Paulo Avelino seems audacious in his latest movie, “Fan Girl”, one of the official entries in this year’s Metro Manila Film Festival as he had frontal nudity in one scene.

A vlogger read a review of the film and was surprised to learn that there is frontal nudity in the film.

“Pinatanggal daw para sa Pilipinas na version (It has been removed for the Philippine version),” came Avelino’s reply when asked about it during the movie’s online conference today, Dec. 7.

fan girl, Paulo Avelino, Charlie dizon — Paulo Avelino and Charlie Dizon in “Fan Girl.” Image: Facebook/@fangirlmovie

Later, the actor explained briefly why it was needed.

“Actually, to be honest, para sa akin, hindi naman talaga kailangan (for me, it was not really necessary),” the actor initially stated. “Pero kung mapapanood n‘yo iyong eksena, parang mas napapa-enhance niya iyong nangyayari.”

“Kumbaga, kung ipapaintindi mo sa audience, gusto mo nasa level three lang ito. Ito kapag napanood nila aangat iyong gustong ibigay ng eksena para umabot sa level ten,” he explained.

(But if you’re going to watch the scene, it was able to enhance what is happening. That is, if you want the audience to understand, you want this to be in level three. When they watch it, what the scene offers will reach level ten.)

The movie’s premise revolves around a young fan, Jane (Charlie Dizon), who is obsessed with Avelino. The actor plays himself in the movie. After hiding in the actor’s pick-up, Jane winds up getting too close for comfort with her idol.

Avelino shared that in the rare times that he is able to open direct messages on his social media account, there are a few fangirls who insist on seeing him.

“Pero siyempre hindi mo na nire-reply-an dahil alam mo naman kung ano ang pinanggagalingan ng mga ito. Minsan nga may nagse-send ng hubad na picture,” he said.

(But of course, you don’t reply to them because you know where they are coming from. Sometimes, some even send nude photos.)

What he was worried about is the chance of an obsessed fan to send her photo to a wrong person who might spread it.

“At the end of the day, pinapahamak mo rin ang sarili mo (you are bringing yourself harm),” he said.

“‘Wag naman sa ganoong point na ibibigay ninyo ang buong pagkatao ninyo sa isang tao o paniniwala na hindi ninyo nararamdaman,” was Avelino’s advice to fans.

“Kung napapasaya kayo nito, treasure it, use it. Gamitin ninyo ito para mag-excel sa buhay, mag-excel sa trabaho. Gawin ninyong motivation pero hindi sa gawin ninyong buhay itong nangyayari o itong taong iniidolo ninyo.”

(Don’t get to the point where you will give your whole personhood to one person or to a belief which you don’t feel [in your own life]. When someone makes you happy, treasure it, use it. Use it to excel in life, to excel in work. Make it a motivation but do not make your life about this phenomenon or the idol you are worshipping.)

“Fan Girl,” directed by Tonette Jadaone, had its world premiere as the lone Philippine entry at this year’s Tokyo International Film Festival. It premiered in Europe at the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival in Estonia.

The 10 films for this year’s edition of the MMFF will be available worldwide and exclusively via Upstream for only P250. As early as Dec. 7, you can book your movie tickets for “Fan Girl” in advance via bit.ly/WatchFanGirl. MMFF, which will run virtually, will stream the films on Dec. 25. NVG

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