{"id":404602,"date":"2024-01-22T14:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-01-22T14:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/?p=404602"},"modified":"-0001-11-30T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"-0001-11-29T14:00:00","slug":"Finding-hope-amidst-despair-An-actor-s-personal-journey","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/Finding-hope-amidst-despair-An-actor-s-personal-journey\/","title":{"rendered":"Finding hope amidst despair: An actor\u2019s personal journey"},"content":{"rendered":"

For Northern Marianas College student John San Nicolas, playing the lead role in the upcoming film, ISLA: Isla\u2019n Esperansa<\/em> (Island of Hope<\/em>), has been a personal journey to find hope amidst the despair in reality as well as in fiction.<\/p>\n

\u201cPlaying this character wasn\u2019t really difficult because I could relate to the character so well,\u201d he said. In the film, his character, Matt, is a math whiz who tries to save his family as he gets pulled into the criminal underworld of the island. In playing the role, he noted, \u201cIt got hard to separate Matt from myself because we have so much in common, except, of course, for the criminal part.\u201d<\/p>\n

Of all the things they have in common, San Nicolas said the dynamic family relationships struck a chord for him. As he put it, \u201cRich or poor, every family has its problems, and even though you love each other and enjoy happy times, every family still deals with problems that are not always easy to fix.\u201d<\/p>\n

This is why the film\u2019s theme of despair resonated so much with him. He said, \u201cThe despair in the story is as real as it can get.\u201d He added, \u201cAlthough Matt tries his best to get out of the despair he\u2019s in, he risks losing everything.\u201d<\/p>\n

But San Nicolas also appreciates that the flip of despair in the film, and in life, is hope. He said, \u201cHope comes from family\u2014the hope Matt\u2019s mom had for her son, the hope that he has for her, even the hope their neighbor had for them.\u201d He added, \u201cThey are a family of hope.\u201d<\/p>\n

That is why San Nicolas believes everyone that watches the film will be able to relate as well. As he noted, \u201cYou see all these Hollywood films portraying rom-coms and superhero movies that all seem so unreal, but this film touches on real and regular family issues.\u201d Driving the point home, San Nicolas said, \u201cThis is a good reflection of what we here on island are going through.\u201d<\/p>\n

That is why he also emphasized, \u201cEveryone on island needs to see this film.\u201d<\/p>\n

ISLA: Isla\u2019n Esper\u00e5nsa (Island of Hope<\/em>), a Northern Marianas College and Mount Carmel School joint production, will have a limited premiere screening on Thursday, Jan. 25, at 6pm at Hollywood Theaters. Tickets are $15 each and can be purchased at Hafa Bean, TRIBE Marianas, and Mount Carmel School\u2019s Business Office. Due to limited seating, advance purchase of tickets is highly recommended. Due to mature content and graphic language, adult discretion is also advised. (PR)<\/em><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Northern Marianas College student John San Nicolas plays Matt, the lead character in the upcoming film ISLA: Isla\u2019n Esper\u00e5nsa<\/em> (Island of Hope<\/em>), which will have a limited premiere screening on Thursday, Jan. 25, at 6pm at Hollywood Theaters.<\/p>\n

-CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
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<\/p>\n

Opposite Maisie B. Tenorio, center, and Friella Dela Santa, right, who play his mother and sister respectively, John San Nicolas finds hope in family as the lead character, Matt, in the upcoming film ISLA: Isla\u2019n Esper\u00e5nsa (Island of Hope)<\/em>. The film will have a limited premiere screening on Thursday, Jan. 25, at 6pm at Hollywood Theaters.<\/p>\n

-CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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