There is nothing kitschy about Kych Minemoto.
In the plays produced by Gantimpala Theater and Tangahaang Pilipino, Kych learned the importance of units and objectives, character and script analysis, the value of the playwright’s narrative, the dictatorial tendencies of stage directors, respect for co-actors, the value of verbal cues and physical props, and the discipline, respect, and love for the craft.
That is why it a no brainer for the theater-trained Kych to traipse the magical and mystery world that is show business. In movies wherein he only had walk-on and no lines whatsoever parts or as part of the teen posse, the Filipino-Japanese’s X factor and that it boy vibe cannot be denied.
His biggest career break, we all know of course, was to be in the Gameboys 13.5 special episode directed by Perci Intalan of The Idea First Company. The one time, big time exploit gave us the many charots and their subtexts, Kych being the fabulous femme Achilles De Dios who experienced unrequited love courtesy of the straight-acting Terrence Carreon portrayed Kyle Velino.
In the movie incarnation of the phenomenal Philippine boys love drama, Kych showed the other facets of Achilles -– feisty, acting more emotionally mature than his digits of twenty summers taking note of the fact how he gave Terrence a piece of his mind and with Wesley (played by Miggy Jiminez), the war he waged left us wanting for more.
Currently, his Sine Halaga film billed as Masalimuot Ya Tiyagew Ed Dayat (Summer Blues), a coming-of-age short film about two teenaged best friends Federico (Kych) and Luis (Z Mejia) and the one summer they will never forget gets all the love from short film aficionados.
“What I liked most about our short film is the manner it presented the bond and friendship that Federico and Luis shared,” begins Minemoto.
“Federico acts like a cool, independent kind of young man left in Pangasinan. His best friend Luis comes home during a break. Z’s character is now a college boy who studies in Manila. And yung mga saloobin nila towards one another, yung one do they mean to each other, that is what the audiences will see in Masalimuot. ”
Kych has heaps of praises for his co-actor Z Mejia: “It is my first time to work with him and you know, the basic rule in acting is reacting to your co-actor. With someone like Z who is so determined and focused, the acting part becomes easy. Feel ko talaga siya as Luis so I interact and react to him as my take on Federico. It is nice to collaborate who is so interested and serious with what he does. I am certain that he is going tobe a big name and person in the field of acting.”
Of course, no conversation with the young master Minemoto is complete without talking about his breakthrough role in Gameboys, which Teen Vogue says as the future of queer cinema.
Kych says: “All I can say is that Achilles has an arsenal of surprises. Sure akong hindi siya magpapakabog at nakaka-excite to see how he deals and faces the many challenges that will come his way. People will definitely feel the highs and lows that Achilles will experience and as the actor portraying this character, I am grateful to all who has been giving me so much love and support. I promise to you na lalaban talaga si Achilles.”
With two career defining projects, there is without any doubt, Kych Minemoto’s rising star is not apparent and palpable, we feel and embrace it.
Sine Halaga, the project of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts and the Negros Cultural Foundation, where Masalimuot Ya Tiyagew Ed Dayat (Summer Blues) is one of the short films in exhibition and currently showing for free in vimeo.com
Gameboys Season 2 is coming soon.