‘Kasi my mom used to work in Canada and when I visited her as a young girl, akala ko matatanggal na ang tenga ko sa lamig. – Judy Ann Santos’
JUDY Ann Santos was last seen on the big screen in “Mindanao,” which won her the Cairo International Film Festival best actress award. There were other offers but she begged off.
Now, she finally accepted to do a new movie, “The Diary of Mrs. Winters,” opposite Sam Milby, to be directed by Rahyan Carlos and filmed in Toronto, Canada.
“For me to do a project, it has to be worth it,” she said. “Kasi kung hindi, I’d rather just stay home at magluluto na lang ako for my family. I was really praying for a good horror project kasi I enjoyed the horror flicks I did before like ‘Ouija,’ ‘Kulam’ and ‘Tiyanak.’ So when Direk Rahyan offered this to me, I liked my role as a single OFW who is haunted by an old woman named Mrs. Winters.”
But she had second thoughts when told it was to be shot on location in Canada. “That means malalayo ako sa family ko. At kasalukuyang winter doon. Sobrang lamig at may snow. May trauma ako dyan. Kasi my mom used to work in Canada and when I visited her as a young girl, akala ko matatanggal na ang tenga ko sa lamig. Kaya lang, heto na ‘yung dasal ko for a good horror movie, sinagot na, mag-iinarte pa ba ako?”
She’s also happy to be working with Sam Milby as her leading man. “The last time na nagkasama kami was in the soap ‘Huwag Ka Lang Mawawala.’ About ten years ago na.
Siya, sanay na sa lamig kasi he was raised in the US so he promised to help me cope with the chilly weather.”
***
Shaira Diaz was discovered in TV5’s “Artista Academy” 11 years ago, then she moved to GMA and was given several TV series like the primetime hit primetime “Lolong” with Ruru Madrid.
“Yes, I have a lot to be thankful for sa GMA kasi I got good projects from them and now, we’re preparing for the Book 2 of ‘Lolong’,” she says. “In the meantime, I’m happy to do a movie with David Licauco, ‘Without You’, produced by OctoArts Films and to be shown on February 15.”
They were paired in “Because I Love You” four years ago and it did not do well in the tills.
What’s the difference of “Without You” from that?
“Rom-com po ‘yun and this one is a serious romantic drama about relationships,” she says.
“Baguhan pa lang kami ni David noon. Now, we’ve both gained more experience and we have a bigger fan base after the success of ‘Lolong’ and his ‘Maria Clara at Ibarra’. Also, maganda talaga ang material, so we’re confident na mas maganda ito. Pinagpe-pray namin na sana, mas makabawi kami rito.”
For the first time, she agreed to do hot love scenes in a movie. “I’m glad I accepted this movie and I’m proud of it kasi the situation between our characters, na nagkakalabuan but trying to save their relationship, is very relatable.”
Did she have to ask the permission of her boyfriend Edgar Allan Guzman to do her bedscenes with David?
“No, I felt I didn’t have to kasi career ko naman ito. Also, 27 na ako and it’s time for me to stop doing pa-tweetums and try more mature roles. But nagpa-heads up naman ako sa kanya and I informed him what’s expected from me to do in the movie and very supportive naman siya. Ten years na kami ni EA and we both know we can trust each other.”
***
Councilor Alfred Vargas is really going full blast into acting. He is in a new movie, “Pieta” and is also in a new GMA drama series, “AraBella.” He’s really excited to do “Pieta” as it will give him the chance to work with Nora Aunor and Gina Alajar.
“They’re two of our country’s best actresses who have won so many acting awards, so I’m really excited to work with them,” he beams. “I play a man jailed for allegedly killing my own father. Nang makalaya ako, hinanap ko ang nanay ko para malaman kung ano ang katotohanan sa pagkamatay ng ama ko. Kaso, bulag na siya at may dementia as played by Ate Guy.”
He visited Nora in her home to offer her the role of his mother in the film. “Kami mismo ni Direk Adolf ang nagpunta sa bahay niya para ialok nang personal ang project sa kanya,” says Alfred. “Para kaming umakyat ng ligaw. Kasi alam ko, mapili siya sa projects na ginagawa niya at hindi lahat, tinatanggap niya. And this is her first movie na gagawin after she was proclaimed as National Artist. So I was quite nervous. Feeling ko, 50-50 kung tatanggapin niya o hindi itong ‘Pieta’.”
He was so excited and tense, but he was floored when Ate Guy welcomed him warmly inside her home. “Naghanda siya ng meriendang buchi, pizza at pancit. Hindi mo mararamdaman na superstar siya o national artist. Walang ere and very humble. I pitched the project to her at nagustuhan niya, kasi first time daw niyang gaganap sa role ng isang bulag.”
He seems to have lost weight since we last saw him. “Yes, nagpapayat talaga ako for my taping sa ‘AraBella’. Kasi when I did ‘Unica Hija’ with Kate Valdez, napansin kong malusog ang dating ko on screen, so I had to diet and exercise. But before we start shooting ‘Pieta,’ I need to lose about 7 to 10 pounds more kasi ex-convict ang role ko, so dapat mas payat ang dating ko kasi kalalabas ko lang ng jail.”
