PIOLO Pascual had the option to go sentimental and cast his real-life son, Iñigo, in the action flick “The Ride.” Instead, he picked Kyle Echarri because, for him, art shouldn’t necessarily be a mirror of his personal life.
“Too close,” Piolo admitted when asked why not Iñigo.
“When this was pitched to me by Cornerstone Entertainment (his management company), Kyle was already the first choice for the role. This project has been around for a long time. Kyle did a look test back then and he was perfect. At that time, Iñigo was still in the States because of the pandemic, and honestly, I didn’t want to do a father-and-son project that was too close to real life. I wanted something different.”
Different is exactly what “The Ride” delivers, said Piolo. It’s a gritty, timely drama that tackles regrets, dealing with wrong choices, and the ripple effects of violence. Watching the final cut on the big screen gave Piolo a flood of emotions.
“When you make a film, you want it to be watchable and entertaining, but also meaningful. Ano ba ang mensahe ng pelikula? I hope we were able to send the message across. This is important and timely, because the violence — this is really happening around the world.”
The film, he said, is meant to make viewers reflect.
“Tama ba ang mga choices na ginagawa mo bilang tao, bilang tatay, bilang anak? What are the circumstances you need to avoid? The decisions you need to make so your life turns out better?” he told reporters during a recent special screening of the Thop Nazareno film, which opens in cinemas nationwide on Sept. 24.
For Piolo, part of the thrill of the role was stepping out of his comfort zone and leaving his matinee-idol polish at the door.
But while he was sinking into his grittiest character yet, Piolo was also stepping into the role of a guide for Kyle. Their closeness, he said, was formed long before ABS-CBN tapped Kyle to play his son in “Pamilya Sagrado.”
At this stage in his career, Piolo is grateful that streaming platforms have opened new doors for actors his age.
With “The Ride,” Piolo takes on a darker role, pushes himself as an actor, and gives the spotlight to a younger talent. By choosing Kyle Echarri over Iñigo, he avoided the obvious father-and-son pairing and made a decision that was less sentimental, more intentional.
“The Ride” is a production of Spring Films, Cornerstone Studios and MQuest Ventures. (Marinel Cruz © Philippine Daily Inquirer)
