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Chai Fonacier more inspired to do local films: ‘We need to tell more regional stories’

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Rhea Manila Santos

<p>There&#x27;s no stopping Chai Fonacier from pushing her passion to promote stories in different parts of the Philippines through visual arts.</p><p>With her film Nocebo now seen by the Philippine audience, actress Chai Fonacier shared how her international film helped her career, which included having an international talent agent thanks to her co-star Eva Green.</p><div><a href="https://push.abs-cbn.com/2023/1/17/fresh-scoops/chai-fonacier-fights-for-benefits-tv-film-workers--204997" id="isPasted"><u><strong>READ: Chai Fonacier fights for more benefits for TV and film workers: ‘We all deserve a little more help’<br/></strong></u></a></div><p>“I have a UK agent. Actually, si Eva was the one who referred me to her agent. So I’m under their agency now, ganun. We don’t have projects yet. Well, I’ve been auditioning for the last year. They would give me auditions but I’m hoping na at some point (makuha). Audition lang ng audition, you never know,” she said.</p><div><br/></div><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-0" src="https://www.instagram.com/reel/CnUsy9FA-Zz/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=506&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fent-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A0%2C%22os%22%3A504061%2C%22ls%22%3A24508.100000023842%2C%22le%22%3A25861.100000023842%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="879" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-0" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><p>Chai also shared how she felt being on the set with her Hollywood co-workers. She flew to Dublin, Ireland to film scenes for the psychological thriller.</p><p>“Kinabahan ako ng bongga (laughs).When I got there, just to be in the same room with Mark Strong and Eva Green parang nakakalimutan ko na parte pala ako ng eksena. Kunyari nag-re-rehearse kami, tapos e-eksena na sila. Nanunuod na ako tapos kailangan pala pumasok na ako (laughs). Alam mo yung ganun? You can’t help it,&quot; she shared.</p><p>&quot;It’s a joy to watch them work you know. Ang ganda ng mga ideas nila, mga choices nila, ang ganda ng mga tina-try nila. Tapos ang ganda nung feeling na makita mo ang isang Eva Green. Pag off cam siya nasa tabi lang siya,&quot; she added.</p><div><a href="https://push.abs-cbn.com/2021/2/28/fresh-scoops/chai-fonacier-joins-hollywood-stars-eva-green-and-191984"><u><strong>READ: Chai Fonacier joins Hollywood stars Eva Green and Mark Strong in new movie</strong></u></a></div><p><u><strong></strong></u><strong></strong><strong></strong>&quot;Pero pag nag-on cam na sakop niya yung buong kuwarto, buong location. As in yung presence niya kaya niyang kontrolin. Puwede niyang paliitin yung presence niya, puwede din niya palakihin pag kailangan,” she continued.<strong></strong><strong></strong><u><strong><br/></strong></u></p><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-1" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/CnV8N9uLwK3/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=506&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fent-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A1%2C%22os%22%3A504081.60000002384%2C%22ls%22%3A24508.100000023842%2C%22le%22%3A25861.100000023842%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="879" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-1" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><p>Following the positive feedback from her work in Nocebo, Chai also admitted to having received more opportunities for international work.</p><p>“Hindi ako nagbabasa ng reviews eh kasi wala, medyo kinakabahan (laughs). Ang gusto ko is sana magustuhan siya ng mga tao at the end of the day.  And I don’t know if it’s directly because of Nocebo but this year I had a Malaysian film. We went to Malaysia last June. The film is called Franklin. I think nag-screen na siya in some film festivals,&quot; she revealed.</p><div><a href="https://push.abs-cbn.com/2021/5/7/fresh-scoops/chai-fonacier-on-working-with-hollywood-actress-ev-193292" id="isPasted"><u><strong>READ: Chai Fonacier on working with Hollywood actress Eva Green: ‘She is among the best, kindest, most talented people I have ever worked with’</strong></u></a><u><strong></strong></u></div><p>She went on: &quot;Franklin is a series of short films na shinoot sa iba’t ibang countries. So kami yung nasa Philippine side of the story. Pero Malaysia ang setting nung kuwento, mga Filipinos in Malaysia kumbaga. We shot in Malaysia. We went to Kuala Lumpur. My role there is a prostitute who helps out the main character na napadpad doon by some twist of fate. And ang background din ng character niya is that she is actually part of the local mafia. Interesting din siya in a way.&quot;<u><strong><br/></strong></u></p><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-2" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/CnT2x1dL8qF/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=506&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fent-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A2%2C%22os%22%3A504095.2999999523%2C%22ls%22%3A24508.100000023842%2C%22le%22%3A25861.100000023842%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="745" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-2" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><p>More than focusing on looking for work outside the country, Chai said she is actually looking forward to doing more local films.</p><p>“Definitely. But not just international films. For the experience, yes. But I feel like we need to tell more regional stories here in the Philippines. Kailangan muna natin marinig yung mga kuwento ng mga kapitbahay natin sa mismong loob ng sariling barangay natin na tinatawag nating Pilipinas,&quot; she said.</p><p>&quot;I always say that regional stories are very important kasi ito yung nagiging cultural ID natin. We can introduce ourselves to each other as neighbors. Nawawala &#x27;yung mga stereotype na naiisip natin sa mga kapitbahay natin, na &#x27;yung mga Batangueño mga ganyan ganyan, mga Bisaya mga ganyan, mga taga-Mindanao mga war freak,&#x27; yung mga ganun. Nawawala &#x27;yung mga stereotype na yan the more that we tell our stories.&quot; she added.</p><p>&quot;The more stories that we tell about our selves, the more na naiintindihan natin ang isa’t isa. And the more na naiintindihan natin ang mga sarili natin as a unit, as regions, as neighbors. And ultimately, as a diverse country. And then eventually we have a real appreciation for what diversity means, na hindi lang siya sinasabi tuwing Buwan ng Wika (laughs). Hindi ba? Na pag sinabing diversity, magkakaiba talaga tayo pero we can live together,&quot; she continued.</p><p>She went on: &quot;And we can appreciate each other and we can understand the plight of our neighbors. And hindi tayo separate from the plight. their plight is our plight kasi nasa isang barangay tayong lahat di ba?&quot;</p><p>Off-camera, Chai admitted she is happily in a low-key relationship. “I’ve been in a relationship for quite a while. I don’t talk about it because some of the relationships in my life are very private people. I respect their privacy so I always give them a heads up first if it’s okay to talk about them and most of the time they’re not comfortable so I just keep my mouth shut.&quot;</p><p>Chai was part of the cast of local films like Respeto, Born Beautiful, Sakaling Maging Tayo, and 2016’s Patay na si Hesus where she won Best Supporting Actress at the Luna Awards of the Film Academy of the Philippines.</p><p>In 2015, she also won Best Supporting Actress for the film Miss Bulalacao, which was part of the 2015 Cinema One Originals film festival.</p><p>Nocebo stars Eva Green, Mark Strong, and Chai Fonacier. Directed by Lorcan Finnegan and written by Garret Shanley.</p>

<p>‘Nocebo’ actress Chai Fonacier talks about the need for the film industry to focus on showcasing more regional stories.</p>

‘Nocebo’ actress Chai Fonacier talks about the need for the film industry to focus on showcasing more regional stories.