Kapamilya love team Francine Diaz and Seth Fedelin, collectively known as FranSeth, are stepping into a new era in their careers as they take on more mature roles in the upcoming crime-thriller series Sins of the Father, premiering this June 23.
During the series’ media conference and preview, Francine shared that the show marks a turning point for them as both a love team and individual actors.
“Ito na yung kumbaga na ito na yung transition namin sa seryoso na po. Hindi na siya katulad na sobrang pasweet, teenager like, fun and lighthearted. Dito po talaga mas challenging na iyong mga eksena,” Francine explained.
Francine plays Arissa, the mysterious “other child” of John Arcilla’s character, Mike Trinidad. She admitted it was difficult to portray a character with such emotional depth and complexity.
“Natatakot ako gampanan si Arissa kasi sobrang iba niya sa mga characters na nagampanan namin ni Seth before. Last set pa namin is Dirty Linen pa. Dito hindi lang siya basta bratinella lang. Ang lalim ng pinanggalingan ng character ko and yung pinaka-challenge po talaga is paano ko siya gagampanan ng mas woman na siya at hindi bata mindset niya and padalos dalos ng desisyon,” the young actress shared.
However, Francine was motivated by her fellow castmates, directors and her other half as love team, Seth, who will be playing Enzo. The two stars revealed they made a friendly "bet" with each other to push themselves to perform better.
“Nakipagpustahan sa akin ito eh. Sabi niya, ‘Hindi. Ayusin natin ito. Dapat kapag umacting ka, matatakot ako sa'yo,’ so parang gagalingan din niya,” Francine revealed. “Nasa isip ko na rin na kada magtaping kami kailangan naming i-challenge ang isa’t isa kasi sobrang challenging ng roles”
“As actors dapat mayroon kaming responsibility na ayusin din, na tulungan din yung sarili namin,” she added.
Seth echoed the importance of their healthy competition.
“Sa amin po kasi, sa amin nagwowork yung healthy competition, kumbaga nagrereact kami sa isa’t isa. Nakakatulong po iyon na minsan pinag-uusapan na namin yung ibang eksena or mga scenes na minsan kagulatan kapag mag-on the set na kami. Ayon yung pinaka-healthy na nagagawa at pundasyon namin (para sa isa't isa),” he said.
He also pointed to their constant communication and teamwork as signs of their maturity.
“Nag-uusap kami na sa pagarte kailangan hilahan tayo pataas. Kailangan kung magaling ka, gagalingan ko rin. Ayon po yung laging mindset namin. Hindi po naming pinapabayaan yung isa’t isa. Lagi po kami nag-uusap. Lagi po kami nagtatanong sa mga director,” he expressed.
Francine added that the series gives them a platform to prove what they can do beyond the typical love team mold.
“Sa serye na ito maipapakita namin yung kaya naming ibigay bilang mga actor kasi pag love team usually inexpect mo mga kilig, heartbreak but we are so much more than that. Kaya namin na magkaaway kami, magkalaban kami pero yung kilig factor nandoon,” Francine said. “Nakakatuwa lang na nakikita rin namin yung growth namin as actors sa series na ito.”
Coming from the same path as FranSeth, the show’s lead star Gerald Anderson praised the two for their dedication, encouraging viewers and fans to look forward to their performances.
“Maging proud kayo sa dalawa na iyan dahil sa show na ito,” he expressed. “Hindi biro rin ang mga role nila. Anong week ba iyong first kissing scene nila? Tingnan natin kung scam iyan.”
Director FM Reyes also commended the duo for daring to step outside of their comfort zone.
“On working with Francine, what I’m happy most with Francine is keen kasi siya na kapag may sinabi ka sa kaniya, either yung artista matatakot na mabago sarili niya or risk to embrace on the challenge. I try to make it fun for her,” he shared.
He added, “Noong nakita ko siya, tama nga naman na why do you limit yourselves kasi the talent is bigger, the talent is greater at kaya niyo gawin yung malalaki pang roles. Subukan muna sila independently bago sila magsama as love team and they deliver themselves.”
In a previous interview with PUSH ABS-CBN, Francine and Seth admitted they were both nervous and excited for their return to television in a show with a star-studded cast.
“Ngayon lang ulit kami magte-teleserye. Kinakabahan kami, pero mas kaba na parang excited dahil meron tayo na naman magiging bagong katrabaho, bagong mga teacher, bagong mga kaibigan,” Seth shared.
READ: EXCLUSIVE: Francine Diaz, Seth Fedelin excited to show a new side in series
As they take on more emotionally intense roles, FranSeth is determined to deliver something different.
“Sabi nga nila Direk yung mga pinagdadaanan naman natin pare-pareho pero iba-iba yung experience na nararanasan natin. So, nasa sa atin kung paano natin bibigyan ng kumbaga ng power yung isang storya, yung isang character ng isang eksena. So, I think it’s really up to us paano namin ipapakita na iba kami dito at iba ‘to sa previous naming nagawa yon,” Francine said.
Sins of the Father premieres on June 23, Monday, at 9:30 p.m. on Kapamilya Channel, Kapamilya Online Live, A2Z, TV5, iWant, and TFC.