Touted as one of the best young actors of this generation, Sid Lucero is no doubt making the right moves. With an international best actor plum from the Thessaloniki International Film Festival in Greece already tucked under his belt, Sid continues to make his indelible mark in the Philippine acting landscape. We spoke to him during the recent press conference for the Cinemalaya entry “Astig” at the La Carmela Café along Jupiter St. in Makati and we must admit that this third generation actor from the well-respected Eigenmann clan impressed us with his natural wit, endearing sincerity, and his passion for his chosen craft. “I guess I could say that being an actor has not only become my profession, but it now forms part of my universe,” he told us, adding, “I grew up with almost all of my family members in this business and I guess it’s the most natural course to take.” Directed by Giusseppe Bede “GB” Sampedro, “Astig” is the intertwined stories of four young men caught in the web of poverty, deceit, love, survival and broken aspirations. Sid plays an Arranque market pet shop vendor and this early; he is being touted as a frontrunner for yet another acting recognition. Those who have previewed the movie are one in saying that the beauty of Sid as an actor leis in the fact that you forget about the lovable, sympathetic mestizo because he lives his role and plays them with so much consistency and effortless naturalness that one is transported momentarily within his character’s milieu. The 2009 Cinemalaya is like a homecoming of sorts for Sid. His debut role as a film actor came via “Donsol,” also the debut film of Adolfo Alix, Jr. Sid impressed the hard-nosed critics with his felt performance in the movie and made the cinema aficionados take a longer, more curious look at this budding talent. Some colleagues of ours are even saying that “Astig” might just give Sid the Cinemalaya acting trophy that was deemed “snatched”  from him three years ago after his bravura performance in “Donsol.” “I have to admit that I like winning, but awards are something that are given, not asked for. People have preferences and it becomes a bonus when a group of people agree to give the award to you,” he says. With the proper guidance and all out care of Ricky Gallardo and his management team at The Talent Factory, Sid soared to even greater heights with the film projects he took on. “I am lucky to have Ricky, he is family. He has an eye for the best projects for me. He discusses the plusses and minuses of a project, the risks involved, and then we both decide. I can tell him anything and everything. Like that time when the movie ‘Selda’ was offered to us, he made sure that I understood everything clearly and he constantly gave me assurances that it was one good role. True enough, ‘Selda’ gave me such invaluable happiness,” he shares. The film, directed by Paolo Villaluna, did not only give Sid his first international best actor trophy but it also scored him a best actor win at the mush-revered URIAN awards. “The URIAN trophy is very special. For one, it remains as the most aspired recognition for actors in the country. Second, it was my dad who presented the award.” Dad is veteran actor Mark Gil, whom Sid’s mother Eva “Bing”  Pimentel fell in love with on the set of the Mike de Leon classic film “Batch 81.” Sid Lucero is the name of the character of Mark Gil in the film and it proved to be a wise decision to choose that screen name. “I love it. You see tita, there are already so many in the family using Eigenmann and I thought to be different, para maiba naman, hindi po ba?” he adds. We also found out that Sid’s younger sister Max has also followed his footsteps. So beautiful and young (21), we heard that Max Eigenmann, a much sought-after commercial model, will soon be seen as the new leading lady of one of the most popular matinee idols on TV. “Max will go straight to mainstrean, and then maybe dabble in some indie projects later on. Our manager has charted a different career path for my sister,” Sid beams. Sid feels that taking the indie route was a very good decision. “The roles that I took on prepared me and gave me so much learning as an actor. ‘Astig’ is technically an indie film but it successfully crosses over and watching it erases everything that separates indie from mainstream.” We ask Sid about his recent Cannes International Film Festival experience and his handsome face brightens instantaneously. “It was