Many were involved in the production of Pilipino Cultural Night, but those sitting in the audience only saw a few of the members on stage. The Skyline View met up with two of the stars as well as the head writer for the play “Lovewrecked: Diary of a Manilaman.”
Q: What’s your name and what did you do for Pilipino Cultural Night?Briane Nuval(BN): My name is Briane Nuval and I play Marc Florendo.Warlito Caturay Jr.(WC): I’m Warlito Caturay Jr. and I play Bayani in the play.Lloyd Bautista(LB): My name is Lloyd Bautista and I was the head writer for PCN.
Q: What would you say your role in the play was?BN: I play Marc, the lead role in this year’s play, it was a heavy role. For last year I was just a supporting character and auditioning for the lead role was a major jump.WC: Bayani is a fun character, He is the comic relief of the show. He is actually the best friend of one of the main character Manuel Florendo.
Q: How were auditions?BN: The auditions were pretty fun. You just sign up for what character you want to play. There were others trying other people for the role, but I remember Rommel Conclara came up to me and told me “You know who I want you to try out for right?” and so, and that’s who I wanted to play too.WC: When we first did our preliminary readings I think Liza asked me to read for Bayani and most of the students thought I was perfect for the role.LB: For Zheena Cayayab, the person who plays Rose. I remember her the most, because she was the first person that I saw actually get into the character and have the character from the script come to life. In the beginning of class she seemed like the silent type, and during the auditions was the first time I saw her talking, so it was definately surprised.
Q: How did you feel about the script?BN: It was fun. It pretty much was like a “Romeo and Juliet” meets “Back to the Future.” It was fun doing lloyd’s script.WC: Lloyd’s script was hilarious, at first I must admit that I wasn’t too thrilled with the story, but after Lloyd finished the final script I was pleased.LB: There were times when people didnt have thier heart into it. I remember specifically last semester where people came up to me privately and told me “my hearts not into” but as time passed by the class became more and more together.
Q: Can you compare Thursday with Saturday?BN: Thursday’s crowd was so in to it from Act 1 to Act 2. We would get the reactions we wanted and played out perfect. Saturday was a much tougher crowd, both days were good crowds.WC: I think I did better on the thursday show probably because the crowd on saturday was tougher. I think the crowd was younger on thursday, they got more of the jokes. Saturday was more family.LB: Saturday I was more hyped on towards the end.Q: Were you nervous at all?BN: Honestly, yeah. You had to have butterflies when you get on stage. When we get the right reactions from the crowd that boosted our confidence.WC: I was more nervous saturday than thursday, because I knew the crowd would be bigger saturday.
Q: Briane, how do you stay so composed?BN: I’m a loud person, projection came normally with me.
Q: Have you ever acted before?BN: I’ve never acted, not even in high school. Last year’s PCN was my first acting experience. I got a lot of people coming up to me after the show and ask “Are you a professional actor?” and I tell them no I’m just a student at Skyline. I feel that it’s a fun hobby, I don’t really see it as a career.WC: Yeah in college, I did theatre in college. But this was my first time to do comedy, I was a bit apprehensive because I’ve never done it before. I had to really work with dramatic timing, it was tough.
Q: Lloyd, how did you feel the performers did?LB: I think they nailed it. Just seeing the play come to life from the fall writing it out to this year acting out, when I saw the play I was speechless.
Q: Can you compare yourself and the character you play?BN: I think this is why I got the role. Even though the character is a little older, we do have similarities. How Marc Florendo he doesn’t have his priorities straight, I’m not as bad as him though. Not paying attention to his girlfriend, I’ve been there. Being the myspace, yeah I’ve been there. not as bad though. Being lazy.WC: Bayani’s character is very loyal to his friends, and loyalty is something thats big to me.
Q: What are your hobbies?BN: I’m a movie fanatic, I’m always watching movies. I’m a laid back kind of guy. None of the bad stuff.WC: I watch a lot of movies, I’ve always been fascinated with cinema. I love watching stage plays. I’ll admit I’m new to theatre because theatre is one of my hobbies.LB: Dancing is basically my hobby. If I’m not doing that or going to school I’m working, and I teach dances.
Q: Briane, are you addicted to Halo?BN: Not right now, I was addicted to it. When Halo came out I was addicted, when Halo 2 came out I was addicted, when Halo 3 came out I was addicted. If my girlfriend called me, I wouldn’t shut her down for Halo. That’s pretty bad.
Q: Warlito, Briane said you were a savior of sorts for the show. What do you have to say about that?WC: That’s what people have been telling me, and I can’t take the credit. I think everybody did their part. I’m flattered but at the same time I couldn’t take the credit because a lot of people worked hard too.
Q: Lloyd, is love always enough?LB: For me, yeah personally I think love is always enough. I wouldn’t be writing something that I didn’t believe in, so of course I believe love is always enough.
