MANILA, Philippines – Acclaimed filmmaker Mike de Leon announced that journalist Atom Araullo will play the title role in his upcoming film Citizen Jake.
According to a report from the Inquirer, Araullo will be on board for the film, after discussing with his bosses in ABS-CBN. Araullo recently confirmed that he resigned from his job as a reporter, but remains a talent.
"I just couldn’t say no to Mike de Leon. I am taking this leap of faith because I believe in his ability to produce films of exceptional quality that are always imbued with social relevance,” Araullo told Inquirer.
Araullo said that he and the director have been talking non-stop and even plans to collaborate on the screenplay together with writer Noel Pascual.
In the same report, de Leon known for his films such as Itim, Batch 81 and Sister Stella L said of Araullo: "Atom is a very intelligent person, with a deep social conscience—and he writes very well.”
He also said that Araullo's background as a journalist is an advantage.
"In the film, I am not using ‘starring Atom Araullo’…but ‘featuring Atom Araullo,’ instead.”
Although it's an unfamiliar territory for him, de Leon shared: "“This is a strange, but interesting experience for me…not only because it will probably be my last film, but because I’ve got an interesting subject matter.”
The director said that he's looking to set up his team befor Christmas and is currently working on the screenplay. He has also yet to get other cast members.
Details of Citizen Jake have yet to be revealed, but de Leon said it will be about “the world of citizen journalists, social media and politics.”
Araullo, an Applied Physics graduate from the University of the Philippines Diliman, started his broadcasting stint at a young age as part of the children's show 5 and Up before becoming a producer and field reporter at ABS-CBN News. He is currently part of the morning show Umagang kay Ganda.– Rappler.com