Because you see, Sir, one of the aims of our film Children of the River is to promote tourism in Qurino, Isabela. That's the place we shot the film for its entirety. And we did capture the very many beautiful places there.

"Maganda po talaga doon", Noel further continued to say. "There's a great river flowing, hills and mountains and fields. It's like heaven. It's so quiet and peaceful. We slept in an Inn or Hotel every shooting wrap. As much as we loved to camp, we couldn't because we had to sleep after every shoot in preparation for the next shooting day."

How would Noel describe the film Children of the River?

"It's a coming of age film", Noel answered. "You will be surprised about my character in this movie. When we had a press conference, na-reveal na doon 'yung character ko sa movie. I portray po a gay role in this film. And it's my first time to portray a role like that. It's a gay role but I did not act gay and there's a lot more surprise if you'll gonna watch the film.

"But basically, the film is also a family-oriented film", Noel quipped. "It talks about the sadness of life and the simple joys, too. And also, the main ingredient of the film is about what happens to the families of soldiers being left behind as they go to wars. What happens to the children like us when their soldier-father leaves them behind. What was the feeling, ganu'n po. That's why I can say by now, this film tackles the sensitivity of one boy and one family."

What can you say about your director in this film, in person of Maricel Cariaga?

"She's a very hands-on director", Noel was quick to answer. "And I would like to thank her very much because I learned much from her about becoming responsible for my role. She's a good director.

"I made so much research on my role here, Sir, because my director told me to research and study further about the feelings and the lives of gay people", he continued saying again. "I did many observations and investigations. Medyo 'yung role ko po kasi, hindi totally out na gay, eh. Medyo boy pa siya. So I really dug deeper a lot and I applied some techniques that I learned in Theater. I mixed it all up and how I wish by now, people will like the way I portrayed my role here. I dedicate my role here to all LGBT's of the Philippines."

But in real life, Noel is a very straight GUY. It's just that being an actor, you must be open to every kind of roles offered. It's your job. It's your dedication to the world of Arts that mattered the most.

"And I find it very challenging, too, Sir", Noel told to the interviewer. "I love challenges. Portraying a role that I could not relate to, yeah, it's hard. But the result was fulfilling."

According to some observers, in the film Children of the River, it's going to be Noel who will carry the film all throughout. Without much big cast support compared to his previous film at Cinemalaya which was Kiko Boksingero (wherein he won the Best Actor award a couple of years back) - and he got there the likes of Yul Servo and Yayo Aguila as support, now in this film, only Jay Manalo sounded familiar in the names of the cast and maybe, Rich Asuncion (the bell doesn't ring loud, though.)? The rest of the cast sounded so unfamiliar. If we are right? Excuse us, please. Haha. Sorry po.

"Not really, Sir, I have Rich Asuncion and other stars from channel 7 as my support here also", Noel contradicted. "And I guess po, pare-pareho lang kaming actors. I can't say that I'm just the only one who will carry the movie all throughout. Iba-iba po ang binigay naming galing at paghihirap sa movie na ito. I must not take the sole credit. It's like we're one big barkada in this movie. We worked as a team, Sir."

Oh, okey. Hihihihihi.


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A product of KIDS ACT PHILIPPINES, Noel considers Mr. Luigi G. Nacario and Eugene Belbis, both Acting teachers of Kids Act Philippines, as his original and very first mentors. 

"It's with them that I learned how to act because that's where I studied Theater Acting and also Music Theory", Noel revealed. "I also learned how to read musical notes because of them. Now I can benefit from reading musical notes whenever I perform in a musical play, a concert or a show. I also know how to compose songs, and I can sing, too, as much as I can dance."

What a talented boy, indeed. Aside from acting, dancing, singing, modelling- Noel can also play musical instruments. He could play the piano, the drums, the Ukelele, the Harmonica, the recorder, and the Melodica. Pretty fascinating, indeed.

"Whenever I have the spare hours, I would play the instruments", Noel revealed to a blogger. "But like any ordinary kids, I also spend so much time playing the Mobile Legend on my cellphone. Hahahaha!"


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More on Noel Comia, Jr. on Swordshines10.Blogspot.Com before or after his film "Children of the River" gets to be shown at the coming Cinemalaya 15. For now, everybody's thrilled to see him again on the wide screen. With a rather surprising role that would further prove his versatility as an actor.

After "Children of the River", Noel's next films are: "Versus", directed by Ralston Jover, "Huling Gitarista", directed by Jason Orfalas and the international film of Raya Martin out to be shown at the Venice Film festival- "Death of Nintendo".

Surely, this boy soon turning to be a fine, young man will mesmerize us more. His career pattern is impeccable- almost like the career path of a Hollywood 'big-time' actor. But sad to say, Noel comes from the Philippines and not from Hollywood.

Yet still, he was able to create such a serious, convincing formula of a great actor-



FOREVER.




(as the words were written by robert manuguid silverio)