Esteemed actor Pen Medina employs a different method to teach film and TV acting in his ongoing workshop on key topics like acting for auditions, subtext, acting truth, building a character, relaxation, and improvisation.

“Then (the subjects) go deeper along the way,” Pen told Manila Bulletin Online in an interview on Sept. 3.

He cited for example the exercises in which the students act out an excerpt from a play, a movie script and, once, a scene from the afternoon soap, “Ngayon at Kailanman,” where Pen is a mainstay.

Those acting exercises were recorded and played back after each performance for commentary. They also compared their re-working of a scene from “Ngayon at Kailanman” to the one aired on Channel 7.

“Nagugulat sila na gano’n ang lumabas. ‘Yung ilan kasi may experience na sa theater acting at ‘yung iba naman lumalabas na sa TV. Pero meron ding walang background sa acting,” he said of his students.

Pen emphasized the importance of having the right foundation, just like the one he got from his first stab at acting in a workshop facilitated by actor Joonee Gamboa in 1976, which in turn paved the way for his foray into theater.

He made his movie debut in Ishmael Bernal’s 1982 masterpiece, “Himala,” and did consistently well in his subsequent film and TV projects.

Aside from Bernal, Pen has worked with equally exemplary directors Lino Brocka (“Orapronobis”), Mike de Leon (“Sister Stella L”), Marilou Diaz-Abaya (“Jose Rizal”), and Peque Gallaga (“Unfaithful Wife”).

Pen’s acting awards include best supporting actor nods for “Deathrow” and “Muro-ami” in 2001 and 1999, respectively.

He also did outstanding work in the movies “Bayani,” “Segurista,” and “La Vida Rosa,” and on the TV series “Encantadia” as the evil contravida Hagorn.

“Marami akong napapanood ngayon na napapabayaan na ang acting especially sa theater. Truth cannot be felt anymore,” he observed.

Pen is particularly concerned with theater-trained actors who cross over to movies and TV. “Nando’n pa rin ‘yung intonation na halatang-halata sa screen,” he pointed out.

However, Pen said he is not imposing his approach on anyone. “Kung sino lang ang nangangailangan. Depende pa rin sa kung ano ang nagwo-work sa individual pero kailangan na sumubok ng iba,” he said.

Pen, who in the past gave informal one-on-one mentoring sessions upon the request of his fellow actors, was inspired by his children, notably Ping who’s successfully followed in his footsteps, to share his knowledge in a continuing workshop.

Thus, “ReINTRODUCTION: A Different Approach to Film and TV Acting” welcomed its first batch of workshoppers in April this year with guest speakers Willie Nepomuceno and Ronnie Lazaro.. The second batch came in July with Joel Torre as lone guest speaker.

The current batch had its first session last Aug. 29 and will get to learn from Alessandra da Rossi and Ketchup Eusebio in future classes. For inquiries, call 09175347464 and 211-2357.