Joshua Garcia may have been turning up the heat on screen, but off camera, he will be the first to admit that it does not come easy for him.
At the Star Magic Spotlight press conference held on Thursday, May 21, the actor opened up about filming intimate scenes with co-star Ivana Alawi in the ongoing Prime Original series Love Is Never Gone.
He was candid about the fact that showing skin on camera is something he has never quite gotten comfortable with, no matter how many times he has done it.
"Actually, hindi ako comfortable at all doing love scenes. Like showing my body? Hindi ako comfortable sa camera," Joshua admitted.
"Du'n nanggaling ang pagiging aktor mo, oo. Not comfortable talaga. Showing your body? Ang hirap nu'n ah,” he added
It is a surprising confession from someone who has been in the industry long enough to have done his share of intimate scenes across multiple projects. ‘
But Joshua was straightforward about it and even revealed that he quietly negotiates with the camera crew to keep shots above a certain point whenever these scenes come up.
"Every time may [intimate] scenes ako, kinakausap ko 'yung mga cameramen namin. ''Yung shot mo, dito lang banda [sa may taas] ha?' Kasi naririnig ko si Direk. 'Ibaba mo pa 'yung angle mo. Ibaba mo pa.' Hindi niya talaga binababa. Talagang matibay siya eh. So kapag ganu'n, kausapin mo lang 'yung mga [cameramen] natin," he shared.
When asked what was going through his mind while filming the love scene with Ivana, Joshua kept his answer grounded.
Ivana previously admitted to having a crush on Joshua.
"Ano tumatakbo sa isip ko while doing the scene? Na ako si Teo," he said, referring to his character in the series. "Kasi, every love scene naman may pinanggagalingan eh."
Part of what helped him get through it was the professionalism of their directors, Emmanuel Quindo Palo and Jojo Saguin, whom Joshua said made the whole experience feel safe and guided from start to finish.
"Mabait si Direk sa amin, oo. Inaalalayan niya kami ng maayos. Ina-assist niya kami. Every move naman na ginagawa namin, directed naman lahat 'yun. Hindi naman 'yun kusa lang na gumagalaw 'yung mga kamay namin at mga labi namin. Directed naman 'yun," he said.
Joshua also gave fans something to look forward to, teasing that there is more to the story behind that intimate scene than what has been shown so far.
Apparently, the buildup scene filmed before the love scene was quite lengthy but was cut short for the episode, and it is the part Joshua says he most liked.
"'Yung scene na ginawa namin bago mag-love scene, mahaba siya talaga eh. Maikli lang siya pinalabas sa Prime pero makikita natin 'yun soon. Bawal pa sabihin. Pero sa Prime. 'Yun 'yung nagustuhan ko, 'yung unang scene. 'Yung pinanggalingan bago mag-love scene," he said.
It is worth noting that portions of the series were filmed on location in Morocco, though the love scene itself was shot back home in the Philippines.
When asked to rank the scene among all the intimate scenes he has done throughout his career, Joshua politely declined, pointing out that each role demands something different.
"'Yung Un/Happy For You, mas gusto nila mas maanghang, mas rough. And dito naman sa 'Love is Never Gone,' passionate 'yung hinihingi eh," he explained.
He confirmed, though, that he delivered what the script was asking for. "Yes, of course. Kailangan makita sa camera 'yun."
On working with Ivana, Joshua had nothing but kind words and went well beyond the obvious when describing what makes her stand out.
"Oo naman. Napakagandang babae ni Ivana. Hindi lang siya basta maganda. Napakabait niya, napakamatulungin niya," he said.
He even jokingly told her on set to give him a piece of property, after learning just how much real estate the actress owns.
"Sabi ko nga, 'Bigyan mo naman ako ng lupa.' Sana all na lang talaga eh. Dami daw niyang buildings. Sabi ko, 'Bigyan mo naman ako ng isang building paupahan,'" he laughed.
Love Is Never Gone is currently streaming on Prime Video.
—By Paolo Lim