Ang Kalatas September 2018 Issue | Page 5

' COVER STORY It’s nerve- wracking to go on stage. I try to direct that energy in a way that I can use it for my performance and take my voice to where it needs to go. Anything Goes. “Not that it ever gets easy,” Marcus says. “It’s nerve-wracking to go on stage. “I try to direct that energy in a way that I can use it for my performance and take my voice to where it needs to go.” Next year, Marcus will make his directorial debut as assistant director of ‘Noli Me Tangere’, a new musical based on the famous novel of the Philippines’ national hero Jose Rizal. The production will run for a limited season at the Parramatta Riverside Theatre in April 2019, making history as the first-ever Filipino- themed musical to be staged at a mainstream musical theatre. As an ‘arts and culture ambassador’ of a Filipino community association, Marcus has helped in various fundraisers and community projects as a performer, host and actor. In April this year, he took the lead role of ‘Tom Girl’, a short film celebrating Filipino gay culture in western Sydney. “When I was searching for an actor to play the role his name kept popping up, and when I met him I knew he would be right for the part,” said the film’s director Vonne Patiag at a post-screening interview. From playing a Filipino cross- dresser to the love interest in a Chinese indie film ‘The Wild Orchards’, Marcus is not afraid to play extremes. “I had to play the role of Jin Ju www.kalatas.com.au MARCUS RIVERA:He's no stereotype Filipino who 'hates' pop music and has no taste for 'lechon' . which I really enjoyed as it was like the character equivalent of Jon Snow in a Chinese ‘Game of Thrones’ storyline,” he said. The movie went on to get award nominations at an indie LA film festival. “But again, I got both of those roles because they were made for Asian characters,” Marcus says. “It is still an uphill battle to get any acting roles in mainstream Australian TV and film projects. “That’s why I love ‘Crazy Rich Asians’. It shows the world that Asians can be at the forefront of storytelling.” Marcus is working on an album that infuses operatic elements to ‘kundiman’, a type of traditional Filipino music. “I feel emotionally connected to ‘kundiman’ because it is such a beautiful collection of songs that reflect the Filipino heritage,” he says. Marcus competed at a global opera festival held in Italy, the 2017 Ibla Festival, with a repertoire that comprised three Italian opera songs including ‘O Mio’ and eight ‘kundiman’ songs such as ‘Mutya Ng Pasig’, ‘Madaling Araw’ and ‘Pakiusap’. It was the first time that a classical opera jury ~ in Italy, no less ~ were exposed to traditional folk songs in that setting. It was a bold move that paid off. Despite being struck down by a bout of cold and flu during the competition, Marcus walked away with a ‘Most Distinguished Award’ for his performances. “I like his musicality and his voice,” one judge remarked. Another judge added: “He has a beautiful sense for phrasing and an emotional gradation of the song that makes his performance exciting.” Meantime, Marcus works at “that other job that pays the bills” as a restaurant supervisor ~ and television appearances. “I like to binge-watch horror TV shows: The Strain, The Exorcist, The Poltergeist, he says. “If it’s scary, I’d watch it.” In real life, there’s really nothing that scares him, except the one about ageing. “Actors don’t reveal their age,” he says. “I am in my mid-30s.” And that’s as much as he can reveal. Grand ambitions? “I just want to live a simple life of fame and fortune,” Marcus says. “But seriously, all I want is to have enough money in the bank so I can help my family and my community.” Not crazy-rich but rich enough. Although being “crazy-talented” as he is, and embraced by the Filipino community as their