Yassi Pressman and Ruru Madrid had fun remembering life in the 90s on the set of their time travel movie, “Video City,” a collaboration between Viva Films and GMA Pictures.
Written and directed by Raynier F. Brizuela, known for his work on “Mang Jose” and “Puto,” “Video City” promises to take audiences on a nostalgic journey through time, whisking viewers back to the 1990s, an era when video rental stores, such as the beloved Video City, were the go-to destinations for entertainment.
Yassi steps into the shoes of Ningning, while Ruru brings the character of budding director Han to life. Despite hailing from different epochs, their paths serendipitously cross within the walls of Video City, a symbol of 1990s nostalgia in the Philippines.
In “Video City,” Han, a contemporary film student grappling with creative blockage in his academic journey, embarks on a time travel adventure. The tale unfolds when he attends an event honoring his sick mother, a renowned director. Following the event, Han stumbles upon an ancient internet café and inexplicably finds himself transported back in time to the year 1995, inside a Video City store when he fiddles with an old VHS rewinder.
There, Han meets Ningning, who works at Video City. He’s enchanted by her personality.
Han can return to the year 2023, but he can’t resist going back in time to see Ningning again.
As Han gets to know Ningning better, he discovers that she dreams of becoming an actress but faces many challenges. They grow closer with each visit, and Han falls in love with her.
However, every time he goes back in time, he can only stay for a short while.
The film’s premise was inspired by the personal experiences of its director, Direk Raynier.
Recalling his youth, he fondly reminisces about renting movies from a Video City store in Navotas, near his home. He cherishes the fond memories of a friendly staff member he called “Ate,” who provided movie recommendations that fueled his love for cinema. This cherished childhood memory served as the inspiration for “Video City,” exploring the concept of reuniting with someone who ignited his passion for filmmaking.
Yassi and Ruru, both kids of the ’90s, have fond recollections of borrowing movies in CD format from the same Video City branch in Masinag. These shared childhood memories deepened their enthusiasm for the project. Yassi, in particular, was instantly captivated by the story. “This was one of the stories that I fell in love with on the same day (of the pitch),” she revealed.
DEven though ten years had passed since they last worked together in GMA shows like “Party Pilipinas,” “Dormitoryo,” and “Sunday All Stars,” Yassi and Ruru’s chemistry remained strong. Yassi felt comfortable working with Ruru again, and she admired his passion for acting. She said they were excited to give their best. Ruru, in turn, lauded Yassi for her positive presence, describing her as a ray of sunshine. When asked about creating chemistry on screen, he emphasized the importance of investing their hearts in each scene, believing that genuine chemistry would naturally emerge.
Yassi added that by remaining faithful to their characters, “may magic po na mangyayari” (magic will happen), promising an enchanting experience for the audience.
The movie also features TJ Valderrama as Jepp (Video City worker), Dennis Padilla as a worker in an old café, Chad Kinis as the boss of the Video City store, Bodjie Pascua as Han’s school adviser, Suzette Ranillo as Han’s mother, Soliman Cruz as Han’s father, and Yvette Sanchez and Ashley Diaz as Han’s classmates.
“Video City” is set for release in theaters nationwide on September 20.
