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EXCLUSIVE: Joem Bascon details experience living in a cemetery for the film ‘Pailalim’

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Rhea Manila Santos

With his latest film Pailalim included as one of the five featured films in this year’s Sinag Maynila film festival, Joem Bascon said it was a challenge for him to play a father who lives inside a cemetery along with his family. “Basically storya siya ng mga kapwa nating Pilipino na mga nakatira sa loob ng sementaryo. Challenge sa akin yung buong film kasi it’s my first time na makakatrabaho si direk Daniel Palacio na mini-mentor ni direk Brillante Mendoza. So basically yun yung first time kong i-incorporate ko sa sarili yung ginagamit nilang method of acting. So wala kaming script, nag-pe-prepare lang talaga kami for the role tapos ini-immerse lang kami nila sa mga tao sa loob ng sementeryo,” he told PUSH.The film Pailalim, which is part of Sinag Maynila which will run in selected cinemas until April 9, is a true-to-life crime thriller that was shot for ten days straight in chronological order. The movie was a big acting challenge for its lead star. “Isa sa mga biggest challenge ko is pinapasok nila ako sa isang ospital na bigla na lang sinabi lang, ‘May papasok diyan, basta puntahan mo, kargahin mo yung anak mong may dugo, ganyan.’ Hindi ko alam kung nasaan yung camera. Akala nung mga tao talagang totoo. Na hindi shooting ah, talagang tinutulungan nila ako. Hindi puwedeng i-cut so ginawa namin yung buong scene. It’s exciting pero kasi baka kung anong mangyari, hindi natin alam (laughs). Parang based on true events yung story namin so meron talagang totoong tao akong pino-portray. Bangis yung name niya sa totoong buhay kasi sobrang astig niya na tao,” he shared.After spending time learning how people inside the cemetery live, Joem shared his realization. “Parang tayong mga Pilipino kahit saan tayo ilagay, nagiging bahay, nagiging home natin kahit saan tayo basta maka-survive tayo sa everyday na buhay natin. Nakapagtayo sila dun ng bahay, may natitirahan sila. Yung iba may rice cooker pa,” he said.Aside from helping promote Pailalim, Joem is also busy working on the upcoming teleserye Starla with Judy Ann Santos. “We’re taping it na with Mr. Raymart Santiago. Soon mapapanuod na nila yun. And then I’m doing another project with direk Brillante Mendoza. Madami akong kasamang artista. Basta it’s a big, big film,” he added.