In an old Inquirer.com story, singer-actor Markki Stroem was asked if he preferred to be a matinee idol or a sex symbol.
His reply was instant and confident. “I like variety,” Stroem pointed out. “I don’t think I’ll be a good matinee idol, because I don’t like the pakilig or pa-cute style. I like dark themes. I have no qualms about being a sex symbol. Sexy is a good brand!”
In the dramatic epic “Amor Y Muerte” (Spanish for “Love and Death”), one of the official entries in the Director’s Showcase category of this year’s Cinemalaya in July, Markki Stroem gets a chance to flex his acting muscles and play dark and sexy.
The “Pilipinas Got Talent” Season 1 finalist leads the cast of “Amor Y Muerte”, which also marks the directorial comeback of veteran entertainment editor and filmmaker Cesar “Ces” Evangelista.
The two other main leads of the independent production are Althea Vega and Gino Quintana, who have both appeared in several indie films. “Amor Y Muerte” is actually Markki’s second indie effort after his hilarious portrayal of a transvestite in last year’s Cinema One Originals entry, “Slumber Party”.
In the auditions alone, Markki already left a good impression. A production insider told us of the screen tyro: “Very professional, alam niya ang needs ng role, pero go-go-go siya, a real artist.”
From the get-go, the creative team behind “Amor Y Muerte” made no secret of the requirements from those who wished to vie for the roles of the three main characters – it called for the actors to go au naturel.
“OK pareho ‘yung two guys, sensitive artists both; mga walang qualms sa nudity,” added our source. “Yung (Gino) Quintana, smart din, nalaman ko nang ma-in na Atenista pala siya, Inglesero sa set.”
Both male newbies, continued our source, are a joy to work with. “Nakakatuwa si Stroem kasi gustong matuto ng purong Tagalog for his career, mas type n’ya nagta-Tagalog.”
That the said newcomer is the kind who is determined to make good on his craft is something that this writer could attest to. Born to a Norwegian father and a Filipina mom, Markki was raised in Manila but went to college in Switzerland. That probably explains for the openness to challenges and, as our source stressed, “mulat at sopistikadong pananaw ukol sa sining.”
The family is quite well-off and when Markki welcomed us to the family house in Antipolo which resembled a country club two years ago, the guy struck us as ebullient, straightforward, and positively opinionated. He welcomed arguments and we especially remember discussing with Markki movies we had both seen.
Nevertheless, Markki did face tough competition to win the role of the Spanish soldier in “Amor Y Muerte.” One of the actors who auditioned for the part was the older brother of a network star. “Na-teary-eyed kami sa audition niya, ‘yung internalized na internalized niya ‘yung loneliness and longing for the love of his life. Grabe.”
Markki’s audition, our production insider source noted, was just as riveting. “Ginulat niya kami. I think it’s good for a budding actor to have that sense of desperation to go after a substantive part.”
source: interaksyon.com
