ZOREN Legaspi plays his most daring role in a teleserye in “Apoy sa Langit.” “Yes, it’s a special role that doesn’t come by everyday that’s why I’m excited. And I’m working with Maricel Laxa who I’ve worked with before sa Regal Films about 30 years ago. I’m her husband who gets tempted by a younger woman.”
He says GMA creative was at first in a quandary as to who will play the role of his much younger lover. “Yes, hirap na hirap silang hanapin siya. So when I learned it’s Lianne Valentin, I watched her past works to study her, para makita ko ang personality niya kasi we will be doing some delicate, sensitive bed scenes.”
They shot the series in a lock-in set. “When we were doing our love scene, nakaramdam ako ng ibang klaseng hinga niya, parang hihimatayin. Naramdaman ko ang takot niya, ‘yung fear, so kinausap ko siya.”
Lianne opened up to him and told him her apprehensions. “I won’t reveal anymore the details ng mga napag-usapan namin. Basta I’m trying to build a relationship para sa set, hindi kami awkward. But Direk Laurice Guillen also helped us para maalis ‘yung ilang at mas ma-relax kami sa isa’t isa.”
Zoren turned 50 last January but he looks much younger than his age. Some of his contemporaries have faded away but he remains very busy. What is his secret?
“I feel so blessed that I’m still active. I may sound mayabang, but when I joined showbiz as a teenager, I know I really want to stay long in this career. So I take good care of myself. I work out, I don’t abuse myself, and I do stuff that will help make me a better actor. I’m so lucky GMA gives me very good projects.”
Do you believe partners who went stray, like his role in “Apoy sa Langit,” should be given a second chance? “You can give a second, third chance. But case to case basis ‘yan. Hindi ibig sabihin nagkamali siya once, therefore masama na siya. So depende talaga kung gaano kagrabe ang sitwasyon. Pero dapat, magbago talaga. Kasi kung humingi ng tawad at uulit ka pa rin, then you don’t deserve to be forgiven.”
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‘Okay naman sa kanila, naiintindihan nila na ito ang gusto kong gawin and I love my work as an actress. — Denise Esteban’
Denise Esteban is the newest Vivamax nymphet being introduced in two new movies: “Kaliwaan” directed by Daniel Palacio now streaming on Vivamax, and “Doblado,” directed by GB Sampedro and which will start streaming on May 19.
“Bata pa ako, gusto ko na talagang mag-artista,” the 19-year-old shares. “I was a simple student but in high school, I tried runway modeling then nag-audition ako sa isang P-Pop group at nakuha naman ako. We were doing song and dance shows. But during the pandemic, nag-lie low ang group namin kasi walang live performances.”
Then she got an offer to act in Vivamax sexy flicks. “Nagulat ako pero nakakatuwa kasi big roles agad ang ibinigay nila sa akin. Sa ‘Kaliwaan,’ sister ako ni Felix Roco na victim of incest. The movie ends with me wandering around in the street in the final scene. In ‘Doblado,’ I play the lead role of a woman with a double life: estudyante sa araw, call girl sa gabi. It’s a blessing, considering na bago pa lang ako, pero nabigyan ako ng lead role.”
She bared her all in both movies. Did she tell her parents that she’s going sexy?
“Yes, I did. Okay naman sa kanila, naiintindihan nila na ito ang gusto kong gawin and I love my work as an actress. Very supportive naman sila.”
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Vince Rillon has two films new films, “Kaliwaan” and “Pusoy,” both produced by his mentor, director Brillante Mendoza. And he has three other films in the can. This makes Vince one of our busiest young actors today. What can he say to bashers who claim that Vivamax shows are porn?
“Hindi naman porn ang ginagawa namin dahil lahat ng actions namin, may pinanggalingan at bawat pelikula, may magandang kuwentong sumasalamin sa mga nangyayari sa atin ngayon sa totoong buhay. Sana, panoorin muna nila bago sila mag-judge.”
A few weeks ago, he won the best actor award at the 19th Asian Film Festival in Rome for his film, “Resbak.” “Unexpected po ‘yun,” he says. “It’s my very first acting recognition and nagulat talaga ako. Feeling ko, napaka-blessed ko kasi dream ko naman talaga manalo ng award balang araw, pero parang maaga itong dumating sa akin. At hindi lang basta local, kundi international pa.”
Does he dream of later branching out into wholesome mainstream movies without sex and nudity?
“As of now, okay lang naman ako kasi dito ako nakilala sa Vivamax at sunod-sunod talaga ang trabaho ko. I’m only 23 years old, so hopefully, malayo pa ang tatakbuhin ng career ko. Ine-enjoy ko muna ang ginagawa ko ngayon habang bata pa ako. Kasi ‘yun ang inaabangan ng subscribers ng Vivamax. So ibigay muna ang hilig nila habang kaya pa.”
