Actress-content creator Hershey Neri shared her experience auditioning for a Cinemalaya film ahead of this year’s independent film festival.
On Tuesday, August 4, the content creator recounted how she landed a role in “Ganggang,” a coming-of-age drama directed by JL Burgos and one of the entries in Cinemalaya 2026.
Hershey said she initially came across an announcement on Facebook for auditions to be held at the University of the Philippines Diliman.
“‘Hindi naman ako matatanggap sa Cinemalaya,’ sabi ko nun sa boyfriend ko,” she wrote in a social media post.
“‘Di naman ako ‘serious actor’. Sa totoo lang eh marami mas mahusay pa sakin. Nakakatakot. ‘Di ata para sakin ‘to. Wag na…’ Pero ‘di ako mapakali. Alam kong ‘pag pinalipas ko ‘tong chance na ‘to, magsisisi ako. Kaya maya’t maya, humirit ulit ako — ‘Pero… puwede naman akong mag-try, diba?'” Hershey added.
“Walang masama mag-try. Pumila ako nang apat na oras sa UP (Auditonee Number 292!) — at eto na, after eight months, sa wakas — may Cinemalaya entry na tayo!” she said.
Hershey expressed her gratitude to JL and the other individuals who trusted her and invited her to make a cameo appearance in the film as “Teacher Anding.”
She added that it has been a “dream” of hers to be part of a Cinemalaya film.
“Matagal ko nang pangarap maging parte ng CINEMALAYA dahil sa mga kuwento [nito] na MAKABAYAN at may PUSO. Maraming salamat po, Direks, sa paggawa ng mga ganitong pelikula,” Hershey said.
She also thanked her boyfriend, cinematographer Emmanuel Liwanag, whom she said gave her the courage to dream of being part of a Cinemalaya movie.
“Siya rin talaga ang nagbigay sa akin ng lakas ng loob na mangarap ng Cinemalaya. Na-inspire akong subukan pagkatapos kong mapanood ang ‘Gulay Lang, Manong’ noong 2024, kung saan siya ang Director of Photography,” Hershey said.
“Salamat, mahal, sa pag-drive sa akin papuntang UP. Sa paghihintay ng higit apat na oras. Sa pagbili ng hotdog sa labas ng building. At higit sa lahat, sa pag-supporta sakin kahit ako mismo ay may doubt sa sarili ko,” she added.
The content creator also encouraged her followers to allow themselves to “try” things instead of letting fear and doubt consume them.
“Ang dami pala nating mga hindi ginagawa kasi inuunahan na natin ng takot at duda. Pero minsan, ang kailangan lang pala natin sabihin sa sarili natin ay… ‘Puwede naman akong mag-try.’ Malay natin, diba?” Hershey said.
The actress-content creator is part of “Ganggang,” a full-length feature film about three boys who form an unlikely bond while searching for the best fighting spider to defeat the school bully’s spider, with their journey putting their friendship to the test.
Cinemalaya is an annual independent film festival that celebrates local films that boldly articulate and interpret the Filipino experience through fresh insight and artistic integrity.
Film projects receive financial support through a rigorous competition, where proponents undergo a 20-month journey from concept development to the completion of their films. The finished works premiere at the festival as official finalists.
This year, Cinemalaya will be held from August 6 to 18.
