Seth Fedelin On Working With Seasoned Actors In “Dirty Linen”

Seth Fedelin is hands-down one of the most promising talents of his generation. From capturing hearts with his touching story and hazel brown eyes during his Pinoy Big Brother stint to his slew of acting chops post-housemate status, Seth has cemented his name in the entertainment mold.

Now taking on a new and exciting revenge series on primetime, the 20-year-old actor shares in an exclusive interview with Metro.Style how his schedule is like now that he is working on the much talked-about mystery-thriller-drama Dirty Linen. “’Pag walang taping, may event; ta’s ’pag wala namang taping, minsan sa bahay lang—pahinga. Sinusulit ko na ’yung oras na p’wedeng ipahinga,” he starts off.

On how he landed the project, Seth muses, “After ng Lyric and Beat,” Seth proceeds, “hindi ko alam pa nu’n na mayro’n akong gagawin after Lyric and Beat. Tapos, nasabi na lang sa’kin na mayro’n daw akong gagawin with Francine [Diaz].”

Prior to Dirty Linen, Seth starred in a youth-oriented musical series titled Lyric and Beat alongside Andrea Brillantes, Darren Espanto, AC Bonifacio, Kyle Echarri, Sheena Belarmino, Jeremy G, Angela Ken, and Awra Briguela. The musical series follows the story of an aspiring singer who is willing to go to lengths to achieve her dreams despite constant objections from her father.

On his Dirty Linen character Nico, Seth guarantees that he is just a simple guy trying to make his way through the nooks and crannies of life. “Bookworm siya, matalino siya, scholar siya, gusto niyang makapagtapos ng pag-aaral. Tapos, si Nico dito ’yung pure, innocent love or heart. Siya ’yung parang walang alam sa Dirty Linen—sa salitang ‘dirty.’”

“Tipikal na binata lang—nag-aaral. Sabi ko nga, siya ’yung pure [character]. ’Yun ang maganda sa kanya. ’Yung isip niya is gusto niya lang makatulong sa pamilya niya, and loyal si Nico. ’Yun ang good sa character ko. Tapos, madali siyang makaintindi. Actually, hindi nga loyal, e. Faithful nga si Nico, e.”

When asked what he hates about Nico, Seth replies: “Walang worst dahil nga pure siya, e. Bata ako, wala akong nanay. Gusto kong mag-aral. Gusto kong maiahon ’yung tatay ko—matulungan ko. Mahal na mahal ko ’yung pamilya ko.” Nico and Seth seem to have the same qualities as a person as well. Seth would also do everything in his might to see to his family's needs, working hard and toiling day and night to make their lives better.

“Maihahalintulad ko si Nico dito siguro kay Romeo. Si Romeo siya and then, my Juliet is si Chiarra Fiero, which is si Francine,” he continues. “Si Chiara din, walang alam. Actually, silang dalawa. Sila ’yung walang alam sa Dirty Linen. Sila ’yung parang pure souls, kumbaga.”

On how he got ready for his role in the revenge-laden offering, Seth notes that while Nico is a simple character to play, the challenge lies in how to make it just that—simple and without too much heavy drama.

“’Yung preparation ko dito—una, siyempre, basa ng script. Number one ’yan. Nag-ask ako sa mga directors namin tapos nagpatulong ako—first day na first day ko, nagpatulong ako. Sabi ko, ‘Kinakapa ko pa po ’yung character ko.’ Although simple lang naman siya, ang challenge du’n, pa’no mo gagawing simple ’yung character, ’di ba? Pa’no mo gagawing simple lang? ’Yun ang mahirap du’n, so sabi ko sa mga directors, ‘Patulong po ako.’”

Top-billed by Janine Gutierrez, Zanjoe Marudo, Francine Diaz, and Seth himself, Dirty Linen prides itself in a star-studded ensemble, with industry veterans such as Epy Quizon, Angel Aquino, Janice De Belen, Joel Torre, Tessie Tomas, and John Arcilla. 

“’Yung challenge naman sa’kin dito, ’yung mga co-actors ko. ’Yun! ’Yun ang matinding challenge dito—paano ko sasabayan, paano ako magre-react sa acting nila, sa masterpiece nila,” Seth states. “Kasi, ’yung mga kasama ko po dito is talagang mga award-winning actors [and] actresses, so bilang bata at bago pa lang dito, malaking challenge sa’kin ’yun—kung pa’no ko papantayan. Kasi, hindi p’wedeng may maiwan dito, e. Kailangan, nagbibigayan talaga.”

