Playing the role of a
has-been prostitute in “Area,” masterfully directed by Louie Ignacio, is a
dream role for Ai Ai delas Alas.
Thus, she didn’t need
any convincing to accept the role of Hillary. She hit the gym to lose unwanted
pounds. She dyed her hair to look like a cheap woman for hire and for the first
time, agreed to face the camera sans makeup, the better to make her look old
and haggard.
“If in my past movies, I
have to look glamorous, for my role as Hillary, I wanted to look arid, unkempt
and dirty as if life had been sucked out on me. Because of that, I learned to
be not conscious of my acting and how I look. I didn’t mind if they see the
wrinkles on my face as well as the signs of ageing. As Direk Louie said, he
wanted to see me real. We had an immersion for my role and I studied very well
the “peg” of my character of Hillary, whose story was the arc of Area’s
interesting narrative.”
Ai Ai bared her “soul,”
so to speak. She had a bizarre scene where she had to “service” a Siamese twins
who gave her only two cans of sardines as payment. She had a scene taking a
bath in her undies. She had a kissing scene with Allen Dizon where the people
took notice of her large boobs because she was wearing thinly veiled cloth.
Then the she had a scene with an old man (played by Frank Guinto) where it
seems she is giving him a “hand job” and she was given an electric fan as
payment.
“I really did something
out of the ordinary as part of my acting and my character. Why would I make a
fuss about doing the lurid scenes when my co-actors threw all their caution
into the wind and agreed to do anything for realism’s sake? But I can’t do what
Ireen Cervantes did when she showed her shaved pussy in full frontal nudity
with pumping? Or with Sue Prado exposing her boobs several times in her love
scenes. Or Sarah Brakensiek as “Taba” who went topless in her bathing scene. Or
Tabs Sumulong who parted her legs for the vaginal check up? We all did it for
the sake of art,” explained Ai Ai with a laugh.
Ai Ai fell in love with
Area (there is a real place existing in Pampanga) and she believes, there is no
sense or justice for the sad plight these people found themselves into. So
during the shoot of “Area,” she brings food for everyone in Area, not just for
the film drew and the stars. And she has no qualms even if the place is hot or
seems uncomfortable at times.
“I am sad, not only for
the women working in ‘Area’ but also sad for the innocent children who had been
exposed to such practice. I sure wish they had another choice for their sad
plight. But I believe in Our Merciful and I hope that our government can do
something to help them. I just want to think positive for them, just like how
my character Hillary experienced.”
Ai Ai earned praise for
her performance in “Area” and many are saying that this is her
"career defining
performance.” Many are also saying that she might win an International Best
actress for this film by Louie Ignacio.
“What the people are
saying warms my heart. I gave my soul in Area. I feel good because the movie
turned out well and it was worth all our effort,” said the box-office queen.
“Area,” written by Robby
Tantingco and produced by BG Productions, was given a Grade A Rating by the
Cinema Evaluation Board. It won Special Jury Prize at the 12th Eurasia
International Film Festival held in Kazakhstan and is an Official Selection at Tallinn
Black Nights Film Festival in Estonia. It will be shown in theatres on November
9.
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