Dingdong Dantes happens to be among those who started in teeny-bopper projects and now continues to be one of GMA-7’s hottest properties. He’s juggling two regular shows in “S.O.P.” and “Twin Hearts,” and takes in directorial chores for the station’s version of “X-Men,” “Kakabakaba” every Saturday night. He’s also fresh from the “Starstruck” upshot that gave rise to a phenomenon which he himself cannot still get over with.
We caught up with Dingdong at the press conference for his new Viva movie, “Annie B.” with Jolina Magdangal. “Kasi that ‘Starstruck’ finals night sa Araneta, they were deliberating until the last minute. And after they tallied the text votes and the judges’ decision, the envelope went straight to my hands kaya nanginginig talaga kami ni Nancy knowing that we have the winners’ names in our hands,” Dingdong recalled.
Aside from “Starstruck,” Dingdong hosted a handful of major pageant and awards night events and those who’ve seen him take control of the stage know he did these hosting jobs like a stroll in the park.
Acting-wise, Dingdong has definitely gone far from his love team days in “Anna Karenina” and “Honey My Love So Sweet” as part of the Viva Teen Barkada nearly a decade ago. The fans shrieked and clamored over him and then-loveteam Antoinette Taus and Dingdong knows it’s just the way the starting line for matinee-idol-stardom is drawn.
“I think it’s just how it is here and it’ll always be that way na mag-start sa mga love team talaga.” But Dingdong’s case is special because most often than not, it’s the girl who gets to run away with stardom after a loveteam expires. In Dingdong’s case, he got to be the one soaring through the clouds of success after the loveteam screams died down. “I think it’s just that I got out of it early. Ngayon tanggap na rin naman ng fans na hindi ako tied-down to a loveteam,” and the situation works out for the best laid plans for his career.
Dingdong’s passion for acting pushed his interest to pursue directing and he’s the youngest to ever call the shots on regular Saturday weeknights for the “Kakabakaba” series on GMA-7. “The best part about directing is watching it. Pag pinapanood mo na talaga yung pinaghirapan mo. The worse part naman is while you’re shooting it because there are a lot of things you can’t control sa taping,” he recounted.
“Ok lang kasi mga mas bata naman sa akin yung mga dini-direct ko sa ‘Kakabakaba.’ The only downside to it is that may kakulitan pa sila na parang ako din nung nagsisimula pa ako. Pero ang mas nakakapressure sa pagdi-direct ay pag mga mas senior sa’yo yung mga actors mo,” told Dingdong who was referring to veterans Johnny Delgado and Ronaldo Valdez among other senior actors he directed with in “Kakabakaba.” “They (senior actors he directed) treated me well naman talaga at wala akong masabi dahil very cooperative sila. Directing the likes of Johnny Delgado and Ronaldo Valdez is both a challenge and privilege for me.”
However, if he were to choose just one between acting, hosting and directing, Dingdong would still decide on “acting, kasi it’s my first love and it’s with acting that everything started going for me.”
Despite his restricting  six-days-a-week taping schedule, Dingdong managed to finish the musical/comedy, “Annie B,” with Jolina and Dingdong’s “S.O.P.” director Louie Ignacio. In “Annie B,” Dingdong plays an advertising agency’s young executive who casts Jolina in a commercial. Dingdong and Jordan Herrera fight for Jolina’s affections in this feel-good movie. Jolina’s fans haven’t seen her in for quite some time now.
“Annie B.” enlists a stellar support cast led by Gloria Romero, Armando Goyena, Ronaldo Valdez, Amy Austria, Janice de Belen, Mark Bautista, Iza Calzado, Sarah Geronimo, Mel Martinez and Bobby Andrews.
Director Louie Ignacio is proud that he landed the job in calling the shots for “Annie B.” because it’s a musical and the known MTV director couldn’t help but be at home with making the movie. “I would say that this movie is 20 percent musical, roughly five to six numbers and at home ako dito kasi sanay na sanay ako sa ganito.”
The director is even prouder than his cast who are all professionals. “I wasn’t expecting na ganito ka-professional ang cast nitong pelikulang ito. Aside from Jolina, Dingdong and Jordan na hindi nagbigay ng sakit ng ulo, isipin mo ba namang sobrang punctual ng mga artista as in si Gloria Romero dumadating an hour ahead of call time at si Armando Goyena dumarating ng naka-costume at make-up na! I had a lot of fun working for this project plus Viva films has been so good to me,” direk Louie said.
Back to Dingdong who was last seen in the filmfest entry, “Malikmata,” he dreams of cashing in an Edward Norton type of role in the future. “Idol ko kasi si Edward Norton at dream role ko yung parang psycho killer ka or the one he did in ‘Primal Fear,’” said Dingdong who also named Collin Farrell as one of his current Hollywood pick. Asked whether he’s aware of the nasty reports on Collin’s behavior he said, “Yes, pero iba talaga siya eh. No one can take that screen presence away from him. Yun din ang maganda sa Hollywood, bale wala sa kanila kung sino ka off-screen as long as you deliver pag take na.”
By the time he reaches the age of 40, Dingdong sees himself serious with a career in news and public affairs. “I would love to try and give news and public affairs a try. Wag lang ngayon kasi feeling ko, mahihirapan pa talaga ako but someday, I’d also like to see myself take on such eye-opening issues and human interest stories,” revealed Dingdong.
A jack of all trades yet a master in each field, it’s a given why Dingdong outlasts his contemporaries—he tries everything he gets his hands on and refuses to settle for anything short than the best outcome.
(Viva Films’ “Annie B.” hits regular showing on March 3. The movie will have a premiere night on March 1 at the SM Megamall.)