Paolo Gumabao, Migs Almendras to headline new gay film ‘The Blue Hour’

Paolo Gumabao and Migs Almendras will headline award-winning director Adolf Alix Jr.’s upcoming LGBTQ drama “The Blue Hour.”

The film follows Rafa (Almendras), a clean-cut actor, and Enzo (Gumabao), a star basketball player, who spend 24 hours together in a beach house in Pampanga to end their three-year relationship before Rafa signs a career-changing contract.

As they confront the future of their relationship, the pair grapple with public scrutiny, career expectations, and the lingering memory of a mutual friend who failed to survive life in the closet.

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Speaking during the film’s story conference and media launch on Friday, July 3, Alix said “The Blue Hour” differs from his previous gay-themed films by focusing on how outside forces influence deeply personal decisions.

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“Nung nakikita ko sa social media na, di ba, andaming pressures sa generation ngayon. Bukod sa kailangan mong maging mabuting tao, marami rin pong external force na kailangan mong pagdesisyunan,” he said.

“Andaming factors na iko-consider ng isang tao bukod pa po sa sarili niyang desisyon. Sabi ko, maganda siyang i-tackle at this point para makita rin yung side nung taong nagdedesisyon, lalo na po sa industriya natin,” added the filmmaker.

Asked what aspect of same-sex relationships the film aims to highlight, Alix said he wanted to portray the difficult choices faced by LGBTQ individuals whose relationships remain hidden due to societal expectations.

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“Ang isang relasyon na sikreto at dini-deny ng society na hindi tama, ang daming puwedeng puntahan. Pero nandun po ’yun sa dalawang tao na magde-decide kasi may repercussions,” he said.

He cited the example of an actor or athlete weighing whether coming out as part of the LGBTQ community could affect a rising career.

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During the same event, Alix also addressed the long-running debate over whether LGBTQ roles should only be played by LGBTQ actors.

“An actor is an actor,” he said, arguing that restricting roles based on sexual orientation could also be a form of discrimination.

“Sana ang rason ay hindi dahil member lang siya ng LGBTQIA+. Kung hindi, magaling siyang artista at kaya niyang gawin. It’s not a documentary. This is fiction,” he added.

Gumabao echoed the director’s views, saying acting is rooted in empathy and understanding rather than sharing the same identity as the character.

“I think an actor’s job is to understand and find a way to justify what the character’s needs are or what the character’s wants are. You don’t have to be in that position to fully understand or to empathize with that character,” he said.

“Hindi ako naniniwala na dapat pag gay role, dapat sa gay actor sila or pag straight role, dapat sa straight actor sila,” he continued. “Depende talaga sa craft ng artista. Depende kung gaano kamahal siguro ng artista yung trabaho niya.”

Alix, who made his feature directorial debut with the 2006 Cinemalaya entry “Donsol,” is known for directing the LGBTQ films “Daybreak” and “Muli.”

Paolo, meanwhile, is half-sibling to Marco and Michele Gumabao. He won Best Actor for the 2021 film “Lockdown” and has recently expanded into international projects with “Spring in Prague.”

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Almendras, on the other hand, previously appeared in the LGBTQ-themed films “Dreamboi” and “Open Endings.” /edv