When she first found out she was handpicked by director Brillante Mendoza to be one of the lead cast members in his latest film Until She Remembers, actress Barbie Forteza said she could not believe she was getting the opportunity to work with him. In the film, Barbie plays the role of 16-year-old high school student named Angel who is the granddaughter of Concha (played by Charo Santos). Also part of the cast is veteran actress Boots Anson Roa-Rodrigo.
“Lucky is the right word. I am very lucky and privileged to be working with these three brilliant filmmakers of our industry. Isa po ito sa napakalaking career milestone na feeling ko ay sa ka-apo-apo-han ko ay ipagmamalaki ko. And ang masasabi ko lamang ay working with these three brilliant artists, napakalaki ng kanilang pangalan sa ating industriya, pero once they step on the set, wala. Wala lahat yun. Napaka-humble, down-to-earth, and everyone’s just ready to work. Lahat para sa pelikula, lahat para sa ikagaganda ng storya. Kaya I am very grateful to be part of this very wonderful project,” she said during the film’s presscon.
READ: Barbie Forteza on working with Charo Santos for the first time: ‘Walang ka-ere ere!’
For her to be offered a role like this, Barbie said it felt like getting the biggest compliment, coming from some of the industry’s most talented people who entrusted her with the role.
“Parang everything felt so surreal for me. But also, this really reminded of why I do what I do. I had such high respect for people who see me as an actress and not as a celebrity. And to be part of this film, parang napaka-privileged ko dahil ibig sabihin, seryoso ang tingin sa akin ng mga tao dito kasi nagtiwala sila enough to put me in this film. And I will forever be grateful to people who respect me that way because I want to be here for the long run as well. So feeling ko, isa rin ito sa mga pelikula na forever ko ipagmamalaki kahit sa ka-apo-apohan ko,” she admitted.
Being part of a project with director Brillante Mendoza also meant going to the set every day without being given a script, which was a brand new experience for Barbie.
“Actually lagi ko ngang sinasabi na working with direk Brillante is like getting a master class in directing and filmmaking dahil yun po talaga ang istilo ni direk Brillante at kilala siya sa paggawa ng pelikula ng walang script. And for a young actor like me to experience that kind of filmmaking, napakagandang experience nun at training ground and I feel like mas lumalim talaga ang aking understanding in terms of the narrative of the story. Kasi na-realize ko dahil sa pelikulang ito na nag-wo-work pala ang pelikula at ang storytelling kahit wala kang script. It’s all about the narrative and the message that you want to convey to the audience,” she explained.
More than just memorizing a script, Barbie said fully internalizing her character was the most important responsibility she had as an actress on the Until She Remembers set, “Napakalaking bagay na punong puno ng lalim at puso ang bawat isa sa aming gumanap sa pelikulang ito dahil hindi kami nawalan ng landas, or hindi kami nawalan ng direksiyon dahil may core kaming sinusunod. The captain of the ship, grabe. Grabe sa work ethics din talaga.”
READ: Charo Santos, Boots Anson-Roa, and Barbie Forteza to star in new Brillante Mendoza film
Since wrapping up shooting for the film, Barbie said her understanding of her work has deepened after receiving a lot of lessons from her more seasoned co-stars and director.
“Lagi ko sinasabi, sila ang mga poste ng industriya. At ang kanilang craft, kapag na-experience mo pala firsthand, parang nag-iiba din yung tingin mo sa mga artista in general. Mas lumawak ang aking pag-unawa at pag-intindi sa ating mga actors today, and also filmmakers. That’s why I m really, really happy na nagbabalik na ang pelikula ngayon, ang sigla ng pelikula ngayon sa takilya. I’m really, really happy about that. Kasi ibig sabihin, para sa mga very passionate actors, young actors like me, marami pang chance para makagawa ng maraming kuwento, maraming pelikula na ma-i-she-share namin sa inyo,” she said.
Watch Barbie Forteza in Until She Remembers produced by Solar Studios Inc. and Center Stage Productions, with Wilson Tieng as executive producer. The film also stars Charo Santos and Boots Anson Roa-Rodrigo. Written and directed by Brillante Mendoza. The film opens on February 25, Wednesday, in cinemas nationwide.