Don’t let the last name dissuade you into not giving Cloe Barreto her rightful chance to make a mark in Philippine Tinseltown. She has no blood relations with the women that carry the last name infamous for having no regrets for the things they did and continue to do for love.
Barreto is part of an all-female sing and dance power-pop group Belladonas. She considers portraying the character of Anna in Joel Lamangan’s Silab as her biggest career break.
Written by Raquel Villavicencio, her co-stars are award-winning actor Jason Abalos and new leading man in the showbiz block Marco Gomez.
“I cried with so much joy, I cannot believe that I will star in a launching movie with the great Joel Lamangan as my director,” begins Barreto.
She admits to having butterflies in her stomach on the first day of the shoot. Add the fact that Ana, the woman she gives life to, is veiled with mystery and succumbs to the call of her carnal desires.
Did she have any apprehensions in doing her role’s sexy requirements? Cloe immediate rejoinder: “I did not have any because I trust the artistic vision of direk Joel. I know that scenes will be done well. And every time I hear the word action, in my heart and my soul, I have become Ana. So I give my all as my character so that I will not get reprimanded. I make it a point that in the particular scene being shot, I give my best para take one lang. And with direk Joel’s guidance, thank God, I was able to deliver what he expected.”
She has the sweetest for film master Lamangan: “Direk Joel is meticulous. He gives instructions clearly. And that he trusts his actors to do their parts as well. If you observe and listen to him intently, you will learn so much about acting, life, how you deal and work with people. Sobrang bait niya. I hope I will be given the chance to work with him. I don't being called a direk Joel Lamangan baby.”
For her leading man Marco Gomez, whom she shared a lot sexy screentime, Cloe says: “Marco is so gentlemanly and protective of me as his leading lady. Personally, I treat him like an elder brother. He is also part of Clique 5 and kasabay naming sila naming Belladonnas.” Full story on manilastandard.net
“When we know we are about to shoot a delicate scene, we discuss about it. Dapat one take lang. Na gagawin na namin ang lahat. Dapat in sync kami because aside from the emotions that you need to feel while doing a love scene, dapat memorized niyo pa rin ang blocking and that when you move to this and that direction, it should be realistic and hindi mechanical,” she adds.
What she will not forget about being Ana is: “That a woman must balance her emotions and her mental faculties. And that giving life to her, ang hirap pala when you love someone so much, it consumes you, at nagiging sunod-sunuran ka na lang sa dictates of how you feel for someone. And fueled pa ito by yearnings of your flesh, mas lalong nagiging complicated ang lahat. Ana just followed the dictates of her desires. Siguro, kung pinakinggan niya rin ang sinasabi ng isip niya, her situation will not be that tangled.”
In the nearest future, she hopes to work with her idols Jaclyn Jose, John Lloyd Cruz, and Piolo Pascual. Jason Abalos, who is also an idol of Cloe, is a dream come true. She quips: “ To be one of my leading men, and he plays my husband, it is a great honor for me. Napakagaling niya. When the scenes are dramatic, expected na talagang he delivers. Pero even in the quiet and tender moments that we are together, grabe ang emotional commitment to make it so truthful. Pag kasing husay ni Jason ang katrabaho mo, you definitely have to bring in your A-game.”
Being four years in the entertainment has changed Cloe for the better. She explains: “I have found my confidence. I am no longer painfully shy. Dati, I always put a limit to myself, that I can only this and that. My experiences in show business, even the intrigues that were thrown at me, has made me tougher, laban lang. And I have my talent as my weapon. I know I have still have a long way to go. Thankful ako kasi showbiz has opened my eyes and my heart to many possibilities, na basta you work hard, pray even harder, and lady luck smiles at you, dreams do become realities.”
And what is next for Cloie Barreto? Her concluding reply: “Maybe to give life to an oppressed character. I think that will be challenging and fun to do.”
“Silab” produced by 3:16 Media Network is coming to cinemas soon.