‘A GIRL + A BOY’ is an ensemble film with a cast of millennial actors and Direk Erik Matti introduced some of them in a zoom presscon: Candice Ramos, Sarah Holmes and Rosh Barman.
Candice Ramos won as Miss Earth Philippines Tourism in 2012, Miss Global Philippines in 2015.
She’s from Vigan, studied Urban Planning and Tourism Management in UP, and now tries acting in the movies in Upstream.ph’s original offering directed by Erik Matti, “A Girl + A Boy”.
How was she cast in the movie? “I played a small role before in ‘Kuwaresma’, also directed by Direk Erik, who now offered this movie to me,” she says.
What’s her role? “I play Mel, the boss of Rob Gomez as Ralph and we have a secret affair.”
The film is a sexy flick. Did she have second thoughts about her role in the movie who is a predator to Rob?
“Without thinking, when I learned that it’s Direk Erik who’ll direct it, I said yes right away. I’ve been his fan since ‘On th Job’.
"Now, I feel I’m right when I said yes to the movie because doing it is a very enriching experience for me.
"I come from a conservative Catholic family but I told my mother about this film. May shock factor talaga and I will be proud to show this to my family.
"Sa pageants naman, we have swimsuit competitions and on backstage the other contestants and I, we see each other bodies and there is no malice. I’m pretty comfortable with what I did.”
Sarah Holmes is a ballerina and studied in Brigham Young University in Utah. What’s her role in the movie?
“I play Trixie, Raf’s first college love. She’s strong and confident, she knows what she wants in life. She’s very close to my personality. I help get Ralph go through life.”
She’s proud to be part of the movie.
“I grew up in theatre and I’ve always wanted to act so I just trusted Direk Erik totally and I had no problem about the scenes I did. The story is very to close to being a Gen Z or Millennial and their lifestyle today.
"Older people might frown on us but the film shows this is how we are and it’s amazing to be part of a film that explains everything. Love is not always enough so it’s an honor to be part of this movie.”
The only guy in the group is Rosh Barman. He is 25, from Biliran, Leyte which he represented in the male pageant Misters of Filipinas some years ago.
He stands 5’10 and finished business management in FEU. He has done a BL series, “My Day”.
What’s his role in the film?
“I play Gio, the college boyfriend of Alexa Miro as Fiona. Sa start, pareho kaming gustong maging filmmaker but later on, I change my mind and that becomes a major source of conflict for us.”
Did he agree to disrobe right away?
"Before shooting started, it was explained to us how far we have to go. Alexa and I, friends na kami before pa, so it helps.
"Before we do our scenes, nag-uusap kami, we’re not Alexa and Rosh, we are our characters, Fiona and Gio, para mawala yung inhibitions namin.
"We committed ourselves to our roles totally, so laban lang. Tiwala ako kay Direk so game agad ako. He now got me to be part of his new show sa HBO as a victim of the supernatural.”
