Posted by ReyFort Media
MANILA, Philippines — Barbie Forteza has again displayed her versatility and range in acting — genre and character-wise — via the film “Kontrabida Academy.”
Described as drama, comedy and camp by the streaming platform Netflix, it has become the playground of the actress to traverse the usual dichotomy of acting — bida (protagonist or hero) and kontrabida (antagonist, villain) — and deliver an extended take on the latter.
“It’s my second (time),” answered Barbie on playing villainess to the question by this paper in a recent roundtable group chat. “Yung isa yung guest lang sa ‘Heartful Café (the first time was when I had a guest role in ‘Heartful Café’).”
In the primetime series, she played the sophisticated girlfriend named Cors of a café owner and co-investor. But in “Kontrabida Academy,” she is first introduced as Gigi, a devoted and loving daughter and girlfriend who works in a samgyup restaurant.
Through some fantastic and mysterious “portal” or connection via a television set, Gigi becomes Gia and enrolls in reel-to-real life courses to tap and unleash the “kontrabida” in her.
From there, one sees the character’s fierce transformation and heartfelt reflection on being a hero or villain in life.
“I really admire them because it takes a lot of courage to step into the villain shoes, di ba?,” shared Barbie about actors who have embarked on playing such an engaging and captivating character at some point in their careers.
So, having done that now, masasabi ko na iba ang preparation, iba ang emotional demands ng isang kontrabida (I can say that the preparation is different and so is the emotional demand or requirement).”
“Because it’s not just full of evil, di ba? Siyempre, kailangan meron kang depth and background of why ganun yung character mo (of course, you need to know the character’s depth, such as traits and personal stories or background on why the character has become who she is),” added the TV and film actress.
“I really admire people who really take the leap of portraying kontrabida roles.”
“Kontrabida Academy” is a stark contrast to the projects that Barbie has done in recent years and even the ones that have been streamed on Netflix.
“Aside from the obvious, stating the obvious that this is somehow a tribute film to our iconic kontrabidas, I feel like coming from the character Gigi, it’s more personal,” answered Barbie when The STAR asked if the film is a commentary about how kontrabidas (the characters and the actors who portray them) are being regarded in the industry, “kasi it really follows the POV (point of view) of Gigi, eh, yung transformation nung character niya (the transformation of her character).
“So, for me, it becomes more personal as to how yung influence ng pagiging kontrabida (the influence of becoming a villainess) would somehow influence and change a person like Gigi so as to improve her life in reality.”
In Gigi’s world, some people take advantage of her generosity and kindness, as one may put it. She learns to somehow assert herself when Gigi becomes a student of her eventual discoverer and teacher named Mauricia (played by Eugene Domingo), a kontrabida herself in the latter’s realm wherein one has to stick to what the script tells or dictates.
“I believe, yes, we all do, kahit konting konti,” said Barbie about the possibility of a villain — or at least a speck of it — inside most of us. “I believe kasi it’s what makes us human.”
The Kapuso actress also recalled her chance to be a student or participant of an acting masterclass under the tutelage of La Primera Contravida and seasoned actress Cherie Gil.
“I am very honored, and I will say this with full pride that I was able to attend a masterclass by Ms. Cherie Gil during the pandemic,” said she. “Nag-enroll talaga po ako sa (masterclass) niya (I did enroll in her masterclass). She taught me a lot. (It was) online (via) Zoom.
Naalala ko noon, eh, naituro talaga sa akin, na hinding hindi ko makakalimutan si Ms. Cherie Gil (I remember one that she taught that I will never forget).”
She continued, “Pinapili niya kami ng mga monologues na syempre i-pe-perform namin via Zoom, pero very… kwento kasi siya (she asked us to choose one among monologues, of course, to be performed virtually. It was a story).
“So, ang gusto niya ma-visualize niya. Mapunta siya dun sa sitwasyon na yun dahil sa kwento ko, na ‘How will I do that?’ na parang ganun (what she wanted was for her to visualize the story or be in that situation through the performance).”
Two of the given scenarios, said Barbie, were: a house was burglarized and someone got harmed. The idea behind the activity was to tell the incident as if the audience were in it.
“Yung ‘pag-visualize nung eksena, yun yung hindi ko makakalimutan (the visualization of the scene, I find it unforgettable)… Don’t just say the lines, know your whys,” added she.
And it’s safe to say that Barbie also brought that learning as one of her tools in delivering an inspired performance as Gigi and Gia in “Kontrabida Academy.”
Now available on Netflix, please watch it.(J. Donato/Philstar)
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