Easter SundayBoth the two actors said they felt “intimidated” before filming began in Vancouver, Canada, but as soon they were on set, they were comfortable and everything felt as familiar as the big wooden spoon and fork displayed in many Filipino homes., the first big studio film centering on a Fil-Am family in Daly City , Melody and Rodney are among the colorful Titos and Titas who enliven the family dynamics.
KARAOKE. Melody Butiu and Rodney To join Joey Guila, Elena Juatco, Tia Carrere, and Lydia Gaston in the cast of Jo Koy’s comedy, ‘Easter Sunday.’ UNIVERSAL PICTURES in 2015. Melody’s many stage credits include her acclaimed performance as Estrella in David Byrne and Fatboy Slim’s Inducted into Chicago’s Filipino American Hall of Fame, Rodney played Typhoon in The Brothers Sun
So, I kind of went in there a little intimidated. You don’t know what it is you’re going to get. You kind of think because everyone’s experience as a Filipino is different. It’s the same on some level but we all have different versions of our own Filipino family. And again, at the risk of sounding cliché, finally, a project where all the niceties are put to the side, where that’s already taken care of because it’s in our DNA. So that was really heartwarming for me.
And not because of anything that he did but just because I was prepared for it to be like, oh, I’m going to do everything wrong around him because I look up to his work so much. He took me under his wing instantly. I thought that was really special.It was like coming home. When I think about telling this story and even just walking onto set for the first time to feel like, “Oh my gosh, this home feels so Filipino,” was really so incredible.
I was, frankly, coming from a theater background and this being my first major studio film, I was really intimidated. When we were in Canada, we had to quarantine for two weeks. I spent those two weeks going, “What is happening? What is my life? What’s going to happen?” And Jo proves that in this very specific scenario. I was so moved by his work from his comedy to the softer side of him. He’s pretty special.Being in church, it felt like a flashback to my childhood, to scoot in under the pews, and be with our family, and things like that, to celebrate Easter.
SUN. Rodney To shows off the sun design, inspired by the Philippine flag, on the back of his tuxedo jacket at the ‘Easter Sunday’ premiere party. RUBEN V. NEPALES