Young actor Paolo Gumabao is headlining the timely and relevant feature film, Lockdown, which tackles the reality of the pandemic and how it affects the people, their overall well-being, and livelihood. The film is written by Troy Espiritu and directed by Joel Lamangan.
In the movie, Paolo is Danny Asuncion. He is an overseas Filipino worker who goes back home during the height of the pandemic. Faced with domestic problems and the survival of his most loved family, Danny reluctantly enters the world of cybersex performing.
“Everyone can resonate with Danny, people can relate with his struggles especially that almost everyone had the same experience when the pandemic started,” Paolo shared with Manila Standard Entertainment.
“I was moved to tears when I read the script of Sir Troy Espiritu, and with the Joel Lamangan directing it, Lockdown is a golden opportunity that came my way,” the young star added sharing that the film is something that he would be proud of even after more than a decade. “It’s my biggest movie break and my biggest role.”
Talking about his character, the new leading man declared: “He is just like me, because I love my family dearly, and I will do everything for them. I understand why Danny took the plunge to become a cybersex performer."
“No judgment to anyone who is currently involved in the trade since their reasons are valid. When the lives of the people that you love are at stake, that their very survival depends on you, and there are no alternative means to bring food to your table and other basic necessities, then one must do what he can do for his loved ones.”
In doing the daring scenes in the movie, Paolo asserted that he was just playing a character but he played it with a lot of emotional truth believing that as an artist "you must always present the truth in the work that you do, no matter how inconvenient it is to other people."
“What was required for me to do, I did because the choice of Danny called for it. And I totally trust the artistic vision of director Joel Lamangan,” he said.
For film master Joel Lamangan, on what he hopes the audiences decipher in his latest film: “What the movie is saying is that in the troubled times that we are all in, it is always safe to follow strict protocols to avoid unnecessary transmission of the virus. Ang taong gipit na gipit sa buhay, kahit na anong uri ng pagkakakitaan ay gagawin, makatulong lang sa mga mahal na magulang, kahit ang kabayaran ay ang kanyang dignidad bilang tao o kanyang buhay man.”
Also included in the film are Alan Paule, Ruby Ruiz, Jess Evardone, Angellie Sanoy, Paul Jake Paule, and Jim Pebanco. Rounding up the cast are Jeff Carpio, Kristian Allene, Dincent Lucero, Mauro Salas, Neil Suarez, Alexis Yasuda, and Sean de Guzman.
Produced by the For the Love of Arts Films, the uncut version of Lockdown is streaming worldwide on July 23 via ktx.ph. upstream.ph, and RAD (iamrad.app).