“Nakaka-pressure but I welcome the challenge,” she says.
So how is it directing Barbie Forteza, Krytal Reyes and Joyce Ching as the new leads in the “Anna Karenina” remake? “No problem kasi magagaling naman silang tatlo. Wala akong itulak-kabigin. I’ve directed them before in the afternoon show ‘Tween Hearts’, so alam na naming lahat ang style ng bawat isa. Kabisado ko na kung anong kaya nilang gawin, ang potential nila, at kung ano ang puede ko pang pigain from them. Bawat isa sa kanila, may sariling back story. Lahat sila, nagsasabing sila ang tunay na Anna Karenina na hinahanap ng mga lolo’t lola nitong sina Juan Rodrigo and Sandy Andolong. Si Barbie as Karen, pinalaki ng dating nagtatrabaho sa club, si Maureen Larrazabal na partner ng batugang si Yul Servo. Masayahin siya, babaeng bakla. Si Krystal as Anna, pinalaki ng tinderang si Maybelline Cruz, na nagkasakit kaya nagprisinta si Krystal na Anna Karenina hoping makakuha ng perang pampagamot sa foster mom niya. Si Joyce Ching as Nina, galit sa mundo kasi inampon siya nina Alicia Mayer and Allan Paule pero hindi naman siya talaga minahal at si Allan, tinangka pa siyang gahasain. Iba-iba ang characterizations nila and I’m happy to say that they all deliver in their respective roles. This is not just a remake of the mid-90s original. May ginawa kaming changes to update the material for today’s generation of viewers. To begin, mas mabilis ang pacing namin. First week pa lang, ang dami ng mangyayari.”
The first week of taping of “Anna Karenina” coincided with the last weeks of taping of her last afternoon soap, “Unforgettable”. “Nakakapagod kasi lagari ako sa sets ng two shows. Buti ngayon, tapos na ang ‘Unforgettable’ kaya tutok na ko sa ‘Anna Karenina’.”
Her ex-husband, Michael de Mesa, is now with GMA-7. When we visited the set of “Indio” before it ended, we asked Mike if he’d like to be directed by Gina? “Why not?” he said. “Okay lang sa’kin.”
What about Gina? “Bakit? Gusto ko ba siyang idirek?” and she laughed and laughed.
