Here is another one to chalk up
for a minor production that premiered years ago on a local streaming platform,
only to get noticed and find a new lease on life with a major streaming
playground. Granted, this streaming original produced by Dreamscape Digital and
Rein Entertainment, which premiered online back in 2019, was not exactly
obscure in its home platform of iWant. But being picked up by Netflix to add to
their still rather massive international media library is always something to
celebrate, as is the case for “Bagman,” which starred Kapamilya actor Arjo
Atayde who is understandably excited.
The Philippine Star reports that Dreamscape Digital’s 2019 iWant
Original series “Bagman” will soon be streaming to a much bigger audience this
coming weekend courtesy of Netflix. Its lead actor, ABS-CBN talent Arjo Atayde,
noted in an email interview with the Star
that he thinks highly of the socio-political thriller narrative from the
drama series, praising the high concept developed by Dreamscape and how it
showed the corrupting nature of political practice and maneuvering, and how it
could turn well-meaning people into dangerous, untrustworthy individuals.
“I hate to think it’s reality but
it’s definitely something we’re all turning a blind eye to,” says Arjo. The
Kapamilya star related his first reading of the “Bagman” script, where he went
the course of having trouble believing its reality to worry if he could
effectively portray the main character. Said antihero, a small-town barber,
reluctantly accepts a job offer from the Governor of Magdiwang province to
serve as his titular bagman – courier of sensitive and potentially illegal materials
– to save his business from being wrecked by urban redevelopment. Witnessing
the dark underbelly of provincial politicking spurs Atayde’s character Benjo to
seek and hold onto personal power, ostensibly for the sake of his family but
gradually for his own.
Arjo Atayde had no idea how
real-life bagmen did their thing, but he remarks that the creative team behind
the show helped him pull together the compelling characterization of Benjo, for
which he would win Best Actor for “Bagman” at the 2020 Asian Academy Creative
Awards in December 2020. This achievement, trumping other Asian actors from
China and Southeast Asia, was made sweeter by how he got it before turning 10
years old in Philippine showbiz. Fans who have seen “Bagman” however should not
expect a repeat of that character archetype from Arjo, as he is always looking
to grow further in the acting industry.
“Bagman” begins streaming on
Netflix Philippines this coming July 9. Atayde is currently active at the
Kapamilya Channel on cable, and is slated for another project on iWant (now
iWantTFC). He has also had a recent guest role in a sitcom for rival network
GMA7.
Image courtesy of ABS-CBN News
0 comments:
Post a Comment