Categories
Write-ups

Filipinos in Dutch movie & musical spotlight

Filipinos in Dutch movie and musical spotlight

“We congratulate these four Filipino-Dutch artists on their achievements in the Dutch entertainment industry, which bring pride to our community as well as to the Philippines on the global stage,” Philippine Ambassador to The Netherlands J. Eduardo Malaya said.

Charlie Curilan has appeared in popular Dutch TV series Goede Tijden Slechte TijdenMeiden van de Herengracht, and A’dam en E.V.A. and in various TV commercials, corporate films, and short films. He started his professional career in the original Dutch version of the Broadway hit musical Miss Saigon. He was also in the cast of the Swedish version of Miss Saigon for the Malmo Opera in Sweden.

This is Benjamin Gijzel, a Dutch actor and director, described Curilan’s talent: “I was impressed, and felt lifted by his acting on the set. Since then, he has continued to impress me with his presence on the screen and last, but not the least, by his lasting and generous support as a brother in the film anyway.”

Curilan was nominated Best Actor for his performance as “Coach” at the 48HFP short film festival in Rotterdam in 2018. He won Best Supporting Actor at the FilmstarZ Film Festival in Vlissingen, Netherlands, for his role in the short film Open Wond in 2019.

Three film projects where Curilan plays prominent roles will premiere this year namely: Capo di Famiglia IIIAngels of Dust, and Fazant, all of which will be participating at several international film festivals. He will appear as a featured guest on an episode of Jos, a comic drama set to air on the AVRO-TROS network in June, starring a stellar cast led by Diederik Ebbinge. He has also been cast in a new independent sci-fi film alongside an international cast to be shot in Sweden this fall. He is the first and only Asian actor to be included in the talent pool represented by the Dublin-based Broocks Talent Agency.

Categories
Write-ups

The First Filipino-Dutch Star of LIDL Advertisement

The First Filipino-Dutch Star of LIDL Advertisement

Published and written by: Rhea Topacio (Chickatita Channel)

Charlie Curilan, the charismatic Filipino-Dutch actor who made waves as the lead in LIDL’s advertisement for airtight sealed containers. He is a seasoned actor who is a part of more than 30 independent films, musical plays, and multiple ads. A Best Supporting Actor winner in the Netherlands for the movie Open Wond. Now he is one of the recognizable faces among Filipinos in film, tv and social media.

HOW DID HE END UP GETTING THIS PROJECT?

With his more than 10 bookers worldwide, one casting agency saw his profile and presented him this opportunity to be in the LIDL tactical ad for app downloads. At first, Charlie was hesitant, and it took him three days to carefully consider the part. 

“I am contemplating if I can be an effective home TV shopping host, haha!”- Charlie

But something about the project got him interested, and he eventually decided to take the plunge.

 

Shooting day came and he was well-prepared for the grueling 12-hour schedule. The first part of the shoot is making the video footage, where Charlie, the overconfident salesperson character, had to persuade customers about the benefits of the plastic vacuum-sealed containers. The whole ad is in Dutch, and he must portray the persona of an American home TV shopping host! The language wasn’t that difficult for him since he has been here since 1995 when he joined the original Netherlands ensemble of Miss Saigon, so his Dutch is quite advanced for a Filipino. But to be a home TV shopping host with an exaggerated American accent is quite a hurdle. But as you see in the ad, he seemed like he didn’t sweat at all.

The second part of the shoot was equally challenging, as it required Charlie to record his voice for the advertisement. Voiceover work is acting without the actions. You must deliver the same emotion and expressions consistently, and communicate the message clearly, all in combination while portraying the role. With his innate talent, he was able to do a very effective job.

Without a doubt, Charlie loves the product he was promoting. The plastic vacuum-sealed containers- transparent, neat, dishwasher friendly, freeze grade, stackable, secure, with airtight vacuum sealing system available in multiple sizes, keeping the food fresh for a long time. “How I wish I was able to bring home”, according to Charlie. But he was happy enough to be a part of this project with LIDL, a global giant in the supermarket industry. 

He felt that he made a huge contribution in putting the Filipinos on the map through this project and more so through his talents.

He made Filipinos even prouder when the ad was released simultaneously with Arnold Schwarzenegger’s LIDL ad. Even if Arnold is an icon already, to date, Charlie’s video has a higher viewership rate. Charlie deemed this as an achievement and a symbol of the Filipino’s talent and potential on a global scale. He feels proud of himself that even if he is not the pretty boy type model, his features and talents are noticed. He hopes more projects will come for him and of course to other aspiring Filipinos in the industry. XXX