‘And also, ang maganda, she did it na walang ka-effort-effort. Walang pagta-trying hard. — Gina Alajar’
AIKO Melendez won two best supporting actress awards for her role as the villainous Kendra in “Prima Donnas Book 1.” Now in Book 2, she plays Kendra with a twist: confined in a mental hospital and completely mad.
“Hirap na hirap ako sa role ko,” she said. “Mas challenging siya kaysa Book 1. There were days na nawawala ako, kasi andami ko ring ginagawa ko sa labas as I am running for congress sa election.”
So how did she cope with the demands of her role?
“First of all, I want to thank Direk Gina Alajar kasi inalalayan niya talaga ako. When I was watching the trailer nga and I saw myself in the baliw scenes, hindi ako makapaniwala.
Nagawa ko ba talaga ‘yun? Pero ang ganda talaga ng journey ni Kendra but mahirap siya gawin. Sa last day ko sa taping, humahagulgol ako kasi we have all built a family ng mga co-stars ko. Bihira ang soap na inaabot nang ganito katagal.”
Direk Gina is all praises for her performance. “Aiko really surpassed herself. Nalampasan niya ang acting niya sa Book One. We thought it best na, sa Book Two, let’s show ang pinanggagalingan ng galit ni Kendra. Kung bakit matindi ang gusto niyang makuha ang pagmamahal ni Wendell Ramos as Jaime at ang crown ni Chanda Romero as Lady Prima.
So inisa-isa namin ang mangyayari sa kanya until she loses her sanity.”
And they are so pleased with the final results. “You know, we are very happy sa acting ni Aiko, kasi nabigyang justice niya talaga what we had in mind for the character. And also, ang maganda, she did it na walang ka-effort-effort. Walang pagta-trying hard. You know it’s coming from within her, from her heart. She really did it with flying colors and we won’t be surprised if she’d win more awards for her performance here.”
The recap of “Prima Donnas Book 1” is now going on. By next week, they will start airing the new fresh episodes of Book 2 with the return of Sofia Pablo’s character who went missing in Book 1.
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“Sisid” is a Vivamax movie about the love story between two young men, Paolo Gumabao as Jason and Vince Rillon as Dennis, but it is definitely not your usual Boys’ Love (BL) movie since the director is no less than Brillante Mendoza, who won the Cannes International Filmfest best director award for “Kinatay.”
He earlier debuted in Vivamax with “Palitan,” a certified hit which is about Girls’ Love between Cara Gonzales and Jela Cuenca. Now, he deals with boys’ love in “Sisid.” Filmed on location in Pola, Oriental Mindoro, Direk Dante says “Sisid” is not just a titillating film.
“Seryoso ang treatment namin dito about the relationship that blossomed between two young men,” he said. “And we’re lucky to have Paolo and Vince kasi they understand the material at wala silang arte in doing the delicate scenes. They will take off their clothes and just do what the scene calls for. Ganun lang.”
Paolo plays a marine biologist who is assigned to Mindoro with his wife, played by Kylie Versoza. Vince Rillon (who stars in the current Vivamax hit, “Siklo”) has a girlfriend who’s already pregnant, Christine Bermas (also his leading lady in “Siklo”).
Sparks fly between Paolo and Vince as they start working together. What can Direk Brillante say to bashers who comment that he is now into sex films?
“Let’s face it, sex sells. But the sex here is very much an integral part of the story. I hope they watch it muna before they pass judgment.”
“Sisid” will have its world premiere via an exclusive digital event this January 18. For only P499, be the first to experience the gripping narrative of “Sisid” plus you get to e-meet the cast and the director with this one-night-only event.
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Vivamax launches a new sexpot each week and now, it’s the turn of Ayanna Misola to star in “Kinsenas Katapusan” after being introduced in “Pornstar 2: Pangalawang Putok” and “Siklo.” “Kinsenas Katapusan” a sexy psycho-thriller drama directed by GB Sampedro that starts streaming on February 4.
“I was so surprised when Vivamax told me that I’d play the lead role in ‘Kinsenas Katapusan,’” she said. “After doing two movies, now, sa’kin naka-focus ang story. I was afraid baka hindi ko pa kaya, but they assured me they’d help me so I said, sige, let’s do it.”
She plays a very challenging role as Beth, a nymphet who meets businessman Joko Diaz online. They become friends and soon meet in person and become lovers. It turns out that Joko is married to Jamilla Obispo and is actually the father of one of her classmates. Beth turns out to have a deep dark secret that will lead to some serious and deadly complications.
“I really had to prepare hard for my role kasi sobrang bigat ng mga eksena ko,” she said.
“And the character of Beth as a scheming temptress is so far from me in real life. Direk GB and Kuya Joko Diaz helped me a lot. Hindi ko magagawa nang nag-iisa ang role ko at ginabayan nila talaga ako all the way. Si Kuya Joko, kapag alam niyang kinakabahan ako, nagjo-joke siya para ma-relax ako, lalo sa bed scenes namin.”
Joko was helpful in their dramatic scenes together. “He was the one who taught me how to use my eyes. Ang ganda raw ng mga mata ko, so dapat ilabas ko doon ang emotions ko.
Tinuruan niya ko ng killer look niya and I think magagamit ko ‘yun sa future projects na gagawin ko.”
In the story, she’s a student who falls in love with an older man. Does she think this can happen to her in real life?
“Why not? Ang totoo, I really love older guys kasi ang feeling ko, mas seryoso at responsible sila sa isang relationship.”
