After his controversial role as Jake Cuenca's gay lover in the movie Lihis, Joem Bascon takes a different route in the family drama-comedy film Blue Bustamante, an entry to the Cinema One Originals Festival. The movie is about an ordinary man who finds himself in an interesting circumstance.
“I'm playing George Bustamante, the husband of Dimples Romana and isa akong OFW na nagtrabaho sa Japan tapos sa sawing palad nasisante ako sa trabaho tapos I ended up working for a TV show na naging stuntman ako para sa isang series,” he shared. In the movie, Joem plays the stunt double for Blue Force, a superhero in an upcoming Japanese show Blue Bustamante.
As a regular in the independent film scene, Joem said he always considers each new project as a blessing. “Hindi ko na talaga alam kung pang-ilang indie film ko na ito. For this year, I think it's my third or fourth one na independently produced. I'm happy with the cast and the crew and director kasi naintriga ako dun sa script. Kasi alam niyo naman ako gumawa ng film eh, di ba it's usually very heavy, very daring. So for the first time, nakagawa ako ng medyo family-oriented na light lang to make people see the brighter side of life na hindi lang namin gusto ipakita yung kahirapan ng lipunan. Alam naman natin na mga Pinoy na naghihirap sila, pinapakita pa rin natin naman na masaya tayo. Ito yung realidad talaga ng buhay na gusto kong makita nila,” he explained.
After doing Lihis, where he played an NPA rebel who was torn between his homosexuality and raising a regular family, Joem said he is happy not to be stereotyped as a gay actor. “Alam mo, the good thing about it, after that film, no director asked me to do a gay role again. Kumbaga after that, they just asked if I was ready to act again. Kumbaga it's just a testament siguro na hindi ma-si-stereotype kung gumawa ka ng gay role,” he admitted. Currently in an almost three year relationship with non-showbiz girlfriend Crisha Crae Uy, Joem said he could not ask for anything more in his personal life. The couple met through a common friend. “Bale best friend siya of a Star Magic friend so ayun after that niligawan ko siya,” he added.
Joem admitted that his girlfriend got very upset after seeing his very explicit love scenes with Jake in Lihis. “Honestly umiyak siya after that. So I told her don't worry kasi it's just my work. Kumbaga I really have to tell her na this is my job. Hindi kasi ako yung typical na actor lang na would do the matinee idol type of roles. I'm the type who is a character actor kasi, yun ang sinabi ko sa kanya. Sabi niya, 'Okay, at least open ka at sinasabi mo sa akin. Hindi ka nagtatago. Hindi ko sa ibang tao pa malalaman.' Sabi niya sa akin maging honest lang ako sa kanya and she'll still accept me for who and what I am. Basta sabihin ko lang sa kanya,” he explained.
After his relationship with Meryll Soriano, Joem said he does not necessarily prefer to date non-showbiz girls. “Alam mo hindi. Whatever comes, kung sino man mamahalin mo, hindi mo naman masasabi na kung from showbiz yan or the production or what. Hindi mo masasabi kung sino ang dadating. Basta kung may mamahalin ka, mamahalin mo talaga,” he said.
Joem said he has become more confident as an actor, but is still the same down-to-earth guy off-cam. “Alam mo I think I haven't changed. I didn't imagine na aabot ako sa ganitong punto. Siguro as an actor yes mas nag-mature ako, mas naging daring ako with the type of roles na gagawin ko,” he said.
The 27-year-old actor also admitted he is happy to have broken away from always being compared to Piolo Pascual because of their similar looks. “Nagkataon lang siguro with everyone and the type of films na ginagawa ko. Siguro na-define lang ako ng films na nagawa ko. That's why I broke out of the Piolo image. Madami pa akong gustong gawin, madami pang personalidad ang mundo natin eh. Hindi naman yan naiiwan sa pagiging gay, sa pagiging superhero. It could be another gay role na mas schizophrenic siya, it could be a guy na nagdadalawang isip siya kung babae ba siya. Madami pa yan. Madaming flavors ang buhay natin. I'm happy I'm here to give you that color sa buhay natin,” he admitted.
