JC SANTOS has done romantic dramas with Bela Padilla, Arci Munoz, Janine Gutierrez, Ryza Cenon and Jane Oineza.
He is now happy to be paired for the first time in “More Than Blue” with a longtime friend, Yassi Pressman, with whom he worked in “Ang Probinsyano” as Coco Martin’s rival over Yassi.
“I was super happy to work with Yassi kasi when I first read the script, ang hihirap ng mga eksena, very emotional, so natakot ako,” he says.
“Akala ko, sa character kong si K ang lahat ng hugot. But with Yassi, I got more relaxed kasi she gave me everything that I need in every scene.
"She is performing with her heart and soul in front of me and she made me comfortable performing with her the whole time.”
“More Than Blue” is a local adaptation of a hit Korean film.
“Love story ito na sobrang nakakaiyak. They gave us the script in 2019 pa at hindi ako masyadong impressed. Pero nang malapit na ang shoot, binasa ko uli.
"I realized that I underestimated the material. Bawat eksena pala, mabigat. Kaya ko ba ito? Na intimidate ako sa character ko at sa material. How will I do it? But with Yassi, nawala yung fears ko.”
He says he’s really amazed because they got to work together in “Ang Probinsyano” in 2016 and since then, Yassi has changed a lot.
“I told her this sa shoot. Sabi ko, ibang Yassi ka na ngayon as you are more mature emotionally. Parang ang dami na niyang pinagdaanan sa buhay and siguro, nagkaroon siya ng validation sa work niya, so mas relaxed and effective na siya ngayon before the camera.
"Every time we do a scene, she reacts genuinely. Sabi ko, ah okay, ito na ang puso ng pelikula namin. Kasi kailangan mo talaga nang maayos na kaeksena as the material is so difficult. It’s about death, love and sacrifice but kailangan, restrained ang lahat.
"I also want to thank our director, Nuel Naval, kasi he helped us sa interpretation namin sa mga eksena na sobrang nakakaiyak. Pero kami, dapat hindi kami iiyak, so pinipigil namin. Dapat, ang audience ang umiyak. Sabi nga namin, kawawa ang viewers dito.”
Can he relate with his character?
“Naku, I’m afraid na hindi ako kasintapang ni K. Ibang klaseng pagmamahal yung sa kanya, a different kind of mindset ng pagka-martir. Sa kanya, when he learned he is dying, naghanap siya ng tamang lalaki na mapag-iiwanan niya kay Yassi.
"I won’t have the same decision na sobrang mag-sacrifice para sa taong mahal mo. But doon sa ugali ni K na kapag nai-stress siya, mas gusto niya mag-isa, nakaka-relate ako.
''Kapag nalulungkot ako, may tendency akong maging ganon. Ang dating sa friends ko ang bigat bigat ko na. Dapat pala, when you’re feeling down, you should be with someone para ma-release yung feelings mo. So now, nilalabanan ko yun.”
What sacrifice has he done so far in real life? “When I was 25, I decided to stay sa Hongkong for love. I was then performing sa Hongkong DIsneyland. But may nangyari so umuwi rin ako rito.”
How does he feel that theaters are reopening on November 10 and they’ll start streaming on November 19?
“I’m happy with the reopening of theaters. Sana naman, magkaroon kami ng premiere night sa isang sinehan bago kami ipalabas sa Vivamax streaming."