wonderful, really amazing. My dad was in Cannes for ‘Batch 81’ more than 20 years ago and now his son has also walked the red carpet. The film ‘Independencia’ (directed by Raya Martin) is the very first film included in the Un Certain regard division and I’m still overwhelmed until now to have the Cannes experience. On a larger scale, I feel that our government should seriously help the film industry more. You know, the Philippines did not have any booth in the festival considering we have a few worthy films in the official list. It’s just a good thing that Direk Dante (Mendoza) won as Best Director.” Sid also tells us that he is very happy with the roles being assigned to him on television. He is currently doing not one, but two TV projects: As the leading man in “Gaano Kita Kamahal,” a Sunday afternoon drama where he plays a young man torn between two lovers. “ It is a very difficult role. I am married to Jodi Santamaria and I get into a passionate relationship with Maricar Reyes. It is something that I wish would never happen to me in real life,” Sid shakes his head and flashes out a big smile. He has also started work on the ABS-CBN soap opera “Dahil May Isang Ikaw,” which is slated to air sometime September. Sid feels very lucky to have been offered this role, where he will form part of the love triangle that includes Kristine Hermosa and Jericho Rosales. Lorna Tolentino and Gabby Concepcion are also part of the A-1 cast directed by the amiable Jerry Sineneng. Our sources from the Lopez-owned network tell us that bigger plans are in store for Sid Lucero. “Dahil May Isang Ikaw is just the first big step for Sid Lucero. We believe in his talent so much and we will make sure that he gets to be the next ‘BIG’ leading man in our camp. He is one remarkable talent, the best actor of this generation, and no doubt the best that the Eigenmann clan has produced,” whispered a top executive to us. By the way, “Astig,” a co-production venture between Boy Abunda and Boy So, will be premiered tonight at the CCP Main Theater, with another gala screening on July 23, also at the CCP. The movie also stars Dennis Trillo, Edgar Allan Guzman, and Arnold Reyes. Also in the cast are 20 stage actors and 30 mainstream actors, among them Ai Ai delas Alas, Pooh, Bianca Gonzalez, Mariel Rodriguez, Sitti Navarro, Jhong Hilario, Vhong Navarro, Chanda Romero, Rustica Carpio, Keanna Reeves, Glaiza de Castro, and Gardo Verzosa among others. Supervising producer of “Astig” is Noel Ferrer who has several critical and box-office hits – “Daybreak,” “Adela” and “Imoral” – tucked under his belt. Writer Jerry Gracio is a Palanca award-winning writer and UP Centennial awardee for literature. * * * Rangefinder Filipinas elects its new officers For the past three years, Rangefinder Filipinas (RF) has been loose group of rangefinder camera users and lovers who shared experiences and knowledge based on their personal use of classis photographic cameras and their continuing passion for adhering to the film medium in this age of digital imaging. The group that got formed is composed of a mixture of film enthusiasts from all walks of life – from students to IT experts, engineers, writers, college professors, lawyers, film and TV directors. After doing slideshow presentations, photo exhibits, photographic walk-abouts and informal film developing workshops the enthusiasts gathered to formalize the organization. The newly elected officers are movie and TV director Uro Q. dela Cruz (president), commercial photographer-professor Jay Javier (vice president), Dr. Eddie Concepcion (general secretary) and IT specialist Maan Dimla (treasurer). To formally inaugurate the establishment of Rangefinder Filipinas a major exhibit to highlight four distinguished photographers is on the drawing board. The RF Forum, an online site dedicated to keeping alive classic film photography in the Philippines is moderated by Michael Dougan, a Scottish engineer who has gone native in Bulacan. To visit the site go to http:/rangefinderfilipinas.com/forums/ * * * Tidbits: Happy b-day greetings today, July 18, go to Jaime Zobel de Ayala, Diether Ocampo, Sunshine Cruz-Montano, Mariles Cacho Romulo, Dr. Elizabeth Oropesa-Freeman, Freddie Reyes, Al Vincent, Mary Jane Ojeda, Aileen P. Ventura of California, USA; Calvin Mark P. Serrano, Michael Rodolfo, Yeng Lim, Hiyasmin Neri and Juliana Victoria M. Lopez, who turns 7…Happy wedding anniversary to Perry and Jossie Dimarucut…