Dirty Linen, according to the former Gold Squad member, is on an entire new level. "Talagang pinaghandaan and star-studded ’yung mga cast, [pinaghandaan] ’yung buong tema nu’ng pa’no namin i-shoot, ’yung mga angle ng camera, ’yung effects. Talagang pinaghandaan siya.”

Seth also shared with us that as a showbiz newcomer, he thinks that the weight is placed upon the youngsters’ shoulders, though unintentional. “‘Yung pressure, sa ‘min. Pa’no namin bibigyan ng justice ‘yun? Kasi, nakakahiya siya kapag ‘yung mayro’ng naiwanan sa inyo sa isang eksena. Humihingi rin ako ng mga advice sa teachers ko du’n, which is sa mga co-actor ko.”

While Seth would usually share scenes with Joel Torre, Janine Gutierrez, Jennica Garcia, and Christian Bables, one of the the most memorable highlights of his Dirty Linen tapings was with Heneral Luna star John Arcilla.

When asked about his encounters with seasoned actors on set, Seth harks back, “Mayro’n nga dito, isang beses, naka-eksena ko si Heneral [Luna], si Sir John Arcilla! First time ko siyang naka-eksena. Ang tagal na namin nag-te-taping pero ’yun lang ’yung first time ko siyang naka-eksena. Parang kinabahan ako talaga! Kinabahan ako, nai-intimidate [ako]."

“’Yung una kong beses na naka-eksena si Heneral, sabi ko talaga, ‘Dito ako matatandaan ni Heneral.’ So kapag nagkamali ako dito, matatandaan niya na nagkamali ako. So sabi ko, ‘Hindi ko sisirain ’tong opportunity na ’to.’”

No matter how nervous he gets, though, Seth claims that he is all the more excited whenever he acts with these veterans, as he sure can take an idea or two from them each time they're around. 

“Palagi naman akong kinakabahan, e, lalo na kapag kasama ’yung mga senior actors kasi parang kapag tinitingnan mo na sila, in character na sila, tapos ikaw, ‘Wait! Baka mamaya, magkamali ako. Nakakahiya! Galingan ko na ’to!’ Lahat naman talaga, ina-idolize ko. Lahat naman [sila], excited akong makatrabaho. Excited akong matuto sa kanila kasi lahat sila, may matututunan ka, e—’yung mga method nila.”

Seth also tells us that whenever their schedules are vacated, they would go on a sit-down talk altogether to discuss what strategies to apply or what acting techniques to embody. “Hindi ako makapaniwala na ito na ’yung ginagawa ko, tapos pinapanood ko lang sila dati. Ang tagal na nila dito, so ang dami na nilang role na ginampanan. Ta’s ngayon, kinukuwento nila sa mga pasibol na artista—binabahagi nila ’yung natutunan nila. Sa’kin, sobrang chine-cherish ko ’yung ganu’ng bagay—na matuto sa kanila, [na] makapulot ng aral.”

While he’s finally getting the hang of it—working alongside actors of the highest caliber, Seth considers the project a humbling experience. “Kinakabahan pa rin araw-araw sa taping. Kinakabahan pa rin na baka nagkamali, pero nandiyan naman sila. Sobrang babait nila. Talagang nag-uusap-usap kaming mga actors and directors. Talagang team kami du’n—isang team. May isang mind kami du’n kung pa’no gagana ’yung isang eksena.”

Every time they're on set, Seth and his castmates would also bet on what will happen next as they read through the script. Dirty Linen would keep them guessing, and it's getting harder and harder to keep their heads off the story. “Talagang dapat nilang abangan! Parang ’yung script, naging telepono namin. Parang bumababad kami du’n sa script. Dapat talagang abangan ng mga Kapamilya natin.”

Directed by Onat Diaz and Andoy Ranay, Dirty Linen revolves around the mysterious and cunning Fiero family. The series follow the tale of a woman whose tragic death is linked to the clan, and the bloodied hands behind the crime.

A must-not-miss offering, Seth invites his fans to continue tuning in to the show. “Mga Kapamilya, hinihiling ko po sa inyo, subaybayan n’yo pa po at panoorin ang Dirty Linen,” Seth addresses the viewers. He also thanked the FranSeth community and those who never waver in showing support, especially that the new love team has just been launched. “Sa mga nagmamahal at sumusuporta sa’min ni Francine, maraming maraming salamat po.”

“Ako na rin nagsasabi sa inyo na worth it ’to! Parang international series ’to. Panlaban ’to! Kumbaga, mayro’n tayong say," Seth concludes.

Lead photos from @dreamscapeph