Kapamilya loveteam JM Ibarra and Fyang Smith will be celebrating Valentine’s Day on the set of their upcoming first lead-role movie “Almost Us”.
They will have their first shooting day for the movie this Saturday.
“Yes, magwowork kami,” said Fyang.
Speaking to ABS-CBN News after their script reading, the on-screen pair joined their co-stars in getting a full picture of “Almost Us”.
“Happy kami kasi naka-bonding namin yung cast na ngayon lang namin nameet and mas naintindihan namin yung kwento,” said JM.
Fyang added, “Nakonek-konek na namin kung paano namin gagawin yung connections ng mga characters. Mas naintindihan na namin yung lalim ng mga characters namin.”
Tagged as the new generation’s Regal Babies, JM and Fyang expressed their gratefulness and appreciation to Regal Entertainment for taking a chance on them in a movie project as big as this.
“Tinupad nila yung pangarap namin na makapag-MMFF and now, eto yung first movie namin, sila din ang tumupad. Happy kami and thankful kami sa Regal.”
Dan Villegas will take charge of the movie who is returning to his rom-com roots after seven years. His last romance movie was “Excess Baggage” with Carlo Aquino and Angelica Panganiban back in 2019.
Initially, Dan wanted to work with JM.
“Napanood ko si JM una sa ‘Child no. 82’ sa Cinemalaya, sobra akong blown away by the performance. Tapos nag-usap kami ni Tonet (Jadaone), ni-research namin nakita namin na may loveteam. Ang interesting na gumawa ng romance na sila ang bida. Nainlove ako doon kay JM, tapos nag-research kami kay Fyang, sabi ko totoong tao siya.”
Villegas also shared how relatable the story of “Almost Us” is, most especially to the Gen Z market.
“Ang ‘Almost Us’ ay bestfriends story. So maghahabulan yung isang bestfriend sa isang bestfriend. Hanggang sa marerealize nung isang bestfriend na tayo pala.”
Even JM and Fyang found the feels of the movie easy to connect to: “Ngayong generation, sobrang daming takot mag-take risks kasi, ayaw nilang masira yung friendship.” said Fyang.
Regal Entertainment teamed up with Project 8 for ‘Almost Us’, and according to Regal Entertainment’s EVP Keith Monteverde, “This is our second project with ‘Project 8’. They strike a good balance between mainstream and indie.”
He added, “With this movie, we’d like to give the mainstream kilig but has the depth that you find in indie movies.”
“Almost Us” will premiere in cinemas on May 6, 2025.