With the opening date of his first movie this year Almost Us drawing near, director Dan Villegas shared with the press why he chose a rom-com project which had him working for the first time with the love team of JM Ibarra and Fyang Smith.
“Sobrang happy kasi first time kong na-encounter si JM, napanuod ko yung pelikula niya sa Cinemalaya. Tapos sabi ko gusto ko maka-work itong actor na ito. Nung night na yun, nag-research ako tapos nakita ko yung love team nila, meron pa lang JMFyang. Tapos pinanuod ko yung mga ano nila, kinikilig ako eh (laughs). Na-impress talaga ako sa Cinemalaya. Tapos from there, nung nag-deep dive talaga ako, All of those nights na nagsimula ka lang sa isang video tapos 4 a.m. na natapos na puro JMFyang lang yung pinapanuod mo? Ayun, sabi ko, I really want to work with these two,” he shared during the Almost Us presscon held earlier this month.
In the Regal Entertainment project Almost Us, Fyang plays the role of a woman obsessed with her celebrity idol while her best friend (played by JM) supports her fantasies while secretly harboring his love for her. Direk Dan revealed how impressed he was with his lead stars’ professionalism on the set of their film.
“Ako kasi pag may ka-work ako, it’s more of madami kasing magagaling pero ang important kasi is attitude. Nung nag-start kami mag-shoot sinabihan ko sila, ‘Pag magka-work tayo, know three things. you come to work on time, i-memorize yung lines, and huwag kayo tutungtung sa set na wala kayong baon.’ Alam ng lahat ng actors na naka-work ko yun. And they exceeded my expectations. Maaga sila dumadating. 30 minutes early. Pagdating nila sa set, never ko na-encounter na hindi nila memorize yung lines nila. Merong mga sequences kami na diyos ko ilang pages na tuloy-tuloy yung take. Third, I like working with actors na may sariling take sa script, may ideas sila. So we really take time before the shoot to discuss the script. And na-impress ako na may baon sila. Very important ang attitude. Very important sa akin yung attitude and yun yung saludo talaga ako sa kanila,” he explained.
READ: Dan Villegas on directing Changing Partners: ‘Ito yung isa sa pinaka-suaveng ginawa ko’
Also part of the film is Dustin Yu, who will portray the special role of Kenzo, the idol that Fyang’s character is obsessed with. Direk Dan talks about casting the Pinoy Big Brother alumni to complete the love triangle in his storyline.
“Nabuo na yung story about this girl who is obsessed with an idol and may best friend fighting for them. Paano ba yung mga fan sa kanilang mga idols? Yun yung treatment namin for the film. More than kasi yung character very fantastic, kumbaga idol siya eh, so parang nasa parallel universe. Kailangan talaga meron siyang leading man fantasy element. Kaya yung dynamic nilang tatlo parang fantasy element. So yung best friend (si JM, iniisip) sana ako na lang yun pero ayun. Panuorin niya na lang (laughs). Sa casting ni Dustin, naghanap kami ng puwedeng itapat. Kasi alam namin na yung base ng JMFyang sobrang solid. So kailangan namin ng strong actor for that role na mag-pe-play ng isang idol, isang fantastic idol na usually you see lang in Fyang’s imagination,” he said.
Almost Us opens in cinemas nationwide starting May 6, Wednesday.