Featured: Jameson Blake of NABUBULOK (2017)

Jameson Blake plays Paul Harper in "Nabubulok"

Sonny Calvento's Nabubulok, an official entry to the 2017 Cinemalaya Film Festival, kicked off it's screenings last August 7, 2017. The true crime drama is based on a story that happened in 2002 in a sleepy town in an island in Panay, where a Filipina went missing. But the neighbors didn't need to look far for a suspect. They believed that her American husband killed her. But there was no body. No evidence. No proof. Only speculations.

The film features a powerhouse cast led by Gina Alajar, JC Santos, Billy Ray Gallion and Jameson Blake. During one of their first screenings in Trinoma, I was able to catch one of the film's lead stars Jameson Blake and was lucky enough to have a short interview of him.

Q: After winning the Best Supporting Actor award for your performance in 2 Cool 2 Be 4gotten from last year's Cinema One Originals film festival, was there any pressure in you getting another acting award this year with your next film?

Jameson: Well, actually, di naman ako umaasa. And actually, after I got the award, it motivated me na to do more acting,. So it doesn't really matter kung mananalo ako ng award o hindi, pero you know, I'm always aiming for that. But I'm not hoping. I'm not keeping my hopes up for the award.

Q: What attracted you to join this film project Nabubulok?

Jameson: Well, kase yung director namin sa 2 Cool 2 Be 4gotten, tapos yung director namin dito (sa Nabubulok) si Direk Sonny, friends sila. Habang nagte-taping kami for 2 Cool, biglang in-invite niya ako para sa audition for Nabubulok. So I went there. Para siyang private go-see. So ayun, after kong manalo ng Best Supporting Actor, kinuha nila ako. It was confirmed na.

Q: What's the difference with your character Maxim from 2 Cool, with your role here in Nabubulok as Paul Harper?

Jameson: Both of my characters dito at sa 2 Cool, they're both dark. Pero ito, dark in a secret way. Si Maxim naman was dark in a... a heroic kind of way. It was more of the dark side talaga. Si Paul naman, he's just a really passive person. And he's very quiet.

Q: So how does it feel that after your successful stint in 2 Cool, you immediately got three new film projects: Nabubulok for Cinemalaya, Nay for this year's Cinema One Originals and Haunted Forest, a mainstream horror pic with Regal Films?

Jameson: Sobrang nakakatuwa kase I never really expected na magkakaroon ako ng ganito kadaming projects after sa first indie kong 2 Cool 2 Be 4gotten. Tapos biglang dalawa agad and it's upcoming na. It's a blessing. I just have to focus, work hard. I'm happy. I'm happy sa mga dumating na projects sa akin.

Q: Describe Nabubulok in three words.

Jameson: Uhm... Mysterious. Dark. And... Unexpected.

Catch Jameson Blake as Paul Harper in Sonny Calvento's Nabubulok, an official entry to the 2017 Cinemalaya Film Festival.