After “Citizen Jake” filmmaker Mike de Leon shared his thoughts about his film’s lead star last week, Atom Araullo took to social media on Wednesday, May 30, to answer the “hurtful” remarks made by his film director who said that he was disappointed by Atom “not as an actor but as a person.”
In a lengthy Facebook post last week, Mike explained that although Atom is not a professional actor, he still chose him to play the lead role for his film as he thought that it would be interesting to work with someone who has a background in journalism and whom he thought shared the same political convictions as he did.
Mike, however, realized that Atom’s journalism “was not exactly the kind of journalism” he had in his mind.
“It’s not the gritty kind but more of the celebrity-centered schlock that sometimes verges on entertainment, even showbiz,” Mike said.
“Looking back, I can see why he wanted to become a movie actor. Perhaps the journalist was really a closet movie star,” he added.
Responding to this remark, Atom said he chose to zip his lips on the issue because he did not want to distract the people from the film or be accused of “cheap gimmickry” to promote it while it is still being shown in movie houses.
However, he said that he felt like he “owe[s] it to the supporters of the movie, many of whom are asking, to set the record straight.”
“I intend for this to be the first and last time I write on the matter,” the former news reporter wrote.
Atom recalled that it was around September 2016 when he was approached to be part of “Citizen Jake.” He said without any script nor a clear story, Mike wanted him to be the lead actor in the film.
“It was a surprise. Mike had no basis to determine whether I could act or not, much less carry an entire film (with what would turn out to be a challenging role). Naturally, my first questions were: Why me? What movie are we crafting to justify my participation as an actor?” he said.
According to Atom, Mike was adamant that he wanted a journalist and non-actor to play the character because he had a unique vision for “Citizen Jake.”
“I believed in the director, and like others who admire his work, I wanted to see him make another film after some 17 years of retirement at the time. So, I said yes,” he said.
Atom added that the filmmaker knows that it was never an easy decision for him to take the role as he knew that he would be subjected to “an intense level of scrutiny from all sides, and others will harbor suspicion about my motives.” Despite this, Atom still accepted the offer.
After explaining how immensely proud he is to be part of the film and saying that he would continue to stand by it and defend it, Atom acknowledged that the film’s director “made deliberately hurtful remarks about his journalism, which ironically, has nothing to do with my participation in the film.”
“All I can say is that I have never made any claims about the quality of my output or my stature in the media industry. To do so would be futile and obscene. I just aim to do my best like everyone else, always acknowledging that one continues to learn and improve everyday,” he stressed.
The “Citizen Jake” star said that he would leave it to the public’s hands the assessment of the value of his work he accumulated over a decade of being a journalist.
While saying that he does not want to besmirch Mike’s reputation the way he did to him, Atom said that it is important to explain why he was not shocked by Mike’s latest tirade.
“It was only the latest in a string of unprovoked, irrational, almost random tantrums that I had to endure during the making of this film, determined as I was to see it through. It had a profound effect on me, and to be honest, made it that much harder to perform my duties in the movie,” he noted.
“Almost everyone who at one point worked on “Citizen Jake” knows this, and his voluminous texts and emails will bear it out. When others found themselves in Mike’s crosshairs, I tried to be there to lend a sympathetic ear. Perhaps his woeful behavior continues because he is never held accountable,” he continued.
Atom called the filmmaker “a deeply troubled person,” and that Mike “needs help, patience, and understanding as he wrestles with his personal demons.”
“But while he has certainly tested the limits of my endurance, I can rest easy knowing that I worked hard, behaved professionally, and did all to the best of my abilities at the time the film was made,” Atom stressed.
“Citizen Jake” revolves around the story of a Baguio-based teacher and “citizen journalist” Jake Herrera (played by Atom), who is torn between being a member of a political family and a journalist who vowed to expose the truth to the public.
This film was Mike’s comeback to cinema after an 18-year break and Atom’s acting debut.
Aside from Atom, he is also joined by Cherie Gil, Dina Bonnevie, Nonie Buencamino, Luis Alandy, Gabby Eigenmann, Max Collins, Teroy Guzman, Lou Veloso, Richard Quan, Victor Neri, Allan Paule, Anna Luna, Elora Españo, Cholo Barretto, Raquel Villavicencio, Nanding Josef, and Ruby Ruiz.