Key Points
- Ang Filipino-Australian na si Ezra Juanta ay isang singer, actor, puppeteer at may sapat na kasanayan sa storytelling na kasamang bibida sa 'Grug and The Rainbow' na gaganapin sa Sydney Opera House hanggang ika-22 ng Disyembre 2024.
- Pumasok siya sa acting school sa Adelaide sa loob ng tatlong taon, nakapag-perform na sa iba’t ibang produksyon dito sa Australia at sa iba’t ibang panig ng mundo, kabilang ang China, London, USA, at Canada. Kasalukuyan siyang nagtatrabaho bilang Captain Starlight para sa Starlight Children’s Foundation. Dati rin siyang gumanap sa Beep, Rumpelstiltskin, Wizard of Oz (Windmill Theatre Company) at Chalkface (State Theatre Company South Australia). Isa siya sa mga pangunahing puppeteer sa seryeng pantelebisyon na Beep and Mort, na nakabatay sa stage production na Beep.
- Maliban sa acting at singing plano din niyang pasukin ang directing pero higit sa lahat gusto niyang maging inspirasyon sa mga batang Pinoy na gustong pumasok sa industriya ng entertainment. Ang 'Grug and the Rainbow' ay ang pangatlong production show na kanyang ginampanan sa Sydney Opera House.
Purong mga artist ang parehong pamilya ng magulang ng Filipino-Australian singer, actor, puppeteer and photographer na si Ezra Juanta.
Ang kanyang ina ay mula sa Cebu, Pampanga naman ang kanyang ama.
Subalit kahit artists ang kanyang pamilya, hindi maiwasan may tutol sa kanyang pagpasok sa acting school sa Adelaide.
“Takot sila kasi sabi sabi kung artist ka hindi lage stable ang opportunities gusto nila stable ako pero I was successful then they were happy,” masayang kwento ng actor-singer.
According to Ezra, a few members of his family were initially hesitant about his decision to attend acting school. However, after witnessing his passion, dedication, and success, his family gave him their full support. His father is from Pampanga and his mother is from Cebu, both of whose families are artists. Credit: Ezra Juanta
“Multiple times pumunta I've done different things through acting I've been able to go overseas so like with the windmill I've been able to go to USA, Canada, London and China.”
Sa tinatamasang tagumpay ni Ezra bilang artist, naniniwala sya na malaki ang papel, ng kanyang pagka-Pilipino.
"I think ang mga Filipinos we’re always masaya, we create and make other people happy and it plays a big part of helping me to be a good actor, and I think that made me employable.”
Ezra Juanta played the Lion in The Wizard of Oz, a Windmill Theatre Company production. Credit: Windmill Theatre Co.
"I learned Tagalog through listening, I can't write pero nakakaintindi at nakakapagsalita ako kulang lang sa practise."
Ezra Juanta during Beep and Mort Series 2. Credit: Claudio Raschella
"Actually yung pumunta kami sa London kasi it was over Christmas and New Year's and I decided mag to throw a Nochebuena.
I invited lahat ng ng casts and crew tapos sa hotel foyer I cooked a adobo and lumpia tapos like everyone else brought something to share ah we stayed up till midnight we did like the whole celebration there is exchange gifts so yan ang opportunities I had to share my culture, " pagbahagi ng artist.
[Bottom centre] Ezra Juanta during the Rumpelstiltskin theatre play. A Windmill Theatre Company Production. Credit: Windmill Theatre Co.
Isa siya sa mga pangunahing puppeteer sa seryeng pantelebisyon na Beep and Mort, na nakabatay sa stage production na Beep.
Nagsulat din siya para isang one man show na pinamagatang 'Blood Sweat and Karaoke'.
"Tungkol ito first generation Australians at kanilang mga anak. Basically this character searching and discovering who he is, so it's done in a boxing ring and every round is like a moment in his life that shaped his life."
The casts of The Wizard of Oz. Ezra played the Lion. Credit: Tony Lewis
Ipinapakilala sa Grug and the Rainbow sa mga bata ang mga konsepto tungkol sa kalikasan, mga kulay, at pagkamausisa, na tumutulong na palaguin ang kanilang imahinasyon at kaalaman.
"Ang role ko naman ay is ah there's three performers ang cast natin three of us and we take turns parang narrating yung story from the picture books at puppeteering Grug and yong mga kaibigan ni Grug.
We are bringing yung mga stories to life with a bit of magic and fun and there's you know even dancing, play. A gentle way of experience sa theatre ng mga bata at magulang.
Ezra and Grug at the Sydney Opera House. Credit: Windmill Theatre Co.
"Kung nakita ng mga bata they could actually believe it and they can grow up thinking I could do that I could be that that's the biggest and proudest thing I think about being a part of this.
Being creative doesn't cost you anything so I think tayong mga Filipinos we dream big. This is what I meant to do… dapat may representation ang mga Filipinos hopefully i can be of help championing others [kababayan] kahit ibang lahi who would want to be creative."
