As one of the country’s most in demand leading men when it comes to the genre of romance, JC Santos is not new to playing the vulnerable yet charming leading men. He brought to life these characters in films like 100 Tula Para Kay Stella, The Day After Valentines, Mr & Mrs. Cruz, and On Vodka, Beer, & Regrets, to name a few.
This year, he plays the role of 35-year-old virgin Ryan Cañete in the Pocket Media Films’ latest offering Meg & Ryan which pairs him with Fil-British actress Rhian Ramos for the very first time.
“Siyempre bago sa akin itong script na ‘to. Na-enjoy ko siya. Habang binabasa ko siya, nararamdaman ko na yung kilig and everything. And I really wanted to work with direk Catherine (Camarillo) and Rhian. Nung sinabi sa akin na si Rhian yung kasama ko, sabi ko this is going to be a totally different flavor.
“Kahit nung pinapanuod ko yung trailer, sabi ko uy, kasi I like to watch myself in the third person. Parang interesting yung flavor na ‘to na magkasama silang dalawa. Ano kayang mabibigay na feeling? It’s a different kind if love. So I think yun yung nabigay namin dito. And working with them, laging bago yung nbibigay ko eh. Hindi naman sobrang bago sa akin yung character. Nag-hi-hit pa lang ng puberty yung character ko dito as a 35-year-old eh (laughs),” he said.
READ: JC Santos on working with Rhian Ramos for the first time: ‘I enjoyed every moment of it!’
With the movie revolving around questions of destiny, coincidence, and circumstance between two very different people, JC admitted the concept of their connection intrigued him.
“Kinuwestiyon niya kung possible ba yung opposites attract. This is one of the reasons bakit nagustuhan ko din yung script. So yung buong pelikula namin, dun nag-ba-base yung character namin. Kasi nga, we all know that love is a gray, chaotic thing that is happening in this world. Magbabago ka ba para sa love? Babaguhin mo ba yung sarili mo para sa love or hindi ka magbabago? Magiging unapologetic ka ba para sa pagmamahal?
“So ito yung dinadaanan ng character namin and dini-debate namin. Kaya may discussion in every scene. Kasi gusto namin matawid na, ku-kuwestiyunin ng tao kung possible ba siya, totoo ba? Babaguhin ko ba yung morals and values ko because of love or magiging unapologetic lang ako? O sila yung magbabago para sa akin? So hinimay namin ng todo yun hanggang sa ayan na siya,” he explained.
READ: EXCLUSIVE: JC Santos reveals which actress he would want to be in a love team with
While shooting his bed scenes with Rhian, JC revealed that it was anything but comfortable on the set.
“Uncomfortable naman talaga. Personally, I take it like choreography eh. We just want to sell it like it’s happening when it’s really not. So as much as possible, stick lang ako sa choreography. So wala naman talaga usually,mahirap yun eh, you’re really thinking about a lot of things in just one scene. Mas technical siya. And you have to respect your co-actors and everybody around also. So it’s a multi-tasking work. So mahirap. Uncomfortable po (laughs),” he shared.
Unlike his character onscreen, the talented actor said he has never experienced going on a one-night stand, ‘When I was young, meron akong mga ganung fantasies (laughs). Pero hindi, wala. Hindi nagtatagumpay (laughs)!” he added.
Apart from getting the chance to work with Rhian, JC also gave credit to co-star Cedrick Juan, who plays his cousin in the film. Meg & Ryan was shot before Cedrick won Best Actor at the 2023 Metro Manila Film Festival for the historical film Gomburza.
“Kasama namin dito sila Cedrick Juan at si Steven Bansil. Si Cedrick nung time na ito, hindi pa siya nanalo ng Best Actor sa MMFF. Kasi kung nanalo na siya, nasa kanya na itong role na ‘to (laughs),” he said.
Watch Meg & Ryan when it opens in cinemas nationwide starting August 6. Directed by Catherine O. Camarillo,DGPI and written by Gina Marissa Tagasa under Pocket Media Films. The film stars JC Santos, Rhian Ramos, Cedrick Juan, Ces Quesada, Cris Villanueva, Jef Gaitan and a promising lineup of fresh faces like J-mee Katanyag, Steven Bansil, Poca Osinaga, and Alison Black.