Floyd Tena, who started his career as a singer in an all-male trio in 2007 before moving on to theater and television, expressed excitement about his first Cinemalaya starring film, "Tirik."
“I’ve never had a lead role in a movie before, so this is significant to me. It is also a result of years of perseverance and hard effort. And it’s a representation of giving premium to my craft,” Tena told ABS-CBN News.
Floyd Tena leads ‘Tirik.’ Handout
Tena acknowledged how the just concluded Kapamilya series "Roja" had emotionally and physically prepared him for the new May-i Guia Padilla film.
“In a way, we were allowed to work together as a team to develop each character and their interactions with other characters in ‘Roja.’ I'm bringing the method I used to create a distinctive character of Santos, complete with backstory and everything that would give my character depth, as we are also granted that type of flexibility here in ‘Tirik,’” he told ABS-CBN News.
He added, “I'm grateful to my Dreamscape family for consistently assigning me challenging roles that highlight the discipline I've developed in theater. It forces me to view each character from new angles.”
Sin, salvation
"Tirik," written by acclaimed Charlson Ong, focuses on the intricate friendship between a weary but steadfast priest whose faith is tested to its limits and a rough taxi driver plagued by his violent past.
“It resembles a journey movie where characters meet various situations that ultimately make them doubt their humanity in relation to sin, salvation, justice, and vengeance,” Tena added.
He went on to describe his character, saying, “Santos Mira is a complicated person. When presented with conflicting options, he carefully considers what is important to him. That's what makes me similar. Being a single parent and an artist (acting and singing are my main sources of income), I frequently have to make choices that call into question my integrity.”
“However, my moral compass and values would always support my choices. Similar to Santos? Let's see. We are both family men who would do anything to support their families and demonstrate their love,” he added.
Tena happily told ABS-CBN News that they began their first filming day last March 16 with Rocco Nacino, Chai Fonacier, Jess Mendoza, and Justin Mclaire.
Tirik’ cast members express excitement. Handout
“It was thrilling and exciting, but also nerve-racking and stressful. Everyone was at their peak performance! It is an honor to be working on this project with amazing artists like Rocco, Chai, and Jess,” he expressed.
Speaking candidly about his love of performing, Tena acknowledged that his roles in "One More Chance: The Musical," Dreamscape's "Pamilya Sagrado," and Arjo Atayde's "Bagman" helped him understand how draining acting was. However, he realized that his passion was what led him to pursue a career in entertainment.
“I told myself that this is more than just my job or a way to make ends meet. Because it exhausts you not just physically but also psychologically and mentally. Plus, the pay in theatre isn't great, so why do I keep doing it? This is passion! And I am fortunate enough to be able to make money while pursuing my passion,” he opened up.
Tena was asked at the end of his interview if he expects to win an award for “Tirik,” given how stars look ahead to winning Cinemalaya acting honors.
“In every project that I work on, I always pray that we get the storytelling right. The audience deserves it. And if or when it receives an award, it will serve as a joyful bonus, a reminder to be committed to my art and craft and to continuously strive for improvement,” he ended.