Internationally acclaimed director Briĺlante Ma. Mendoza's new film, "Apag," a collaboration between Hong Kong International Film Festival Society and Centerstage Productions was first offered to actor Aljur Abrenica but he begged off for some personal reasons.
As it was, use Brillante had to decide promptly who would replace Aljur as the schedule of the shoots neared its deadline.
Employing an alternative choice wasn't easy as one of the lead male characters had to speak Kapampangan, a dialect of the natives of the province of Pampanga and not all local actors are speakers of the language.
Until Mendoza thought of calling Coco Martin, one of his major discoveries.
"Hindi ako sigurado kung tatanggapin ni Coco ang papel dahil nga abala siya sa 'Ang Probinsiyano' kahit magtatapos na no'n pero sisimulan pa niya ang "Batang Quiapo. Pero sinubukan ko pa rin," said Brillante in an interview.
Martin is a Kapampangan but would he accept the project?
When the 2009 Palme d'Or Best Director proposed the project to his protege, Coco didn't mince words and accepted the offer.
"Basta ang sabi ko kay Direk Dante, siya ang mag-ayos ng iskedyul. Hindi ko tatanggihan ang alok sa akin," quipped Martin.
Aljur's loss is Coco's gain, indeed.
"Atag" is one of the official entries to the first Summer Metro Manila Film Festival slated to reel off on April 8, 2023.