LOS ANGELES—A VIRTUALLY unknown Filipino actress, Marife Necesito, has just pulled a casting coup. Without much fanfare, Marife landed an important role in a film that stars Academy and Golden Globe Award nominee, Michelle Williams and acclaimed actor Gael Garcia Bernal, by Swedish writer-director Lukas Moodysson.
As we reported earlier, our interview with Gael for “Blindness” in Toronto led to his mention of “Mammoth,” in which he told us that one of his costars is Marife. Here’s a feature on Marife, whom we interviewed via e-mail. We learned how surprised and thrilled she was to bag the role over other Filipino actresses after intense auditions.
She claimed that, at first, she didn’t even know that she was trying out for a role that would give her an unprecedented chance to act opposite Michelle, whose credits include Ang Lee’s “Brokeback Mountain,” and Gael, the Mexican thespian who’s enjoying a sterling international career with such films as “Babel,” “The Motorcycle Diaries” and “Amores Perros.”
“Halos matunaw ako” was how Marife described her excitement when she Googled her director, Lukas, and found out he’s the highly praised filmmaker of films like “Lilja 4-ever,” “Show Me Love” and “Together.” Lukas, who made the final decision to pick Marife for the part, was hailed by his esteemed compatriot, the late Ingmar Bergman, as a “young master.”
Credits
Lukas’ cinematographer in his first English-language film is Marcel Zyskind, whose credits include Angelina Jolie’s “A Mighty Heart.” Listed as one of the movie’s producers is Lars von Trier, the distinctive filmmaker behind “Dogville,” “Dancing in the Dark” and “Breaking the Waves.”
In “Mammoth,” Marife plays Gloria, a mother of two sons who leaves the Philippines to work as the nanny of the daughter (Sophie Nyweide) of a successful New York couple, played by Gael and Michelle. When Gael’s businessman character goes to Thailand, he realizes that he wants to change his life. This development sets off a dramatic chain of events that impact the characters of Marife, Michelle and Sophie.
Marife informed us that she filmed her scenes in New York, Sweden and the Philippines, specifically in Subic and Bataan. The Manila-born actress also said that she, Lukas and the main cast participated in a press conference about the movie in Sweden. Among her cherished memories of filming in Sweden, she cited sharing breakfast with Michelle and Matilda, the American actress’ daughter with the late Heath Ledger. Playing members of her character’s family are Perry Dizon, Martin delos Santos, Maria Esmeralda del Carmen and Jan David G. Nicdao.
The actress, who lives in Novaliches, Quezon City, grew up in Valenzuela, Bulacan. After finishing high school at St. Jude Academy, Marife wrote stories for Tagalog comic magazines and pocket books. Then, she shifted to acting in plays, and that led to appearances on TV soaps, commercials and indie films.
Marife’s credits include: Lav Diaz’s “Ebolusyon ng Isang Pamilyang Pilipino” and “Heremias, Book Two”; Dennis Empalmado’s “Pandanggo”; “Carnavale,” a yet-to-be-released Singaporean film; “Going Back,” a Canadian movie; “Black Market Love,” an American indie production by Beau Ballinger; the short, “Piring,” and “Fidel,” a local indie. She is scheduled to dub her lines in “Mammoth,” whose line producer in the Philippines is Oli Laperal Jr., in a Makati studio. “Masasabi ko na ‘Mammoth’ ang biggest break ko, so far,” declared Marife. And what a break it is!
Excerpts of our interview with Marife, who wrote, “Pasensya na po dahil hindi ako masyadong fluent sa English, so Taglish ang mga sagot ko”:
How did you and the other Filipino actors land the parts in “Mammoth”?
Nag-audition lahat ng Pinoy na kasama sa movie.
What was your reaction when you landed the part opposite Bernal and Williams, two good actors, under an acclaimed director in a film produced by Von Trier’ production company?
Nung una, wala pa akong idea kung sino ang foreign actors na kasama. Ang tagal din nilang nagpa-audition para sa character ni Gloria—halos one year silang pabalik-balik dito sa Pilipinas. Sa ilang daang nag-audition, five kaming natira—three mainstream actresses at dalawa kaming theater actresses. Hanggang maging dalawa na lang kami nung isang theater actress na pinagpilian. Three months bago ko nalaman na ako ang nakuha. Hindi ako makapaniwala. Grabe kasi yung audition. Draining emotionally kasi two and a half hours ang audition kada actor. Russian acting ang pinagawa nila sa akin.
