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Veteran Filipino actor Jake Macapagal stars in new Hollywood series 'No Escape'

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Yong Chavez | TFC News Hollywood

<figure class="op-interactive"><iframe height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/zS1Kcm8spuI?enablejsapi=1" width="560"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more News on <a href="https://www.iwanttfc.com/#!/browse/Genres/News/tag_id_genres/id_news" target="_blank">iWantTFC</a></div><p>Filipino actor Jake Macapagal stars in the new Hollywood series &quot;No Escape&quot; as Justin Reyes.</p><p>Based on the novel “The Blue” which was partly set in the Philippines, “No Escape” is a fast-paced mystery-thriller about travelers on a yacht whose blissful lives turn into a nightmare when one of them disappears.</p><p>Macapagal describes the new acting opportunity as a dream, adding that he was the happiest person on the set.</p><p>&quot;If you&#x27;ve been deprived for years, you visualize yourself to be on an international set with an international cast,&quot; he said. &quot;With diverse people in the community working together to create a TV series or film, it was surreal.&quot;</p><p>“No Escape&#x27;&#x27; was filmed in Thailand and premiered on Paramount+ in the United Kingdom, with an upcoming global release.</p><p>The veteran actor hopes that roles at international productions like this will open up for more theater talents like him.</p><p>Macapagal mentions Dolly de Leon&#x27;s successful Hollywood recognition for “Triangle of Sadness,” the award-winning Ruben Ostlund film, as an example that it can be done.</p><p>Coincidentally, Macapagal was also one of the people instrumental in helping De Leon land her big break.</p><p>&quot;I was part of the casting process,&quot; he said. &quot;I acted as a casting director, I put a roster of theater actors in my list, and one of them is Dolly de Leon. (The film’s casting director) Pauline Hansson created a team of casting directors here in the Philippines.&quot;</p><p>Before “Crazy Rich Asians” helped propel Asian talents to finally be given opportunities in Hollywood, Macapagal starred in British filmmaker Sean Ellis&#x27; “Metro Manila,” which won the 2013 Sundance Audience Award.</p><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="metromanila" src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2023/entertainment/08/31/mtromnl.jpg"/><figcaption><address style="text-align:left">Jake Macapagal starred in the 2013 British crime drama &quot;Metro Manila&quot; by Sean Ellis. (Courtesy: &quot;Metro Manila&quot;)</address></figcaption></figure></div><p>Reflecting on the previous years, Macapagal said his mistake was how he tried to run after &quot;the next big thing.&quot;</p><p>&quot;I got tired from it and I guess that&#x27;s not really how it works,&quot; he said in Filipino. &quot;But I invested time in building relationships with the people I met in Los Angeles. I found a small community who has been very supportive.&quot;</p><p>Macapagal fell in love with theater in grade school and kept acting as a young man.</p><p>His perseverance paid off and he steadily made a name for himself on stage.</p><p>In 1994, his big break came through “Miss Saigon” in Germany, and later, in the UK. But when he came back to the Philippines eight years after, a new reality set in for him.</p><p>&quot;It was back to zero,&quot; Macapagal recounted. &quot;Nobody cared what I’ve done in Europe. ‘Who cares if you did Miss Saigon? Whatever.’ It was really all for training. But nobody cared. It took a long time for me to really climb back again that&#x27;s why I taught first at Star Magic.&quot;</p><p>The actor admits that at 56 years old, he has become more strategic in the projects that he pursues.</p><p>With Hollywood more open to casting international talents now, Macapagal said he is more excited than ever about the opportunities that may be coming his way.</p><p>&quot;We’re all catching the wave,&quot; he said. &quot;I hope it paves the way for more Filipinos.&quot;</p><p>He added: &quot;I know that Filipinos are very talented and hardworking so whatever we&#x27;re doing, you&#x27;re doing, I&#x27;m doing my part, it will lead to an opening or a window for other people.&quot;</p><div><em><strong>* * * </strong></em></div><div><em><strong>Note: This interview was completed before the Hollywood writers/actors&#x27; strike.</strong></em></div>

The veteran actor hopes that roles at international productions will open up for more theater talents like him.