MORE than the physical preparation, it was her mind that Sahara Bernales had to ready first for her daring role in the VMX film “Maryang Palad.”
Sahara, at a recent press con at the Viva Offices in Ortigas, shared that she faced several first-time experiences that added depth to her performance in the movie.
It is her first time to play role of a masseuse and she received training on set. She also had to work with a lot of oil – which she managed. And then there were the love scenes in unexpected places.
“You really have to be mentally prepared,” said Saraha. “Especially when working with director Roe (Pajemna). You should expect that the love scenes will be intense, and you need to give it your all.” One scene was particularly daunting as she felt woozy as she could see just how high up she was.
“I was worried I might fall .. because of how high we were. I told Vince [Rillon] to be careful,” related Sahara.
Sahara also had to navigate the complexities of filming intimate scenes in public settings, said Direk Roe.
“We shot outdoors where there was a chance people could see us,” the director said.
“I had confidence in the production, so I prepared my mind for why we were doing these scenes,” said Sahara.
The uninhibited Jem Milton had to overcome her shyness as it was the first time for her to dance in a scene. Before facing the cameras, she mostly did modeling jobs.
“For me, it was my first time to dance in a movie, which made me a bit shy, but I did it,” she said.
Unlike Sahara, Jem personally has no limits when it comes to her intimate scenes. She says it’s all in a day’s work as she knows what she was going into when she joined Viva.
it’s a job and acting is something she had always wanted to do.
Mark, Jem’s partner in the movie, said that although she is all in when it comes to their intimate scenes, he still makes it a point to talk to her before the cameras roll to make sure she is comfortable.
“Always,” he said. “I make sure my co-star is comfortable. Kinakausap at pinagpapaalam ko kahit wala siyang limitations para alam nya. Tinatanong ko or sinasabi ko sa kanya kung may nagawa or di sinasadyang ma offend siya. Pero, so far, wala pa naman akong na-o-offend.”
Sahara said it’s the same with Vince, who plays her first love in the film. She is thankful to him for always looking out for her and being professional. During the shoot, Sahara noted that male actors, particularly Vince, took care of their female co-stars by ensuring their comfort and safety. He was very considerate, especially in how he handled the situation after the scenes were filmed. Sahara appreciates that Vincent made an effort to ensure that she was at ease and he prioritized her comfort even when the scenes were intense.
“Caring siya, especially pag yung mga hinaharap ng mga babae. ‘Di ba usually pag after ng scene tatakpan ka muna bago sila, so ganun yung ginagawa niya. Sinasabi niya sa wardrobe na, okay lang ako kahit naka ano yung katawan nya, basta ako nakatakip.”
