After lording over fashion runways as well as print and television ads in Manila, Brazilian-Japanese model Akihiro Sato is set to conquer another genre – the movies. I mentioned in one of my earlier posts that the international model was taking Filipino language classes at the University of the Philippines – Diliman in preparation for his foray into Philippine showbusiz. Apparently, even before his language lessons finish, Aki has already decided to take the big leap into acting. He is set to appear in a new independent film entitled “Handumanan”.

From the gist of “Handuman”, Aki doesn’t have to be fluent in the Filipino language as he plays a role which is very much like what he is right now – a Brazilian print ad model. He shares the screen with multi-awarded actors Chin Chin Gutierrez and Jason Abalos. Here is the film’s synopsis:

“‘Handumanan’ (Remembrance) is a story of three people who seem to have lost hope of their worlds until their fateful encounter in a resort in Negros Oriental.

Solita Locsin/Soledad Miranda or Sol (Chin Chin Gutierrez), 36, is a romance novelist who shuns her publisher’s demand for her to write erotic pocketbooks. In addition, she is suffering from choriocarcinoma, a terminal illness, so she decides to quit her job and takes that long-delayed journey back home in a place near the more popular university town of Dumaguete.

Alejandro Tan or Lean (Jason Abalos), 21, wants to be a writer but he is trapped in his job at the Commission on Audit after finishing accountancy upon the wish of his mother. He also wants to escape from a world which has been harsh to his family.

Carlos Silva (Akihiro Sato), 23, a Brazilian print ad model, is searching for his roots and his blog is his main connection to the other side of the world

After Sol finds out about blogging from her niece, she makes use of this new tool to continue writing. This sets up a connection with Carlos who finds her blog in the Internet and wants to meet her. On the other hand, Lean is assigned to audit in Dumaguete but his escapist attitude leads him to Sol, whose romance novels play a significant role in his life.”

The movie is directed by Seymour Barros Sanchez from a screenplay written by the director himself with Richard Soriano Legaspi. The movie is produced by the National Council for Culture and the Arts and Red Room Productions in cooperation with the Katorse Writers Group (from Ricky Lee’s 14th scriptwriting workshop), Pixel Art Media Production Co., On Cam Productions and the University of Makati Film Society. “Handumanan” is set to hit the theaters on February 2009.