MAY HALONG kaba, takot, at excitement ang pakiramdam ni Direk Gino Santos sa bago niyang pelikulang Ex With Benefits na pinagbibidahan nina Derek Ramsay, Coleen Garcia, at Meg Imperial ng Star Cinema at Viva Films dahil showing na ito on September 3.
How’s Derek as an actor sa pelikula ninyo? “Sobrang masayang katrabaho si Derek, very collaborative, I’m gonna scare dahil he’s a big star. He’s like an ultimate leading guy, parang natakot akong baka i-bully ako sa set. We get along so well and we really collaborate, ” say ni Direk Gino.
Pawang papuri naman ang ibinato ni Derek sa kanyang director. “I work with a lot of great directors. He’s the captain of the ship and I give him that trust. So, I have much respect with Direk Gino and he proved that since day one, kung paano siya magtrabaho. Kagagaling ko lang sa dubbing, first time kong makita ang mga rushes and I am very proud to be part of this project.”
Reaction ni Coleen na big movie launch niya ang Ex With Benefits: “Carry naman ‘yung role, but I’m very, very nervous and excited. I think stronger emotion is still the excitement and I’m looking forward to it. Pero kabado pa rin, hindi mawawala ‘yun. I think, mawawala lang ‘yun after the premiere.”
In a way, sinabi ni Coleen na naka-identify siya sa character ni Arki. “Actually it’s a big challenge for me. I’m very young at heart. So, there’s something I have to adjust, too. There was a scene 10 years ago, so I can be myself. ‘Yung present day sa movie, ‘yun ang challenge for me. Luckily, there’s Direk Gino to help me to do everything. ‘Yung boses ko sobrang taas, so inalalayan niya ako. I have to tone it down. It was a big adjustment for me at the same time.”
Similarity and challenges sa character na ginagampanan nina Derek at Coleen sa totoong buhay. “‘Yung part na nakare-relate ako kay Arki, she hurt something 10 years ago, he damage her so much. She closed her entire world and I guess that’s something I can relate to, because nahihirapan akong makaramdam ng emotion or mag-express ng emotion sa ibang tao. I never cry in front of anybody, because I have to be strong for so many people. To the point na naging bato na rin ako. I intend to shout myself out… I intend to put up really high walls and ‘yun ang downfall ko.
“But ‘yung differences namin is marunong akong mag-let go. Si Arki, ‘yun naman ang downfall niya. It was so hard for her to let go the past, to let go of Adam. To let go all the problem she has to face 10 years ago. It’s reach the point 10 years in to the future, hindi pa rin siya nakamu-move on, hindi pa rin siya nakale-let go. Ako naman, naniniwala akong kailangang mag-let go, kailangan mong mag-move on. Malayo ‘yung part na ‘yun,” paliwanag ni Coleen.
Pahayag naman ni Derek, “Simple lang ‘yung character ni Adam. ‘Yung similar sa character, hindi siya gumi-give-up sa pag-ibig, alam na ninyo ‘yan, ‘di ba? ‘Pag nagmahal siya, binubuhos niya lahat. Makikita sa pelikulang ito how Adam loves Arki, when he come back to her 10 years after. He don’t know how to act? He doesn’t know what to do? Except fight for that love… ‘yun ang makikita ninyo. Ganu’n din ako sa totoong buhay, ipaglalaban, kung talagang wala na, wala na, pero kung mayroon pang kaunting pag-asa, ipaglalaban ko.”
Masasabing super hot ang love scene nina Derek at Coleen sa full trailer ng Ex With Benefits. Knows kaya ni Billy Crawford na mayroon siyang ganu’ng eksena? “Siyempre naman, before I accepted the role, sinabi ko na sa kanya. Hindi sa hindi nagpaalam, sinabi ko na. He’s very understanding. He’s not seloso, pa cute na seloso lang, hindi nakatatakot.
“As much as preparation for that scene, pinag-usapan naming tatlo nina Derek and Direk Gino. We we’re very collaborative in every take. Sinasabi ni Direk, ito ang blocking ninyo and I really appreciate that, tinatanong kami kung ano ang gagawin ninyo. It helps us in a way kasi we got to work around if your comfortable also. Usap-usap kami, we talk about it so much, kailangang one take talaga para hindi na kami aabot sa take 2. True enough, hindi na kami umabot sa take 2 sa mga scene na ‘yun. The key is to prepare less but to discuss about it,” kuwento pa ni Coleen.
AYAW Paawat!
by Eddie Littlefield
