So you can imagine Angel’s surprise when Sam introduces Zanjoe as: “This is Christian, my boyfriend.” Yes, there is a gay angle in the story and we think Star rushed the play date of this movie to pre-empt the showing of another movie with the same theme, “Bakit Lahat ng Guwapo, May Boyfriend?” starring Dennis Trillo, Anne Curtis and Paolo Ballesteros from Viva. We think Viva should now let some months pass first before they show their own gay love triangle movie and not show it right after “The Third Party” as this will be to their disadvantage.
“Napakatapang ng Star Cinema sa project na ito dahil it’s not the usual romantic comedy that we do,” says Angel. “It shows kung ano ang feeling ng first love, tapos nagkahiwalay kayo, at nang magkita kayo uli, iba na ang kapiling niya. Same sex na. At bale ako ang naging third party sa relasyon nila.”
“It’s not just a gay movie,” says Sam “It’s about relationships, between friends na mga mature na tao, tapos nagsanga-sanga ang story and shows what they have to resolve as mature persons. It’s the first time na may ganitong klaseng characters in a movie na ibang-iba ang dynamics.”
“All of us are leads here, the major characters,” says Zanjoe. “It’s a very modern take on an unconventional love story na ngayon pa lang namin lahat nagawa. Sam and I are both doctors here. He’s a pediatric oncologist and I’m a cosmetic surgeon. Kung minsan, may awkward situations involving us pero pinagtatawanan na lang namin and we had lots of fun sa shooting.”
We ask Angel how is it working with Sam and Zanjoe? “At first, I thought mao-OP ako sa kanila, out of place, kasi masyado silang close, but masaya kaming lahat sa set. At pareho silang magaling in their respective roles. I first worked with Sam in an episode of ‘Maalaala Mo Kaya’ and in the teleserye ‘Only You’, but it’s our first movie together. Si Zanjoe naman, nakasama ko na sa movie na ‘One More Try’ which was a Metro filmfest entry. Maganda ang naging bonding namin sa set kasi after work, lumalabas pa kami nang magkakasama para kumain.”
Written by Charlene Esguerra and Patrick Valencia based on a story by Enrico Santos, “The Third Party” also stars Alma Moreno, Cherry Pie Picache, Al Tantay, Matet de Leon, Beauty Gonzales, Carla Martinez, Katrina Legaspi and Mariz Racal, opening in theaters nationwide on October 12.
With regard to her own love life, Angel says she remains loveless after her break up with Luis Manzano who’s now linked to Jessy Mendiola. “Hindi ako naghahanap,” she adds. “Kusa namang dumarating yan at the right time. So hindi kailangang pilitin. I just hope the next one who comes along will really be the Mr. Right for me.”
