Francine Diaz and Seth Fedelin may be young, but their passion for what they do is undeniable. In their latest series, the crime thriller mystery drama "Sins of the Father," topbilled by Gerald Anderson and which premiered last Monday, June 23, the tandem isn’t just focused on delivering the best performance they can but they're also genuinely invested in the material and the story they’re part of and eager to see how their characters, Enzo and Arissa, both independent and driven to prove something to themselves, will continue to grow as the series unfolds.
Their taping days have been so hectic that most of what viewers are seeing on air is almost freshly filmed, with the full script still in progress, which only fuels their excitement as they look forward to how the story will play out. This project had already been pitched as early as last year, initially under the working title "Nobody," before it took shape as "Sins of the Father."
When asked about the pressure that comes with their return to primetime, especially fresh off the buzz of their MMFF (Metro Manila Film Festival) 2024 entry "My Future You," FranSeth admitted to feeling the jitters, but what they feel even more is gratitude, as they’ve waited a long time for this comeback after their last teleserye "Dirty Linen" in 2023.
"Ito 'yung pressure na nakakatulong," said Francine during their Kapamilya Chat interview. "Ayaw namin na sobrang confident kami sa mga ginagawa namin. Dapat 'yung learning, it never stops talaga."
Seth echoed that sentiment, saying, "Ipinagdasal namin 'to, so hindi namin tatanggihan 'yung proyekto na 'to... Alam din naman ng mga managers namin na nagwi-wish kami na magka-soap kami, so this is it." One thing that convinced them even more to grab this opportunity was knowing they’d be working alongside actors of different calibers, which assured them they’d gain valuable lessons from the experience.
Both Francine and Seth took their preparation seriously. For Seth, the most important part was collaborating with the creatives, asking questions, and listening closely whenever something about his character was being explained to him. He also studied the script thoroughly and used it to practice and build his character through improvisation.
Francine, on the other hand, had a much shorter time to prepare. She was just about to begin working on her character when she was told to report on set for her first day of filming. Most of her process happened on set itself, with director FM Reyes guiding her closely, which felt even more daunting as she was the only one called in to film at that point, with Seth yet to begin taping.
"Natakot ako. Feeling ko, 'Oh ny God! Sinong kakilala ko doon? Sinong pwede kong lapitan at pagsumbungan if ever pumalpak ako sa eksena?' Kinabahan ako kay Direk FM, sa lahat," she revealed, adding that immediately acting alongside big names like Lotlot de Leon and Gerald Anderson, both of whom she was working with for the first time, took the pressure much, much higher.
"Sobrang nangangapa ako," she recalled her first day. "Kay Direk FM, 'yung boses namin, paano kami tumayo, paano kami maglakad, kahit paghinga namin, kahit paggalaw-galaw ng leeg, sobrang na-no-notice niya." She described how meticulous Direk FM is, something both she and Seth are grateful for because it pushes them to keep learning. As Seth put it, "Sobrang privilege 'yun na makapulot ka ng mga ganu'ng aral sa craft mo."
On Seth’s very first day on set, he already learned from Direk FM that even a small movement, like the slight raise of an eyebrow, could change the entire interpretation of a scene. Direk FM called him out during a take when he let too much emotion show through what was meant to be just a subtle facial reaction. That experience taught him just how much weight even the tiniest nuances carry in an actor’s performance.
"Iba talaga 'yung POV ng direktor at artista, at 'pag pinagsama mo 'yun, powerful ang results," said FranSeth finishing each other's thoughts. "Pagkatapos ng scene, [tatawagin kami ni Direk FM], 'Halikayong dalawa. Tingnan n'yo. O 'di ba, sabi ko sa'yong babae ka, eh,' ganun 'yun si Direk,” shared Francine. “'O 'di ba, ang arte-arte mo talaga dito. Sabi ko, [minimal] lang eh, tingnan mo ang harot-harot mo.’” Francine added that Direk FM is a highly collaborative director, often asking for retakes so they’d have options and could decide later which take was the best.
Beyond these learnings on set, both of them take the time to analyze how they can make their portrayals deeper and more authentic. "'Pag uuwi na sa bahay, doon kami magkakaroon ng realization na as actors mayroon tayong kanya-kanyang responsibility sa kanya-kanyang characters, so doon na pumapasok 'yung anong pwede mong idagdag, or mag-improvise ka ng kwento ng character mo, kung bakit siya ganito, ano 'yung nangyari sa past niya," she explained.
Every day is a learning experience for FranSeth, who describe themselves as if they’re still in the beginner levels of their craft. They treat the teleserye set as their school where they constantly stay on their toes, eager to absorb new techniques and nuances not only from their co-actors but also from the entire creative team. "Enjoy-in mo 'yung moment, matututo ka. Kumbaga, kapulutan mo ng aral 'yung mga oras na naghihintay ka sa eksena mo, 'yung oras na nasa standby area ka, 'yung mga oras na nagro-roll kayo pero nagka-technical problems, gamitin mo 'yun para kapulutan ng aral," Seth reflected.
They liken themselves to students who need to review the material before going to class, because as they’ve experienced, Direk FM would often ask them about a scene’s ‘hugot,’ as Francine explained, "Sa bawat line namin, hindi siya pwedeng kakabisaduhin mo lang. Hanapin mo kung saan ka nanggaling bago 'to at saan ka pupunta after this."
One of the key themes explored in “Sins of the Father” is the alarming rise of large-scale scams. When asked what advice they could offer viewers on this, Seth emphasized the importance of steering clear of easy-money schemes no matter how enticing they may seem. "Iwas lang tayo. Papakagatin tayo sa una n'yan, eh, at 'pag may plano na silang kumawala, doon na sila mangungubra," he imparted. This is why he stressed the need to do thorough research, like checking if an investment company has the proper permits, and to place your trust only in ventures that have earned their credibility.
Francine, having heard heartbreaking first-hand stories from people she knows who have been scammed, reflected on how painful it is to see hard-earned money disappear in an instant. And while she understands how easy it is to fall victim especially in times like these when so many are struggling financially, she highlighted that it is always crucial to trust your instincts and prioritize safety above all else, because as difficult and painful as it is to hear, the truth is that significant wealth comes from hard work and perseverance, and there really is no such thing as easy money.
Catch FranSeth in "Sins of the Father," airing weeknights on Kapamilya Channel, Kapamilya Online Live (KOL), TV5, and A2Z.