Nung ni-research ko si Lukas Moodysson sa Google at napanood ko ang award-winning film niyang “Lilja 4-forever,” halos matunaw ako dahil siya ang personal na pumili sa akin. Nandun yung sobrang tuwa at kaba dahil ang huhusay ng mga kasama ko at hinanay ako sa kanila, considering na hindi naman ako kilala.
Character
Tell us about your role in the film. Gael told me that your character is important.
Isa akong single mom na probinsyana na may dalawang anak na lalaki. Nakipagsapalaran ako sa New York para mabigyan ng kinabukasan ang aking mga anak. Nagtrabaho ako bilang yaya ng anak nina Michelle at Gael.
The film was shot in the US, Thailand and the Philippines. Did you film in all three locations?
Actually, apat na location—kasama ang Sweden, sa Trollhattan studios. Sa studio ng Film Ivast kung saan ginawa ang “Dogville” ni Nicole Kidman at “Dancer in the Dark” ni Lars von Trier. Sa New York, Sweden at Philippines ako nag-shoot. ‘Yung sa Thailand, si Gael lang.
How long did Lukas and his crew stay here?
One-day shoot lang ako dito sa ’Pinas. Ang climax ng story, exterior shots. Sa Subic at Bataan nag-shoot. Dito pinakita ang family ko. Maraming magagandang scenes ang nakunan nila. Very powerful. Puro Pinoy ang actors sa mga eksena sa Philippine locations. Mga one month nag-stay ang Swedish staff and crew.
How did Lukas and his team adapt to filming in the Philippines?
Matagal din silang pabalik-balik dito para mag-location hunting, kasama ang award-winning DP (director of photography) ng “9 Songs” na si Marcel Zyskind. Walang naging problema, madali silang naka-adapt. Nakisama din ang weather. Natapos ang shoot dito sa target date, Dec. 16, 2007.
Effortless
Gael told me that he has only one scene with you.
Opo, I have only one scene with Gael. Sa Sweden ito kinunan. Before the scene, may two-day exercises ang actors. In character kaming lahat. Friendly and down-to-earth si Gael. Effortless siya as an actor.
How many scenes do you have with Michelle Williams?
Marami kaming scenes together ni Michelle. Masasabi ko pong highlight ng pelikula. Isipin niyo na lang, dalawang babaeng magkaiba ng lahi, kinalakhan at karanasan sa buhay. Dalawang ina. Madali kaming nagkapalagayan ng loob ni Michelle.
What can you share about Sophie Nyweide, who plays the daughter of Gael and Michelle?
Nag-bonding talaga kami ng batang ito. Marami kaming funny scenes.
What were your most memorable or unforgettable moments doing this movie?
Noong halos mag-lock ang jaw ko sa grabeng lamig sa Sweden paglabas ko pa lang ng eroplano. At yung breakfast namin lagi na kasabay ko ang cute na anak ni Michelle na si Matilda, na naka-fairy costume every morning.
How was Lukas as a director?
Napakagaling niyang mag-direct ng mga characters na babae. Inalagaan niyang mabuti ang character ko. Grabe ang preparation, emotionally. Napaka-sensitive niya as a director. At siya din ang nagsulat ng movie. Humanga ako kung paano niya in-execute ang mga eksena, lalo na ang scenes sa Pilipinas—kitang-kita ang honesty at truth.
You must have been thrilled to hear that “Mammoth” is likely to be an official selection in next year’s Berlin Film Festival.
Excited ako na malamang napili na ito sa Berlin Film Festival. May nabanggit din sila about joining other film festivals, pero wala pang final say.
Tell us more about yourself. How did you get into acting?
Pareho kong gustong umarte at magsulat ng kwento. Dati akong Tagalog komiks and prose writer na nag-shift sa theater acting nang humina ang komiks at pocket books sa Pilipinas. Nag-train ako ng theater acting sa “Balintataw,” under Cecile Guidote-Alvarez at Dulaang Bonifacio, under Angie Ferro. Palabas-labas din ako sa TV commercials, independent films at mga teleserye.
E-mail rvnepales_5585@yahoo.com, and read his blog, “The Nepales Report,” on http://blogs.inquirer.net/nepalesreport.
