Great Discovery
Some time in your life, you will be needing to step out from your comfort zone. You are not forever a part of the background. There will come a time that the spotlight will flicker and will shine on you. Just like what happened to me.
When I started college, I never knew that for a moment, all eyes will be on me. I am just a normal kid who knows nothing but to write (and stay away from people). I never seemed to be someone that truly exists but through time, I definitely did(Thanks to the great support of everyone around me).
Honestly, I was never gifted in the performing arts department. Analyzing myself, I know for a fact that I don't know how to sing nor to dance and even act. But I was wrong in one thing. When I hit 3rd year, I had to take my drama classes which almost really killed the shit outta me. I was afraid to face the entire class and of course, act. I never knew what acting wass all about.
And then came Acting class and Theatre Production.
What challenged me the most is the Theatre Production. In this class, we had to produce not a school play but a professional play with a 20k budget. It's definitely a huge amount to turn to waste.
then there was it. They chose Rene O. Villanueva's "May Isang Sundalo." A story set in the 70's with two characters only. The Sundalo (Soldier) and the Puta (Prostitute.)
My prodmates wanted me to direct it and I almost did but no one wanted to take the role of the Sundalo. Even I don't want to do it. I'm thin, happy-go-lucky and not the Alpha Male kind to take such a role. I never believed I could do it. BUT THEY BELIEVED IN ME.
I know it would sound funny but I felt like how a superhero felt the urge to save people, in my case I felt I needed to take on this challenge. 4 months in the making and it was all worth it. (Every night, every breaks and every rest days, we all had to rehearse. I even memorized a very thick script. Imagine the pressure and the months of stressful hard work.)
Telling a story without pictures is boring so here we go.
Rehearsals. With co-actors Jerome, Lyndsay and Jannica
We even had Photoshoots for our posters.
This was taken hours before the performance night.Just look how tensed I was.
Our final rehearsal before we performed. Sir Danny Mandia, our theater professor, meticulously perfecting every detail of our performance.
Here we go. I hate this part where I cry every time our prod's make-up director (yes. Director, not artist. It's like our inside joke where we are all called directors. Ex. Actor-director, set designer director, prod staff director) put something under my eyes and how she always plays with my face.
Our booth!!!! Lyndsay and Jerome on the left and mine and Jannica's poster on the right
People were coming!!!!
Actual play. Sadly I dunno where to get HD pictures. I think they weren't allowed.
After the play, we gave our overflowing gratitude to the audience who really enjoyed watching. While performing we really felt them. We heard their laughs and even felt their silence during the climax where the soldier and the prostitute burst out from agony and pain. We definitely felt it even though we cannot see them because all the lights were pointed at us.
Oh yes. I definitely cried. haha
Outside before people left, we had to give thanks for watching and supporting our production. My family and friends definitely watched.
I am just so thankful, I did it and took on the challenge. I would definitely remember that once in my life, I did my best and shine.
