Why Cesar Montano No Longer Accepts Just Any Project in Showbiz
CESAR MONTANO – Veteran actor and director Cesar Montano is entering a new chapter in his acting career, choosing roles with more depth and purpose instead of simply taking on every offer.
Cesar Montano is back on the big screen as part of the Sinag Maynila Film Festival entry Selda Tres. This time, he portrays a more subdued character, playing Lando, the older half-brother of JM De Guzman’s character, who faces false accusations that land him in prison.
At the film’s press conference earlier this month, Montano shared his excitement about working with co-stars JM De Guzman and Carla Abellana for the first time. “Bitin nga ako eh. I’m looking forward na sana makatrabaho ko pa ulit sila. I feel so honored na makatrabaho sila. These are incredible actors, itong mga kasama ko. Magagaling. Sana makatrabaho ko ulit sila in the near future,” he expressed.
Cesar Montano described his character as a simple man who runs a car buy-and-sell business, admitting that guilt sets in when he realizes he hasn’t been as present in his half-brother’s life. “Nung nangyari sa kanya yun, I try to go out of my way to help my half-brother. He was accused. Yung allegations sa kanya mali. But we need adequate proof to substantiate the allegations. So kailangan matulungan ko ‘to. Naniniwala ako sa kanya na siya ay not guilty sa allegations sa kanya. So I believe and trust my brother,” he explained.
Beyond the film, Montano also reflected on how his perspective as an actor has shifted. He admitted that he has become more particular in choosing projects, prioritizing substance and social value over quantity. “The last movie I did was the Blood Brothers, that was probably last year. Siguro kasama na yung pagiging mapili dahil tapos na tayo dun sa tanggap na lang ng tanggap ng anuman eh. Di ba? For me, dapat as an actor kasi you have a responsibility sa audience mo. Kasi dapat, merong mensahe yung pelikulang ginagawa mo. It’s our responsibility how we educate the people, how we educate our audience,” he shared.
For Montano, a film should leave a meaningful impact. “Hindi yung basta gusto ko, kikita ako diyan, gagawin ko na yan. No. But para sa akin ah, dapat may substance yung pelikula, merong naiiwan na mabuti sa puso ng audience. At dahil sa pagpanuod ng pelikula, they become a better person. They learn something from it. Dapat ganun,” he emphasized.
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