Barbie Forteza Stars In Her First Romantic Comedy With Ken Chan, 'This Time I'll Be Sweeter', Opens November 8

BARBIE FORTEZA says she was initially intimidated being directed by the formidable filmmaker Joel Lamangan in “This Time I’ll Be Sweeter” that opens in theaters on November 8.

“Pareho kami ng katambal kong si Ken Chan na first time maidirek niya so ingat na ingat kami,” she says. “Nakaka-pressure, kaya kahit gusto naming magbiruan sa set, behaved muna kami. Pero okay naman pala, marami kaming natutuhan sa kanya, lalo na nga’t galing kami sa comedy na ‘Meant to Be’, tapos ito, mas hitik sa kadramahan itong movie namin, kaya we need yung right motivation na galing sa kanya. Sa teleserye, gradual ang transition ng characters at matagal ang build up ng story and emotions. E, dito, in halos two hours ng movie, sobrang dami ng nangyari, kaya kung kailangang magdrama at umiyak, dapat ready ka agad doon and naitawid naman namin nang maayos with the help of Direk Joel.”

The story starts when she and Ken are still students, but Ken breaks her heart and she ends up crying. Later on, Barbie becomes a broadcast journalist and she is assigned to interview Ken. They meet again, Ken says “This Time I’ll Be Sweeter”, but will he be true to his word or break Barbie’s heart again?

Also starring in the movie is Kim Rodriguez, with whom Barbie has something in common. They’re both ex-GF’s of Kiko Estrada. How did they interact during the shooting? “Okay naman kami ni Kim,” Barbie replies, laughing. “Okay na okay actually kami kasi pareho naman kaming happy sa mga buhay namin ngayon and never naming napag-usapan yung ex namin.”

Ken says he never tried to court her off cam because he doesn’t want to destroy their friendship. How does she feel about this? “Totoo naman yun. Para sa’kin din, pag nagsimula kayong magkaibigan, parang ang hirap nang mabura sa isip ko na magiging romantically involved ka sa taong friend lang ang turing mo. Mas masayang nagbibiruan kami bilang magkatropa. Friends na lang kami para safe. Pero sa ‘This Time I’ll Be Sweeter’, makikita nyo, okay na okay ang chemistry namin. Sabi nga mismo ni Mother Lily, nakakakilig daw talaga.”

We ask their director, Joel Lamangan, how he’ll size up Barbie and Ken as actors? “Mahusay na mga bata sina Barbie at Ken,” says Direk Joel. “I think they are the best of their generation. Mabait na, maganda pa ang attitude towards their work. Malayo ang mararating nilang dalawa sa sining ng pag-arte.”